Re: Getting Elected to the Order of the Arrow
(no name) ((no email))
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 09:00:41 -0500
Mark Young wrote:
> Our Scoutmaster was very unhappy about which boys got voted
>into the OA. His favorite boys didn't get elected.
It's really too bad for him, Mark. The election is done by the BOYS,
not by the Scoutmaster. This is a pretty common event.
> He even told the parent's committee how terrible it was and
>told the parents that he wanted them to influence their boys in the
>election next year. He repeated it in a second parent's meeting.
It may backfire on him, Mark, because the Scouts involved may choose
NOT to vote for ANYONE (which can and does happen). The OA
election is one of the special places whereby a Scout can vote his
heart, if he listens to the election procedure and does as he's asked:
"Who in this group, by living up to the Scout Oath or Promise, serves
your fellow Scouts with such an example of brotherhood and cheerfulness
that you look up to him with deep respect and admiration?"
> My question is:
> First, if all the boys on the ballot were qualified, and the boys
>in the troop voted for their choice, is the Scoutmaster supposed to say
>anything. Does he get to criticize the vote?
The Scoutmaster has to approve each candidate, but that's BEFORE the
election. No, he doesn't have a pebble to stand on to criticize his Troop's
choices.
> Second, is the Scoutmaster allowed to tell the parents to influence
>their boys votes?
No, and this should be reported to the Order of the Arrow staff advisor
and to the Chapter Chief in your District, if you have one; to the Lodge
Chief if you don't. The folks in charge of making sure that the OA is
special should be aware and if it needs to be, to come and supervise the
election or invalidate the election if in the opinion of the Lodge, the
Scouts involved did NOT vote the way *they* choose.
> Finally, how does it work about the Scoutmaster being sore that
>his favorites didn't get in? What about the feelings of the boys that did
>get in. They are qualified and their peers voted them in, but the Scoutmaster
>won't even congratulate them?
Again, your Scoutmaster needs to have a strong sit-down with the OA
Advisor or your unit's Commissioner and have the following facts drummed
home to him:
* the Order of the Arrow is NOT a popularity contest, and he should not
try to make it such a contest. It is a honor based on the opinion of those
Scouts NOT in the Order
* as Scoutmaster, he can recommend Scouts to be placed on the ballot, but
the first time that he refuses to place an otherwise qualified Scout on the
ballot, he faces a lot more problems which could easily blow up in his face
* it's NOT HIS CALL as to whom gets in and whom doesn't...it is the call
of the Scouts of his Troop. It's not that big of a deal...after all, its NOT
like Order of the Arrow membership will get a Scout a scholarship nor
any other special treatment. He needs to "get over it" before he turns
around and doesn't have a Troop to work with!
This is a sure sign, Mark, that your Scoutmaster hasn't been trained nor
coached as to the true reasoning behind Scouting. He needs to have
someone to get with him before such "feelings" overlap into other
areas in your Troop's program, if it hasn't already (and my feeling is
that it already has!)
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
co-Owner, Blackeagle Services of Kentucky (502.826.7046) __)_
174 Chapelwood Drive, Henderson, Kentucky 42420-5036 | ** |]
(H) 502.827.9201 (F) 502.826.7046 (W) 888.284.4848 (yea!) coffee?
anytime!
(Email) blackeagle@hcc-uky.campus.mci.net/kyblkeagle@AOL.COM
(WWW) http://scout.net/~cardinal/index.htm
"Geoworks & Leaders' Online--because EVERY PC can open doors!!!"
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
