Re: First females in the OA ????

Don, here's some Trivia for you:

I remember a discussion at Camp Three Falls Boy Scout Camp in 1980.
There was a female on the East Coast that was fighting the Boy Scout
policy of no women in the Order of the Arrow. She felt it her right to
be a member. This lawsuit was written up in a local newspaper. I,
being the only lady in camp as a helper during an Order of the Arrow
work party weekend, was asked my opinion. I felt at that time that
females did not belong in the Order of the Arrow, because of the growth
opportunities it gave our young men. Being a Past Worthy Advisor for
the Rainbow for Girls when I was a youth, gave me some insight as to the
importance of a small area where I had guidance from my gender only. I
remember telling those Scouters at camp that weekend - "That if I were
ever to become a member of the Order of the Arrow - it would only be to
keep the program as it and make sure other women didn't try to change
it." I never in a million years would have thought that I would be a
member of the Order of the Arrow, let alone a Vigil member. Me and my
big mouth.

As an active ASM and hiker, I was nominated by my troop committee in
January 1989. I was one of three of T'Kope KwisKwis Lodge's first
females that went through Ordeal on June 16-17, 1989. To this date, I
have never again seen those other two ladies at an OA function. Through
all of my functions in the OA, I have continued to work to keep the
Spirit Of The Arrow from changing.

I've enjoyed the opportunity to work with some of the most fantastic
youth in America at Chapter, Lodge, Section, and National levels. I
hope I always keep in mind that I am here to support them and the
program. Being a first female elected or first female to obtain status,
etc., has little true meaning. The obligation as well as the rewards
are in the youth we work with.

In Scouting,
Joyce Johnson
Bellevue, WA
Chief Seattle Council

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