Order of the Arrow * – Information for All Troops – Dec 18 – Jan 1, 2017

December 18 – January 1, 2017

Unit Election Season –  The 2017 OA election window runs from January 1st through April 15th. These are FIRM dates. Your troop election meetings should have been scheduled as part of your annual planning event. If your unit is new to holding OA elections, your Chapter officers would be glad to help get you set up. We’d love to help in any way we can. Please come to the January Chapter meeting, check out the OA page on the district website, or contact Brett Schneider directly to answer your questions.

Chapter Meeting Pizza Party Challenge – Lake Minnetonka has developed a strong core of youth running the OA Chapter and they invite all OA youth members from all units to come out and be part of this momentum. When we achieve a headcount of 15 youth at any Chapter meeting the following month we will provide a pizza party in celebration of this new standard in participation.

January Chapter Meeting – Election Team and Ceremony Training – The January meeting is designated for training both youth and adults on OA election procedures. Your chapter officers are preparing to provide training for new and experienced OA election teams. Learn all about the tools – guide to Unit Elections – and methods – Election Videos – for successful elections. Scoutmasters, please announce this to all your Arrowmen and help arrange transportation – we’d love to see as many faces and OA Troop Representatives as possible at this important training activity. Let’s meet the requirement to have a pizza party in February! Thursday January 5th at 7PM, Minnetonka Community Center.

February Chapter Meeting – Chapter Service Project Planning – In February we will finalize plans to travel as a chapter to the Fort Snelling Cemetery wreath cleanup day on Saturday January 4th. This service project is open to all scouts not just OA youth. Plan to participate in an amazing morning and earn a few hours of service time towards your rank advancement as well.

Also in February there will be brainstorming and planning sessions on how our Chapter is supporting the Winter Camporee. Your youth officers are in charge of the main event, Rocket Launching, and are looking for other Arrowmen from attending troops to step into the center stage and provide cheerful service. Plan on attending the meeting and find out how you can help. Thursday February 2nd at 7PM, Minnetonka Community Center.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

• Jan 5 – January Chapter Meeting at Roundtable, 7PM Minnetonka Community Center
• Jan 28 – OA Winter Banquet, registration now open
• Feb 2 – January Chapter Meeting at Roundtable, 7PM Minnetonka Community Center
• Feb 4 – Fort Snelling Cemetery Cleanup Service Project, Fort Snelling National Cemetery

*The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. We also SERVE Scouting and our Communities as part of our commitment as part of the “Brotherhood of Honored Campers”.

Thank you.

Brett Schneider
OA Chapter Adviser
Lake Minnetonka District
Totanhan Nakaha Lodge #16,WWW
Northern Star Council, BSA
952-442-5430
[email protected].