Think back to your Ordeal. Specifically, the time immediately after your ceremony. If you're like me, all you remember is feeling kind of sore, and hearing a few muted calls of friends to friends, asking whether anyone wants to play a few games of cards. Maybe, even going to sleep thinking, "wow, if the first weekend of being in the OA is this much 'fun' I don't think I'll see these guys again..."
Now picture this: instead of going to your tent and tapering off your weekend on an admittedly boring note, you could be having a massive celebration instead. Welcome to Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge's T-Blaza program! In 2012, Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge Chief Joe Kaufman rediscovered old plans for a celebration immediately following the main events during the Saturday of an Ordeal weekend. He collaborated with key leaders in the lodge to give it a try at the following next Ordeal. The team brought in root beer, a snow cone machine, popcorn, loudspeakers and music: the whole nine yards. The premise behind the program was simple: new members that have just gotten a full taste of the "service" side of the OA should also get a taste of the "cheerful brotherhood" too.
The active participation from members who experienced T-Blaza at their Ordeal was incredible. At a chapter meeting immediately following one such weekend, over half of the attendees were new members. That year's Conclave contingent of about sixty Ku-Ni-Eh Brothers was nearly half T-Blaza Ordeal members. The retention potential of the program was simply excellent, and could be utilized by many more lodges around the country. If the lodge's leadership can show new members just how much fun being in the Order of the Arrow can be, they will definitely want to be involved. Your T-Blaza program may not be exactly like the one run by Ku-Ni-Eh, or contain the same activities; however, be sure to make the new Arrowmen at your next Ordeal feel at home and welcome. Eventually, they're the ones that will be planning Ordeals!