Each region hosts a training event each year to train section officers. As the leaves change color on the trees and fall rolls around, officers gather from across their region to learn about their positions, plan for the year and experience fellowship with officers from other sections. This year, for the first time ever, region chiefs from each of the four regions elected to use the same theme: The Aftereffect. The theme was designed to encourage innovative leadership on the section level as the centennial celebration draws to a close. Not only did the shared theme unite the focus of the section officers from across the nation but it also provided them with a challenge: to define the aftereffect that they want to create.
Southern Region Chief Alex Leach hosted the first of these seminars this fall. The weekend started with an innovative meet and greet Friday night. Section officers were asked to submit three best practices before arriving for the weekend and exchanged the ideas during the meet and greet. This atmosphere of productive collaboration did not cease after the round robin. Together, section officers and advisers explored ways to increase the relevancy of section program during the Order’s second century, such as adapting conclave training to lodge-specific concerns. Sessions throughout the weekend continued to explore common goals and problems with lodge support and section operations.
The Western Region had similar success with the gathering hosted in Phoenix, AZ. A trip to the Arizona State Fair on Friday afternoon gave participants both a memorable, fun opening to the seminar, as well as examples of activities that could be part of their conclave program. After that, the Western Region got straight to work. Section officers and advisers applied their enthusiasm for the Order as they worked to improve the productivity of section programs, especially conclave. With presentations on the Conclave Training Initiative, shows and branding and marketing, the focus on channeling the momentum of the centennial into new and improved conclaves was palpable. Clearly, the seminar asked sections to become the best resource for lodges that they possibly could. As Western Region Chief Nathan Lee said the focus of the weekend was clear.
“Our big take away was about the purpose of the section and how the section can be helping lodges with operational improvement opportunities,” Lee said.
In the Northeast Region, position-specific summit sessions introduced section personnel to their roles as innovative leaders who are unafraid of action. Other sessions throughout the gathering examined the Order’s developing social media presence, our role in engaging Cub Scouts and advancing thematic effects at events like conclave. On Saturday afternoon, each section developed three specific lodge-support goals based on the problem areas highlighted by lodge JTE data and then pledge to implement those plans during the next 120 days. Ideas ranged from troop representative support systems to training events, and targeted issues as diverse as membership retention and service hours. The weekend unabashedly brought the Order’s biggest challenges to the forefront of its leaders’ consciousness, and then left them with an even bigger challenge: to foster the ideas that springboard the Order into its second century of service. The closing show related this challenge to the #DareToDo, and inspired a resurgence of small acts of service among those in attendance.
The Central Region put innovation into practice by holding its Section Officers’ Seminar at the Florida Sea Base. The section officers and advisers had service on the mind as they learned in the warm climate of the Florida Keys, home to one of the five OA High Adventure programs: OA Ocean Adventure. As they explored the purpose of the section, they were also given time to explore the waters around the base and snorkel among the breathtaking reefs, some of which have benefited from the OA’s conservation work. Each attendee also had the opportunity to dive into a leadership case study that directly related to his position. The breakout engaged the breadth of participants’ leadership skills, and encouraged the application of new strategies as solutions to the difficulties faced by every leader.
Whether the region focused on JTE interpretation, best practice sharing or introducing more support resources to local lodges, The Aftereffect ensured that action and innovation were the core of each SOS. As the centennial draws to a close, it becomes even more relevant to define the ripple that we intend to create: the momentum of the centennial must be channeled into productive, inspired ways of fulfilling the section’s purpose.
How will you and your section rise to the challenge of The Aftereffect?