Matthew Dukeman - For Youth Service to Orca Lodge

By 1996 Matt emerged as only the 3rd Lodge Chief of Orca Lodge. The then young lodge was still experiencing many growing pains. Everything from calendar issues to which chapter should hold the Lodge Dinner and more. Matt took charge and was not afraid to stand up for what the youth wanted to his advisers. Often the adults thought he was wrong, but in almost every instance, in the long run he would be proved right.

Matt's ability to lead and do what he believed to be right and just is due in no small part to his experience at Philmont on OA Trail Crew. When Matt showed up at Philmont the first time, he was a bit young at just 15-1/2 (Age requirement was 16). But Matt had several many week-long summer Treks in his background, and it was decided to give him a chance. To say he held his own and succeeded would be an understatement. Philmont Trail Crew soon learned that Matt had arrived and he and they would never be the same.

Always active in Section Leadership, 1997 found Matt serving as Vice-Chief in Section W-3B. While he could have carried the day and concurrently served a 2nd term as Lodge Chief, he felt it best to let others step-up and he would concentrate on Section Leadership. When he lost narrowly in the election for Chief in 1998, Matt was asked to again return to his Lodge and step-up to serve second term as Lodge Chief of Orca Lodge.

In 1999 Matt was Section Vice-Chief once again. This was a rather unique year, as Section W-3B created the model and paved the way for what was to become the National Program, ArrowCorps5 that took place in 2008. As it was the last year of the century the Section wanted to do something special and unique. A Conclave in Yosemite National Park was the goal. Matt learned of a conservation program whereby scouts could spend the weekend in the park in return for a conservation project. Matt was instrumental in arranging a meeting to discuss this proposal. The Park Service limited the program to 500 Arrowmen, but the conclave that year met and exceeded everything the Park Service asked of them. Truly one of the greatest Conclaves ever, and Matt Dukeman played a key role in making it happen!

It was not a surprise at all that the youth recognized his accomplishment and elected him Section Chief in 2000. His next task? To jointly lead Area 3 in a tri-clave of all three sections. Bringing together 3 Sections proved to be quite a task, but resulted in another huge success with over 500 Arrowmen in attendance at Two Rock Coast Guard Base.

Beginning in 1999, Matt went to work at Philmont. First as Trail Crew Foreman and eventually as Director of the OA Trail Crew. Matt now had left his legacy in his Chapter, his Lodge, his Section and ultimately, a National program, OA Trail Crew.