OA membership as a Cub Leader

[FireStone]

I was a Brotherhood OA member as youth, and I understand that I can re-establish lodge membership as an adult. My old lodge merged into the current local lodge so I guess it would just be a matter of verifying previous lodge membership. 

My question is this: I'm a Tiger DL. Are there often other Cub level adults active in OA? I get the feeling it's more of a Troop-level thing for adults. There is no one else in my Pack who is OA, and although I'm sure that personally I'd enjoy becoming active and participating in lodge activities, I'm just wondering if this is the right time to do it. 

Do most folks just wait until their son(s) get elected and then re-join then?

[ParkMan]

In my neck of the woods it's usually either

-troop adults who get involved alongside the youth from the same troop

- district volunteers who's kids have aged out, but keep helping.

As a former district volunteer, we'd have been thrilled for a Cub adult to get involved and help out.  If you're interested in getting involved- go for it!

[Chisos]

Our lodge has several cub-dads there were OA as youth and have reactivated.  So, for sure not out of the ordinary.

[shortridge]

You might get some odd looks at your blue shoulder loops, but who cares? If you can find something to support your Lodge and Chapter that doesn’t take away from your child or the pack - even as simple as attending one induction/service weekend a year and helping on a trail crew - then that’s a benefit to the Order and to Scouting. A lot of members wear the flap for doing a lot less.

[The Latin Scot]

4 hours ago, shortridge said:

You might get some odd looks at your blue shoulder loops, but who cares? If you can find something to support your Lodge and Chapter that doesn’t take away from your child or the pack - even as simple as attending one induction/service weekend a year and helping on a trail crew - then that’s a benefit to the Order and to Scouting. A lot of members wear the flap for doing a lot less.

Ha! This is exactly what happened to me during my Brotherhood ordeal last weekend; I am a Webelos Den Leader, and as it turned out I was the only Cub leader at the entire event, so "Blue Loops" quickly became my common nickname for the duration. And you know what? I felt might happy that I was able to represent the Cub program there! 

5 hours ago, FireStone said:

I was a Brotherhood OA member as youth, and I understand that I can re-establish lodge membership as an adult. My old lodge merged into the current local lodge so I guess it would just be a matter of verifying previous lodge membership. 

My question is this: I'm a Tiger DL. Are there often other Cub level adults active in OA? I get the feeling it's more of a Troop-level thing for adults. There is no one else in my Pack who is OA, and although I'm sure that personally I'd enjoy becoming active and participating in lodge activities, I'm just wondering if this is the right time to do it. 

Do most folks just wait until their son(s) get elected and then re-join then?

I am the only leader promoting the OA to our CO's Troop, despite the fact that my time is spent with the Cubs as a Webelos Den Leader, so I have plenty of opportunities to support the lodge/chapter by encouraging unit elections, exciting the boys for the program, and attending OA events with them. As for incorporating the OA into my role as a den leader, well, since my Webelos are always asking (then forgetting, then asking again x 100) what all my patches are for, I have many chances to talk about my OA flap and what the organization both means and does. It's something I encourage them to look for and look forward to as I prepare them to become Boy Scouts and animate them towards increasing their "Scout Spirit." When they move up to Boy Scouts, it's something they already know about and are anxious to join. It's never too early; it's never too late!

And mind you - I am still single, so I don't have children that I "follow" up through the programs. I am in Scouts because I love young people and will take any opportunity I have to advocate their safe and loving development. So as far as my OA membership goes, it's plainly something that can benefit the curious Scouts  with whom I work, at all levels, so I think it's better to simply move forward with it rather than wait for the "right time." The right time is whenever you decide to be better today than you were yesterday! 

Edited June 11, 2018 by The Latin Scot

[FireStone]

8 hours ago, The Latin Scot said:

...As for incorporating the OA into my role as a den leader, well, since my Webelos are always asking (then forgetting, then asking again x 100) what all my patches are for, I have many chances to talk about my OA flap and what the organization both means and does. It's something I encourage them to look for and look forward to as I prepare them to become Boy Scouts and animate them towards increasing their "Scout Spirit." When they move up to Boy Scouts, it's something they already know about and are anxious to join. It's never too early; it's never too late!

 

That's a really good point that I hadn't considered. I don't think it will be as useful in my Den just yet (Tigers), but as the boys get older and closer to thinking about life in a Troop, it could be a good opportunity to talk about this program that I think very few Cub Scouts even know about before they enter a Troop. It is always a good thing to be able to present opportunities to do more fun things in Scouting. The more we can offer in terms of the "here's what you can do when you cross over" type of stuff, hopefully the more likely we are to see Scouts continue on after crossing over. 

[SB_Eagle]

A few years ago, I was in pretty much the same situation: New Tiger Den Leader after being OA brotherhood in my youth, lodges merged since then.  OA was some of my best memories and I just wanted to support the current lodge, even if it was just the yearly fee.  They probably had a record of me, but I really had to dig to find my ordeal and brotherhood dates in order to list them on the lodge membership form.  I wear the lodge flap, the Cubs are intrigued by it.  I sometimes help out the troop, so I guess it seems more 'appropriate' now.

[scotteg83]

I would wear the flap, once you pay dues of course.

 

 

My cubs love patches, and it should be the same for the leadership (or maybe I am just a patch nerd)