Vote by peers the only way in?

[Momleader]

Is the only way into the OA being booted in by the scouts in your troop? I only ask because my son was denied last year, yet attends every troop meeting (unless really sick), cleans up & helps the younger scouts, helps on eagle projects when asked, attends eagle ceremonies and is assistant patrol leader. His biggest problem is he doesn't attend the same school as 95% of the troop so a lot of the kids don't know him well from that well. Scoutmaster said he doesn't understand why - other than they pick kids they know well. Son was very depressed last year after elections (he was the only one on the ballot not elected in). Can the adults recommend a candidate?

[The Blancmange]

They can make a recommendation . . . to the scouts.

[perdidochas]

I think your son needs to learn how to politic better. How long has he been in the troop?

 

[koolaidman]

Does he attend campouts? In addition to how long he has been in the troop, what is his rank?

 

Has he asked his patrol leader or senior patrol leader why or what he should work on?

[qwazse]

We have several boys in the troop from different school districts. They got voted in when the time was right. (Some took several elections.) If he's camping with these boys a lot, they will learn his character well enough. Then it becomes a matter of if their character being noble enough and him being guileless.

 

I really do prefer elections to be held during camp. Because, biases from school-chums can quickly drift to the background.

[Momleader]

He has been in the troop for 4 years. Life scout and has only missed 2 camp outs and 1 week of summer camp with the troop. One Campout because he had a confirmation retreat, the other was in exam week for him and he didn't go to summer camp with the troop because of Jambo last summer - he did with some other kids from the troop to a specialty camp week after Jambo though. Part of his problem is he is shy and very academic,and only has one eagle required badge left to complete and will have it done by the end of summer. He does them all year round and enjoys it. His older cousins are all members and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. He did tell us, he wasn't sure why the others don't vote for him - SM says anytime he is asked by another scout or an adult for assistance he does it without grumbling. I was just wondering how it works.

[Stosh]

He has been in the troop for 4 years. Life scout and has only missed 2 camp outs and 1 week of summer camp with the troop. One Campout because he had a confirmation retreat, the other was in exam week for him and he didn't go to summer camp with the troop because of Jambo last summer - he did with some other kids from the troop to a specialty camp week after Jambo though. Part of his problem is he is shy and very academic,and only has one eagle required badge left to complete and will have it done by the end of summer. He does them all year round and enjoys it. His older cousins are all members and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. He did tell us, he wasn't sure why the others don't vote for him - SM says anytime he is asked by another scout or an adult for assistance he does it without grumbling. I was just wondering how it works.

The problem is not with your kid, he's doing it right. It's the other kids and their propensity to vote by favoritism rather than merit that's the problem. The system may be flawed, but there are a ton of things in the real world that are flawed in the same way. Your boy is learning this at an early age and it will pay off in the long run.

 

Good things come to those who wait.

 

Stosh

[perdidochas]

He has been in the troop for 4 years. Life scout and has only missed 2 camp outs and 1 week of summer camp with the troop. One Campout because he had a confirmation retreat, the other was in exam week for him and he didn't go to summer camp with the troop because of Jambo last summer - he did with some other kids from the troop to a specialty camp week after Jambo though. Part of his problem is he is shy and very academic,and only has one eagle required badge left to complete and will have it done by the end of summer. He does them all year round and enjoys it. His older cousins are all members and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. He did tell us, he wasn't sure why the others don't vote for him - SM says anytime he is asked by another scout or an adult for assistance he does it without grumbling. I was just wondering how it works.

It's politics. If he's helping out the younger scouts, when it's close to election time, he needs to ask them for their votes.

[qwazse]

He has been in the troop for 4 years. Life scout and has only missed 2 camp outs and 1 week of summer camp with the troop. One Campout because he had a confirmation retreat, the other was in exam week for him and he didn't go to summer camp with the troop because of Jambo last summer - he did with some other kids from the troop to a specialty camp week after Jambo though. Part of his problem is he is shy and very academic,and only has one eagle required badge left to complete and will have it done by the end of summer. He does them all year round and enjoys it. His older cousins are all members and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. He did tell us, he wasn't sure why the others don't vote for him - SM says anytime he is asked by another scout or an adult for assistance he does it without grumbling. I was just wondering how it works.

Perd's suggestion might sound like bad form, but it's not. He could ask a few of the boys, especially those who are respected arrowmen, "Do you think I've improved enough over last year to be voted in?" If he's not getting resounding "yes"s, then he can decide to withdraw his name from the ballot.

[Momleader]

Thanks for your advice. I can't see him running around asking for advice on how to get elected. His first year in scouts he did 2 weeks of summer camp and the older kids rode him for earning a lot of badges. Particularly swimming, he used to be on a swim team so this wasn't hard for him. We didn't care he earned a lot since he had fun and enjoyed it. His cousin was at camp with him and pushed him to earn a lot, rather than loafing around. He also advance in rank fast because he goes to the meetings and works hard. He just made life and there are boys in the troop 2 school years older that just made star. But they don't always participate in every event too. Since his school doesn't have a swim team he has a lot of time for scouts

[qwazse]

Thanks for your advice. I can't see him running around asking for advice on how to get elected. His first year in scouts he did 2 weeks of summer camp and the older kids rode him for earning a lot of badges. Particularly swimming, he used to be on a swim team so this wasn't hard for him. We didn't care he earned a lot since he had fun and enjoyed it. His cousin was at camp with him and pushed him to earn a lot, rather than loafing around. He also advance in rank fast because he goes to the meetings and works hard. He just made life and there are boys in the troop 2 school years older that just made star. But they don't always participate in every event too. Since his school doesn't have a swim team he has a lot of time for scouts

I've seen this before. He'll eventually grow on the boys.

[ScoutNut]

In order to be eligible to be voted into the OA, a Scout must meet various requirements, and be approved by his Scoutmaster.

 

Eligible Scouts are voted into OA by all of the Scouts (under 21 years of age) in their own units (both members, and non-members of OA).

 

In order to have an election 50% of the unit's registered, active, members under 21 have to be present.

 

In order to be elected into OA a Scout's name has to appear on 50% of the ballots that are turned in. Scouts can vote for all eligible Scouts, only some, none at all (turn in a blank ballot), or abstain from voting (not turn in a ballot at all).

 

So, if there are 12 active, registered Scouts in your son's Troop, at least 6 have to be there at election time. If all 6 turn in a ballot, your son's name has to be on at least 3 of them. If 11 ballots are turned in your son's name has to appear on at least 6 of them.

 

Your son has been a member of the Troop for 4 years, attends every Troop meeting, every week, and has only missed 2 weekend campouts, and 1 week of summer camp.

 

Yet the boys in the Troop still do not know him?

 

He needs to learn to be more pro-active, and offer his help, instead of waiting to be asked.

 

He needs to work on his interpersonal skills, and start actually connecting with the other Scouts.

 

He needs to make friends.

[Stosh]

I don't think a boy has to be friends with everyone in the troop. Running around "making friends" is tantamount to campaigning and is how the popular boys get elected. That's not everyone's style or desire. I would think it a bit more valuable to be elected based on merit. If the only people getting into OA, then it's a group of schmoozers and maybe that's not the kind of group one wishes to be part of. Merit, on the other hand produces a quality OA chapter of dedicated worker/leaders, the goal of the OA in the first place.

 

It is mentioned that this boy has shown up for 99% of all activities. While attendance counts for something, it's not the most valuable measurement and often doesn't take into consideration more important factors.

 

It's kinda like wearing the POR patch. You got it, big deal, or in this case, you showed up, big deal. Once you have the patch or show up, what's next. This is how merit is measured. Is the boy making himself helpful to others in the troop? Taking on that helping kind of leadership sells big time when it comes to elections. Who's the guy who always seems to be there ready to go when someone needs help? One does not need an official leadership designation to fit this bill. PL is stumped because the scout designated on the duty roster to clean up after the meal is nowhere in camp. But this other scout steps in and cheerfully takes over that job. Will the PL remember that come election time? Yep if it is an on-going thing. Do they need to be friends? Nope! Not at all.

 

Stosh

[Old_OX_Eagle83]

There are lots of good answers here, but I think I can clarify things a bit:

 

Yes, the only way for a youth member of BSA to be inducted into the Order of the Arrow is by being elected by his peers, in his troop. This is a carefully designed, well thought out mechanism, with a purpose.

 

The OA was started to put forward outstanding scouts as role models to their peers, and this remains an important part of the order. The idea is to motivate scouts to become more like those scouts who are honored by being inducted into the AO. By having the scouts in each troop decide who best exemplifies the virtues of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and unselfish service, the principles of the OA, scouts both become aware of the standards they most aspire too, and the progress of each scout toward these goals. As some of your troop members are lodge members, likely they temper this judgment, when voting, with the expectation that the scout in question will, or will not, take the obligations of the order, and the commitments that go with those, seriously.

 

The Order of the Arrow does recognize scouts for who they have became, and what they have done, and scouts are elected on this premise. However, troop members who are also OA members, know scouts are not only elected for what they have done, but also for what they will be expected to do. Many scouts see nothing more then a cool patch and sash, and opportunities to have fun and socialize; and although inducted, never truly become members of the Order of the Arrow. In short, a desire to be elected into the Order of the Arrow drives scouts to be better scouts, better men, and holds them to a ridged standard. The scouts actions are judged by his fellows, to determine if he meets this standard, and will continue to grow well beyond these expectations.

 

Your son should speak with senior scouts in his troop, and ask in what ways he can better himself, how he grow to meet this lofty standard. With all due respect, the best place for you in this is on the sideline. Share these insights with your son, and let him handle things.

[perdidochas]

I don't think a boy has to be friends with everyone in the troop. Running around "making friends" is tantamount to campaigning and is how the popular boys get elected. That's not everyone's style or desire. I would think it a bit more valuable to be elected based on merit. If the only people getting into OA, then it's a group of schmoozers and maybe that's not the kind of group one wishes to be part of. Merit, on the other hand produces a quality OA chapter of dedicated worker/leaders, the goal of the OA in the first place.

 

It is mentioned that this boy has shown up for 99% of all activities. While attendance counts for something, it's not the most valuable measurement and often doesn't take into consideration more important factors.

 

It's kinda like wearing the POR patch. You got it, big deal, or in this case, you showed up, big deal. Once you have the patch or show up, what's next. This is how merit is measured. Is the boy making himself helpful to others in the troop? Taking on that helping kind of leadership sells big time when it comes to elections. Who's the guy who always seems to be there ready to go when someone needs help? One does not need an official leadership designation to fit this bill. PL is stumped because the scout designated on the duty roster to clean up after the meal is nowhere in camp. But this other scout steps in and cheerfully takes over that job. Will the PL remember that come election time? Yep if it is an on-going thing. Do they need to be friends? Nope! Not at all.

 

Stosh

if the boy is as helpful as his mom thinks, then he needs to work on those interpersonal skills and make friends. Personally, I think she may have an exaggerated view of his helpfulness, and the other scouts don't see it.