Scouting's National Honor Society/Order of the Arrow.BSA

Mission

The mission of the Order of the Arrow is to fulfill its purpose as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults.

Purpose

As Scouting's National Honor Society, our purpose is to:

.Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition.

.Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout's experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp.

.Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation.

.Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose to leadership in cheerful service to others.

Vision of the Order of the Arrow

As Scouting's National Honor Society and as an integral part of every council, our service, activities, adventures and training for youth and adults will be models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich the lives of our members and help extend Scouting in America's youth.

History

Founded in 1915 by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson at Treasure Island Scout Reservation in New Jersey.

Members

Members are called Arrowmen and are elected to the organization by their fellow Scouts. The OA is unique in that nonmembers are often the ones that elect Scouts in their troop for membership.

Honors (levels)

There are three honor levels in the OA: Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil. The Vigil Honor is the highest honor level in the organization.

Leadership

The youth Arrowmen elect officers to lead the organization on the various levels. The elected officers lead the organization under the guidance of selected adult advisers.

Identification

Arrowmen wear white sashes with a red arrow to signify their membership in the Order of the Arrow. Arrowmen also wear a patch on the top of their right front pocket on the official Boy Scout uniform that both signifies their membership in the organization and distinguishes which lodge they are a member of.

Eligibility

To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced 15 days and nights of camping during the two years before his election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps. Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow troop or Varsity team members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity Scout Coach.

Scouts with special needs

The Order of the Arrow is committed to including Scouts and Scouters who have special needs because of a disability. In the case of special-needs troops, election teams should follow the same procedures, keeping in mind that any Scout who classified as a youth member of a troop, regardless of age, will be considered a youth (voting) member. All other membership requirements remain the same.

When inducting a Scout or Scouter with a special need, as with any candidate, our lodge will make the activities challenging within the individual's limitations and plan accordingly. Accessibility to ceremonial circles, sleeping sites, and appropriate work projects will be taken into consideration to ensure a meaningful induction.

 

Induction/Ordeal Membership

The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is conducted at Scout camp and is the first step toward full membership. During the experience, candidates must undergo a series of challenges designed to test their courage and determination to uphold the ideals of scouting which the Order of the Arrow is based on. During the orientation, the JUMPSTART program will be introduced to new members. Jumpstart is an interactive website designed to assist Ordeal members who are on their trail to Brotherhood. While on the website, Arrowmen can gain further insight in the meaning of the Ordeal experience, including the ceremonies and the four principles.

Brotherhood Membership

The Brotherhood is an opportunity for members to evaluate their unit service since their Ordeal, to contemplate their future service to the lodge, to reaffirm their belief in the high purposes of the Order, and to complete the OA induction process. After 10 months of service and fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the OA.

Vigil Honor

The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council, and Scouting. Membership cannot be won by a person's conscious endeavors.

The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of the their position of office to one or more of the following: Lodge, Order of the Arrow, Scouting community, and Scout camp.

Under NO circumstances should tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow be considered as enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.

Lodges

Each Order of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council, BSA, upon annual application by the local council. The OA lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and service, promotion of Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement of membership tenure.

Sections

An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of the region. Each section is led by a chief, vice chief, and secretary, who play a crucial part in making the annual Conclave a success. The section may lead training seminars, promote national programs of emphasis, and provide resources to local lodges. The section chief presides over the Council of Chiefs, attended by delegates of each member lodge.

Quelqueshoe Lodge is a member of Section SR-1A.

2015 Key People is Sectiono SR-1A are: Section Chief, Patrick Burtchaell, Section Adviser, Matt Madderra, and Associate Section Adviser, Thomas Lambert.

The member lodges of Section SR-1A are:

.Atchafalaya..........Lafayette, La.

.Chilantakoba........Metairie, La.

.Comanche...........Monroe, La.

.Quelqueshoe........Lake Charles, La.

.Quinipissa........... Baton Rouge, La.

.Sebooney Okasucca..Jackson, Ms.

Regions

The Order of the Arrow, like the Boy Scouts of America, is organized into four geographical regions: Central, Northeast, Southern and Western. Each region is led by a youth region chief, and volunteer region chairman, and a region staff adviser. The region leadership helps execute the national program on a more local level, implements the National Leadership Seminar and National Lodge Adviser Training Semiar, provides its member sections with resources, and facilities communication between local organizations and the national OA committee.

Quelqueshoe Lodge is a member of the Southern Region.

National Chief and Vice Chief

The national chief and vice chief are Arrowmen selected by the section chiefs, who form the national Order of the Arrow conference committee. They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, representing the youth on national OA policy. They also serve as the presiding officers for the national OA event. Their term of office is specified by the national committee. They are advised in their responsibilities by the national committee chairman and director of the Order of the Arrow.