AMENDMENT I UNIT ELECTIONS
It has been decided that as of January 1, 1998, the following statement regarding unit elections and ordeal candidacy will become the official Lodge policy of the AG-IM Lodge #156 of the Hiawathaland Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
1. It is the duty of each lodge to arrange for annual Order of the Arrow election for new members in every eligible unit. Therefore each unit with eligible youth shall be entitled to one election per year. (One year being Winter Conference to Winter Conference.) The Lodge shall determine the time of year unit elections will be held and should inform unit leaders of this by mail well in advance. The executive board of this lodge has decided that unit elections should be held between January 1st and April 15th of each given year.
2. Following the Winter Conference, the unit elections chairman shall send a letter to each unit leader informing them of the upcoming year's elections. This letter shall be received by January 15th of each year. Adhering to the time frame as set by the executive board, unit elections shall then be held at the time and place determined by the unit leader. Units who have not had an election by the 15th of April will be sent a letter and given a phone call to find out the reason why an election was not held and to schedule an election if deemed necessary. The decision to allow a second opportunity to receive an election will be at the discretion of the executive board of the lodge. If granted a second opportunity, the election must take place prior to the Spring Conclave of that given year. If no election is held by this time then the unit must wait until the following year for an election. This also applies to units who do not have any eligible youth prior to the Spring Conclave. The ultimate result of the above policy will be that all unit elections will be completed prior to the Spring Conclave of each given year, thus eliminating all unit elections at Summer Camp.
3. Once elected all candidates must be called out either at their District's Spring Camporee or at Summer Camp. If a Scout or Scouter is called out at their District's Spring Camporee then they will have two opportunities to
complete their Ordeal. Those two opportunities being the Spring Conclave and the Fall Conclave of that given year. If a Scout or Scouter is called out at Summer Camp, then they will have only one opportunity to complete their Ordeal. That one opportunity being the Fall Conclave of that given year. Should a Scout or Scouter fail to be called out or to complete their Ordeal under the above conditions then they will have to be re-elected the following year and the procedure starts over. If under either condition above, a Scout or Scouter misses their opportunities or opportunity due to illness or other unusual circumstances then they shall write a letter explaining their circumstances to the Executive Board of the Lodge to be received prior to the Winter Conference, the executive board will review such letters and decide to extend the scout or scouter's candidacy through the Spring Conclave of the following year or to deny an extension thus ending the scout or scouter's candidacy and making them re-eligible for the upcoming year's election. Unit leaders shall then be made aware of the executive boards decision so as to know whether or not to include the Scout or Scouter on the eligibility list for the upcoming year's election. Notification will be handled by the unit elections chairman as he prepares his letter to every unit leader. If given an extension then the scout or scouter should not be eligible for the upcoming year's election. Should a scout or scouter have received an extension and still failed to complete their Ordeal during their given opportunity then they shall have to wait until yet the next year to be re-elected. Since the executive board of this lodge has accepted sections 1 and 2, the entirety of this section 3 is in accordance with the set policy of the National Order of the Arrow Executive Committee as stated on page 40 of the Order of the Arrow Guide for Lodge Officers and Advisors. |
