The Lodge Flap

The Illini Lodge 55 flap was designed by Ed Sudlow and is found with three border designs:

• Red Border - The red-bordered flap is the standard style, and serves as the trading patch.
• White Border - White-bordered flaps are used for special purposes, including commemorating special events such as National Order of the Arrow Conferences.
• Gold Border - The Executive Committee of the lodge commemorated the efforts of all the lodge's members during the consolidation by issuing a special charter member lodge patch with a gold border. Only five gold-bordered flaps were produced per active member. These patches were only available during our charter year.
  

The elements of the flap design are:

• Lettering and Sash - The words "Illini Lodge 55" are written in a modern italic style, reflecting the progressive nature of our lodge, always leaning toward the future. The lettering is superimposed on an Ordeal Sash, signifying our common bond with one another and with all members of the Order.
• Totem - The white-tailed deer totem appears on the flap. The deer was chosen for several reasons. It was very important to the Indians native to this area, providing a source of food as well as hides, antlers, and bones for clothing and tools. The deer is at home in our woodlands, living in harmony with all of nature. The deer is strong, stealthful, and fleet of foot, providing an ideal example of how we should treat our natural areas.
• Evergreen Branch - The evergreen branch at the left signifies our need, as the evergreen is, to always be filled with life, so we may always be ready to provide cheerful service.
• River - The rivers of our area have always been essential to life for the local inhabitants. The salines of the Vermilion also provided salt for the Indians, and later became a valuable source of trade with settlers.
• Land - The land shows the bounties of the prairie, in the form of a field ripe for harvest, and the woodlands and grasslands which we so enjoy at Camp Drake.