Tetonwana Lodge #105
Sioux Council, BSA 

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Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend

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 All Arrowmen: Every member of the Lodge is invited to join in this time of service and fellowship.  We members must be present and acting in accordance with our values in order to lead by example.  Please give of your time to help our new brothers on their long journey; help us honor them by working along side them.

When & Where: Tetonwana Lodge’s 2009 Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend will be Friday evening May 15th to Sunday morning, May 17th at Lewis & Clark Scout Camp, approximately 10 miles west of Yankton. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, concluding Sunday morning at approximately 10:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as cleanup and checkout are completed.

Map to Lewis & Clark Scout Camp
Map to Lewis & Clark from Hwy 50
Map of L&C Scout Camp

Who can attend: Conclave/Ordeal Weekends are open to all youth and adult O.A. members, and newly elected Ordeal Candidates.

Registration: Please pre-register as soon as possible by either sending in your check and registration form to the Sioux Council at 800 N. West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, or by e-mailing the Council at Sioux@bsamail.org.  A Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend registration form can be found in the Spring 2009 Turtle Talk or click here for a registration form for both the Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend and the C-1A Section Conclave.

Check-in: Check-in will be from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the camp’s Administration Building. Ordeal candidates must arrive and check in no later than 8:30 p.m. in order to participate in the Pre-Ordeal ceremony. PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE as it delays the program and ceremonies.

Cost: $35 for Ordeal candidates, $25 for Brotherhood candidates, and $15 for general members. Everyone is asked to pre-register as soon as possible. 

Camping: After checking in on Friday, Ordeal candidates and members are to set up their tents in designated chapter areas.

Tailgate Party: Friday evening while we’re waiting for everyone to arrive, the Lodge will hold it’s traditional “Tailgate Party”, which will feature food, beverage, fun, and fellowship. There is no charge, but a good-will donation is greatly appreciated.

 Friendship Campfire: There will be an informal “Friendship Campfire” beginning at approximately 8:30 pm and going until 11:00 pm Saturday evening near the Dining Hall. Everyone is welcome. This is a great opportunity to gather around a campfire where new and old members can get to know each other in an informal and fun atmosphere. Bring a camp chair or lawn chair to make yourself more comfortable. If you play an instrument, bring it along. If you play a guitar, banjo, keyboard, harmonica, musical spoons, fiddle, shoehorn, comb, armpit, a jug - or whatever - bring it along for a fun time of “jammin” and singing some camp songs. Everyone’s invited to bring a favorite story or campfire song to lead and share with others. If you have any questions contact Dennis Helland.

Tools Needed: Various tools will be needed to carry out the many projects that are part of getting the camp ready for the summer. If you have any of the following, please bring them: bow saws, pruners, brush clippers, wheel barrows, spades, shovels, rakes, paint brushes, paint scrapers, socket sets & wrenches, chain saws & fuel (must be 18 to operate), and ladders. Be sure to bring work clothes and something to wear you don’t mind getting paint on. There will be marking instruments available so you can identify your property - if not already clearly marked with your name.  

Work Projects:  Work projects planned for the weekend include repairing the steps on the trails; cleaning up waterfront area; cleaning up Challenge Valley area; cleaning out catch basins; spreading of wood chips; splitting wood; latrine repairs; painting; general clean-up (trimming bushes, trees, raking rocks, etc.)  Be sure to bring work clothes you don't mind getting dirty, worn out, or getting paint on.  Bringing work gloves and boots is recommended.  Don't forget to bring a water bottle.

Showers: Shower facilities for youth and adult Arrowmen will be made available during the weekend.

Elangmomats and Nimats needed: Arrowmen are needed to give service to the lodge and their fellow Arrowmen by serving as an Elangomat or Nimat. Elangomats are those Arrowmen who unselfishly go through the Ordeal as a friend to new O.A. candidates. Nimats are those Brotherhood members who help Ordeal members obtain their Brotherhood. Both opportunities are an excellent way of fulfilling one of the requirements for advancement to the next level of membership in the Order. Those who serve as an Elangomat get a free Elangomat T-shirt.  E-mail the Tetonwana Lodge if you wish to serve as an Elangomat or Nimat.

Ceremonies team looking for new members: The Tetonwana Lodge is looking for Arrowmen who would like to serve the lodge as a member of the ceremonies team.  Serving as a member of the ceremonies team is another way of fufilling one of the requirements for Brotherhood.  E-mail the Tetonwana Lodge if you would like to serve on the ceremonies team or need more information.

Free Section Conclave Host Lodge T-shirt! Any Tetonwana Lodge Arrowman who registers for the C-1A Section Conclave by Sunday of Spring Conclave/Ordeal weekend will receive a free Host Lodge T-shirt. An application form can be found in the Spring 2009 Turtle Talk.  Be sure to bring your design and color preferences for the T-shirts.  See details below. 

Bring your T-shirt and flap designs: Bring your design ideas and color preferences for Tetonwanan Lodge t-shirts for the Section Conclave.  As the host lodge, we want to stand out.  We're also looking for ideas for Lodge NOAC t-shirts and Lodge Flaps.  Bring your ideas to the Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend.

Weekend Schedule: 

Any schedule changes will be announced and posted during the Conclave/Ordeal Weekend.

        Friday
        6:00 pm - Tailgate and Register (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 2) 
        7:45 pm - Guard Meeting
        8:30 pm - Elangomat Meeting
        9:00 pm - Pre-Ordeal Ceremony
        10:00 pm - Pre-Ordeal Ceremony #2
        11:00 pm - Cracker Barrel

        Saturday
        6:15 am - Guards meet at Dining Hall
        7:00 am - Breakfast (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 3) 
        8:00 am - Projects
        10:00 am - Break
        10:15 am - Resume Projects
        12:00 pm - Lunch (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 4)
        1:00 pm - Projects Resume
        1:30 pm - Guards Meet at Dining Hall
        2:00 pm - Ordeal Break (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 5 w/ Bread)
        2:30 pm - Projects Resume
        3:00 pm - Brotherhood Hike
        4:00 pm - End Projects, Brotherhood Ceremony
        5:00 pm - Ordeal Ceremony #1 
        6:00 pm - Ordeal Ceremony #2 
        7:00 pm - Dinner - Enter as Follows:
                       New Ordeal Members, New Brotherhood Members, General Members
        7:30 pm - Lodge Meeting 
        8:00 pm - Jumpstart
        8:30 pm - Trading Post Open
        8:30 pm - Friendship Campfire
        10:00 pm - Vigil Honor Meeting (Vigil Honor members only)
        11:00 pm - Lights Out!

        Sunday
        7:30 am - Breakfast
        8:30 am - Chapel
        9:00 am - LEC Meeting (Lodge Executive Committee)
        Cleanup (general members)
        After cleanup is done, have a safe trip home!

Ordeal Candidates: This is the first of only two weekends scheduled during 2009 that those Scouts and Scouters who were elected by thier units to become members of the Order of the Arrow can go through their Ordeals.  The other opportunity is at the Fall Conclave/Ordeal Weekend the weekend of August 14 - 16 at Camp Iyataka.  Those who don't attend one of these two weekends will need to be re-elected next year by their units. Click here to view Ordeal membership video.  Click here to view Ordeal video - "No Sash, No Flap, No Service". 

The cost for Ordeal candidates is $35, which includes all meals, the Order of the Arrow Handbook, Ordeal member sash, a Tetonwana Lodge pocket flap, and a year's Lodge membership dues. 

At the March 7^th LLD/LEC meeting the Lodge Executive Committee approved returning to the “Horseshoe Roll” as the lodge’s official way for those going through their Ordeal to pack and carry their personal gear. This is the original method of packing in the early days of the Order of the Arrow, which was also the preferred method of packing used by many frontiersmen and native American tribes.

Beginning with this year’s Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend, we're asking that Ordeal Candidates and those serving as Elangomats refer to the "Horseshoe Roll" handout to see what items to bring, and the recommended way to pack for the Ordeal.

Those Scouts and Scouters who were elected by their units to become members of the Order of the Arrow will recieve a letter in the mail with more information and instructions about the Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend.  Information will also be included in the next issue of the Turtle Talk, which should be out in a few weeks.  Also, check this web page periodically for the latest information and updates.

Brotherhood Candidates:  This weekend is an opportunity for those Ordeal members, who after 10 months of service and fulfilling certain requirements, may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order.  Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the OA. Click here to view Brotherhood membership video #1.     Click here to view Brotherhood membership video #2. Watch the "Get your Brotherhood" video.

Getting your Brotherhood will help cure "Sash and Dash" disease!

The cost for Brotherhood candidates is $25, which pays for all meals for the weekend and a Brotherhood sash.

Take your Lodge Membership to the next Level!

Get your Brotherhood bars!

The process of the preparing yourself for Brotherhood Membership is explained in your Order of the Arrow Handbook.  Chapter meetings are a good place for new Arrowmen to get help as they prepare for Brotherhood membership. You can also find Brotherhood study guides on the Internet.

        You must meet the five challenges before you can enter the Circle of Brotherhood:
  
Memorize the signs of Arrow Membership - this includes the Obligation, the Order of the Arrow Official song, the Admonition, the sign of ordeal membership, and the Arrow Handclasp.

Advance in your understanding of the Ordeal.

Serve your unit. Retain registration in Scouting and expand your service.

Plan for service in the Lodge. Retain registration in the lodge and keep your dues paid. Brotherhood membership involves a pledge to serve the lodge, and you should develop a specific idea on how to do this service.

Review your progress. When you earnestly feel that you have met the first four (4) challenges, write a letter to the Lodge Secretary.  In this letter: (1)  Explain what you think the Obligation means. 
(2)  Describe how you have been fulfilling this Obligation in you troop or team and in you daily life, and how you have used your understanding of the Ordeal to aid in this service.
(3)  Describe your specific plans for giving service in the lodge program.   

To complete your brotherhood membership, you will need to study questions and answers about the customs & traditions found in the Order of the Arrow Handbook, and attend an event that includes the Brotherhood questioning and ceremony.

Tetonwana Lodge holds Brotherhood sessions/hikes and ceremonies during Spring and Fall Conclave/Ordeal Weekends. Unlike the Ordeal, Brotherhood questioning and ceremonies do not involve physical labor or missing meals. It is important to memorize the Obligation and Official Order of the Arrow Song, and to learn about tradition, legend, and aspects of the Ordeal ceremony in the order to pass the Brotherhood questioning.

There are no ranks within the Order of the Arrow, but Brotherhood seals one's membership in the Order. Brotherhood membership is necessary to be considered for the Vigil Honor.

The Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend is also when the selection process of the Vigil Honor members takes place. Click here to view Vigil Honor membership video.

The Vigil Honor
The Vigil Honor is the Order's highest honor presented to a member by an O.A Lodge. The honor is bestowed by special election from a group of peers within the Order upon an individual recognizing exceptional service after a minimum of two years as a Brotherhood member. Vigil members are identified by the triangle embroidered on their Order of the Arrow sash. The Vigil Honor is not a third level of membership -- recipients are still a Brotherhood member, but one who has been bestowed with the Vigil Honor. The members are advanced to the Vigil Honor after completing their Vigil. The first Vigil Honor member was the founder of the Order of the Arrow, E. Urner Goodman.

Selection
Lodges may only elect one out of every 50 active members each year to the Vigil Honor, although not all slots are always filled. At least 50% of candidates for the Vigil must be youth (under the age of 21). Each OA lodge in the country is allowed to select up to 2% of the eligible Brotherhood members for Vigil candidacy. Candidates for Vigil Honor membership must be actively registered in both a Scouting unit and in their lodge and are elected more for what they are expected to do, not what they have done. Candidates should not actively seek the Vigil; doing so is an indication that the candidate is undeserving of the honor.

Vigil name
After a Candidate has received the Vigil, he or she is bestowed with a Vigil Name. This name usually represents a characteristic of the individual that has made him or her well known to others. The name is usually given in the language of the Lenape (a Lenape-to-English dictionary, compiled by a German missionary, still in use to this day).

Nominations
Any Arrowman may nominate someone for the Vigil Honor. To nominate someone for the Vigil Honor please fill out a Vigil Honor Nomination Form or write a nominating letter containing as much information about the nominee as you can, and either send it to the Tetonwana Lodge at the Sioux Council office by May 13th, or bring it to the Spring Conclave/Ordeal Weekend. Provide as much information about the nominee as possible. Remember that a lot depends on the accuracy and completeness of your nomination. If you do not do your research and provide accurate information, it could result in the person not being considered.  Please keep all nominations confidential. To avoid possible disappointment, please do not advise the nominee in any way of your actions. A list of eligible Vigil Honor candidate nominees can be found on page 5 of the Spring 2009 Turtle Talk.

Criterions for a Vigil Honor Candidate

Who selects those for the Vigil Honor?  In the case of Tetonwana Lodge, the Lodge's Vigil Honor members will review all nominations, with the youth Vigil Honor members selecting both the youth and adult members for the Vigil Honor. This selection will be at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16th at the Administration Building at Lewis & Clark Scout Camp, during the Spring Conclave/Ordeal weekend.  Any Vigil Honor member may attend this meeting.

When do we find out who is chosen for Vigil Honor? The names of those selected to become Vigil Honor members will be announced at a special ceremony Saturday evening, August 15th at the Fall Conclave/Ordeal Weekend at Camp Iyataka the weekend of August 14-16.

More information and details about the Spring Conclave/Ordeal
Weekend will be posted as the weekend draws closer.

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