Bronze Buffalo
The Bronze Buffalo Award is presented by each chapter to members in recognition of distinguished service to that chapter. This award is a bronze buffalo shaped medallion suspended from a red ribbon that is worn around the neck. The award is chosen by the Chapter Adviser and Chapter Chief. One award per 50 youth is presented each year, with at least 2 per chapter, and with at least 50 percent of the awards being to youth.
White Buffalo
The White Buffalo Award is a white image of a buffalo suspended from a red and white ribbon. This award is worn around the neck at banquets and other formal ceremonies. The award is presented to Brotherhood or Vigil members in recognition of outstanding service to the Ma-Nu lodge and Last Frontier Council. One award per 50 youth is presented each year, with at least 50 percent of the awards being to youth.
Casy Cundiff Chapter of the Year Award
The Chapter of the Year Award was created in 1986 to honor and recognize the outstanding chapter program in the Ma~Nu Lodge. This award was renamed in 2002 to the Casy Cundiff Chapter of the Year Award in honor of Casy Cundiff, the former Lodge Vice-Chief of Chapters who passed away one year earlier. Though his life was cut short, Casy’s legacy lives on in the lives of the many arrowmen that he touched, not just from his lodge, but from across the nation. His efforts as a lodge leader helped motivate and inspire many arrowmen to action through the Gold Chapter Award, which is a major criterion for determining the Chapter of the Year. The Casy Cundiff Chapter of the Year Award was discontinued in October of 2005.
Bill George Award
The Bill George award is presented to the outstanding youth member(s) of the Ma-Nu Lodge. This recognition is the highest recognition that can be given to a youth member of the lodge. The award is chosen by the adult advisers in the Lodge.
Miller “Pat” Patterson Award
The Miller Pat Patterson award is given much like the Bill George Award to the outstanding adult member(s) of the Ma-Nu Lodge. This recognition is the highest recognition that can be given to an adult member of the lodge. The award is chosen by the youth officers of the Ma-Nu Lodge.
Founder’s Award
Introduced at the 1981 National Order of the Arrow Conference, the Founder’s Award was created to honor and recognize those Arrowmen who have given outstanding service to the Lodge. The award is presented to an Arrowman who demonstrates to fellow Arrowmen that he or she memorializes in his or her everyday life the spirit of achievement described by founder E. Urner Goodman and cofounder Carroll A. Edson.
The award is a handsome bronze medallion bearing the likenesses of E. Urner Goodman and cofounder Carroll A. Edson. It has a wooden base and brass plate suitable for engraving. Also available is a special Founder’s Award arrow ribbon, with a gold colored arrow suspended from a red ribbon.
Lodges may petition the national Order of the Arrow Committee to present up to four awards annually, based on lodge membership. If the lodge presents more than one award, one must be to a youth under the age of 21. Nominations must be made on form No. 24-137.
Special Recognitions
Ma-Nu Lodge Service Corps Flap
To earn the Ma-Nu Lodge Service Corps flap you must complete twenty hours of service in one or more properties of the Last Frontier Council. When twenty hours have been completed, fill out the information on the application form and return it to the Lodge Chief or Lodge Adviser to receive your patch. Patches are free.
Service Corps Form – Click Here
Arrowmen Unit Service Award
The Ma-Nu Lodge Arrowmen Unit Service Award is a special lodge flapwith a gold border. It recognizes Arrowmen for fulfilling their first obligation in the OA to provide leadership and service to the Scouts of their unit, and to strive to develop and fulfill their obligation by living the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. To earn the Arrowmen Unit Service Award (AUSA), an Arrowman must complete a minimum of three requirements from each of the following areas in any single calendar year: Leadership Development, Camping and Unit Service, and Leadership in Service. Progress is documented on the appropriate AUSA form (youth or adult). All requirements must be completed between January 1 and December 31 of a single calendar year. When these requirements have been completed, a youth Arrowman must participate in a Scoutmaster Conference (similar to that required for Scout rank advancement), and an adult Arrowmen must secure the approval of the Unit Committee Chairman. The completed form must be signed by the appropriate unit leader, and an OA chapter officer (youth) or adviser (adults). Mail completed forms to Michael Stearman, 2601 N. Broadway Avenue, Shawnee, OK 74801.
The Bowstring Society
The Bowstring Society is a special ceremonies recognition that is distinctive to Ma-Nu Lodge. To qualify, a ceremonialist must have performed at least two parts, and memorized a third for the pre-ordeal, ordeal or brotherhood ceremonies. The purpose of the Bowstring Society is to recognize outstanding ceremonialists, and to provide a pool of resources to draw from for further ceremonies training and education. Bowstring members are recognized by a black sash with a white arrow on it; the same sash that was the original sash of the OA. The current requirements for Bowstring Society membership and the rules for wear of the special sash may be seen here:
Bowstring Society Honor Requirements – Click Here
Bowstring Society Sash Rules – Click Here
The Vigil Honor
The Vigil is the highest honor of the Order of the Arrow and dates back to 1915. It is older than the Brotherhood. It is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position of office in the Order of the Arrow to one or more of the following: their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout Camp. Tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow is not considered as reason enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.
The Vigil Honor was first awarded by the Ma-Nu lodge in 1948 to four members who were also the first from the entire state to receive this recognition. The Vigil ceremony was performed for this group and the small number of recipients from other lodges across the country at an Army camp outside of Bloomington, Indiana during the 1948 National Order of the Arrow meeting.
Any member of the Order of the Arrow registered in Scouting and in good standing in a regularly chartered lodge is eligible for recommendation to the National Order of the Arrow Committee for elevation to the Vigil Honor provided that, at the time of the recommendation, the individual has been a Brotherhood member for a minimum of two years. A lodge may nominate a maximum of two percent of their registered Arrowmen once a year, through the Vigil Honor petition. At least 50 percent of all those nominated must be under 21 at the time of nomination.
Every year Ma-Nu Lodge selects its Vigil candidates based on nominations turned in from lodge members. Anyone may submit a nomination. Nominees must have been a Brotherhood member for at least two years before the committee meets. The form must be completed in its entirety and mailed to the address given on the form by the specified date. A picture of the nominee must be included with the form or it will not be accepted. Forms may not be e-mailed.
The Vigil Committee is a group of members of Ma-Nu Lodge Appointed by the Vigil Chief with the approval of the Lodge Chief to review and select candidates for the Vigil Honor. The committee reviews the nominations and then selects the candidates for that year with the approval of the Lodge Chief, Lodge Adviser, and Lodge Staff Adviser.