Brad Haddock Reflects on His Tenure
As Chairman of the National Order of the Arrow Committee

As part of my remarks at the Section Officers' Luncheon held during the National Order of the Arrow Conference, it was a pleasure to share the OA's accomplishments with the section, region, and national leadership in the audience and to thank them for their significant contributions, leadership, and service. I wanted to take this opportunity to also share the OA's accomplishments with you and to express my appreciation for your leadership in service.

Working together, we have accomplished great things as an organization. Consider the following achievements of the Order of the Arrow. Since 2000, we:

•  Successfully completed two strategic plans - and are now in the second year of the 2008-2012 Strategic Plan: Living the Legacy;
•  Introduced and use of the National Lodge Advisers Training Seminar;
•  Completed the third cycle of the Lodge Assistance Program;
•  Played a significant part in the 2001 and 2005 National Jamborees with the OA Service Corps, Youth Staff Service Camp, The Outdoor Adventure Place, the American Indian Village, and two highly successful original productions - Scoutopia and Twelve Cubed - which were ranked as top events and highlights of each Jamboree;
•  Revised and updated the look and user-friendliness of the OA website, including placing a stronger emphasis on service to and integration with the council, on-line resources, and event and high adventure promotion;
•  Introduced the Conclave Training Initiative in 2002 and provided new CTI topics each year for use at section conclaves;
•  Introduced improvements to the National Leadership Seminar in 2003;
•  Contributed $300,000 on behalf of the OA's membership to the National BSA Museum to assist in the preservation and presentation of BSA and OA history;
•  Held the first Indian Summer event in 2003;
•  Updated the Lodge Leadership Development program and provided web-based access;
•  Launched the JumpStart initiative on the OA website resulting in an increase in Brotherhood membership;
•  Conducted five National Order of the Arrow Conferences - the conference at Michigan State University in 2006 was the largest ever held with 8003 staff and participants from every council;
•  Held the National Conservation and Leadership Summit in 2007 to prepare for ArrowCorps⁵, introduce the new strategic plan, and assist lodge leadership in developing a plan for implementation at home;
•  Saw the number of Quality Lodges increase from 50.6% in 2000 to 61.1% in 2008;
•  Provided leadership training to more than 7,500 youth and adult leaders through the National Leadership Seminars;
•  Saw our high adventure programs continue to grow and serve as an outstanding example of service - more than 2,300 Arrowmen have participated in OA Trail Crew at Philmont Scout Ranch and completed 18 miles on six major trails since its humble beginnings in 1995; the OA Wilderness Voyage at the Northern Tier High Adventure Bases completed 11.7 miles of 41 portage trails through the efforts of 850 participants since 1999; and, since 2005, more than 350 participants in the OA Outdoor Adventure at Florida Sea Base have provided 14,000 hours of service to the Keys; and
•  Successfully completed ArrowCorps⁵ - an unprecedented service project focused on conservation, environmental sustainability, and wildlife habitat benefits - the largest project undertaken by the Boy Scouts of America since World War II and the largest single volunteer service project ever received by the U.S. Forest Service in its rich 104 year history.

During the last nine years, lodges have provided cash and in-kind gifts of support to local councils totaling $13,182,407, and the national committee has provided $1,832,913 to lodges in support of local councils. In addition, lodge membership has provided 12,419,739 hours of service worth a minimum of $6.00 per hour or $72,838,439. If you add the hours from ArrowCorps⁵ last summer - 280,000 hours - and use the USFS cost of $20.00 per hour, the OA provided an additional $5.6 million in service. At $20.00 per hour, total service provided would be worth a staggering $269,248,140. Since 1995, the OA's endowment fund has more than doubled in size. The interest from the endowment has been used to fund all the special projects since 2000.

Reflecting not only on my tenure as chairman, but also on my life in the Order of the Arrow and Scouting, I could not agree more with Waite Phillips' observation that "Regardless of ability no one individual can accomplish and complete anything worthwhile without direct or indirect cooperation from others." The accomplishments listed above are the result of each one of us working together to contribute our unique talents, strengths, reasons, motivation, passions, and perspective in a common shared vision to further the purpose of the Order of the Arrow and provide opportunities for youth to gain the unique experience of leadership in service to others.

As the conference theme "The Power of One" demonstrated so well, each of us possess the power to make a difference in the lives of others; the power to influence and contribute to the success of a group, a team, or an organization. Your leadership, dedication, and example of service are critical to the Order of the Arrow's continued success. Congratulations and thank you for the difference you make in the lives of others.

As I closed my remarks at the Section Officers' Luncheon, I held up my tarnished old Bobcat Badge that had been presented to me by my mother more than 46 years ago when I became a Cub Scout. For me, the badge represented the beginning of a life journey. Little did I know where it would lead or the wonderful opportunities that would be afforded along the trail.

One of the most rewarding experiences has been the privilege of serving as chairman of the National Order of the Arrow Committee for more than nine years. My tenure as chairman concluded on September 1, 2009, when my dear friend, Ray Capp, assumed the chairmanship. Please join me in wishing him the very best in his new role. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Ray and my fellow members of the committee as we are not only on the eve of Scouting's 100th anniversary but also as we prepare to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Order of the Arrow - Scouting's national honor society.

It has been a distinct honor and blessing to work with such an outstanding and dedicated group of volunteers and professionals - the hardest working committee in the BSA. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served and to be a part of the Order of the Arrow's rich heritage and legacy of servant leadership.

May God continue to bless you and lead you in the cheerful service of others.

All my best,

Brad Haddock
Chairman 2000 - 2009
National Order of the Arrow Committee

Revised 9/15/2009