Lodge Operating Committees

The program of the Order of the Arrow, from the local lodge to the National organization, is directed by elected and appointed youth officers under the age of 21. Elected youth officers and their appointees develop program ideas, calendars and schedules, and budgets, and operate an extensive year-round program of service and fellowship. Adults, both volunteers and professional Scout executives, serve as advisers to insure health, safety, and BSA standards compliance -- but youth members alone have control over the direction of the program, and only youth vote in the business and elections of the lodge.

Each lodge is led by a Lodge Chief, who is the top elected youth officer (the "president") of the lodge. He is assisted by other elected officers -- vice chiefs, a secretary, and a treasurer; as well as appointed committee chairmen -- all of whom are registered members in good standing under the age of 21. Each one of these officers also has an adult adviser for guidance and support. Together, the officers and their advisers compose the Lodge Executive Board, which directs the lodge program.

Grand Monadnock Lodge has a number of operating committees to administer the lodge program. Each operating committee has a youth chairman, youth members, and one or more adult advisers. If you have a question about one of these committees, would like to join a committee, or would like to talk about a project appropriate for one of the committees, send e-mail to the lodge leaders at oa@gml309.org.

• Unit Elections Committees. Each district of the council has a unit elections committee, chaired by the appropriate district's Lodge Vice Chief. These committees are trained in unit election procedures, and schedule and conduct unit elections in their districts. If you would like to request a unit election for your troop, please fill out our online form which will be sent to our Unit Election Chairmen.
  
  Unit Election Procedure PDF
  
  Unit Election Script PDF
  
  Adult Nomination Form PDF
  
• Camping Promotions Committees. The lodge, in fulfilling their mission to promote the year-round camping program in Nashua Valley Council, has enthusiastic and knowledgeable camping promotion teams for Camp Wanocksett, the Boy Scout and high-adventure camp operated by Nashua Valley Council. These teams are available to present a multimedia camp promotions visit for units, for summer programs and year-round camping in the Council. This committee works in conjunction with the Council Camping Committee.
  
  
• Gischachsummen. A Lenni-Lenape term meaning "One who enlightens," the "Gisch" team performs two important functions for the lodge. First, they conduct the ceremonial aspects of the Order of the Arrow induction process known as the Ordeal. Secondly, they also practice and perform contemporary and traditional American Indian social dancing, or "pow-wow dancing." Members study dance techniques and craft work, and perform dance programs for interested parties. The Gischachsummen Dancers are a highlight of the Parent's Night programs at Camp Wanocksett, and a favorite part of the Issac Davis Trail multi-council camporee. They also have their own web page.
  
  
• Inductions Committee. This committee works very closely in conjunction with Gischachsummen in planning the administrative aspects of the Ordeal induction. They recruit and train candidate guides ("Elangomats"), coordinate work projects, and administer the tests of the Ordeal, in consultation with Gischachsummen.
  
  
• Work Projects Committee. This committee solicits ideas for maintenance work and capital improvement work at the councils camps, Camp Wanocksett, Camp Collier, and Camp Split Rock. They recommend work projects to the executive board, develop work plans and funding, and direct the work. Between the induction weekends and fellowship weekends at the camps, a conservative yearly estimate of 8,000 man-hours and thousands of dollars are spent in maintenance and improvement of the council's camping program by Grand Monadnock Lodge #309.
  
  
• Activities Committee. This committee brings the "cheerfulness" part of the OA to life, by planning exciting and entertaining activities for the fellowship weekends and lodge banquet.
  
  
• Publications Committee. This committee produces the monthly issues of The Monadnocker, the lodge newsletter. As available, online copies of The Monadnocker are available on The Monadnocker web page .
  
  
• The Vigil Honor Committee and Founder's Award Committee. These select committees nominate lodge members annually for the Vigil Honor, the highest award for service a lodge may award to a member, and the Founder's Award, an award for exemplary service in the manner of that rendered by the founders of the Order of the Arrow. Membership on these committees is selected by the lodge chief, but any lodge member is invited recommend a brother for nomination when nominations are opened each January.
  
  
• NOAC Committee. This ad-hoc committee is convened every two years to plan the lodge delegation's trip to the National Order of the Arrow Conference. Anyone interested in attending the NOAC is invited to be a part of the planning committee.
  
  
• Other ad-hoc committees are created for special lodge events, such as the Trade-O-Ree committee, or the Section Conclave Committee. These committees are appointed by the lodge chief, and are open to participants in the event.