Brothers,
Welcome to 2018!! What an exciting year we have in store for us. With Spring just around the corner, we have three big events to keep our Springtime active. In March we will host our Lodge Leadership Development training and our Spring Induction and Service weekend in order to start preparing our council camps for the busy 2018 camping season as well as welcome our newly elected Scouts as they endeavor to complete their Induction in this our great and honorable Brotherhood.
In April, we head to Camp Rock Enon for CONCLAVE!!! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to be part of over 1,000 fellow Arrowmen from across Virginia, meeting in an annual pilgrimage to one of our six Lodge camps to participate in Training, fellowship and in the spirit of great competition amongst our Lodges for the highly coveted Spirit Award and Lodge of the Year.
Registration is open for all three of these events, so do not delay going to our Lodge website to find links for the events. I look forward to seeing everyone there!!
Our Lodge Leadership Development training is where all members of the Lodge Executive Committee, both youth and adults, are trained in the operation of the Lodge and Chapters. If you are new to the Order of the Arrow or a seasoned member of our Brotherhood, make plans to attend this worthwhile training and prepare yourself to take on the challenges of a Lodge Leadership position. It is a great opportunity to further your leadership skills and learn to serve your Brothers in a cheerful manner.
2018 also finds us heading to the University of Indiana to attend our National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC). While we have been allocated a smaller than normal contingent size this year, we have an opportunity to send 26 youth Arrowmen and about 9 adults to this National event for unprecedented high caliber training, competition and amazing shows. We still have slots open for a few Arrowmen, so look for information in our newsletter as well as articles on our website for more information.
Now is also the time to be considering running for a Lodge Officer position. Elections are conducted for the 2018-2019 Lodge year at the June Induction and Service weekend. This will be a very significant Lodge year as the young men elected this year will serve as the Lodge Chief and Vice Chief’s for our Centennial celebration during our Conclave host year. All Lodge officer candidates must be under the age of 21 for the entire duration of the term, be an active and current dues member of the Lodge and have Scoutmaster and Lodge Adviser approval prior to announcing his candidacy. I encourage all qualified Lodge members to discuss your interest with me as soon as possible.
In closing, I would like to ask EVERY member of the Lodge to help us bring our OA Lodge Pavilion fundraiser to a successful close by supporting our efforts to raise the money to build our future home at Camp T. Brady Saunders. This facility will become a most valuable part of our Lodge history and camp program and will serve many needs well into the future once built. We need every member of our Lodge to be willing to contribute funds to push us over the top of our fundraising goals. Look for a contribution pledge form in the Tom-Tom, on-line and soon in your mailbox.
As always, our Lodge continues its journey to excellance by improving our program, membership and funding. This is only possible because we are able to stand firmly on the solid foundations our brothers before us have provided through their unselfish dedication, hard work and cheerful spirit… our future is bright because of this legacy and I look forward to working with each of you in the years ahead to ensure we build a lasting legacy for the next generations of brothers. Be sure to volunteer to help at one of the upcoming events; your service is greatly needed!! I’m looking forward to seeing our members at the upcoming Lodge Leadership Development, Spring Induction and Service weekend, CONCLAVE and soon to be announced Trail Crew projects.
In Brotherhood,
Michael Lynch
Nawakwa Lodge Adviser