Procedures

Download a copy of the Taleka Lodge Procedures in PDF format.

Jump to:

TALEKA LODGE #81

ORDER OF THE ARROW

OKAW VALLEY COUNCIL

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

PREAMBLE:

WHEREAS:

The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America has adopted the Order of the Arrow, W. W. W. as an integral part of the Boy Scout program.

And the National lodge of the Order of the Arrow, W. W. W. has drawn a constitution and policies, under which we are chartered and function as a local lodge.

Now, we do hereby on June 27, 2003, propose and adopt the following rules in accordance with the Order Of The Arrow handbook and national policies to be guidelines in the organization and management of our lodge.

SECTION I: Name and Affiliation of the Lodge

  1. The name of this lodge of the Order of the Arrow shall be TALEKA LODGE #81, W.W.W.
  2. Affiliation -- the lodge shall be affiliated with the Okaw Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America, and shall be under the supervision of the Council Properties Committee and the administrative authority of the Council Scout Executive.
  3. The totem of this lodge shall be the Egret.
  4. Only current registered members of Taleka Lodge #81 may purchase or wear lodge emblems.
  5. Order of the Arrow sashes will only be worn at Order of the Arrow functions or when specifically representing the Order of the Arrow.
  6. The purpose and responsibilities of this lodge will be those outlined in the latest edition of the Order of the Arrow handbook.

SECTION II: Election to Membership and Ceremonies

  1. The requirements for membership in this lodge are as stated in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow handbook.
  2. Individuals may also be made eligible for membership by a 2/3 vote of the Lodge Executive Committee.
  3. All Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil Honor membership attainment and ceremonies will be in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Order of the Arrow Ceremony Booklets.

SECTION III: Officers

  1. Lodge Officer- The officers of this Lodge shall be Lodge Chief, Lodge Vice-Chief for Administration, Lodge Vice-Chief for Program, Lodge Vice-Chief for Publications, Lodge Secretary, and Lodge Treasurer. All elected officers must be under Twenty-One (21) years of age during their entire term of office.
  2. Lodge Executive Committee -- The Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) shall be composed of all elected lodge officers, immediate past Lodge Chief, Lodge Operating Committee Chairmen, Lodge Adviser, Lodge Associate Advisers, Lodge Operating Committee Advisers and the Lodge Professional Staff Adviser.
  3. Election of Lodge Officers -- All arrowmen wishing to run for Lodge Office must turn in a signed officer consent form to the Lodge Advisor before they are permitted to be nominated by their peers.
  4. Term of Office- The term of office for all officers, Lodge and Chapter, shall be from training day to training day, with officers taking responsibilities at the annual lodge officers training (It’s a Blast). All lodge officers shall be elected at the Fall Fellowship.
  5. 5. Order of Succession -- The order of succession of the officers of this lodge shall be Lodge Chief, Lodge Vice-Chief for Administration, Lodge Vice-Chief for Program, Lodge Vice-Chief for Publications, Lodge Secretary, and Lodge Treasurer.

In the event of a vacancy of a lodge officer, other than the chief, the Lodge Chief shall appoint a new officer with the approval of the Lodge Executive committee and with primary consideration given to those Arrowmen who ran for an office at the Fall Fellowship. In the event of the resignation of the Lodge Chief, the functions of the lodge will be conducted by the next lodge officer in order of succession until the next major lodge event when a new chief will be elected.

An office held by either an elected or appointed officer shall be considered vacant either by resignation, absences, or by a vote of the Lodge Executive Committee.

A resignation must be turned into the Lodge Executive Committee as such a time as the officer can no longer successfully complete his duties.

An office shall be considered vacant if the officer fails to attend three (3) consecutive Lodge Executive Committee meetings.

The office must be declared vacant by the Lodge Adviser.

If a lodge officer is neglecting his duties, that officer may also be removed from office by a vote of 2/3 majority of voting members present at a major lodge function (Listed as one of the minimum lodge events outlined in SECTION IV) or a special lodge meeting called for this purpose. A new officer shall come to office following the procedures set forth in SECTION III, Article 5, Paragraph 2.

SECTION IV: Lodge Meetings and Functions

  1. Lodge Meetings -- The lodge shall schedule as a minimum the following events:
  1. Spring Fellowship
  2. Camp Service (to include Ordeal weekends)
  3. Fall Fellowship
  4. Lodge Officer Training (It’s a Blast)
  5. Winter Banquet
  1. LEC Meetings -- The Lodge Executive Committee shall hold at least four (4) meetings a year. These meetings must be announced to all members of the Lodge Executive Committee and will be for the conducting of Lodge business.

A quorum of 2/3 of the elected lodge officers will be required to conduct business. After a quorums met, requirement of business will be by simple majority of the members of the committee present.

  1. Special Meetings -- The Lodge Executive Committee may be called for Special Meetings by the Lodge Chief, with the approval of the Lodge Adviser and or Lodge Professional Staff Adviser.
  2. Adult Members -- The adult membership of the lodge shall have no vote in any lodge decisions. The Lodge Adviser and professional Staff Adviser shall make decisions to nullify or correct policies of the Lodge of they are in conflict with National Order Of The Arrow Committee policies or the welfare of the lodge.
  3. General -- All meetings of the lodge shall be opened with the Order of the Arrow Obligation.
  4. Appointment of Committee Chairmen - The Lodge Chief shall appoint all Lodge Committee Chairmen as may be required from time to time. The Lodge Adviser shall appoint all Lodge Committee Advisers, as may be required, with the Coordination of the Lodge Chief and Lodge Committee Chairman. All committee chairmen shall be under twenty-one (21) years of age through their entire term of office.

SECTION V: Dues, Funds, and Membership Status

  1. All Order of the Arrow funds shall be handled through the Council Service Center and processed through the normal accounting procedures used by the council.
  2. The Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) must approve all lodge expenditures before they may be paid. This may be done in two ways. First, if an item has been included in the annual budget which has been approved by the LEC or secondly, the expenditure is authorized by a motion duly made, seconded and adopted by the LEC.
  3. The lodge finance committee shall consist of the Lodge Chief, Lodge Treasurer, Lodge Adviser, Lodge Associate Adviser -- Finance, and such other officers and advisers as the Lodge Executive Committee determines.
  4. The Lodge Fiscal Year shall be November 1 - October 31.
  5. Dues of the lodge shall be collected annually, in the amount designated by the Lodge Executive Committee. Dues for the year will be payable during the period of January 1-- March 31 of the same year. Membership is tallied as of October 31 and reported to National by December 31 of the same calendar year.
  6. Members will be considered suspended if dues are not paid by December 15th for the next year and will be placed on the inactive list. Inactive members may be restored to active status by paying a five-dollar ($5.00) reinstatement fee and one year's current membership dues.
  7. Non-active members may not vote, cannot participate on any committee and may not wear the insignia of the lodge. When an Arrowman ceases to be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America, he/she forfeits his/her membership in the lodge and may only be reinstated by application to the lodge after renewing their registration with a unit.
  8. Arrowmen who transfer to the Okaw Valley Council may join this lodge upon showing proof of membership in a former lodge, and registering in the Okaw Valley Council. Current active members will pay the current year's dues and inactive members (from previous lodge) will pay a five-dollar ($5.00) reinstatement fee plus one year's current dues.

SECTION VI: Lodge Executive Committee Flap

  1. A distinctive Lodge Flap should easily recognize members of the Lodge Executive Committee.
  2. One flap will be issued to each member of the Lodge Executive Committee at the beginning of his or her term. He/She will then be given the opportunity to acquire two more flaps at cost.
  3. These flaps may only be worn while a member of the Lodge Executive Committee.
  4. If a person rejoins the Lodge Executive Committee at a later date, he/she will not be issued a new flap, nor be allowed to acquire other flaps unless the flap design had since been changed.
  5. No one will be allowed to have more than three flaps as listed in paragraph 2.
  6. All flaps shall remain the property of the lodge.
  7. No one will ever be allowed to trade or give away the flap given to them or acquired by them without the permission and approval of the Lodge Executive Committee.
  8. All non-issued flaps shall be kept and distributed by the Lodge Chief. The current Lodge Chief must also maintain a permanent record of when and to whom a flap(s) was/were issued to from year to year.

SECTION VII: Amendments

  1. These rules shall supersede all previous sets of Lodge Rules or by-laws.
  2. These rules shall be subject to amendment at any regular or special meeting of this lodge provided such amendments(s) have been submitted in writing to the Lodge Executive Committee at least one month prior to such meeting. A 2/3 majority vote of the members present shall be required to pass the amendments(s).