Order of the Arrow Ut-In Selica Lodge

Welcome to the web site for the Ut-In Selica Order of the Arrow lodge for the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council Boy Scouts of America.

Lodge Plan Book

Download the Lodge Plan Book

Purpose of the OA

The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is to recognize those campers, Scouts and Scouters, who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, and by such recognition cause others campers to conduct themselves in such a manner to warrant recognition.

To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit

To promote Scout camping, which reaches it's greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit's camping program, both year-round and in the summer camp, as directed by the camping committee of the council.

To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

History of the Lodge

A committee of three arrowmen, Frank Harris, Gil Talmadge, and Arthur Meyer, who resided within the boundaries of the Mt. Diablo Council, but who had originally been inducted into older lodges, organized the Lodge. Having received approval to form a new lodge, the three founders, along with 37 candidates, met at San Francisco's Camp Lilenthal on the weekend of January 9th and 10th, 1952, where Royaneh Lodge conducted the installation ceremony. The lodge totem was the Golden Eagle. Each of Buli's patches had this totem as well as four colored rays, representing the four villages. Oo Yum Buli used the Costanoan language for all of its Vigil Honor names and other lodge terms. Oo Yum Buli means "Spirit Peak," a synonym for Mount Diablo. The local Native Americans called the mountain PUY, which means "Evil Spirits," or KAH WOO KOOM, or "Laughing Mountain." Oo Yum Buli was honored with many awards, receiving the "Most Indian Award" four times in 1969, 1972, 1976, and 1984. The Section Conclave Award was received in 1983. At the 1986 NOAC, Buli's Ceremonies Team received top awards, and at the 1988 NOAC, Buli received first place for their Brotherhood Ceremony. That year they also received top honors for the four principals.

The Lodge was chartered in Silverado Area Council in June of 1944. The first totem was the Eagle, but that was soon changed to the Golden Hawk. Swegedaigea was active in area 12B and moved to Area 12C in 1955. Swegedaigea hosted its first Conclave in 1960 with 400 Arrowmen at Mare Island Swegedaigea was moved back to Area 12B, then to Section W3C, and finally found a home in Section W3A. With its three chapters, Swegedaigea hosted another Conclave at Mare Island in 1981 with 425 Arrowmen participating. In 1986, the Western Region awarded Swegedaigea with the Most Brotherhood Achievement Award. In the spirit of the 75th anniversary of the Order of the Arrow, Swegedaigea began an aggressive camp promotion program. Swegedaigea was committed to showing its pride in its 46 years of tradition.

In 1994, Oo Yum Buli Lodge #468 merged with Swegedaigea Lodge #263 to form the New Lodge Ut-In Selica Lodge #58. The new lodge's name means "Twin Spirits" in the Costanoan language, and the new lodge flap echoes that by including images of the former lodge totems, the Golden Eagle and the Golden Hawk. The new lodge chose the California Grizzly Bear as its new totem, and it also appears on the lodge flap. In keeping with the adoption of the Costanoan language, Ut-In Selica now refers to each chapter as an Apanuc which means "Village". The 11 Apanucs are Blaknik, Lu-Pain, Wek-Wek, Ole-li-li, Sem-Yeto, Tu-Kum, Tu Je Sa-Sa, Ka-tit, Moluk, Ajapeu, and Cut-Ku Waa-Ji. With four council camps to maintain, there are plenty of opportunities for Ut-In Selica's Arrowmen to demonstrate cheerful service. The lodge runs a controlled twenty-mile hike on the Fages II Trail once a year.

Order of the Arrow Lodge Numbers

The lodge number for Ut-In Selica is #58. Ut-In Selica is associated with Mt. Diablo Silverado Council #23. The Existence of two numbers have been confusing in certain situations in recent years. Consequently, for the purposes of national reporting and registration purposes, only the council number (#23) is to be used. Such reporting and registration may take place at events such as the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) and at conclaves. This directive was issued by the National Order of the Arrow Committee in December 2003.

Lodge numbers have been assigned to each and every OA Lodge established the order started back in 1915. Numbers have generally been issued in the order that lodges were formed, so that the OA lodges with the lowest numbers are typically the oldest. In recent years, lodges were given options to select numbers other than the next succeeding number. In cases where lodges have opted to select lower numbers, the historical significance of the lodge numbers have been diminished.

Although only council numbers are now to be used for many reporting and registration purposes, lodge numbers are not being taken away. This is discussed more fully in national OA Operations Update 04-9, dated September 2004 (and available on the national OA web site). Many lodges continue to use their lodge numbers for numerous purposes, such as displaying them on their insignia (eg., pocket flaps). Some scouts and Scouters who collected OA memorabilia do so from a historical standpoint, and therefore order their collections based on lode numbers.

Since we have recently undergone the change noted above, there are different ways to identify our OA lodge. You may see affiliations with your OA lodge shown as: Ut-In Selica, Mt. Diablo Silverado Council #23 (as required for national reporting and registration); as Ut-In Selica Lodge #58 (like on the standard issue pocket flap); or even just with the lodge name and #23 (council number).

More about the Order of the Arrow

About the OA

The Order of the Arrow serves as Scouting's National Honor Society with a focus on leadership development, membership extension, adventurous programming, and broader service to Scouting and the community. Today, with more than 181,000 members, its service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults, are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich, support, and help extend Scouting to America's youth.

Purpose

The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is fourfold:
To recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives
To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit
To promote Scout camping
To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others

History

The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922 and was approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934. In 1948 the OA, recognized as the BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America. Today, the OA is recognized as Scouting's National Honor Society.

Membership

The OA has more than 181,000 members located in lodges affiliated with more than 310 BSA local councils.

Eligibility

To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced 15 days and nights of camping during the two years before his election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps. Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow troop or Varsity team members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity Scout Coach.

Induction

The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is conducted at Scout camp and is the first step toward full membership. During the experience, candidates maintain complete silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement projects, and are required to sleep alone, apart from other campers, which teaches significant values.

Brotherhood Membership

After 10 months of service and fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the OA.

Vigil Honor

After two years of service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, a Scout may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and the community. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.

Lodges

Each Order of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council, BSA, upon annual application by the local council. The OA lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and service, promotion of Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement of membership tenure. The SFBAC is served by Achewon Nimat Lodge 282 . The Lodge consists of five regional villages: Amangi, Ohlone, Tulpe, Suenan and Royaneh.

Sections

An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of the region. the SFBAC is a part of the Western Region, Section W3A. Once every year, representatives of lodges in the section come together for a conclave to share in fellowship, skills, and training. All of the elected section chiefs form the conference committee for a national Order of the Arrow event, which is held under the guidance of the national Order of the Arrow Committee.

The regional chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section chiefs for a term of office specified by the national Order of the Arrow Committee, which coincides with the term of national chief and vice chief. This election is held in conjunction with called meetings of the section chiefs to elect the national chief and vice chief, as well as to plan a national Order of the Arrow event. The national chief and vice chief serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, representing youth on national OA policy.

The regional Order of the Arrow chairman is an adult appointed by the regional director. The professional adviser for the region is a staff member assigned to the position by the region director.

National Chief and Vice Chief

The national chief and vice chief are Arrowmen selected by the section chiefs, who form the national Order of the Arrow conference committee. They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, representing the youth on national OA policy. They also serve as the presiding officers for the national OA event. Their term of office is specified by the national committee. They are advised in their responsibilities by the national committee chairman and director of the Order of the Arrow.

National OA Committee Chairman

The national OA committee chairman is appointed by the chairman of the national Boy Scout Committee. The professional adviser is the director of the Order of the Arrow, a member of the national Boy Scout Division staff.

More information may be found in the Order of the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers, No. 34997A