Seminole Lodge
Seminole Lodge is an Order of the Arrow lodge in Gulf Ridge Council in Florida. It is part of Section S-4.[1]
| Seminole Lodge | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Totem | White Ibis | ||
| Owner | Gulf Ridge Council | ||
| Headquarters | Tampa, Florida | ||
| Location | Tampa, Florida and surrounding area | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Lodge Chief | Daniel Holtzberg | ||
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Website http://www.seminole85.com | |||
History
The Boy Scouts of America approved the Order of the Arrow as part of its program in 1934 and two years later the council in the Tampa Bay area accepted the OA too. The lodge was chartered in 1936 under the name Kiondashama Lodge 85, and the head of Osceola was chosen as the lodge totem. It was soon discovered that the Knight and Wall Paint Company of Tampa had trademarked the Osceola head. At that time, a Pine Tree became the lodge totem. In 1938 the name of the lodge was changed to Seminole Lodge 85, and the totem was changed to the White Ibis.
In 1951 Seminole Lodge lost its charter, but just one year later they were once again active. Seminole, the oldest lodge in the section, had a good name in the area and has won several competitions. One of their proudest moments was in 2003 when one of the Lodge's members, Nick Digirolamo was elected National Chief of the Order of the Arrow.
Leadership
Seminole Lodge elects the members of the Lodge Executive Board (LEB) at their Spring Conclave (held during a weekend in March). As a result of a vote by the Lodge Executive Committee, new lodge officers do not take office until the Lodge's banquet (held in April).
Chapters
Seminole Lodge is divided into four chapters, Allouchsit, Netopalis Tachquiwi, Pèthakhuwe, and Gischileu. A chapter is like a district, being that it has its own leadership. The chapter leadership structure is similar to the Lodge's. Chapter Chiefs report directly to the Lodge Chief.
Events
Seminole Lodge holds five Lodge events throughout the year: Winter Fellowship, Spring Conclave, Banquet, Ibis Weekend (Formerly Beaver Weekend), and Fall Conclave.
Winter Fellowship
Winter Fellowship is the first event of the year, held in January. This event is typically held at Camp Brorein in Tampa, FL. This event is primarily focused on Arrowmen completing their Brotherhood and sealing their membership in the Order of the Arrow, though other activities and service projects are conducted over the course of the weekend.
Spring Conclave
Spring Conclave is generally considered to be the main event of the Lodge. This event easily has the highest turnout of all the year's events. All members of the Lodge Executive Board are elected during this event, along with the Chapter Officials. An ordeal is run at this event for candidates to become members of the Order. Arrowmen who have been in the Order for at least 10 months are able to seal their membership by completing their Brotherhood. Members who have had Brotherhood membership for at least two years may be called out to receive the Vigil Honor, the highest honor in the Order of the Arrow. This is the only event of the year that members receive the Vigil honor.
Lodge Banquet
The Lodge Banquet is the awards ceremony for the year. It usually takes place as a formal dinner during the months of April or May. Recipients of the Vigil Honor are recognized again. As of 2016, new Lodge Officers are inaugurated at this event.
Ibis Weekend
Formerly known as Beaver Weekend or Beaver Day, this event is open to any Boy Scout Troop in the council to attend. This event is oriented towards setting up Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation for summer camp. The event is normally held in May, about 2 months before the start of summer camp. Ordeals and Brotherhood are both held over the weekend.
Fall Conclave
This is the final event of the year, typically held in October. At this event, members can complete their Brotherhood. Additionally, this is the event where nominations for the Vigil Honor and the Founder's Award take place via secret ballot.
External links
- Seminole 85 website: http://www.seminole85.com
References
- ↑ Gulf Ridge Council Seminole Lodge Page: https://gulfridgecouncil.org/program/seminole-lodge