Outgoing Lodge Chief

Stephen Ferris is our outgoing lodge chief (in more ways than one, he just got his LDS church mission call to the Tacoma Washington Mission -- Good luck Stephen!) Before he turns over his position, I wanted to post this interview we did with him by email.


Stephen has been a great supporter of our chapter. He's come camping with us at Klondike and been to our Spring Ordeal, where he worked with the candidates to help clean up Camp Jeremiah Johnson.

Thanks Stephen for your support. We appreciate all you've done for us and for the Lodge.

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When were you elected, and what have you done in the OA since then?

I was elected just before I turned 12 or 13. Since then, I originally became an active member of my Chapter's Ordeal Ceremony Team. At that point, I started becoming interested in leadership positions and was able to serve over Activities, Service, Ordeal Master (youth over the Ordeal), and Secretary. I often filled in for people that would assume responsibility, but would have troubles fulfilling them. I did run for Chapter Chief two times and was defeated both times. Never give up. On the Lodge, I have held the position of Secretary for two terms, and currently am serving as Chief. Again, never give up.

What are some of your favorite memories of your time in the Order?

There are so many wonderful memories that I have been able to have as I have served in these positions. I have loved getting to know people, especially knowing that, if it weren't for the positions I've held, I wouldn't have been able to meet and have gotten to know so many amazing people and had such great memories created through that.

I thoroughly enjoy camping, especially when you are at a Tepee Week and there are a bunch of white flakes falling all around you in the middle of June! Snow at Tepee Week, that was an unforgettable camp. We proved that, snow or shine, we were going to have fun, and we did.

I also have enjoyed the times where I have been able to gather around with the Lodge Executive Board (LEB) and make decisions that impact every member of our Lodge. I don't say this because we hold the fate of the Lodge in our hands, but rather, because you can truly see the love and concern that each member of the LEB has for everyone in our Lodge. A lot of thought, prayer, contemplation, hard work, and much more goes into every decision, great or small, that we make. It is an incredible thing to see and to know the love the LEB has for thier brothers in the the Tu-Cubin-Noonie Lodge and for the work they do.

What have been the most important lessons you've learned from the OA?

Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, Service. The three main points. This is what we are about. I have learned to make them a part of me. These three points are so powerful once understood and used correctly. It is amazing how they are all interwoven to the point that one of them being used will build upon the other two points. In other words, when excersizing one of these points, the others will be strengthened as well. There is more power in this organization, when used correctly, than most probably could ever imagine.

If a candidate were to come to you and ask if it was worth it to go through the Ordeal and become a member, what advice would you give him?

If you truly desire to spend yourself in the service of others, then yes, it is more than worth it. Two pieces of advice that I would give him:

First, The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. In other words, the more active you are and seeking to be active, the more fun and enjoyment you will get out of it, and also, the more you will learn and grow from the experiences you will have.

Second, "He who serves his fellows, is of all his fellows greatest!".

Spring 2009 Ordeal Recap

We had a great Ordeal down at Camp Jeremiah Johnson this weekend. Before things got started, the elangomats met together for a training session and to look over the camp and service projects we would be working on. We kicked things off for the whole group with a welcome dinner and spent some time playing games as clans before we started Ordeal itself.

22 candidates participated in the ordeal along with 8 elangomats and were inducted into the Order on Saturday evening. The arrowmen on site were able to do a lot of work and got the camp nearly ready for the wave of cub scouts that will pour over it this summer. After the Ordeal, we enjoyed a feast of stew, salad, rolls, Philmont peach cobbler, and ice cream with the arrowmen and their families..

It was also great to have our Lodge chief join us in service during the afternoon, and then to have him welcome our new members at the feast. Thanks for coming out Stephen.

I'd like to thank Steve Bunker and Bob Walsh who helped oversee the activity; the Ceremony Team from the Nez Pierce chapter for providing our ceremonies; Glen Westbroek, Greg Gibson, Larry Hall, Matt Hornback, and 'Woody' Woodward who all gave up part of their weekend to help recognize our newest members.

We owe a special thanks to Ann Shumway and KC Clark, the Camp Directors at Jeremiah Johnson, who were gracious enough to let us come out and hold our ordeal at their camp.

We can't wait to see all of Lakota arrowmen at our next activity, don't miss out on the food and fun.

Donuts

Ok, since some folks have asked (and Mr B even dropped a comment about it), here's the recipe:

In a gallon sized zip bag, mix
4 1/4 cups flour
4 Tbs sugar
3 Tbs dry milk
1 tsp salt
2 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 tsp mace

Then put the first bag into a second gallon sized bag (double-bagging keeps the dry ingredients from making too much of a mess).

About 1 hour before you're ready to cook the donuts, mix 1 1/4 cups water and 2 Tbs oil into the dry ingredients. Mix well. You can add up to 1/4 cup additional later if needed. The dough should be smooth, not sticky, and should be stretchy. Cover the dough and let it rise. You can leave it in the bags to rise or put it in a bowl.

Heat vegetable oil in a dutch oven. You need about 2 inches of oil to fry the donuts in. The oil is hot enough (350-400 deg) when a bit of dough dropped into it bubbles and floats.

Shape donuts (cut them, tear them, whatever works for you and your scouts), then fry them in the hot oil, turning occasionally. When they are golden brown, pull them out and let them drain/cool. Tossing them in cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar adds a nice touch.

Show and Do Camporee, Spring 2009

Four members of the Lakota chapter went to the Cascade District's Spring Camporee at Simpson Springs to camp as a chapter. Two more youth arrowmen were there with their units. We also found that we had seven adults members of the Order there — now we need to recruit them into the chapter.

While we were there, we had four goals:

1. To provide on-site support for the camporee
2. To perform our call-out ceremony
3. To take part in the Show and Do activity
4. To have a good time camping as a chapter

Our chapter was the first unit on site. We split up, so that we could get our campsite set up and set up people at the entrance and the camping area to great incoming scout units and direct them to where they needed to be. It was good to see arrowmen serving the district like this.

The call-out ceremony went very well. We had about a dozen candidates called out, and the rest of the scouts and scouters in attendance seemed impressed with the whole thing. The candidates and members portion of the ceremony was held in a blind draw out of sight of the rest of camp, and was a great introduction and invitation to the Ordeal (without violating its mystery).

For the show and do, our chapter made donuts. It seemed like we had a pretty long line of scouts waiting to get a fresh donut. Hopefully, it showed everyon that there are some great breakfast options for a camp-out. I really enjoyed hearing the pro-OA buzz that it created among the other campers.

I think the best part of heading to the camporee as a chapter was just being able to hang out together. We had a good time camping out, and everyone enjoyed a 'quick' post-camporee run to the geode beds. (OK, so it was more like a half hour drive than a quick trip, but we all had fun anyway.)

Good luck to all of the candidates who were called out, we can't wait to see you at one of the upcoming ordeals. Maybe in the fall, you can be part of the call out team.

Ordeal Opportunities Abound

OK. You shouldn't have an excuse for not attending an ordeal. There are at least five opportunities available from May thru July. Registration cost for an ordeal will be less than $40. If you sign up for one of these ordeal camp outs make sure to contact your chapter advisor and let them know so they can include you in their chapter activities.

• 15-16 May at camp Tifie near Mount Pleasant, Utah more details
  
• 22-23 May at camp Jeremiah Johnson near Springville, Utah more details
  
• 29-30 May at Oak Creek Campground near Oak City, Utah more details
• 8-9 June at Beaver High Adventure Base near Beaver, Utah more details
• 1-2 July at High Uintah Camp near Vernal, Utah more details

Elections, Ordeals, and More

Elections dropped off in March, but we're anxious to get out and finish strong. If you'd like to schedule elections for your unit, please contact lakota.steve@gmail.com.

The reason that we're focusing on elections right now is that we're building up for our Fellowship on May 22-23. We're going to be helping get Camp Jerimiah Johnson ready for another summer of Cub Scout Day Camp, holding an Ordeal for our new candidates, and closing things up with a chapter feast to welcome all of our new arrowmen. If you'd like to help as staff at the Ordeal or at the feast, please contact lakotasecretary@gmail.com.

Our Call Out team is nearly ready too. They're practicing hard for the Call Out they'll conduct at the District Camporee on May 8-9 (there's more info here). This is an exciting time to be an Arrowman in the Lakota Chapter.

Interview with our Section Chief

Some time ago I asked David Petersen, our section chief, if he would answer a few questions in an interview by email. I thought his answers might help encourage our candidates and newer Ordeal members. Read on to see what David had to say, and look for more interviews in the future.

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When were you elected, and what have you done since then?

David I got started in the Order of the Arrow when I was just over 11 years old. At the time I didn't know much about it. I just knew that I loved Scouting and that I wanted to continue it throughout my life. It sounded like a lot of fun. It was.

Why don't you start by telling us a little bit about your experience in the OA.

David The Order of the Arrow has been one of the best experiences of my life. It is really a life-changing program. My favorite times in the OA have been when I have been able to meet others. I love being able to get to know awesome guys. Some of the best people in the world are in the Order.

What are some of your favorite memories of your time in the Order?

David I have had some awesome memories in the Order of the Arrow. A few that come to mind include swinging off of a massive Zipline at Beaver High Adventure base, building catupults that launched water ballons for miles, and jumping out of a boat in rapids on a rafting trip (it was safe, but fun) with a bunch of fellow arrowmen and having a water fight. The OA is a ton of fun, excitement, mystery, and friendship. It's all good, clean fun. That's the best part.

What have been the most important lessons you've learned from the OA?

David The Order of the Arrow has taught me the true meaning of Leadership in Service. The most meaningful part of this lesson is the power that comes to your life from caring for others more than you care about yourself.

If a candidate were to come to you and ask if it was worth it to go through the Ordeal and become a member, what advice would you give him?

David I would tell him that if you take the stand to become a servant leader by experiencing the Ordeal that he will look back on it as one of the best decisions he has ever made. The Ordeal is not something to be afraid of. It is a really cool experience that binds us even closer as brothers. Go!Go!Go!