How do I become a member of the O.a., and once elected what happens next?

Ta Tsu Hwa #138 holds Unit Elections on an annual basis.  Our Election period runs from January to April.  During that time Chapters Chiefs and Advisers call each Troop and Varsity Team in their respective Districts (Chapters) and schedules an election.  Unit Elections must be held by an official Order of the Arrow Election Team (Troops and Teams may not hold their own election) of which the majority must be from outside of the unit that is holding an election.  Typically the only Arrowmen involved in the election from the Unit are the OA Troop/Team Representative and the Scoutmaster/Coach.  Election procedures are set by the National OA Committee and outlined in the Guide for Officers and Advisers.  Once you have been elected you have one year from the closing date of the Lodge Unit Elections (April 15th) to attend an Ordeal.  If you attend Summer Camp you will be recognized at a Call-Out Ceremony.  However, a Call-Out Ceremony is not required for you to attend an Ordeal.  It is simply a form of public recognition for the honor your fellow Scouts have bestowed upon you.  The next step is to procure an Event Registration Form, available either at the Donald W. Reynolds Scout Resource Center or from the Lodge Web Site. www.tatsuhwa.org.  You will have two opportunities to attend an Ordeal, Fall and Spring (dates on the Event Form or the Lodge Calendar).  If you do not attend an Ordeal within the one year period, you must be re-elected by your Troop or Team.  We highly encourage you to attend at the first opportunity, the Fall Ordeal, so that you may start participating in OA activities as soon as possible.  We have also found that sometimes those who wait for the Spring Ordeal are more likely to have other conflicts and miss out on the opportunity to become a member of the Order of the Arrow altogether.    

 

What are the nomination requirements for The Golden Arrow, Vigil, or the Founders Award and how do I nominate a candidate?

• The Golden Arrow Award is bestowed on deserving Arrowmen by the Lodge.  The requirement is simply outstanding or noteworthy service to the OA at the Chapter or Lodge level.  There are no age, length of service, or OA  membership designation requirements.  As with all three of these awards, anyone may nominate an Arrowman, and nomination forms are available at the Donald W. Reynolds Scout Service Center or at theLodge Web Site. 

• The Vigil Honor nomination requirements are set by the National OA Committee and are outlined in the OA Handbook and theGuide for Officers and Advisers (please refer to them for more specific information). After two years of exceptional service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow committee, a Scout or Scouter may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for their distinguished contributions to their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout camp. This honor is bestowed by special selection of Vigil Youth, appointed by the Vigil Chairman. 

• The Founder's Award is presented as recognition to those who have given outstanding service to the Lodge and demonstrate to their fellow Arrowmen that they memorialize in their every day life the spirit of achievement as described by the founder of the Order of the Arrow, E. Urner Goodman.  Lodges may petition the National OA Committee to present up to four awards annually, based on Lodge membership numbers.  If the Lodge presents more than one award , one must be to a youth under the age of 21.  A selection committee of the Lodge Key 3, with the approval of the Council Scout Executive, decide the Founder's recipient(s) from the nominations received

 

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