"Without things of the spirit, any great movement, any great enterprise fails. It is to keep alive these spiritual qualities - and I use the term in its broader sense - that we carry on our trust."E. Urner Goodman

CONGRATULATIONS ILLINEK LODGE MEMBERS : 2009 OA National Service Award Recipients!!

New Lodge Flaps Honoring National Service Award

It's official! Through your hard work and dedication, Illinek Lodge has been recognized with the 2009 OA National Service Award. The Award was just presented to our council at the National BSA Meeting in Dallas. As discussed in our May 2010 Red Flame only two lodges per region, eight in total, may receive this award in any year.

To celebrate and give every lodge member something to commemorate this achievement, the LEC authorized a special lodge flap. The flap at the left is that flap. All current Illinek Lodge members may purchase two of these at a price below that of our regular flaps ($2.00). After the Fall Fellowship in September, any remaining will be sold unlimited. (Scouts Honor system please as we want all members to get one who want them.)

We also ordered regular lodge flaps which incorporate a revised design. As we use up existing inventories of our older flaps, the new ones will be made available ($3.00). If you want to see both flaps, just click on the image at the left.

2010 Scout Jamboree Lodge Flap Sets - RECEIVED

For the National Scout Jamboree this summer, Illinek Lodge decided to produce not one but THREE different sets of flaps to commemorate the Jamboree and Scouting's 100th Anniversary. One set, as you see here, is for trading or general uniform wear. The second set has a different border and "1033" to represent our council contingent / Scouts attending the Jamboree. The third set is marked "Staff" for those members attending and working on the Jamboree Staff. ALL members of Illinek Lodge could purchase all three.

The patches have been received from the manufacturer. Those who requested to pick up their order at the Scout Office may do so at any time during regular business hours. If you did not pre-order or have decided you really want more than you ordered, a VERY FEW extra are available in the office to lodge members only.

If you have not already picked up your order from the office, please do so as soon as possible.

Annual One Day of Service Completed

On April 17th, over 50 Arrowmen, supported by more than a dozen scout units in Abraham Lincoln Council again gathered and properly retired worn out US flags. Statistics for the weekend are still be amassed but it appears we again collected almost 2000 flags to be retired. As usual, we have several hundred still be retired after the weekend. If your unit would like to pick up some to retire as a unit service project please let us know and we will arrange to get as many as you wish to handle to you! Special thanks to our Service Chairman, Alex and his advisor Bob Schmidt for leading this effort.

Calling Ordeal Members - Ready For the Next Step?

Perhaps ten months ago, or more, you walked the trail to the circle of your brothers. You were tired from a long day of work and scant food. Much was said to you that evening and you took an Obligation of Service. Do you remember? Have you lived up to the expectations your unit members made of you? Your trail only began at the Ordeal and now it is time to continue onward - to the knowledge of a BROTHERHOOD member of our order. The requirements are simple, and only take a few hours of time. Here you will expand your knowledge and cement the things said and done at the Ordeal in your mind. I will again be with you to help you.

The tools to help you are on this site, at the BROTHERHOOD tab to the left. Simply signup for one of the opportunities, study the study guide provided, and again test yourself. Only then can you answer "have you seen the arrow".... Kichkinet

June - August 2010 National OA Bulletin

The June - August 2010 issue of the National Order of the Arrow Bulletin is now available online. Check out what is going on around the country in the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. (Click logo at left.)

Congratulations 2010 Illinek Lodge Officers

At our Annual Meeting, August 15th, the youth elected new Lodge Officers for the coming year. Serving as a Lodge Office is a large and demanding task. Each of these Scouts has accepted this challenge because each wants to see Illinek Lodge better and stronger than ever. But they need OUR help in order to be successful. The officers can lead, but we must participate and get involved - it takes more than the officers and LEC chairmen. It takes YOU!