OA Tap out

[tgoldric]

I have a question for you OA members. I am a new Scoutmaster who was involved in scouting as a "lad". I was never in the OA. I got involved in my troop through my son. His grandfather, (my father in law) was/is? in the OA when he was in scouting in the late 40's/early 50/s. If my son were to be voted in to the OA would his grandfather be able to be the one who tapped him out? Like an eagle scout, is once an OA always an OA? I have asked around and nobody seems to have any kind of an answer other that to shrug their shoulders.

[emb021]

Once you are a Arrowman, you are always an Arrowman.

 

However, I have never heard of a request like this. Typically, its the members of the OA ceremonial team who call out (we no longer use the term 'tap out') the candidates. I have never heard of those not on the team being involved in this OTHER then to 'mark' for the team the person to call out, usually by holding their sash over them.

 

 

[nldscout]

You need to consult your lodge advisor, he would be the one to ok something like this.

[Vicki]

We do it like emb021 - my sister held the sash "over my head" - in quotes because she's 5'5 and I'm 6'0. Once called out, she escorted me back to camp to get my overnight stuff and to the council ring for the beginning of the pre-Ordeal ceremony. My older son was called out at the same time. My nephew plays one of the two major parts of the ceremonial team so the whole thing was really special. But your lodge advisor would definitely be your resource for this one.

 

Vicki

 

 

[acco40]

Once you are a Arrowman, you are always an Arrowman.

 

Only if your dues are current!

 

[EagleInKY]

Acco -

 

Not to play the semantics game, but you are always an arrowman. You are only a member of a lodge if your dues are current.

[John-in-KC]

First and foremost, the active/voting membership of the Order is the under-21 membership. All us grown-ups are ADVISORS, not ACTORS.

 

Usually, the Ceremonies Team is responsible for executing the TapOut. The Lodge Advisor and the C-Team Advisor are the right folk to help figure out what is right to do.

 

That said, one option is for Grandpa to be the leader marking the young man for tapping. That's appropriate.

 

Grandpa might also like to attend the boy's Ordeal as a leader. There are options for him to recognize the Lad as part of the ceremony.

 

 

[rpushies]

John-in-KC,

 

In the Order of the Arrow adults are advisers, not advisors. I'm not sure why the spelling difference, but I was put in my place on this topic earlier this year. There is probably some sort of special meaning to the -er versus -or. Maybe one of the OA types can clarify the difference.

So advisers we are, advisors we are not.

 

 

Yours Truly in Scouting,

Rick

[Eamonn]

Have to admit to feeling both very pleased and humbled because over the weekend I was elevated to a Vigil member of the OA.

Having OJ as my sponsor made the honor all the more meaningful.

You bet that I slept well last night!!

We also held our elections, sad to say OJ didn't get Chief. The Lad that did is a great Lad and a pal of OJ's.

OJ, is going to serve a 3rd term as Vice-chief Admin. He is jokingly saying that he will hold that office until he ages out.

We have a really nice bunch of Lads who will be serving as the Lodge Officers next year.

Eamonn.

[OldGreyEagle]

Would it be wrong to ask your "name"?

[Eamonn]

Please don't tell anyone!!

The Indian name is still in the truck.

However they informed me it means:

Small Big Mouthed Snipe.

Small because I'm not very big - I'm working on the rest of it!!

Eamonn.

It seems the youth wanted:

He who bears fruit.

But it wasn't allowed.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

[OldGreyEagle]

So anybody looking for you could be termed on a snipe hunt?

[Eamonn]

I thought I seen that one coming!!

But that's under the heading of ....

Eamonn

[John-in-KC]

Congratulations Eamonn!!!!

 

John

[Greying Beaver]

Try this: Grandpa can give the high sign to the ceremony team during the tapout. He can be present for the pre-ordeal and ordeal ceremonies (Yes, dues need to by current, but our ceremonies are not closed, and he can be present nonetheless.). Also, Grandpa can speak to the ordeal ceremony team about their putting his sash on the boy and the team giving the boy's sash to Grandpa.

 

I did that with my son. He wanted it that way, and the ceremony team was very accomodating ("No problem, sir. Cool!) I was asked to stand behind my son with my old sash in my hand and give it to "the chief". He, in turn, handed my son's sash to me and the kid didn't realize what had happened until after the deed was done. Smiles and tears all around the ceremony ring.

 

So, will my son return my old sash? Nope!! That's the sash given to him at the ceremony! Talk about your legacy stuff!

 

I do have a grandson who is in tigers this year. Now if he is elected, . . . .

 

Our chapter uses the scout sigh above the candidates' heads. But, boy, do I like the idea of the sash held above the candidates' heads. I going to run it past the chapter chief and advisor.