Illinek Candidate Callouts

The Ordeal "Callout" ceremony is a public recognition of those youth elected to the Order of the Arrow by their home unit and adults recommended by their unit committee and approved by the lodge adult nominating committee for induction. Each candidate has already been selected for membership. Their unit leader may notify each candidate in advance or the element of mystery may be encouraged by allowing the candidate to be surprised when the ceremonial team calls on them to stand and be recognized. Parents and family are often invited to attend the campfire where the callout is conducted.

During the callout, OA members in traditional Native American regalia, appear before the campfire to explain our purpose and the selection of candidates. As the names are called, each person stands and is symbolically tapped three times on the shoulder, the meaning of which they learn through the Ordeal experience. A runner then leads the candidate to the mighty chief. When all those selected have been called out, they are lead out of the campfire to a secluded spot where they receive further instruction on how, when and where that they may complete the Ordeal induction.

Each candidate, as part of the callout, receives a packet of instructions, a list of items to bring to the Ordeal and a registration form. Safeguard this packet and do not lose it! All candidates are encouraged to discuss the registration materials with their parents and unit leader as soon as possible and to register quickly for the first Ordeal opportunity possible rather than waiting until the last minute. None of this information is "secret" in any way. All candidates must be inducted within twelve months of election by their unit (which is not the same typically as the date of callout).

Illinek Lodge will conduct the following five Call-out opportunities during 2011. Unit leaders are encouraged to have their candidates called out at the Spring Camporee or when they attend Camp Bunn for summer camp.

	Callout 1: May 19, 2012. Council Spring Camporee following the Saturday evening campfire. Candidates must be identified to camporee HQ by noon Saturday.
	Callout 2: June 15, 2012. Camp Bunn following Family Night campfire at the fire bowl.
	Callout 3: June 22, 2012. Camp Bunn following Family Night campfire at the fire bowl.
	Callout 4: June 29, 2012. Camp Bunn following Family Night campfire at the fire bowl.
	Callout 5: July 13, 2012. Camp Bunn following Family Night campfire at the fire bowl.

When attending Camp Bunn, unit leaders are asked to identify candidates to be called out to the Camp Chief, by Tuesday evening at the OA Ice Cream Social. If you are not attending Camp Bunn, but will be traveling to camp on Friday for the callout, please notify the Scout Office by noon on Wednesday of your plans and candidate names. This is required so that we are properly prepared to conduct the callout for units not in camp! If we do not know you are coming, we MAY NOT be able to call out your candidates which is frustrating and disappointing to everyone.

Units not attending summer camp at Camp Bunn are still encouraged to have their candidates either called out at the Spring Camporee or whenever they can be brought to Camp Bunn for the Friday campfire program. The National OA Committee discourages callouts outside of the home lodge such as at another council's summer camp. If you intend to have candidates called out outside of Abraham Lincoln Council, a letter of authorizion must be requested from the lodge, which names the individuals to be called out and where they are allowed to do so. Please allow at least three weeks for receipt from the time you request this letter. You will be provided candidate instruction packets which are to be given to the candidate immediately after the call-out. If a candidate is not called out we must be notified immediately. Under no circumstances may a candidate go through any other part of the Ordeal outside of Illinek Lodge.

Because the National Committee discourages out-of-council callouts, the ability to do so may be terminated at any time that the committee changes the policy. This is not a local policy. It is nationally directed. Units visiting Camp Bunn from other councils must follow this same policy.