The The Order of the Arrow or, "OA," is a BSA national honor organization of Scouts and Scouters. It is based on the principles of campership, brotherhood and cheerful service to others. The OA plays a primary role in promoting and delivering the council and district camping program. The OA also has an extensive program of its own which provides a wealth of opportunities and experiences for its members.

Every year Troop 571 runs the annual OA elections approximately in the January-February timeframe. This allows for all advancement to be recorded from the December Court of Honor. To boost each 's chances to be elected, doing the following may help:

 Hold a visible Leadership position. Leadership Scouts are often in front of the Troop, or helping Scouts advance.  Attend as many outings as possible and be a leader at these.  Attend as many Troop meetings as possible and be a leader at these.  And as always - Follow the Oath and Law.

The basis of the OA was started back in 1915 with a vision from two adult leaders who ran Treasure Island Camp, of the Philadelphia Council, BSA. It was officially approved in 1934 as part of the BSA program. In 1948 the OA was recognized as BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers. Today that has expanded to be BSA's National Honor Society and also a service organization. As part of being a service organization for the District/Council, each year every Chapter provides Staff for Camp Sheppard for Winter Camp. Arrowmen provide leadership and service for other Troops and Packs using the facility. They also help at other District events such as Camporee and Klondike, to name a few.

Background The purpose of the OA is to:  Recognize those campers 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, or Brotherhood, , and ultimately our nation.  Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

The OA is organized with a Lodge at the Council level. Our Lodge for the is T'Kope Kwiskwis. Alpine District has a Chapter which is called Lamonti Tupso Illahee (LTI). There is an OA Troop within each Chapter with a Chapter Adviser (i.e., OA Scoutmaster) and several Associate Chapter Advisers (i.e., OA ASMs). The Chapter Officers are elected from the Scouts and serve a one-year term from the members, just as our SPL is nominated and elected within the Troop.

Our Lamonti Tupso Illahee (LTI) Chapter meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month (except in July and August) at the same time and place of the Alpine District Roundtable located at the LDS Church of Issaquah. Additional info on the T'Kope Kwiskwis Lodge is located at http://tkopekwiskwis.org, with a member’s only section for Arrowmen who are registered in order to limit some of the data to non-members. OA epitomizes the youth-led aspects of Boy Scouting. The Chapters and the Lodge function extremely well. Ask any of our Scouts that have staffed an Ordeal, or been to another OA event such as Conclave, Inductions Weekend, Fall Rally, or the Spring Brotherhood. The Lodge was founded in 1954 and we currently have over 900 members, and we are well on our way to 1000 members for 2013.

Troop 571 encourages all Scouts and parents to check their camping records and let our Registrar, or , know if you believe there is an error in the Troop records and that you are potentially eligible. We will cheerfully review the data with you and determine if you truly are eligible. Every year a list is compiled from Troopmaster for the eligible candidates. Our goal is to try and ensure that all eligible candidates are listed on the ballot intend to follow through Ordeal. Scouts or Scouters also have an option to opt-out if they so desire, before elections.

Please see the OA Troop Representative, or the Scoutmaster, if you have any questions. Eligibility

Scouts Scout eligibility requirements for election into the OA are as follows:  Registered Boy Scout  Minimum rank of 1st Class at the time of the election  Camped at least 15 days and nights within two years immediately prior to election o No more than 6 consecutive days and nights of long-term camping (summer camp) o Only one summer camp session is counted in the total number of nights camping o Troop overnighters, Troop weekend camping (or other short-term camping within BSA's camping activities). High Adventure camping (Tenderfoot Trail, Alpine Adventure, Cascade Challenge, Sea Base, Northern Tier and Philmont), Camporee, WashJam, count for the short-term camping requirement o Cabin camping does NOT qualify  Scoutmaster approval (primarily based on participation and Scout Spirit)

Adults Adult requirements are the same as for the Scout except for the rank requirement.

Elections OA candidate elections are held once per year (generally in February) and are run by the Troop's OA members under the guidance of the Troop OA advisor. All registered youth may vote in elections whether a member or non-member of the OA. Votes may be cast for any number of eligible Scouts or Scouters. To become a candidate for membership, a youth must receive votes totaling at least 50% of all youth ballots that are submitted (again, round up if odd number of candidates). One registered adult leader for each 50 registered Scouts (or fraction thereof) per unit per year may also be nominated for induction. The Troop committee makes these selections.

Scouts and Scouters receive notification of their OA candidacy by being “called or tapped out.” While being present at the call-out ceremony is not a prerequisite for OA membership, all youth and adults are strongly encouraged to participate. Being selected for the OA is a lifelong memory that hopefully won't be missed.

The elections are not a popularity contest, but a vote of confidence that each candidate will try and do their best to follow the Scout Oath and Law, and that they are willing to give service to others.

After the elections are complete, there may be a formal calling-out ceremony at the District level, usually at the Klondike event. Troop 571 will also call out our elected Scouts within the Troop, since it is important for everyone to see who was selected. Once a person is elected by a simple majority, they now hold the status of "candidate."

Ordeal Once elected, candidates must successfully complete their "Ordeal," a 24-hour test of physical and emotional fortitude, and make a personal commitment to the OA during a special ceremony. They must attend one of the four Ordeals within the Council and successfully complete the challenges of the Ordeal. If the candidate fails to attend one of the four Ordeals within the year of their election, the next year - he must again be deemed to be eligible per the requirements stated herein, and be re-elected by his peers. If a candidate fails to follow through by attending Ordeal on the 2nd elected year, he is not recommended for election again. He has shown no interest in following through as a candidate for the OA, nor did he not follow through on the honor bestowed upon him by being elected (twice).

Only after the successful completion of the Ordeal do candidates become OA members.

Members Arrowman, please honor your Obligation at all times. Uniform Once a Scout or Scouter attends Ordeal and successfully pass the challenges, they may wear the pocket flap with the WHITE edging, plus the Ordeal Sash at specific functions/events. After ten months as an active Ordeal member, they are encouraged to follow the path to Brotherhood by performing specific tasks, writing a letter to the Lodge, passing the Brotherhood test, and attending a Brotherhood ceremony (held at an Ordeal or other event). The bars at the ends of the Brotherhood Arrow Sash signify that you have sealed your Ordeal membership, and are now a Brotherhood member - they may now wear the RED edged pocket flap. The sash shown with the triangle in the arrow is a special honor for those who are active after two or more years as a Brotherhood member - that is the Vigil Honor. Each year, a Chapter may elect two members (w/ a max of one adult and one youth, or two youth) to this honor. They must undergo a special Vigil task and ceremony, after-which they are issued with their Vigil name (in Native American language) and they may wear the BLUE edged flap, the Vigil Honor Pin (on the Universal Ribbon), and the Vigil Honor Sash.

Only current members (i.e., OA dues currently paid and registered) may wear the Lodge Pocket Flap and Order of the Arrow Sash. If you are a “Broken Arrow” (i.e., OA dues not current and therefore not registered with the Lodge), you are not eligible to wear these items with your uniform. The red/white ribbon and device (i.e., the "pocket rocket" as it is unofficially known, but the proper name is the Universal Order of the Arrow Membership Emblem, ribbon and pendant, No. 00001, Scout or Scouter, signifies national membership), is worn on the right pocket button by any and all members that have completed ORDEAL (current in OA dues status, or not). You are an Arrowman as long as you are registered with BSA (Scouts or Adults - registered with BSA/Troop).

A complete uniform per the SMC or COH requirements shall be required for any OA event, except for the MB sash, any pins, or temporary patches that attach to the flap button. Ordeal candidates earn their OA sash after the Ordeal, if they successfully complete all of the ordeal challenges. Elangomats and OM/DOM's shall wear their sash at all times during the Ordeal, as will all other Staff members.