For most Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts, the road to membership in the Order of the Arrow runs through their unit. However, nearly a third of units don't hold elections, and every eligible Scout deserves a pathway to membership regardless of unit circumstances. Some of the most dedicated Scouts serve on summer camp staff, run training courses like NYLT, attend the national jamboree as a part of a council contingent, or participate in Scouting outside of their unit in other ways. The Order of the Arrow now has a pathway to membership for these Scouts through Non-Unit Group Elections.
What is a Non-Unit Group?
A non-unit group is a group of Scouts that is not a traditional troop, crew, or ship, but still functions like one for the purposes of an OA election. A group of Scouts qualifies for a unit election if they:
Are organized and fully recognized by a Scouting America council; and
Have an adult leader appointed by the Scout executive or their designee
The Scout executive, in consultation with the lodge adviser and lodge staff adviser, is the final authority on determining whether a non-unit group meets these criteria and is eligible to conduct an OA election.
Who Can Run?
In a non-unit election, only youth Scouts may be selected as candidates for membership. Adults in these groups should seek candidacy for membership via their units or the council and district positions process. Candidates must meet all youth membership qualifications, including holding the rank of Scouts BSA First Class, Venturing Discovery Award, or Sea Scouts Ordinary. Scouts who are not elected by their unit may seek election in a non-unit group.
Scheduling the Election
The adult leader of the non-unit group is responsible for requesting an OA election and verifying that the youth standing for election meet the membership requirements. It is the responsibility of the lodge to schedule a visit from the election team when requested. These elections may need to be held outside of a lodge’s regularly scheduled unit elections season, and lodges are expected to provide reasonable accommodation for the timing of these elections.
Election Procedures
All procedures and requirements of unit elections apply to non-unit group elections, as prescribed in the Handbook for Officers and Advisers and Unit Elections Handbook. For the purpose of these elections, “adult leader” is synonymous to “unit leader”. Scouts elected in non-unit groups are like any other elected Scout, with 18 months to attend an induction.
To find the complete procedures and policy around non-unit group elections, please consult the Handbook for Officers and Advisers. If you have any questions, please reach out to @email.