Order of the Arrow Boy Scouts of America Creating an effective OA Representative Program

OA Troop Representative Order of the ArrowBoy Scouts of America

OA Troop RepresentativeCreating an effective

OA Representative Program


OA Troop Representative Background• Created in 1999• Was created to establish an official leadership position in the troop• Was the first time in the history of the BSA that OA had a formal role in the units.


Reasons for the OA Rep Program• Increase communication flow in the OA all the way to

the troop level from the lodge and chapter.• Allow a representative from the troop to address the

troop formally about upcoming OA events• Increase OA participation by allowing a member of a

troop to take a more active role in OA


General Communication Structures• There are 2 general communication structures in the OA• They are really suited by the size of the chapter• It is important to understand how your flow of

communication works.• These are by no means the “correct” ways, but basic

ideas that have worked for others


1st General Communication Structure of the OA

LodgeChapter Officers

OA Troop Representative

Chairmen

Liaison

Troop Rep 1 Troop

Troop Rep 2 Troop

Liaison

Troop Rep 3 Troop

Troop Rep 4 Troop

Liaison

Troop Rep 5 Troop

Troop Rep 6 Troop


2nd General Communication Structure of the OA

Lodge Chapter OfficersOA Troop

Representative Chairmen

Troop Rep 1 Troop

Troop Rep 2 Troop

Troop Rep 3 Troop

Troop Rep 4 Troop


Challenges implementing the program• Unit Buy-in• Recruitment• Commitment• Communication • Awareness


Unit Buy- in issues• Some scoutmasters don’t see the need for the program• This makes it difficult to implement the program• Often it will leave those troops out of the

communication loop for OA events• This in turn causes lower attendance


Unit Buy- In Solutions• Attempt to visit the unit or the scoutmaster to talk

about OA representation• Reach out to members of the troop that you may see

at events• When camp promotions are done, have the promoter

talk to the Scoutmaster about OA Rep


Recruitment - issues• Not the most exciting position to hold• Often not recognized much during troop or OA events• Requires communication to the troops more than once


Recruitment - Solutions • Create a rewards program and recognize the OA reps at

Chapter events• Utilize chairmen at a CEM to help call OA reps and

troops• Have to OA Rep chairmen visit troops that are more

difficult when it comes to electing an OA Rep


Awareness - issues• Some scoutmasters are not aware of the position and

therefore do not use the position in their troop• Members of the troop who don’t have a lot of active

OA members may not know what the position is or that it even exists


Awareness – Solutions• Use camp promotion as a time to run OA rep by the

troops that are problematic in attaining an OA Rep• Discuss OA Rep at round table events• Announce OA Rep and what it is at chapter meetings• Ties back to recognition program


Communication – Issues• Phone calls are time consuming• Utilization of all available resources


Communication – Solutions• Utilize multiple people on the OA rep job if needed

(ie: committee)• Create email lists in order to send out monthly email to

the OA reps (does not replace phone calls)• Create a webpage that OA Reps can visit to get

information quickly


Commitment – issues• Commitment commonly declines as the year goes on• Just because the Lodge requirements for 100% OA rep

chairmen is in January doesn’t mean that OA rep is done

• How frequent?


Commitment Solutions• Just because the Lodge requirements for 100% OA rep

chairmen is in January doesn’t mean that OA rep is done• Create goals throughout the year that allows the

communication flow to continue• OA Reps should be contacted at least 3 weeks before the

event, this gives them plenty of time to communicate to their troop


Forms of Communication

Utilizing them to your benefit


Phone Calls• Best communication medium for OA Rep• Utilize as many people as needed to make OA Rep

successful• Remember to keep them professional, you are

representing the OA


Emails• A quick way to send out a reminder to the OA Reps• Make sure to keep them professional, address them in

a manner that is respectful and grammatically correct.• You are representing the OA in all of your emails so

please keep this in mind when communicating through email and phone calls


Web pages• A very effective way to promote events and notify troop

reps of upcoming event by posting them on a website• Also allows you to give a central location for looking up

information• This also allows other members of your chapter to look

up this information as well


Web Pages – examples• http://ns.ods.org • http://

www.pathfinderoa.org/reports/trooprep.php• http://newhorizonsoa.org/trooprep.html• http://www.oa-bsa.org/programs/ttr/

http://ns.ods.org/

http://www.pathfinderoa.org/reports/trooprep.php

http://www.pathfinderoa.org/reports/trooprep.php

http://newhorizonsoa.org/trooprep.html

http://newhorizonsoa.org/trooprep.html

http://www.oa-bsa.org/programs/ttr/



• http://shawneelodge.org

• Lodge Website

http://shawneelodge.org/


Social Networking• Facebook, MySpace, Twitter• Creating a group for your chapter is a great way to get

the word out about events.• This also can help inform OA reps about upcoming

events that they need to start promoting


Keeping accurate records• Accurate records are essential• We require that you send in your list of OA reps on

December 1st and January 1st to prove that you have 50% and 100% of your OA reps respectively

• The OA rep system on the Shawnee Google Apps is a great way to keep track

• Also using an Excel sheet will help keep track as well.


Resources• http://www.oa-bsa.org/programs/ttr/• Other Chapters• http://shawneelodge.org• National OA Website http://oa-bsa.org


http://shawneelodge.org/

http://oa-bsa.org/


The End

Documents

Order of the Arrow Boy Scouts of America Creating an effective OA Representative Program