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NOAC 1954

The OA gathered west of the Mississippi for the first time to for the 1954 National Order of the Arrow Conference (most often referred to as the “39th Anniversary Conference”). The meeting was held at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The barely three-year old Kola Lodge, based in Fort Collins, Colorado together with a chapter of theirs in Laramie served as host. The conference was down in attendance from two years earlier as it was reported that there were 1,400 delegates. This was mainly due to the extra distance required for travel to Wyoming.

For the first time the Conference had a theme, "The OA Strengthens the Unit and Council Camping Programs". Other firsts were awards for top Dance and Regalia competitions. Zit Kala Sha Lodge, Louisville, Kentucky, captured the trophy for the best Regalia display.

Training was again emphasized. This conference had four training sessions, each with ten topics offered. The sessions were led by lodge chiefs and other qualified youth with support from members of the National OA Committee.

At the closing ceremony, Dwight W. Bischel from Wabaningo Lodge, Evanston, Illinois, Editor of the Wabaningo Lodge Emblem Handbook was complimented on his display of Order of the Arrow badges.

The OA Distuingished Service Awards (DSA) were presented. Founder E. Urner Goodman gave the closing challenge. Dwight Bischel had the foresight to record and preserve this address on a reel-to-reel tape recorder.

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Pocket Flap Approved for Uniform Wear

It is strongly recommended by the National Committee that these emblems be made to fit the shape of the right shirt pocket flap. The right shirt pocket flap has been approved by the National Committee on Badges and Insignia for official Order of the Arrow Insignia where the other emblems are only temporary insignia when used on the uniform. It should be realized that this is a great advantage and a compliment to the Order of the Arrow.

In 1954, with the above decree the National Committee on Insignia declared the right shirt pocket flap as the official location for OA insignia. No other organization within the BSA had ever been afforded the honor of having a portion of the uniform designated as a location for their insignia.  

While many lodges had already made a flap shaped badge, following the announcement lodges throughout the country began issuing their first OA flap patches.

In the years since the flap was introduced millions of them have been traded between Arrowmen in fellowship and brotherhood.

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NOAC 1956

The OA returned to Indiana University for a third time. So-Aka-Gha-Gwa Lodge served in its familiar role as host lodge. The official delegate count of 2,201 was a single delegate more than the record from the 1952 Conference. The 280 lodges in attendance was easily a record surpassing the 1952 total of 210 lodges. This was the second Conference with a theme, “Arrowmen! Lead in Service to God and Country” (often shortened to the verbiage on the Conference patch, “Service to God and Country”.)

Highlights at the Conference included an address from Chief Scout Executive and Second Grand Lodge Chieftain Arthur A. Schuck.

On a somber note, a special memorial was dedicated to the memory of H. Lloyd Nelson. Instead of the traditional flowers, the dais was surrounded with headdresses as a special honor to a man who dedicated his lifetime to serving his beloved Order.

There were four group session discussion periods. The dance competition and subsequent barbecue drew some 5,000.

The OA Distinguished Service Awards (DSA) were presented. E. Urner Goodman again gave the closing challenge. Dwight Bischel of Wabaningo Lodge once again recorded the address on a reel-to-reel tape recorder preserving it for today.

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NOAC 1958

The Order of the Arrow met in Lawrence, Kansas at Kansas University for the 43^rd Anniversary Conference. While also called a National Order of the Arrow Conference, the acronym NOAC was still not in official usage. The 1958 NOAC was considered extra important because the OA leadership was already planning on skipping 1960 as a Conference year. This was to avoid conflict with the 50^th Anniversary Jubilee Jamboree and also to line the Order up for its own 50th Anniversary meeting in 1965. A record 2,368 Arrowmen attended. It was the first conference where each state was represented.

The Conference theme was, “Brothers in Service – Leaders in Camping”. As in the past, training sessions were held on multiple days with a wide array of discussion topics. Dance competition, Brotherhood Chorus and barbeque were again on the schedule. For the first time ever a Brotherhood Band was part of the festivities. The Distinguished Service Awards (DSA) were presented. Founder Goodman again delivered his customary closing challenge to Arrowmen.

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Goodman Honorary National Chief

On September 13, 1951 the National OA Committee voted to bestow the title of “Honorary National Chief” on Dr. E. Urner Goodman. Thirty years earlier Goodman had served Wimachtendienk, W.W. as its first Grand Lodge Chieftain, later called National Chief. This honor was made in tribute to the Founder upon his retirement from the BSA.

A calfskin was presented to Goodman by National OA Committee Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson inscribed,

He Gave to Boyhood a Brotherhood of Cheer and Service”.

2, Founders, Goodman, OA, Scouting

NOAC 1952

The 1952 NOAC was called the “37th Anniversary Meeting”. For the first time the term Conference is used often to describe the event. The first documented usage of the phrase “National Order of the Arrow Conference” is in a letter following the event written to the National OA Committee by LeRoy Kensrad of Hyas Chuck Kah Sun Klatawa Lodge, Portland, Oregon.

The Conference was held at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Michi-Kini-Kwa Lodge was the host lodge. The 2,200 attendees (2,095 delegates) doubled the size of any prior meeting, as did the 210 lodges representing 37 states. National Committee Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson reported that there were now 427 lodges (about four-fifths of the councils) and nearly 50,000 active Arrowmen.

The 1952 conference had the first daily newspaper, called the Totem Talks and the introduction of the National Brotherhood Chorus. The Conference featured a display center that featured exhibits from local lodges that displayed headdresses and regalia. White Panther Lodge, Clarksdale, Mississippi won a special award for their entry. Other exhibitors were J.E. Caldwell jewelers and BSA National Supply.

At the closing show the OA presented the Distinguished Service Awards.

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Eisenhower Elected President

Brilliant military five-star General and 34^th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower (“Ike”) is probably best known for his internationally focused politics in response to events involving the Soviet Union and China.

Eisenhower served on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America and was a very strong supporter of Scouting ever since his son participated in the program. 

President Eisenhower was made an "honorary member" of the Order of the Arrow on April 23, 1954 by the members of Zit-Kala-Sha Lodge, Louisville, Kentucky.  The only president to be "inducted" was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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Brotherhood Requirements Change

On October 9, 1950, a letter was sent to each lodge chief and lodge adviser through the local Scout Executive. The letter detailed changes in the Order of the Arrow Ceremonials – both Ordeal and Brotherhood. The changes sent were effective immediately and were to be written into the existing ceremonial pamphlets until the changes could be put into the next printing. The National Committee, Order of the Arrow, Norman C. Wood, Secretary signed the letter.

The key change in the Brotherhood Ceremony was the elimination of the movement of the sash from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. While it has been rumored that this was because of McCarthyism, there is no documentation to support that claim.

The distinction between Ordeal / First Degree members and Brotherhood / Second Degree members had been the shoulder the sash was worn over since circa 1917.

Now that all Arrowmen would wear their sashes over their right shoulders a new Brotherhood sash was needed. The new Brotherhood sash featured the “Brotherhood Bars” to distinguish it from an Ordeal sash.

At the beginning of 1953 these changes first appeared in print in the Brotherhood Ceremony pamphlets.

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Korean War Armistice

The Korean War (1950 – armistice, 1953) was a military conflict . . .

between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the People’s Republic of China with support from the Soviet Union.

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First to Reach Mt. Everest Summit

After years of dreaming about it and seven weeks of climbing, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Nepalese Tenzing Norgay became the first men to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, along the border of Nepal and Tibet/China, the highest mountain in the world, at 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953.

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Goodman Retires

After 36 years of service for the Boy Scouts of America, E Urner Goodman retired as a professional Scouter. He had served as Director of Program for twenty years. Goodman’s professional career had started in 1915 when as a 23 year old he was hired by the Philadelphia Council to be a Field Commissioner (now known as Field Executive). He served as Camp Director at Treasure Island Scout Reservation where he started the Order.

Goodman had hinted for several years that he was considering retirement. The Brotherhood Barn had been built in Vermont where Goodman intended to retire. Goodman continued his support and devotion to leadership and service to the Order for another three decades following his retirement.

2, Founders, Goodman, OA, Scouting

First OA National Secretary

As soon as the OA was integrated into the BSA Wes Klusmann, BSA Director of Camping, needed to select the first National Secretary. This was not a high level assignment although it would be at BSA national headquarters. This job would have a huge clerical component. The National Secretary would be responsible for, among other duties, local lodge charter renewals, theNational Bulletin, maintaining Vigil Honor lists and coordinating supplies for local lodges.

Klusmann selected a very young professional, 22 year old Norman C. Wood. Klusmann approached Wood at the 1948 NOAC where he was the junior chairman for a group discussion on registration. Wood served as OA National Secretary from 1948 – 1951. He left to become a field executive and camp director with his home council in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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