Why must politics’ play in the Order of the Arrow? Why must leader parents jump in sway or manipulate the elections? I know that they have always been there, but is the prestige so important as to over look the best boy for the job, in favor of their “son”?
Back in the ‘80s, our old chapter was split into to junior highs, towns A and B. Town B was 2 to 3 times bigger than A. When elections were set and held, most of the youth that showed were from town A and the adviser was from town B. He put off elections until town B’s school had an activity and they could not go, thus the boys from his town could run uncontested. There was no activity that prevented the first un-attendees from town B attending the first election time, they just forgot. Time proved this was not for the best of the chapter, even though Town A boys remained active, after a year they were almost the only ones attending, except those in power. Ten years later, the same chapter but different advisor only did elections in the favored troops, so that the adviser only had to work popular youth. Within two years, only one boy was attending.
Our Lodge just endured some of the same election problems and at the chapter meeting last night it happened again. When the leaders play favorites and manipulate the elections, it seams that it upsets the balance. O-A needs all boys, but some are better leaders than others.
Our Chapter has just dropped from over 100 youth members to under 30, over the last two years. Last nights meeting only had nine boys present at the elections, although another one came later. It needs a strong leader that will communicate with everyone, help everyone feel welcome, and not dictate orders. No adult leader will keep the youth coming if the other youth in the program do not accept them. Of the 50 or more new elected candidates this year less than ten ordealed; many visited a meeting once or twice and never came again, nor did they ordeal.
Frankly the best youth for the job is not often a natural leader, but someone who has the resources, the tenure, the willing heart, and training to do a good job. Often good leaders are the ones that get the job done, without taking sides, and not forming best buddies with whom they give special privileges. It is not the boy whom does not attend or represent the chapter at functions, nor pressure his inexperienced brother to run for office just because he does not want to work with someone: Although the problems actually go farther than that last night, with the vote count.
In my 34 years of experience in scouting, if a unit is fractured, the youth leadership should be filled with boys from all fractions. That way all fractions have representation in the said leadership; the leadership normally jells and bonds after the adviser helps to them work at a hard task together. The best thing about filling leaders from all the fractions is that they all bring their friends and more attend over all.
I realize that many parent leaders do not have an unbiased view of their son, thus we have problems. Boys can over come a popular leader, they just train him, but hurt feelings are hard to overcome. When parent leaders get involved this is what happens.
Footnote- Sorry I just needed to rant ... I’ve been asked what was done wrong- the candidates did not have their names written on the board so all would know how to spell their names and both had similar names. The candidates did not give a speech so that they could tell what they could bring to the table or about their experience. The votes were tallied by a parent leader, alone. And that a member was allowed to vote after the votes where taken, as he walked down hall where the votes were tallied.
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