National Planning Meeting Report
(by Ken Hager, Section Chief)
This past December, I had the opportunity and responsibility to represent our section at the annual National Order of the Arrow Planning Meeting in Texas. At this meeting, several events where held including making plans for NOAC, unveiling new programs, and electing the new National Chief.
The first events held at the conference were the elections of our national officers. As your representative, I participated in the election process for National Chief, in which Sean Murray of the Northeast Region was elected. This same process took place in the election of the Northeast Region Chief were Jon Fuller, my roommate at the conference, was elected. This election process was exhilarating and heart pounding.
Of the several new programs unveiled, the most exciting was the plans for the 2008 National Service Project. At first, I was pretty skeptical of this event, but now I am looking forward to it more than anything else. The title of this event is Arrow Corps, in which five thousand Arrowmen at five different sites across the US will cheerfully serve our national for five days. The closest site to our section’s area will be in Virginia during the middle weeks of summer, but I encourage you not to just look at the closest venue. Service projects will be held at Yellowstone, the Cascades, and many other premier National Parks around the county. This is an excellent opportunity to tour the national, and provide cheerful service! It is never too early to plan ahead, so plan for something exciting.
Of course we are all looking forward towards NOAC this summer at Michigan State University. A lot of information was put out at the Planning Meeting, of which most can be accessed on-line. I will be serving on staff as a member of the Shows committee where I will help direct the technical work for the shows at NOAC. I promise you that the shows this year will be extraordinary! Even though the theme show is currently Top Secret, I can assure you that you won’t fall asleep even if you could!
I would like to thank you, my brothers in the Order, for giving me the opportunity to represent you at this important OA event. With us working together in NE-4B, we can bring the new National Programs to life and assure a better program in our section and in our home lodges.