OA Ceremonial Team...

[RWSmith]

First, let me preface this by emphasizing the following question is in relation to advancement, i.e., Merit Badges, Leadership roles and Service Projects... What ideas have you seen that could tie active membership on the OA Lodge's Ceremonial Team into advancement opportunities?... Eg., Drama MB.

[wagionvigil]

Now this is only an opinion. If you are the Ceremonies CHAIRMAN or any Committee chairman I would see nothing wrong with that being a leadership position. That said, I do not feel that ceremonies is acting. No more than participating in and Eagle Ceremony would be acting.

[Guneukitschik]

In my opinion the leadership position should be within the TROOP. A Troop OA Representative is a leadership position, but I don't think any position within the lodge would qualify....

I could be completely incorrect on this?

[wagionvigil]

Although te Lodge positions are not listed they well could be included. I have found in my work with the Lodge that these young men give a lot more leadership at Lodge Functions then one could imagine. Most are also very active in their troop. Our Lodeg is truly operated by the youth with adult guidance. Do we have mess ups? Sure do but that is how they learn.

[Guneukitschik]

I completely agree that Scouts actively involved in the Lodge leadership are Extremely active and demonstrating leadership skills and you may very well be correct that these could be used towards leadership positions.

I do however often see scouts that are very active with their OA Lodge and hardly do any activities with their troop? I think there needs to be a happy medium between the two.

[wagionvigil]

Sometimes that has to do with the Troop. Boys need to find where they feel needed and sometimes they get the feeling that they are not needed at the Troop level and they look for other ways to get that feeling and the OA is their way.

[RWSmith]

Good posts on Leadership, guys. Thanks much. And quite frankly, I agree with both of you, as it really seems we have a general consensus about allowing and balancing OA-specific leadership duties with "Troop life", so to speak.

Now, got any ideas how to, like the above posts, mix and balance MBs or service projects?

[Guneukitschik]

Troops need to remember OA activities when planning their activities.
This may allow scouts to participate in both.


As for the Merit Badge and Service Project connection.... Once again in my opinion the two are not connected. However, one may lead to the other, for example...a conservation project may help earn a merit badge.