September 15, Scoutmasters and Varsity Coaches,

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1 September 15, 2017 Scoutmasters and Varsity Coaches, The time is upon us to elect new members into the Order of the Arrow (OA). These unit elections kick off on September 20, 2017 and will end on December 20, We encourage you to use this time frame to elect your members but if you miss this time we will be happy to accommodate you throughout the year. There are many advantages to holding an election which includes: recognizing honor scouts, encouraging youth participation, leadership training, and providing another motivation to go camping and earn first class. The OA is Scouting s National Honor Society. Our foundation is built on 3 principles; Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service. With that foundation we fulfill our purpose of; Celebrating Scouts. Promoting camping. Developing leaders. And, helping others. I remember the evening I was elected to the OA. I was super excited for weeks afterwards, hoping that my peers had given me the honor of election as an OA Candidate. Later, at Summer Camp, when I was called out, I was so overwhelmed that I thought nothing could ever be better. Completing my Induction weekend and converting to Brotherhood membership in OA both proved that there was still room for me to be impressed and hugely influenced by the lessons taught in each ceremony. The Lodge has always had its arms open to my participation, but also reminded me of my first obligation to serve my Troop. The result; I became a better Scout and I have been able to bring many lessons learned back to my Troop for everyone s benefit. The OA is a youth run organization where all our members are elected by fellow youth (20 and younger). Youth (under 21) are elected through a closed ballot by their youth and young adult peers in your unit. All BSA members who are registered, active, and under 21 years of age are eligible to vote. Please take the time to look at the attached documents as it explains the OA membership requirements.

2 Adults (21 and over) can be nominated to the OA as well. Unlike youth members, adults are nominated by their troop adults. For every three (3) youth a troop elects, one (1) adult leader may be nominated. Scoutmaster (with 12 months in position) nominations do not count against this quota. For your convenience an Election Coordinator directory is included on the last page of the information packet. Feel free to call or the Chapter OA Unit Elections Contact from your District/Chapter to get the process started. And our Vice Chief of Inductions can be reached at inductions@ainatopahutsi.org. If you were not already planning to hold elections, I hope you will consider the awesome opportunity this could be for the youth in your unit. It is my goal that every unit in Alamo Area will be visited over the next several months by members of our Order. So even if you are not ready to have an Election now, please schedule a visitation with your chapter and learn more about this fantastic organization. It really was the magic that brought Scouting s entire benefits home for my scoutmaster and I. Again, thank you all for what you do, it does matter. Yours In Scouting, Job Keith Aina Topa Husti #60 Lodge Chief

3 ORDER OF THE ARROW MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS Youth Membership Qualifications: Unit Leader approval A Boy Scout or Varsity Scout must be registered with his unit and have the approval of his Unit Leader prior to the election. Approval is based on his Scout Spirit, adherence to the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and Participation in Unit activities. He must be under the age of 21 at the time of the election, subject to meeting the following requirements: 1. Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America 2. Hold the rank of First Class, as a minimum. 3. After registering with a Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Scout Team, have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period immediately prior to the election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of SIX consecutive days and FIVE nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance (9 days) of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps. Scouts with Special Needs: The Order of the Arrow is committed to including Scouts and Scouters who have special needs because of a disability. Any Scout who is classified as a youth member of a Unit, regardless of age, will be considered a youth (voting) member. All other membership requirements remain the same. Adult Membership Qualifications for Recommendation by Units: 1. The Unit must have conducted an OA Election for their youth, resulting in the election of at least one youth candidate. 2. An adult candidate must be 21 years of age or older. An adult candidate must be registered in the Boy Scouts of America with their Troop or Varsity Team 3. The camping requirements set for youth have been met by the recommended adult. The number of adults recommended can be no more than one-third of the number of youth candidates elected, rounded up where the number of youth candidates is not a multiple of three. In addition to the one-third limit, the Unit Committee may recommend the currently-serving Unit Leader (but not assistant leaders), as long as he or she has served as Unit Leader for at least the previous twelve months. 4. The individuals nominated will be an asset to the Order based on demonstrated skills & abilities, which fulfill the purpose of the Order. 5. The adult leader s membership in the Order will provide a positive role model for the growth and development of the youth members of the Lodge. Selection of the adult is based upon ability to perform the requisite functions, and not for recognition of service or tenure which includes current or prior achievements and/or positions. The Adult Candidate Recommendation must have the signatures of the Unit Leader and Committee Chair unless one of those is the recommended adult. Please note that an adult is selected, not elected. Adults may only be recommended from where they maintain their primary registration as shown on their BSA registration card and/or their Unit Charter Roster. Adult Membership Qualifications for Recommendation by Council or Districts: 1. Adult leaders registered in Council or District positions must fulfill all requirements set forth for adults in Units with the exception of the camping requirement, which may be waived at the discretion of the Lodge Adviser and the Scout Executive. 2. Because the Order of the Arrow is principally a youth organization, District, and Council Scouters are NOT recommended for membership as recognition. Recommendation into the Order should take place only when the adult s job in Boy Scouting or Varsity Scouting will make the Order of the Arrow membership more meaningful in the lives of the youth membership. 3. All adult recommendations must be submitted on the Adult Candidate Recommendation and signed by the District Executive. The Youth Candidate Election Report and the Adult Candidate Recommendation can be found at our Lodge s website at or the OA page of our Council s website at Adult members are approved by a Selection Committee consisting of the Lodge

4 Adviser, the Staff Adviser and the Committee Chair of the Council Committee on which the Lodge Advisor serves. Final approval comes from the Scout Executive. ORDER OF THE ARROW YOUTH ELECTION PROCEDURE 1. The LODGE shall determine the time of year Order of the Arrow Unit Elections will be held. Unit Elections for Aina Topa Hutsi #60 Lodge, Alamo Area Council, BSA, are being held from September 20 through December 20 th. 2. The UNIT LEADER (Scoutmaster or Varsity Coach) shall download the Youth Candidate Election Report from the Lodge website (under Lodge Documents) and contact their Chapter Unit Elections Advisor to establish the time and place of the unit election. A form for each Adult should also be prepared and signed. This should be done 2 weeks prior to your Units election. 3. Every registered, active member of the Unit under the age of 21 at the time of the election is eligible to vote. The Unit Leader shall determine if a member is active based on their participation in Unit activities and Scout Spirit. At least 50% of the Unit s registered active membership must be present in order to conduct an Election. 4. The Unit Leader shall fill out the Youth Candidate Election Report. By doing so, the Unit Leader certifies that those listed meet all eligibility requirements, including attitude and participation. If a Leader is leaving a Scout off the ballot, the matter should be discussed with the Scout on a different night before the election. The Chapter OA Election Advisor and the Unit Leader must inspect the pre-printed ballots prior to the election to be sure ALL NAMES are complete and correct before they are printed and distributed. The Youth Candidate Election Report is the only form on which an OA Unit Election may be submitted. The election may not begin until the Unit Leader certifies the nominees by signing the Youth Candidate Election Report. The Unit Leader is to observe the entire election. 5. Scouts who receive votes on at least 50% of the ballots turned in are elected. If at least one is elected, that is the final result. In the event that no one is elected, a second vote may be held immediately and the result of that vote will be final. 6. As the OA Election Team conducts the Select the candidates election ceremony, be sure to stress who, in your opinion, have set the best examples of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service. 7. Vote only for those you believe will If you feel that no continue in unselfish service to your Unit. If you are new in the Unit one is worthy, turn in a blank ballot. and do not know the candidates well enough to vote wisely, you may abstain by not turning in a ballot and this will not affect the final result. 8. Youth eligible for election also vote and may vote for Voters may vote for any, themselves if they feel they are worthy. all or none of those nominated by the Unit Leader that they believe to be worthy. 9. When the voting is finished, the OA Election Team counts the number of ballots turned in and enters that number on the Youth Candidate Election Report. The OA Election Team is NOT to open the ballots until the count (members present and required votes) has been recorded on the Youth Candidate Election Report. EVERY BALLOT CAST MUST BE COUNTED. 10. The OA Election Team determines the minimum number of votes one must receive to be elected, as follows: If the number of ballots turned in was even, divide this number by 2. If the number was odd, add one to the number of ballots turned in and then divide by two. Scouts who receive votes on at least 50% of the ballots turned in are elected. 11. The votes are counted in private by the OA Election Team and the Unit Leader making sure to follow BSA 2 deep leadership guidelines at all times. All votes count equally. If at least one Unit member has been elected, this result is FINAL. If no one is elected, ONE more election may be held immediately and the result of this ballot is final. The OA Election Team is never to reveal the election results. CANDIDATE STATUS After election, a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Adult remains a candidate until completion of the Ordeal and Ordeal Ceremony and becomes inducted into the Order of the Arrow. The candidacy expires one year from the date of election. To become a candidate again, they must be re-elected or selected. When petitioned in writing, the Lodge

5 Executive Committee may extend the end of year limit between election and induction into the Order if a candidate is ill or there are other unusual circumstances. ALAMO AREA COUNCIL CHAPTER OA ELECTION DIRECTORY For Scheduling Unit OA Elections Unit Elections Begin on September 20 th this year. DISTRICT/CHAPTER CONTACT PHONE Armadillo Will Sudds (210) wilcin12@aol.com Cimarron Teresa Wishard (210) teresawishard@yahoo.com Diamondback Laura Campos (910) oandlcampos@gmail.com Longhorn David Keith (210) jobspappy@gmail.com Memorial Patty Arentt (210) pattyarentt18@aol.com Rough Rider Phil McKeon (210) pmckeon6230@att.net Summit Patrick Walther (830) patrick.walther@gmail.com Texas Hills Carryl Vasquez (830) hawkstorm@yahoo.com Two Rivers Hailey Windham/Preston Shelton (210) (210) hfwindham@sbcglobal.net/gryphon0235@gmail.com Victory Wayne Goodwin (210) jeffersonpaint@hotmail.com The BSA ID number, address, zip code, phone number, address and date of birth are required for each Scout nominated on the Youth Candidate Election Report. Also, if you plan to recognize your Candidates out of Council, you must show that location on your election report. Your unit election can only be conducted within the Council where your unit is chartered. If you have ANY problems with scheduling your unit s election or with the way your election was conducted, please contact the Council Service Center at (210) and ask for Linda Dieguez, the Order of the Arrow Staff Adviser.