Ask the Chairman
Q. Every so often we do see illegal lodge/chapter chief patches
being worn. These have been manufactured locally and are not authorized by the
BSA Uniform and Insignia Guide.
A. Thank you for your question...The National Order of the
Arrow Committee has tried diligently at every opportunity to emphasize that the
primary obligation of an OA member is back to his troop or team that elected
him. This is stated throughout our literature, especially on page 31 of the OA
Handbook. Unlike the OA Troop/Team Representative which has an important role of
supporting the troop/team, lodge/chapter chief do not advance the troop or team
program. Service in positions like Chapter Chief and Lodge Chief are also not
qualified for BSA rank advancement, because the BSA also wishes for the primary
focus to be on the unit.
Further, we do not have national chief, national vice
chief, region chief, or section chief patches either. The rationale has always
been that an officer must be a member of a unit and hold some sort of unit
office. Youth positions with patches have always been troop, team, crew, post
positions and we have always emphasized the Arrowman’s duty to the unit first.
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