The 1986 National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. 3,700 Arrowmen were in attendance. Ben Love, Chief Scout Executive gave the opening keynote address. The Conference theme selected by the Section Chiefs was “Kindle the Flame From Within”. The 71st Anniversary Meeting would be the last one held within the lifetime of a founder. Carroll Edson passed away two months after the event.

Many of the traditional NOAC events filled the schedule. Again there was a training show to inspire the delegates before the training sessions began. VIA, Very Important Arrowmen dinners were held on two evenings. There was Founder’s Day, dance and ceremony competition and of course patch trading. At the end of the meeting the Distinguished Service Award was presented and it was announced that the next conference would be at UCLA, but that was not to be.