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Written by Brendan S. 

Last month Section W3-N held its annual gathering at the Solano County Fairgrounds, and Orca Lodge was out in force. Our Arrowmen participated in a wide variety of trainings and programs, while at the same time networking with Arrowmen from across the United States. A special thank you to all of our attendees that staffed our midway booth, that won second place in the midway competition. Another special thank you to the Shows CVC, Orca Lodge’s very own Alex B. who put on Conclave 2016’s fantastic evening program, and represented the best we have to offer.

Over the weekend, we also recognized Richard Alvin Hatch, who left us in May. His support of both the Lodge and the Section were and are cherished. Our nominees for the Vigil Honor were also announced: Donna Lake, Kevin Bleibaum, Brendan S, and Gordon H, will be recognized again at the Lodge Dinner in November as full Vigil Members. Lastly, congratulations to the new Section W3-N Vice-Chief Brendan S.

We look forward to seeing you next year at Camp Lassen for the 2017 conclave.  Save the Date: September 15-17, 2017

We will be holding our Fall Induction weekend October 14-16 at Camp Royaneh.  The Lodge has been growing the last couple of years, and our Ordeal numbers have been growing as well.  Your help with these events is critical if we are to make this a meaningful experience for these candidates.

The cost for this event for members will be $25.00, which includes your meals.  Departure time on Sunday will be around 9 AM.

Every youth and adult will need to bring their Annual BSA Health and Medical Record with at least Part A and B completed.  These forms should be picked up when you check out.  Forms may be found on the Redwood Council Web site.

In addition to the normal Induction weekend activities, we will be holding the Lodge Vigil Ceremony this weekend as well.

This year, 4 members of our Lodge were selected to receive the highest honor in the Order of the Arrow, the Vigil Honor.  At the W-3N Section Conclave in Vallejo, Brendan S., Gordon H., Alex B. and Donna L. were revealed as this year’s candidates.  I encourage all Vigil Honor members to attend the weekend to help honor these deserving arrowmen.

Please return your registration form no later than the Monday before the Ordeal weekend so that we can make proper plans.

I challenge each of you to attend the Fall Induction weekend.  It is a great occasion to welcome our new members.

If you have any questions please contact Lodge Adviser Jason Kracht via email adviser@orca194.org.  

• Directions to Camp Royaneh can be found at:  http://camproyaneh.org/about-royaneh/location
• Please register online, please go to:  https://www.redwoodbsa.org/Event.aspx?id=622

 Remember: You must register by Monday Oct 10 for the Ordeal Weekend!

ps.    If your dues for 2016 are due, please fill out a dues form and return it to the office or to Mr. Kracht.

pps.  Those that are eligible to complete their Brotherhood should have received a email about this from Mr. Kracht. 

Written by Brendan S. 

Orca Lodge will be hosting its annual Lodge Dinner on November 5 in celebration of our fantastic year, and of course to honor those who have served their fellow Arrowmen.

Please join us for this dinner and celebration at Saint John’s Catholic Church (208 Matheson St) in Healdsburg.  Social hour will begin starting at 5 P.M, followed by dinner at 6 P.M. Later on as the evening begins to pick up steam, we will begin our program. Including: Annual youth officer elections, recognitions of Silver Fluke, Founders, and James E. West awardees, and finally wind up the evening by recognizing our new Vigil Members.

Due to the increasing cost of National Dues and other costs, our dues will be increasing in 2017.  To keep your $15 dues for 2017, register for the Lodge Dinner today.

You can register now at http://www.redwoodbsa.org/Event.aspx?id=623

Coming up at the Lodge Dinner, you may have the opportunity to run for Lodge Office. All Arrowmen under 21 for the length of the term (1 year) are considered viable candidates for office, however they need to be prepared to commit themselves to their position. The following positions are available to anyone who meets those criteria.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for developing a Lodge Annual Budget, with the support of the Lodge Key 3. They are also responsible for operating the Lodge Trading Post at major events such as the Induction Weekend, or the Lodge Dinner.

Secretary

The Secretary is in charge of maintaining and taking the minutes of all Lodge Executive Committee meetings, and in developing the semi-annual newsletter.

Vice-Chief

The Vice-Chief works closely with the Chief, and is in charge of planning and executing at least two fellowships throughout the course of his term. He also acts as a stand in for the Chief in his absence.

Chief

The Lodge Chief is the chairman of the Lodge Executive Committee and is responsible for: planning/overseeing all LECs, holding semiannual Key 3s, representing Orca Lodge within Section W3-N, and ensuring a high quality program for Lodge members.

Anyone interested in running for any of these positions should be prepared with a two minute speech to be presented at the Lodge Dinner and should meet with either the Lodge Adviser or Chief to discuss their interest.

 

Written by Marcus G.; edited for clarification by Jacob S.

When I first got to PRISM, I didn't expect the Summit to be gigantic and beautiful. The first day was quite exciting since you could do whatever you wanted to in terms of the activities which were available. I decided to go on the available canopy tour; it was amazing. There were three zip lines in total on the canopy tours; each one was very high up and a blast to ride. The next day, I went on the rock climbing course - it was definitely a workout. While I did not do any other activities personally, there were so many more available - you could go biking, skateboarding, and even participate in some shooting sports. I would definitely recommend to go to Summit if you like high adventure and lots of fun.

The prism experience was an incredible experience. The event was held at the Summit Bechtel reserve, a national high adventure base. The majority of the program was high adventure, with a small amount being dedicated to a service project. Although the high adventure fun took up the majority of the time, high adventure was far from being the focus or the best time of the event. Although technically the focus, neither was the re dedication of the summit circle. The true focus of this incredible event was fellowship. The ability to meet and spend time with arrowmen from around the country was incredible, giving a new meaning to fellowship. This fellowship was by far the best part of this event, making this event one of the best scouting events I have ever attended. The re-dedication was also an important aspect of the experience. The summit circle was was incredible, nestled deep in the West Virginia forest. All the lodge rocks were there, even for those of lodges that have been merged or retired, such as Cabrosa and Mow-A-Toc. This history helped added to the experience of the circle. Although poor weather made the actual re-dedication ceremony happen elsewhere, it was still impressive to take part in. We all had to leave the next day; I was sad to leave both the experience and the friends made there. Overall, Prism was an incredible experience.

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Written by Tyler W.; edited for clarification by Jacob S. 

This past August, the lodge sent a contingent of four Arrowmen,(Jason Kracht, Brian Wills, Brendan S., and Tyler W.), to OA NEXT. This was a conference at Indiana University, to bring together the leaders of each lodge to share ideas and help the national committee plan the direction of the order for our next century. We were given many questions from national to get our opinions on what we wanted for the order, and how to make it more appealing to new, old, and future members. We were broken into groups of Arrowmen from all over he country, as far away as Alaska to Hawaii. In these groups we shared ideas of the concepts that work well and the places that we struggle. Many of the lodges that we worked with faced the same challenges. We were also given tools to look at how the decisions we make affect all of those that support the lodge. The four days that we were there were full of productivity and new concerts. As always, we are looking for your input to improve and build the program our lodge has to offer.

Once every two years, the National Leadership Seminar is presented in Area 3, which makes it the best time for our members to attend this great training.  The NLS is available for all Arrowmen looking to enhance their leadership in the Lodge & Chapter.  Along with NLS, this year will also be the inaugural training of the Developing Youth Leaders Conference specifically for adult Advisers as well.

The NLS training is one of the best training opportunities in Scouting, and I expect that DYLC will be similar in quality

These trainings will be offered at Granlibakken - Lake Tahoe, November 18-20, 2016

The Lodge will be helping to pay for part of the fee for these trainings. if you are interested in attending one of these courses, please contact Mr. Kracht ASAP (registration closes on October 16)

National Leadership Seminar

The National Leadership Seminar (NLS) is a weekend training program focusing on leadership development. Run by the Region Chief and his Advisers, it provides an in-depth look at leadership skills and techniques. An NLS discusses how these skills can be applied in your role in the OA and in other aspects of your life. The National Leadership Seminar is a weekend conference on the skills and attributes of leadership. It is intended primarily to enhance the leadership skills of the Order of the Arrow’s key youth and adult members as they seek to improve their services to the Boy Scouts of America and the greater community. The weekend format is designed to complement the longer, more detailed Wood Badge and Junior Leadership Training Programs. Near the end of the seminar, participants make a contract with themselves to apply the skills studied in the seminar on projects in their lodge, council, and community.

Developing Youth Leaders Conference

The 2016 Developing Youth Leaders Conference (DYLC) will be like nothing before it. This conference focuses on the tools every adult needs to mentor and develop our outstanding youth leaders. It is built on the concepts our members learn at the National Leadership Seminar, and it uses the NLS terminology as participants learn new tools and techniques of how to mentor and develop our outstanding youth leaders. Prior attendance at a NLS is encouraged, but it is not required for the DYLC. Adults who are unsure whether NLS or DYLC might be best for them should talk to their lodge adviser for guidance or e-mail training@western.oa-bsa.org.

Developing Youth Leaders Conference was first presented as an alpha test to guests at NOAC 2015. The beta version was offered to section advisers who attended the 2015 National Planning Meeting in Dallas.

Since participation in NEXT, the national program of emphasis in 2016, is limited to just two adults per lodge, this is the perfect year to attend the most unique and rewarding adviser training in years.

Consider encouraging another adviser in your lodge to come with you and make it even more special. As a suggestion, lodge advisers might consider bringing a couple of their key chapter advisers with them as well.

Come join us for a conference that might just be life changing for you, your family and the Order.

For both courses, registration will begin at 6 p.m. Friday evening. First session will start promptly at 8:00 p.m. The conference will conclude at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

After a record-setting national conference in 2015, the Order of the Arrow will again seek to make history with Operation Arrow at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree.

To continue a tradition that dates back to the 1950 National Scout Jamboree, over 750 youth Arrowmen will answer the call to serve as part of Operation Arrow - the largest jamboree staff team ever assembled by the Order of the Arrow!

Operation Arrow staff members will support the jamboree program by joining one of three primary OA program areas: the Service Corps, the Trek Guides and the Indian Village. 

The summer of 2017 seems like a long time away, but planning for the next national Scout jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) is already well underway. The Order of the Arrow will continue to release information about Operation Arrow staff opportunities and how to become involved in the coming months.

We hope you will join us for what is sure to be the experience of a lifetime, as a part of Operation Arrow at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree!

 

Come check out the latest addition to redwoodbsa.org!

The newly released Where to Go Camping Guide is a great resource for units preparing their 2017 calendars. Almost one hundred local camps and parks have been compiled into one convenient web page by Orca Lodge. It is our goal to ensure that all of the units of the Redwood Empire Council have the tools to develop and improve their outdoor adventure programs.

Camping Sites

Take a peek at some of our numerous and local Regional, State, and National parks. Not only does each entry provide general information about campgrounds, it also provides program ideas, and facility specifics. Water availability, fire permissions, and wood sources are all listed for your ease of access. Be sure to check out our comments about each location, for information about tours, fee waivers, and special suggestions to enhance your experience.

Awards Programs

Also in the guide is a list of local council programs, like the Redwood Regional Challenge and San Francisco Bay Area??s Rim Rovers. Take a peek and see what your unit might qualify for, and encourage your youth to investigate the numerous other outdoor adventure awards offered by Boy Scouting.

National High Adventure Bases

Interested in trekking through the New Mexico wilderness, or sailing in the Florida Keys? Boy Scouting??s High Adventure programs are life changing experiences that open up incredible opportunities for youth. Any unit interested in attending a National camp will not only receive testimonials from our guide, but from any Scout and Scouter who has had the opportunity to go.

Upcoming Features

Looking for a new summer camp? Look no farther, our Camping guide will soon include a complete database of summer camps for your units to explore. Have a summer camp you want to recommend to other units? Head to the guide and submit information about your experiences.  Your feedback will help to continue to make this guide a relevant resource for all units in the Council.

As a member of the Order of the Arrow, you chose to be a part of an organization greater than yourself; an organization whose mission is to instill the values of selfless service and devotion to others in the minds of every boy who joins the Scouting program. Sensing your dedication to these values, your fellow Scouts called you to take part in something beyond yourself. That call, in part, requires you to spread the message of the Order of the Arrow to those Scouts and Scouters who have not yet had the opportunity to join the OA, and to choose to be a part of the movement beyond simply completing your Ordeal.

The Order of the Arrow has always valued the preservation of tradition. In many ways, it is that tradition which makes the Order of the Arrow such a valuable program. The traditions which we hold so close tell us to be cheerful, even in arduous labor. They tell us to be mindful of the needs of others, and to place those needs before our own. These traditions help to build the tightest bonds of brotherhood that the Boy Scouts of America has ever seen.

When immersed in the experiences of our brotherhood, it becomes easy to forget that those who chose you need you. Even so, while many lodges across the nation enjoy a healthy brotherhood conversion rate, many more struggle to meet Journey to Excellence standards. This is not because the state of our brotherhood is weak. On the contrary, membership retention levels for the OA are higher than those of the BSA at large. However, simply remaining part of our brotherhood isn’t enough.

Now, more than ever, it is time that we as Arrowmen show the world why we chose to participate in this brotherhood. It is time to show Scouting what it means to live a life of servant leadership, of unselfish service and of devotion to one’s brothers. This is why, over the last several months, the National Order of the Arrow Committee has worked to compile a bank of resources to aid in accomplishing this goal. Some of the resources that have been developed include:

OA unit election materials: In the annual JTE report for 2015, many units reported that the OA unit election is the least desirable OA experience. To help ensure that OA unit elections are a great experience, the #ChooseOA team has put together a new presentation complete with a cheat sheet on how to more successfully conduct the OA unit election. This is the first interaction that many new Scouts and Scouters will ever have with the Order of the Arrow; let’s make it a great one!

#ChooseOA brochure: Many parents, unit leaders and professional Scouters who are not OA members report having very little knowledge on what the OA is; we’ve developed something to help them understand. The #ChooseOA tri-fold brochure will serve as a tool for lodges to take to unit elections, new member orientations, and other OA events to spread the message. We’ve also included a blank page that lodges can customize to talk specifically about their program.

#ChooseOA information booth: Resources for an OA information booth at non-OA events have been developed, and are ready to go to your next council camporee or district roundtable.

These resources, among others, were debuted at NEXT: A New Century this August in Bloomington, IN. To find out more information on these resources visit the #ChooseOA. Remember, those who chose you need you! It’s time to tell the world why you decided to #ChooseOA, and encourage those around you to do the same!

 

Lodge Leadership		Chapter Leadership
Lodge Chief chief [at] orca194.org	Brendan S.	Allohak Chief allohakchief [at] orca194.org	Gordon H.
Lodge Vice Chief vicechief [at] orca194.org	Tommy A.	Allohak Vice-Chief allohakvicechief [at] orca194.org	Colin F.
Lodge Secretary secretary [at] orca194.org	Jake S.	Allohak Secretary allohaksecretary [at] orca194.org	Indigo F.
Lodge Treasurer treasurer [at] orca194.org	Gordon H.	Allohak Adviser allohakadviser [at] orca194.org	Leif Farr
Lodge Adviser adviser [at] orca194.org	Jason Kracht	Miwok Adviser miwokadviser [at] orca194.org	Donna Lake
Lodge Associate Adviser associateadviser [at] orca194.org	Mike Bell	Wonkatonk Chief wonkatonkchief [at] orca194.org	Tyler W.
Lodge Associate Adviser associateadviser [at] orca194.org	Mark Abel	Wonkatonk Vice Chief wonkatonkvicechief [at] orca194.org	Stephen S.
Lodge Associate Adviser ceremonies [at] orca194.org	Kevin Bleibaum	Wonkatonk Secretary wonkatonksecretary [at] orca194.org	Erik C.
Lodge Staff Adviser staffadviser [at] orca194.org	Daniel Hemphill	Wonkatonk Adviser wonkatonkadviser [at] orca194.org	Brian Wills
orca194.org www.redwoodbsa.org/oa

     

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For the latest Orca Lodge calendar, please visit:

www.redwoodbsa.org/oa/calendar

www.orca194.org/calendar.html

 

Official Publication of the Orca Lodge #194, Order of the Arrow,
Redwood Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America

Publications Adviser ~ Bruce Mayfield
Orca Spouts is a quarterly publication.
We will email all four issues.
We welcome all submissions, both articles as well as photographs.
Sending articles and digital photos via email is highly encouraged.
All photos welcomed.