Chiefs,
It is hard to believe that only a few short weeks stand between this moment and the eve of our centennial. When we descend on Dallas for the National Planning Meeting, we will lay the groundwork for the largest conference in our Order’s history. A large majority of you have not attended a national planning meeting before, and we would like to give you a brief overview of what you will be doing and a few key reminders.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect when you touchdown at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: (Remember, don’t go to Love Field!)
When you land, grab your bags and head to Terminal C, baggage claim C-31, and check-in with the uniformed BSA representative who transport you to the hotel. Once you arrive at the Marriott, you may check in to your room and participate in afternoon recreation. The very first rough cut of the ArrowTour program will be set up and staffed for you to participate in and experience. Be sure to bring a white T-shirt to silk screen or a hat to brand! We will also be holding the traditional national officers vs national committee basketball game. Feel free to come on out and watch; you know whose team you should be rooting for...
On the night of December 27th, there will be a reception, dinner and then a presentation on the basics of NOAC, as well as the unveiling of the conference theme. This presentation will be shared in real-time through social media for Arrowmen at home to tune in to and be the first to know this exciting information. Following this general session, you will go straight into the national chief and national vice chief elections. The elections are notoriously known to end late at night, so make sure you are well rested when you get to the hotel. After the elections, you’ll want to head to bed because you will have to wake up in the morning on the 28th for breakfast and region chief elections. Each region will meet in a separate room and elect a chief.
Following the region chief elections, there will be two special sessions for section chiefs on OA High Adventure and communications. Professional photos of each planning meeting guest will also be taken, and a group photo of all the meeting’s attendees. In the afternoon, the new officers will be installed, your conference committee assignments issued and NOAC planning will commence! After going through some initial, big picture discussions on your committee’s vision and involvement at conference, you will elect a conference vice chief (CVC). The rest of the meeting will be spent compiling your plan to deliver on your respective committee’s part at conference next summer. Of course the planning meeting is not 100% strictly business. You will have the chance to enjoy fellowship with other planning meeting attendees, as well as see first-hand the exciting things happening in the Order of the Arrow.
On December 30th, continental breakfast will be served and we each depart our separate ways, ready to put on an event of a lifetime. Please be sure all of your paperwork has been taken care of, and you have reviewed all of the event information that was sent to you a few weeks ago.
We look forward to joining you soon, and if we may be of service, please do not hesitate to ask.
In Service,
2014 National Chief 2014 National Vice Chief
Nick Dannemiller Taylor Bobrow