"You were selected as pacesetters in cheerful service. Every one of us counts."
- E. Urner Goodman

19th Annual Iron Horse Hike Potato Creek State Park Oct 18, 2008 DAYS HRS MIN SEC

SAKIMA LODGE UNIT ELECTIONS PAGE

Unit Elections for 2008 are complete.

  Each troop in LaSalle Council #165 has a variety of opportunities to recognize those Scouts and Scouters who demonstrate the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in their Troop, in Scouting and in their daily lives. One way for a troop to do so is to elect those individuals for membership in the Order of the Arrow.  The election process is called an O/A Unit Election.  These are held from January to April of each calendar year. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Unit Elections

Q1. How many elections can we hold a year?
Q2. When can a troop have a unit election?
Q3. Can a troop wait and hold an election at summer camp?
Q4.  What is the procedure to schedule an election?
Q5.  How can a Scoutmaster find out who is the Chapter Chief or Adviser in their District?
Q6.  When should a Scoutmaster schedule an election?
Q7.  How many Scouts need to be present for an election?
Q8.  How does a Scoutmaster determine the number of REGISTERED YOUTH?
Q9.  Does a youth who is already a member of the Order of the Arrow count in the number of registered youth?
Q10.  What happens at the Unit Election?
Q11.  What are the requirements for eligibility?
Q12.  Can the Scoutmaster count the ballots?
Q13.  Can a Scoutmaster disqualify, void or change the results of an election?
Q14.  What if the Scoutmaster won't sign the reporting form?
Q15.  What if a scout has passed his first class requirements but has not received his badge or card?
Q16.  What happens to the reporting form?
Q17.  Who may vote?
Q18.  How many candidates can a scout vote for on their ballot?
Q19.  How many votes must a candidate receive to be elected into the Order?
Q20.  How does a troop or team recommend an adult for membership in the Order of the Arrow?
Q21.  What are the eligibility requirements for adults?
Q22.  How does the troop committee recommend an adult?
Q23.  Why is it that youth are "elected" and adults are "recommended"?
Q24.  When are these Induction Weekends?
Q25.  How do those who are elected find out about these Induction Weekends?
Q26.  What if a scout who is elected can not make it to any of the Induction Weekends?
Q27.  How long is a scout considered a candidate?
Q28.

---

Q1. How many Unit Elections can be held in one calendar year?  One. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q2. When can a troop have a unit election?  A troop can schedule a unit election with a chapter unit election team anytime between Jan 1 and April 30 of the current calendar year. top

---

Q3.  Can a troop wait and hold an election at summer camp?  No. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q4.  What is the procedure to schedule an election?  A Scoutmaster should be contacted by the Chapter Unit Election Team in their district.  If the Scoutmaster has not been contacted, he/she may contact the Chapter Chief and/or the Chapter Adviser for their district. top

---

Q5.  How can a Scoutmaster find out who is the Chapter Chief or Adviser in their District?  Go the the LEC page of the Sakima Lodge website for a list of names OR contact their District Executive OR ask at a roundtable (most Chapters have their monthly meetings at the roundtables) OR call the Service Center and ask for the staff adviser to the O/A. top

---

Q6.  When should a Scoutmaster schedule an election?  The Scoutmaster could schedule a unit election at a court of honor.  This ensures that most, if not all, scouts will be at the election.  Plus it exposes the parents to what the Order is all about. Sakima Lodge would also like to do a summer camp promotion for your scouts and their parents. The hope is this will expose them to the summer camp experience as well. top

---

Q7.  How many Scouts need to be present for an election?  Per National O/A Policy, at least 50% of the registered youth must be present at the election.  If less than 50% are present, the election must be postponed. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q8.  How does a Scoutmaster determine the number of REGISTERED YOUTH?  This is an odd answer.  The number of registered youth is comprised of two groups for scouts.  The first group includes those scouts on the troop charter who are under the age of 18.  It also includes those adult male scouts who are 18, 19 or 20 who meet the following conditions: 1) They are on the troop charter as adults. 2) They may be away at college or serving in the military AND are active when they are home and 3) meet the camping requirement described below.  Adult male Scouters who are 18, 19 or 20 are considered YOUTH in the Order of the Arrow.  They must also meet the requirements for eligibility for youth. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q9.  Does a youth who is already a member of the Order of the Arrow count in the number of registered youth?  Yes. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q10.  What happens at the Unit Election?  The local Chapter Unit Election Team meets with the Scoutmaster prior to the election to obtain a list of scouts who meet the eligibility requirements.  The Team then presents the Order of the Arrow to the group of youth (and parents, if at a court of honor).  The Team explains the requirements for eligibility.  The Team explains the election procedure.  The youth in the troop vote on ballots.  The ballots are collected and counted by the Unit Election Team.  The Team presents the results of the election to the Scoutmaster.  The Scoutmaster decides if the results are to be announced to the youth at that time or wait until a callout ceremony at a later date.  The Scoutmaster signs the reporting form.  The form is forwarded to the LaSalle Council office for processing. top

---

Q11.  What are the requirements for eligibility?  Per National O/A Policy, there are four requirements for eligibility: 1) A youth must be an active registered youth in the troop or team. 2) A youth must have obtained the rank of first class prior to the election. 3) A youth must have completed at least 15 days and nights of camping within 2 years prior to the election.  The 15 days/nights MUST include one and only one long term scout camping experience of 6 days/nights within the two year period prior to the election.  A second or more long term camping experience may not be included in the 15 days/nights requirement.  A scout camping experience may include summer camp, Philmont, other high adventure base camping program, OR a troop long term camping trip. 4) The approval of the Scoutmaster as an active youth member of the troop. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q12.  Can the Scoutmaster count the ballots?  No - that is the responsibility of the Unit Election Team. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q13.  Can a Scoutmaster disqualify, void or change the results of an election?  No.  Absolutely not. The Scoutmaster qualified the candidates prior to the election. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q14.  What if the Scoutmaster won't sign the reporting form?  The Unit Election Team should immediately inform their Chapter Adviser of this. (Sakima Lodge Policy in cooperation with LaSalle Council) top

---

Q15.  What if a scout has passed his first class requirements but has not received his badge or card?  A scout has earned the rank when he has successfully completed the requirements and had a troop board of review.  The scout does not have to have the badge or the card to be eligible for membership in the Order of the Arrow. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q16.  What happens to the reporting form?  The Unit Election Team gives the bottom copy of the form to the Scoutmaster.  The middle form goes to the Chapter leadership for their records.  The top copy is sent to the LaSalle Council Service Center for processing. top

---

Q17.  Who may vote?  Another odd answer.  Again - two groups.  Group 1: All active youth members of the troop may vote, including those who are already members of O/A.  Group 2: Those active adult male scouters registered in the troop that are 18, 19 or 20 years of age may vote. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q18.  How many candidates can a scout vote for on their ballot?  Each scout may vote for as many or as few of the eligible scouts as they think are worthy.  If a scout thinks none of the candidates are worthy, the scout may turn in a blank ballot.  If a scout thinks only one candidate is eligible, the scout may write that name on the ballot.  If a scout thinks all the candidates are worthy, the scout may write all the names on the ballot. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q19.  How many votes must a candidate receive to be elected into the Order?  A candidate must receive at least 50% of the votes of the number of ballots turned in.  Note: There may be fewer ballots turned in that there are scouts at the election.  A scout is NOT required to vote.  Example: If there are 15 Scouts present and only 12 ballots turned, a candidate would need to receive (12 ballots / 2 = 6) or 6 votes.  If there are 16 scouts present and 13 ballots are turned in, a candidate would need to receive (13 / 2 = 6.5, Round up to 7) seven votes.  If the result of the number of ballots turned in divided by two is a fraction, the National O/A Policy is to round up to the next whole number. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q20.  How does a troop or team recommend an adult for membership in the Order of the Arrow?  The troop committee is responsible to recommend an adult for membership.  It is NOT the responsibility of the Scoutmaster.  The troop committee may recommend an adult if and only if the unit has held a youth election and at least one youth was elected in the current calendar year.  The committee may recommend one adult per every 50 youth members of the troop.  If a troop has 20 members and has elected at least one youth, the committee may recommend up to one adult.  If a troop has 75 members and has elected at least one youth, the committee may recommend up to 2 adults. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q21.  What are the eligibility requirements for adults?  The adult must be registered in the unit and meet the same camping requirement as the youth.  The adult obviously does not have to have obtained the rank of first class.  The adult does not have to have the approval of the Scoutmaster. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q22.  How does the troop committee recommend an adult?  The troop committee should meet and make their decision PRIOR to the unit election.   The committee should make their selection based on the ability of the adult to support the youth program of the Order of the Arrow.  The committee should keep in mind that adult membership in the Order of the Arrow is not based on recognition of service to the unit but for the ability and willingness of that adult to directly support the youth of the Order.  The committee chair fills in that portion of the Official Sakima Lodge Unit Election Reporting Form brought by the Unit Election Team. top

---

Q23.  Why is it that youth are "elected" and adults are "recommended"?  Once a youth is elected, he will automatically be invited to the Sakima Lodge Induction Weekends.  Adults are recommended for membership.  All adults recommended for membership must be approved by the Lodge Executive Committee and the Scout Executive of LaSalle Council. This is done in the middle of May each year, after elections have concluded and prior to summer camp. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q24.  When are these Induction Weekends?  Sakima Lodge holds two induction weekends per year. top

---

Q25.  How do those who are elected find out about these Induction Weekends?  The are called out at summer camp at the Friday night campfire program.  They will then receive an invitation in the mail announcing the dates and other information about these weekends. You may also check the LaSalle Council Calendar for "Ordeal Induction Weekend" top

---

Q26.  What if a scout who is elected can not make it to any of the Induction Weekends?  We understand that many youth lead very busy lives.  However, membership in the Order of the Arrow is based on a willingness to serve fellow scouts.  If a scout can not make the time to attend an Induction Weekend, how will they make to time to serve their fellow scouts as a member of the Order? top

---

Q27.  How long is a scout considered a candidate?  A scout who is elected in any year can attend an Induction Weekend up through the end of that calendar year. If the scout can not attend any of these weekends, the scout must be re-elected by his troop to be eligible for any later Induction Weekends. (National O/A Policy) top

---

Q28. (National O/A Policy) top

---

visits to this page