Buring Issues
Got a question that needs an answer? Is there something you are confused about regarding the Order of the Arrow? Got a Burning Issue? - Send us your question and we will have someone from the Region or National staff get you an answer.
Recent Issues
| Q: The BSA State of Michigan Area 2 project has been implemented. The innovative reorganization of program, membership/advancement records, event registrations, administration, fiscal and outdoor/scout camp functions will improve administrative and cost efficiency. Under the Area 2 Project, Service Centers do not require Scout Executives, as Service Centers have no fiscal responsibility. The Service Center Executive cannot pay Lodge expenditures. The Area 2 Office and the Chief Executive Officer perform the administrative support that an OA Lodge requires. Scout Camps are also included in the Area 2 Office, not Service Centers. There is no longer a traditional Council for a traditional Lodge, as defined by the OA Field Operations Guide (FOG). Why is National OA trying to apply an outdated organization structure to the new and innovative BSA Area 2 organization? National OA is treating the BSA Area 2, concept the same as just another Council merger with (x) number of Lodg es going into a Service Center. I recommend an expanded Lodge organization, i.e. more local Lodges, that directly support Scout Camps and a Lodge organization that will be more efficient in supporting the BSA Area 2, vision and goals. BSA Area 2, Service Center inclusion as an additional Lodge entity will require a change in the FOG that addresses unique BSA Area 2 structure. Middlemen in Service Centers are not required by OA Lodges and their use will result in an inefficient use of Service Center employees. A: The Order of the Arrow has extensively studied the new structure of the Area 2 project. We have had in-depth conversations with lodge, section, region, and national leadership. Working together, we have determined that the level at which the program is delivered is at the field service council level. Each field service council will have a scout executive that can serve as a Supreme Chief of the Fire. This is more important than where the checking account is located. It may require some new book keeping procedures and modify how the lodges expenses are handled, but it certainly doesn't change where the lodge is responsible to. The Order of the Arrow prides itself in existing to support the local council. Without a council, we have no real reason to exist We don't exist soley to support a particular camp, but the entire council. It is also important to keep in mind that a Order of the Arrow lodge exists in a council at the discretion of the Scout Executive. The Scout Executive alone determines if the council will have a lodge or not. We are open to new concepts, but we keep returning to the basic tenant that the field service council offers the best fit to a time-proven structure that supports the local BSA council Adding more lodges would not serve a meaningful purpose. However, this new structure does reinforce how important our chapters are going to be in the new Area 2. Many people think that chapters are diminutive in nature. How many times have you heard a young Arrowman say "I am JUST a chapter chief?". We need to change that perception to a position that a young man is proud and honored to serve in. The chapter is truly where the rubber meets the road in our organization. You are correct that some updates will be required to our Field Operations Guide. We will be addressing these with the National Leadership soon. I appreciate your insight and I assure you that we have taken these thoughts and concerns into account before arriving at the ultimate structure of the new Area 2. We have cooridnated the Order of the Arrow's approach for delivering a quality program with teh BSA Leadership at all levels to ensure that we are best supporting our councils. In simple terms, a youth will wear the CSP of the field service council. Therefore, the youth's lodge (and his lodge flap) ought to suport that council if his Scout Executive applies for an OA charter. Answered By: Chris Grove |
| Q: How do I access records on OA memberships/dates, etc? A: The OA does not centrally manage membership records on a National basis. All membership records are kept by each local lodge/council. Contact your council's OA Lodge Adviser and he/she should be able to get you access to your membership information. Answered By: Webmaster |
| Q: What if improper camping calculations were done at camp and a scout was left off the election list. Can the troop hold a second election process prior to the fall OA encampment? A: Only one unit election can be held per year in a unit. Unfortunately, that scout will have to wait until the following year as the scoutmaster did not certify him as eligible at the time of the election. Answered By: Chris Grove |
| Q: Has a Venturing division of OA ever been considered - Co-ed and open only to Venturers and advisors? A: The Order of the Arrow Program is currently a Boy Scout program. The election requirements define an adult member as 21 and older. A youth member must be at least a first class scout. This means that the only youth that can be elected are those that rose the rank of first class as a youth member of the Boy Scouts. There are no current plans to develop a Venturing division of the OA. Answered By: Chris Grove |
| Q: My son is attending the National Jamboree in August, and Scouts are required to wear an official uniform, but must romove patches that are from local activities (camp patches, local council, quality unit, etc.) . The Jamboree leadersip was usure whether or not he would have to remove his local OA Lodge pocket patch. Do you know the answer? A: A scout may wear his local lodge flap on the uniform at the jamboree. He is a member of that lodge and is thus entitled to wear the flap as long as he is a member in good standing (ie he has paid his dues). Answered By: Chris Grove |
| Q: I have a leader stating that all the boy must be in the same style regelia to dance and can wear only special color when do ceremonies. He is all so claiming we must have writen permission to do a Cherokee dance from the Cherokee nation and all of this is supported by the OA National leadership.
1. Must all the dances be in the same style of regalia?
2. To do a Cherokee dance, must we have writen premission from the National Headquarters or even the local headquarters of the Cherokee, to do this dance?
3. Is there any rules in OA that state whate each member of a ceremony team can and can not wear, doing a part or working behind the sences? A: 1. Must all the dances be in the same style of regalia? If you are presenting a historical dance from a specific tribe, yes. Individual dance, no 2. To do a Cherokee dance, must we have writen premission from the National Headquarters or even the local headquarters of the Cherokee, to do this dance? If you are competing in Historical Group Dance at NOAC, and the dance is "society, clan or family", yes (Guideline B2) 3. Is there any rules in OA that state whate each member of a ceremony team can and can not wear, doing a part or working behind the sences? If your doing one of the four principle parts, Indian clothes would be good. If you behind the scenes, a scout uniform is appropriate. [editors note - the OA does not have any specific policies regarding what constitutes "Indian clothes" - Please refer to the Guide To Inductions for more information] Answered By: Wayne Dukes |
| Q: What is the definition of camping? Different troops in our lodge use different standards. Bottom line does cabin "camping" count. Or does it depend on how rustic or plush the cabins are? A: All the Guide to Inductions says is: "...approved and under the auspices and standards of the BSA..." The balance is to be done in "overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps." In the beginning it also says: "After registration with a troop or team, have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping..." This excludes any Cub Scout and family camping. The control mechanism here is the Scoutmaster. He/she decides who to certify for the ballot before the vote is taken. If this lodge is experiencing unequal application of the standard, they need to have a knowledge push at the roundtables and through the commissioner corps. Answered By: Tom Reddin |
| Q: Why is the Order of the Arrow Ocean Adventure being canceled for 2010? A: The temporary suspension of the OAOA program at the Florida Sea Base was not a decision that came easily to the National Order of the Arrow Committee. There were several issues that needed to be addressed between the OA and the Florida Sea Base. Per Scott Beckett, National Vice-Chair for Outdoor Programs: "We have not been able to arrive at a mutually agreeable point for Sea Base management and the Order of the Arrow to offer something that is a match for both parties. Ray Capp and I are in agreement that we are not interested in offering something that doesn't fully provide youth with the opportunity for a national-level OA high adventure experience." There are plans underway to try to form a partnership to offer a program for Arrowmen in the Florida Keys in 2011. Answered By: Chris Grove |
| Q: I am applying to be a scout leader in Chicago. As a scout 20 yrs ago I earned my Eagle and was a member of OA. Will the Chicago Area Council have any records of me being Brotherhood in OA. A: Most likely your lodge does not have copies of membership of its' arrowmen 20 years ago. Though there is a slight chance of records still existing, you still wouldn't be registered as an active arrowman if you haven't paid dues. My advice is to simply call your local lodge or council and request to pay your dues and inform them that you were a brotherhood member years ago. I'm sure they will take your word on being a brotherhood member. Good luck on your ambition to be Scoutmaster of your troop, Thanks again for your support to Scouting and the Order of the Arrow. Answered By: Josh Hunt |
| Q: There seems to be some confussion about who wears what in our lodge. Some people choose on the Lodge Executive Committee wear Silver tabs while the rest wear red. I know that the Lodge Cheif and the Chapter Chiefs do but what about the Lodge Vice-Chief and Lodge Secretary. The Section Chief, Vice-Chief, Secretary wear Gold so wouldnt it be silver of lodge? A: Silver epilette tabs identify an individuals involvement with the council. If an individual wears silver tabs they technically should a corresponding Council position patch on the sleeve of their uniform. Your whole Lodge Executive Committee most likely should not all be wearing silver tabs. The only person on your LEC that could wear silver tabs is probably your Lodge Chief only if he was allowed a spot on the Council's Camping Committee- even then he should ware a position patch identifying his involvement with the Council. I believe your Section C-5B officers are the only section officers that all wear Gold tabs. The Central Region is the only region that gives Section Chiefs Gold Tabs to wear as a symbol of recognition. Technically, the only OA officers that should be wearing Gold tabs are the National Chief, Vice Chief, and the four Region Chiefs considering that they are apart of either the National or Regional Committee for the duration of their term in office. I hope this answered your questions. Finally just check with your lodge adviser to see if your lodge chief indeed has a spot within a Council Committee. If not see if you can propose the idea. I believe that it is very important to have not only the Order of the Arrow to be involved in Council affairs but more importantly the youth of the program Answered By: Josh Hunt |
