Mission of the Lodge
It is the mission of our lodge to achieve the purpose of the Order of the Arrow as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America in the council though positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults.

1. The name of this Lodge of the Order of the Arrow shall be Catawba.
2. The Lodge shall be affiliated with the Mecklenburg County Council, Boy Scouts of America, and shall be under the supervision of the Council Camping Committee and the administrative authority of the Scout Executive (Supreme Chief of the Fire).
3. The official guide for these by-laws shall be the current printing of The Order of the Arrow Handbook and The Guide for Officers and Advisors.

1. The totem of the Lodge shall be that of a hornet’s nest. The full Totem will have a sacred pipe and tomahawk, however, if it is not possible to include these items, it is mandatory that the hornet’s nest be present.
2. The sash, pocket flap, and universal emblem shall be worn according to National Policy.
3. The official Lodge pocket flap design shall be the design located in addendum #4.
4. The design for the Lodge neckerchief, hatpin, or any other specialty item shall be based on the design of the lodge pocket flap, making a set.
5. The Lodge Memorabilia Committee will be in charge of Patch, Pin and Pocket Flap design; however, the Lodge Executive Board is the final approval authority for these items.
6. The Lodge Executive Board must approve the production of any specialty item in which the totem of the Catawba Lodge is used.
7. All Catawba Lodge pocket flaps will be sold only to Catawba Lodge members in good standing.
8. Lodge pocket flaps may only be worn by Catawba Lodge members in good standing.

1. A member in good standing is one who participates in the activities of the lodge, whose current dues are paid, and who is currently registered as a member Mecklenburg County Council, BS
2. Induction into the Order of the Arrow shall take place under the standards prepared and published annually by the Vice-Chief of Inductions and approved by the Lodge Executive Board. The standards shall be consistent with the current printing of The Order of the Arrow Handbook and in The Guide for Officers and Advisers.
3. Ordeal membership shall be in accordance with the current printing of The Order of the Arrow Handbook, The guide for Officers and Advisers, and The Manual for the Ordeal. New Ordeal members shall receive the following items which are included in their Ordeal fees:
   1. Dues paid for the remainder of current fiscal year.
   2. An Order of the Arrow Ordeal Sash.
   3. A Catawba Lodge Ordeal Pocket Flap.
   4. An Ordeal Membership card.
   5. An Order of the Arrow Pocket Ribbon.
   6. The most recent issue of The Legend.
   7. The current year Lodge Planbook.
   8. The current Order of the Arrow Handbook.
      
4. Brotherhood membership shall be in accordance with the current printing of The Order of the Arrow Handbook, The Guide for Officers and Advisers, and The Brotherhood Ceremony. New Brotherhood members shall receive the following items which are included in their Brotherhood fees:
   1. An Order of the Arrow Brotherhood Sash.
   2. A Catawba Lodge Brotherhood Pocket Flap.
   3. A Brotherhood membership card.
5. Vigil Honor membership shall be in accordance with the current printing of The Order of the Arrow Handbook, The Guide for Officers and Advisers, and The Vigil Ceremony. New Vigil Honor members shall receive the following items:
   1. An Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor Sash.
   2. A Catawba Lodge Vigil Honor Pocket Flap (if available).
   3. A Vigil Honor membership card.
   4. A Vigil Honor Pin for pocket ribbon.
   5. A Vigil Honor Framed Certificate.
   6. Vigil Honor Ceremony booklet.
6. Vigil Selection Process: The lodge chief appoints a Vigil Honor nominating committee composed of youths who have been approved by the lodge adviser and Scout executive. The lodge adviser appoints an adult adviser in consultation with the lodge chief and staff adviser. The committee members should be Vigil Honor members; however, any member of the lodge may be selected to serve on the committee. This committee should be composed of 5 to 10 members. The Vigil Honor nomination selection shall take place during Spring Fellowship. Written nominations must be turned into the Scout office by the March LEB meeting.
7. A member of the Order of the Arrow who moves into the area and satisfies the requirements for membership as stated above, shall be accepted into the Catawba Lodge after receipt of appropriate transfer documentation from his or her prior lodge and dues for the current year. Transfer members shall receive a “Welcome to our Lodge” packet which should contain the following items:
   1. A welcome letter from the Chief.
   2. A current schedule of activities.
   3. The current year Lodge Planbook.
   4. The most recent issue of The Legend.
8. Inactive members may be restored by paying current dues, provided they meet all other requirements of active membership as stated above.

1. The Officers of Catawba Lodge shall be the Lodge Chief, Lodge Vice-Chief of Program, Lodge Vice-Chief of Inductions, , Lodge Secretary, and Lodge Quartermaster.
2. All Lodge Officers must be under 21 years of age during their entire term of office. Any member of the lodge in good standing for the coming year may stand for election.
3. The elections for elected officers shall be held during Fall Fellowship of each year and elected by the youth members present in accordance with the procedures in addendum #
4. The terms of office for all elected officers shall be from the conclusion of Fall Fellowship to the next Fall Fellowship.
5. The Lodge Vice-Chief of Program will assume all duties of the Lodge Chief in the Lodge Chief’s absence.
6. The Vice-Chief of Program shall become the Lodge Chief, and shall serve the remainder of the current term of office; should, for any reason, the Lodge Chief not be able to fulfill his entire term of office or obligations. At such time that this might occur, a new Vice-Chief of Program will be elected by all youth members in attendance at the next Lodge Executive Board meeting.
7. If any Lodge Officer cannot fulfill their term, an election will be held involving all youth members in attendance at the next Lodge Executive Board meeting to fill the position.
8. Chapter Officers must be replaced by vote of the members of that Chapter.
9. The Lodge Chief is the officiating officer in charge of elections. In the event he is running for re-election he will appoint another Arrowman who is not running for that office to conduct the “lodge chief election”.
10. All Lodge Officers shall commit to attend all Lodge functions, but if their attendance does not meet the specifications in Addendum #6, they shall be considered for removal from office.
11. No individual shall hold more than one elected lodge office or standing committee chairmanship concurrently, except as stated in the Addendum

1. The Lodge Executive Committee shall consist of the Lodge Chief, Vice-Chief of Program, Vice-Chief of Inductions, , Lodge Secretary, Lodge Quartermaster, and Chapter Chiefs. The Lodge Executive Board (LEB) will consist of the Lodge Executive Committee, Lodge Committee Chairmen, past Lodge Chief, Lodge Adviser, Lodge Associate Advisers, Chapter Advisers, Chapter Associate Advisers, Committee Advisers and Staff Adviser
2. The Lodge Executive Board (LEB) will be the governing body of Catawba Lodge.
3. Only the youth members that are listed in V A are voting members of the Lodge Executive Board.
4. The duties of the Lodge and Chapter Officers and Committee Chairmen are in Addendum #The duties and assignments of the Lodge and Chapter Officers and Committee Chairmen are determined by the LE
5. Lodge meetings will run in accordance with addendum #
6. Each Lodge meeting will open with the Obligation and close with the official Order of the Arrow song.
7. The LEB shall ensure that the Lodge plans and conducts the following activities at a minimum:
   1. Two (2) Ordeals annually.
   2. Two Fellowship Weekends annually.
   3. Service project(s) during the year.
   4. Camping Promotions Dinner for the Council.
   5. Lodge Leadership Development conference.
   6. Annual Banquet.
   7. Display at Scout Show.
   8. Ten (10) Lodge Executive Committee meetings.
   9. Cold Weather Training and Camping for the Council.
8. The Lodge Chief, with the approval of either the Lodge Adviser or the Staff Adviser, may call special meetings of the Lodge Executive Board or of the Lodge.
9. The Lodge Chief may call a meeting of the Lodge Executive Committee at his discretion.
10. The Lodge shall send, when possible, representatives to the National Order of the Arrow Conference, Section and National events. Lodge funds may be used to help finance the trips of its representatives to any Section, Region, and National event, subject to the availability of funds and the approval of the LE
11. All resolutions of the LEB shall be vacated at the end of the term or the subject event.

1. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
2. The Lodge shall use a method of accounting approved by the Council and all funds shall be handled through the Council Scout Service Center.
3. The Lodge Executive Board shall set fees for Lodge events, after consultation with proper committees.
4. Annual membership fees shall be as shown in Addendum #2 and are payable to the Lodge Treasurer at any Lodge function, at the Council Scout Service Center, or to the Camp Chief during summer camp. The procedure for adjusting membership annual fees is as follows: recommendation by the Lodge Financial Committee and approval by the LE
5. The Life Member Program is unique to the Catawba Lodge and exists for the purposes of keeping the Lodge financially stable. Life Membership is available to Brotherhood and Vigil Honor members of the Lodge. The amount of the fee for Life Membership is set in accordance with Addendum #Life Member fees of no less than 75% of the fees collected from Life Members currently in good standing with the Lodge shall be invested in an interest bearing account, under the Council’s oversight. The name of this fund will be “The Catawba Lodge Life Member Fund” (CLLMF). The principle of the CLLMF shall not be utilized for payment of Lodge or member’s expenses. The interest shall be distributed annually and used to pay the Life Member’s annual National dues and all other expenses included in a regular member’s annual fees. This type membership entitles the Life member to belong to Catawba Lodge without paying annual membership fees for as long as he / she remains a registered Scouter. Two Life Member Lodge Pocket Flaps will be included in the initial fee payment; additional Life Member Pocket Flaps may be purchased at the rate of one annually. If a Life Member moves to another council and becomes a member of another Lodge, they may still receive Catawba Lodge publications, upon written request. The procedure for adjusting new Life Member fees is as follows: recommendation by the Lodge Financial Committee and approval by the LE
6. The Lodge Finance Committee will prepare a budget annually, subject to modification and approval by the Lodge Executive Board.
7. No expenditures, other than budgeted day-to-day expenses will be made without the approval of a majority vote (more than 50%) of the LE
8. All requests for Lodge Expenditures of $50.00 or greater, not already stated in the Lodge Annual Budget, must made in written format, and have concurrence of the Lodge Chief and Lodge Adviser prior to being formalized into a motion.
9. The sale of pocket flaps, patches, and memorabilia will be conducted such that the process will have a positive cash flow. Obsolete inventory may be disposed of at the discretion of the Lodge Quartermaster and his adviser. The design, ordering and sale of this material shall be done as described in Addendum #
10. The Quartermaster will be permitted to sell non-OA items at Lodge events for Lodge fund raising purposes.

1. The Lodge Executive Board, in the manner set forth in the by-laws Addendum #8, will govern the use of any Lodge Property.
2. The Lodge Quartermaster will maintain an inventory of Lodge Property and submit it to the Lodge Secretary semiannually.
3. Should the Lodge cease to exist, Lodge Property will be handled in accordance with National Policy.
4. Should the Lodge or Council be involved in the merger with another Lodge(s) or Council(s), all Lodge property shall accompany the Lodge in the merger and become the property of the new Lodge. In the event of the division of the Council, which results in fragmentation of the Lodge, the Catawba LEB will divide the lodge property among the new Lodges.

1. The Lodge will present, each year at the Annual Banquet, several awards.
   1. The O. Crenshaw Arrowman of the Year Award (for outstanding service to the Lodge) may be presented to no more than one adult and under exceptional circumstances up to three youth awards may be presented per year. Selection of the recipients will be done at the September Lodge Executive Board meeting. Adults vote the youth recipients and the youth vote on the adult recipient. The voting will be done by secret ballot. Nomination forms must be turned into the Scout office prior to the September LEB meeting.
   2. The Founder’s Award may be presented annually. It is for outstanding service to the Lodge. Catawba Lodge petitions to the National Committee to present up to two awards annually. If the Lodge presents more than one award, one must be to a youth under the age of 2Nomination forms must be turned into the Scout office prior to the September LEB meeting.
   3. Any Arrowman may make nominations for the Founder’s Award; however, selection is made by three youth from the LEB, designated by the Staff or Lodge Adviser (not Chief).
2. The Lodge Chief has the authority to create specialty awards for each year with the approval of the Lodge and Staff Advisers.

1. The Articles of the by-laws shall be subject to amendment at any regular or special meeting of the general assembly provided the following requirements have been met.
   1. The amendment must be submitted in writing to the Lodge Executive Board and approved by the LEB at least one month in advance of the Lodge Meeting in which the amendment is to be considered.
   2. Notice must have been sent to all active lodge members at least ten (10) days prior to the Lodge Meeting in which the amendment is to be considered.
   3. A two-thirds ballot vote of all the youth members in good standing of the lodge present at this meeting shall be required for any amendment. The Key 3 will supervise the voting process.
2. Addendum will be utilized to set forth the day-to-day administration of the Lodge.
   1. Addendum may be amended, added to, or deleted by a two-thirds approval vote of the LEB present.
   2. Written notice of amendments, additions, or deletions must be presented at least one Executive Board meeting prior to the meeting in which a vote on the matter is to be considered.

1. All matters not specifically covered by these rules shall be governed by the current printing of The Order of the Arrow Handbook, by The Guide of Officer’s and Advisers; and by national directives.
2. Should there be a discrepancy as to the interpretation of these rules, the discrepancy shall be resolved by a consensus of the Key 3, subject to the supervision and authority as described in Article I
3. The supreme Chief of the Fire is the local person who has final say in all lodge matters.
4. Should anything herein be in conflict with any written policy of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America or The National Order of the Arrow Committee, then the national polices shall take precedence.