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Ask the Chairman - What is the ratio of adults to Scouts that a troop can select for OA membership?

        Ask the Chairman

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Q. Mr. Capp,

What is the ratio of adults to Scouts that a troop can select for OA? If it's on the web I apologize for missing it.

Thank you,
William


A. William,

The current election policy is written in the OA Guide to Unit Elections in the section entitled Unit Elections Rules and Procedures. Regarding the adults, page 3 of that section states:

"Adult recommendations. Each year, upon holding a troop or team election for youth candidates that results in at least one youth candidate being elected, the unit committee may nominate registered unit adults, 21 years of age or older, to the lodge adult selection committee for approval to be candidates for induction. The number of adults nominated can be no more than one-third of the number of youth candidates elected, rounded up where the number of youth candidates is not a multiple of three. In addition to the one-third limit, the unit committee may nominate the currently-serving unit leader (but not assistant leaders), as long as he or she has served as unit leader for at least the previous 12 months."

So, if at least one youth is elected, the troop/team committee may nominate no more adults than 1/3 of the youth elected, rounded up if the number of youth elected is not a multiple of 3. In addition, the unit committee may nominate their current serving unit leader provided he has served in that position for at least the previous 12 months.

Thanks for your question, and happy Scouting.

Ray