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It’s an honor to serve as your first Chief for the inaugural year of Section E8. Though the name is different, the same six lodges are together in brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service. In the meantime, I hope you got to experience a wonderful summer, whether it was spent working, vacationing, or just recharging.
In July, I was fortunate enough to meet hundreds of E8 Arrowmen at the National Order of the Arrow Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. At the Eastern Region Gathering, I can confidently say our Section booth was a hit with enough Krispy Kreme and Cheerwine to go around. Experiences like these are what make me proud to be in the OA. Until then, good luck to all those entering a new school year, and always be willing to reach out with questions, advice, and more.
Good Scouting,
Landon G. Smith
E8 Section Chief
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This year marked the first National Order of the Arrow Conference since 2018. It was held at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville from July 25th through July 30th. Many Arrowmen from E8, along with 6,000 other delegates enjoyed numerous trainings, program activities, shows, and great fellowship from other Arrowmen around the nation.
Here is what some of our Arrowmen have to say about this year’s Conference:
"I loved getting to connect with and learn from Arrowmen across the country. I found myself learning something new and exploring best practices with so many other lodges."
-Matthew Bobzien, Occoneechee Lodge
"I enjoyed most that it gave Arrowmen the opportunity to interact with Arrowmen from around the nation. The connections and relationships I made with people I will remember for the rest of my life."
-Dominic Filippa, Tsoiotsi Tsogalii
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Support for Chapter Chiefs
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Dear Chapter Chiefs, and Chapter Leadership,
If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas on how to make your chapter meetings more inviting, and more exciting so Arrowmen will have more incentive to come, then consider checking out the Order of the Arrows Unit, Chapter, and Lodge Support area of oa-bsa.org
Within this area you can find all types of ideas, recommendations, and practices that can help your Unit, Chapter and Lodge utilize the Order better, and make the experience more enjoyable and rewarding for Arrowmen.
The support area also has an entire publication dedicated to ideas that Chapters can do at their next meeting.
Here are a few ideas listed that could be great to do at your next chapter meeting:
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- Dive In Movie: This meeting involves meeting at a chapter member’s house, that happens to have a pool. A movie would then be projected onto some type of screen or wall, and Arrowmen can watch from the pool or area surrounding the pool. Snacks are encouraged, and it can be a great bonding experience for the Arrowmen. Make your next chapter meeting a splash, and give your members something to get excited about!(https://oa-bsa.org/uploads/resources/chapter-ideas/QCM_13.pdf)
- American Indian Craft Zone: Create an individual Indian craft project members can use if they participate on the dance or ceremonial team—or just have fun making! Spend the meeting making something that can improve your Chapters Ceremony teams, and make your Lodges Ceremonies that much more impressive. It can also serve as a way to get more Arrowmen in your chapter interested in American Indian Affairs, who might not be fully involved in the program or aren’t as involved as they would like to be. (https://oa-bsa.org/uploads/resources/chapter-ideas/QCM_07.pdf)
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These are just 3 of the 22 ideas listed on the Chapter Meeting Ideas form on the Order of the Arrows website. For even more fun and inviting ideas like these visit: https://oa-bsa.org/resources/ucl-support/lodge-ideas/chapter-meeting-ideas. These forms are great resources and can be used to make your Chapter member’s experience that much better!
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Meet the Section Chief and Section Adviser
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Section Adviser Tommy Wallace
Hello everyone my name is Tommy Wallace and I am your new Section Adviser. I joined the Order of the Arrow in 1978. I was inducted into Klahican Lodge #331 at the Rice Property, which is now Camp Bowers(the home camp of Klahican Lodge). My first Conclave was also in 1978 at Fort Caswell on Oak Island. We actually weren’t able to camp at this conclave, rather we were housed in the old barracks, and were hosted by my very own Klahican Lodge. My wife and I own an interior plant sales/service company. I very much enjoy the outdoors including hunting and golf. At this year’s Conclave, I am most excited for Fellowship with other Arrowmen, and Advisers, and also the Patch Trading. Above all else, I am excited for a successful Conclave, which I hope to facilitate by providing support to everyone planning it. Can’t wait to see what comes of this year’s Conclave, and I hope to see all of you there.
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Section Chief Landon Smith
Hey everyone! My name is Landon Smith, and I am thrilled to serve as your Section E8 Chief for the year. I reside in Pilot Mountain, NC, and am a sophomore at NC State, where I am studying Economics and Statistics. Some of my hobbies include skating, investing, working out, and watching sports.
If I didn't attend the 2017 Conclave the year after I was inducted into the OA, I would never be where I am today. To see over 1,000 Scouts from all over the state come together for fun and fellowship was a truly life-changing event. As a member of the service lodge, I felt like I was helping grow something that was much bigger than me, and it felt good to be a part of the process. This has inspired me to serve on Lodge and now Section Leadership. For the 2023 Conclave at Camp Boddie, I cannot wait to bring you an innovative OA Xperience, tremendous shows, plenty of water activities on the coast, and much more.
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An Arrowman Trading at Occoneechee Lodges Annual Trade-O-Ree
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