And Now a Minute With

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1 Spring 2016 Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1 Official Newsletter of Topa Topa Lodge #291 Order of the Arrow Ventura County Council, BSA Welcome (Back) To The Lodge Newsletter The Topa Topa Lodge has not had a newsletter for over 4 years. It s about time we restarted this tradition! In this issue, we hope to highlight some past and future events as well as help you understand the Order of the Arrow and your position in it. If you have any comments for the next newsletter, please forward them to: tomtom@topatopa.org. Hope you enjoy this issue of the Tom Tom! Yaakov R. Lodge Secretary And Now a Minute With Lodge Adviser Mr. Smart The Topa Topa Lodge wouldn t be anywhere without our Lodge Adviser, Mr. Smart. Let s take a minute to get to know him better Do you work? What do you do? For most of my career I ve worked in the data storage industry. This is the equipment that helps make hard disc drives that are found in most household and business computers. In fact, it is likely that the computers in your home have hard drives that were partly made on the equipment I helped design. The company I m with now manufactures parts for the aerospace and space industry. We ve made parts for many military fighter jets. We ve even made parts for the Space Shuttle. How are you involved in the Order of the Arrow? I became involved in the Order of he Arrow when my oldest son, Jordan, became an Arrowman. We were both elected at the same time in 2010, six years ago, and were instantly drawn to youth lead and service aspects of the organization. I eventually transitioned into a Chapter Adviser position and now as the Lodge Adviser. The bonding and fellowship that Arrowmen share is like no other and is what makes it so special. The common goal and understanding that we are here to serve others is what makes me enjoy and love this journey. Were you in Boy Scouts? I was in Cub Scouts, but only briefly in Boy Scouts. My family moved as I was just going into Boy Scouts and didn't pursue it after, unfortunately. What is your favorite Scouting memory when you were young? I remember wearing the uniform to school on our meeting day was a big deal. We were all very proud of it. I also remember a hike where we placed rocks as a navigation system. Another group that was to come later in the day used our rocks to find us. We ended up together in the evening and sang songs around the campfire. What are some of your hobbies? I have several hobbies, among the many, my favorites include hiking/climbing/mountaineering. I enjoy long backpacking trips and climbing tall challenging mountains. I also like most shooting sports, but particularly skeet shooting and duck hunting. I play ice hockey two to three times a week. What is something interesting about you which most people don't know? I like the color blue. I like action and true story movies and documentaries. I can recite many lines of my favorite movies (which is very annoying to others around me, so I've been told). I like, and don't like technology. I ride a sport bike. My favorite sports teams are the LA Kings and SF Giants. I'm originally from the Monterey Bay Area. I started to like hockey about eight years ago. My favorite recent book is 'Unbroken' (but, I loathe the movie). I would like to live in Thailand for a year. I want to see Mt. Everest up close and personal. Most of all, I like to spend time with my wife and family. Thank you Mr. Smart for sharing a minute with us! Inside this issue Chapter Information... 2 Elections... 3 OA Membership... 4 Calendar of Events... 5 Membership Information... 6 Contact Information us: tomtom@topatopa.org Like us: Facebook.com/topatopalodge Follow us: Twitter.com/topatopalodge

2 Chapter Meetings and Leadership Asuskwa (Camarillo): Chapter Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month, at 7:00 pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2304 Antonio Ave., Camarillo Chapter Chief: Connor S. (805) Vice Chief Activities: Sam O. Vice Chief Elections: Cooper Y. Secretary: Nicholas F. Chapter Adviser: Mr. Kevin Smart (805) Mitz-Khan-A-Khan (Ventura, Oak View, Ojai Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru): Chapter Meetings: 1st Wednesday of the month, at 7:00 pm at First Christian Church, 38 Teloma Road, Ventura Chapter Chief: Hayden I. (805) Vice Chief Activities: Noland D. Vice Chief Elections: Ben L. Secretary: Jack L. Chapter Adviser: Mr. J.T. Adams (805) OA Starts at the local Chapter Meetings. Please contact your Chapter Adviser if you have any questions. Lodge Executive Council Topa Topa Officers Lodge Chief : Tyler K. Vice Chief Activities: Jordan S. Vice Chief Inductions: Austin Z. Lodge Secretary: Yaakov R. Lodge Treasurer: Brendan C. Ceremonies Chairman: Nicholas F. Vigil Chief: Tyler N. Ventura County Council BSA Lodge Staff Adviser: Mr. Jermain Bell Lodge Adviser: Mr. Kevin Smart Moskimos (Conejo Valley and LDS Moorpark): Chapter Meetings: 3rd Thursday of the month, at 7:30 pm at the LDS Church, 1600 Erbes Road, Thousand Oaks Chapter Chief: Yaakov R. (805) Vice Chief Activities: Ryan Y. Chapter Adviser: Mr. Casey McVey (805) Uhu-Ku (Simi Valley and Moorpark) Chapter Meetings: 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm at the LDS Church, 480 Sinaloa Road, Simi Valley Chapter Chief: David L. (805) Vice Chief Activities: Alex S. Vice Chief Elections: David J. Secretary: Tyler S. Chapter Adviser: Mr. Jon Zwirn (805) Muwu (Oxnard and Port Hueneme): Chapter Meetings: 1st Wednesday of the month, at 7:00 pm at the St. Paul s United Methodist Church, 1800 S. C Street, Oxnard Chapter Chief: Andrew P. (512) Vice Chief Activities: Randall T. Chapter Adviser: Mr. Charles McBride (805) Page 2

3 Do YOU Have what it take to be an Arrowman? OA Membership Requirements In February and March, your Chapter will be contacting every Troop and Team to set a date of OA Elections. Elections cannot be performed by the unit. Elections take about 20 minutes and candidates elected by the units are called out at Camporee. All Elections must be completed by the end of March. You can help! Make sure you have an OA Election on your yearly unit calendar Be enthusiastic about the Order of the Arrow whenever possible. What are the Membership requirements? Be registered with the Boy Scouts of America and hold the rank of First Class or higher. Have attended 15 days and nights of Scout-sponsored camping. Have attended one long term camp that was six consecutive days and 5 nights as part of the camping requirement. Be approved by the Scoutmaster to confirm that he is an example of living the Scout Oath and Promise in his daily life. Be elected by his fellow Scout Troop members. What are Arrowmen Qualities? Who is a friend to all? Who is helpful when others need a hand? Who is cheerful when he has tiresome jobs to do? Who would you wish to go camping with? Who regularly attends meetings of the Troop, campouts and service projects? Who can you depend on? Who sets an example by living the Scout Oath in his everyday life? Who do you feel is worthy to be a part of Scouting s National Honor Society? Have questions about elections? Contact Mr. Smart: 3 Page 3

4 OA Membership: Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil Honor There are Three Memberships in the Order of the Arrow: Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil Honor. Ordeal Membership is the initial membership in the Oder. The Ordeal consists primarily of physical impressions, a series of tests to prove sincere dedication to the principles of the Order. The primary obligation of an Ordeal membership is to serve his/her troop or team, and the member is only ready for additional responsibility within the Order after first satisfying this responsibility. Brotherhood Membership is not to be thought of as a separate honor in the same sense as the Vigil Honor. It does not carry with it any degree of rank, status or special privilege within the Lodge. Brotherhood is an opportunity for members to evaluate their contributions to Scouting and the Lodge and by sealing their membership in the Order, to reaffirm their beliefs in its high purposes. The ceremony is meant as a source of inspiration, motivating members to render even greater service to Scouting through the Order of the Arrow. (From the Order of the Arrow Handbooks, 1950 to present) By Vaughan Armstrong, Topa Topa Lodge Chief, 1964 Vigil Honor Membership is an honor the highest that the Order of the Arrow can bestow. It is a high mark of distinction and recognition. It has successfully fulfilled a very definite and satisfactory service to the Order, to Scouting and to the individual members. Its continued success depends on the care with which future members are selected and on the maintenance by its members of the high ideals of services to others for which the Vigil Honor has always been known. 4 Page 4

5 Topa Topa Lodge 2016 Calendar Date Event Location January Winter Fellowship Camp 3 Falls January 28 Lodge Executive Committee VC Council Center February 5-6 Section W4N COC & Retreat TBD February 25 Lodge Executive Committee VC Council Center March 24 Lodge Executive Committee VC Council Center April 2 Willing Work Day Camp 3 Falls April Camporee Camp Willet April 28 Lodge Executive Committee VC Council Center May 7 Section Council of Chiefs VC Council Center May First Spring Ordeal Camp 3 Falls May 26 Lodge Executive Committee VC Council Center June 3-5 Second Spring Ordeal Camp 3 Falls June 11 Lodge Picnic TBD June 23 Lodge Executive Committee VC Council Center August 25 Lodge Executive Committee VC Council Center August 27 Section W4N C.O.C. Camp 3 Falls September 10 Lodge Leadership Development VC Council Center September Section Conclave Camp 3 Falls October 7-9 Fall Ordeal Camp 3 Falls November Vigil Ordeal Camp 3 Falls 5 Page 5

6 TOPA TOPA LODGE Order of the Arrow For Dues and Membership Information, Check out the web site! You can also us or call the BSA Council Office at (805) dues $12.00 per member per year, Jan. through Dec., 2016 Prepay 2017 dues $12.00 per member per year, Jan. through Dec., PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE Ventura County Council, BSA Order of the Arrow Topa Topa Lodge # E. Daily Drive Camarillo, CA Mailing Address Line 1 Mailing Address Line 2 Mailing Address Line 3 Mailing Address Line 4 Mailing Address Line 5 YOUR LOGO HERE