OA Chapter participation....

[Eaglescout711]

My Chapter is haveing trouble with participation. We have 5 youth attending our monthly metings with a total of 164 members. Are there any ideas I can use to try to boost my participation. Our Lodge Cheif, Associate Lodge Advisor, and Staff Advisor are all apart of our Chapter and they are quite upset also that this chapter that was Best Chapter All Around Few years back is now on the verge of dimsing. Please Help!!!!

[wagionvigil]

UNless you are a Metro COuncil you do not need chapters.

[Eaglescout711]

Chapters in our lodge are vital to the participation, fun, and fellowship of our lodge.

[FrankJ]

He has 165 members in his chapter. Certainly enough to justify a chapter? The question is how to get participation? Obviously the program has to be meaningful, fun, and well communicated. Still really does not answer how. I would like to know the answer as well.

[FieldSports]

FUN. Plain and simple.

[WeeWillie]

Eaglescout711

Papago Lodge? Me too! Victorio Chapter.

We are also struggling! My son was chapter chief several years ago.

We have chapter meetings the same night a leaders roundtable. Since many arrowmen have dads and moms attending roundtable it helps bring in arrowmen too!

Have a list of all arrowmen and talk to them during elections. Find out their interests. Dues status. Ask non-committed arrowmen to remove their flaps.

Our Spring Camporee is sponsored by Victorio Chapter and Arrowmen run stations etc.

Call out is during the Spring Camporee.

Call every troop before elections. Emphasize brotherhood and service at elections.

[WeeWillie]

Wagionvigil

In rural districts, chapters are critical to keep OA alive. There are only two Councils / Lodges in all of AZ. If you live in Tucson or "the Valley" (Phoenix & vic) things are fine, but the rest of the state is another matter. When my son was chapter chief it was a monthly 1.5 hour one way trip to lodge meetings and we are relativily close to Tucson. My earlier post to Eagle711 outlines some of the things that we do so that our arrowmen can be arrowmen.

[WVBeaver05]

Wagionvigil

In rural districts, chapters are critical to keep OA alive. There are only two Councils / Lodges in all of AZ. If you live in Tucson or "the Valley" (Phoenix & vic) things are fine, but the rest of the state is another matter. When my son was chapter chief it was a monthly 1.5 hour one way trip to lodge meetings and we are relativily close to Tucson. My earlier post to Eagle711 outlines some of the things that we do so that our arrowmen can be arrowmen.

Same kind of thing happens in WV (rural also). Our Council has 6 Districts. From one of them easily 3.5 hours to a common meeting place (in good weather ). In the other direction 2 hours. One of the districts is spread out enough that they regularly hold 2 different Round Tables.

YiS