Background: The chapter can be an integral part of the lodge induction process. If your chapter is not currently involved in the induction process, or if your chapter wants to “take it to the next level,” consider a systematic approach to developing the team.

Meeting Resources: Developing resources, communicating goals, and establishing leadership are crucial to both starting and maintaining a chapter ceremony team. This won’t happen overnight, or even over the course of one chapter meeting. Instead, this meeting idea progressively involves the members of the chapter to continually challenge themselves to become a more integral part of the inductions process.

Meeting Content: Because developing and maintaining a ceremony team is a multi-step process, the chapter leadership should approach it that way. Devise a plan with specific goals, and update the chapter on how those goals are progressing. Here are some ideas:

• Early on, begin by developing costumes and have a community effort in writing a call-out script. When youth build their own costumes, they develop a sense of “ownership” and are invested in continuing the project. Additionally, a call-out script can always be improved upon and can be adapted for any number of participants. Begin with these two focuses and begin developing young Arrowmen into more confident public speakers.  
• The chapter can expand by also writing Arrow of Light ceremonies and Eagle ceremonies. Chapters earn experience and exposure at events such as these.
• As interest builds, also use meetings to garner support and adult leadership. More experienced Arrowmen might serve as coaches, while others can help maintain costumes or help drive youth to various activities. The chapter leadership can work together to identify needs, communicate to the adult Arrowmen, and ask for specific support while also training new coaches.
• Well before an Ordeal, invite the lodge ceremonies chairman and adviser to visit a chapter meeting for the purpose of discussing what needs to happen before the chapter can perform a pre-Ordeal or Ordeal ceremony. From there, the chapter can focus on one or two induction ceremonies. Working closely with the lodge teams will ensure a smooth transition and support if the chapter needs it.
• As successes grow, consider developing the chapter around the ceremony team. The chapter can either provide entire teams to the lodge for induction weekends, or can serve as a “minor leagues” for individuals to learn the ropes before advancing to the lodge practices. Each chapter and lodge is different. Get a feel for where the lodge and chapter could improve, and then take steps to fill those gaps.