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January 6th, 2012
A Guide to Identifying Chinese Fakes on eBay
My friend Jason Spangler, also known as the Santee Swapper and host of the Scouting Hot Finds newsletters and podcast has assembled a free guide to spotting the fake Chinese made OA patches currently appearing on eBay.
A Guide to Identifying Recent Chinese Fakes on eBay
This is an extensive 24 page treatise on these patches, with many illustrations. It documents the fakes produced by various sellers over the past several years. It also discusses the marketing strategies of those who produced these fakes including the stealing of images from this website.
This is a must read for almost any collector who wants to avoid being taken by these fakes.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 23rd, 2011
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery (III)
[caption id="attachment_6836" align="alignleft" width="90" border="0" caption="Wahunsenakah 333 Piankatank Chapter Winter 2011 Service"]
I have written several posts on this blog about patch designs that appear to have been copied or "inspired" by other designs, quite often from different lodges. For example see the first and second posts using this same title. Another example is this post on more "inspired" patches.
The patch pictured at the top of this post was a recent chapter event issue from Piankatank chapter of Wahunsenakah lodge. (Editor's note: Please see correction in comments). The lodge is chartered to the Colonial Virginia Council which could easily explain the American Revolution theme of the design. However, the lodge totem is a duck so the hawk's head might appear to be an unusual choice.
A friend gave this to me. He acquired it a Trade-O-Ree and thought of me once he saw the design. It's obviously taken from Tsoiotsi Tsogalii's 2010 SR-7B conclave flaps, listed on this site as S34? and S35?.
Perhaps someone in Wahunsenakah can fill us in on the story behind Piankatank chapter's choice of patch design. The artist of the lodge 70 flaps should be flattered that someone in another lodge was so impressed by his design that he chose to adapt it for his chapter's event patch.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 22nd, 2011
One of These Things Is Not Like the Other...
"One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn't belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others. By the time I finish my song?"
How many of you remember this song from "Sesame Street"? I saw a friend of mine at the Winston-Salem Trade-O-Ree last weekend. He usually has a great assortment of patches, many classic material and items from our area. However he wants it to be known that he isn't just interested in old patches, so he puts the frame pictured here on his table. I'll let him remain anonymous unless he chooses to step forward here.
One of those patches seems oddly out of place (really two but one sticks out more!). Do you see it? It's not quite as obvious as recognizing letters and numbers, but still very easy to see! Every time I see this frame I chuckle a bit. It's a good way to start a conversation. Now you all can join me in a good natured chuckle.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 7th, 2011
Of Thee We Sing... About Our Lodge
Last weekend I rode with Greg Grimes and Roger Ward and paid a visit to our mutual friend, Larry Banks. On the way there I was shown a book, published in 1938, given to members of Chappegat Lodge.
The book included the lodge by laws and rules. It included instructions on how to wear the "bands", as the OA Sash was called then, and lodge pin. Specifically, Brotherhood members were instructed that the bands and arrow on the lodge pin were to be worn pointed toward the left shoulder. It was also stated that the lodge pin could not be given to a non-member of either sex. This refers to the custom, still practiced today, of fraternity brothers giving their pins to their girl friends as a token of affection. The centerfold was the brother's membership certificate.
The music and lyrics of the OA song and the lodge song were also printed in the book.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 5th, 2011
From China... Again
There has been some discussion recently on patch-l about an eBay seller currently using the id, "discountbar". He is operating out of Huhhot, China and selling fake Boy Scout patches.
Several members of that list have pointed out that he is stealing images of real patches from this site and using them to illustrate his auctions. Winning bidders report they do not receive the items pictured, but instead get computer designed fakes of those patches.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
Archive for April, 2010

Atta Kulla Kulla 185 X23?
Atta Kulla Kulla lodge issued last Winter their 2010 Whippoorwill patch, used for the lodge’s 2010 LLD. Thanks to Brad Hutto, once again for this image. This is the fifth such patch the lodge has issued. As with the previous four, I have chosen to list this with the lodge issues rather than as an event patch since no event is named on it.
The listing data for this patch are as follows:
| Issue |
Bdr Color/Type |
Bkgd |
Name |
fdl/BSA |
Comments |
| X23? |
BLK |
C |
M/C |
- |
- |
whippoorwill; 2010, issued for LLD |
| Atta Kulla Kulla lodge page on OAImages.com |
Popularity: 34% [?]
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"I have been asked to talk about what I consider the most important challenge facing mankind, and I have a fundamental answer. The greatest challenge facing mankind is the challenge of distinguishing reality from fantasy, truth from propaganda. Perceiving the truth has always been a challenge to mankind, but in the information age (or as I think of it, the disinformation age) it takes on a special urgency and importance"
Michael Crichton

Santee 116 eX2009-3?
These images were sent to me back in the dim ages when the bison swarmed the prairies, or something like that. Thanks to Brad Hutto for keeping me informed even if I am terribly slow in updating things here.
Santee lodge issued five patches for the lodge’s events in 2009. Two of these were previously highlighted on this blog. The other three are for the lodge’s Summer Fellowship, OA Week and Fall Fellowship. Additionally, the lodge issued a patch for their Winter Banquet earlier this year.
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Popularity: 33% [?]
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"Where I am, I don't know, I'll never know, in the silence you don't know, you must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on."
Samuel Beckett
Are there too many posts to handle? Maybe you missed out on a great post. Here’s a quick digest of the top posts from last week that you may want to check out:
- Lodge 459: 2010 Dixie Fellowship Issues
Posted on Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 in Catawba 459 – Views: (56)
Some time ago, Larry Banks sent me images for some recent and upcoming Catawba lodge issues. This post is for the patches Catawba issued for the upcoming Dixie Fellowship (2010 SR-5 Conclave). As with the 2010 events patches, the lodge adopted a theme loosely based upon the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, for these patches.
- Lodge 459: 2010 Events Issues
Posted on Monday, March 29th, 2010 in Catawba 459 – Views: (45)
Remember me?Some time ago, Larry Banks sent me images for some recent and upcoming Catawba lodge issues. I will split these into two posts. This first post is for the 2010 events patches. The lodge adopted a theme loosely based upon the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, for these patches.
- New Order of the Arrow Policy on Vigil Honor Announced
Posted on Thursday, April 1st, 2010 in Scouting News – Views: (317)
For years now there has been some concern among select members of the Order of the Arrow’s (OA’s) National Committee that the selection process for the Vigil Honor as practiced in many lodges is seriously flawed. It has been observed that the process is highly subjective. It often recognizes those who serve in highly visible positions of authority, or those who manage to find themselves in Scouting’s equivalent of a sinecure.
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Popularity: 33% [?]
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"...The task is overwhelming, and the chance is slight. We must take the chance or die."
Robert Hutchins
Please read this post first!
For years now there has been some concern among select members of the Order of the Arrow’s (OA’s) National Committee that the selection process for the Vigil Honor as practiced in many lodges is seriously flawed. It has been observed that the process is highly subjective. It often recognizes those who serve in highly visible positions of authority, or those who manage to find themselves in Scouting’s equivalent of a sinecure. In some lodges political connections or nepotism matter more than the Order’s principles in deciding who is bestowed with the Vigil Honor. Many Arrowmen who are exemplars of the Order’s principles go unrecognized.
In recognition of these flaws, and fulfilling a desire to make the Vigil Honor selection process more objective and fair two major policy changes are to be enacted. These changes are have significant implications for the Order and its lodges, so please read them completely.
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Popularity: 50% [?]
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"The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge, it is always simple and direct."
Calvin Coolidge
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Recent OAImages News
January 14th, 2012
An OAImages iPad App?
Some of those who know me personally, know that I have gone over to the "Dark Side" and have started using Apple products. I bought an iMac a couple of months ago and just recently got an iPad. My brother is trying to tell me that my Droid's days are numbered.
I really like my iPad and started day dreaming about an OAImages app for it. I have no idea how to go about writing this and it would take me into an entirely new area from what I know. It's not something that would happen easily or soon. Here's your chance to give feedback. What do you think about an OAImages app? What would you put in it? Do you have any thoughts on how it would be distributed or how much it would cost?
Please feel free to comment. Comments are moderated for those who have not successfully had a comment published on this blog before in order to control spam. I will do my best to approve comments as quickly as possible in order to facilitate a discussion.
Read the Full Post
October 4th, 2011
Indian Summer and Summit Corps Patches
I have added special pages on this site for the 2011 Indian Summer and 2011 Summit Corps. I still have a few images to add but most of what I have images for is now on the site. Thanks for Rick Horne for most of these images.
To view these items, go to OA Images: National and Special Events Patches page and select either of these events from the "Other Specialties" drop down box.
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August 27th, 2011
Coming out of Hiding About April 1st
It's kind of odd to come out of hiding to post about a topic like this.
I'm hearing from some brothers that there have been gullible readers to this blog over the years. I would have thought it was obvious from the context of the posts, but the various posts made on this blog throughout the years that have appeared on APRIL FIRST are all satire. None of them are true. Read them and chuckle but please do not complain to your friendly OA National Committee members, Scout Executives, lodge advisers, or official website administrators about the "changes" that are "announced" in them.
Read the Full Post
March 31st, 2011
Comment Spam
This is strictly an "FYI" post for those familiar with the issues facing those who maintain blogs and message boards where readers can post comments.
Recently I had been having issues here with comment spam getting past this blog's filters. I deleted the inappropriate posts as quickly as I could but this was still unacceptable to me, as well as additional work. I since have required that readers register before they're allowed to post comments here. That seems to have stopped the spammers.
I still see a number of probable spammers, mainly from Russian domains, registering on this blog but so far none have had their comments posted successfully.
I may test my luck for a short period of time in the near future. At some unannounced time, I will turn off the registration requirement for posting comments for a day or two. I want to see if the spammers have been chased away, or if they're just awaiting an easy opportunity to push their garbage
Read the Full Post
February 11th, 2011
Change in Comments Policy
This blog is being hit with a large number spam comments lately. There have been over 12,000 attempts to spam the blog with comments just within the past 60 days. Recently a few dozen comments, hawking service and goods I deem inappropriate for this blog, made it past the filters. Since I don't desire to spend more time deleting the spam as I find it and don't want inappropriate information to sit on my blog, I am tightening up the policy on commenting here.
Those who wish to comment must now register and be logged in before being to post comments. Registration is free and is not the same as membership to this site. This is a common practice on many blogs especially among sites run by more "traditional media" type companies.
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February 9th, 2011
Gone Home: Matt Kirkland
It is with shock and sadness that I pass along this message Tim Brown forwarded to me this morning:
With deep regret I must announce that my son, Matthew Thomas Kirkland, 31, passed from this world at 9:30 this evening. Matt suffered a massive stroke last night. We are having Matthew cremated and will hold a private ceremony in Memphis at a later date. For those who knew Matt, if you desire, to make a donation to the Transatlantic Council, Boy Scouts of America in his name. http://www.tac-bsa.org/Home.html
Matt was a significant contributor to this site, especially for Black Eagle lodge 482. He will be missed.
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