Unit Election Forms and Information
2023 Candidate Letter – Click Here
Contact Ma-Nu Lodge at manu@manu133.org to schedule a unit election
Order of the Arrow Elections
Once each Ma-Nu Lodge “Experience / Ordeal” calendar year (September 1 – August 31), a chartered Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scout unit may hold a unit election to elect members of their unit to become members of the Order of the Arrow. Both youth and adults can become members of the OA. New members aren’t elected only by the OA members in the troop. Everyone in the unit votes to ensure that those elected are elected mostly by people who are not OA members. If a unit has no active OA members, that’s fine. A unit election team, trained in the latest OA election policies, will visit a regular unit meeting at the invitation of the Scoutmaster to conduct the election.
Requirements for Youth Members
Youth elections are normally held at a unit meeting, and take about 20 minutes to complete. In order for an election to be held, at least 50% of the youth members must be present (based on the current chartered troop membership). If less than 50% are present, the election must be rescheduled. Only elections conducted by an official OA election team trained by Ma-Nu Lodge will be considered valid. Members of the troop cannot conduct the election.
- Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
- Have experienced 15 nights of Scout camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.
- At the time of their election, youth must be under the age of 21, and hold one of the following ranks corresponding to the type unit in which they are being considered for election: Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery rank, or the Sea Scout Ordinary rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor or Sea Scout Skipper, be elected by the youth members of their unit.
- To be elected, a youth candidate must receive half or more votes of the number of ballots turned in to the election team.
- If elected, a candidate must complete a Ma-Nu Lodge Experience Weekend (Ordeal) in the same Ma-Nu Lodge calendar year (September 1 – August 31)
Requirements for Adult Members
Each year, upon holding a unit election for youth candidates that results in at least one youth candidate being elected, the unit committee may nominate registered unit adults (age 21 or over) to the lodge adult selection committee. The number of adults nominated can be no more than one-third of the number of youth candidates elected, rounded up where the number of youth candidates is not a multiple of three. In addition to the one-third limit, the unit committee may nominate the currently-serving unit leader (but not assistant leaders), as long as he or she has served as unit leader for at least the previous 12 months. Recommendations of the adult selection committee, with the approval of the Scout executive, serving as Supreme Chief of the Fire, will be candidates for induction, provided all conditions are fulfilled. A separate Adult Candidate Nomination form exist for Adult Scouts.
Adult Nomination Form must be completed in full and submitted to the Lodge Adviser by December 15 for following years Ordeal opportunities. Please note: A nomination does not guarantee approval for membership in the order. If approved, the troop will be notified.
- Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
- Have experienced 15 nights of Scout camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.
- Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee.
- If selected, a candidate must complete a Ma-Nu Lodge Experience Weekend (Ordeal) in the same Ma-Nu Lodge calendar year (September 1 – August 31)
When are Elections Held
Ma-Nu Lodge holds elections from September 1 through December 15. Elections are not held during Summer Camp. Only elections conducted by an official OA election team trained by Ma-Nu Lodge will be considered valid. Members of your own troop cannot conduct an election for your troop. Contact the Chapter Adviser in your District to schedule a Unit Election by emailing Ma-Nu Lodge at manu@manu133.org.
Unit Election results and Adult Nomination should be submitted to the Lodge Adviser or the Lodge Elections Committee by December 15 to be consider eligible for the following Ordeal season.
Membership Levels
While there are three levels of membership (called “honors”) in the Order of the Arrow, all members—regardless of honor—are considered equal.
Induction
The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The entire experience is designed to teach significant values. All candidates for membership must complete the Ordeal.
Brotherhood Membership
After 6 months of service as an Ordeal member and fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the Order.
Vigil Honor
After two years of exceptional service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow committee, a Scout or Scouter may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for their distinguished contributions to their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout camp. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.
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kathy.zabloudil@scouting.org