Operation Arrow Team,
Stop! Before you scroll down or close this window, please give me a brief moment to say THANK YOU.
THANK YOU for taking precious time over coveted summer months to work harder than you would have ever worked had you been at home (while paying to be here!).
THANK YOU for enduring some not-so-perfect situations, miscommunication and maybe even an outright blunder that may have already occurred or will occur.
THANK YOU for maintaining a cheerful spirit through all of the irksome tasks you’ve been assigned.
THANK YOU for making a difference and showing everyone at the 2017 National Jamboree what the Order of the Arrow is all about.
On behalf of the National Order of the Arrow Committee, I want to THANK YOU for your commitment, hard work and infectious spirit (especially at 4am) that is the hallmark of Arrowmen and the cheerful servant leaders we strive to be.
It is my sincere hope that despite any challenges you face, the fatigue of long days, the aroma of 30,000 people in close proximity in a hot and humid environment or deprivation from fast food, you will come out of this having one of your best, if not the best Scouting experience to date. It is moments like these when we make some of our best friends and memories to last a lifetime.
I also want to thank Forrest and Talon along with Mackie, Preston, Matt, Travis and the entire Operation Arrow leadership team for an unbelievable job. They are here to execute the program to meet Order of the Arrow commitments to the jamboree and I could not be more pleased with the result.
However, I am here for one reason only: YOU and those that will follow you. Both National OA Committee Chairman Mike Hoffman and I will be with you over the next several days to live the OA staff experience. We would like nothing more than to have the opportunity to meet and speak with as many of you as possible. We want to hear what’s going well from your perspective, how things could be better and even serve as a punching bag (figuratively speaking of course) if you need to vent. Most importantly, we want to hear your ideas and suggestions for the future and answer any questions you may have.
So if you see either of us, please don’t hesitate to tell us about your experience. Together, we will work to continuously improve what we do at jamboree keeping the OA staff experience top of mind. I am looking forward to our conversation.
In WWW,
Clint Takeshita
Vice Chairman of National Events for the National Order of the Arrow Committee