Last year Cayuga County Council was dissolved by the Boy Scouts of America and its territory assigned to Hiawatha Seaway Council.   This meant the end for Tahgajute lodge #247 when its charter expired at the end of last year.     Although this wasn’t a merger of two councils, as one had ceased to exist as a legal entity, the newly enlarged council and lodge both decided to change their names.   Thanks to Craig Leighty for finding an announcement of the new council and lodge name on the council’s website.

The new lodge, effective January 1, 2010, is named Lowanne Nimat. Its translates from Lenape is given as “Brothers of the North.” Craig reports from another source that the lodge’s totem is the Gougou, a creature similar the sasquatch.   The new lodge will continue to use 219 as its number.   The lodge asks that any questions about this transition be directed to the lodge adviser.

Councilstrips with the new name are available.   I do not yet have any word on any lodge patches.

Popularity: 16% [?]

A new OA lodge has been formed in New York.     Previously the councils of Ty-Ohni Lodge #95 (Rochester Area) and Ganeodiyo Lodge #417 (Finger Lakes) merged to form Seneca Waterways Council. I can now announce the new OA lodge is Tschipey Achtu lodge. They will use the number 397, which is also the council number.

Thanks to Craig Leighty for directing me to the official word on the council’s website about this.   I may also have missed this news on Bill Mulrenin’s excellent NY OA blog.

The National Order of the Arrow no longer officially assigns lodge numbers but most lodges still use their traditional numbers.   Collectors also have continued to use lodge numbers since OA lodge names are often difficult to pronounce, and out of a sense of tradition and convenience.   Since this change by National newly formed lodges have followed a variety of practices.   Some, like Pocumtuc lodge, have made it a point to adopt no lodge number although some collectors use a number (83) anyways.   Others like Takoda lodge have, at least in some circles, used a number (146) of historical significance to them.   Still others, like Kittan lodge, have used their council’s number (364) as their own.     364 was also conveniently the lodge number of one of Kittan’s predecessor lodges.

Continue Reading »

Popularity: 14% [?]

For years now there has been some concern among select members of the Order of the Arrow’s (OA’s) National Committee that the selection process for the Vigil Honor as practiced in many lodges is seriously flawed.   It has been observed that the process is highly subjective.   It often recognizes those who serve in highly visible positions of authority, or those who manage to find themselves in Scouting’s equivalent of a sinecure.   In some lodges political connections or nepotism matter more than the Order’s principles in deciding who is bestowed with the Vigil Honor.   Many Arrowmen who are exemplars of the Order’s principles go unrecognized.

In recognition of these flaws, and fulfilling a desire to make the Vigil Honor selection process more objective and fair two major policy changes are to be enacted.     These changes are have significant implications for the Order and its lodges, so please read them completely.
Continue Reading »

Popularity: 45% [?]

Check out this recent post on Roy More’s blog:

http://thescoutpatchauction.com/blogsite/2010/03/23/this-is-wrong

I am not a supporter of Big Labor and learn very much to the political and fiscal right however I agree with Roy that there is something inherently wrong with this.

Popularity: 41% [?]

One hundred years ago today, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded by W. D. Boyce.     The Scouting movement was started in the United Kingdom in 1907 by Lord Baden-Powell.     Boyce brought Scouting to the US after meeting with “the unknown Scout” in London, many legends springing up around this encounter.     From that humble beginning sprang the largest youth movement in the free world.

There are celebrations planned around the country and online on this date.     Scouts and Scouters are being encouraged to wear their uniforms on this date.   The BSA also has events planned throughout the year in honor of its centennial,   with the high point being this Summer’s National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill.   If   you see any links to coverage of today’s anniversary events, please add them in the comments.     I will try to add some myself as I find them.

Happy Birthday to the BSA!

Popularity: 100% [?]

I was told earlier this evening that the executive boards of York-Adams Area and Keystone Area Councils, BSA, have unanimously recommended their councils be consolidated by merger.   Next month the voting membership of both councils will be asked to vote on this merger.

If either council votes “no” there will be no merger.

If both councils approve the merger will be effective March 1, 2010.   The temporary name Keystone York-Adams Council would then be used with a permanent name to be chosen within six months.   Susquehannock and Tuckahoe lodges would then merge on January 1, 2011

Further details can be found on the York-Adams Area Council website.

Thanks to David Hultberg for passing on this news via patch-l.

Popularity: 40% [?]

George Jennings, a frequent contributor of images to this site especially for New York issues, was recently honored by the International Rotary with the Cliff Dochterman Award.   This award recognizes a Rotarian who acts as a role model and renders distinguished and dedicated service to Scouting through active service, leadership or other exemplary contributions.   He is an active member of Hudson Valley Council and Nacha Nimat Lodge.   He is one of only four Scouters to receive this award since its inception in 1994!

The Poughkeepsie Journal has a short article online about this award.

Congratulations to George Jennings for being recognized for his service, and his 63 years in Scouting!

(Hmm… I wonder if this award has a square knot and if he has any to trade… )

Popularity: 40% [?]

From the Official National Order of the Arrow Website:

Rich Ferolo elected as the Central Region Chief.
Brian Ahrens elected as the North East Region Chief.
Don Combs elected as the Southern Region Chief.
Fred Gross elected as the Western Region Chief.

No further information was given at this time.

Popularity: 31% [?]

From the Official National Order of the Arrow Website:

Brad Lichota (Chippewa Lodge, Great Lakes Council #272) was elected the 2010 National Chief.

Will Swingle (Nawakwa Lodge, Heart of Virginia Council #602) was elected as the 2010 National Vice Chief.

No further information was given.     A search on the internet shows Mr. Lichota was section chief of C-2A, and Mr. Swingle was chief of SR-7A.

The 2010 Region Chiefs will be elected after breakfast on December 28.

Popularity: 28% [?]

As the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is about to begin the celebrations of its centennial, expect a great effort to be made to preserve its history and make it available for posterity’s sake.     In the early years there were many great men involved with the BSA, with giant personalities, and whose significant contributions have last decades after their own passing.     Dr. E. Urner Goodman, founder of the Order of the Arrow, was one such man.

I recently saw this video posted on another blog and thought I needed to share it again.     This very popular and moving video was first shown at the 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) Center for History.     It contains edited remarks from Dr. Goodman originally delivered at the 1954 and 1956 NOACs.       The words are just as meaningful today as they were a half century ago.     Wisdom does not become dated with age.

Among other things, Dr. Goodman tells us of the great danger involved with founding the Order in 1915.     He then went on to describe three specific dangers:

1. The danger of the clique;
2. The danger of the oligarchy;
3. The danger of the boss.

The threat from those three dangers — both within the Order and our society in general — are just as great today as in 1915, or in the 1950s when these remarks were delivered.     Be on guard for them

An embedded link is after the jump.
Continue Reading »

Popularity: 22% [?]