posted Dec 31, 2010 10:43 AM by Unknown user
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updated Dec 31, 2010 10:55 AM
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Brothers,
As chapter chief, it is my duty to report on the progress of our chapter. As we are closing in on the final hours of 2010, it's time to take a look back at what we have accomplished as a chapter:
- For 2010, we held numerous elections for various troops across Newport News. Almost 50% of all troops in James River District have had elections this year, up from just 30% in September 2010 thanks to last minute elections organized by Marion Anderson. I have had the pleasure and privilege of accompanying him on all of these elections and I hope to continue working with him in 2011.
- In addition to troop elections, we have also done many resulting call-out ceremonies in 2010. Almost all troops who had elections this year requested a call-out to be done. Our Ceremonies committee was able to debut its new regalia at a call-out last December, and our Ceremonies team that night unanimously agreed that this call-out was the best they had ever experienced, with most vowing to return for future call-outs in 2011. Billy Steinberger has certainly done a tremendous job in acquiring nationally-ranked materials to create the regalia, for a very thrifty price.
- In 2010, I started making random visits to different troops in James River District outside of our usual OA Elections. I spoke to these troops about the importance of the Order of the Arrow and what we do, and I also promoted chapter and lodge events, which many troop members had no idea even existed, and I furthermore realized that in order to reach out to OA members, we must go all the way to the troop level in order to make the most profound and satisfying result in promoting Lodge and chapter events that they may not have cared about in the past. I plan to visit more troops in 2011, and I hope to make troop visitation an integral part of ensuring the success of this chapter. I have also talked with other chapter chiefs, and I plan on visiting other chapters next week in January to promote our Wahunsenakah Rock Climbing Lock-In, which has now been approved to be opened up to the entire SR-7A region, taking our chapter events to a whole new level, and making our impact not just in the Lodge, but in the entire state of Virginia. We are making history in the Order of the Arrow, and I hope you can join us as we make that happen.
- In September 2010, we hosted a Rappahannock River canoe trip at Bayport Scout Reservation. And for the first time, we invited other chapters in Wahunsenakah Lodge to attend, setting a major precedent for future chapter events. Despite the low turn-out for the canoe trip, the few who went had a great time, the food and weather was fantastic, and we got to spend time with other troops who were there the same weekend, creating new and lasting friendships between us. Having a unique camping experience by camping on the waterfront beach at Rivah Base was also a blast in what I would say was quite possibly our best chapter outing yet.
- In December 2010, we hosted the Wahunsenakah Lodge Holiday Banquet at Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church. Our planning committee did an excellent job making this event possible, and the results were brilliant. There are countless names to thank, however, I would get too many complaints about how long this post was if I actually tried to list them all. The food was amazing, Virginia State Senator John Miller made for an excellent choice as a guest speaker, and having it snow at the end of the banquet was the perfect way to end the Lodge year.
Soon I will post my Top 11 Goals for 2011 on the chapter website, listing my strategic plan and key goals for next year.On behalf of Kiskiack Chapter, and from my family to yours, have happy and safe new year!
Joey Trask
Kiskiack Chapter Chief
Order of the Arrow
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