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Lodge Chief Report

by Robert W.
chief@tejaslodge.org

From Section 2-3 North's Conclave at Camp Tonkawa in Abilene, Texas, to Indian Summer in Ashville, North Carolina; our Lodge has done it all. I am very proud and honored to have been able to serve all my brothers as your Lodge Chief for the 2011 year. Thank you to everyone, I truly have received more than I gave and cannot express my gratitude for allowing me to serve you. However, this is not a farewell on my part. I will not disappear into the shadowy veil of "has-beens" just yet. I will instead continue to serve you not as Chief, but as your Secretary for the 2012 year. I also look forward to fulfilling my position as Council Vice Chief (CVC) of Special Events for this year's Conclave. Thank you all once again for allowing me the opportunity to serve. I look forward to working in the coming year with all of you again, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Secretary's Column

by Hunter B., Lodge Secretary

secretary@tejaslodge.org

Well, I want to thank you all for a great year in the Lodge. It has been a great year to be secretary! I want to personally thank every Chapter secretary for working with me this year. I look forward to serving all of you this year as Lodge Chief, and I am glad to have such a great Lodge to work with. Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

NEXT STOP: NOAC 2012

Join 8,000 Arrowmen for the 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan from July 30 through August 4 2012. This six-day conference will bring Arrowmen together from around the country and the world for idea sharing, networking, inter-lodge and individual competitions, top notch training, and evening shows. Visit www.event.oa-bsa.org to visit the 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference website.



How to register



Tejas Lodge will travel to the 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference as a contingent. The lodge will provide youth and adult leadership during the trip to, while at, and from Michigan State University.

Contact Lodge Adviser, Bob Berry adviser@tejaslodge.org or Associate Adviser, Mark Bush m.w.bush@sbcglobal.net if you are interested in attending.

What you can look forward to at NOAC



The opportunities at NOAC are endless.

From training on leadership skills, to how to start a dance team, and what it takes to run a lodge induction weekend, training will inspire you to return home ready to share knowledge with your lodge.

The American Indian Activities will provide additional training on crafts, song, and dance. The AIA committee will host PowWows as well as national singing, team dance, and individual dance competitions.

The Inductions and Ceremonial Events will provide you opportunities to participate in ceremonial evaluations and inductions training. Evaluations are offered for Pre-Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil ceremonies. Trainings will include how to run a lodge induction effectively and symbolism through Order of the Arrow Ceremonies.

Be sure to attend the evening shows which are full productions including special effects, keynote addresses, award recognitions, and an opportunity to gather with 8,000 Arrowmen in one place.

At NOAC, there are plenty of lodge competitions for our lodge to compete including the national championships for soccer, volleyball, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee. Stop by the national Order of the Arrow museum in the afternoon, or participate in an afternoon training session.

For more information on the conference program, visitevent.oa-bsa.org

Social Media



Updates for the 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference will be posted online at www.event.os-bsa.org . Become a Fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/oabsa. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/oabsa . Subscribe online at www.youtube.com/oabsa. Join in conversation weekly about what you are looking forward to at NOAC and participate in the weekly trivia questions on Facebook.

You can attend the NOAC 2012 event on Facebook here: event.oa-bsa.org/noac2012facebook

What you need to know about NOAC



Check out the specific pages for you to learn about what you need to know for NOAC including what to bring, dining, housing, security, the OA Trading Post and more.

Are you an Arrowman, click here: http://event.oa-bsa.org/events/n2012/for_arrowmen.html

Are you a parent, click here: http://event.oa-bsa.org/events/n2012/for_parent.html

Are you a contingent leader, click here: http://event.oa-bsa.org/events/n2012/for_contingent.html

Are you a staff member, click here: http://event.oa-bsa.org/events/n2012/for_staff.html

Chapter Reports

Naconiche

by Nicholas M.

The Naconiche chapter made great improvement this year, the best by far being that we made runner-up for Chapter of the Year. Receiving this award shows our Chapter attendance at Lodge events has gone up along with general attendance and chapter participation. Some of the events that we have worked on are School Night for Scouting, were we helped the people in the field recruiting with tallying and with incoming applications. We helped at Mom and Me setting up tents for the moms who needed the help getting to the right campsite. We also helped at the games station, among other stations, and with the all-time favorite: kitchen duty. We helped SFA with setting up for the 9/11 Remembrance by placing flags on the campus. We cooked, served and cleaned up for the Scouts at the Popcorn Blitz. We performed an OA Eagle Scout ceremony for Guy Mc.'s Eagle Court of Honor, Naconiche's previous secretary - always good to have another Eagle Scout! We also participated in the Native American weekend, learning how to make regalia and drum in ceremonies. It's good to see that we're participating in more events than in past years.

Naconiche chapter has elected new leaders they are as follows:

1. Chief - Trevor M.

2. Vice-Chief of Administrations - Josh W.

3. Vice-Chief of Service - Dylan R.

4. Vice-Chief of Ceremonies - David H.

5. Chief of Native American Affairs - Nat S.

6. Secretary - Nicholas M.

With the new year comes new goals, some of which will have been carried over from last year.

Some of the old goals were to have a minimum of 10% attendance for at least 4 chapter meetings, which was met. To increase participation in district events, which was met. Increase participation in lodge events, increase brotherhood crossovers, and increase participation in service projects, which were all met. Looking back at this year it was extremely productive for the Naconiche chapter - let's make this next year just as productive!

Okee Tuklo

by Chipper A.

The Okee Tuklo chapter of Tejas Lodge 72 has been very busy lately. There were three main things that kept them busy. These were Fall Fellowship, a Christmas parade, and chapter elections.

Okee Tuklo was well represented at the Fall Fellowship. Many of its members were in attendance. Everyone was excited because we also won the award for chapter of the year.

Another event Okee Tuklo was a part of was a Christmas parade in downtown Tyler. The lodge's fancy dance team was there, along with about 50 scouts from Troop 369. Most of the lodge members there were also members of Troop 369, but some were from other troops in the chapter. The OA guys were dressed up as cowboys and Indians and were driving the wagon.

The next event on the calendar was chapter elections. They took place on December 18. The new Chief is Jonathan B. The new Vice Chief of Administration is Morgan E. The new Vice Chief of Ceremonies is Matthew M. The new Vice Chief of Service is Quinn R. The new Vice Chief of Native American Affairs is Dylan W. The new secretary is Chipper A.

Caddo

by Josh V.

Greetings from Caddo Chapter! We wish to congratulate the winners of chapter of the year and runner up. We are getting ready for 2012 and have elected new officers: Chapter Chief - Kevin B. II (Kevin Boatman, Chapter Advisor), VC of Admin- Russell S. (Ken Skinner, Advisor), VC of Service - Sam L. (Kevin Boatman, Advisor), VC of Ceremony- Jordan V. (Paul Vaughn, Advisor), VC of Native American Affairs- Marshall F. (Doug Gardiner, Advisor), Secretary- Josh V. (Paul Vaughn, Advisor). We also want to congratulate Jonathan V. for attaining Vigil Honor. Caddo chapter had fun cooking for the Lodge officers at their training.

To all Caddo Chapter members, please remember that we meet at the KC hall on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm. We have great meetings planned and hope you can make it. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tall Timbers

by Matt Lindsey

Our chapter chief and secretary normally write the Tayshas articles. However, this issue, I am borrowing the column to thank John W. and his team for the work they put in for the Tall Timbers Chapter and the lodge over the past year. I would also like to thank the adults that supported the youth leaders, especially Sammy May and Lance Lamb. Furthermore, congratulations are in order for John W. and Gerald Sylvester, who were recognized by the lodge and awarded the Vigil Honor this year.

In looking forward to next year, I would like to introduce the new officers for the Tall Timbers chapter. The newly elected chief is Eric B. The Vice Chief of Administration is Spencer S. The Vice Chief of Ceremonies is John W. Josh A. is the Vice Chief for Native American Affairs. Jacob G. is the Secretary. We do not have a Vice Chief for Service yet. Please cheerfully answer when you are called upon by one of these arrow men to serve in the coming year.

John W. has several ceremony teams formed. If you are interested, come to the meeting an hour early at 6 PM for the monthly ceremony practice. We need members to help with cross over ceremonies, ordeal ceremonies and competitions. If you need a script for the cross over ceremony, contact Sammy May or John W.

If it has been a while since you visited an OA member, January is a good time to start again. Our next two meetings are January 12th and February 9th at 7 PM at the Chambers Park Troop 518 Scout House (the green former Girl Scout house at the corner of Feagin and Pershing) http://g.co/maps/k8vek .

Adviser's Minute

by Bob Berry
adviser@tejaslodge.org

Congratulations to Brian Allen and Cece Allen for being presented the 2011 Founder's Awards. These are well deserved.

2011 was a busy year for the lodge. The Spring True Grit Weekend proved to be a success after the Spring Fellowship had not been held for several years. Tejas Lodge was well represented at Indian Summer with our arrowmen bringing home awards in dance outfits and ceremonies.

The lodge banquet was held on December 3 at which time the Vigil candidates for 2011 were recognized. Congratulations to Trenton S., Tommy K., Jonathan V., John W., Robert Head, Gerald Sylvester, Peggy Scott and Larry Frowick. Chapter of the Year for 2011 was Okee Tuklo. Naconiche came in second place.

Lodge officers for 2012 have been elected and I look forward to working with the new officers. The upcoming year promises to be busy year with conclave in April at Tarleton State University in Stephenville. On July 30 the 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) will begin. Mark your calendars and plan to attend these two great events.

The first event in 2012 will be the Lodge Leadership Development (LLD) that will be held on January 20-21 at Camp Pirtle. The training is open to any arrowman. Information will be posted on the lodge website about the weekend. www.tejaslodge.org