OA Troop/Team Representative Program

Transcription

1 OA Troop/Team Representative Program

2 Let it be remembered that the Order of the Arrow was created to help the unit - to help it present its membership a better ideal of the inner qualities of the good scout camper. Qualities of character, cheerfulness and service are hard for a boy or a man to understand in the abstract. They come easier when seen in human life. Let us realize the significance of the Order in the unit - for the unit is our best hope in scouting. Dr. E. Urner Goodman

3 What is the OA Troop/Team Representative? The Troop/Team Representative Program was begun in 1999, and is a program of the Order of the Arrow that has been officially adopted by the Boy Scouts of America. The OA Representative is now an official position within the troop or team, and boys can earn time towards their leadership rank requirements, just as with Den Chief, Troop Scribe, or any of the other leadership positions.

4 There are numerous possibilities for the job description of the OA Representative. The beauty is that it is flexible enough to allow your unit to fine-tune the exact responsibilities. However, the most basic tasks of the Representative will be to coordinate service opportunities within the unit, to coordinate unit involvement with the OA, including Unit Elections, Camp Promotions, and Inductions, and request lodge and chapter resources to help meet unit needs and feeds back to the the lodge on the success of their program. What Are the Responsibilities of the OA Representative?

5 Who Can Serve as a Troop/Team Representative? Anyone in the unit who is under the age of 18 can serve as the OA Representative for the unit, provided he is a dues-paid member of the OA. He should be appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader or Varsity Team Captain, and will be a member of the Patrol Leaders Council and invited attend lodge and chapter meetings.

6 Will There Be an Advisor for the OA Representative? As with all positions in the Order, the OA Representative should have an adult as his Advisor. The adult should be over the age of 21, be a dues-paid member of the Order of the Arrow, and be appointed by the Scoutmaster.

7 Who Benefits? -Scouting With the Troop/Team Representative as a liaison between the Order of the Arrow and the troop or team, the camp promotions process will be smoother, leading to greater numbers of scouts at summer camp.

8 Who Benefits? -Scouting Creates a vehicle to strengthen the ties between the OA and the individual BSA troop or team. This helps with the retention of the older Scouts

9 Who Benefits? -Scouting With the organization of service projects, Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts will be seen actively helping others in their communities

10 Benefits - Lodge/Chapter With an easier camp promotions process, the lodge can increase the number of units visited, increasing the effectiveness of this program in the Council Eases the unit election process by having a person in the troop or team whose job is to ensure that elections are held

11 Benefits - Lodge/Chapter With positive OA leadership on the unit level, lodges will experience greater membership retention and higher Brotherhood conversion rates A Unit s OA members will have someone to organize transportation to OA events, increasing attendance at chapter/lodge functions

12 Benefits - Lodge/Chapter The lodge/chapter can obtain unit s reaction to presentations and improve its program to more fully meet the unit needs The lodge/chapter will be more aware of the unit s needs and concerns and can better support the unit

13 Benefits - Troop/Team The coordination of OA calendar with that of the troop and team will prevent OA members from having to choose between OA functions and unit events

14 Benefits - Troop/Team With the organization of service projects, there will be greater opportunity for community service hours that are required for rank advancement

15 Benefits - Troop/Team Experienced Arrowmen from other units who may be able to share their knowledge can be sought out by the OA Representative to augment the troop program

16 Benefits - Troop/Team Creates more opportunities for leadership in the troop or team for both youth and adults, effectively increasing membership retention Enables the unit to feed back to the lodge and chapter regarding the success of the lodge program

17 OA Troop Representative Job Description An Order of the Arrow Troop Representative is a youth liaison serving between the local OA lodge or chapter and his troop. In his troop, he serves as a communication and programmatic link to the Arrowmen and adult leaders and Scouts who are not presently

18 members of the Order. He does this in a fashion that strengthens the mission of the lodge and purpose of the Order. By setting a good example, he enhances the image of the order as a service arm to his troop....

19 OA Troop Representative Duties Serves as a communication link between the lodge or chapter and the troop Encourages year round and resident camping in the troop

20 OA Troop Representative Duties Encourages older Scout participation in high adventure programs Encourages Scouts to actively participate in community service projects

21 OA Troop Representative Duties Assists with leadership skills training in the troop Encourages Arrowmen to assume leadership positions in the troop

22 OA Troop Representative Duties Encourages Arrowmen in the troop to be active participants in the lodge and/or chapter activities and to seal their membership in the Order by becoming Brotherhood members

23 OA Troop Representative Duties Sets a good example Enthusiastically wears the Scout uniform correctly Lives by the Scout Oath, Scout Law and OA Obligation

24 OA Troop Representative Duties Shows Scout spirit

25 OA Troop Representative Qualifications Under 18 years old Appointed by SPL with SM approval OA Member in good standing Reports to the ASPL

26 OA Team Representative Qualifications Under 18 years old Appointed by Varsity Team Captain with Coach approval OA Member in good standing Reports to the Varsity Team Captain

27 Resources - BSA Program Boy Scout Handbook Scout Fieldbook Senior Patrol Leader Guidebook Junior Leader Training syllabus Boys Life Scouting Woods Wisdom WWW Merit Badge Books Passport to High Adventure Varsity Scout Leader Guide Scoutmaster Fundamentals

28 Resources - OA Program OA Handbook OA Guide for Officers and Advisers OA Field Operations Guide Journey to Brotherhood pamphlet Lodge Planbooks LLD syllabus People Membership rosters Newsletters - National through Chapter

29 Checklist - Information Exchange Lodge/Chapter to Troop/Team: Lodge & Chapter Calendars Unit Election/Camp Promotion visit Service to America Program Community Service project opportunities Encourage OA members to be active in lodge and chapter events

30 Checklist - Information Exchange Lodge/Chapter to Troop/Team: Brotherhood conversion Resource lists OA Representative Registration forms Encourage unit members to attend their Ordeal

31 Checklist - Information Exchange Troop/Team to Lodge/Chapter: Does the unit conduct monthly campouts? Does the unit attend a long-term camp? Do the unit s older Scouts participate in high adventure programs?

32 Checklist - Information Exchange Troop/Team to Lodge/Chapter: Does the unit need help with its outdoor program? Does the unit need help with community service programs? Does the unit need help with training?

33 Checklist - Information Exchange Troop/Team to Lodge/Chapter: Does the unit s OA members participate in lodge and chapter activities? Name of the new OA Troop/Team Representative What is the reaction of the unit members to the lodge and chapter presentations and programs?

34 OA Troop/Team Representative Program How to make it fit in the lodge structure - Your OA Troop/Team Representatives are depending on the lodge to give them the support they need

35 Lodge/ Chapter Chief Vice Chief S t r u c t u r e Liason Rep Troop 1 Rep Troop 2 Rep Troop 3 OA Troop/Team Representative Chairman Liason Rep Troop 6 Rep Troop 7 Rep Troop 8 Liason Rep Troop 11 Rep Troop 12 Rep Troop 13

36 Lodge/ Chapter Chief Vice Chief OA Troop/Team Representative Chairman Liason Liason Liason Rep Troop 1 Rep Troop 6 Rep Troop 11 Should have to coordinate with 5-7 OA Reps Fewer Scouts to coordinate with, the better job he will do

37 Mega Lodge Chapter Chief has appointed Chairman, Liaisons, etc Lodge Chief should appoint Chairman to coordinate with other lodge Chairman to make sure that OA Reps receive current information Lodge Chairman troubleshoots, keeps program healthy, provides support material

38 Small Lodge Lodge Chief should appoint two Chairmen to run program One to run program One to create materials

39 All Lodges Consider making a database so OA Representative Roster can be kept up to date Send registration forms twice a year Consider making a short recognition ceremony Conduct Training Seminars at least twice a year for newly appointed OA Representatives

40 Word of Caution OA Representative Program can and should be used as a calling committee to promote. Remember the flow of information should not turn into a telephone tag game. All levels of leadership take notes so accurate information can be relayed

41 Success Ultimate success depends upon the OA Troop/Team Representative Program being a two-way communication link. Information needs to flow from the lodge to the unit and the unit to the lodge. The lodge must be responsive to the needs of the troop/team.

42 Keep all Troop/Team Representatives informed and make them feel that they are needed and critical aspect of the lodge administration

43 OA Troop/Team Representative Program Jack Hess - jack@dri.edu

44 Additional Information Order of the Arrow Homepage - NOAC 2000 Training Cell will include the introduction of the OA Representative Support Pak