The Bear Claw - October 2010

The Bear Claw is the official publication of Chumash Lodge 90, Order of the Arrow. Click on the link below to obtain the latest issue.

October 2010

Lodge Transfer Form

In prior years several Arrowmen have moved into our lodge and we received no information on them other than their payment of dues. The lodge has developed a transfer for to help gather the needed information on new lodge members transferring in from other lodges.

Please use this form to send information on new transfers to the lodge. Share this form with news members you may know and with the Arrowmen in you chapters.

Lodge Transfer Form

The election of new lodge officers took place during the Fall Ordeal conducted at Rancho Alegre. On November 6, 2010 the new officers were installed in their leadership positions in the Chumash Lodge at the annual Lodge Dinner at Rancho Alegre. Current Lodge Officers through November 2011 are:

Kevin Hays
Lodge Chief - Tequepis Chapter

Jeremy Zaida
Lodge Vice Chief - Canaliño Chapter

Alec Griffith
Lodge Secretary - Tuouski Chapter

Logan Michaels
Lodge Treasurer – Canaliño Chapter

Keith Avery
Lodge Medicine Man – Canaliño Chapter

Bear Claw Past Issues

Tour Permits & Travel Safety

It is important that Arrowmen traveling to and from all Order of the Arrow events abide by the same policies required of units. Within Scouting, the largest number of injuries are from automobile accidents to and from events. Therefore, driver safety is of the utmost importance to keeping Scouts safe.

National and Regional policy is that tour permits are not required only when traveling by yourself or direct relatives. All other travel requires the use of a permit filed with the appropriate council office. Though previously often overlooked for OA events, it should be noted that tour permits must be used for travel to all OA activities, including most lodge, section, region, and national events. Remember, transporting non-family youth members is only permitted by adults over age 21. You can direct any questions concerning this policy to your Section Adviser or Region Vice Chairman for your area.

Download electronic PDF forms of the tour permits here:
Tour permits are formatted for legal size paper. If it is printed on letter size it will be compressed.

Local Tour Permit Application - for travel less than 500 miles from home
National Tour Permit Application - for travel in excess of 500 miles

Lodge Flaps

The Lodge Flap is now available at $5.00 each. The only way to obtain your flap is by attending a Lodge or Chapter function or by mail. The flap is NOT available for sale in any of the Scout stores. To obtain your flap your dues must be current. Flaps ordered by mail are subject to a 50 cent service charge for each order (3 flap maximum per order). In addition we have a number of the large edition lodge flaps available for purchase. They won't fit on your uniform, but they look great on a jacket. Cost is only $4.00 for this item.

We still have the two-piece Jamboree 2010 Flap available. Cost is only $10.00.

Please allow two weeks for delivery of your new flaps. Send orders to Order of the Arrow, c/o Rancho Alegre, 2680 Highway 154, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

New Supplemental Training on OA

Supplemental Training Modules
Supplemental training modules are designed to provide orientation beyond the basic training offered in New Leader Essentials and leader-specific training. Each module is a unit of training that can be used as an outline for a group, for personal coaching, or for self-study. Most of the outlines should require about an hour to complete. Consider each unit of study to be an introduction to the subject. Scouters are welcome to download subjects that are of interest for personal or unit use. There are no training credits associated with the completion of these units of study. Additional training units are being developed and will be continually added to this site.

The Order of the Arrow and Your Troop
This session discusses the benefits to the individual, troop, district, and council as a result of the Order of the Arrow's influence in your troop.
Download a printer-friendly PDF of this module

Guide for Officers and Advisers

The Guide For Officers and Advisers was revised for 2006. You can download the new version at http://www.main.oa-bsa.org/resources/pubs/index.html#goa This guide is an excellent resource for any leader in the Order of the Arrow and if you haven't seen it yet I highly suggest you take a look!

Section W4N and Chumash Lodge

Lodges belonging to Section W4N are:

• Siwinis - Los Angeles Area Council
• Malibu - West Los Angeles Area Council (San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys)
• Spel-ye-ai - Verdugo Hills Council (Burbank/Glendale)
• Yowlumne - Southern Sierra Council (Bakersfield/Ridgecrest)
• Topa Topa - Ventura County Council
• Chumash - Los Padres Council

Section Chief is Charles Pickering of Siwinis Lodge.

Section Vice Chief is Keith Avery of Chumash Lodge.

The third W4N Section Conclave will be held at Rancho Alegre on September 16-18, 2011.

Summit Corps - Summer 2011

SummitCorps: The New River Experience is the newest service adventure offered by the Order of the Arrow. In conjunction with the National Parks Service, 500 Arrowmen from across the country will invade the New River Gorge National River in West Virginia.

Arrowmen can choose which of four weeks to attend in July of 2011. Total, 2000 Arrowmen will give service to the New River by helping to build and restore the Garden Grand Hike and Bike Trail, which will connect the New River to the Summit: Bechtel Family Scout Reserve.

Lodges will be able to send contingents of up to 23 Arrowmen. Each week will consist of 425 guests and 100 staff. The cost for attending SummitCorps: The New River Experience is $250, but in return Arrowmen can expect a different kind of adventure. An initial allotment of 8 guest spots has been provided to each lodge in the United States. Following December 1st slots will be opened to lodges on a first come first serve basis. Your council office will have received detailed information in mid September.

For more information, navigate to www.event.oa-bsa.org.

Indian Summer - Summer 2011

Indian Summer 2011 will offer an opportunity for Arrowmen across the country to participate in focus areas including American Indian material culture and OA Inductions and Ceremonies.

The American Indian material culture track will focus on learning about Indian dance clothes, dance (Powwows), song and Arrowmen will be able to complete a hands on craft experience under the direction of the best craftsmen in the Scouting movement. OA Induction and Ceremonies will include a range of topics from ceremonialists to running an Ordeal and unit elections. Highlights will include acting skills and techniques workshops taught by real-world theater professionals.

LOCATION AND DATES: Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, North Carolina, August 1-6, 2011

PROJECTED COST: $325 with dormitory style housing (6-8 people per room) or $425 with hotel style rooms (2 people per room). Both include housing, meals, training, recreational opportunities and much more

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON INDIAN SUMMER 2011, visit www.event.oa-bsa.org.

2011 Dues Form

Dues can now be paid for calendar year 2010. Dues are only $15 per year. Please pay before January 31, 2011 so that you will not be delinquent. Payments received by that date are entitled to a free special OA Lodge Patch. The only way you can get this flap is to pay your dues on time - only one to a Brother.

2011 Dues Form

Jumpstart for New Arrowmen

With the realization that the lack of an effective new member orientation might be a cause of low membership retention and Brotherhood conversion rates across the nation, it was decided to offer a resource that would help lodges confront these issues.
More . . .

Troop Representative

The Order of the Arrow Troop or Team Representative is a youth liaison serving between the local OA lodge or chapter and his troop. In his unit, he helps meet the needs of the unit and will serve as a communication and programmatic link to and from Arrowmen, adult leaders and Scouts who are not presently members of the Order. He will do this in a fashion that strengthens the mission of the lodge, purpose of the Order and the mission of the Boy Scouts of America. By setting a good example, he will enhance the image of the Order as a service arm to his unit.