I received word earlier today from Randy Stiegler, VP of Program for Long Beach Area Council (LBAC), that this council has just recently formed an OA lodge.  LBAC was one of two councils (to my knowledge) within the BSA that did not have an Order of the Arrow lodge.

Randy tells me the current lodge membership is just 22 but that will rise rapidly over the next few months.   The new lodge will have its first call out and Ordeal in May.   There is no news yet on a lodge name, totem or patches.   I will share that here when I know something.

The Tribe of Tahquitz will remain an integral part of LBAC.   It will work side by side with the OA lodge to support the council and its programs.

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Please read this post first!

Some significant changes will soon take effect for the Boy Scouts of America’s Order of the Arrow program. Please read these carefully.

In recent years the Order of the Arrow has sought to become more culturally sensitive.  There have been a few complaints in recent years from parents in Copiague, NY and Woonsockett, RI about the use of American Indian derived names and regalia for officers in a BSA program.  They charge it is inappropriate and offensive.   The OA is sensitive to criticism that its programs over emphasize American Indian themes.  This overemphasis has caused some lodges from time to time to lose lose track of what the Order is: The Boy Scouts of America’s Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. American Indian themes, customs and traditions are to be used in a manner consistent with the mission of the Order and respectful of the various American Indian communities.

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Popularity: 11% [?]

Occoneechee 104 S79?

Recently Occoneechee lodge issued a flap to raise funds to support breast cancer research.  Profits from the sale of this flap will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.   A pre-order form for this patch is still posted on the website.  However since the lodge flap has already been issued and is currently available from the lodge trading post, I strongly recommend contacting a lodge brother directly and inquiring about availability, instead of sending in an order.   I know several members of Occoneechee lodge read this blog regularly.

Occoneechee is at least the fourth lodge to have issued patches in support of breast cancer research.   The other lodges are Ajapeu 33 (three flaps), Japeechee 341, (1 flap), and Tahosa 383 (two flaps).

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Popularity: 5% [?]

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.

Popularity: 3% [?]

According to the Boy Scouts of America’s Facebook page, the BSA has been selected to host the 2019 World Jamboree.   It will be held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.

I know no further details at this time.

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A major snow storm in the eastern part of the country doesn’t stop an annual ritual for the Section Chiefs of the BSA’s  Order of the Arrow.   According to the official National Order of the Arrow website the following brothers have been elected national and regional officers for 2011:

• National Chief: Jonathan Hills of Tonkawa Lodge, Capitol Area Council #564
• National Vice Chief: Daniel Dick of Wulapeju Lodge, Blackhawk Area Council #660
• Northeast Region Chief: Travis Cunningham, Gyantwachia Lodge, Chief Cornplanter Council #538
• Central Region Chief: Collin Huerter, Dzie Hauk Tonga Lodge, Jayhawk Area Council #197
• Southern Region Chief: Dwayne Fontenette, Chilantakoba Lodge, Southeast Louisiana Council # 214
• Western Region Chief: Joseph Garcia, Tiwahe Lodge, San Diego – Imperial Council #49

Additional details of the region chiefs’ home lodges added from the OA’s regional websites and this website.

Additional details and information will appear on the official OA national, regional and section websites.

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Last year Cayuga County Council was dissolved by the Boy Scouts of America and its territory assigned to Hiawatha Seaway Council.   This meant the end for Tahgajute lodge #247 when its charter expired at the end of last year.     Although this wasn’t a merger of two councils, as one had ceased to exist as a legal entity, the newly enlarged council and lodge both decided to change their names.   Thanks to Craig Leighty for finding an announcement of the new council and lodge name on the council’s website.

The new lodge, effective January 1, 2010, is named Lowanne Nimat. Its translates from Lenape is given as “Brothers of the North.” Craig reports from another source that the lodge’s totem is the Gougou, a creature similar the sasquatch.   The new lodge will continue to use 219 as its number.   The lodge asks that any questions about this transition be directed to the lodge adviser.

Councilstrips with the new name are available.   I do not yet have any word on any lodge patches.

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A new OA lodge has been formed in New York.     Previously the councils of Ty-Ohni Lodge #95 (Rochester Area) and Ganeodiyo Lodge #417 (Finger Lakes) merged to form Seneca Waterways Council. I can now announce the new OA lodge is Tschipey Achtu lodge. They will use the number 397, which is also the council number.

Thanks to Craig Leighty for directing me to the official word on the council’s website about this.   I may also have missed this news on Bill Mulrenin’s excellent NY OA blog.

The National Order of the Arrow no longer officially assigns lodge numbers but most lodges still use their traditional numbers.   Collectors also have continued to use lodge numbers since OA lodge names are often difficult to pronounce, and out of a sense of tradition and convenience.   Since this change by National newly formed lodges have followed a variety of practices.   Some, like Pocumtuc lodge, have made it a point to adopt no lodge number although some collectors use a number (83) anyways.   Others like Takoda lodge have, at least in some circles, used a number (146) of historical significance to them.   Still others, like Kittan lodge, have used their council’s number (364) as their own.     364 was also conveniently the lodge number of one of Kittan’s predecessor lodges.

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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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Check out this recent post on Roy More’s blog:

http://thescoutpatchauction.com/blogsite/2010/03/23/this-is-wrong

I am not a supporter of Big Labor and learn very much to the political and fiscal right however I agree with Roy that there is something inherently wrong with this.

Popularity: 41% [?]