Many lodges struggle with membership retention, and others with simply recruiting new ordeal members. Marnoc Lodge of Great Trail Council in northeast Ohio is no exception. Lodge leaders decided to tackle the problem head on and came up with a way to get the word out about the activities it offers.
The LEC came up with the idea for "OA Day". OA Day is a way to reach hundreds of campers--both OA members and nonmembers--in the summer. The event takes place during summer camp at Camp Manotoc in the Bueno Vista Cabin, the OA building for summer camp, and is held each Tuesday. The event is generally run by the OA ambassador Brian Dipaolo, who is the liaison between the lodge and the camp and is a part of the camp's staff.
The OA Day event is designed to encourage Arrowmen and future Arrowmen to learn more about the lodge. Marnoc Lodge answers questions about upcoming events and activities within the lodge, and devotes the theme of this day to the purpose of the Order of the Arrow. All campers who are part of the Order can wear their sashes throughout the day at meals, merit badges, and program activities.
An OA Day afternoon includes a brief brotherhood meeting (with preparations for the evening), an ice cream social, and a Brotherhood Ceremony following the social. The rewards from this effort are more than just a camper's sweet tooth. It also increases the awareness of the OA's huge presence in Scouting. Campers every week consist of OA members, though even the members themselves may not know about all the activities in store for them.
Marnoc's success in this event has brought more members in to volunteer with inductions and ramp up excitement within the council about this service organization. Hearing about an honor society such as the Order of the Arrow is one thing. Interacting with members while at a summer camp is completely different. When Scouts get to meet Arrowmen and hear about their experiences, and when Scouts get to see firsthand the service and Influence the OA has, their curiosity is pricked and they want to find out more.
With that curiosity, Scouts will want to be inducted into, learn more about, and become more active in the Order.
An OA Day may be just the thing your lodge needs to spark the dwindling flames of membership interest. Get with your Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) to discuss what options are available to you. Sometimes for Scouts that haven't tapped into our brotherhood of cheerful service, seeing is believing.