Hawk Day is this weekend!  We’re again hosting two events at the same time in two different locations:

• Camp Westmoreland, near Florence, AL (map link)
• Camp Jack Wright, inside Tannehill State Park (map link)

Work will begin at both locations around 8 am and conclude at 4pm.  Just as before, if you work 4 or more hours at either location, you become eligible to purchase a single service flap (design and availability TBA). If you work the full 8 hours, you’ll be eligible to buy two.

Plan to bring a sturdy water bottle and your own lunch.  Lunch will not be provided by the lodge.

Bring sturdy work gloves and basic hand tools (shovel, bow saw, etc.) if you have them.  If you’re an adult and can bring a chainsaw, there might be a need for that.  If you’re planning to attend either event and have a specialized trade skill (plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, etc.), please let us know.  We might have a special project just for you.

On Saturday, September 11, 2010, Coosa Lodge will again host two Hawk Day events in two locations at one time.

The locations are:

• Camp Westmoreland, near Florence, AL (map link)
• Camp Jack Wright, inside Tannehill State Park (map link)

Work will begin at both locations around 8 am and conclude at 4pm.  Just as before, if you work 4 or more hours at either location, you become eligible to purchase a single service flap (design and availability TBA). If you work the full 8 hours, you’ll be eligible to buy two.

Plan to bring a sturdy water bottle and your own lunch.  Lunch will not be provided by the lodge.

Bring sturdy work gloves and basic hand tools (shovel, bow saw, etc.) if you have them.  If you’re an adult and can bring a chainsaw, there might be a need for that.  If you’re planning to attend either event and have a specialized trade skill (plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, etc.), please let us know.  We might have a special project just for you.

This last weekend at Camp Sequoyah we had a total of 161 new members join Coosa Lodge. We had a total of 33 new Brotherhood members during the same event.

Our members worked on several projects around the Camp to improve it including work on campsites, roads, trails and the Dining Hall roof. Congratulations to each of our new members and thanks to the Elangomats and Arrowmen of the Lodge who supported the event. Remember we do not have another Ordeal until November at Camp Jackson.

Our next event will be a Hawk Day event on September 11.  We’ll have more information on that as we get closer to the event.

After that, we have Fall Fellowship at Camp Comer in October. The Lodge will be inducting our new Vigil Class and electing new Lodge Officers. Hope to see you all there.

If any youth members are planning to run for Lodge office it is required that you complete the Lodge Officer Nomination Form and turn it in at the August Ordeal. You can find the form on the forms page under the Administrative Forms and Documents section. Any questions about this process should be directed towards the Lodge Chief. Good Luck!

A number of us are just back from the 2010 National Jamboree. And now it is time to get back to concentrating on our upcoming Fall Lodge events. First up we have the August Ordeal at Camp Sequoyah this next weekend, August 13-15. Now would be a good time for all Troops to line up their candidates for the Ordeal. August is usually our most heavily attended Ordeal so we will need all Lodge members that can attend to be there to assist as Elangomats and Brotherhood Testers.

If you need to go through your Ordeal go to the “Ordeal Instructions” in the Forms section of this website to get information about registration times, personal needs, etc. Everyone that is currently an Ordeal member can seal their Brotherhood by attending and going through counseling and testing. We will have Arrowman available on Saturday morning to assist you and a Brotherhood Walk and Ceremony will be conducted on Saturday afternoon.

Hope you have had a great summer and see our Arrowmen at Camp Sequoyah.

If you’re reading this, odds are that you’re not at the 2010 National Jamboree, which is currently taking place at Fort AP Hill in Virginia.  The good news, however, is that two of our best photographers — Mr. Daniel Giles and Mr. Greg Crenshaw, both from Yuchi Chapter — are staff photographers for the Jamboree.

They’re churning out some really fantastic photographs, the best of which are being posted online throughout the event.  Click on the link below to see what’s currently posted, and check back regularly to see what’s new!

• Photos by Daniel Giles and Greg Crenshaw at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree

Here’s a letter we recently received from the Lodge Adviser for Waguli Lodge (Northwest Georgia Council), thanking us, and more specifically Yuchi Chapter, for helping them get out of a serious bind:

I would like to take the time to share a huge thank you for the Coosa ceremony team that came to our lodge Summer Ordeal the past week. Greg Crenshaw and [the Yuchi Chapter Ceremony - Alex Pope; Ben Crenshaw; Cole Thornton & Will Tidwell] team shared the weekend with us and it was a real treat. As you might be aware we have had difficulty growing our team as college took our last team away to various parts of the state for school. We were left in quite a bind and needed some help. I placed a phone call and within a very short amount of time that call for help was answered.

When Greg arrived they were completely self-sufficient and needed no support from us. They provided our new candidates and our older brothers with quite a performance. Due to their hard work, dedication, and willingness to share their knowledge we were able to recruit a new team of Ordeal members to become our Ceremony Team. Their willingness to help a fellow brother in need will never be forgotten. You should all count yourselves very fortunate to have youth and adults who are so willing to go the extra mile. They should all be commended for their efforts.

Thank You,
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Chris A. DeHart
Waguli Lodge Adviser

While this highlights the type of cheerful servant leadership that is celebrated throughout the Order of the Arrow, it also underscores the need to maintain ceremony teams (and other lodge infrastructures) across a wide range of ages and abilities.

With older, more experienced teams constantly recruiting and training newer, younger teams, we’re sure to maintain all of our capabilities as our more experienced teams turn 21 or leave for college.  This is true, not only for ceremonies, but also from drum & dance, shows, the service corps, and every other critical aspect of our lodge’s program.

Great Job, Yuchi Chapter, and thank you for so spectacularly representing Coosa Lodge.

Here is an opportunity we hope all Coosa Lodge members will participate in. The National Order of the Arrow Committee is pleased to announce SummitCorps – The New River Experience – a hybrid of ArrowCorps5 and our OA High Adventure programs. During July 2011, SummitCorps – The New River Experience will provide service to the New River Gorge National River in West Virginia. Upgrading the trail bed of the Garden Grand Hike and Bike Trail, along with invasive species removal, will be the focus of the project. The Garden Grand Hike and Bike Trail connects the New River Gorge National River to the Boy Scout’s new high adventure base and home of the Jamboree – The Summit: The Bechtel Family National Reserve.

Lodge contingents have a choice of four sessions to attend – 1) July 3-9, 2) July 10-16, 3) July 17-23, and 4) July 24-30. Similar to ArrowCorps5 and our High Adventure programs, the week will consist of service and recreation opportunities. Not only will we be working on our newest High Adventure Base but we will be part of the initial group to help prepare it for the 2013 National Jamboree. So join us and be a part of history. The Lodge LEC will make a decision on what date range is best for us to attend as a Lodge. We will get this information out to everyone when it is finalized.

The projected cost for each participant is $250. Youth and adults may participate in SummitCorps – The New River Experience. Lodge contingents are responsible for transportation to and from the event site.

Participants will be required to meet the BSA High Adventure Height/Weight Requirements found on the BSA Annual Health and Medical Form.

More event information, registration details, and promotional materials will be available by late summer 2010. A series of informational webinars will be held in late summer 2010 to provide more details to section and lodge leadership.

We hope you will join us for this exciting event in 2011!

In 2009 Coosa Lodge joined the new Section SR-9.  At that time we added Alabama lodges Alibamu and Aracoma.  Effective June 1, 2010, SR-9 is now expanded to include 12 Lodges.  SR-9 and Coosa Lodge welcome the following Lodges to our Section:

Immokalee Lodge, Chehaw Council, Albany, GA

Alapaha Lodge, Alapaha Area Council, Valdosta, GA 

Pilthlako Lodge, Okefenokee Area Council, Waycross, GA

These southern Georgia lodges join us immediately from their old Section SR-4.  Section Adviser Dr. James Flatt indicated that SR-9 is now the largest section in the Southern Region.  They will make our next Conclave at Camp Thunder even more interesting to attend.  SR-9 is composed of nine Georgia Lodges and three from Alabama.

Brotherhood membership marks the completion of your induction into the Order of the Arrow.  Brotherhood membership is sought by those Arrowmen who want to reaffirm their commitment to the purposes of our Order and pledge to live a life of leadership in service.
 
All Coosa Lodge members who completed their Ordeal in 2009 or before will be eligible to seal their membership in the Order of the Arrow at the upcoming August Ordeal by becoming a Brotherhood Member of the Coosa Lodge.
 
There are several challenges you must meet before you can enter the Circle of the Brotherhood.  First, you must memorize the Obligation and the OA song, and know the Admonition, the sign of the Ordeal, and the Arrow handclasp.  Next, you should learn more about the meaning of the Ordeal experience, continue to serve your Troop, and make a plan for continuing service to your Lodge.  Finally, you should write a letter to the Lodge Vice-Chief of Inductions about what the Obligation means to you, how you have been fulfilling the Obligation in your daily life, and describe your plans for continued service to the Lodge.  To help you meet these challenges you can go to the Forms and Publications link on our website and click on “Misc. Publications”.  There you will find our “2010 Brotherhood Study Guide” that you can download.  You can also visit www.jumpstart.oa-bsa.org to help you get started on your journey to Brotherhood membership.  We will also provide Brotherhood counseling at the August Ordeal to help guide you along the way. 
 
So what are you waiting for?  Make plans now to attend the August Ordeal at Camp Sequoyah (August 13-15, 2010) and be a part of the Brotherhood Walk and Ceremony to seal your pledge to Coosa Lodge and the Order of the Arrow.

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Davis Faulkner; VC of Communication