Rules of
Kiondaga Lodge 422
Order of the Arrow
Updated March 1998
ARTICLE I. Name
Section 1. - The name of this lodge of the Order of the Arrow shall be Kiondaga 422 W.W.W. The totem of this lodge shall be the acorn and the oak leaf.
Section 2. - Kiondaga Lodge 422 W.W.W. shall be affiliated with the Buffalo Trace Council, Boy Scouts of America, and shall be under the supervision of the council camping committee and the administrative authority of the scout executive.
Section 3. - Kiondaga Lodge 422 W.W.W. shall be divided into chapters corresponding with the districts within the Buffalo Trace Council.
ARTICLE II. Purpose
Section 1. - The purpose of Kiondaga Lodge 422 W.W.W. shall be that as stated by the National Order of the Arrow Committee as printed in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow handbook.
Section 2. - To recognize those campers—Scouts, Explorers, and Scouters-who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and by such recognition cause other campers to conduct themselves in such manner as to warrant recognition.
Section 3. - To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.
Section 4. - To promote Scout camping which reaches its greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit's camping program, both year-round and in summer camp, as directed by the camping committee of the council.
Section 5. - To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
ARTICLE III. Members
Section 1. - The requirements for membership in this lodge are as stated in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow handbook and Officer's Guide.
Section 2. - Procedure for the Ordeal shall be as stated in the Order of the Arrow handbook and Administration Guide for the Ordeal.
Section 3. - Completion of Brotherhood membership shall be in accordance with the requirements in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow handbook.
Section 4. - Attainment of the Vigil Honor shall be in accordance with the requirements in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow handbook and Officer's Guide.
ARTICLE IV. Finances
Section 1. - All Order of the Arrow funds shall be handled through the council service center and go through all normal council accounting procedures.
Section 2. - All purchase orders and check requisitions must be approved by the signature of a volunteer (lodge chief, lodge treasurer, or lodge advisor) and a professional (lodge staff advisor, scout executive, or designee).
Section 3. The dues this lodge shall be $6.00 due by December 15th. Any member who fails to pay his dues by this date will be considered inactive and will not receive Arrow Points, be allowed to participate in any lodge functions, or wear the lodge flap.
Section 4. - Inactive members may be restored to active status by paying the current year's dues and a late fee of $3.00 (total of $9.00).
Section 5. - Life membership is available at twenty times the yearly dues rate. Any Order of the Arrow member registered within the BSA policies may purchase lifetime membership in full or quarterly installments. Upon meeting these requirements, the lifetime member will receive one lifetime-member pocket flap, the opportunity to purchase one more flap per year at four times the current flap cost, and registry in a leather-bound history of all life-time members.
Section 6. - There shall be an induction fee determined by the Council of Chiefs, and payable at the time of the induction for which new Ordeal member shall receive: an Order of the Arrow handbook, a pocket trading flap, an Ordeal sash, a membership card, and dues paid through December 31st of the following year.
Section 7. - Each chapter may hold or conduct money raising projects provided that such projects have been submitted in writing to the lodge chief and lodge advisor prior to the Council of Chiefs shall be required for acceptance of the project(s). [The project(s) must provide something meaningful to the Order of the Arrow and/or council.]
Section 8. - When lodge events are set with a fee, all members attending are expected to be paid or registered one week in advance or a late fee of $3.00 will be added.
ARTICLE V. Officers and Advisors
Section 1. - The officers of this lodge shall be lodge chief, lodge vice-chief of activities, lodge vice-chief of elections, lodge secretary of recording, lodge secretary of publications, and lodge treasurer.
Section 2. - The officers of each chapter of this lodge shall be chapter chief, chapter vice-chief, chapter secretary, and chapter treasurer.
Section 3. - The elected officers and appointed chairmen must be younger than 21 during the entire term of office.
Section 4. - The lodge advisor and chapter advisors shall be appointed by the council scout executive in consultation with the lodge chief, the lodge advisor, and the chairmen of the council camping committee.
Section 5. - In the event of a vacancy in a lodge office, the procedure for replacement of the office shall be that of the lodge chief will make an appointment with the approval of the Council of Chiefs.
Section 6. - In the event of a lodge officer not performing his duties, the lodge chief, lodge advisor, and staff advisor will ask him to step down and the lodge chief will make an appointment with the approval of the Council of Chiefs.
Section 7. - In the event of a vacancy in a chapter office, the procedure for replacement of the officer shall be that the chapter officers will make an appointment with the approval of the lodge chief and chapter advisor.
Section 8. - In the event of a chapter officer not performing his duties, the lodge chief, chapter advisor, and lodge advisor will ask him to step down and the chapter officers will make an appointment with the approval of the lodge chief and the chapter advisor.
Section 9. - Officers' term of office shall be from Winter Banquet to Winter Banquet.
Section 10. - The responsibilities of the lodge chief are:
- Develop through the Council of Chiefs a year-round set of goals and objectives for the lodge and insure that they are carried out through boy leaders.
- Keep informed of the current activities of all lodge and chapter committees.
- Plan Council of Chiefs meetings and prepare a written agenda with the lodge advisors. Preside at the Council of Chiefs meeting.
- Coach chapter chiefs as required to assist them in carrying out the work of the lodge.
- Serve as a representative of the lodge on the council camping committee and council executive board.
- Represent the lodge at area and national functions.
- File a formal written report of lodge activities and accomplishments with the lodge secretary by the Winter Banquet.
Section 11. - All Kiondaga Lodge 422 past lodge chiefs will be granted lifetime membership as a token of their cheerful service, with approval of the lodge advisor in compliance with the Boy Scouts of America membership policy.
Section 12. - The responsibilities of the lodge vice chief of activities are:
- Be able to step in and preside at meetings where the lodge chief is absent.
- Keep informed of the current activities and give guidance to the following lodge committees: camping promotion, activities, service and ASK program. Inform the lodge chief of committee activity.
Section 13. - The responsibilities of the lodge vice-chief of elections are:
- Keep informed of the current activities and give guidance to the following lodge committees: unit elections, ceremonies, Vigil Honor, and Big Brother. Inform the lodge chief of the committee activity.
- In the absence of the lodge chief and vice-chief of activities, the vice-chief of elections shall preside as chief temporarily.
Section 14. - The responsibilities of the lodge secretary of recordings are:
- Supervise the registration of all Order of the Arrow functions with the assistance of the chapter secretaries.
- Maintain the lodge historical file covering activities of the current year (number in attendance, program, the accomplishments, etc.)
- Record and distribute minutes of the meetings to the lodge officers and lodge advisors within one week of the meeting.
Section 15. - The responsibilities of the lodge secretary of publications are:
- Supervise the registration of all Order of the Arrow functions in the absence of the Lodge Secretary of Recording, with assistance of the chapter secretaries.
- Serve as chairman of the publications committee.
- Promote all lodge events and functions via means decided each year by the Council of Chiefs.
Section 16. - The responsibilities of the lodge treasurer are:
- Supervise the sale of all Order of the Arrow supplies at all Order of the Arrow functions of the lodge with the assistance of the chapter treasurers.
- Deposit all funds collected during an Order of the Arrow event at the council office.
- Coordinate with the staff advisor to see that inventories and sales of the Order of the Arrow supplies are handled properly.
- Present a written lodge and chapter financial report at each Council of Chiefs meeting.
- Serve as chairman of the finance committee.
Section 17. - The responsibilities of the chapter chief are:
- With the framework of year-round goals and objectives of the lodge as determined by the Council of Chiefs, develop a chapter year-round program and ensure that it is carried out through boy leaders.
- Establish a committee structure within you chapter in order to carry out chapter responsibilities including elections, camping promotion, ceremonies, and Big Brother programs.
- Keep informed of the current activities of all chapter committees.
- Plan chapter executive meetings and prepare a written agenda of subjects to be covered. A report of these meetings should be made to the Council of Chiefs. The lodge chief and lodge advisor are ex-officio members of the chapter executive committee.
- Represent the chapter at all Council of Chiefs meetings.
- Serve as a representative of your district camping committee.
- File a formal written report of the chapter activities and accomplishments with the lodge secretary by the Winter Banquet.
Section 18. - The responsibilities of the chapter vice-chief are:
- Be able to step in and preside at meetings where the chapter chief is absent.
- Keep informed of the current activities and give guidance to all chapter committees. Inform the chapter chief of committee activity.
Section 19. - The responsibilities of the chapter secretary are:
- Supervise the registration at all chapter functions and assist the lodge secretary of recording with registration at all lodge functions.
- Maintain a chapter historical file, and a copy should be sent to the lodge secretary before the Winter Banquet.
- Record and distribute minutes of your chapter executive committee meetings to chapter officers, chapter advisor, lodge chief, lodge secretary of recording, and lodge advisor.
- Supply publications committee with chapter news items.
Section 20. - The responsibilities of the chapter treasurer are:
- Supervise the sale of all Order of the Arrow supplies at chapter functions and assist the lodge treasurer at all lodge functions.
- Deposit all funds collected during an Order of the Arrow chapter event with the council office.
- Record and distribute financial statements of the chapter to chapter officers, chapter advisor, lodge chief, lodge treasurer, and lodge advisor.
ARTICLE VI. Nominations and Elections
Section 1. - Nominations will be take from the floor for lodge officers following the noon meal or at the business meeting at the Fall Conclave.
Section 2. - Lodge elections will be held at the business meeting at the Fall Conclave.
Section 3. - Nominations and elections for chapter officers will be held at the Fall Conclave under the guidance of the lodge officers.
Section 4. - Adult Scouters, age 21 and older, do not have a vote in matters of lodge business.
ARTICLE VII. Meetings
Section 1. - Council of Chiefs meetings will be held at least bi-monthly, with additional meetings at conclaves and the Lodge Leadership Development.
Section 2. - The lodge chief or the council scout executive may call a special meeting of the Council of Chiefs if the need arises.
Section 3. - Chapter meetings shall be held at the monthly Roundtable meetings established by each district.
Section 4. - A Spring Conclave will be held in May or June with at least four hours of service to the camp. Ordeal and Brotherhood inductions will be conducted.
Section 5. - A Fall Conclave will be held in August or September with at least four hours of service to camp. Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil Honor inductions will be conducted.
Section 6. - A Lodge Leadership Workshop will be held before the induction of the new officers.
Section 7. - A Winter Banquet will be held in December or January.
ARTICLE VIII. Council of Chiefs
Section 1. - The Council of Chiefs is the main decision making body of the lodge (other than the lodge as a whole for items which should come before a total lodge).
Section 2. - The Council of Chiefs shall be composed of the elected lodge officers, lodge advisor, the chapter chiefs and the chapter advisors, immediate past lodge chief, operating committee chairman, council camping committee chairman, scout executive, and lodge staff advisor.
Section 3. - All elected members of the Council of Chiefs are allowed one vote.
Section 4. - Although chapters should plan and decide what activities they will hold, how they will raise money, and how they will spend money, final approval and ratification for these decisions must be obtained from and rests with the Council of Chiefs.
ARTICLE IX. Committees
Section 1. - The lodge chief and chapter chiefs shall appoint such committees as may be required from time to time with approval of their respective Council of Chiefs.
Section 2. - In order for a unit election to be official, an election team consisting of three youth members, none of which are members of the troop or post holding the election, of the chapter unit elections committee must conduct the elections in accordance with the election procedures in the current printing of the Guide for Officers and Advisors. Unit elections will be conducted as a chapter responsibility.
Section 3. - The camping promotion committee works closely with the council camping committee to continually develop programs to promote Scout camping in all forms. One means for promoting camping will be to publish or update a "Where To Go Camping" booklet annually.
Section 4. - The ceremonies committee will recruit and train ceremonies teams, instruct members on appropriate ceremonial outfits, keep ceremonial grounds in good conditions, and conduct ceremonies and demonstrations for the lodge. The ceremony committee will abide by the ten induction principles and follow the current printings of ceremony handbooks.
Section 5. - The finance committee will be made up of three chapter treasurers, the incoming lodge chief, and the lodge treasurer will act as chairman. The committee will prepare the budget for the upcoming year and submit it to the Council of Chiefs for approval at the first meeting following the Winter Banquet.
Section 6. - The service committee suggests a yearly schedule of service projects, including projects at conclaves, gets lodge approval, and makes complete plans for getting the work done.
Section 7. - The activities committee develops plans for lodge conclaves, banquets, and other activities and is responsible for carrying them out.
Section 8. - The Vigil Honor Nomination Committee shall be composed of four Vigil Honor members under the age of 21, one from each of the three chapters and a chairman appointed by the lodge chief. Chapter representatives are appointed by the chapter chief or when the chapter chief is a Vigil Honor member, he may be the representative from the chapter. If no Vigil Honor member under the age of 21 is available then a Brotherhood member who is not eligible for nomination may serve as the representative. Ex-officio members of the committee will be Vigil Honor members who hold the following positions: all lodge elected officers, Arrow Points editor, lodge advisor, scout executive, and lodge staff advisor. Ex-officio members do not have a vote.
ARTICLE X. Signs of Membership
Section 1. - The standard Order of the Arrow sash will be worn at Courts of Honor and special Scout functions if worn with a scout field shirt, as well as at all lodge functions.
Section 2. - The pocket flap will be worn on the right shirt pocket.
Section 3. - No member may wear the lodge pocket flap on his uniform unless current dues are paid.
Section 4. - The trading flap of the lodge shall be the standard lodge pocket flap with a white fleur-de-lis. The border shall be changed in color annually. The border color will be determined by the Council of Chiefs except that that last color used shall be red. After all available colors are used, and the trading flap again has a red border, it shall remain red unless or until the rules are amended further.
Section 5. - The life flap of the lodge shall be identical to the trading flap with the exception of a permanent silver border. Effective October 1, 1974, it may be purchased by a member of this lodge only after he has completed his Brotherhood membership. In the event of the destruction of or an extremely worn Arrowman's life flap, another flap may be obtained only if presented to the Council of Chiefs. The life flap is not to be traded. Each Scout will be on his honor to enforce this rule. All records concerning the official life flap shall be the responsibility of the lodge secretary.
Section 6. - The standard color of the lodge neckerchief shall be white with red trim. Such neckerchiefs are for wearing only with a scout field shirt at Scouting functions or when duly approved by the lodge or chapter chief.
ARITCLE XI. Amendments to Rules
Section 1. - These rules shall be subject to amendment at any regular or special meeting of this lodge, provided such amendment had been submitted in writing to the Council of Chiefs at least on month prior to such meeting.
Section 2. - A 2/3 vote of members present at the lodge meeting shall be required for adoption of the proposed amendment.
Copyright © 1998, Kiondaga Lodge #422. All Rights Reserved.