EagleScout441

I have mentored the newest batch of scouts for the past year. "From the looks of it, you will jump to Venturing if the elction doesn't go your way" I have been nominated for SPL the past 3 terms and I'm almost positive that I will get it this time, if not I'd rather not keep waiting, I did get to serve as SPL during a week of summer camp at Boxwell 2013. Leadership is what I enjoy doing, if they don't see that I enjoy it and am good at it, than that is their loss. I know the adults see it because they are the ones that made it possible for me to serve as SPL during Summer Camp.Three experienced scouts and one adult(the father of one of the scouts)that are my age are leaving the troop because of the decision about gays joining scouts, I am now 3 third oldest in my troop and the oldest is already 17. I was going to change over to Ventures this past spring, but I decided to get my Eagle first, which was just completed a few months ago. I'm going to Ventures for 2 reasons: 1. To camp and hang out with scouts that are closer to my own age. 2. "have some fun" I prefer the high adventure activities and my troop rarely goes rappelling, or whitewater rafting, or cave exploring(always wanted to do that). "You've been in Scouting less than three years and already attained Eagle" I did that so I wouldn't have to be doing requirements for 5 years, instead I have knocked it out in 3 and can focus on enjoying scouts till I'm 18, 21 in Ventures. I also just saw a Life Scout in my troop age out right after he finished his Eagle Project because he forgot about a particular Eagle Req Merit Badge, I don't want that to be me.

I assume that they put it there that way their sash doesn't cover up the patch at COH and other special events.

"Not sure why you would hold back on joining a crew based on your election to SPL." From my point of view the Ventures and Boy Scouts are separate, just like Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts. My troop doesn't have a Venture Patrol, I'll be going to completely different areas(probably) for camping and meetings at a different building. "Welcome! Nice to have someone willing and able to set us all straight!" Check out the "OA and Venturing" topic in the Order of the Arrow thread.

I am a 15 year old Eagle Scout from BSA Troop 441 Trail of Tears District, Middle Tennessee Council. I am a member of the OA Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge based at Boxwell Reservation(MTC). I have held the positions of Scribe, Patrol Leader, and Librarian, declined the positions of Quartermaster and Historian, and am currently nominated(elections next Monday) for Senior Patrol Leader. I have attended Boxwell Reservation Summer Camp for the past 3 years and I have also attended Kodiak Leadership Training at Latimer Reservation(MTC). I joined scouts 9/27/10. I will join Venture Scouts either this winter or next spring depending on the results of the current election.

I have seen scouts(Boy Scouts) with patches above the right pocket, such as NYLT. They are in the same place as the purple fluer-de-lis is on the left side. Is that allowed or are they putting it there because their Scoutmaster(for some reason) said they could?

Also, the OA is not just a Boy Scout program it is also a Varsity Scout program, and the only reason Varsity Scouts are allowed is because they use the same rank system. If Ventures used the Tenderfoot-Eagle system, which, in a way, they do, then they would be welcomed in with open arms. PS The Venturers don't want a rank system, they prefer just a complex award system.

Current OA Membership policy: A few volunteer Scouters in the Boy Scouts of America have asked why OA unit elections are not permitted in Venturing Crews. Crews are not authorized to conduct elections for two major reasons: 1. The Order of the Arrow is a program for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts between the ages of 11 - 18. If that Boy Scout policy changes, the Order would readily welcome venturers into the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. 2. Venturers do not earn the First Class rank of the Boy Scouts of America, a key membership requirement that must be met before a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout is eligible for election into the Order of the Arrow. Reasons why Venturers should be allowed into the OA using that policy: "The Order of the Arrow is a program for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts..." The main theme of the OA is American Indian heritage, Varsity Scouts has two main themes: 1. Sports, which has nothing to do with camping or American Indian heritage. 2. High Adventure, it is camping and(in the process) partially(only partially) related to American Indians. Ventures on the other hand does more camping and is more involved, as far as history and events goes, than Boy Scouts or Varsity Scouts[please see Outdoor Living History(Ranger Award elective), and TRUST Award requirement 3: Understanding Other Cultures]. "If that Boy Scout policy changes, the Order would readily welcome venturers into the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service." They(national OA leadership) are the only ones that have the authority to change the policy, so, obviously, when they change it they will "readily welcome Venturers." "Venturers do not earn the First Class rank..." Ventures do all those things, it just isn't for the rank of First Class. They never earn it because they never get the opportunity to earn it. If anyone here can declare my statements as false or give an opposing argument than please do so. Otherwise, National OA leadership should come up with better reasons why Venturers aren't allowed into the Order of the Arrow. And as far as the "going co-ed will cause a loss of membership" argument, when Ventures (at the time linked with Explorers) went co-ed in 1969 they gained membership. Last time I checked "gain" is the opposite of "loss."