Order of the arrow elections

[wagionvigil]

It is something that most lodge struggle with and you must stay on it constantly.

[Bill Pitcher]

Let's talk OA Elections. Do you have election teams in costume, with script memorized, for Troop election visits, or is everyone just happy to have 2 or 3 warm bodies show up?

[wagionvigil]

We have never had them in dress. WE usually have a couple son and dad teams in each district go out.

[Quailman]

ditto.

[Chief J]

Our election teams are 2 Youth and an adult. All three attend in full scout uniform with OA sash. the youth under the watchful eye of their adult advisor arrive at the Troop meeting, meet with the SM and conduct the election process.

Entire process usually takes 20-30 minutes.

Chief J

[wagionvigil]

Our election teams are 2 Youth and an adult. All three attend in full scout uniform with OA sash. the youth under the watchful eye of their adult advisor arrive at the Troop meeting, meet with the SM and conduct the election process.

Entire process usually takes 20-30 minutes.

Chief J

BINGO!!!!

[kwildman]

We had our elections last night. Had six eligible scouts and three chose to be considered for election. Now the long wait until the Spring Camporee to see who gets called.

[smtroop168]

Our election teams are 2 Youth and an adult. All three attend in full scout uniform with OA sash. the youth under the watchful eye of their adult advisor arrive at the Troop meeting, meet with the SM and conduct the election process.

Do they have to have a Tour Permit? Actually do Lodge events such as Ordeals and Fellowship weekends fall under TP rules? If I bring a number of my troop members to Lodge event as a unit do I need one?

How is YP ensured?

If the youth run the OA, what is the watchful eye for?

[wagionvigil]

OA is an Individual activity and as such is exempt from TP

[smtroop168]

Makes sense to me but Lodge events are BSA events so the YP/2 deep rules still apply?

[FrankJ]

Youth Protection rules apply. Does not necessarily require two adults at a meeting. (Still no one on one contact)

OA events would be considered district/council event and as such would not need a tour permit in our council. YMMV

Chapter/lodges have an adult adviser to guide & insure that BSA policies are followed.

[Chief J]

OA events are considered Council level here. As long as the activity occurs within the council, no tour permit is required. If a committee (such as dance team) is leaving the council, then a tour permit is filed.

As far as YP and other boy scout policies, they apply and are enforced.

The reason for the watchful adult eye is to help the youth stay on track and not get in over their head. the youth come up with the idea, adopt the plan, and execute. the adults are their to ensure the policies of the BSA and other laws/rules are followed and done safely. We don't plan it, the adults just make sure the youth plan it safely. (This is where old age and experience gierally may be more valuable than youth and ambition).


Regards,
Chief J

[kimberbakos]

Our troop elections were last night, and we had five eligible boys. Four got elected - the one who did not was my son He was one vote short, and hadn't voted for himself, because he thought voting for himself would be a vote against one of his friends. He didn't understand that the votes weren't out of a set total and that each individual's votes were separate from the votes for the other boys. He was so angry at himself for not understanding and for doing what he thought was the right thing by not being selfish and trying to get the spot for himself. So his display of the right attitude cost him his spot in OA. So he'll have to try again next year.

[kwildman]

Our troop elections were last night, and we had five eligible boys. Four got elected - the one who did not was my son He was one vote short, and hadn't voted for himself, because he thought voting for himself would be a vote against one of his friends. He didn't understand that the votes weren't out of a set total and that each individual's votes were separate from the votes for the other boys. He was so angry at himself for not understanding and for doing what he thought was the right thing by not being selfish and trying to get the spot for himself. So his display of the right attitude cost him his spot in OA. So he'll have to try again next year.

We had a similar issue where after the fact several scouts claimed that they didnt know they could vote for more than one. I know that the OA rep, OA advisor, SM, and myself each said at least once that you can vote for none, one, two, three, or all four. We also told the boys that they SHOULD vote for themselves.

How is it that they know that night who got elected? Is this a regional thing? In our District, only the SM knows who got elected that night. The kids wont find out until the callouts at the spring camporee.

[kimberbakos]

I don't know if it is a district/council thing, or just our troop, but it is always announced following the election. That way the boys who have been elected can make plans to either come to summer camp and be tapped out and do their ordeal there, or if they are busy the week of summer camp, they can do the ordeal that our OA has every year in May instead. That way, no one who is elected misses out on the opportunity simply because they didn't know it was coming their way.

[Mrw]

Our election results are always announced the night of the elections too. We do not have a spring district camporee, but a fall one, so waiting until the camporee to let the boys know would be a problem.

[FrankJ]

I think announcing the results of the election is more of a troop thing. We wait until camporee which is before any of the ordeals in our Council. If some reason a scout misses the tap out, they are told so they do not miss the opportunity.

[kwildman]

isnt one of the "purposes" of OA to promote camping? We are a very small district and our OA generally puts on 2 camporee's spring and winter. The spring one in advance of the ordeal weekends. If a scout misses the camporee they are then notified. I think the callout ceremony promotes the OA and encourages participation. I dont see much excitement in announcing right after the vote.

[wagionvigil]

All of our candidates are called out during summer camp.

[kwildman]

Call outs were this weekend. My youngest son was the only scouter from our troop. I was surprised about also being called out. I guess someone figured that i didnt have enough to do in scouting already. Should be really special doing the Ordeal with my son.