Lodge Bylaws

Preamble:

By the power of The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the establishment of these Bylaws, we henceforth form our lodge, Talidandaganu’ Lodge 293, Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui.

Our lodge shall be affiliated with Cherokee Area Council 556, Boy Scouts of America, and shall be under the supervision of the Council Camping Committee and the administrative authority of its Scout Executive.

The totem of our lodge shall be an eagle in flight, which shall be worn properly with all uniform and regalia per the latest edition of the official BSA publications and the most recent edition of the Order of the Arrow guidelines.

It is the mission and purpose of our lodge to achieve the purpose of the Order of the Arrow as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America in the council through positive youth leadership under the guidance of select capable adults.

  1. Membership
    1. General Membership
      1. A person is considered a member in good standing of our lodge upon meeting the following criteria:
        1. Is currently a registered member of the Boy Scout of America.
        2. Has completed the ordeal entirely as defined in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow Handbook and the Administration Guide for the Ordeal.
        3. Has paid all dues required to the lodge for the current year.
        4. Is in good standing with the Council.
      2. The requirements for membership in our lodge are not to conflict with the current printing of the Order of the Arrow Handbook and Order of the ArrowGuide for Officers and Advisers.
    2. Ordeal Membership
      1. Completion of Ordeal membership shall be in accordance with the requirements in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow Handbook, the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisors, and the Administration Guide for the Ordeal.
    3. Brotherhood Membership
      1. Induction and testing for Brotherhood membership shall take place only during lodge ordeal weekends.
      2. Completion of Brotherhood membership shall be in accordance with the requirements in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow Handbook and the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
    4. Vigil Honor
      1. Attainment of the Vigil Honor shall be in accordance with the requirements in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow Handbook and the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
  2. Lodge Executive Committee
    1. Officers
      1. The officers of this lodge shall be Lodge Chief, Lodge Vice Chief, LodgeSecretary, and Lodge Treasurer.
      2. All officers shall be elected by a majority vote at the Fall Ordeal.
      3. The term of all officers shall run from December 1st of the year they are elected to November 31st.
      4. Lodge Chief
        1. The Lodge Chief shall oversee all Lodge Committees, Vice Chief, Secretary, and Treasurer.
        2. The Lodge Chief shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
      5. Lodge Vice Chief
        1. In the case of absence of the Lodge Chief the Vice Chief shall assume all responsibilities of the Lodge Chief during his absence.
        2. The Vice Chief shall oversee all Chapter Chiefs, chapter operations,OA Troop Representatives, and Unit of Excellence.
        3. The Vice Chief shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
      6. Secretary
        1. Shall assume the responsibilities of the Lodge Chief in the absence of both the Lodge Chief and Vice Chief.
        2. The Secretary shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
        3. Shall keep a written record of all executive, officer, and LEC meetings.
      7. Treasurer
        1. Shall assume the responsibilities of the Vice Chief in the absence of both the Lodge Chief and Vice Chief.
        2. Shall assume responsibilities of the Lodge Chief in the absence of theLodge Chief, Vice Chief, and Secretary and shall appoint a standing officer to assume the responsibilities of Vice Chief.
        3. The Treasurer shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
        4. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget, which shall be approved by the Lodge Executive Committee, Key 3, and Scout Executive no later than February 1st.
      8. Chapter Chief
        1. The Chapter Chiefs shall oversee all chapter committees, OA representatives, and elections in their chapter.
        2. The Chapter Chiefs shall uphold the responsibilities of their positions as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
    2. Committees
      1. The standing Committees of this lodge shall be Activities, Nominations,Camping, Communications, Indian Affairs, and Training
      2. All Committee Chairman will be nominated to their position no later than theWinter Banquet by the Nominations Committee and appointed the by Lodge Chief with approval of the Lodge Executive Committee no later than the first of the year.
      3. Activities
        1. Activities Committee shall oversee all lodge events outside of ordeals.
        2. The Activities Chairman shall maintain a position on any special events committee formed by the Lodge Executive Committee.
      4. Camping
        1. The Camping Chairman shall serve as the Ordeal Master.
        2. The Camping Committee shall be responsible for updating the Where to Go Camping guide.
        3. The Camping Committee shall be responsible for all OA High Adventure events, publications, and activities.
        4. The Camping Chairman shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Administration Guide for the Ordeal.
      5. Communications
        1. The Communications Committee shall be responsible for all communications from the lodge including but not limited to newsletters, social media, and website publications.
      6. Indian Affairs
        1. The Indian Affairs Committee shall be responsible for all ceremonies and ceremonial events.
        2. The Indian Affairs Committee shall be responsible for enforcing regalia regulations per the most recent edition of the Order of the Arrow guidelines.
        3. The Indian Affairs Chairman shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Guide to Induction.
      7. Nominations
        1. The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for conducting or oversee all of the nominations of the lodge.
          1. Vigil Nominations
          2. Founders’ Award Nominations
          3. Lodge Officer elections
      8. Training
        1. The Training Committee shall be responsible for training at all lodge events including but not limited to Lodge Leadership Development and Ordeal.
    3. Advisers
      1. Lodge Adviser
        1. The Lodge Adviser shall advice and works with the Lodge Chief, Secretary, and Treasurer.
        2. The Lodge Adviser shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
      2. Associate Lodge Adviser
        1. The Associate Lodge Adviser shall advice and works with the LodgeVice Chief and Chapter Chiefs.
        2. The Associate Adviser shall uphold the responsibilities of his position as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers.
      3. Lodge Staff Adviser
        1. The Lodge Staff adviser shall act on behalf of the Scout Executive in giving guidance to the lodge.
      4. Ad-Hoc Advisers
        1. Any Ad-Hoc advisers shall advice and work with the committee or position the Lodge Adviser appoints him/her to.
    4. General
      1. The Lodge Executive Committee shall be composed officers (II.A), immediate past lodge chief, lodge committee chairmen (II.B), lodge adviser, member of the council camping committee, and lodge staff adviser.
      2. All elected and appointed officers and chairmen of the Lodge Executive Committee must be younger than 21 during their entire term of office.
      3. The term of office for all standing members of the Lodge Executive Committee shall be one year.
      4. The Lodge Executive Committee is responsible for the interpretation of these bylaws.
    5. Duties
      1. The Lodge Executive Committee shall meet at least (8) times a year.
      2. Dues shall be determined by the Lodge Executive Committee and approved by the Scout Executive.
      3. All power, authority, duties and functions of the membership, officers andChapters shall be exercised in the strict conformity to the applicable regulations of the Boy Scouts of America.
      4. It shall be the duty of the Lodge Executive Committee to conduct all business of the lodge as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers andAdvisers and Robert’s Rules of Order.
    6. Limitations
      1. The Lodge Executive Committee must adhere to a strict conformance of the Order of the Arrow’s and Boy Scouts of America’s regulations.
      2. No adviser under any circumstance is allowed to make a motion or vote.
      3. Any responsibility NOT expressly stated as belonging to another position as defined in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers shall lie solely with the Lodge Executive Committee.
    7. Impeachment
      1. In the event that any elected officer is unable to fulfill his duties, a letter of resignation shall be submitted to the Executive Committee, and a temporary officer to complete the former’s term of office shall be appointed by the Lodge Chief with the approval of the Lodge Executive Committee.
      2. Any elected officer of the Lodge may be impeached by a majority vote of the Lodge Executive Committee. The former officer shall be notified in writing.
      3. If any voting member of the Executive Committee is not present at three (3)consecutive Lodge Executive Committee meetings without an acceptable reason, he shall be removed from his position, and the Executive Committee shall take action to replace him.
  3. Key 3
    1. The members of the Key 3 committee shall consist of the Lodge Chief, Lodge Adviser, Lodge Staff Adviser.
    2. Responsibilities
      1. It will be the responsibility of the Key 3 to set and monitor the goals of the lodge.
      2. The Key 3 shall be responsible for establishing an agenda for the LodgeExecutive Committee.
    3. Limitations
      1. Any duty not expressly mentioned as a responsibility of the Key 3 committee shall lie solely under the authority of the Lodge Executive Committee.
  4. Voting
    1. The voting members of the Lodge Executive Committee shall consist of the Lodge Chief, Vice Chief, Secretary, Treasurer, Chapter Chiefs, and Standing Lodge Committee Chairs.
    2. The Lodge Executive Committee may endow temporary voting status to Ad-Hoc Committee Chairmen.
    3. The Lodge Chief shall hold the deciding vote in the case of a tie in any executive vote.
    4. Any member under the age of 21 may vote during any general lodge voting session such as:
      1. Lodge Elections
      2. Popular Vote Amendments proposals
      3. Any other subject the Lodge Executive Committee sees fit to put to general vote.
  5. Duties and Obligations of the Lodge
    1. It shall be the duty of the lodge to cheerfully serve Skymont Scout Reservation.
    2. All lodge funds shall be handled through the council office and go through all normal accounting procedures used by the Cherokee Area Council.
    3. The lodge must hold the following events annually:
      1. Beaver Day(1)
      2. Ordeals(2)
      3. Fellowships(1)
      4. Winter Banquet(1)
      5. Lodge Training Courses(2)
      6. Lodge Executive Committee Meetings(8)
      7. OA Socials (10)
  6. Amendments
    1. General
      1. The Lodge Bylaws shall be reviewed by the Lodge Executive Committee at most one time per year, for its application and accuracy, and/or need for amendment.
      2. Before any vote to amend these Bylaws all member of the lodge must be notified at least 30 days prior to give adequate time to respond.
    2. Amendment by Lodge Executive Committee
      1. A motion to propose an amendment must be made and seconded during a Lodge Executive Committee Meeting
      2. If approved the entire lodge must be notified that a Lodge Executive Committee amendment vote will take place at the following Lodge Executive Committee Meeting.
      3. The proposed amendment then must pass with (2/3) approval of the all voting members of the Lodge Executive Committee.
    3. Amendment by Popular Vote
      1. A member may petition for a popular vote to amend these Bylaws by acquiring a quorum (1/3) of the members of the lodge signatures.
      2. The petition must be presented to the Lodge Executive Committee who will then notify the members of the lodge of the voting date following the policy stated in (VI.A.2)
      3. Passage of the amendment requires majority approval by all active members of the lodge.
  7. Ratification
    1. These bylaws shall become binding after approval of the Lodge Executive Committee which will then be passed to the chapters for popular vote.
    2. All chapters must pass these purposed bylaws my majority vote before being set as binding.

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