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Unit Election Handbook (UEH)
Preface
This is your Order of the Arrow
"Unit Election Guidebook." This booklet contains all of the
information necessary for a successful unit election. All elections must
be conducted by an Election Team lead by a recently trained OA Member.
Unit Elections are to be conducted and the Unit Election Results Report form mailed to Ktemaque Lodge #15, by
the Scoutmaster and Election Team Leader, within one week of the election and
no later than April 1st. The BSA ID number of those elected MUST be
included in the election results. Results postmarked after April 1st will
not be accepted, as it doesn’t allow adequate time to send registration
information to those elected. Adult forms must also be postmarked by
April 1st or they will not be accepted. Please mail results to:
Ktemaque
Lodge # 15
Unit Election Results
41 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532-1519
If you have any questions, please contact
the Lodge Vice Chief of Operations or Operations Adviser. Contact information
is available at www.ktemaque.org/contact.html.
Elections can only be held when 50%
of the registered active youth members in the troop are present. All
votes count equally. Any Scout who receives at least one half of the
votes cast is elected.
It is strongly recommended that the
OA Unit Election video and the enclosed "Election Ceremony" be
used. It is best done by OA members in full uniform who have memorized
their lines. Three OA members are required to show the election video and
perform the Election Ceremony. In no event should this ceremony be
ad-libbed or conducted in an extemporaneous manner. This circumvents the
Unit Election Process, which explains the purpose of the Order of the Arrow and
the Unit Election procedures.
The OA Unit Election video is on the
following link. Select "Electing New Members" on the following
link.
http://www.oa-bsa.org/resources/videos/
If you wish to have someone explain to OA members in your unit how an election
should be conducted, please contact the Lodge Operations Vice Chief or Operations
Advisor. At least two weeks’ notice is required if you would like an
election team to conduct your election.
Youth Membership
Requirements
To be eligible for election a Scout must be registered in
either a Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Scout Team and meet the following requirements:
Unit Leader Approval - The unit leader must certify his
Scouting spirit, his adherence to the Scout Oath and Law, and participation in
unit activities. He must also certify that the nominee meets all specified
requirements at the time of this annual election. Approval must be prior to the
election.
Camping Requirement - After registration with a troop or team, have experienced 15 days
and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior
to the election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no
more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days
and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the
auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of
the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps.
First Class Requirement - Hold the First Class rank of the Boy Scouts of America, as a minimum.
Age Requirement – The Order of the
Arrow classifies Scouts eligible for election as any Scouts under the age of
21.
Handicapped Scouts
- The Order of the Arrow recognizes Scouting for the handicapped, and elections
should be held in handicapped units. Any handicapped individual who is
classified as a youth member of the unit shall be considered a youth (voting)
member of the Order of the Arrow regardless of age. Handicapped Scouts Must
meet all other membership requirements.
Election
Ceremony
OA Member A:
Fellow Boy Scouts, the Order of the
Arrow is the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America. Its purpose
is to recognize and honor those campers who best live up to the Scout Oath or
Promise and the Scout Law in their daily lives and to guide them in expanding
the service that has made them outstanding. The Order promotes Scout camping and
maintains camping tradition and spirit. It emphasizes that the good scout
camper is not only skilled at Scoutcraft, but also true to the ideals of
Scouting and its tradition of the daily good turn.
The only way a Scout can become a
member of the Order of the Arrow is to be elected for this honor by the members
of his unit. To be eligible for election, a youth must fulfill the camping
requirement and hold the First Class Rank. Although the unit leader must
certify eligibility of all nominees, leaders 21 or older are not permitted to
vote in the election or to influence the votes for or against particular
nominees.
After being elected, the Scout must
undergo the Ordeal, which is a series of tests of his sincere dedication to the
high ideals of Scouting and the Order. If he is faithful in performing the
tests, he takes a solemn pledge of service and is admitted into the Order. A
long period of self-improvement and service then follows.
The patch, the arrow ribbon, and the
distinctive sash identify the Order of the Arrow member. They are symbols of
service. Our Lodge has its own activities and projects, but our program does
not replace the member's responsibility to his unit. Indeed each Arrowman is
expected to give richer service to his own troop in return for the honor his
unit extended to him.
Indian lore is an attractive
sideline in our Order. The Indian is ours to preserve. Indian dances and
ceremonies add color to our program of service, and members often make Indian
lore their hobby. However, one does not need Indian attire or skill in Indian
lore to become a valuable member of the Order of the Arrow.
Scouts you will elect
representatives to our Brotherhood of cheerful service, and we are here to
assist you in the election. All active registered youth members of this troop,
except those 21 years or older, are entitled to vote. All those who receive
votes from at least half of those who turn in ballots are elected. The number
you elect will depend on how your votes agree with other members. Remember that
an Order of the Arrow election is not a popularity contest! Don't vote for a
Scout just because he is your friend or just because he is a good athlete or
just because he is older than the rest. What really counts is his loyalty to
the Scout Oath or Promise.
Campaigning in the Order of the
Arrow election is not permitted. You are expected to think for yourself, do not
let others influence your decision. The election is by secret ballot and no
discussion will be permitted, so no one will know for whom you are voting. This
important decision about your fellow scouts is entirely up to you.
Before we announce the names of
those eligible and begin the election are there any questions?
OA Member B:
The following members of this unit
have met the camping and advancement requirements and are eligible for
election, as certified by your unit leader. Will you stand and form a line over
here (point) as your names are called?
(Point out place and read the list
slowly. Arrange the candidates in line facing the voters at the place
indicated; the line can be semicircular if the eligible group is large. Write
each name on chalkboard or flip chart as called.)
Scouts, you should answer each of
the following questions to yourself; your answer will help you make the right selections.
OA Member C:
Who in this group is a friend to all
and brother to every other Scout? Who is pleasant and easy to get along with?
Is he kind and helpful? In all, if you were a Tenderfoot, would you like to
hike and camp with him?
Who is cheerful, even when he has
many tiresome jobs to do? Who smiles whenever he can? Who obeys promptly and
cheerfully? Does he control his temper? If you were to camp with him for
several weeks, do you think you would enjoy it?
Who is always ready to give unselfish
and wholehearted service to others? Who, in serving others, can forget his own
desire and interests? Who has served your unit all year round, faithfully
attending your meetings and helping with your service projects? Do you think he
will continue his service in the future? If you were his Patrol Leader, could
you depend on him?
In all, ask yourselves: Who in this
group, by living up to the Scout Oath or Promise, serves your fellow Scout with
such an example of brotherhood and cheerfulness that you look up to him with
deep respect and admiration?
OA Member B:
Scouts, on the ballot you will be
given, circle the names of the candidates who, in your opinion, have set the
best examples of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service. Vote only for those
you believe will continue in unselfish service to your troop. If you feel that
no one is worthy, turn in an unused, blank ballot. If you are new in the troop
and do not know the candidates well enough to vote wisely, you may abstain by
not turning in a ballot at all, and this will not affect the final result.
Those eligible for election also
vote, and they may vote for themselves if they feel they are worthy.
The names of those eligible are
listed on your ballot. When you are finished fold the ballot only once and give
the pencil and ballot to any of us.
(Distribute election ballots and pencils.)
(Collect ballots and pencils.)
(Count
the votes in private with the unit leader.)
Sample
Ballot Session
10 ballots are turned in and 4 boys
are eligible: Joe, Fred, Mark, and John.
Joe gets 4 votes. Fred gets 6 votes.
Mark gets 5 votes. John gets 5 votes.
From this information we know that
Fred, Mark and John were elected. Each one of them got votes from one
half (or more) of the Scouts who turned ballots in. Joe will have to run again
next year.
(Elected candidates and any Order
members within the unit who can be spared are taken into a separate room. The
following paragraphs should then be presented as a charge to the candidates and
present Order members.)
OA Member B:
That you, my fellow campers, have
been chosen by your companions to become members of the Order reflects great
credit upon you, and I congratulate you upon your election. You have impressed
upon those who have lived closest to you the sincerity of your purpose to live
in accordance with the high ideals of the Scout Oath or Promise. The judgment
of your fellows could hardly have been mistaken.
In a short time, you will take upon
yourselves another solemn obligation to be unselfish in service and devotion to
the welfare of others. Your fellow Scouts elected you because they felt that
you would continue your service. Do not let them down.
OA Member C:
My
brothers in the Order, you have proven during the past year that the traditions
of our Brotherhood are not a collection of meaningless words. As we welcome
these new candidates (the new candidate) on our journey, let us be mindful of
our obligation to help and guide them (him) during the trials that lie ahead.
Adult Membership Requirements
Because the Order of the
Arrow is principally a young man's Organization, unit, district, and council
Scouters are not nominated for selection to membership as a recognition.
Nomination for selection into the Order should take place only when the adult's
job in Scouting will make the Order of the Arrow membership more meaningful in
the lives of the youth membership.
Unit Selection - A unit
holding its annual election for youth members may nominate only one leader, 21
years of age or older, to be considered for membership in the Order. This
person must fulfill the following conditions to be considered:
- Adult selection is based upon
the ability to perform the requisite functions, and not for recognition of
service, including current or prior achievement and position.
- The individual will be an
asset to the Lodge due to demonstrated skills and abilities which fulfill
the purpose of the Order of the Arrow.
- The camping requirements set
forth for the youth membership are fulfilled.
- The adult leader's membership
will provide a positive role model for the growth and development of the
youth members of the lodge.
- If the adult is being
nominated by a Troop, that Troop must have elected at least one youth
member into the Order of the Arrow that year.
Selection of those
candidates nominated by their unit committee rests with the Lodge Selection
Committee: Lodge Adviser, Council Camping Chairman, and Scout Executive.
The Unit Committee member
submitting the nomination will be notified by mail of their candidate's status.
Candidates approved for participation in the induction process will also be
notified by mail of their selection.
Adults can be nominated
by the Unit Committee District Chairman, Council President, or the Scout
Executive. All requirements set forth for adult leaders in units must be
fulfilled. The camping requirement may be waived for District and Council
Scouters at the discretion of the Lodge Selection Committee. A Troop may
nominate one adult for every fifty registered youth members.
The OA Adult Nomination Form
must be filled out in its entirety, and a letter of recommendation must
accompany the form. The letter of recommendation must answer the following
questions:
- This adult will be an asset
to the Lodge due to demonstrated skills and abilities, which fulfill the
purpose of the Order because:
- This adult leader's
membership will provide a positive role model for the growth and
development of the youth members of the Lodge because:
- Selection of the adult is
based upon ability to perform the requisite functions (and NOT as an honor
or recognition of service) including current or prior achievement and
position. The individual's abilities include:
- List all Camping dates and
places within the past 2 years.
Please list all Scouting
positions held and their current BSA registration number on the OA Adult Nomination
Form. Once completed, mail the OA Adult Nomination Form and the Letter of Recommendation
by the April 1st deadline to:
Ktemaque
Lodge # 15
Unit Election Results
41 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532-1519
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