ANNUAL REPORT TO THE STATE OF

FEBRUARY 2015

One hundred years ago – five years after the Boy Scouts of America’s founding – leaders recognized the need for a special recognition of those Scouts who truly committed themselves to living by both the Scout Oath and the . Thus began The – “’s National Honor Society.”

The “OA,” as it is often called today, recognizes those Scouters who exemplify the character qualities of Scouting, practice responsible camping methods, encourage growth of Scouting ideals in their peers, and lead in service to others. All OA members are selected for membership by their local Scout troops. The OA provides these members unique opportunities for high adventure, service, and leadership development.

Since 1915, communities across North Carolina have benefitted from a multitude of the OA’s service projects. Likewise, young men have developed leadership skills that have benefited them in their personal and professional lives and, in turn, enriched our State.

North Carolina is currently home to nearly 6,000 OA members from 11 OA chapters – one in each of the State’s Scout councils. The OA provides annually more than 30,000 hours of service to local communities. In celebration of the Order of the Arrow’s centennial anniversary, North Carolina’s OA chapters have together committed to perform at least one service project in each of our 100 counties.

As you read this report, assembled by North Carolina attorney, Eagle Scout, and OA member Jay Teeter, whom I thank, you will recognize the many benefits our Honor Society, the Order of the Arrow, provides to our State’s youth and to our fellow citizens.

Yours sincerely,

Paul M. Newby

Associate Justice, Supreme Court of North Carolina Chairman, 2015 Report to the State Committee

2

SCOUTING ACROSS THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

TOTAL YOUTH MEMBERS 71,618 TOTAL ORDER OF THE ARROW MEMBERS 5,837 TOTAL 2014 EAGLE SCOUTS 1,800 TOTAL ADULT VOLUNTEERS 27,223 TOTAL SCOUTERS STATEWIDE 98,841 TOTAL 2014 SERVICE HOURS 565,000+

3

CAPE FEAR COUNCIL (KLAHICAN LODGE)

Cub Scouts 3,060

Boy Scouts 1,470

Order of The Arrow Members 442

2014 Eagle Scouts 106

Venturers 214

Explorers 23

Total Youth Members 4,767

Total Adult Volunteers 1,756

4

For a detailed history of Klahican Lodge, please visit the Cape Fear Council Historical Association’s webpage at: http://www.cfcha.org/order-of-the-arrow/lodge-history

5

CENTRAL NC COUNCIL (ITIBAPISHE ITI HOLLO LODGE)

Cub Scouts 4,405

Boy Scouts 2,220

Order of the Arrow Members 331

2014 Eagle Scouts 119

Venturers 240

Explorers 266

Total Youth Members 7,131

Total Adult Volunteers 2,169

6

Itibapishe Iti Hollo Lodge 188

2014 has been a great year for the Itibapishe Iti Hollo Lodge 188 as far as service projects go. Some of our service projects take place at our home Camp John J. Barnhardt. Camp Barnhardt holds a summer camp every year for boy scouts from all over the state. Camp Barnhardt’s summer camp staff is mainly made up of youth arrowmen (Order of the Arrow members that are under the age of 21) from our lodge. One of our strongest beliefs is that summer camp should provide a safe and fun environment where young men can come and have fun while in nature. We believe this because we have a large amount of troops that come from urban environments. This is one of the only low cost places where they can experience nature in a fun and safe manner. Many of the youth that come to our camp have it rough at home. Camp provides them with a safe haven during the summer giving them a break from their home. Our service projects are a way of supporting the summer camp. We set up tents and cots for the young men to use, and after they are done we take them down. We do anything from painting buildings to preparing buildings to be renovated. Picture One shows just a fraction of the cots that we setup and take down each year. Camp serves about 400 people every week for the five week summer camp. We set up a cot for every single person. Our camp sites that the scouts stay in are spread out over 140 acres. Other service projects of ours are to help maintain the ecosystem in and around our camp. One service project was to pick up all of the debris that had accumulated at the bottom of one of our lakes at the camp. This project required the lake to be drained. The lake had all kinds of litter on the bottom of it, coming from over 50 years of use. Picture Two showcases another one of our many projects that helps support the summer camp staff. This picture shows us clearing the upstairs of the staff lounge. The staff lounge was built in the late 1960s and has not been remodeled since then. This is one of the many ways we help give back to the summer camp staff. Our local council, the Central North Carolina Council, shows us its full support by providing us with the materials that we requiere to complete these projects. For the 2015 year we have our new ordeals planned, which are the events where we conduct our service projects to better our wonderful camp.

7

DANIEL BOONE COUNCIL (TSALI LODGE)

Cub Scouts 2,217

Boy Scouts 1,404

Order of the Arrow Members 327

2014 Eagle Scouts 81

Venturers 208

Explorers 104

Total Youth Members 3,933

Total Adult Volunteers 1,716

8

100th Anniversary Report to the State

Tsali Lodge, Order of the Arrow

Daniel Boone Council, BSA

9

Tsali Lodge 333 W. Haywood St. Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828.254.6189 Fax: 828.252.4818 Email: [email protected] Website: tsalilodge.weebly.com

Members: 316 Current Ordeal: 166 Current Brotherhood: 98 Current Vigil: 52 2014 Ordeal Induction: 81.31% 2014 Brotherhood Conversion: 24.76% 2014 Vigil Honor Recipients: Nathaniel Broadhurst Randall Hylemon

Lodge Vice Chief of Administration: Pierce Assad Lodge Vice Chief of Program: Ryan Grannan Lodge Vice Chief of Indian Affairs: Lucas Johnson Lodge Secretary: Kiffen Loomis

Lodge Adviser: Dan Little [email protected]

Lodge Staff Adviser: Kirby Thompson [email protected]

10

Highlights of 2014 – The Year in Review

January- 4th: We completed a successful Lodge Leadership Training, thereby preparing the newly elected Lodge officers for a great year. 24th-26th: We sent a contingent to the Carolinas Indian Seminar in Statesville, NC. This is the premier local Indian Affairs training and education program of the year. February- 22nd: Our newest Vigil Honor members were called out at the annual Winter Banquet. Lodge awards were also given out, and annual reports were given. Finally, the new Lodge officers were officially sworn in. March- 7th: Performed dance and drum ceremonies at Pack 15’s Blue and Gold Ceremony. 14th-16th: Had a successful Spring Fellowship where we prepared for the Dixie Fellowship, inducted more Brotherhood members, and provided service to camp. April- 10th-12th: Our Spring Ordeal was a great success. We had over 60 new Ordeal members and got Camp Daniel Boone ready for summer camp! We also completed our final preparations for the Dixie Fellowship. 25th-27th: The Dixie Fellowship was a great success for Tsali Lodge! We won numerous awards that are listed below. In addition, our very own Travis Broadhurst was elected to be the Southern Region Section 5 Chief. Tsali Lodge was also an Honor Lodge for the 9th year in a row, and was the runner up for Lodge of the Year. May- 12th: Performed the Four Winds ceremony at the SoQua District Webelos Crossover 31st: Helped set up Camp Daniel Boone for summer camp at our Log Rollin’ event June & July: Performed numerous call-out ceremonies at Camp Daniel Boone over the summer August- 22nd-24th: At our Summer Ordeal, we cleaned up from the summer camp festivities, inducted 50 Ordeal members, and conducted our Vigil Ceremony where we recognized two new Vigil members.

11

September- 27th-29th: Our Lodge chief attended the first Lodge Chief’s Retreat in Marion, NC to be trained on Lodge leadership and Section-Lodge collaboration. October- 3rd-5th: The Fall Fellowship was a success, with Terrora Chapter winning the Quest for the Golden Arrow, our new lodge officers being elected, and around 50 Arrowmen providing service to the council. November- 9th: The Lodge Chief and Lodge Adviser attended the Section Council of Chiefs to help plan for next year’s Dixie Fellowship. December- 7th: Tsali Lodge cheerful provided labor at the Toys for Tots Bike Run in Swannanoa, NC as a part of our annual Day of Service.

Awards and Honors from 2014

1. Journey to Excellence-Gold Standard from January 2013-January 2014 2. 1st Place in Group Dance for the 5th straight year 3. 1st place in Group Drum and Sing 4. 1st place in Knot Tying Event 5. 2nd place in Lodge Display 6. 2nd place in Fire Building 7. 2nd place in Lodge Newsletter 8. 3rd place in Canoe Race 9. 3rd place in Lodge Planbook 10. 3rd place in Egg Toss 11. 3rd place in Archery 12. 3rd place in Pre-Ordeal Ceremony 13. 3rd place in Brotherhood Ceremony 14. Section Honor Lodge

Upcoming Events for 2015

February 21st-Tsali Lodge Winter Banquet At this event, we will announce the Vigil Nominees for 2015, as well as honor our Founders Award recipients for 2014 and 2015. We will also swear in our new lodge officers and hear annual reports from the outgoing officers. It is sure to be a great time as our 100th anniversary banquet. March 20-22nd: Tsali Lodge Spring Fellowship At this event, we will finish all preparations for the Dixie Fellowship, including Dance and Drum Team performances, Quest

12

Events practice, and theme preparations. April 24-26th: Dixie Conclave This is the largest annual event for Tsali Lodge. It is the gathering of all the lodges in Section SR-5 and gives the lodges the chance to compete against each other in various competitions, enjoy fellowship with their other brothers, meet new people, patch trade, participate in the best training of the year, and elect the Section officers for next year. This year, the Section has big plans for the 100th anniversary conclave, so this is not one to miss. Each year, the Dixie conclave is hailed as one of the best Section gatherings across the country. May 29-31st: Tsali Lodge Spring Ordeal This year, Tsali Lodge plans to induct over 70 members at its Spring Ordeal and to fully prepare Camp Daniel Boone for summer camp. It will also be a great time to reminisce about the Dixie Fellowship! August 3-8th: National Order of the Arrow Conference This is the largest event ever held by the Order of the Arrow in its 100-year history, and is sure to be one of epic proportions. It is held every 3 years, and this year over 15,000 Arrowmen will converge on Michigan State University for a week of training, fellowship, celebration, intense activities, and magnificent shows. Some of the best memories of an Arrowman’s career are made at these conferences.

What is Tsali Lodge doing to serve Western North Carolina?

For over 75 years, Tsali Lodge has been the beacon of cheerful service in Western North Carolina. We service the westernmost 13 counties in the state, and provide service to the community as well as to the council. First and foremost, Tsali Lodge provides annual service to Daniel Boone Council and the youth that it serves numerous times a year. We organize dance team and drum team performances, as well as authentic Native American ceremonies for local Packs and groups in the general population. We have also performed in front of the Buncombe and Henderson County governments. In addition, we get Camp Daniel Boone ready for summer camp each year, and complete service projects at each of our 4 weekend events out at the camp. These

13

can range from large scale building construction, to trail building, to trash collection. This is the greatest way in which we give back to the Council, and, indirectly, to the community that supports us. Finally, we staff certain Cub and Boy Scout events throughout the year, including and Family Weekends. We help with activities, cook meals, and serve on the administrative staff whenever asked to. After all the Council does to support the Lodge, they deserve our cheerful service. Tsali Lodge also commits itself to service to the community. Each year, in December, we help with the Toys for Tots Bike Run in Swannanoa, NC by cooking chili, helping with crowd control, and being the first ones on the site and the last ones off. We do not leave until the work is finished, and it is that spirit that has the organization asking for us again and again. The Arrowmen in Tsali Lodge impact their individual communities more than we ever know. Each one is imparted with values of selflessness and sacrifice, and inspired to do more after the events. It is this spirit that compels them to become involved at home. Personally, I would have never been involved in other local service organizations if it were not for the pioneering spirit of the Order that pushed me to see what I could impact. As it has done for 75 years, Tsali Lodge will continue to give of itself what others require, and not hesitate to help those in need. We owe it to the community and council that give us so much.

14

Tsali Lodge Indian Affairs

Tsali Lodge has long taken pride in its Indian Affairs (IA) program. We have won numerous awards at the Section level for our dedication, finesse, and preservation of historic culture. We have also been the National Group Dance Champions since 2006, and were the National Team Sing Champions in 2006 and 2009. This summer, we are going to the National Order of the Arrow Conference in hopes of defending that tradition. We also place great emphasis on our accuracy and representation of historical traditions. Currently, our costumes (regalia) and dances are based off of 1850s Cherokee culture. We seek to honor this tradition by speaking with the elders of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and fulfilling their request to “Do it right”. We continue to refer to them on new dances, changes in regalia, and any other questions so that we respect and honor their culture in hopes that we can show it to the general public and preserve it. Our utmost concern is treating these cultures with dignity and respect. One of the changes that Tsali has made this year was to implement an Individual Dance program. In this component of IA, Arrowmen perform individual dances based off of cultures from the Plains Indians. We chose to compete in the Sioux Old Style dance. In order to rebuild the program, several adults and youth have committed immense amounts of time to prepare regalia and practice the motions of the dance. They practiced over the past summer and fall over ten times, and are planning seven more before the end of April. The youth have been very dedicated to helping make their regalia and mastering the dance skills in hopes that they will be successful at the Dixie Conclave in late April. Finally, none of this success would be possible without the commitment and dedication of adult advisers. These diligent men and women devote countless hours to making regalia, teaching the youth, and learning how to dance themselves. All the regalia they create is owned by the Lodge so that it can be passed down to the next generation of dancers. Without their hard work and desire to improve the lives of America’s youth, our program and its success would not be a reality. We wish to thank them for all of their efforts.

15

What does Tsali Lodge do for youth?

I joined Tsali Lodge at age 14. Having recently obtained my Eagle Scout award and served in leadership roles in my troop, I thought I knew a good deal about leading others. At the first lodge service event, however, it became obvious to me that Tsali Lodge bred a different type of leader - the servant-leader. Tsali Lodge's young leaders did not simply watch as their underlings built picnic tables or cleaned up campsites; they took an active role in the work. They were never afraid to get their hands dirty, and they did not seem concerned with exercising power, but rather with sharing it and delegating responsibility. They were concerned with helping others perform as highly as possible, while also helping with the work themselves. As I grew older and assumed leadership roles in the Lodge, I, first-hand, learned the importance of listening, being empathetic to the needs of others, and never being afraid to get my hands dirty. Now that I am studying at Harvard College, I have applied many of the leadership values I learned in Tsali Lodge as a leader in a number of student groups on campus. Tsali Lodge made me a servant-leader.

Chambers Loomis, Harvard College Class of 2017

16

I would like to write a moment on how the Order of the Arrow (OA), and more specifically Tsali Lodge, can benefit an individual throughout their life. I also want to impart a sense of how influential it has been in my life. The skills learned in the OA are not the same as those learned in the unit. I like to use the example of school. In this case, you learn the concepts in school but you don’t really understand the ins and outs until you go into the work force. Similarly, the unit would be the class and Tsali Lodge was for me, and can be for many more, the work force. I learned how to lead through the Troop, and the concepts were there. However, when I became involved in the OA it opened up so many doors to actually use the leadership skills I was familiar with. Tsali Lodge has five lodge officers, at least five chapter officers, and over twenty committees. That means at any time any Scout has a spot in the Lodge. I started as small on the Activities Committee. When a Scout takes the role as a committee member all the doors in the world open, and you now can lead not just a unit but the Lodge, the Council, your classmates in school, and so much more. At the committee level you get the chance to influence and empower the most people. The committees are very important and can do so much! It is at this stage that you learn peoples’ strengths and weaknesses, and how to find the position that will yield the highest efficiency. The next way Tsali Lodge influenced my life was as a Lodge Officer. As a Lodge Officer a Scout learns public speaking. Yes, one does learn the concepts and the proper way to do so on the Troop level. However, speaking to your unit of about 25 it is not the same as speaking to hundreds at a fall fellowship or banquet. Also, it is not just speaking to your pears or your Subordinates. As a Lodge Officer, you learn how to communicate with the Executive board, the Council’s camping committee, and future Arrowmen at Cub Scouting events. Now, I want to mention one of the opportunities that Tsali Lodge offered me once I was a Lodge Officer. I was able to participate on the Section level. I would like to mention that it is not required of a Lodge Officer to be active on the Section level. While I was Section Chief I was able to learn even more. I was able to attend other Lodge and Section activities. This was an experience that I think all Arrowmen should do. I was able to bring new innovative ideas to the Lodge and Section. That leaves me with my last note. No matter where you are actively involved in Scouting, every door that you walk through teaches you a tremendous amount of knowledge that you can take back with you. You can take the skills that you have worked with and used back to your unit and help teach other scouts the same skills that you have come to perfect!

James Hylemon, Sales Associate, Daniel Boone Council Scout Shop

17

EAST CAROLINA COUNCIL (CROATAN LODGE)

Cub Scouts 4,290

Boy Scouts 2,430

Order of the Arrow Members 451

2014 Eagle Scouts 143

Venturers 126

Explorers 147

Total Youth Members 6,993

Total Adult Volunteers 2,524

18

WWW.CROATAN.ORG January 7, 2015

Croatan Lodge: 75 Years of Cheerful Service By Marty Tschetter 2014 Croatan Historian Continues Service, In June 1938, the Order of the Arrow came to eastern North Carolina. Little did Capital Contributions the charter members realize the & Brotherhood significance of the first ceremonies? During the early years of the lodge, members were acknowledged as leaders in their troops and at Camp Charles with As 2014 closed out Croatan only a handful of events beyond summer Lodge continued to finish out camp. the year strong with over 5900 man-hours donated to East Playing off local history and the lore of Carolina Council along with the Lost Colony, they selected the Capital contributions for over Dare Oak tree as the totem. $12,200. Croatan existed through 1942, but war restrictions forced the council to close camp and the lodge ended. During the year members of the Lodge helped with the East The lodge chartered in 1948 under the Carolina Council Stewardship of field executive W.C. Wall along with District camporee when Camp Charles opened again. Eagle throughout the Council. All Scouts Stratton and Vann Murrell from this was done while sending Jacksonville served as the first two lodge 176 members to the SR-7B chiefs. The first national OA conference Conclave, 5 members to OA (NOAC) members attended was in 1961, High Adventure and 18 which provided important exposure to Brothers to National Scouting new ideas and how other lodges events. functioned. With over 450 members By the 1970s, the lodge emerged as a Croatan Lodges is poised to consistent powerhouse in the state with continue the long tradition of strong youth leaders who made significant serving East Carolina Council national contributions to ceremonies, Indian dancing, and camp promotions. and the surrounding areas. Consistently throughout our history, most active Arrowmen also served on camp staff. By the mid 1990s, several brothers Some of the many service projects completed at Camp Boddie. Photos by Graham Copeland worked at even founding the OA Trail Crew.

That continued on into the 2000’s. The tenets of the Order continue to come to life in Croatan Lodge: Brotherhood through camaraderie, Cheerfulness through a positive spirit, and Service through a tangible product are still a large part of East Carolina’s Order of the Arrow members.

19

For many more Croatan photos visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/croatanlodge117/

MECKLENBURG COUNTY COUNCIL (CATAWBA LODGE)

Cub Scouts 3,917

Boy Scouts 3,359

Order of the Arrow Members 850

2014 Eagle Scouts 234

Venturers 493

Explorers 1,056

Total Youth Members 9,235

Total Adult Volunteers 3,400

20

Catawba Lodge 2015 Report to the State

Since 1951, Catawba Lodge has cheerfully served Mecklenburg County as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America. 2014 was no different for the 854 youth and adult Arrowmen from the Mecklenburg County Council who gave a total of 5,174 hours of service to their community. These lodge projects consisted, in part of maintaining camp properties, staffing resident camps, and collecting food for Loaves and Fishes. The year began as our youth trained younger scouts the art of cold weather camping. Approximately 100 Boy Scouts and several Venture Scouts gathered at Central Community College to learn how to safely and comfortably camp, cook, and sleep in the outdoors during the winter months. This Cold Weather Training is an event held annually in conjunction with other council training for adult Scouters. Our first significant service project of each year is our Beaver Days event which we host at Mecklenburg Scout Reservation, our camp facility in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This weekend-long project includes volunteers from all troops in Mecklenburg County and is led by Catawba Lodge to prepare the property for the summer camp program enjoyed each year by hundreds of scouts. We also provide financial support of $2,000

21

directly to the council program and subsidized the salary of one summer camp staff member.

We hosted four weekend events throughout the year to complete miscellaneous service projects to maintain Belk Scout Camp located in the eastern tip of Mecklenburg County. These projects ranged from campsite clearing, landscaping, and trail repair to dead tree removal, facilities repair, and small construction projects. Campsites and program facilities at Belk Scout Camp are available nearly year round for Boy Scout troops, Cub Scout Packs, and other youth organizations.

Our most important and far reaching service project was held all across Mecklenburg County and involved Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and citizens of the community. Catawba Lodge organized and manned collection points for the Scouting for Food food drive for Loaves & Fishes. Scouting for Food is Mecklenburg County Council's community stewardship project aimed at addressing the problem of hunger in the community in which we live and work. Catawba Lodge has adopted "Scouting for Food" as their major service project. Loaves and Fishes is a Charlotte-based food pantry that collects and supplies food and groceries to people in crisis. They are a non- profit organization working with volunteers and donations to end hunger in our community. In 2014 our lodge volunteered 812 service hours to

22

collect 241,000 pounds of food to help Loaves & Fishes food pantries feed needy local residents with emergency aid. In 2015 we celebrate 100 years of the Order of the Arrow and will continue our service as we remember the past and honor the future.

23

OCCONEECHEE COUNCIL (OCCONEECHEE LODGE)

Cub Scouts 6,170

Boy Scouts 6,762

Order of the Arrow Members 501

2014 Eagle Scouts 443

Venturers 450

Explorers 314

Total Youth Members 13,725

Total Adult Volunteers 6,660

24

Occoneechee Lodge #105 2015 Report to the State A Tradition of Service

2014 was a major year for Occoneechee Lodge #104. It was a year of preparation, a year of change, a year of learning, a year of growing, but most of all 2014 was a year of Service. Occoneechee lodge left a major impact in 2014. The council, the local community, and the state all saw the works and influence of Occoneechee, but most of all, the lodge served their brothers and made large contributions to the Council and its scouts. In 2014 the lodge gave an estimated 11,500 hours in service to our community and to Scouting. This number does not include the countless hours that may have gone unrecorded. In 2014, Occoneechee Lodge presented service awards to six of our members that exceeded 104 hours of individual service. Some individuals earned multiple awards, while a large number of individuals did not claim recognition for their work and Occoneechee appreciates them for such cheerful service. As a service to our local council, Occoneechee Lodge hosted, planned and executed the most successful Boy Scout Camporee in recent history. The Lodge put thousands of hours into the planning and execution of the event. With the largest participant attendance seen at a Council Camporee, the lodge supplied a surplus of over 100 staff members and the event went off without a hitch. Although the weather was not cooperative, the rain did not stop Occoneechee from putting on the best program possible. The weekend included shows with pyrotechnics, exhibits where scouts could learn and grow with hands on activities, and the pinnacle of the weekend, a three mile mud course with challenging obstacles to test the physical limits of scouts. The weekend was regarded by many as the best planned and executed camporee they had ever attended. For the duration of The 2014 Council Camporee, Occoneechee Lodge facilitated a food drive supporting the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The Lodge service committee reached out to troops and promoted the Drive. They collected cans and other unperishable items and delivered 1,092 pounds of food which

25

provided approximately One thousand meals to hungry people across North Carolina. This served as one of the most successful one day food drives for the council. Lodge 104 continued its service in 2014 as it had traditionally benefiting the up keep and maintenance of Camp Durant. Occoneechee Lodge replaced all the exterior windows in the Camp Training center, bring them up to current standards for energy efficiency and supplied funds to purchase new tools and equipment for the camp for future service projects. Additionally, the lodge built new permanent tent platforms for summer camp’s tents and set up a majority of the camp tents benefiting the summer camp staff. The lodge also helped with the maintenance and improvements for the Camp Dam and wastewater treatment facilities. Occoneechee Lodge gave service in multiple ways. Whether it was through financial donations benefiting the scouting program, the staff members at council camporee, or the food donated to help a hungry community, Occoneechee cheerfully gave back to others.

Respectfully submitted, A.J. Raulynaitis, Chief Occoneechee Lodge #104 Raleigh, NC

26

OLD HICKORY COUNCIL (WAHISSA LODGE)

Cub Scouts 2,199

Boy Scouts 1,897

Order of the Arrow Members 1,050

2014 Eagle Scouts 161

Venturers 206

Explorers 101

Total Youth Members 4,412

Total Adult Volunteers 2,171

27

2015 Report to the State

Wahissa Lodge #118, Order of the Arrow Old Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America Winston-Salem, North Carolina

During 2013 and 2014, Wahissa Lodge, Order of the Arrow, in the Old Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, commemorated the 75th Anniversary of its founding. The lodge’s first induction ceremony was held June 3-4, 1938, at Boy Scout Camp Lasater near Winston- Salem. During the anniversary year, members of Wahissa Lodge rededicated themselves to service in Scouting and in their communities through work and ceremony at Boy Scout Camp Raven Knob near Mount Airy and throughout the Old Hickory Council’s eight- county service area including Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin, Wilkes, Alleghany, Ashe, and Watauga Counties.

At Camp Raven Knob, Wahissa Lodge’s major events were the Lodge Officer Training Seminar (LOTS) in December 2013; Winter Fellowship in April 2014; Spring Fellowship in May; seven “Wednesday Night” visitor campfire and call-out ceremonies in June, July, and August; Vigil ceremony weekend in September; Fall Fellowship (Annual Business Meeting) and Wahissa Lodge Building Rededication Ceremony in September; and two Parent-Son Camping Event weekends in October. The lodge’s Annual Banquet, with more than 200 members in attendance, was held in November at Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.

28

In 2014 Wahissa Lodge’s 1,038 youth and adult members performed approximately 6,000 hours of voluntary service at Camp Raven Knob and at various events in northwestern North Carolina. At Raven Knob more than 200 campers’ tents and wooden platforms were removed from winter storage and set-up for use before summer camp then broken- down and stored for the winter after the camp season. Tents were stored in the new Wesley K. Morgan Maintenance & Logistics Center, affectionately known as the “new barn,” which replaced a smaller and inadequate but much-used garage and storage building known as the “barn.” Wahissa Lodge and its members donated funds for the construction of the new building as well as labor to relocate materials from the old building to the new and to dismantle parts of the “old barn.” The late Wes Morgan, the namesake of the new maintenance building, was a past chief of Wahissa Lodge and a recipient of the national Order of the Arrow’s Distinguished Service Award. Also at Raven Knob, lodge members removed and relocated hundreds of feet of fencing and repaired and restored short portions of several miles of hiking trails. The lodge’s ceremony rings were maintained and repaired. Major upgrades to the John T. Atwell Cottage and to the Harrell Staff Quarters were completed through donated work by lodge members.

29

Away from Camp Raven Knob, arrowmen provided service at their respective district camporees (weekend camping events), at merit badge colleges, at Cub Scout Pine Wood Derbies, at crossover ceremonies to Boy Scout troops for Cub Scouts, for fund-raiser popcorn sales and distribution, as well as at collection locations for donated food during the annual “Scouting for Food” drive. Specific examples of service include lodge members from Zelo Zelos Chapter who staffed the Blue Ridge District’s Merit Badge College in Boone (Watauga County), lodge members from Achowalendam Chapter who staffed the Salem District Camporee near Winston-Salem (Forsyth County), and lodge members from the Kola and Sapona Chapters who provided an awards ceremony for the Laurel and Dogwood Districts’ (winter camping event) in Surry County.

The Elauwit Chapter in Forsyth County held a chapter Powwow (meeting) at the Second Harvest Food Bank in Winston-Salem in February at which more than 800 lbs. of non-perishable food was collected. The lodge supported “Caroline’s Crusaders” at the Great Strides Walk fund raising event for Cystic Fibrosis at Winston-Salem’s BB&T Baseball Park in May. Caroline Bobbitt, a member of Wahissa Lodge, is the daughter of Raven Knob camp director and Wahissa Lodge staff adviser Keith Bobbitt.

The major highlight of the year occurred in April when Wahissa Lodge was presented the “Spirit Award” at the annual Southern Region Section 7B Conclave at Camp Bowers near White Oak, North Carolina, in the Cape Fear Council. A conclave is an annual camping event at which about 1,200 members of the six lodges in the Order of the Arrow’s Section 7B gather for a weekend of training and fellowship - and patch trading! The lodge that wins the “Spirit Award” is selected by the chiefs of the respective lodges as the lodge that exhibited the most cheerfulness, enthusiasm, and positive action during the conclave weekend.

30

In his report to the Old Hickory Council’s governing executive board, 2014 Lodge Chief Zach Brown wrote, “As I have served this past year, the young men of this council proved how capable they were every time they rolled thought the gates of Raven Knob….[E]ach number you read [in this report] stands for a group of people. And each one of those people has a soul, has hopes and dreams, and loves Camp Raven Knob, the Old Hickory Council, and Wahissa Lodge….It has been a true joy getting to work together with the members of this [l]odge for the past year, getting to know them, and getting to watch them grow into the future leaders of our [l]odge.”

31

OLD NORTH STATE COUNCIL (TSOIOTSI TSOGALII LODGE)

Cub Scouts 3,231

Boy Scouts 3,181

Order of the Arrow Members 1,065

2014 Eagle Scouts 249

Venturers 243

Explorers 190

Total Youth Members 6,845

Total Adult Volunteers 3,129

32

Report to the State Tsoiotsi Tsogalii #70, Order of the Arrow Lodge , Boy Scouts of America Greensboro, North Carolina

During 2014, Tsoiotsi Tsogalii Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, in the Old North State Council, Boy Scouts of America located in Greensboro, North Carolina celebrated our 20th anniversary as a lodge. Our history goes back much further but the current lodge was formed by merger of three lodges in the Piedmont areas in 1994.

Tsoiotsi Tsogalii Lodge and the Old North Council covers an area of which includes the counties of Rockingham, Caswell, Person, Guilford, Alamance, Randolph, Davidson and Davie. The Lodges provides support to the four camps that serve the youth of the Council, which include Cherokee Scout Reservation in Yanceyville, Woodfield Scout Preservation, Asheboro, Hemric Scout Reservation on Kerr Lake Reservoir and Hagan Sea Base in Lexington. Members of the Lodge serve on the staff of these camp and perform service to help maintain the facilities.

The membership for the Tsoiotsi Tsogalii Lodge for 2014 was 1065 youth and adult members. During our ordeal weekends the members performed over 4,700 of hours of service for Cherokee Scout Reservation and Woodfield Scout Preservation. The Lodge also performed about 800 hours of service to the community. This included a One Day of Service at Cedar Rock Park in the Graham area. The various chapters performed service to locate activities and organization events that requested our assistance.

In addition to the service hours to the community and camps, we made an effort to collect food items for the various food pantries in the area. At our Spring Fellowship and Fall Fellowship and Conclave event members brought can items that were then donated to area church food pantries. Several of the chapter also had events that collected food and winter coats for distribution to churches.

During the past year the Lodge provided manpower for many of District events, Cub program events and Council training events. The Order of Arrow, is the honor society of the Boy Scouts. Our members try to live up to the ideals of a Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. We are looking forward to 2015 which is the 100th Anniversary of the Order Arrow with special events and service projects.

Submitted by Lanning Honeycutt, Lodge Chief for 2014

33

PIEDMONT COUNCIL (ESWAU HUPPEDAY LODGE)

Cub Scouts 4,607

Boy Scouts 3,095

Order of the Arrow Members 501

2014 Eagle Scouts 179

Venturers 1,153

Explorers 1,656

Total Youth Members 10,511

Total Adult Volunteers 2,001

34

Eswau Huppeday Lodge Piedmont Council

Eswau Huppeday Lodge representing the Piedmont Council headquartered in Gastonia celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2014.

Our 501 members come from eleven counties: Burke, Gaston, Iredell, Cleveland, Catawba, Lincoln, McDowell, Caldwell, Alexander, Polk, and Rutherford.

We host an annual seminar each January that is now in its 31st year, the Carolinas Indian Seminar. This is a weekend that is devoted to educating not only Scouts but our community in the traditions and history of Native Americans in North Carolina and the United States. We have educators from across the US come to Statesville each year to provide knowledge to over 300 participants.

35

Our Chapters provide community service to their respective counties. Many of Chapters aid in the Piedmont Council’s Scouting for Food initiative by providing service in their communities food banks. In Catawba County, our members provide leadership in sorting the food that is donated over the two weekend period of collection at both the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry and the Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry. Helping the local American Legion chapter retire United States flags and placing flags on the graves of Veteran on Memorial Day are also annual honors for these Arrowmen. Gaston County saw our chapter providing help in the Run for the Money and Tindol Car show-both fund raisers for non-profit organizations in that community. The Murray’s Mill Folk Festival is an annual event of the Catawba County Historical Association and Arrowmen participate in planning, logistics, and programs. Two of our members attended the Summit Experience at the BSA newest high adventure base in West Virginia and helped create a recreational trail in the New River Gorge as part of the National Park Service and Order of the Arrow’s joint commitment to create a new outdoor experience for us all. Our Iredell chapter excels in providing meaningful recognition and award ceremonies for our Cub Scout programs. The lodge dance team is often asked to perform Native American dance demonstrations across our council. Eswau Huppeday Lodge looks forward to continuing serve our fellows not only in this coming year but in the many years and centennials to come.

Nathan Davis Lodge Chief

David Cody Lodge Adviser

36

TIDEWATER COUNCIL (BLUE HERON LODGE)

Cub Scouts 346

Boy Scouts 240

Order of the Arrow Members 69

2014 Eagle Scouts 18

Venturers 0

Explorers 0

Total Youth Members 586

Total Adult Volunteers 329

37

Purpose of the Order of the Arrow

As Scouting’s National Honor Society, the purpose of the Order of the Arrow is to:

• Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition. • Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout’s experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp. • Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation. • Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

Extracts from the History of Blue Heron Lodge Visit our web site, www.blueheronlodge.org, for a complete history. During summer 1946, Mr. Norman Jones and Mr. Gordon Linsey were visiting Pennsylvania. While there, they noticed a program being carried out by the Scouts of that area. That program was the Order of the Arrow, and on returning to Norfolk, they mentioned the Order’s work to the commissioner staff. The commissioners approved a recommendation to adopt the Order of the Arrow in . In the fall of 1946, a ceremonial team from Octoraro Lodge in Pennsylvania came down to Camp Darden at Sedley, Virginia and inducted the first nucleus of what was to become Blue Heron Lodge. At the first official meeting of the Lodge on 5 January 1947, A. G. Buckwalter was elected the first Lodge Chief. After the first self-run Ordeal in August 1947, lodge membership totaled 39 and later by lodge action, these members were designated as charter members. The blue heron was selected as the lodge totem because the great bird was a frequent visitor to Lake Constance, the lake at Camp Darden. This totem, and the first patch incorporating the heron, were adopted at an executive committee meeting on 31 May 1947. Its design was a red arrowhead with a white “baby blue heron” superimposed on it (young blue heron are white). With 28 members present, Blue Heron Lodge held its first annual banquet on 31 December 1947. The Brotherhood Honor was conferred by Blue Heron Lodge for the first time at Camp Darden on 15 and 16 May 1948. Five of our members received the honor. Blue Heron Lodge sent five delegates to the National Order of the Arrow

38

Conference at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, in August 1948. Since that time our lodge has participated in every national or regional convention with very few exceptions. Chuck Meads from the Ski-Co-Ak (now Powhatan) Chapter received the first Vigil Honor in Blue Heron Lodge. He received this high honor at the Area III meeting at Broad Creek Scout Camp in Baltimore, MD on 30 April 1950. To become eligible, a member had to be an active Brotherhood member for at least 36 months. In 1953, the Lodge held its first annual Fall Fellowship. During 1958, 1959, and 1960, summer camp programs were conducted at both Camps Pipsico and Darden. However, by 1961, Pipsico held the title of Tidewater Scout Reservation on its own. The challenge to Arrowmen was great. There was a new, untouched camp to build. Tremendous work was needed to prepare for summer camp, but Blue Heron Lodge members rallied to the call.

During the fast-moving 50’s, the Lodge made one more change. We became one of the first to establish an effective chapter system. Following the growth of our council, the Lodge once had eight chapters. Currently, Blue Heron Lodge has six strong chapters: Albemarle, Cape Henry, Elizabeth River, Merrimac, Powhatan, and Princess Anne. 1993 started out on a very sad note for our Lodge. Our Immediate Past Chief, Brian Gregson, disappeared in a surfing accident on 10 January 1993. After much consideration, the Lodge decided to set up a memorial fund to build a new museum and welcome center at Camp Pipsico. The Lodge also continued its camp workdays and served lunches to anyone who was willing to come and work. For the first time the Lodge held a March Ordeal to induct new members so that they could attend and help with the Section Conclave that we hosted in 1996. We opened 1996, our 50th anniversary year, by hosting over 1,200 Arrowmen from across our section at Camp Pipsico for the 1996 Cardinal Conclave. That year the OA National Bulletin ran a cover story about the Gregson Center. They called the project the single largest service project to Scouting ever accomplished by an Order of the Arrow lodge. The cost estimate for construction of the Gregson Center rose to $105,000.00 at the time of construction. The Grand Opening and Dedication of the Gregson Center took place at the Fall Fellowship with the museum now in place.

39

From 1996 to 2006 numerous hurricanes, tropical storms and nor’easters inflicted severe damage on Pipsico and on the Tidewater area. After each storm, Lodge members rolled up their sleeves and helped repair and improve the camp. In 2006 the Lodge celebrated 60 years of cheerful service. We opened 2007 by hosting in Camp Lions the 2007 Section SR- 7A Conclave. In 2008 the lodge sponsored the installation of air conditioning in the Camp Lions dining hall. This year, Blue Heron Lodge hosted the 2013 Section SR-7A Conclave at Pipsico, and 1,035 Arrowmen from the six lodges in our section attended - the greatest Conclave attendance in SR- 7A’s 16-year history. Conclave 2013 was notable for several other reasons:

• the first-ever SR-7A Conclave service project during which Arrowmen bagged 84,000 lbs. of surplus sweet potatoes, which were picked up by local food banks and church food pantries. This service project rendered an estimated 800 man-hours of cheerful service, and was led by past Blue Heron Lodge Chief, Preston Marquis.

• SR-7A’s first Chapter Leadership Summit (CLS) was held and very well-received. The CLS was a special 5-hour training course for all SR-7A Chapter Chiefs and Advisers. The CLS was planned and coordinated by past Blue Heron Lodge Chief, Taylor Bobrow. • The proposed new Brotherhood Ceremony was performed. • Past Blue Heron Lodge Chiefs, Taylor Bobrow and A.J. Kelly, were elected SR-7A Section Chief and Vice-Chief, respectively.

And Blue Heron Lodge history continues …

40

TUSCARORA COUNCIL (NAYAWIN RAR LODGE)

Cub Scouts 2,157

Boy Scouts 1,211

Order of the Arrow Members 250

2014 Eagle Scouts 67

Venturers 40

Explorers 72

Total Youth Members 3,480

Total Adult Volunteers 1,368

41

2015 Report to the State

Nayawin Rar Lodge #296, Order of the Arrow Tuscarora Council, Boy Scouts of America Goldsboro, North Carolina

In 2014, Nayawin RāR Lodge continued to rekindle its fire within the Council. Through multiple weekends of fellowship and work, we provided cheerful service to our own Camp Tuscarora. Work crews were able to build a new storage shelter for the camp, install new parking barriers between the Main Lot and the Activity Field, and cut back heavy greenery on campgrounds, as well as a longer list of different tasks to assist our Ranger.

To help the Summer Camp Staff, the Lodge revived an old tradition by hosting a Summer Workday. Lodge members went around setting up tents and preparing sites for the summer season, removing a burden off of the youth who work staff that usually do the task. We prepared 10 of 12 sites and contributed more than 160 man hours to the Camp staff.

At our Spring Fellowship, our 2014 officers saw their first event from the planning side. We inducted nearly 30 members, and contributed 688 man hours’ worth of work on camp.

In March, our neighbors at Klahican Lodge prepared to host SR-7B’s 2014 Conclave. Through careful planning, we were able to send work contingents to assist them in this tedious task. Klahican hosted a successful Conclave, and we were thankful to have the chance to assist them.

Arrowmen in the Lodge participated in different projects through the year to further Scouting. Nayawin RāR Arrowmen helped install electricity at Tuscarora’s new shower houses, they kicked off popcorn sales in August, and a chaos crew staffed a District’s “Zomboree” in November. As the name suggests, young men provided service by dressing as disease control officers and, yes, zombies.

At Fall Fellowship, the Lodge body congregated for the first big event after Summer Camp. Over 70 new Arrowmen were admitted into our Brotherhood, 1040 hours of service were given to the camp, and the 2015 Lodge officers were elected to their positions.

As the Lodge prepares for a big 2015, one thing is for sure – our service will not stop, and our cheerful spirit will not waver!

42

BROTHERHOOD

CHEERFULNESS

SERVICE

43