Lodge Charter Renewal packets were mailed to Council offices several weeks ago. As the end of the year approaches, lodges should be working on their annual charter renewal. Forms are due to the national office on December 31, 2012. Please help our Section by submitting your lodge renewal on time. Forms can be downloaded here: http://www.main.oa‐bsa.org/resources/forms/#lodge

Section Officer/Adviser Travels:

Neil Harris visited the Pocumtuc Lodge Fellowship in Moses Scout Reservation in Russell, MA.

National Planning Meeting:

The annual National OA Planning Meeting will be held December 27‐30 in Westlake, TX. The purpose of the meeting is to plan the national program of emphasis, Project 2013 at the National Scout Jamboree, and to elect new national officers.

Order of the Arrow Strategic Plan 2013‐2017:

The Strategic Plan for 2013 to 2017 was first presented at the 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference during the National Council of Chiefs meeting. As the Order of the Arrow prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2015, lodges will strive to increase service to their councils and provide greater service to the young people who are the focus of our mission. The plan focuses on a Journey to Excellence and to complete a century of service. Read the plan at: http://www.main.oa‐bsa.org/programs/splan.

OA High Adventure Forms:

The 2013 registration forms for OA High Adventure are now available for download: http://www.oa‐bsa.org/resources/forms/#adventure.

Adult Unit Election Changes:

The national Order of the Arrow committee has recently announced changes to the requirements for the nomination of adult unit Scouters to become candidates for induction into the Order. These changes will take effect for the 2013 Unit Election season. For more information, visit: http://www.oa‐ bsa.org/annc/opup/opup‐12‐07.pdf

National Jamboree 2013 Staff:

The “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt Trust and the Order of the Arrow recently announced the William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt Scholarship to assist youth Arrowmen serving on Order of the Arrow Staff at the 2013 National Boy Scout Jamboree. Order of the Arrow Staff is considered to be: Jamboree Trek OA Guides, the OA Service Corps, the Day of Service OA Guides, and OA Indian Village. Recipients of the scholarship will receive a maximum of $250.00 applied toward the National Boy Scout Jamboree Staff fee. For details visit: http://event.oa‐ bsa.org/events/jambo2013/hillcourtscholarship.htm

National Leadership Seminar/National Lodge Advisers Training Seminar:

The next opportunity to attend National Leadership Seminar (NLS) and National Lodge Advisers Training Seminar (NLATS) will be March 15‐17 (Camp Alpine, Alpine, NJ). This will be the closest session to our Section and lodges should encourage their youth officers and adult advisers to attend these worthwhile training sessions.