Eleven arrowmen sealed their membership in the Lodge by obtaining brotherhood membership this weekend!
Attendees helped complete various work projects were around Camp Henderson, including clearing out old tent platforms and setting up new ones in various campsites.
Congratulations to our new brotherhood members!
Now’s the time to pay your 2017 lodge dues!
Annual lodge dues are $15 and are due on January 1st each yeah.
Lodge dues can be paid at either Council Store, at any lodge event or by mail.
Please fill out the following form and submit it with your payment.
2017-lodge-dues-form
A message from outgoing lodge adviser Benjamin Obernesser:
I would like to take the time to thank all of the Arrowmen who I have had the privilege to work with over the many years that I have been an adviser. Since our Lodge was last merged in 2002, we have performed over 18000 man hours of service to our camps and Scouting program. We have made an impact on Scouting in our area. I look forward to serving with our new brothers and continuing the tradition of service to the Scouting program and our camps. If you have questions on the merger or need to contact me in the future, you can reach me at bobernesser@bsatroop4.org.
Dear Fellow Arrowmen,
Hi! I’m Helen Van Houten (Mrs. Van Houten to those of you under 18) and I will be the Lodge Advisor for the new lodge created from the merger of Onteroraus and Ga-Hon-Ga. I was inducted into the Order in 1998 and am a Vigil Honor member. I have served Onteroraus as Chapter Advisor, Associate Lodge Advisor, and have been the Lodge Advisor since December 2013. I have also served as a Ceremonies Advisor, Conclave Coordinator Advisor, and Conclave Vice Chief Advisor. I enjoy working with the Order of the Arrow and I’m looking forward to meeting you soon.
We have a very special event coming up and I’m hoping you will be there. On Saturday, May 14, 2016 we will have the first meeting of our new merged lodge. This meeting will be held at 9:30 p.m. in the dining hall at Camp Henderson and will last about an hour. (Yes, 9:30 at night. This is taking place at the camporee after all activities are done.) At this meeting, we will be announcing the new lodge name, number, and totem, and will also be holding elections for the new lodge officers. This is a special election and those elected will take office immediately. They will serve in their position until August 2017.
Four officers will be elected: Lodge Chief, Lodge Vice Chief, Lodge Secretary and Lodge Treasurer. Any youth member of the lodge may run for office as long as they will be under the age of 21 for the entire term of office. If you are interested in running for office, your dues must be current and you must have a letter from your Scoutmaster or Lodge Advisor stating you are registered with BSA and a member in good standing. This letter must be in either my or Ben Obernesser’s hands before the meeting begins on May 14th. You will also need someone to nominate you; self-nominations will not be accepted.
If you are interested in running for office but cannot be at the meeting, send either Ben or I a short write-up stating which office(s) you are interested in running for and describing yourself and why you would be a good choice. Be sure to include your letter from your Scoutmaster. You will still need someone to nominate you at the meeting and we will have someone read your statement.
The officers elected at this meeting will be involved with building and establishing our new lodge. This is a unique opportunity that may require a lot of time and effort but will also offer excellent opportunities for growth and leadership.
What else is involved in being an officer? Officers are expected to attend all lodge functions as well as all Lodge Executive Committee meetings. (The Lodge Executive Committee consists of the four elected officers, the Immediate-Past Lodge Chief, appointed Vice Chiefs, Committee Chairs, the Lodge Advisor and Associate Lodge Advisors, and the Lodge Staff Advisor. Only the youth members have voting rights.)I expect all the Lodge Officers to stay in communication with each other and their advisors and to keep their lodge duties within their top 5 priorities of their life. (Things like family, academics, lodge/Scouts, church, friends, extracurricular activities such as sports, school plays, band or orchestra or chorus, dance, etc., etc., etc.).
If you have any questions, please contact me. I’ll see you on the 14th, if not before!
WWW,
Mrs. Helen Van Houten
Lodge Advisor
Ga-Hon-Ga Lodge is pleased to introduce our newest Vigil Honor members who kept their Vigil at Camp Russell on April 1 – 2, 2016.
From left:
Brandon Wilbur, Kelenan Txiti Mbi translated as He Who Holds Little Water
Jonathan Montano, Kwelkesitao Ehatehikes translated as Smiling Fireman
Isaac Bora, Memsi At translated as One Who Goes Here and There
Deborah Amidon, Nagatamen Allogagan translated as Reliable One Who Serves.
The lodge also recognized Brandon and Douglas Wilbur (right) with the Founder’s Award. The Wilbur’s were honored for their cheerful service and dedication to the lodge elections committee.
