One of the best experiences an Arrowman can have is participating in a National Order of the Arrow Conference, or NOAC. Lodge leaders know this, and so lodges put the effort into making sure as many people can attend as possible. At least one lodge has taken fundraising seriously. Wagion Lodge in Greensburg, Pennsylvania set a goal to raise $12,000 in the year and a half preceding the 2012 NOAC. Quite a goal!
Wagion, which anticipates bringing between thirty-five and forty youth to NOAC, has a plan to accomplish this formidable goal. Wagion has a bake sale during every Ordeal weekend, selling cookies, brownies, and other delicacies. Arrowman Evan Bair’s mother and grandmother do all of the baking for the lodge. Evan wasn’t sure if the bake sale would be successful, but Arrowmen are disappointed when he runs out of sweets during the weekends!
During Wagion’s 90th anniversary celebration, the lodge sold 230 brownies and cookies at $2 each. Wagion also holds a patch auction in February of each year and sells t-shirts and patches. As of October 2011, the lodge has raised over $9,000. The lodge is well on their way to meeting their goal of $12,000 under the leadership of youth Arrowman Evan. The fundraising will result in lower costs for participants and will permit youth to attend who otherwise would not have been able to do so.
The above resource was submitted by Wagion Lodge in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. What does your lodge or chapter do to ensure that the most youth can attend NOAC? If you have a unique practice to share with other lodges, submit it to ChapterResources@oa-bsa.org.
To download the PDF version of this Best Practice, click here.