Kaweah Lodge Rules

I. Name and Affiliation of Lodge

A. The name of this lodge of the Order of the Arrow shall be Kaweah Lodge No. 379 WWW.

 B. The lodge shall be affiliated with the Alameda Council, BSA, and shall be under the administration and authority of the Scout Executive.

C. The Lodge will abide by the National Order of the Arrow bylaws and rules and regulations applicable issued by the National Committee, Order of the Arrow.

II. Officers

 

A. The elected officers of the Lodge shall be the Lodge Chief, Vice Chief(s), Treasurer, and Secretary. These officers must be under twenty-one years of age during the entire term of office.

 

B. The executive committee, or Chiefs Council shall be composed of the elected officers above mentioned, any committee chairman pertinent to the meeting, the immediate past Lodge Chief, Lodge Lay Advisor, and the Lodge Pro Advisor. The latter three shall assist in an advisory capacity only, and will not vote.

 

C. The term of the elected officer shall be from the date of installation one year.

 

D. The elections of officers shall be held at the lodge banquet each spring.

 

E.  Active lodge members shall be notified at least ten (10) days before the lodge election.

 

F. Chief: The chief shall direct the lodge. All chairmen and officers will report to the chief. The chief shall preside over the chiefs council. The chief must be a brotherhood member. The chief will represent the lodge in all council affairs.

 

G. Vice Chief: He is responsible for Camp Promotions as well as unit elections. He will assist the chief and will act as chief when the chief is not present. If there is to be more than one Vice Chief, their respective responsibilities shall be outlined as announced before the voting tales place.

 

I.    Secretary: He will record the minutes of the lodge meetings and chiefs council meetings and will present them to the lodge at the next lodge business meeting. He shall send a notice to all active lodge members informing of voting. He shall send a newsletter to all active lodge members as specified in Section VIII of the Lodge Rules.

 

J. Treasurer: He shall keep all financial materials in connection with the lodge. He shall report to the Chiefs council at least four (4) times a year and shall report to the lodge membership at each meeting. He is also in charge of all lodge fundraisers.

III. Voting

A. Any active youth lodge member (under 21) can vote at lodge business meeting officers or other business.

B. Voting at business meetings will take place according to Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, and regulations applicable issued by the National Committee, Order of the Arrow.

IV. Business Meetings

A. The lodge shall hold at least four (4) business meetings a year.

B. Each meeting of the lodge shall be opened by reciting the obligation of the Order, and shall be closed by singing the song of the Order.

C. Each member shall give the admonition before entering the meeting.

D. The Chief will have the agenda prepared prior to the meering.

E. The meeting will be held on the third Thursday of the month unless otherwise announced.

F. Lodge members that miss three consecutive meetings may be placed on the inactive list.

V. Dues

 

A. Dues shall be paid by lodge members before October 1st of each year. These dues shall be collected by the treasurer and recorded. The amount of the dues will be determined by the chief’s council.

 

B. Members not paid in full by October 1 will be placed on the inactive list.

 

C. All members on the inactive list will be sent a notice once a year giving them an opportunity to become active members. If a member does not respond within five years, the lodge can decide not to send him further notices. No members are ever dropped from the inactive list.

VI. Unit Elections

 

A. Unit elections shall be performed for each unit so desiring.

B. All elections of the Ordeal Candidates shall be confirmed through the unit elections committee.

VII. Induction

 

A. There shall be an ordeal fee, paid after the time of induction. This fee will include:

      dues for the upcoming year,
the sash,
and the Order of the Arrow Handbook.

 

B. Inductions into the Order will be held for each unit so desiring.

C. Inductions shall be as prescribed in the latest edition of the Order of the Arrow Handbook.

VIII. Publications

 

A. A lodge newsletter shall be sent to all active lodge members at least four times a year.

 

B. Members shall be mailed a notice at least ten (10) days before: dues are payable, lodge meetings occur, lodge elections are held, and voting occurs.
 

IX. Brotherhood

* A.  Completion of Brotherhood Membership shall be in accordance with the latest Order of the Arrow handbook edition.

B.  All Brotherhood activities shall be directed through the Brotherhood Committee.

X. Vigil

* A. Attainment of the Vigil Honor shall be in accordance with the latest Order of the Arrow handbook edition.

B. The lodge Vigil committee shall conduct Vigil elections and ceremonies.

 

XI. Dress

Sash, Scout shirt and neckerchief shall be worn to all lodge and section functions unless otherwise designated. (The entire Scout Uniform will be worn at the Section Conclave.) Full Uniform best.

XII. Committees

A. Vigil Committee: The lodge chief will appoint a Vigil as the chairman of the Vigil Committee. There will be a minimum of three members on the Vigil Committee. These members must be Vigil members. The members of this committee may be over 21 and may vote on the committees decisions.

B. The Nominating Committee: This committee shall prepare a slate of candidates for each elected office of the lodge. The committee shall consist of an adult advisor and three (3) lodge members under 21. The Chief of the lodge will be on this committee. The slate will be presented to the lodge body for ratification.

C. Unit Elections Committee: This committee will have an adult adviser and the Vice­Chief will preside over this committee. There will be at least three (3) members under 21. The committee will conduct elections for inductions into the Order in each troop desiring elections. These elections will occur at regular troop meeting.

D. Camp Promotions Committee: This committee will publish a Where to go Camping booklet every other year, available to all troops and posts. The committee will be directed by an appointed youth member, with an adult advisor. There will be at least five (5) members on this committee.

E. Ceremonies Committee: The committee shall have an adult advisor, and it will be directed by an appointed youth member. The committee will conduct all rituals except the Vigil Ceremony.

F. Brotherhood Committee: This committee shall consist of one lodge member under 21. He shall keep a file of when each lodge member became Ordeal and the other two honors repectively. He shall advise the chief when a member becomes eligible for Brotherhood. He shall keep on file the essays of all Brotherhood candidates and members. (see requirements for Brotherhood.) The testing of Brotherhood candidates shall be directed through the Brotherhood Chairman.

 

XIII. Patches

A. In accordance with National Policy, the lodge will issue a lodge flap available to all lodge active members in any quantity.

B. The lodge may issue special lodge flaps for events such as the National Order of the Arrow Conference, lodge anniversaries. etc. These flaps will be available to all active members in any quantity as supplies last. All lodge members shall be notified of the issue of special flaps before sale commences.

XIV. Founder's Award

Each year the Chiefs Council can bestow this award on one member of the Kaweah             Lodge. The requirements for the award are:

1. A dues paid member of the lodge.

2. A Vigil or Brotherhood member of Kaweah Lodge No. 379

3. Has continued to serve the lodge "cheerfully in service."

 

XV. Amendments

A. These rules shall be subject to amendments at any regular or special lodge meeting.

B. The motion is made on the floor. It is then given to the secretary or a representative there of in writing.

C. Argument for and against the amendment and the voting on the amendment is conducted at the next business meeting of the lodge.

D. The secretary will mail a notice to all active lodge members notifying them of the meeting at which the amendment will be voted on. The notice will be sent at least ten (10) days before the meeting. The proposed amendment will be sent in the notification.

E. An amendment must pass with a 3/4 majority approval of active lodge voting members present at the business meeting.

F. The Chiefs Council can take into consideration special consideration for individual cases. The Chiefs Council can over-ride any condition in these rules under special circumstances for a definite period of time. To achieve this, a unanimous vote of the Chiefs Council must be met. However, this rule does not pertain to marked (*) rules.

G. Unless otherwise specified within these guidelines, the lodge will be administered by the Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.