Order of the ArrowBlack Eagle Lodge
#ChooseOA
For more than 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth.
Structure
The Transatlantic Council is home to the Black Eagle Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.
Within Black Eagle Lodge, there are six chapters, each serving a district of the council:
- Lakota Chapter (Barbarossa District)
- Mantowagan Chapter (Charlemagne District)
- Achwon Woapalanne Chapter (Edelweiss District)
- Desert Eagle Chapter (Horizon District)
- Namassakett Chapter (Mayflower District)
- Mamchachwelendam Chapter (Mediterranean District)
History
The Order of the Arrow was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922 and was approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934. In 1948 the OA, recognized as the BSA’s national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1998, the Order of the Arrow became recognized as Scouting’s National Honor Society when it expanded its reach beyond camping to include broader service to Scouting and the community.
The Black Eagle Lodge #482 was founded on September 25, 1952.
Lodge Leadership
The Order of the Arrow is led by youth leadership, guided by adults. The lodge and chapters each have a youth who serves as Chief, as well as Vice Chiefs.
The Black Eagle Lodge Leadership:
- Lodge Adviser: Mike Garst
- Lodge Associate Adviser: James Beatty
- Lodge Associate Adviser: Rob Meade
- Lodge Registrar: Jen Guth
- Lodge Staff Adviser: Rodney Henk
- Lodge Inductions and Ceremonies Adviser: vacant
- Lodge Chief: Abbie S
- Lodge Vice Chief: vacant
- Lodge Chief of Administration: vacant
- Lodge Secretary: vacant
- Lodge Vice Chief of Ceremonies: Quinn B.
- Lodge Vice Chief of Inductions: vacant
- Lodge Vice Chief of Elections: Jeremy T.
- Lodge Treasurer: Scott B.
- Lodge Historian: Patrick R.
Chapter Leadership:
- Lakota Chapter (Barbarossa)
- Chapter Adviser: Paul Skinner
- Mantowagan Chapter (Charlemagne)
- Chapter Adviser: Trevor Nitz
- Achwon Woapalanne Chapter (Edelweiss)
- Chapter Adviser: vacant
- Desert Eagle Chapter (Horizon)
- Chapter Adviser: Daniel Littell
- Namassakett Chapter (Mayflower)
- Chapter Adviser: Frank Sotrines
- Mamchachmeledam Chapter (Mediterranean)
- Chapter Adviser: Jessica Smith
2024/2025 Lodge Events
Please find a planned list of Lodge dates for 2024. All dates are tentative. Future announcements about confirmed dates and locations will be announced via Lodgemaster emails and other Black Eagle Lodge social media.
Every month there is an online LEC meeting on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 4:00pm CET – this is open to the whole lodge and we encourage any lodge youth members to join the call. Click the calendar link below in the LEC section to find the zoom link
- May 3 – 5, 2024 Spring Fellowship – Camp Freedom
- July 29 – August 2024 NOAC (National Order of the Arrow Conference) – University of Boulder Colorado
- September 20 – 22, 2024 – Fall Fellowship – potentially Camp Freedom or Paris! watch for more info HERE
- LLD (Lodge Leadership Development training event) will now be linked to the Scouter’s Annual Conference (date and location for SAC have yet to be announced plan for an October weekend)
- May 16 to 18, 2025 OA Spring Fellowship
- September 12 to 14, 2025 OA Fall Fellowship
Lodge Executive Committee (LEC)
The Order of the Arrow is led by youth leadership with adult guidance. The Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) is the steering committee of the lodge and is responsible for executing the annual program of the lodge. The LEC follows all policies concerning the organization and administration of the lodge utilizing the Guide for Officers and Advisers.
Who is the Lodge Executive Committee?
The Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) —a key group—consists of the youth serving as lodge officers (including the immediate past lodge chief), vice chiefs and their advisers, operating committee chairs and their advisers, the lodge adviser, and the Scout executive.
The lodge chief is the chair of the LEC and presides over meetings. The lodge chief is expected to prepare agendas and share them with the lodge and staff adviser before sending them to committee members with the meeting announcement.
What does the Lodge Executive Committee do?
The LEC committee meets to share reports, promote lodge events, and let the Arrowmen decide the plan for Black Eagle Lodge. The LEC typically includes breakouts sessions such as administration, inductions, program, service, and chapter operations. The LEC is the primary method to provide key information to the chapters.
The LEC is the steering committee for the lodge. The LEC carries out the business of the lodge by planning, coordinating and executing the annual program of the lodge, fellowship and ordeal (induction) weekends, service projects, training sessions, and other events as appropriate.
The LEC faces the problems, studies possible solutions, and then, through the lodge or chapter committee organization, acts. It carries out the business of the lodge, coordinating the work being done by officers and operating committees. Regardless of any executive committee decision or undertaking, the lodge must operate within the policies established by the national Order of the Arrow committee, without variation or modification.
When is the next LEC meeting?
LEC meetings are typically help the 3rd Sunday of the month online at 1600 CET. To find out when the next LEC meeting is being held, visit the lodge calendar!
Who can attend LEC meetings?
All voting members of the LEC are expected to attend. Any dues paid member of Black Eagle Lodge can attend LEC meetings as an observer. All youth Arrowmen are encouraged to attend to provide input.
Social Media
Black Eagle Lodge (Closed Facebook Group)
Black Eagle Lodge, Order of the Arrow (Public Facebook page)
Lakota Chapter Order of the Arrow TAC-BSA
Mamchachwelendam Chapter for Black Eagle Lodge #482
Instagram @oablackeagle