Joe Sadewasser, Central Region Chief, knows how important Scouting is to him.
“Scouting is a key part of my life,” he said.
Joe, 18, has been a member of the Order of the Arrow since being inducted in 1998 into Timmeu Lodge. Being involved in the OA has provided him with many things to help him during his life.
“The biggest thing is leadership skills and experiences and memories to carry through life,” he said. “The OA has taught me to give and not worrying about getting back and taught me that the act of service itself is a big enough reward.”
Learning the rewards of servant leadership has come through his work as Lodge Chief and as Section C-3B Chief. He is also an Eagle Scout and a Vigil Honor member.
Getting involved in the Order is something that Joe encourages all Arrowmen to do, and seek to serve rather than look for a position.
“I think they need to realize that they should not seek a position in the OA – it’s something that will happen as they get more and more involved,” he said. “I would totally encourage them to get more involved in the OA because it is such a rewarding experience and something that will change their lives.”
Joe is making his third trip to the National Conference, and he said that there is not much difference between being a participant and the national officer. It is, however, “amazing all the work that goes in before hand,” he said.
Even though Joe spends a lot of his time Scouting, he also enjoys hiking, backpacking, fishing and hunting. He is currently a criminology major at Northeast Iowa Community College.
But for this week, Joe is a full-time Scout and knows exactly what he wants to get out of the conference.
“I just hope that six or seven thousand Arrowmen going away from here say this was a good conference and that it’s something they would want to come back to again,” he said.
Revised 8/2/2004