National Conservation and Leadership Summit (NCLS)

In the summer of 2007 from July 28th through August 1, the National OA Committee hosted lodge leaders in Bloomington, Indiana at Indiana University for a summit with a twofold purpose: to prepare staff members for the upcoming ArrowCorps⁵ project set for the following summer, and to release the Order’s 2008-2012 strategic plan. With a theme of “Building the Path to Servant Leadership”, participants engaged in training programs focused on strengthening lodge operations or fine tuning their conservation management skills. Over 1,200 Arrowmen attended, providing feedback and suggestions on how to implement the strategic plan and how to deliver a successful ArrowCorps⁵. The Chief Scout Executive delivered a keynote speech at the closing ceremonies of the summit.

3, National Event, OA, Scouting

2002 National Planning Meeting

The annual end of year gathering of Section Chiefs took place in Dallas, Texas and although there was no NOAC to plan, there were two National programs of emphasis.

The first was Philbreak, a spring week at Philmont to help with conservation efforts after fires destroyed forestland in Philmont. The second event to plan was the first Indian Summer.

Nick Digirolamo, Seminole Lodge, Tampa, Florida was elected National Chief and Rich Moore of Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge, Cincinnati, Ohio was elected National Vice Chief. Region Chiefs elected were: Adam Enerson – Central Region, Ian Pinnavaia – Northeast Region, Mathew Griffis – Western Region and Frank McMillan – Southern Region.

2, Elections, OA, Scouting

2004 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 2004 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Courtney Allen, Paul C. Anderson, Steven Howard Beckett, Riley Berg, Cortland Bolles, Clay Capp, Andy Chapman, Edward T. Clifford, III, Linley Joseph Collins, Christopher Crowley, Nicholas P. Digirolamo, Matt Dukeman, Adam Enerson, Brian J. Favat, Nathan McBride Finnin, Matthew R. Griffis, Brian Howard Herren, Jon L. Hobbs, Kenneth E. Hood, Stan Hoff, Benjamin W. Janke, Douglas M. Kupec, Matthew J. F. Laudone, William Lenker, Brian Francis Love, Frank McMillan, Rich Moore, David Moskal, James Edward Neubaum, Dominic T. Pascucci, Hector A. "Tico" Perez, Ian M. Pinnavaia, Douglas W. Seaborne, Brian Seeton, Raymond Siegrist, Douglas S. Smith Jr., George S. Sparks, Sam Stocker, P.E. Gene Wadford, Thomas E. Watson Jr., Robert G. Westmyer and Warren Williams.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

Second Lifetime Achievement Award

The second Legacy of Servant Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed on Carl M. Marchetti, M.D., at the 2004 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) at Iowa State University. At that time, Marchetti had been a registered Scouter for more than 58 years, and a member of Na Tsi Hi Lodge, Monmouth Council, Oakhurst, New Jersey.

Dr. Marchetti was a charter member of Chinchewunska Lodge in 1949 at the age of 15. He sealed his membership in the Brotherhood a year later. He is an Eagle Scout and also earned the Explorer Silver Award. He was the first Vigil Honor member of Chinchewunska Lodge serving three years as lodge chief. In 1956 he was elected area chief, which brought him on to a national stage.

Marchetti was the youth lead of shows at the 1956 NOAC at Indiana University. One of the shows featured a recreation of the first OA ceremony. For that project, he consulted with E. Urner Goodman who gave him some advice: “Enjoy yourself, work hard, but watch out.” It was at this NOAC that Goodman gave Marchetti the red National OA Committee sash that Marchetti, and every Lifetime Achievement Award recipient since him has worn during the award ceremony.

Marchetti received the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) in 1958. In 1958 and 1960, Marchetti served as the Administrative Assistant to the OA National Executive Secretary. In 1962, he became the youngest member of the National OA Committee. Soon after his appointment he became involved with the Order’s financial matters. In 1974, he began the watershed movement to establish the OA as a self-funding program of the BSA. He served as the Order’s finance chairman and gave leadership to the creation of the OA Trust Fund. At the 1977 National Jamboree held at Moraine State Park, Vice Chairman Marchetti helped supervise the youth staff subcamp. This new area of responsibility meant that the Order of the Arrow oversaw not only the Service Corps, but also all youth staff—600 to 800—at the jamboree.

A former council president of Monmouth Council in Oakhurst, New Jersey, Marchetti is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Antelope, and Buffalo (1990) awards, the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (1991), and the Alpha Phi Omega National Distinguished Alumni Key. He received his M.D. from New York Medical College in 1960.

While chairman of the National OA Committee, Dr. Marchetti worked to make a one-year term of office for the national officers.

That made us build the entire program of treks, Indian seminars, jamborees, and strategic planning sessions so that the youth who were elected in an off-conference year would have something to do

Those decisions led to more youth participating on a national level and turning the Order into a truly youth-led organization. “The Order of the Arrow program used to be a program for boys, it is now a program by boys,” he said.

Dr. Marchetti made the decision, as Chairman, to broaden the base of the National OA Committee, bringing in a “new generation” of younger leaders, and firmly committing the committee to its emphasis on youth leadership development. He paved the way for many on the committee to serve in the capacities they do today. He is the one who first made it possible for youth leaders from the Order to serve on other national committees of the BSA.

2, Awards, OA, Scouting

2004 National Planning Meeting

With the increased role of the OA at Jamborees, the primary planning at the 2004 National Planning Meeting was related to the upcoming 2005 National Scout Jamboree. Patrick Murphy, Wipala Wiki Lodge, Tempe, Arizona was elected National Chief and Seth Mollitt of Echockotee Lodge, Jacksonville, Florida was elected National Vice Chief. Region Chiefs elected were: Paul Jensen – Central Region, Dan O’Rourke – Northeast Region, Bradley Long – Southern Region and Ross Armstrong – Western Region.

3, Elections, OA, Scouting

OA Ocean Adventure

The Order of the Arrow Ocean Adventure (OAOA) was created in 2005 and is the third high adventure program created under the Order of the Arrow. The program itself is based out of Florida National High Adventure Sea Base and participants spend the first week of their adventure becoming PADI certified SCUBA divers at the base itself and in the waters of the Florida Keys. The second week of the program, Arrowmen use their PADI certifications to dive and aid local research agencies with fish counts, under water cleanup projects, illegal dumping watches and wildlife safety inspections. At the base itself, participants do service work within the base and aid in different areas to give back to crews enjoying their Sea Base experience. The Order of the Arrow Ocean Adventure was reworked over the summers of 2009 and 2010 and returns in the summer of 2011 as a service based program that will take participants to Big Munson Island and Crane Point for cheerful service that includes trail work, the removal of invasive species and preserving wildlife habitats. The second part of this new adventure will take participants on a four-day sailing journey and give them the true sailor experience. This new program will now be based out of the Florida Sea Base’s Brinton Environmental Center, the launch point for crews to Big Munson Island.

3, OA, Scouting

2005 National Jamboree

The 2005 National Scout Jamboree was held at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, from July 25 to August 3 with the theme “Character Not Only Counts, It Multiplies”. 43,307 Scouts participated in the Jamboree.

In 2005, the Order of the Arrow committed itself once again to assisting with the logistics and programming of the Jamboree. It was evident that the OA was solidly engaged in providing a tremendous amount of service and programs throughout the Jamboree.

One of the most popular programs at the Jamboree was the Order of the Arrow theatrical production Twelve Cubed. A successor to the Order’s famed productions of Odyssey of the Law and Scoutopia, at previous Jamborees, Twelve Cubed was based upon recognition that the term “values” has an application in mathematical equations as well as ethical ones. “Twelve Cubed” represented an equation for life and a formula for values obtained by applying the twelve points of the Scout Law and the three parts of the Scout Oath to one’s life — a multiplication, if you will, which has an exponential effect upon a Scout’s life. Through creative, artistic, and interactive endeavors with the audience, the Twelve Cubed production helped Scouts at the Jamboree define the true meaning of character and values.

Registering its largest turnout in its nine-year history, The Outdoor Adventure Place (TOAP) had 33,000 attendees visit the exhibit area during the nine days of the Jamboree. Through the Leave No Trace (LNT) program, Scouts were able to train in the seven principles of LNT, as well as meet with various federal land management agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Corps of Engineers, National Park Service and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to serving as a learning environment, TOAP was a place to have fun and hang out; Scouts were constantly involved with activities such as the many climbing walls, outdoor cooking area, and pioneering tower.

The OA American Indian Village continued to expand in popularity and scope from previous Jamborees. The Village, located near the Merit Badge Midway, also offered Scouts the opportunity to earn the Indian Lore Merit Badge and explore American Indian culture through living history displays, songs, and dance. During the Jamboree, 325 full and partial Indian Lore Merit Badges were awarded. The Village also hosted a large Pow Wow one evening, and used a traveling group of dancers to promote their program area and the American Indian culture throughout the Jamboree.

The Order of the Arrow’s Service Corps provided hundreds of hours of cheerful service to the thousands of participants in all corners of the Jamboree. Arrowmen on the Service Corps team served as security for arena shows, delivered lunches, conducted flag raisings, and hosted special dignitaries at Fort A. P. Hill. In addition, the Service Corps provided service to the various Jamboree camps and in turn became the most well-known and visible group on-site. Using the theme “Service: Can You Dig It?” they demonstrated the Order’s principles throughout the Jamboree.

3, Ceremonies, National Event, OA, Scouting

Leadership in Service Award

At the 2004 NOAC, the National OA Committee announced a new award aimed at honoring the Order’s heritage of service. To earn the Leadership in Service Award, an Arrowman provided 8 hours of service to his/her local camp and provided 6 hours of community service through a lodge or chapter run community service project. The award could be earned three times. The first time an Arrowman earned the award, he received a blue ribbon with a suspended red arrowhead attached at the bottom. The ribbon could be worn as a temporary device on the field uniform. Arrowmen earning the award subsequent times would be awarded with a device to wear on the ribbon. The Leadership in Service Award was active for the years 2005-2007.

2, Awards, OA, Scouting

2005 National Planning Meeting

The annual 2005 end of the year National Planning Meeting had the primary responsibility of planning the 2006 NOAC set for Michigan State University. Sean Murray of Otahnagon Lodge, Norwich, New York was elected National Chief and Christopher Schildknecht of Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge, Cincinnati, Ohio was elected National Vice Chief. Region Chiefs elected were: Russell Bresnahan – Central Region, Jon Fuller – Northeast Region, Dustin Counts – Southern Region and Kieran Thompson – Western Region.

3, Elections, OA, Scouting

NOAC 2006

The 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan was the largest NOAC ever. There were 8,003 delegates and staff at the OA’s grand event. The total was nearly 1,000 more Arrowmen than the previous record set at the 75th Anniversary NOAC 16 years earlier in 1990.

The Conference theme selected by the Section Chiefs at the December National Planning Meeting was “The Legend Lives On”. Among the highlights of a program filled with training, athletic competition, arena shows and the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award presented to longtime National OA Committee member Dabney Kennedy. Although Arrowmen were promised a cooler climate and admonished to bring along a sweater, this was one of the steamiest NOACs in memory.

3, National Event, OA, Scouting

2006 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 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Ross Armstrong, Marcus Bailey, Thomas Bain, Mark Bicket, Robert Black, Robert Crume, Brian Cutino, Jared Davis, Seth Dearmin, Andrew Desilet, David Dowty, Tyson Ford, Stephen Gaines, Keith Gallaway, Jeffrey Godley, Michael Gollner, Christopher Grove, Jonathan Hardin, Matthew Harris, Glenn Haynes, Jeffrey Hayward, Paul Jensen, Jeffery Jonasen, Scotty Keenan, Craig Leighty, Bradley Long, Edward Lynes, Seth Mollitt, Patrick Murphy, Daniel O'Rourke, Thomas Ritchey, Gil Rogers, Robin Rosamond, David Ross, Joseph Sadewasser, Brian Stock, Michael Lawrence Thompson, Phil Vanderwerker and Nicholas Williams.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

Third Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2006, the third Legacy of Servant Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dabney Kennedy.

Dabney Kennedy was born in March 1936, in Stephenville, Texas, a little town about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth. He enrolled in Cub Scouting and earned the Arrow of Light. When old enough, he became a Boy Scout, serving first as patrol leader and later as senior patrol leader. He earned the Eagle Award, with palms, and then went on to join Explorers and earn that program’s Silver Award.

Kennedy was inducted into the very small Otena lodge in 1950. The lodge was so young that there were no Brotherhood Honor members in it at that point. In 1952, Kennedy became Otena’s first Brotherhood member and was bestowed this honor by Karankawa Lodge. In 1954 he was in his lodge’s first class of Vigil Honor members and received the name “Akikta” which is interpreted as “One Who Works With Determination.” Kennedy served as lodge secretary, two terms as lodge chief, and at the age of 18 he was appointed to be the “junior lodge adviser”. Kennedy attended as a youth numerous area meetings, and got to know E. Urner Goodman.

He served on the camp staff and later became the camp director. At the National Jamboree in 1957 at Valley Forge he served on the OA Service Corps and led his lodge delegation to NOAC in Lawrence, Kansas in 1958. Since 1958, Kennedy has participated in and played an instrumental part in the production of over 30 national events for the Order. He served the Order as the program chairman for over ten National OA Conferences (NOAC) where he was responsible for most of the coordination of NOAC.

Dabney is a recipient of the OA Distinguished Service Award (1969), Silver Beaver (1970), and Silver Antelope (1989). He has served as Cubmaster, Troop Committee Chairman, Council Camping Chairman, Lodge Adviser of Colonneh Lodge for 20 years, and section adviser for 22 years. He was appointed Vice Chairman of Program in 1985 for the National OA Committee, a post he held through 1996 – and he served as the lead adviser for NOAC and other national OA events during those years.

These accomplishments, however impressive themselves, cannot begin to describe the positive influence and mark Dabney has left on the Order. Kennedy also made an impact on the Order as a whole by designing and creating the Founder’s Award. As a visionary of his time, he realized the need to have a national event every summer and the importance of electing new national youth officers for one-year terms instead of two-year terms. Dabney was appointed to the National OA Committee in 1970 and quickly got involved in the development and implementation of the Order’s national programs. He helped to create the OA 60^th Anniversary / Bicentennial Award, rolled out in 1975, and later NOAC participation awards and the OA 75^th Anniversary Award. He created the OA’s history in coins and guided the production and preservation of the video footage of Dr. Goodman.

Outside of Scouting, in 1964 Kennedy graduated from the University of Texas, School of Pharmacy and had a very successful career as a pharmacist. Most notably, he spent 30 years working for the Dow Chemical Company as a Regional Sales Manager, National Sales Trainer, and National Safety Manager. He married his wife Peggy Jean in 1960 and has two sons that are both Eagle Scouts and members of the Order.

When he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, he wore the sash Goodman gave to Carl Marchetti—the same sash Marchetti wore to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award. Kennedy wished that all future recipients would wear the sash when accepting the award.

When asked about his strong and continued magnetic passion for the Order of the Arrow he responded that the most rewarding part of continued service was being able to watch young boys grow and develop into strong, mature leaders through the Order. He went on to say that a NOAC is so important and unique because the youth volunteers set the standard. NOAC allows young leaders to breathe new life and ideas into the Order and gives them a chance to nurture their strengths as young men and the leaders of tomorrow.

Those who are acquainted with Dabney and have benefited from his counsel know first-hand of his effectiveness as an adviser and mentor, of his persistence and determination. He is known to be inspired and inspiring, motivated and motivating. He is passionate about everything he undertakes, an innovator and a peacemaker. Arrowmen of all ages admire him. Dabney Kennedy is truly an inspirational leader and the Order of the Arrow is fortunate to have such a devoted volunteer who seeks, and challenges others to seek, the higher vision.

2, Awards, OA, Scouting