2000 National Planning Meeting

The highlight of the 2000 National Planning Meeting was the national officer elections. Don Cunningham from Susquehannock Lodge, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania was elected the National Chief and Scott Hunter from Tatokainyanka Lodge, Casper, Wyoming was elected National Vice Chief. Region Chiefs elected were: Dominique Baker – Central Region, Jason Kemp – Southern Region, Patrick Boyd – Northeast Region and Josh Gana – Western Region.

The major planning at this meeting was for the ever-increasing role of the OA at the 2001 National Scout Jamboree.

3, Elections, OA, Scouting

Arrowman Service Award

The Arrowman Service Award was an active Order of the Arrow (OA) award from 2001 through 2003. The purpose of the award was to increase service to the Boy Scouts of America by Arrowmen. To earn the award, Arrowmen had to complete tasks oriented towards three overarching goals:

1. Personal
2. Chapter/Lodge Activity
3. Service.

Arrowmen had to remain active in their unit, earn Brotherhood, attend certain lodge or chapter events, and either serve as an Elangomat or work on a chapter, lodge, or council service project. The award was a white ribbon with a red arrowhead attached on the bottom. The arrowhead had a compass face affixed to the front. Arrowmen earning the award subsequent times would be awarded with a device to wear on the ribbon. The award was worn as a temporary device on the field uniform.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

2001 National Planning Meeting

The National Planning Meeting was held in Dallas, Texas with the principal task for the Section Chiefs of planning the 2002 NOAC scheduled for the Indiana University.

Of the 47 Section Chiefs, 25 of them were candidates for national office. After hours of voting Clay Capp of Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge, Nashville, Tennessee was elected National Chief and Riley Berg of Tah-Heetch Lodge, Fresno, California was elected National Vice Chief. The four Region Chiefs elected were: Brian Favat – Northeast Region, Nathan Finnin – Southern Region, Brian Herren – Central Region and Dominic Pascucci – Western Region.

3, Elections, OA, Scouting

2002 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 2002 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Dominique F. Baker, Justin P. Boren, Patrick S. Boyd, Steven D. Bradley, James Houston Cheatham, Kenneth L. Connelly, Michael Devlin Cooper, Don Cunningham, Donald G. Diaz, Joshua G. Gana, Carl E. Head II, David B. Heaton, Chad F. Heflin, Jordan A. Hitchens, Mark F. Hogan, J. Terry Honan, Jeffrey J. Jones, Jason Wayne Kemp, Kurt A. Kuhlmann, Bobby Kunstman, Jason Holmes Laney, C. Sage Lichtenwalner, Don McChesney, Carey Joseph Mignerey, Carey L. Miller, Kevin P. Moshier, Cameron Mulder, Samuel Nitz, Benjamin Pharr, Scott A. Schmidt, Dale Edwin Siefker, Thomas D. Slaughter, Dustin J. Thomas, Bruce Walcutt, Jay I. Widby, Luke Wolfe, David Yoder and Andy V. Zahn.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

1997 National Jamboree

The 1997 National Scout Jamboree was held at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, from July 28 to August 6 with the theme “Character Counts . . . Be prepared for the 21^st Century”. 36,015 Scouts participated in the Jamboree.

1997 marked another year for expansion for the OA at the Jamboree. The OA conducted four programs at the jamboree: OA Service Corps, The Outdoor Adventure Place (or TOAP), the OA Indian Village, and a new idea “Odyssey of the Law” program in addition to continuing to provide leadership service for the Youth Services Subcamp.

Approximately 150 youth Arrowmen served in the OA Service Corps providing cheerful service at the jamboree as aids, honor guards, runners, arena shows assistants, ushers and a wide variety of other assignments. At the Outdoor Skills Place or TOAP, approximately 60 Arrowmen provided Scouts the opportunity to test their camping and outdoor skills in a model campsite. The latest in Boy Scout equipment was also displayed and demonstrated. At the OA Indian Village, another 60 Arrowmen set up and staffed a Native American Indian village showing Indian culture that included nightly Indian dancing.

The Odyssey of the Law was a new area for the OA and instantly became a huge success. Approximately 125 Arrowmen worked together to create and put on an interactive show and video presentation that challenged Scouts to rely on the Scout Oath and Law when making decisions in their lives. This effort was one of the most popular attractions at the jamboree and was attended by over 20,000 participants.

In addition, approximately 18,000 Arrowmen gathered for an arena show to hear from our National officers, learn about OA programs and enjoy special entertainment.

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Philmont Trail Crew Vaca Trail

The first trail that was constructed by the OA Trail Crews (OATC) was dedicated during the weekend of August 15-17, 1997. The Vaca Trail was a new route for crews hiking in the Central Country of the Philmont Scout Ranch, hiking from Highway 64 towards Harlan Camp and beyond. Originally a one-year program, due to its overwhelming success in 1995 the program was continued to at least complete its first trail. The dedication weekend was important to commemorate the program’s first major milestone.

Over 150 Arrowmen, including many past and present participants, staff members, members of the National OA Committee, and Philmont Scout Ranch leadership gathered under a spectacular blue New Mexico sky at the trail head to dedicate the new trail. Some 595 participants constructed the total culmination of 16,901 feet of new trail.

Attendees hiked the trail from Vaca Camp and stopped at designated stops along the way to the bottom met by someone explaining the significance of the trail building construction. Once at the bottom a formal dedication occurred. OA Trail Crew Director Ryan Miske welcomed everyone gathered for the dedication followed by Catholic Chaplain Father Don Hummel, and then lunch.

National Director of High Adventure Bill Spice and National OA Committee Chairman Ed Pease formally opened the trail. A special rock, which was found from a nearby riverbank on the Cimarron River, was engraved to commemorate the trail. This rock was placed at the trailhead but later moved to base camp. A special patch was issued with a red mylar border on a cardstock backing.

Later in the evening there was a formal banquet at the Philmont Training Center followed by a ceremony performed by the OATC foremen.

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1997 National Planning Meeting

The primary purpose of the 1997 National Planning Meeting was to plan the upcoming 1998 NOAC to be held at Iowa State University. The National Elections, which are always highly anticipated, was a highlight.

Mat Milleson of Yah-Tah-Hey-Si-Kess Lodge, Albuquerque, New Mexico was elected National Chief.  Dave Petrush from Otahnagon Lodge, Binghamton, New York was elected National Vice Chief.

Region Chiefs elected were: Ryan King – Central Region, Jason Kuder – Northeast Region, Mark Angeli – Southern Region and Brandon Fessler – Western Region.

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Goodman Portfolio Produced

In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America declaring that the Order of the Arrow (OA) is officially a program of the BSA, the National OA Committee in 1998 produced the E. Urner Goodman Portfolio. This very nice collection of historical items was first released at the 1998 NOAC, the Goodman Portfolio includes:

• A unique and beautifully bound History of the Order of the Arrow book by Kenneth P. Davis, Ph.D.
• A framed signature picture of Dr. Goodman including a mounted special cast medallion
• A new printing of The Building of a Life book authored by Dr. Goodman
• A 16 page Goodman Biography by Nelson Block
• A video tape of Dr. Goodman; a cassette voice tape of Dr. Goodman's remarks and comments on the Order
• A personalized numbered Certificate of Authenticity
• A special imprinted carrying and storage case for all portfolio items suitable for bookcase display.

This portfolio was produced as a keepsake for Arrowmen interested in our Orders rich history, and also to serve as a valuable resource to add to lodge and personal libraries.

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NOAC 1998

The last National OA Conference of the 1900s was held at Iowa State University, in Ames, Iowa. It set a new record for delegates. For the first time a NOAC had over 7,000 Arrowmen in attendance with a tally of 7,043. The Conference theme, “Memories of the Past, A Vision for the Future” was the subject of the opening show which included a moving dedication to 1997 National Vice Chief Josh Sain who had been killed in an automobile accident while in office.

Training dominated three mornings of NOAC.

It also included for the first time a National Convention of Lodge Chiefs and Advisors. This was to exchange ideas and learn about upcoming national OA programs. The plan was established that they would come together again in 1999 at Colorado State University for a Leadership Summit.

Other highlights included American Indian Show, NOAC Museum, Meet the Man, the History Show, TOAP, Distinguished Service Award (DSA) Dinner and presentation of the DSA. 

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1998 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the1998 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Jason Accola, John L. Alline, Jeremiah J. Arnold, Joseph D. Barton Jr., John K. Berry, Gregory D. Buckler, Devang Desai, Phillip M. Dullock, Rees A. Falkner, Anthony J. Fiori, Clyde B. "Bud" Harrelson III, Marcus Haubenstricker, John W. Hess, Brett M. Higgins, Edgar J. LaBenne, Joseph M. Marsicano, Clyde M. Mayer, Justin D. McCarthy, Barry P. McFarland, Brian S. McGrath, Dr. Richards Miller, Terrel W. Miller, Richard L. Mills, Ryan R. Miske, Jeremy J. Mo, Roger A. Ohmstede, Jason E. Peoples, Kenneth A. Peterson, Ryan J. Pitts, Jere B. Ratcliffe, Christopher T. Rogers, James A. Schwab, Josh Souza, Dr. Mark Stolowitz, Kyle E. Tanner, Todd A. Turner and Marty Zvonar.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

Philmont Retreat

Beyond the success of the OA Trail Crew (OATC) program, the 1995 OA Retreat held August 20 – 24, 1995 also was a sensation for the 400 attendees. Reminiscent of conclave training, there were four seminar choices: American Indian events, ceremonies, quality program development and showmanship. The Indian track included 80 different topics; the ceremony track discussed the induction process, individual parts, and coaching teams. The quality program development track was divided into mock “lodges” and build a lodge program, and the showmanship track covered use of video cameras, the editing process, and how-to create slide shows for lodge and section events.

Each evening had an event, which included a traditional Philmont welcome with “The New Mexico Story” and the formal investiture of National Chief Josh Feigelson and Vice Chief David Clark. Other evening programs included a “Meet the Man” forum and cracker barrel, and an ice cream social. The Retreat concluded with a special slide show that profiled the work and success of the OA Trail Crew program, speeches by the national chief and National OA Committee Chairman Ed Pease, and an 80^th anniversary birthday party for the Order.

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NOAC 1996

The Order of the Arrow returned for an eighth time to Indiana University, Bloomington, for the 81^st Anniversary Conference. The 6,265 delegates was the fourth consecutive NOAC with greater than 6,000 delegates. Conferences had grown, but this also had the result of limiting the number of campuses available that could stage a NOAC. The Conference theme selected at the National Planning Meeting by the Section Chiefs was "See the Dream, Live the Adventure." 

Keynote speaker at the Conference was former CIA Director and Future Secretary of Defense for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Robert Gates. Robert Gates was a Vigil Honor member of Hi-Cha-Ko-Lo Lodge in Wichita Kansas. When a few Arrowmen showed a little too much lodge spirit during his speech, Mr. Gates reminded them that he had been the Director of the CIA and knew whom they were and how to find them. All of this was to the great delight of the 6,000 Arrowmen.

Thirty seven Arrowmen received the OA's Distinguished Service Award (DSA). 

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