Noquet Lodge Great Lakes Field Service Council, MCC 1776 West Warren Avenue Detroit, Michigan Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America

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1 Noquet Lodge Great Lakes Field Service Council, MCC 1776 West Warren Avenue Detroit, Michigan Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America October 21, 2015 To: cc: All GLFSC Scoutmasters Troop Committee Chairmen Subject: Preparing for Order of the Arrow Elections (January to March, 2016) Through election by their peers, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting s National Honor Society, recognizes those Scouts who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Noquet Lodge serves the troops and scouts of Great Lakes Field Service Council. Since May, 2014, our lodge is divided into 6 chapters, each corresponding to one or two GLFSC districts. Annual Unit Visit Each year, our Chapters are required to contact the units they serve to arrange for Order of the Arrow elections, offer other services to the unit and obtain a signed OA Eligibility Report. We urge each Boy Scout Troop with qualified Scouts to have an election conducted for their youth. If your Troop does not have qualifying youth, your Chapter will be happy to visit and provide a youth presentation emphasizing camping participation, advancement, and Scout spirit. Youth Qualifications To be eligible for election to OA membership, a youth must be a registered member under age 21 and: Be First Class rank or above (attained prior to age 18). Have completed 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election, including one, but not more than one, long-term resident camp of six consecutive days and five nights, 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 camping. Be certified for the qualifications above and for Scout spirit by his Scoutmaster or his designee, prior to the election. Please note these eligibility requirements do not distinguish between tent and cabin camping. Scoutmasters who choose to make such a distinction are asked to inform scouts at least twice a year (Fall and Spring). The unit leader can prevent a Scout from being considered by his peers for election into OA. The Lodge strongly recommends that a Scout considered to have insufficient scout spirit be informed in a Scoutmaster s Conference well before the election and allowed sufficient time and opportunities to demonstrate the required spirit prior to the election. The unit leader must certify approval of the eligible candidates by signing the OA Eligibility Report prior to the election presentation. Approval cannot be revoked later. Youth Election Approved youth candidates will be submitted to their fellow Scouts and Scouters under 21. Voting will be based on their adherence to the Scout Oath and Law in the Troop and their daily life.

2 - 2 - An OA election is a joint effort of Troop and Chapter. The date and place of the election are set jointly and well in advance, so the Chapter can prepare a team to conduct the election. Every effort should be made to have maximum attendance of both youths and adults at the election. Attendance of 50% of active registered unit members under 21 is required to conduct the election. Therefore, elections usually are held at a regularly scheduled unit meeting. The Chapter will make every effort to accommodate the unit s preferred election date within the election season. The Chapter trains youth election teams, and sends adult advisers with them, to ensure each unit s election is conducted within OA rules and accurately reported to the Lodge prior to the first Ordeal of the calendar year. If your Troop has an OA Troop Representative, he will be asked to introduce the Chapter election team and participate in a portion of the election presentation. Scoutmasters are encouraged to monitor the presentation and, along with the election team s adviser, ensure it is clear and complete before ballots are passed out to Scouts. To be accepted by the Lodge, the election must be held during the election season established by the Lodge and conducted by youth Arrowmen authorized by the Lodge. The 2016 election season is January 1 through March 31. Elections cannot be led by youth members or leaders of the unit or other unauthorized individuals, and cannot be held outside the election season. Youth Notification Candidates receiving votes on half of the ballots cast by Scouts and Scouters under 21) are elected. Options for notifying elected candidates may include a suspenseful and impressive Indian-themed call-out ceremony in front of many units, if offered by your OA chapter at a Scouting event; at a unit court of honor; or at a unit campout or regular meeting. The method and timing of notifying candidates is at the Scoutmaster s discretion. However, the Lodge may communicate directly with candidates after April 15. Scoutmasters are strongly encouraged to notify elected youth by April 15. Adult Recommendations Each year the unit elects youth candidates under 21, the unit committee may recommend registered unit adult(s) 21 years of age or older to the Lodge adult selection committee, and is encouraged to do so. Recommended adults must fulfill the camping requirements set forth for youth members. The committee should be aware that selection of the adult by the Lodge, and confirmation by the Scout Executive, will be based on his or her ability to help the Order fulfill its purpose and to provide a positive example to youth members. It is not for recognition of service, achievements or position. The number of adults recommended can be up to one-third of the number of elected youth candidates, rounded up where the number of youth candidates is not a multiple of three. In addition to the one-third limit, the unit committee is encouraged to nominate the current Scoutmaster, if he or she has served as in that position at least 12 months. Adult recommendations are due by April 15. Recommendations received after that date will not be processed. Adults are not considered elected and should not be notified of election or register to attend an Ordeal until approval of the lodge adult selection committee and the Scout executive has been received. Ordeals Once elected, any candidate must participate in an Ordeal within one year to become an OA member. Candidates elected during the 2016 election season will be eligible to be inducted at any 2016 Ordeal: May 20 22, 2016 location to be announced August 26-28, 2016 location to be announced For updates, check

3 - 3 - The Lodge respectfully requests troops not schedule activities on the dates above, so candidates elected to OA can attend their Ordeal without missing a unit outing. Steps to Take Now Your Chapter will contact the troop this Fall to arrange a visit during the 2016 election season. Please be prepared to set a date at that time. Please review the Troop contact and meeting information provided by the Council to the Chapter on the attached sheet. If your contact information is incorrect, or in the event you do not hear from your Chapter by November 15, please contact a Chapter representative at your monthly Roundtable or by . If you prefer the Chapter to set the visit date with your OA Troop Representative or his Adviser in the unit or your Senior Patrol Leader, please send the appropriate contact information to the Chapter and empower your liaison to set the date when they are contacted. Also, give them an approximate number of eligible Scouts. If your Troop has OA members you believe could help conduct elections for other Troops, please recommend them to your Chapter when they call. After Your Election Is Scheduled Share the election date with your SPL, PLC and Troop Committee. A Month Ahead Make sure the Troop s rank and camping information for Scouts is up to date. Consider which adult(s) to recommend in the event scout(s) are elected. Plan about 15 minutes for the election presentation. A Week Ahead Get an advance copy of the Eligibility Report form at GreatLakes/OA/AwardsampForms. Expect a confirmation call from your unit election team youth leader 5 to 7 days before the scheduled election. He will have additional information. Prepare printed ballots with all eligible candidates names. On Election Day Bring a roster with BSA ID numbers and birth dates to the election. We want you to have the smoothest visit and best election possible. Respectfully yours, John McCoy Jameson Cavanaugh Sam Sitar Mark Fobare Denver Laabs Chief Vice Chief- Administration Elections Chair Adviser Lodge Staff Adviser Noquet Lodge Noquet Lodge Noquet Lodge Noquet Lodge Great Lakes FSC

4 - 4 - Connecting With Your OA Chapter If the information below is incorrect or missing, or you do not hear from your OA Chapter by November 15, please your OA election scheduling contacts below. In the unlikely event you do not hear from your chapter within 10 days, please noquetunitelections@gmail.com. Your OA Election Scheduling Contacts Achowalogen Chapter Serving Units in Rennaisance District 1st Monday of the Month Dauch Scout Center 1776 W Warren Ave, Detroit, MI Nick Andrews nandrews356@yahoo.com Adviser (adult) Gary Morehead gmorehead@kmrinc.com Phone Chippewa Chapter Serving Units in Chippewa District 2nd Thursday of the Month Utica United Methodist Church 8650 Canal Road, Sterling Heights, MI Dan Peters thebrute133@gmail.com Adviser (adult) Paul Hardy pjhardy@comcast.net Phone

5 - 5 - Lalai Haki Chapter Serving Units in North Star and Sunrise Districts «Chapter_Meeting_Day» Lamphere High School (Teachers Lounge) 610 W 13 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI Jakub Shonka jakub_shonka@att.net Adviser (adult) Barb Holley bascouter@att.net Phone Migisi-Opawgan Chapter Serving Units in Mahican and Sunset Districts 4th Thursday of the Month Garden City Masonic Lodge 1740 Middlebelt Rd, Garden City, MI Brian Maghran maghranb@aol.com Adviser (adult) Eric Stockwell jeb772@sbcglobal.net Phone

6 - 6 - Ottawa Chapter Serving Units in Ottawa District 2nd Thursday of the Month Walled Lake Church of Christ 1367 N Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, MI Michael Salcicioli msalcicioli@comcast.net Adviser (adult) Harrol Beebe harrolbeebe@hotmail.com Phone Pontiac-Manito Chapter Serving Units in Pontiac-Manito District 2nd Thursday of the Month Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 5464 Waterford Rd, Clarkston, MI Ryan Weaver rmweaver@ameritech.net Adviser (adult) Cliff Dabrowski ponman@michiganwildlife.com Phone