Also referred to as the OA, the Order of the Arrow is
Scouting's Honor Society. It is a brotherhood of honored
scouts and scouters who promote scout camping and perform
service to others.
Nearly every Scout Council in the nation has an OA Lodge
associated with it. In the Redwood Empire Council, the OA
Lodge is Orca Lodge 194.
Similarly, our Lodge has a Chapter representing the Northern
and Southern parth of the Council. The Chapters names are
from the previous lodges that merged to form Orca Lodge.
The Lodge is run by an executive board, at the head of which
sits the Lodge Chief, Vice-Chief, Secretary, and Treasurer.
These people are considered the Lodge Officers. In the
Northern and Southern chapters, Mow-A-Toc and Cabrosha,
there is a Chapter Chief, Vice-Chief, and Secretary.
(What's an OA Election?)
The OA has different procedures for youth and adults. Youth
members (under the age of 21) are elected by other youth
members of their troop in an election conducted by the OA
Lodge through the Chapters. At least 50% of the registered
youth members of the troop must be present for an election
to be held.
Adults are nominated by the troop
committee and the nomination is forwarded to a Lodge Adult
nomination committee headed by the Lodge Adviser for
consideration.
Yes. To be considered for election, a youth must be a
registered member of his unit, must have achieved the rank
of First Class, must not have reached his 21st birthday, and
must, while registered with a troop or team, have a minimum
of 15 days and nights of scout camping experience, including
one (and only one) long term camping experience (7 days/6
nights) within two years prior to the election. With the
exception of the first class and age requirement, adult
nominees must meet the same camping and membership
requirements.
Provided they all meet the eligibility
requirements, no.
No. The scoutmaster must sign the election form
certifying that all those on the ballot are eligible for
election. If the scoutmaster feels that a certain member or
members of the unit do not exemplify the high ideals of the
OA, he does not have to list them as eligible for election
even though they may meet the membership requirements. The
scoutmaster has full discretion as to the eligibility of any
troop member for the election, but he may not waive the
membership requirements. This certification takes place
prior to the election, and cannot be changed once the
election takes place.
No. No one over the age of 21 may cast a vote in the
election.
One. Each troop is entitled to only one election per year.
The Lodge calendar runs from January 1 through December 31.
Each troop may have only one election during that time
period.
The election period is set by each chaper each year. It
generally runs from late-March to early-May.
Beginning in March each year, the Chapter election teams
will start contacting each scoutmaster in their chapter to
set up elections. If your troop has not been contacted each
year by March 20, you are encouraged to contact your Chapter
Adviser or the Lodge Adviser for action.
NO! All elections must be conducted with at least one member
of the Chapter election team present, preferably a member
from outside the troop.
Adult nomination forms are available from the election team
or your Chapter Adviser. They must be filled out accurately
and completely, and signed by the Committee Chairman.
The committee chairman should retain one copy of the form
with the remaining copy and original forwarded to the
Chapter Adviser. The Chapter Adviser will forward the
original on to the Lodge Adviser for consideration.
Each troop who has a youth election and at least one youth
is elected may nominate only one adult if the troop has 50
or less scouts on their roster. You may nominate one more
adult for the next 50 and one more for the next 50 and so
on.
No.
The adult nomination process is very selective. Since the OA
exists by and large for the youth, with the youth only,
serving in the leadership positions, adult nominations are
carefully screened. The committee considers the adults
ability to perform the necessary functions to help the OA
fulfill its goals and purposes, how the adult will be an
asset to the Lodge and whether the adult will be a positive
role model to the youth. OA membership is NOT a recognition
for service either past or present NOR a reward for
achievement or position.
OA elections can only be held by Scout Troops and Varisty
Teams. Elections cannot be held by Venture Crews or Explorer
Posts.
No. All those who are elected must first successfully pass
an ordeal.
The Ordeal is administrated by the Chapters in the Lodge at
one of our two camps. In the Mow-A-Toc Chapter, the Northern
Chapter, the ordeals are generally held on the first weekend
of June and the weekend right after the Spook-E-Ree which
takes place the weekend before Halloween. In the Cabrosha
Chapter, the Southern Chapter, the ordeals are generally
held on the third weekend of June and the third weekend if
October.
BE SURE TO CHECK THE DATES ON THE LODGE
CALENDAR.
After your election, you will receive a mailing from the
Lodge, usually within two to four weeks, detailing the dates
of the upcoming ordeals, what to bring and other
information. There will also be a registration form which
must be filled out and returned by the specified
deadline(s).
Yes. The current fee is $25.00 which includes all your food,
accommodations, OA sash, handbook, Pocket Device, and flap.
You have one year from the date of your election to take
your Ordeal. This affords every person at least four
opportunities to complete their Ordeal.
Then you would have to be reelected. In extreme cases such
as family emergencies, the Lodge Executive Board will
consider granting an extension of the Ordeal eligibility
period. However, each case is considered separately on its
own merits and must be brought to the Executive Board
preferably by the Chapter Chief. For more information,
contact your Chapter Adviser or the Lodge Adviser.
Yes. Adults have to successfully pass the same ordeal as the
youth in order to become members.
Yes. Adults have one year from the date of their letter of
approval from the Lodge Adviser.
The scoutmaster has the right to seal the election results
for release at some later date, such as a troop court of
honor or District tap out. The year of eligibility would not
start until the candidate is officially recognized by his
unit.
Yes. Dues for 2009 will be $15.00. The Lodge year runs from
January 1st through December 31st.
The Ordeal fee includes one year of dues. New members' dues
are paid until December 31st.
To be considered an active member of the Lodge, your dues
must be paid.
There will be instructions on the form. Dues are to be
mailed to the Orca Lodge Treasurer or Lodge Advisor. Dues
can also be paid in person at any time to the two people
listed above.
Certainly. When you get where you¹re going, have your new
Council formally request your OA records from us. Once you
register in a new Council, you can no longer remain a member
of Orca Lodge, unless you also still maintain registration
here.
NO! National policy dictates that you can only belong to one
lodge at a time. It must be the lodge associated with the
council where you hold your primary registration. Even if
you pay a registration fee to more than one council, you
must choose only one lodge.
NO. National policy dictates that you must be registered in
the Council in which you wish to hold OA membership.
NO. OA membership is exclusive of membership in the Boy
Scouts of America.
YES. You must be registered in a Pack, Troop, Crew, Team, or
at-large in order to be considered an active member of the
Lodge and participate in Lodge events. OA membership does
not supersede or include BSA membership.
Lodge Flaps, O-A sashes, and Lodge merchandise can be
purchased at each Lodge event. The Treasurer holds the
supplies and will bring them with him to every lodge event
he goes to.
Contact the Lodge Chief,
Lodge Adviser or
your Chapter Adviser for more information
National Links
Neighboring Lodges