Northeast Illinois Council - OA Website
Yakwa'-Hay Chapter
Troop 66 OA Members

 
Ordeal
Kevin B, Mr. Brian Davies, Phil D, Brad F, Mr. Chris Grasty,  Mr. Jeff Kockler, 
Mrs. Fay Kockler, Mr. Kenny Kockler, Mr. Jim Ksiezak, Mr. Bob Mason, 
Morgan M, Kody R, Daniel S, Bob S, Phil S. Mr. Joe Svoboda

 
Brotherhood
Mr. Clark Sell, Kyle K. 

Vigil
   

Note: If your name is not on the list,  talk to us at the next Troop Meeting

Order of the Arrow
by David Michael

Purpose
The purpose of the Order of The Arrow is fourfold:

1. To recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.

2. To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.

3. To promote Scout camping.

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

History
The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scout of America. It became an official program experiment as the BSA’s National Brotherhood of Honor Campers, later becoming an official part of the National Camping Program of the Boy Scouts of America.

Membership
The OA has more than 170,000 members located in lodges affiliated with approximately 340 BSA local councils.

Eligibility
To become a member, a youth must be a register member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced a minimum of fifteen days and nights of Scout camping (including a six-night resident camp). Scouts are elected to the Order of the Arrow by their fellow unit members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity Team Coach.

Induction                             
The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is conducted at Scout camp and is the first step toward full membership. After ten 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                               
After two years of service as Brotherhood member, and with approval of National Order of the Arrow Committee, a Scout may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and the community. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every fifty members registered with the lodge each year.

Lodges
The local 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, youth leadership development, special support resources, and enhanced member sip tenure.

Sections
An Order of the Arrow section consists of local lodges within a geographical area of the region. Once every year, representatives of lodge in the section come together for a conclave to share in fellowship and skills. All other elected section chiefs form the conference committee for a National Order of the Arrow event, which is held under the guidance the National Order of the Arrow committee. The religion chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section chiefs for a term of office specified by the National Order of the Arrow Committee, which coincides with the term of National Chief and Vice-Chief. This election is held in conjunction with called meetings of the Section Chiefs to elect the National Chief and Vice-Chief, as well as to plan a National Order of the Arrow event. The regional Order of the Arrow Chairman is an adult appointed by the regional director. The professional advisor for the region is a staff member assigned to the position by the regional director.

National Chief and Vice-Chief
These 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 conference committee, providing the opinion of youth on the National OA policy. They also serves the presiding officers for the National OA event. Their term of office is specified by the National Committee Chairman and National Director of the Order of the Arrow.

National OA Committee Chairman
This individual is appointed by the Chairman of the National Boy Scout Committee. The professional advisor is the National Director of the Order of the Arrow, a member of the National Boy Scout Division staff.