TwoTen Winter Banquet Festivities
The Illini Lodge Winter Banquet will have a spirited fellowship for all in attendance for the annual recognition program. Along with the tasty steaks and fabulous rolls, Illini Lodge will have honors, prizes and awards for Arrowmen of all sizes. Plan now to be at the Beef House on Saturday, Jan. 9th, 2010 for a very special afternoon. Dinner is served at noon IL time, with Pre-Banquet Brotherhood starting at 11:00 AM CST. Paid pre-registration is required for the Winter Banquet. The fee for the banquet is $17.00 per person, due by December 30, 2009. The fee for the banquet after December 30 is $22.00 per person. No walk-ins, please. For more information please see here
Special 2010 Membership Card for Dues by Tues. 12/22
Lodge Fifty Five is looking to provide early dues paying members with a special perk for their BSA Centennial Season. For all Illini 55 supportive arrowmen who pay their 2010 lodge membership dues of $10.00 to our local Order of the Arrow organization for annual financial assistance to brotherhood operations for 2010, a shiny new membership card will be created and signed by Jack O’Neil, the National Chief of the Order of the Arrow. These commemorative BSA Centennial edition Illini Lodge membership cards will be completed with your name, expiration date and the Obligation of the Order of the Arrow. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE….Your 2010 Illini Lodge Membership card will be laminated to create a shiny and sturdy card that displays the quality of your lodge dedication. Don’t wait…this offer will end on Dues Tues, Dec. 22 in order for our antlered personnel in creating these wonderfully designed Wimachtendienk souvenirs. For more details on the special commemorative BSA Centennial edition Illini Lodge membership cards, contact Program Clerk Susan Coller at (800) 464-7291, ext. 222.
Keep Informed at IlliniLodge55.com
For all your up-to-date news on your local Order of the Arrow business, look to www.illinilodge55.com for news articles, lodge forms, chiefly ideas, and service opportunities. Be sure to get your name into the Lodge Clerk Susan Coller at susan.coller at Scouting dot org to get regular lodge updates on fast-breaking happenings of the arrow. Keep up-to-date with your links to the lodge.
Illini Lodge #55 has Humungous Attendance at Lodge Leadership Development
The leadership training provided at this event will help 92 Illini Lodge members and guests from two other lodges become more effective leaders and communicators within the Lodge, but also be more effective leaders within their Scout troops and committees. The techniques taught will also be used back in school or on the job. Thanks to LLD Advisor Alyx Parker for organizing the terrific training program
Chapter Elections held at LLD
Three of the four chapters in Illini Lodge held an election for their Chapter Chief at the LLD on November 1st. A chapter chief is needed to oversee the Order of the Arrow operations in these geographic territories. The position of chapter chief will be focused on unit elections, camp promotions, and recruiting troop representatives. Please contact Lodge Advisor Butch Price at illini55advisor at yahoo dot com if you are interested in helping to serve with the chapter level leadership. The chapter chiefs for 2009-2010 will be:
Illini Chapter Alex Kaper, Troop 103, Mahomet Indian Trails Chapter Will Provin, Troop 29, Gibson City Many Streams Chapter TBA Okaw Chapter Ryan Rodgers, Troop 490, Monticello
CAMP STAFF INTERVIEWS
Any interested scouts or scouters looking to be a part of the Two Ten Camp Drake staff should plan to attend an interview in January. Call to schedule your 15-minute time slot. Full time staff members must be 15 years of age before June 1, 2010. Counselors-in-Training need to be age 14 by that deadline. For additional details, contact Mike Graham at 217-356-7291, ext. 218..
Arrowman Registration
As charter time approaches, it has been suggested that troops use the opportunity of unit re-registration to improve the lodge dues collection for official membership in the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. Look for your OA member checklist at the Camp Launch to remind your arrowmen in your troop to pay their dues for 2010.
Service in the Snow!
In fine Klondike Derby tradition, lodge members have been asked to serve at the council winter challenge at Camp Robert Drake on January 30, 2010. The lodge’s very own Vice-Chief of Activities Nathan Lee will provide leadership to the lodge’s support of the largest single day event in the council. To sign up for “Sam McGee” keep the fires burning duties, contact Nathan at nate_lee_92 at hotmail dot com
ILLINI LODGE HOLIDAY PARTY
Illini Lodge invites all arrowmen to attend a festive holiday party to share cheerful spirit and brotherhoodlyness. The Lodge Holiday Party will be conducted at 3:30 pm on Sunday, December 6nd at the Covenant Hospital Auditorium in Urbana. Tis the season to celebrate the fellowship of the Order of the Arrow and share gifts as a sashed St. Nick. All arrowmen, both youth and adult, as well as parents are encouraged to participate in this lodge-building activity. Bask in the glow of a Bears victory over St. Louis! Plan to prepare for additional Cheerful Brotherhoodlyness. Plus there will be free pizza!
Win a pair of tickets to a University of Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball game. One of the door prizes for the Lodge Holiday Party will be two free tickets to see the Orange and Blue dominate the Big Ten basketball scene! Pick any game on the schedule. Plan to attend the Illini Lodge Holiday Party on December 6nd for a great fellowship opportunity.
Illini Lodge invites all arrowmen to enjoy refreshments, an informative budget review, bowl full of jelly entertainment and a festive holiday celebration. If possible, please bring an inexpensive “White Elephant” gift to share with your sashed brethren.
A Real Treat for those in the Red Arrowed Sash Costume
An unbelievable opportunity is available this Halloween evening with the arrival of the National Order of the Arrow Chief in Champaign. The top leader in the national Brotherhood of Cheerful Service Jack O’Neil will be spending his trick or treating hours at the residence of Alan and Heather Parker this Saturday, October 31st. The Parker family is hosting a Meet and Greet with the National Chief at their house at 7 pm at 2720 Valley Book Drive, Champaign, 61822. All Illini Lodge members are welcome to visit and get to know the highest ranking officer in our national organization. Bring any OA memorabilia that you would like to have signed by the National Chief.
Please RSVP to LLD Advisor Alyx Parker at alyxparker at yahoo dot com if you plan to attend the social get-together. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local arrowmen to rub elbows with a national leader in our own community. This is not an event where your uniform is required. You can even dress up like a happy orange and blue football fan!
Jack is attending the Illini-Wolverine football game with Alyx on Saturday afternoon. Mr. O’Neil will be the lead speaker on Sunday at the Lodge Leadership Development course at Provena Covenant Hospital in Auditorium B. Please plan to attend the LLD this Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 12:00 noon at 1400 W. Park in Urbana. There is no cost with refreshments, pizza, and A PATCH provided – what a great deal! Please RSVP to Lodge Program Clerk Susan Coller at Susan.Coller@scouting.org if you plan to attend the Lodge Leadership Development course. Please wear your uniform and sash to this event, if possible.
Chapter Elections…Dress up like a Chapter Chief
For each of the four chapters in Illini Lodge, a chapter chief is needed to oversee the Order of the Arrow operations in these small geographic territories. The position of chapter chief will be focused on unit elections, camp promotions, and recruiting troop representatives. Please contact Lodge Advisor Butch Price at illini55advisor at yahoo dot com if you are interested in serving on the chapter level.
Sharp Shooter Need Arrowman Help
Illini Lodge members are needed to help host the Shooting Sports Clinic at Camp Robert Drake. The Prairielands Council of the Boy Scouts of America will conduct a SHOOTING SPORTS FESTIVAL on Sunday, November 8th, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Camp Robert Drake near Oakwood, IL. This will be a free shooting sports clinic and competition for trophies and prizes. Instructional lessons open shooting and target competitions will be held for all ability levels between ages 11-20. Arrowmen will be asked to serve as hospitality staff.
All participants at the shooting sports clinic and competition for Boy Scouts, Venturers, and their guests will be eligible for fabulous door prizes and honors trophies. Open shooting will be set up under the guidance of the Prairielands Council Shooting Sports Committee, under the leadership of Director Tony Martin, who will offer safety instruction, marksmanship lessons, and shooting technique tips. The goal of the event is to introduce shooting sports opportunities available at Camp Drake to new members. The BSA Shooting Sports Festival is free for all potential members. Boy Scouts of America members who are currently involved in a Scout troop or Venturing crew can attend for free by bringing a new member to the event.
The shooting events for ages 11-20 will include: .22 RIFLE SHOOTING, .50 BLACK POWDER RIFLE SHOOTING, ARCHERY, and a TOMAHAWK TOSS. An added event for ages 14-20 will be .22 handgun shooting. The schedule for the BSA Shooting Sports Festival will be an Open Shoot from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm, followed by the competition beginning at 3:00 pm. The competition will be an N.R.A. 50 YARD SMALL BORE RIFLE CHALLENGE, with trophies for the top 5 marksmen. All participants in the BSA Shooting Sports Festival will be eligible for the fabulous door prizes. If you are able to assist with the prize drawings and food distribution, please e-mail an RSVP to Shooting Sports Director Tony Martin at abmartin55 at comcast dot net to let him know you can support Scouting.
National Chief to Guide Illini Lodge
Illini Lodge 55 is pleased to announce that the National Chief of the Order of the Arrow, Jack O'Neill, will be the lead presenter at its Lodge Leadership Development seminar. The seminar will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2009, beginning at 12: noon at Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana. All Lodge members are welcome to attend. There is no cost to attend & pizza will be provided. The National Chief serves on the OA National Committee, and serves as a top youth representative to all of Boy Scouting. Jack worked with the Deputy Conference Chairman of Program to plan the schedule for the 2009 NOAC. Those of you attending NOAC were be able to see the hard work that Jack put in to make sure that everything ran smoothly. In March, Jack personally presented President Barack Obama will the annual Order of the Arrow annual report in the Oval Office. 2009 National Chief Jack O’Neill is from St. Louis, MO, a member of Shawnee Lodge of the Greater St. Louis Area Council and was previously the Section Chief of Section C-5C. Jack currently attends the University of Missouri in Columbia, and is an Eagle Scout. Jack is a Vigil Honor recipient and served on the instructor Corps for the Arrow Corps 5 project. In his free time, Jack enjoys tennis, camping, flag football, baseball and basketball
Leadership Development Conference
As an Order of the Arrow member, young adults are expected to act as a leader. The many aspects of people management will be reviewed in context with lodge and troop operations at the annual Lodge Leadership Development Conference on Sunday, November 1st at Covenant Hospital Auditorium Room B on Park Street in Urbana, IL. National level instructors have been recruited to provide a top-notch educational experience for youth leaders and their adult advisors. Refreshments will be provided, and there is no registration fee. Illini Lodge invites all arrowmen to attend the annual leadership seminar to provide instruction on management techniques that will be useful throughout your life- in and out of Scouting. Topics for this session will review leadership styles, effective communications, and the committee structure of Illini Lodge. All arrowmen, both youth and adult, are encouraged to participate in this lodge-building activity. Plan to prepare for additional Cheerful Brotherhoodlyness.
The Illini Lodge will conduct a fun weekend of lodge activities on the weekend of October 2-4, 2009. The weekend will include Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil Honor ceremonies. New officers will be elected to lead the lodge for 2010. Activities will be planned for arrowmen to enjoy the cheerful aspect of the order. Look for a registration form soon at the Illini Lodge website, linked from the council site at www.prairielandsbsa.org
Lodge Meeting in September
Illini Lodge invites all arrowmen to attend the September Lodge Meeting on Sunday, September 13th in Auditorium B at the Provena Covenant Medical Center, 1400 W. Park St. in Urbana., beginning at 5:00 pm. Important issues for the fall preparations, service projects and the upcoming Fall Pow Wow will be discussed this Sunday. Please encourage arrowmen from your troop to attend the meeting.
Ordeal Help at Fall Pow Wow Weekend
All arrowmen are encouraged to help induct the new candidates at the Illini Lodge Fall Pow Wow Weekend on October 2-4 at Camp Robert Drake. Candidates from the summer call-outs are eligible to join the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service by participating in the Ordeal Ceremony. Lodge members are required to make the experience a meaningful journey into the OA. Ordeal Chairman Tyler Davis is looking for talented youth to provide leadership to candidates throughout the process. Contact the Prairielands Council office at 356-7291, ext. 222 to have Program Clerk Susan Coller add your name to the list of successful arrowmen.
Section Conclave in Wisconsin
Plan now to head north as you attend the last Section C-3C Conclave on September 28-30, 2009 hosted by the lodge from the Three Fires Council. Brothers from 6 lodges from Illinois and Indiana will gather to compete, to inspire, and to share fellowship in a weekend of activities, ceremonies, and events.
Committee Involvement
The OA operations of Illini Lodge depend on a wide variety of committees to complete the plethora of duties set each year. Each lodge committee is led by a youth chair and an adult advisor who are responsible for their area of expertise in the lodge. In order for all of the goals of the lodge to be accomplished each year, many Arrowmen are needed to assist with the important tasks. Committees include:
Membership Publications Lodge Service Activities Camp Promotions Communications/Website Ceremonies Brotherhood Leadership Development OnaQ Trail Cub Relations National Events
Opportunities to join a committee will be presented at the Fall Pow Wow in October.
Officer Elections
The top leadership for Illini Lodge will be selected at the Fall Pow Wow on the evening of Saturday, October 3rd . Following the supper banquet, arrowmen will elect the top five lodge positions to guide our council’s honor society for 2009-10. The positions include Lodge Chief, Vice Chief of Administration, Vice-Chief of Activities, Secretary, and Treasurer. All dues-paying Illini Lodge youth members are eligible to run for a position and participate in the election. In the Order of the Arrow, you are considered a youth member until you turn 21 years of age.
Light the Jack-O-Lantern
Brave men of the lodge are required to fan the flame of service for the fabulous Smilin Pumpkin Outdoor Sports Fest. At least 25 lodge members are needed to run the afternoon of outdoor games for current & potential Cub Scouts and families. Current Cub Scouts are encouraged to invite a friend to discover the opportunities in Scouting. The Smilin’ Pumpkin event is set for Sunday, October 25th at Camp Drake. Illini Lodge arrowmen will be the shining candle of spirit in the Jack-o-Lantern of fun. Let’s see your spark in October! To sign up for the fun, contact the Big Fire (also known as Vice-Chief of Activities Carson Lewis) at 1eagle-i at sbcglobal dot net
New Patch Set Available!
Illini Lodge will begin the sales of a new lodge flap at the Spring Fellowship on May 1st. The eight point buck will sell for $8.00. Illini Lodge members will be able to purchase this design with a red border. National Order of the Arrow participants and staff members from our lodge will be able to obtain the black bordered edition. Look for your new` threads at the Fellowship or the natural resting place for all quality emblems…the Raymond Lee Scout Service Center.
Wild West Fellowship
Buckin’ broncos, chuck wagon cooking, and rootin’ tootin’ shootin’ will entertain Illini arrowmen at the Spring Fellowship on May 1-3, 2009 at Camp Robert Drake. The Brotherhood of Cheerful Fun will celebrate western style at our favorite camp with themed activities, special events, and all kinds of western cooking. The Saturday night supper show will provide a fanciful feast, accompanied by BBQ everything. Additional eventswill include Brotherhood ceremonies, after-hours crackerbarrels, service preparations for the summer season, and chapter activity competitions. SCOUTMASTERS’ NOTE: This is the last event for elected candidates from 2008 to participate in their Ordeal ceremony. Please follow up with any outstanding candidates to remind them of this deadline.
Top Arrowmen receive National Training
OA “attaboys” go out to Lodge Chief Nate Lee and Vice Chief Robert Sloan upon receiving a passing grade at the National Leadership Seminar at the Geneva Center in February. Kudos also to Many Streams Chapter Advisor Mark Hoagland for his participation in the NLS program as well. Congratulations to the new Lodge Advisor Butch Price and new Associate Lodge Advisor Jim Lee for their graduation from the National Lodge Advisor Training Seminar in Rochester, IN. To congratulate Butch, note that his new e-mail is Illini55advisor@yahoo.com
National Order of the Arrow Conference
Illini Lodge is forming the greatest group of OA Bucks to ever attend a national event in the history of Illinidom. From August 1st to August 6th, 2009, the Illini Lodge contingent will enjoy fabulously entertaining shows, high quality leadership training, awe-inspiring Native American events, nation-wide sporting challenges, plus more Arrowrific activities each day. Youth can pay a deposit of $100.00 to the Raymond Lee Scout Service Center, Box 6267, Champaign, IL, 61826-6267 to sign up for the National Order of the Arrow Conference at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. This is set to be the largest NOAC ever. Everything that is OA comes to life in grandiose style at a National Conference, especially in the Big Ten! Contact Lodge Advisor Butch Price at "Illini55advisor at yahoo.com" to be a part of this historic event.
March at the TRAIL DAY in March
Enjoy a beautiful morning along the banks of the Salt Fork River, hiking the Onaquispassippi Trail with all your Scouting buddies. From 9:00 until 12:00 noon on the Two Eightingham of Oh-Ninenstien all arrowmen and their special guests are invited to Get On their hiking boots and Get On the Onaquispasippi Trail! See the spectacular views around camp. Add to your springtime calendar of fun events – the TRAIL TROMP is hiking on to your calendar on Saturday, MARCH 28th. Walk the Onaquispassippi Trail and uncover secrets of camping past and prizes for our leaders of tomorrow.
Pay Dues at the Winter Banquet
All Illini Lodge members who pay their dues before or at the 2009 Illini Lodge Winter Banquet will be able to use the 2008 figures of $8.00 for dues payment. Illini Lodge will increase its annual dues fee to $10.00, beginning at 10:00 pm on Jan. 10, 2009. Please pay your dues.
Blue Border Illini
The Illini Lodge buck still watches over the cool blue waters of the flowing river that traverses through the cornfields of your pocket flap. Now you can wear the blueness of the lodge with your very own blue-bordered Illini Lodge flap on sale at the Witahemui Service Store at the Beef House on Jan. 10, 2009. Look for these custom ordered emblems on sale next year at a lodge event near you!
Illini Lodge Hats and T-shirts
Illini Lodge has new hats and t-shirts to be sold! Hats are $15 and t-shirts are$12 They are sold at your local Camp Drake Trading post or the Robeson Scout Shop. Buy and wear your Illini Lodge gear today!!!
Lodge Advisor Exchange
Long standing Illini Lodge Advisor Tony Martin will be stepping down from his position at the 2009 Winter Banquet and Associate Lodge Advisor Butch Price will take over as the top adult leader for our organization. Tony has provided many years of service to the lodge, guiding the development of youth leadership in our Brotherhood. He has guided chiefs, officers, arrowmen and advisors in the improvement of our Brotherhood and thousands of service hours to our camp and council. Please pass along a note of appreciation to Tony for his dedication to our Order.
Smilin Pumpkin Smashes Records
According to Vice-Chief of Activities Carson Lewis, the 2008 Smilin Pumpkin Shooting Sports Fest at Camp Robert Drake on Oct. 26 set record attendance numbers with over 240 Cub Scout participants from 29 packs in the Prairielands Council. Gorgeous fall weather helped to create a festive atmosphere as many Cub Scouts and their families enjoyed Camp Drake for the first time.
New Chief
Congratulations to Nathan Lee of Troop 80 in Tuscola on his election to Illini Lodge Chief for the 2008-09 year. Nathan pledged to develop better communications throughout all of the troops in the Prairielands Council as a part of his election speech at the Illini Loge Fall Pow Wow on October 4th. In his other positions in the lodge, Nathan has lead the Ordeal and Brotherhood committees. Nathan served as a Camp Drake counselor in the Ecology area during the “Summer of Infinite Fun”. Best wishes to Nathan Lee in the upcoming year of cheerful service.
New Brotherhood
Six new Brotherhood members were recognized for sealing their membership into the Order of the Arrow at Camp Drake on October 4th. In order to become a Brotherhood member, the Ordeal member must serve in the lodge for at least 10 months and understand certain principles of the Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui. Congratulations to these new Brotherhood members: Kelly Chapman of T50 in Villa Grove,, Tim Davis of T 188 in Watseka , Kody Gettleman of T309 in Bismarck, Holt Hafer of Troop 103 in Mahomet, , Aaron, Weckhorst of T 101 in Champaign, and , David Weckhorst of T 101 in Champaign. With these newly sashed members, Illini Lodge has reached its goal of a 30% Brotherhood conversion rate, making them eligible to achieve the coveted Quality Lodge award.
Vigil Honor members selected
The 2008 Vigil Honor members were called out as a part of the closing ceremony at the Illini Lodge Fire circle on Saturday night , October 4th, 2008 at Camp Drake near Fairmount, IL. Six members of Illini Lodge were announced as achieving the highest honor in the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. Those prestigious arrowmen are: Ryan Batts of Troop 80 in Tuscola, Ron Clow of Troop 29 in Gibson City, Jared Durst of Troop 7 in Champaign, Nathan Lee of Troop 80 in Tuscola, Brandon Price of Troop 80 in Tuscola, Mike Shaw of Troop 40 in St. Joseph.
Chapter News
For each of the four chapters in Illini Lodge, a set of chapter officers are needed to oversee the Order of the Arrow operations in these geographic territories. There were not enough participants present at the Fall Pow Wow on Oct. 5th to conduct a proper selection, so each chapter is forming a separate meeting in their area for all participants to attend. Look for chapter details in the near future.
New Lodge Leadership Opportunities
As an Order of the Arrow member, young adults are expected to act as a leader. The many aspects of people management will be reviewed in context with lodge and troop operations at the annual Lodge Leadership Development Conference on Sunday, November 2nd at Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana. National level instructors have been recruited to provide a top-notch educational experience for youth leaders and their adult advisors. Refreshments will be provided, but there is no registration fee. Illini Lodge invites all arrowmen to attend the annual leadership seminar to provide instruction on management techniques that will be useful throughout your life- in and out of Scouting. The Lodge Leadership Development will begin at 12 noon on, November 2nd and then followed by the monthly lodge meeting. Topics for this session will review leadership styles, effective communications, and the committee structure of Illini Lodge. All arrowmen, both youth and adult, are encouraged to participate in this lodge-building activity. Plan to prepare for additional Cheerful Brotherhoodlyness.