I hope all my fellow arrow men have been enjoying their summer and projecting a cheerful and friendly attitude to there fellow scouts be that in leadership, planning and/or participation. Speaking of participation, the order is all about promoting camping within the council and within the lodge. The lodge promotes high adventure camping, be that as part of a council trek or a trail crew. Trial crews are some of the least expensive ways to experience high adventure bases. The primary way the lodge helps to funds these trail crew adventures are sales at the trading post. Currently participation has been lacking at the trading post and staffing the post has fallen onto only a few individuals. The lodge is instituting a credit system which will track your participation in the trading post along with other lodge event and/or service. Some ways to earn service credits will be to attend conclaves, sectional, membership meetings, archery shoot setups and take downs, council of chief meetings, NOAC’s, lodge fellowship gatherings, lodge service events, lodge banquets, O-A leadership seminars, hold a lodge leadership position, participate as a staff in a council event that the lodge has been asked to attend, and I am sure there are others that I have excluded here and will listed later. The point of this credit system is to encourage your participating in events that the lodge is responsible for staffing. Points accumulated count toward your request for funds from the lodge to go to high adventure bases. Trail crews require members to be 16 years of age so most members will not have a problem earning enough credits given the broad number of events and service projects that can earn an arrow man credits. There are exceptions to this which will be explained at another time, but lets just say that if you participate in the aforementioned events you’ll earn enough credits for funding. One of the major events to be staffed yet this summer is the archery shoot over the Labor Day weekend. If you cannot make it on the weekend then help set up on the Thursday before the shoot at 5:pm at Silver Trails. Many hands make light work. If you want the lodge to be respected you need to participate and show the pack, troops and other adult volunteers that you are a member of an elite organization that is run by the youth for the youth. In closing we need you to contact your fellow members and encourage them to participate, pay their dues and get involved. At least every troop should have an O-A rep to help in our communication. If you are unsure if you have a rep ask you scoutmaster or contact the Chief. With your help and participation you’ll find that lodge events will be fun events and not the heavy work event of the past.

YIB, Mr. Wassenberg

Let’s grow together in Brotherhood.