Unit Leaders,
The members of Ktemaque Lodge 15, Order of the Arrow, hope you and your unit members have been well during the current health crisis. The COVID-19 shut down caused many units to miss their opportunity to conduct OA candidate elections, but we want you to know it is not too late. As units restart their program (some virtually), we want you to know you may still conduct OA candidate elections if you were unable to before the COVID-19 shut down.
Candidate eligibility remains the same:
- Youth candidates must be under 21.
- First Class rank for Scouts BSA, Ordinary rank for Sea Scouts, Discovery Award for Venturing.
- Within the past 2 years, 15 nights camping, this includes 5 nights long term (summer camp) plus 10 nights short term. Nights camping must be in tents or under the stars, nights aboard ship counts for Sea Scouts, cabin and lean-to camping does not qualify.
- Unit leader approval.
- Election by unit youth members
Adults (21+) must meet nights camping requirements, but are not elected, they may be nominated by their unit committee.
Due to the shut down; some potential candidates may have missed short term camping opportunities, but the National OA has approved virtual camping to allow a candidate to add a night or two to meet the camping requirement. Virtual camping may be accomplished by camping in a tent or under the stars in one’s backyard. Such camping must be an approved unit activity, involving other members of the unit, camping remotely. Virtual nights camping must be certified by the unit leader.
Even if your unit is not meeting in person, your unit may conduct a virtual election of OA candidates. As with in person elections, virtual elections should be anonymous. A guide to OA Elections may be found at www.ghvscouting.org/ktemaque.
Members of Ktemaque Lodge are here to help you, if you have questions or need assistance conducting OA candidate elections, please contact:
James Hancock, Vice Chief for Operations, at OperationsViceChief@Ktemaque.org
Robert Fenty, at MembershipAdviser@Ktemaque.org
Yours in Scouting,
Lou Alagno
Ktemaque 15 Lodge Adviser
OA Unit Election Reports have been received from the following units:
2020 Ktemaque Lodge 15 Unit Elections Summary:
Bronxville 2: 2 Y
Yorktown Heights 174: 4 Y / 6 Total
White Plains 73: 5 Y / 11
New Rochelle 16: 1 Y / 12
Putnam Valley 41: 2 Y / 14
Valhalla 1: 3 Y / 17
Hawthorne 1: 1 Y / 18
Mamaroneck 2: 2 Y / 20
Rye 2: 2 Y / 22
Carmel 1: 6 Y / 28
Putnam Valley 353: 3 Y / 31
Pleasantville 12: 2 Y / 33
Scarsdale 2: 1 Y / 34
Croton 28: 3 Y / 37
Bronxville 1: 5 Y / 42
Purchase 1: 3 Y / 45
Chappaqua 2: 1 Y / 46
Adult Nominations:
Pleasantville 12: 1 A / 47
Mamaroneck 2: 1 A / 48
