By Michael Todd
When a Scout's family moves - be it across the state or across the country - they are exposed to a plethora of new opportunities. One such opportunity is getting involved with the lodge in his new council. However, OA membership may fall to the back of a Scout’s mind when getting used to a new school, unit and group of friends. Membership committees should be prepared to handle transfers in an inviting way, and everyone in lodge and chapter level leadership roles should actively help recruit new transfer members.
What are the recommended procedures for membership committees processing these transfers, if any, and how can lodge leaders encourage Arrowmen to register in their new location? Jeff Jonasen, vice chairman for the unit, chapter, lodge Support (UCLS) subcommittee of the national Order of the Arrow committee, brought us up to speed. When it comes to transferring membership, there are no official procedures. Trustworthiness and memory are the two most important things to make the process quick and easy.
“The transferring Arrowman can help facilitate the registration process by having his Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil dates with him,” said Jonasen. “If his old lodge maintains records using Lodgemaster, then he can request a report that he can bring with him to his new lodge.”
However, with older members, he warns that records may not be in past lodge’s databases, so the member will need to provide them as best as he can. Additional verification of membership is rarely required. Regardless of the past, Jonasen points out that “the transfer’s new Lodge [should] verify the Arrowman’s membership in the current council – which lodges should confirm for all of their members,” following up with the council to ensure that everyone registered with the lodge is also registered in the council and Scouting as a whole.
Jonasen also emphasizes that there are no national transfer fees in place, and that lodges should avoid them as well. “I would not encourage any additional fee that might discourage an Arrowman’s becoming involved in his new lodge,” he says, “We should be as welcoming of our new Brothers as possible.” The smaller the barrier to entry you make for your Lodge, the easier it will be for everyone.
To reach out to transfers who are not involved in their new chapter or lodge, be sure to utilize your current methods for membership retention and growth. Here are two additional methods to reach out to transfer members:
Utilize the OA Troop Representative Program, the OA Troop Representative Adviser Program, and Unit Visitations.
Unit visitations can accomplish much more than just an OA elections and council camping promotion. These visitations may be the only opportunity to talk to those members who don’t show up to OA events, including Scouts who just moved in. Encourage your unit elections team members to talk to the unit’s Scoutmaster, OA Troop Representative, or OA Troop Representative adviser to identify any Scouts who have just joined the troop, but are already in the OA. “The OA Troop Representative and his adviser should encourage all Arrowmen who join their troop to join the lodge,” advises Jonasen, “That would be the most effective way to engage with Arrowmen who are new to a council.”
Promote the Order of the Arrow at District and Council Events
Every month, unit and district leaders meet at a roundtable, where the chapter chief, or his designee, and chapter adviser should actively promote the chapter & lodge program and encourage unit leaders to identify any members – including transfers - who may wish to get involved. Lodges and chapters are encouraged to do this at camporees and other district and council level events as well.
If you have any other strategies for reaching out and welcoming new members, including how to identify, contact, and encouraging them to participate, submit your ideas to the national best practices repository by sending them to @email