Tipisa 326: 2011-2012 Year Patch

As is the custom in Tipisa Lodge (326), the incoming Lodge Chief is responsible for the theme for his year’s patches.  The chief for the 2011-2012 year decided that the lodge needed a renewal of the lodge program, almost a re-birth.  And as a fitting theme for his efforts, the lodge’s activity items for his year have the theme of “A Renaissance Of Brotherhood”, featuring adaptations of artwork from the Renaissance period, with Scouting themes.  the year patch, for example, is an adaptation of “The Birth Of Venus”, by Botticelli.

The first of the weekend patches was for their Fall Fellowship, and the design used was da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”, with an OA sash.  The original order of patches was delivered to the lodge without button loops; these were considered defective, and sold by the lodge, while a corrected order with the button loop was distributed to the attendees.  500 were made of each.

One of the chapters of the lodge has gotten into the act, as Kikape Chapter has their own tribute to the Renaissance, with their “Honoring Michaelangelo” patch (R-1).

Echockotee 200: 70th Anniversary Flap

In 2011, Echockotee Lodge 200 commemorated their 70th anniversary with the issuance of a flap (S-45?), 800 made, and sold unrestricted.  The basic design is based on the 25th anniversary flap (S-5), with a fleur-de-lis embedded in each lower corner; embroidered to match the design.  What stands out with this issue is the “70″ in the middle.  It was embroidered over what is known as “foam injection”, to create a three-dimensional effect.

The foam injection was also used for their next flap (S-46?), the lodge’s service flap.  The patch is available for purchase by lodge members, one for each eight hours of service given.  The basic service flap design has been largely unchanged since the late 1950s, with changes made to become compliant with BSA trademark guidelines in 1977 (adding fleur-de-lis, changing to a rolled edge).  Changing to different vendors since 1977 have created different issues in the last 34-plus years, but this latest order created a different flap, without changing the design.

In November, Echockotee hosted the 2011 Section S-4 Seminars, a Section-wide training event and planning meeting to prepare for the next year’s Section Conference, held in Florida almost every year since 1977.  While attendance is much smaller than that of a Section Conference, over 340 Arrowmen came for the weekend.  Echockotee issued only one item as the host (S-47?); 600 made, sold unrestricted.

Other new issues: an Elangomat patch (P-6?, with a BLU BSA), for those that serve as an Elangomat at a lodge Ordeal, and a “First Year Arrowman Award” (X-32?), for new Arrowmen that meet certain participation requirements.

237 Aal-Pa-Tah: 2011 Year Patch

The Aal-Pa-Tah Lodge 237 activity patch set for 2011 utilized older lodge designs for the weekend itemsfor the “year patch” (a J-type activity patch, used by many lodges in Florida as an additional piece in the year’s themed set).  The year patch utilized the “gator on a log”, that was used as the lodge’s basic flap design from the 1950s to the 1980s.

The five weekend patches all have the same basic design, with changes in color and the name of the weekend activity.  This basic design was first used as a weekend patch in 1959, and again in 1988.

Echockotee 200: 2011 Fall Fellowship

As previously reported, the activity patch set theme for Echockotee Lodge 200 for the 2011 year was “Ships Named Florida”.  The year has been completed, with the year’s jacket patch and five weekend pieces (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Fellowships, and the 2011 Section S-4 Conference), with depictions of the different vessels in the US Navy that has carried the state’s name throughout the years.

One variation was created in the 2011 set, that was with the Spring Fellowship patch.  Five hundred patches were created for the weekend, with more than 450 in attendance, and another 100 were ordered to take care of those wanting extras.  The original order has a maroon colored button cord, and the second order has a red cord (border color is the same, despite what the scanned images may show).

O-Shot-Caw 265 2011 Summit Corps (SMY border)

For the two national Order of the Arrow events in the summer of 2011, O-Shot-Caw Lodge 265 issued several items, in some very limited quantities.  Slipping under the radar were two flaps made for the contingent to the 2011 Summit Corps event: GMY border (S-137), and SMY border (S-138).  Reportedly, only 50 were made of each flap.

For the contingent heading to the Indian Summer event, two two-piece sets were created.  Originally, one set was created, with a BLK fleur-de-lis on the flap (F-30; 150 made), and a short button tab on the bottom piece (X-51, no WWW on the tab; 125 made); these were designated as the “delegate” set.  When these were determined to be less than ideal, a re-order of the flap was made, with a WHT fleur-de-lis (F-31; 125 made), and a bottom piece with a longer button tab (X-52, with WWW on the tab; 125 made).   These were called the “trader set”.

O-Shot-Caw 265 F33?

In late October, O-Shot-Caw Lodge 265 joined the small number of lodges to issue a patch to raise funds for breast cancer research.  Not just one, but two two-piece sets were created.  Each of the sets features an image of a Seminole woman with early 20th century clothing, with the patchwork details rendered in a photoprinted process.  The flaps each have a PNK felt background.

Only 150 of the ”easy” sets were made (F-32, with a WHT border; X-53a, with WHT button loop).  And then there are fifty of the other set (F-33, with a PNK mylar border; X-53b, with a PNK button loop.)

For the activity patches for  2011, Echockotee Lodge 200 will be have a theme of “Ships Named Florida”, depicting US Navy ships that bore the name of the state.  The year patch for the series depicts the battleship Florida, part of the fleet from 1911 to 1931.

The first weekend patch depicts the first ship in the Navy fleet named Florida, a sloop from the eartly 19th century.

2011 marks the 75th anniversay of the Order of the Arrow in Gulf Ridge Council (Tampa, FL), for Seminole Lodge 85 and its predecessor, Kiondashama.  Together, this lodge is the oldest in the state of Florida.

To mark the anniversary, Seminole has issued its flap (S-57).   The design depicts the older and more current versions of the lodge totem, the ibis, as well as the a pine tree, presumed to be the totem of the short-lived Kiondashama.  Also to be issued for the anniversary will be a bullion (available in March).

Each of the five activity patches for the year have been made available for scanning.   On each of the activity patches and the anniversary flap is a small diamond-shaped rivet, with a “75″ in the middle.

During the week of June 13-19,  128 brothers (including National Chief Brad Lichota)  participated in the 2010 “FourCorps” service project, in the Ocala National Forest, near Deland, Florida.   This is believed to be the first time a  Section has taken on the task of a week in  a National Forest, along the lines of the “ArrowCorps” projects of 2008.   Over 4500 man-hours of service were completed, in projects such as trail rehabilitation, fence building, the planting of over 1000 shrubs, clearing non-native invasive species, pouring concrete for “bear boxes” in campsites and a  handicapped-accessible campfire ring, and building 78 birdhouses.   All with a heat index of between 95 and 110 degrees, and no air conditioning.

Two lodges (Echockotee 200 and Seminole 85) issued pieces for their members for the event.   The Section created several items were available to commemorate the week’s work.   All participants received the oval patch with the bear paw print with their registration packet, with extras available by advance order to anyone, not just participants.

Also available for ordering was a jacket patch, neckerchief, and metal cast belt buckle.   Many attendees did not order anything ahead of time, so extras are few and far between.    Several patches that didn’t make it  onto neckerchiefs were also sold.

As each attendee departed on Saturday morning, they were given an arrowhead-shaped patch, with yellow and red thread.   Staff members, crew leaders, and noteworthy workers received an identical patch, with gold and red mylar thread.

At the recent Echockotee  200 Summer Fellowship, the lodge had two new flaps available for sale.   The first flap (tentatively S-43*) is for the lodge’s participation in the 2010 Section S-4 “FourCorps” service project in the Ocala National Forest. The design is taken from the lodge’s neckerchief, shaking hands with the bear** used in the section’s FourCorps patch.   A total of 200 were produced, with 25 set aside for lodge members participating in FourCorps.

The other flap sold at the Summer Fellowship celebrates the centennial of the BSA (S-44?).   A total of 500 were created and sold out.

Here is the patch for the Summer Fellowship, part of the annual theme for Echockotee’s activity items for 2010, “Centennial of Scouting“.   This is a scan sent from the manufacturer; due to a production problem, the patches were not delivered on time for the event, and were to be mailed out afterward.

* The two flaps were sold at the same time.   The FourCorps flap was authorized prior to the Centennial flap, so it received the lower number.

** The danger of actually trying to shake hands with a bear.

As previously noted here, here, and here, O-Shot-Caw Lodge 265 has a three-year long theme to their weekend  activity patches, using depictions of National Jamboree designs.   The recent S-4 Conference was an opportunity to get caught up on the more recent creations.   The 2010 Year patch uses the design of the 1985 Jamboree patch.

All of the designs from the end of 2009 are from Jamborees held at Fort A. P. Hill, beginning with the 2009 Section S-4 Seminars Delegate.   These have been followed by the 2010 Winter Ordeal and 2010 Lodge Banquet.

This last item had not been previously shown, having been picked up a few weeks ago.   The 2008 Section S-4 Seminars.

O-Shot-Caw’s 265′s  annual Lodge Executive Committee flap (S-131) was distributed at the 2010  Lodge Banquet in March, a few months later than usual.

Also available at the Banquet event was a special patch (R-6), to commemorate the attendance of the National Chief, National Vice Chief, and a Section Chief.   Two  hundred pieces were made, sold for $6 each.

O-Shot-Caw has also created a two-piece set for the National Scout Jamboree (S-132 with X-  50).   The design of the set is reminiscent of the “Highwaymen” artwork of Florida natural landscapes.  

Previous entries to this blog about the chapters of Tipisa Lodge 326 have shown the multitude of issues that have been created.   By the customs of the lodge and sometimes by their rules,   the chapters carry out some of the functions that  elsewhere would be carried out  at the lodge level (annual chapter  Ordeals, multiple District camporee weekends each year, etc).   So the reasons why the Tipisa chapters create emblems are much like those for small lodges: identification, service recognition, events, and anniversaries.

A realignment of the districts in Central Florida Council will also be reducing the chapters from 14 to 11.   Besides requiring a change in lodge flaps (each feather on the flap represents a chapter), chapters will be disappearing as a result of mergers.   Until then, here are some of the recent chapter items:

Astatula Chapter issued a new patch (X-6), commemorating the 100th anniversary of the BSA.

Elauwit Chapter (aka “The Nekkid Blue Guy”) has yet another emblem for 2010 (X-17).   Along with Waga Hlakgo Chapter, they ran the 2010 Spring Cookeree for Apopka Shores District, creating patches for attendees and staff.

Micconope Chapter came out with a patch for their Ceremonies Team.   Its size would make wearing on a uniform to be impossible, and would be classified as a jacket patch (J-1).     A patch was also made for their chapter Lock-In event, as well.

Tipisa Lodge 326 has begun selling their 2010 Jamboree flap (326 S-43).   The design of the flap matches the set of the Central Florida Council Jamboree  contingent  shoulder patches, reminiscent of the “Guitar Hero” video games, and featuring guitars in their designs.

At the recent Section S-4 Conference, Tipisa also released a contingent patch (X-22).   The design shows the maps of Tipisa and Seminole 85, the host of the conference.

In February, Tipisa continued their 2009-2010 activity patch series when they hosted their annual Native American Weekend, an event of training and demonstrations, open to all that are interested, not just Arrowmen or Scouts.   Unlike the 2009 event, when the event was canceled and the patches weren’t.   This year the lodge did a much better job of advertising, resulting in attendance of over 900 when only 500 patches were ordered.   Another 800 were ordered after the event.

Next event after the February weekend was the Spring Conclave.   The series will be completed with the Service Weekend this month, with the final letter of the lodge name.

For Timuquan Lodge 340, their Spring Fellowship is not just one event.   It is three, including the annual Lodge Banquet, and the Vigil Breakfast.   The Fellowship and the Banquet patches are parts of the 2009-2010 series, depicting native American Village scenes.

The Vigil Breakfast piece is a more generic design, not part of the annual series.

The 2010  Winter Conclave patch had not yet been shown,  but it is also part of the series.

The 2010 Section S-4 Conference was held April 16-18, at Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation, outside Lake Wales, Florida.   Over 900 Arrowmen from the eight lodges of  eastern Florida and the three lodges of southern Georgia were in attendance.   This number was lower than for the last several Conferences (what the rest of the South calls “conclaves”), the number of traders appeared to be the same, especially on Saturday night, when several traders from Seminole 85, the host lodge, were able to swap their items.

The conference itself did not have one common design for all items; for the first time, three designs were used for the memorabilia created for the conference.   The pocket patch for those registered to attend is the same as used for the VIA (“Very Important Arrowman”) Luncheon and the host lodge pocket patch, the jacket patch available from the advance order form was of a different design.   The neckerchief, Vigil Breakfast,  and hat  pin utilized a third design, meant to reflect the Conference theme, “Pause  and Look You Back On Scouting”.   This design was also used for a second jacket patch, available at 5 PM on April 16, for $10 each (140 made).   This item is identical to the neckerchief patch, except larger.   The double-sided chenille design utilized the turtle that was also used on the first jacket patch.

For the fourth year, a golf tournament was held on the Friday morning of the Conference, with a patch available for participants.

Early in 2010, Semialachee Lodge 239 and neighboring Alapaha Lodge 545 (Valdosta, GA) held a joint lodge weekend, call the “Wiregrass Fellowship”.   The patch for the event depicts the totems from each lodge.     There is no word as to whether this will become an annual event.

Semialachee has also created a two-piece set to raise funds for their Drum Team (239 S73 and X12).   The flap does have the lodge number, kind of.   Along the right lower edge is the Roman numeral CCXXXIX, translated to be 239.     There is an   important lesson here to be learned for patch designers: black lettering on a brown background is very hard to read.

As the host lodge for the recent 2010 Section S-4 Conference, Seminole Lodge 85 showed some restraint in the number of items created to commemorate their preparation for the event.   For flaps, the lodge issued two: the first (85 S52, pictured here) was unrestricted to host lodge members.   A second flap was available for those that met a service requirement (85 S53).

The rest of the host items have the word “HOST”, were created by, and sold to lodge members, but do not have the lodge name on them.   These items are a pocket patch, jacket patch, double-sided chenille, and neckerchief.

In addition, Seminole introduced two new flap patches at the Conference.   The first is to the 2010 S-4 “FourCorps” conservation project (85 S54), the other is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the BSA (85 S55).

In March, Echockotee 200 held their Spring Fellowship, continuing with the second weekend patch of the 2010 series theme, featuring important figures in the history of the BSA.   The Spring Fellowship patch features E. Urner Goodman, founder of the OA and one-time member of Echockotee Lodge.

Also issued at that weekend was a second version of the 2010 year patch,  this time with the JACKSONVILLE community strip in Cub Scout colors.

Apieka Chapter (Gainesville area) has come out with two monochrome versions of their chapter patch, in ORG (X3) and BLU (X4) colors.

Aal-Pa-Tah Lodge 237 has begun their series of 2010 activity patches with their recent Spring Pow Wow.   The depictions on the patches for the weekends this year will be members of the lodge in various activities.   The Spring patch  design depicts a member in dance clothing.

Aal-Pa-Tah also created an emblem for  their delegation  to the recent 2010 Section S-4 Conference.