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This post covers an important change in policy that will soon become effective regarding patches issued for all Order of the Arrow lodges chartered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).       Please read the whole post carefully.

At a recent meeting at the National Headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America, it was announced that a new policy will be put in place by both the Boy Scouts of America and the National  Order of the Arrow Committee regarding lodge patch issues.     Further announcements and clarifications will be made at this Summer’s National Order of the Arrow Conference and at section conclaves throughout the year.     This policy will be effective September 1, 2009.

All lodge flaps, and patches issued as multiple piece sets (most commonly two-piece sets) must be ordered through BSA Supply Division, or an official BSA licensee.     The national OA and the BSA has decreed that all items must be produced in a minimum quantity of 1000 (one thousand) pieces.     In the case where a lodge wishes to make minor changes in design or colors, 1000 of each must be produced.

Should the lodge feel they do not need that many pieces to suit their needs, the BSA Supply Division will purchase all remainders from the manufacturer and retain them.     They will be available to the lodges should more be needed.       At the BSA’s discretion, they will also be made available for sale in all BSA run Scout shops.

The intent behind this announcement is to put an end to the increasing number of low-run “special” or “restricted” items.   Such items are   disparagingly referred to by collectors as contrived rarities.

Members of the committee were concerned about the undue emphasis lodges were placing on manipulating patch values for the perceived benefit of the secondary market       Some felt that this manipulation resulted in lodge leaders acting in both an   unethical un-Scoutlike manner.       These actions are antithetical to the spirit of   “servant leadership” and brotherhood the   leaders in the OA were trying to foster.       They feel this move will reduce the mercenary attitudes some lodges and individuals have adopted towards patches, instead and refocus the attention of the lodges’ leaderships on the core goals and mission of the Order.

Furthermore, the OA has actively sought to improve its financial condition and stability.     The Order has worked hard in recent decades to increase revenue at the national level as a means to fund the Order’s growing programs.     In recent years these programs have dramatically increased in scope and expense.     Also, the Order wishes to build an endowment so as to be completely self-sufficient before its centennial in 2015.     They believe a partnership with BSA supply division to sell these items would result in a significant increase in income.

According to my source at BSA Supply, Gary LaMerde, this change in policy is part of a larger initiative by the BSA to increase merchandise sales.     In 2007 the BSA formed the Committee   On   Merchandise Marketing and Improving Equipment Sales.   Among other tasks, this committee was specifically charged with finding ways to better tap into the patch collecting craze.   Members of this committee noted how revenues increased when the BSA first started selling council shoulder patches (CSPs) through the national catalog over 25 years ago.

They have received reports from managers of Scout Shops located in newly created councils of the significant number of telephone orders for the new CSP which originate from outside the boundaries of the council.   Often the council would run out of CSPs long before loal members had an opportunity to acquire the new patch.     Additionally, as was discovered in 1981, whenever the BSA makes a significant change to the uniform, there is an initial influx of funds due to increased demand for uniform patches.   This initial influx would significantly improve the probability of the Order reaching its goal of self-sufficiency.   As a result the committee saw a great untapped opportunity for BSA in Order of the Arrow patches.     The National Order of the Arrow Committee and the BSA’s Supply Division management were quickly able to reach a financial agreement on how to distribute this “wealth” around through the   sale of these patches.       The details on what percentage of the net sales will be returned to the lodges and councils have yet to be worked out.

This program will be implemented through changes in the BSA’s licensing agreements.     All licensees must sell any remainders (the difference between what a lodge wants to purchase and the minimum production requirement) to the BSA.     The price paid by the BSA will no greater than the price the lodge is charged less 10%.       Scout Executives will be instructed to encourage each lodge’s leadership to accept as much as the minimum order requirement as is practical.     A licensee found to violate this policy risks loss of his license to produce BSA items.

Only lodge flaps and other related items when part of a multiple piece set are subject to this new requirement.     Lodge event items and other items such as jacket patches, chenilles, bullions, and even chapter items can be produced in lower quantities.       Supply Division will not take delivery or sell these exempted items.

It is expected there will be a significant amount of resistance to a change of this magnitude.   It was felt most of the resistance will probably come from patch collectors who are trying to preserve the perceived value of their lodge’s items on the secondary market, or by those who believe that an Order of the Arrow flap is something more than a patch of identifying membership in a lodge.     Just as a CSP identifies the BSA member’s registration in a council, a lodge flap identifies a person as being a member of a lodge.     When not worn, a CSP is just an item of merchandise to the BSA.   Lodge flaps are looked at the same way.

Lodges are reminded that attempts to circumvent this policy will result in corrective action by the council’s staff adviser, Scout Executive, or their superiors.         Corrective action may include termination of membership in the Boy Scouts of America.   There will be no exceptions to this policy.

I know many will disagree with this policy.     It is certainly controversial and sure to result in a lot of discussion.     However it will not impact the lodge’s activities in any significant way.     Do not bother members of the National OA Committee as there is nothing they can do about this change now. In fact, if the OA and BSA’s supply division can reach an agreement, it is probable that a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of these patches by supply division will be returned to the lodges resulting in an increase in income to them.     The increased availability and visibility of these collectibles may also lead to an increased interest in patch collecting as a hobby as it will enable young collectors to acquire items that otherwise would be unobtainable.

I also ask readers to pay careful attention to the effective date of this change and when it was announced.

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