Ask the Chairman
Q. It seems like the members of the National Order of the Arrow
Committee are a bunch of old men who are ceremonial, only. You know…holding honorary
positions.
A. Well, thanks for that question. Actually, the members of
the National OA Committee may be the hardest working members of ANY national Boy
Scout Committee…Our Chief Scout Executive, Bob Mazucca, marveled publicly at our
last NOAC that he was amazed that the OA routinely pulled off the largest gathering
of Scouts in the country every couple of years with only two professional staffers…Let
me assure you that NO member of the National OA Committee sits on that body without
annual goals submitted and worked very hard, every year. In addition, we have several
members of the National Committee who are under thirty years old, and almost 25%
who are younger than forty…that may seem very old to you, but I would love to be
their age again, myself…finally, Ms.Kay Trick, the first female member of the OA
National Committee, and someone who still serves with great distinction, may take
exception to your characterization about “old men”!!! Walk up to them at some of
our national events, this summer or at an NLS/NLATS where I encourage you to get
to know some of these members of the National OA Committee and let me know over
time if your opinion changes.
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