History of Allohak Menewi Lodge 57, Order of the Arrow and Predecessor Lodges of Laurel Highlands Council, BSA By: Adam Hoffman, Joe Elwell, Tim Hinds, Dan Weaver, Dale DeLozier, and Andrew Shissler Foreword The Laurel Highlands Council 527 is a fairly new BSA council, chartered in the fall of 2011 when the Greater Pittsburgh Council and Penn's Woods Council merged, forming one of the largest Councils in the United States. In the winter of 2013, it absorbed Potomac Council. Along with the mergers of Councils, came the mergers of the Lodges of the Order of the Arrow. Though it is young, it has had a large and rich past. This year is the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Order of the Arrow in the United States by E. Urner Goodman and Carroll Edson. In this Anniversary year, the National Office of the Order of the Arrow requested each Lodge put together a history of the Order of the Arrow of their area. Accordingly, Allohak Menewi tasked a committee comprised of Adam Hoffman, Joe Elwell, Tim Hinds, Dan Weaver, Dale DeLozier, and Andrew Shissler to research and compile a good written history of Allohak Menewi Lodge 57 and its predecessors to serve as a standing memorial of Order of the Arrow of Western PA as well as Western Maryland and part of West Virginia. The task was daunting and time limited but the committee labored researching information, collecting existing histories and talking to a lot of great Brothers of the Order to make the history happen. We would like to thank the following people who supplied information and allowed us to put it together for the benefit of the Lodge: Bob Black (57) Dave Glacken (441) Thomas Moore (540) Carl Weimer (347) Aaron Blair (275) Terry Grove (347) John Nichols (57) Brian Westfall (540) Tom Bowers (441) George Kokus (275) Jay Ruben (275) Jay Zimmerman (275) Mike Clinch (495) Tanner Lashinsky(57) Mark Rutter (67) Gasper Danish (275) Dan Lindh (57) Dr. David Sas (130) Tom Gheer (275) C. Doug Minnick (540) Lane Turturice (57) We recognize that it is not the past that is important in the grand scheme of things, but rather the future, and that our future is our young members. We look at this history as only a part of our past that serves as a guidance of where we are going. Although the history isn’t perfect, nor does it cover everything about the history of the Lodges, we hope you enjoy this history and maybe re-live some of your favorite memories of this important part of Scouting. To that end, we dedicate this book to our future. Respectfully Submitted; W.W.W., - Adam Hoffman, Dan Weaver, Joe Elwell, Tim Hinds, Dale De Lozier, and Andrew Shissler Page 1 Order of the Arrow From the Order of the Arrow National Lodge and Wikipedia.org The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915, at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America. Goodman and Edson decided that a "camp fraternity" was the way to improve the summer camp experience and to keep the older boys coming back. In developing this program they borrowed from the traditions and practices of several other organizations. Edward Cave's Boy's Camp Book (1914) was consulted for the concept of a camp society that would perpetuate camp traditions. College fraternities were also influential for their concepts of brotherhood and rituals, and the idea of new members pledging themselves to the new organization. Inspired by Ernest Thompson Seton's previous Woodcraft Indians program, American Indian lore was used to make the organization interesting and appealing to youth. Other influences include the Brotherhood of Andrew and Phillip, a Presbyterian church youth group with which Goodman had been involved as a young man, and Freemasonry. By 1921, Goodman had spoken to Scout leaders in surrounding states about the honor society resulting in a number of lodges being established by Scout councils in the northeastern United States. The name of the society was changed to Order of the Arrow, and in October 1921, Goodman convened the first national meeting of what was then called the "National Lodge of the Order of the Arrow" in Philadelphia—where Goodman was elected as Grand Chieftain. Committees were organized to formulate a constitution, refine ceremonial rituals, devise insignia, and plan future development. It became an official program experiment in 1922, and was approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934. In 1948, the OA, recognized as the BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow unit members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity Team Coach. To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the 2-year period prior to the election. The 15 days and nights must include 1, but no more than 1, long- term camp consisting of 6 consecutive days and 5 nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Over the decades since the Order of the Arrow's founding, more than one million Scouts and Scouters have worn the OA sash on their uniforms, denoting membership in the Brotherhood. The four stated purposes of the Order of the Arrow are: "(1) 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; (2) 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; (3) Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation; and (4) Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others. More than 180,000 youth and adults are members of the Order of the Arrow. This number is approximately one-seventh of the total number of those registered in the BSA. "The Order of the Arrow is a 'thing of the spirit' rather than of mechanics. Organization, operational procedure, and paraphernalia are necessary in any large and growing movement, but they are not what count in the end. The things of the spirit count: Brotherhood, in a day when there is too much hatred at home and abroad; Cheerfulness, in a day when the pessimists have the floor; Service, in a day when millions are interested only in getting or grasping rather than giving." — E. Urner Goodman Page 2 Contents Section 1 - The Growth Years of the Order of the Arrow 1915-1965 Kuwewanik Lodge 57 Anicus Lodge 67 Sagamore Lodge 130 Chimalus Lodge 242 Monachgeu Lodge 275 Wisawanik Lodge No 347 Wopsononock Lodge No 347 Amadahi Lodge No. 441 Shingis Lodge 497 Hopocan Lodge 275 Ahtuhquog Lodge 540 Section 2 - The Years of Council and Lodge Mergers of the Order of the Arrow 1966-2015 Kiasutha Lodge 57 Nachamawat Lodge No. 275 Scarouady Lodge 130 Tanacharison Lodge 67 Enda Lechauhanne Lodge 57 Section 3 - Allohak Menewi Lodge 57 “Strong All Together” Page 3 Page 4 Laurel Highlands Council Merger History The Laurel Highlands Council is one of only three non-contiguous councils in the United States, and the only one in the continental United States. The other two are the National Capitol Area Council, which also includes the American Virgin Islands, and Aloha Council, which also includes Guam and American Samoa. The Far East Council and the Transatlantic Council are also not contiguous, but are based in multiple nations at United States military bases. The council is formed from three distinct regions, two non-contiguous portions of Pennsylvania, and (most recently) an area of Maryland and West Virginia located south of the eastern of the Pennsylvania regions. The western portion of the Council, centered in the area of Pittsburgh is the result of the merger of six different long-term councils and in itself has a long and complicated history of mergers. The original Allegheny Council was founded in 1914, but split into seven smaller councils in 1921. These councils were: o A smaller Allegheny Council # 495, o Ohio Valley Council (no number), o Guyastua Council, which changed its name to the North Boroughs Council #523 in 1923, o Chartiers Council, which changed its name to Monongahela Valley Council in 1924, o Duquesne Council #509, which was re-formed as the Duquesne Council #830 in 1929, o Pittsburgh Council #527, and o South Hills Council #532 The first five of these councils gradually merged together between 1924 and 1930 to re-form the Allegheny Council #527 which continued in existence until 1967. In 1931, Kuwewanik Lodge (57) was chartered to Allegheny Council. The second of the major councils was formed from the last two of the seven councils that split from the original Allegheny Council (Pittsburgh and South Hills), as well as a Scout unit from another council in southwestern Pennsylvania, the Beaver Valley Council #497. These councils merged in 1928 to form the Allegheny County, West Council (confusingly, it also used the number #527). This council merged into Allegheny Council #527 in 1943, ending the #527 confusion. No OA Lodge was associated with this council.