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Having been a member of the Order since 1964 and a Former Lodge Adv. I personally believe the OA is the BEst part of the BSA. It give the scouts the opportunity to be the true leaders and make all the decisions. Our Lodge Wagion#6 has been around for along time and has a rich history. The youth lead and plan and we have an excellent program. Our main cheerfu service is to our camps. ALl maintenance is provided by the lodge. We do not hire outside contractors unless in an extreme emergency.All buildings that have been built in our camps over the past 50 years have been built by the members. The only exception is our new ad building that due to trying to beat the winter and at that the contractor just framed the Building. Everything else was OA done. I realize that there are scouts and scouters out there that have no use for the OA and there are Scouters out there that will do anything in their power to keep their youth from takin part. When I was LA I had some major confrontations with some leaders. Their problems in most cases came from their experience as a youth so I asked them to attend a weekend and see what goes on. Most of those have made a major turn around and are now active in the lodge. Those that did not make the turn were warned that if they continued to hinder their youth from taking part they would be removed as leaders. Our council does not approve Tour Permits on OA weekends . Of course this does not stop some as they go places without one and take a chance.

Wow, glad to see that your council suports your lodge to that extent.

If it was not for the Lodge we would not have a camp. They could not afford the Maintenance and constructon cost. WE have had boys build SHower Houses,Lay Omni Stone for a handicapped walkway 1/4 Mile Long and putting stone on our Ad building. ALl with super adult supervison and instruction.

wagionvigil wrote:Our council does not approve Tour Permits on OA weekends . Of course this does not stop some as they go places without one and take a chance.

So your Council feels the boys who are not in OA for whatever reason and those adults not selected for membership should stay at home and do nothing just because it is an OA weekend?

Interesting..........

I wish I had to opportunity to join and support. But alas I have only ever been part of troops that are too small to "elect" and can only
"elect/select" one person a year. Then I would have to move due to the military.

Too bad adults active with Crews can not be "elected/selected."

Actually the reasoin they do it is there are SOme Scoutmasters that intentionally plan thinks for those weekends to keep the OA boys from attending the Weekends. If a troop made plans before the council calandar came out then they get it approved But if it is spur of the moment thing no way. Lets see I actually heard this " Do you want to go to camp and work all weekend or go trout fishing?" That is a no brainer and it was done on purpose. I will say that in the past couple of years there has not been any problems. There are 52 weekends a year and the OA takes 4 of them in our lodge so that leaves 48 to choose from.
Most Lodges do not have that many weekends.

ALso most of these leaders belong to the lodge and belong there also.

Note: Each Dictrict can put an adult in the Lodge each year.

wagionvigil wrote:Lets see I actually heard this " Do you want to go to camp and work all weekend or go trout fishing?" That is a no brainer and it was done on purpose.

That is just sad. I hope that person is no longer a Scoutmaster.

wagionvigil wrote:Note: Each Dictrict can put an adult in the Lodge each year.

I sort of knew this but was told only for "special" reasons like being a DE that would not be able to attend OA functions because they were not a member.

Professionals do not count against that number. If a troop thinks someone should go in besides the one adult they are putting in they can ask the district to put the extra adult in. Adults must meet the same camping requirements as the Youth.

One thing I woudl like to see changed is a requirement after you do your Ordeal that you muist attend one lodge weekend per year plus pay your membership dues to stay a member. Once you do not fulfill both of these requirements you must remove your Pocket flap. If you wear a flap and you have not met your obligation you loose your BSA membership. Yeah I know I am a Hard *** but I absolutely despise flap wearers. BIG TIME!

wagionvigil wrote:One thing I woudl like to see changed is a requirement after you do your Ordeal that you muist attend one lodge weekend per year plus pay your membership dues to stay a member. Once you do not fulfill both of these requirements you must remove your Pocket flap. If you wear a flap and you have not met your obligation you loose your BSA membership. Yeah I know I am a Hard *** but I absolutely despise flap wearers. BIG TIME!

What about those in college? Can they just pay their dues?

AS of now that is the way it is keep you dues current and that is all you must do. I am suggesting adding the attend one weekend as something new. WE have a June weekend and All Colleges are done by then and we have an Agust weekend before the colleges start again. SO they would miss the Oct and APril weekend for school. One cannot think of the OA as just a flap and a sash. It is your duty to your fellow scouts and the council.
To give cheerful service to your Camp and Your Council.

I've been busy getting Wood Badge ticket taken care of; however, next order of business is to get busy with OA.

The chapter advisor and I have become friends over the course of the past three or four Round Tables and he has invited me to become involved...which I plan on doing.

I'm real excited and I am going to start working on my Brotherhood.

Thanks for starting up this new section. I will be able to ask questions that may be stupid and have them answered.

wagionvigil wrote: WE have a June weekend and All Colleges are done by then .

Ohio State isn't.

Also, even the oA book states the rersoponsibility of a scouter whose leadership lies in the troop is to "encourage others on" so to speak. In the manuel it sates this is service of it's own.

encourage not discourage.
ALSo we had a youth in our Lodge that went to the Universuty of New Mexico and Never missed a weekend while there. I will say dad had alot of frequest flyer miles. Speaking of the Buckeyes one of our officers went there a couple of years back and he also never missed a weekend. So I guess it is up to the member but is it to much to ask that you do attend at least one activity a year instead of being a flap wearer. If you want to be in the OA just to have a flap and a sash and to say" I am a Member" you are very wrong.

wagionvigil wrote:encourage not discourage.

I see alot of the discourage in our Lodge, especially our Chapter. As I have just assumed the role of Chapter Advisor, I hope to make a change in these attitudes.

Much of the "bad blood" is old and the bridges that were burned need to be repaired. I hope to be able to get with these folks and help them see that things have changed and the OA can be a great asset in their unit.

Chief J

We will talk at the Conclave about problems . I am the Parking and reception ADviser so I should be the first Furry Face you see.

wagionvigil wrote: Speaking of the Buckeyes one of our officers went there a couple of years back and he also never missed a weekend.

This would depend entirely on what activities the guy is in! My older son is in Athletic band and is scheduled most weekends to play for something or other. He will be home only for a day or two of Spring break because of band and a basketball tournament.

wagionvigil wrote:AS of now that is the way it is keep you dues current and that is all you must do. I am suggesting adding the attend one weekend as something new. WE have a June weekend and All Colleges are done by then and we have an Agust weekend before the colleges start again. SO they would miss the Oct and APril weekend for school. One cannot think of the OA as just a flap and a sash. It is your duty to your fellow scouts and the council.
To give cheerful service to your Camp and Your Council.

The other option to consider is that they may want to register and participate with the lodge where they are going to college, (in which case they should wear the flap of that lodge).

If they are too busy in college (or other pursuits) to stay active in their lodge, are they really a 'flap-wearer'? I would think it more likely that they are a 'flap-owner'... they have a flap sewn onto a uniform but they never wear it.

scoutaholic wrote:
If they are too busy in college (or other pursuits) to stay active in their lodge, are they really a 'flap-wearer'? I would think it more likely that they are a 'flap-owner'... they have a flap sewn onto a uniform but they never wear it.

Three words.

College Scouter Reserve

pipestone1991 wrote:

scoutaholic wrote:
If they are too busy in college (or other pursuits) to stay active in their lodge, are they really a 'flap-wearer'? I would think it more likely that they are a 'flap-owner'... they have a flap sewn onto a uniform but they never wear it.

Three words.

College Scouter Reserve

OK, Pipestone, You're showing me up. After 20 years in scouting I've never heard of 'College Scouter Reserve'. What is that?

I haven't heard of it before either...but he may be onto something.