jscouter1

Does anyone know anything about this, are they nat level positions? https://oa-bsa.org/volunteer

Hello, I am staffing a very well known council camp in Southern California. Would it be appropriate to wear silver shoulder loops because I am registered with the council as a volunteer employee?

What does everyone think about the new hats, personally I don't love them but I think it is an interesting addition.

Does anyone know where to find printable Sea Scout advancement resources? I cant seem to find any printable advancement sheets that I can bring to meetings. I would make my own copy but I rather just use a pre-existing one.

Hello, I apologize if this is not in the right category. Yesterday my troops Scoutmaster passed, he was the second scoutmaster our troop has ever had. The last time our troop had to find a new scoutmaster (1987) it took them months. I am sorry if this is commonly known information but what happens now, who's job is it to find a new scoutmaster?

On 10/27/2022 at 11:51 AM, UKScouterInCA said:

Be ready that if you go to Rayado and do well, you could end up working on staff for the rest of the summer (if you are old enough).

Is there any truth to this?

Hello forum! It’s been a while since I have posted on here but a lot has happened since then and I am again faced with a dilemma that I can not figure out myself. As a preface for this you should know my troop does things a little differently and (among other things) runs their own high adventure programs, this means we will never use a BSA high adventure like Philmont or Northern Tier. It has come to my realization that I would like to visit Philmont in the short amount of time I have left as a scout ( 4-6 years depending on how you look at it). Now the reason I am posting on here is that when November rolls around enrollment for NAYLE at Philmont starts, while NAYLE sounds amazing a Rayado trek does as well. Any input helps!

This post doesn't really ask any questions but is more of an update (feel free to leave any advice)

Im back. Hey guys most of you probably remember me as the kid who could not join the OA whatsoever. Last in this adventure, I was fresh out of options and pretty sure this was the end of it for me. But then I went to NYLT (first scout in my troops 75 years to do so). On top of the awesome times I had at NYLT and the valuable leadership skills I did bring a few things back. One of the first was actually getting to talk my OA troubles out in person with my TG who is a Brotherhood member. He did bring up some new ideas that I cant believe I hadn't thought of. Joining a Venturing Crew!!! How did I not consider this as an option. So as soon as I got back to my home council I used to unit locator to try and find a venturing crew near me. To my utter surprise I could not find an active crew in my area, now this may sound normal to some, but I live in LA and with 7,000,000 people you would think that someone would have started a crew. Sooooooo I seem to be back where I started. Thanks for reading, I will probably provide another update like this following my troop going to Camp ManyPoint in Minnesota.

Hello, some of you may now know me as the kid who really wants to join the OA. Well I am here to tell you guys that my journey has come to a sad end. I have tried all chances to join but none of them have turned out. My SM denied an election, surrounding troops wouldnt do dual enrollment, and even the lodge in the council neighboring has "ghosted' me. So I wish you all the best of luck with your journeys and you are truly all lucky to be involved in such a great organization and brotherhood.

- A friend in scouting, 

2 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Adding to the requirements?? No no

BSA doesnt like us

3 minutes ago, jscouter1 said:

My troop does things a little differently, patrol leaders are limited to one year. We have a semi training program which generally lasts 1 month. The program teaches new scouts some of the most basic skills ie... knot tying, flag folding, basic knife safety. Basic skills for any scouts. After that one patrol leader gets all of the newest scouts in their patrol, generally the most responsible PL. This is how my troop has done it for 80 years and it worked great.

my troop also requires a leadership camp for all scouts getting First Class. Most of our troops scouts get first class in their 8th grade year, they are then PL for their 9th grade year completing the Star req, after the PL year the scout is inducted into our troops "staff" which completes the Life leadership req.

My troop does things a little differently, patrol leaders are limited to one year. We have a semi training program which generally lasts 1 month. The program teaches new scouts some of the most basic skills ie... knot tying, flag folding, basic knife safety. Basic skills for any scouts. After that one patrol leader gets all of the newest scouts in their patrol, generally the most responsible PL. This is how my troop has done it for 80 years and it worked great.

17 minutes ago, MikeS72 said:

As @scoutldrstated, you do not "join" OA, you are elected by the members of your troop.  In order for someone to be elected, the scouts in the troop should know that person well.  Were I still a youth member I would be leery of voting for someone who dual registered for no other reason than to use our troop to gain election to OA.

If becoming an Arrowman means that much to you, I would either try to convince your SM that being elected to OA is not going to cause you to neglect your troop, and therefore allow an election to be held.  If that cannot be accomplished you have to look at the possibility of leaving your current troop and transferring to another unit.  If you choose that option, be aware that a unit may only have one election per year.  I many areas those elections may have already be conducted, so you would have to wait until next election cycle, by which time the scouts in the new unit should know you well enough to decide whether or not they want to elect you.  I hate to bring up the negative aspect, but understand that not all scouts who are eligible for election or who would like be elected are chosen by their troop.

What ever decision you end up making, I wish you well in all of your scouting endeavors.

 

As @scoutldrstated, you do not "join" OA, you are elected by the members of your troop.  In order for someone to be elected, the scouts in the troop should know that person well.  Were I still a youth member I would be leery of voting for someone who dual registered for no other reason than to use our troop to gain election to OA.

If becoming an Arrowman means that much to you, I would either try to convince your SM that being elected to OA is not going to cause you to neglect your troop, and therefore allow an election to be held.  If that cannot be accomplished you have to look at the possibility of leaving your current troop and transferring to another unit.  If you choose that option, be aware that a unit may only have one election per year.  I many areas those elections may have already be conducted, so you would have to wait until next election cycle, by which time the scouts in the new unit should know you well enough to decide whether or not they want to elect you.  I hate to bring up the negative aspect, but understand that not all scouts who are eligible for election or who would like be elected are chosen by their troop.

What ever decision you end up making, I wish you well in all of your scouting endeavors.

 

Thank you so much for your input, as of right now I couldnt leave my current troop it just means to much to me. Its not unheard of in my troop for scouts to switch troops because of disagreements with our SM. If I did dual membership and spent time getting to know the scouts, camp, going to meetings, and service projects I feel I might have a chance at election, but wouldnt it be odd if I had no rank advancment in my newer troop?

This might be slightly off topic for this, but if I am considering option #3 right no. Does anyone think that another troop would take offense if I do a dual membership thing just to join the OA?

On 6/6/2021 at 10:27 AM, Oldscout448 said:

There is a long thread on this very topic that I started in October of 2013. I think the title was  "Can a SM ban OA elections?" The short answer is he has three options.  1. Change the Scoutmasters mind.  2. Get the CoR to overrule the Committee and SM.  3 Change troops.

My son and friends ended up with option #3 after trying their best at #1 and #2.  

Any words you would use to explain to your SM why the OA is good? I think my SM is ok with me joining but doesnt want to introduce the rest of the troop to it, which would make it very hard to have an election.

On 6/6/2021 at 4:22 PM, fred8033 said:

I am betting there is another path.  

I've interacted ... "worked with" would over state my invovlement ... I've interacted with the local chapter adviser and youth lodge chief.   They have much more flexibility than officially published.  

If the scout really wants to be in OA, that scout should write a polite mail (or email) to the lodge chief and copy the lodge adviser.  State that he/she would be proud to be an OA member.  Explain his troop doesn't hold elections.  Communicate how he fulfills requirements (rank, nights camping, troop involvement, etc).  Further state why he/she would want to be a member.  IMHO, the perfect answer would be "to serve" and to learn from other scouts.  

My only fear is the scoutmaster response.  BUT, the ideal scoutmaster should say congratulations and let the scout explore OA.

I am betting the lodge adviser and lodge chief would find a path in for that scout.  

I'm not saying this would work every time, but I suspect it would work a good number of times.

been there, done that, got an email back from them saying they would contact me to set up an election🤣

6 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Many adult leaders have experienced this.

If you are selected by your unit, and then you do not support your unit, and, instead, go and support only lodge functions, then you and your Troop have chosen poorly.

An Arrowman's first duty is to his unit.

To avoid this situation, many unit leaders choose not to use the Order of the Arrow in their unit program.  That is their prerogative.

 

Thank you for your help so much, I will update the forum following my scoutmasters decision on an election.

1 minute ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Everyone who is qualified, and approved by the SM is on the selection list (not really a ballot).  All candidates get, basically, a Yes or No vote from their Troop.  If you get 50% Yes votes, your are in.  A few other criteria must be met, but that's down in the weeds...

Ah I think thats what my SM is trying to avoid, he thinks the arrow steals scouts. I am willing to bet I am the only scout in a very large troop who actually knows what the arrow is. I get the sense he is okay with me joining the arrow but wants to keep it under the rug so other scouts dont try and join.

5 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Option 1:  Ask your Scoutmaster if you can make the arrangements and organize a unit OA election.  If they say yes, come back here for more instructions.  Then, if you are selected and complete your Ordeal, ask the SPL if you can be the Unit OA Representative.  If your SM says No, go to option 2 or 3.

Option 2:  Become a multiple member of another unit that does use OA in its program.  Get selected (elected is the wrong word for what this is, these days...)  This could be another Troop, or a Crew.  Being a multiple if free (membership fees-wise)

Option 3:  Change Troops

As far as the election goes, do you have to run or is everyone qualified included.

1 hour ago, T2Eagle said:

I'm not sure what you mean by not supporting the OA.  If you mean they actively discourage troop members from being in it,  that's going to be a bigger barrier for you.  If you mean the troop just doesn't bother holding elections or otherwise encouraging interaction than a little support from your Scoutmaster should be enough to get started. 

It doesn't take a lot of troop involvement to make it possible for those scouts interested to be allowed to become members.  Basically the troop just has to let scouts from the OA come in and conduct an election.  This should be a less than 30 minute process.  You can reach out to your Council's OA Lodge and get from them all the information they would need to schedule and conduct the election, and then talk to your Scoutmaster again along with your PLC to ask them to carve out a half a meeting and invite the OA team in.

Good luck.

Thank you for this information, what troop does your name refer to?

46 minutes ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

Are you youth or an adult?

If you are an adult, you can go through the district to get into the OA. If a youth, the Troop will need to hold an elections and vote you into the OA as a candidate.

I am a youth but my troop doesnt support the Order of The Arrow, but my scoutmaster said I am welcome to pursue it on my own. Unsure if that is a possibility. 

Hello, I am not sure if anyone is going to respond to this but. Recently I have found the OA, seeing that I met the member ship requirments I contacted my scoutmaster about joining. He informed me that my troop does not support the OA for multiple reasons but that if I wanted to pursue this on my own I was more then welcome to pursue this on my own if I wish. I contacted my local lodge expressing my interest and the head adviser of the lodge got back to me saying that "We will have the youth in charge contact you and your scoutmaster to conduct the election. What do I do now?