NOAC 1956

The OA returned to Indiana University for a third time. So-Aka-Gha-Gwa Lodge served in its familiar role as host lodge. The official delegate count of 2,201 was a single delegate more than the record from the 1952 Conference. The 280 lodges in attendance was easily a record surpassing the 1952 total of 210 lodges. This was the second Conference with a theme, “Arrowmen! Lead in Service to God and Country” (often shortened to the verbiage on the Conference patch, “Service to God and Country”.)

Highlights at the Conference included an address from Chief Scout Executive and Second Grand Lodge Chieftain Arthur A. Schuck.

On a somber note, a special memorial was dedicated to the memory of H. Lloyd Nelson. Instead of the traditional flowers, the dais was surrounded with headdresses as a special honor to a man who dedicated his lifetime to serving his beloved Order.

There were four group session discussion periods. The dance competition and subsequent barbecue drew some 5,000.

The OA Distinguished Service Awards (DSA) were presented. E. Urner Goodman again gave the closing challenge. Dwight Bischel of Wabaningo Lodge once again recorded the address on a reel-to-reel tape recorder preserving it for today.

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Goodman Retires

After 36 years of service for the Boy Scouts of America, E Urner Goodman retired as a professional Scouter. He had served as Director of Program for twenty years. Goodman’s professional career had started in 1915 when as a 23 year old he was hired by the Philadelphia Council to be a Field Commissioner (now known as Field Executive). He served as Camp Director at Treasure Island Scout Reservation where he started the Order.

Goodman had hinted for several years that he was considering retirement. The Brotherhood Barn had been built in Vermont where Goodman intended to retire. Goodman continued his support and devotion to leadership and service to the Order for another three decades following his retirement.

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Goodman Honorary National Chief

On September 13, 1951 the National OA Committee voted to bestow the title of “Honorary National Chief” on Dr. E. Urner Goodman. Thirty years earlier Goodman had served Wimachtendienk, W.W. as its first Grand Lodge Chieftain, later called National Chief. This honor was made in tribute to the Founder upon his retirement from the BSA.

A calfskin was presented to Goodman by National OA Committee Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson inscribed,

He Gave to Boyhood a Brotherhood of Cheer and Service”.

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NOAC 1952

The 1952 NOAC was called the “37th Anniversary Meeting”. For the first time the term Conference is used often to describe the event. The first documented usage of the phrase “National Order of the Arrow Conference” is in a letter following the event written to the National OA Committee by LeRoy Kensrad of Hyas Chuck Kah Sun Klatawa Lodge, Portland, Oregon.

The Conference was held at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Michi-Kini-Kwa Lodge was the host lodge. The 2,200 attendees (2,095 delegates) doubled the size of any prior meeting, as did the 210 lodges representing 37 states. National Committee Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson reported that there were now 427 lodges (about four-fifths of the councils) and nearly 50,000 active Arrowmen.

The 1952 conference had the first daily newspaper, called the Totem Talks and the introduction of the National Brotherhood Chorus. The Conference featured a display center that featured exhibits from local lodges that displayed headdresses and regalia. White Panther Lodge, Clarksdale, Mississippi won a special award for their entry. Other exhibitors were J.E. Caldwell jewelers and BSA National Supply.

At the closing show the OA presented the Distinguished Service Awards.

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Eisenhower Elected President

Brilliant military five-star General and 34^th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower (“Ike”) is probably best known for his internationally focused politics in response to events involving the Soviet Union and China.

Eisenhower served on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America and was a very strong supporter of Scouting ever since his son participated in the program. 

President Eisenhower was made an "honorary member" of the Order of the Arrow on April 23, 1954 by the members of Zit-Kala-Sha Lodge, Louisville, Kentucky.  The only president to be "inducted" was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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Brotherhood Requirements Change

On October 9, 1950, a letter was sent to each lodge chief and lodge adviser through the local Scout Executive. The letter detailed changes in the Order of the Arrow Ceremonials – both Ordeal and Brotherhood. The changes sent were effective immediately and were to be written into the existing ceremonial pamphlets until the changes could be put into the next printing. The National Committee, Order of the Arrow, Norman C. Wood, Secretary signed the letter.

The key change in the Brotherhood Ceremony was the elimination of the movement of the sash from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. While it has been rumored that this was because of McCarthyism, there is no documentation to support that claim.

The distinction between Ordeal / First Degree members and Brotherhood / Second Degree members had been the shoulder the sash was worn over since circa 1917.

Now that all Arrowmen would wear their sashes over their right shoulders a new Brotherhood sash was needed. The new Brotherhood sash featured the “Brotherhood Bars” to distinguish it from an Ordeal sash.

At the beginning of 1953 these changes first appeared in print in the Brotherhood Ceremony pamphlets.

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Korean War Armistice

The Korean War (1950 – armistice, 1953) was a military conflict . . .

between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the People’s Republic of China with support from the Soviet Union.

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First to Reach Mt. Everest Summit

After years of dreaming about it and seven weeks of climbing, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Nepalese Tenzing Norgay became the first men to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, along the border of Nepal and Tibet/China, the highest mountain in the world, at 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953.

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US Enters Korean War

The Korean war began on June 25, 1950. The Korean peninsula had been ruled by Japan since 1910 and following the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, Korea was divided along the 38^th Parallel with United States troops occupying the Southern part and Soviet troops occupying the Northern part.

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National OA Committee Red Sash

In the spring 1950 issue of the National Bulletin, Arrowmen were told that members of the National OA Committee would be available to meet with them at the 1950 NOAC. It was stated that they would be accessible to help members better understand the Order and its policies. Members were also told,

you’ll recognize these men because they will be wearing a special Vigil Honor band on which the colors will be reversed. These bands were made specifically for our Committee so that lodge members could recognize these officials and seek their help.

The sash was a proactive response to the 1948 NOAC. Many Arrowmen were confused about what it meant to be fully absorbed into the BSA. They were only beginning to see the benefits of youth taking leadership roles. The reality was that the OA was more run by volunteer people than professionals than ever before. By making themselves conspicuous and available with their reverse color sashes the National OA Committee was able to allay fears and largely put the issue of the integration of the OA into BSA behind them.

During the red National OA Committee sashes tenure as few as 15 of them, including one for E. Urner Goodman,  were issued. Circa 1954 they were considered no longer needed and were retired.

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The Goodman National OA Committee Red Sash

In 1950 the National OA Committee created a reversed color OA Vigil Honor sash so that National OA Committeemen could easily be identified. There were as few as 15 of these special felt Vigil Honor sashes issued. One of these special sashes belonged to E. Urner Goodman. The sash was only used for a few years and after 1954 the sash retired from usage.

At the 1956 NOAC Urner Goodman was wearing his National OA Committee sash when he was told that the sash was no longer in usage. Goodman a stickler for proper uniform immediately took it off and turned to the young man next to him and asked him if he wanted the sash. That young man was Dr. Carl Marchetti, who has now served on the National OA Committee since 1962 including as Chairman from 1984 to 1993.

When Dr. Marchetti received the second OA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, Dr. Marchetti had Goodman’s sash incorporated into the award ceremony by wearing it. Every Lifetime Achievement Award recipient since has worn the Goodman National OA Committee Sash. On occasion it has been placed on public display in the NOAC museum.

At the 2011 National Planning Meeting Dr. Marchetti announced that he would be donating this incredible artifact to the Order of the Arrow.

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NOAC 1950 - 35th Anniversary Meeting

While today the 1950 meeting is called a National Order of the Arrow Conference or NOAC, back then they called it the 35th Anniversary Meeting or Convention. This meeting was like a modern NOAC. It was held for the second time at the University of Indiana, Bloomington. Approximately 1,100 delegates attended. There were group discussions and classes on topics ranging from regalia, ceremonies and lodge functions. This time many of the classes were taught by youth including Area Conference Chiefs.  The OA Distinguished Service Award was presented.

Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson reported that there were now 388 lodges with 40,000 Arrowmen. The number of Arrowmen had not grown since the 1948 NOAC. This was because once the OA was a national BSA program all active OA members had to have BSA registration.  Director of Camping Wes Klusmann noted that the OA was now active in three quarters of the nations councils. Goodman once again gave the keynote address.

In what would be a conference last, the national election for the next National Conference Chief was held and James Montgomery of Pellissippi Lodge, Knoxville, Tennessee was selected to lead the next gathering in 1952. In what would be a National Conference first E. Urner Goodman in his closing address gave a challenge to the assembled Arrowmen. This tradition of the Founder giving the closing challenge would continue for 14 consecutive National Conferences through the last conference he attended in 1979 prior to his death in 1980.

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