1. OA Unit of Excellence
UX 2018
How to Earn it!

2. This presentation is designed for Senior Patrol Leaders & Scoutmasters
and
OA Troop Representatives & Advisers
of Great Lakes Field Service Council troops earning the
OA Unit of Excellence Award (“UX”)
sponsored by Noquet Lodge 29

3. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Reason for the Sash
“Let it be remembered that the Order of the Arrow was created to help the unit – to help it present its membership a better ideal of the inner qualities of the good scout camper. Qualities of character, cheerfulness and service are hard for a boy or a man to understand in the abstract. They come easier when seen in human life.
Let us realize the significance of the Order in the unit – for the unit is our best hope in scouting.”
Dr. E. Urner Goodman, OA Founder
(emphasis added)
- Dr. E. Urner Goodman, Founder
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

4. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
So What’s UX All About?
Bringing together
the Order of the Arrow
and the Troop
for the benefit of
both younger and older scouts
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

5. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
UX Supports Unit Aims
Helps extend older youth retention in unit, so they can help younger youth advance
Helps realize OA Rep’s responsibility in the unit
Further incentivizes younger scouts to advance to First Class, go camping and keep up scout spirit
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

6. UX is a Natural Progression
“A Troop that uses the Scouting program fully is going to find itself earning the Unit of Excellence Award naturally.”
- A GLFSC Scoutmaster
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

7. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
So, Let’s be Partners
Your Troop
and
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

8. Like Partners in the Unit
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

9. Partners Help Stay On Track
We’re all used to the BSA advancement concept "no more, no less”. Similarly, units must complete all UX requirements – no more, no less
Award completion will be driven by 2 unit youth leaders, supported by 2 unit adult leaders
Lodge and chapter youth leaders, supported by advisers, provide guidelines and information, and assess progress
All work together to ensure completion
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

10. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
OA Troop Rep & Adviser
Requirement 1
Every 6 months, SPL appoints 1 dues-paid youth OA member (under 18) as OA Troop Rep
Every 6 months, Scoutmaster designates 1 dues-paid adult OA member (at least 21) as OA Troop Rep Adviser - Assistant Scoutmaster (can simultaneously be a unit committee member)
(Youth and adult can repeat in their positions)
Wear the position patches proudly!
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

11. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
At a Court of Honor
Requirement 1
OA Troop Rep recognizes unit OA members’ accomplishments at a court of honor, at least once during the year
Honors, special in-unit service or service leadership, near-unit service, OA event participation, UX award progress, etc.
Can be brief, but important
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

12. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Pretty Easy, So Far!
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

13. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
But is There a Patch?
YES!
For all Unit OA Members
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

14. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
How About Rep & Adviser?
For the OA Troop Rep(s) each year
Also, for the OA Troop Rep Adviser, after advising 2 different Reps for at least 6 months each
Yes!
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

15. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
3rd Year: Scoutmaster
(Award form may vary from year to year.)
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

16. So Talk to Your OA Members
Include candidates and non-dues paid members, if any
Discuss requirements; decide to try for the UX award
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

17. Now, Take it to the PLC Unit of Excellence Award 2018
And after the PLC, get Troop Committee buy-in
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

18. Coordinate the Calendar
Requirement 4
Decide to avoid overlapping the next 4 full-lodge events when PLC plans the program
Dates for these events, published in the GLFSC annual planning guide, are the ones to avoid
2018 Full-Lodge Events
Annual Dinner……………………Jan 13
Spring Conclave…………………May 18-20
Fall Conclave…………………….Sep 21-23
Fall Fellowship…………………...Oct 19-21
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

19. Coordinate the Calendar
Requirement 4
2019
Annual Dinner……………………Jan 12
Spring Conclave…………………May 17-19
Summer Conclave……………….Aug *
Fall Fellowship…………………...Oct *
* Tentative, until published in
GLFSC annual planning guide
If your unit accidentally creates a plan that doesn’t avoid the 4 full-lodge events that follow that meeting, you can re-plan before you apply for the award and meet the requirement from that point.
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Scoutmaster & SPL
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Delegate achievement of the UX award to:
Your OA Troop Rep, supported by his Adviser, and
The OA youth and adults in your unit,
with support from the troop committee, your OA chapter and the lodge
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

21. Details Delegated to the Rep & Adviser Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered!
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

22. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Help Scouts Get Sashes
Requirement 3
Schedule a chapter election team visit
Allow scouts to opt out before the visit
Have the presentation (even if no candidates)
If there are candidate(s), have the election
If any are elected, 70% of elected youth* candidates must complete the Ordeal
Under 18 as of 12/31 of award year (not as of election date)
Help them get the recognition your troop says they deserve!
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

23. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Who Are Unit OA Members?
Registered in Unit with BSA, AND
Includes primary and secondary registrations
Excludes Reserve registrations (91U & 92U)
As shown on my.scouting roster
As of application date
Dues-paid Noquet Lodge members
As shown on LodgeMaster UX report
New ordeal members pay dues as part of their Ordeal fee
These are the people who can get UX lodge flaps
Must be on BOTH lists
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

24. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
UX Scorecard
Available at noquet.org
Helps you:
Record your progress as you go
See where you stand
See what’s left to do
You’ll need it when you apply for the award
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

25. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
UX Spreadsheet
Available at noquet.org
Helps you combine and track LodgeMaster & My.Scouting info – official data for the award
Who’s registered in the troop
Who’s paid OA dues this year; who still might
Election results; ordeal attendance
Brotherhood eligibility; conversions
OA event participation
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

26. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Help Seal Memberships
Requirement 5
Get 30% of eligible members to seal their membership in the Order by converting to Brotherhood
At an induction weekend or a local ceremony
Promote the earliest ceremonies
Their upgraded sash is already paid for!
At least 10 months after ordeal; dues paid or pay at ceremony
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

27. Finally, Promote Participation
Requirement 2
50% of unit OA members participate in OA events ONCE during the year
Service, training, conversion or fellowship themes
Completing the Ordeal counts toward another award requirements, not this one
Brotherhood counts as an event and for conversion
Attending monthly chapter meetings or lodge board meetings doesn’t count for this requirement
Troop activities don’t count
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

28. Lots of Ways to Participate
Lodge dinner, induction weekends, LLD, fellowship, vigil breakfast, Rendezvous staff, Sash N Bash (staff or bash), camporee & other lodge / chapter service corps, and lodge/chapter-organized service to council or camps
Section conclave, NLS, NOAC & other national activities
Chapter-led service to districts, BSA units*, community
Chapter special activities
OA CPT hikes
What’s recorded in LodgeMaster is what’ll count
Make sure your chapter records attendance
* Includes cub crossovers and unit elections
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

29. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Tailor Your Message
Ask each OA member which event they’d like to attend. If they don’t know…
Suggest specific events to specific members – ones that could interest them the most
For example:
An ordeal member: Chapter special activities, camporees near home, Cub crossover team member
A brotherhood or brotherhood-eligible member: Induction weekends, LLD, fall fellowship, unit elections, brotherhoods
Older members:  Lodge/chapter dinners  Vigil breakfast
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

30. Advanced UX Strategies
Additional tips from your fellow OA Troop Reps, Advisers and Scoutmasters
Have OA Troop Rep update troop on progress at first troop meeting each month
Make the OA Troop Rep Adviser a Key 3 delegate
Start planning the previous Fall (or Summer)
Consider reserve registrations in recharter
Discuss importance of active OA membership with older adult members
Collect OA dues at same time as troop dues for recharter
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

31. Lodge/Chapter Support
Resources on lodge web site
LodgeMaster progress reports from chapter
Deadline: Monday after Thanksgiving
Application, Scorecard, My.Scouting roster, LodgeMaster UX report and national patch form(s)
Electronic submission to
Accepted beginning with Fall Fellowship
Future: Lodge OA Troop Rep/Adviser training
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

32. Unit of Excellence Award 2018
Timely Recognition
Troop certificates and Scoutmaster of Excellence (3rd year) awards presented at Lodge Annual Dinner - January
Lodge flaps – March
- Invite a chapter officer to visit your Court of Honor
Troop Rep and Adviser patches – March
- Presented at April Roundtable?
Troop ribbons – June (national timing)
- Presented at chapter annual dinners / picnics
OK. Let’s switch to administrative stuff.
Unit of Excellence Award 2018

33. THANK YOU
Good Luck Earning UX!