Meet the Man Program Hosts National Committee

On Monday, several members of the National Order of the Arrow Committee, the group tasked with setting policy and providing strategic vision for the Order of the Arrow, answered questions for Arrowmen in a "Meet the Man" program in Kellogg Auditorium.   This Meet the Man program was especially interesting because Arrowmen's questions were answered by the people who not only have the answers but can affect change throughout the organization if influenced to do so.  Panelists included:

• Brad Haddock, National Chairman of the Order of the Arrow
• Glenn Ault, Vice-Chairman of Financial Records
• Ray Capp, Vice-Chairman of Strategic Planning
• Tom Reddin, Vice-Chairman of Region and Section Operations
• Mark Chilutti, Vice-Chairman of Leadership Development
• Dan Segersin, Vice-Chairman of Outdoor Program

Before the session, those in attendance wrote questions and submitted them to the moderator.  Many of the questions referenced the end of the Order's current Strategic Plan and how the Order will create the new Strategic Plan.  All panelists were enthusiastic about shaping the Order's future in these changing times.

Two of the questions asked were:

How do you get on the National Committee?
National Committee members agreed that the Strategic Plan dictates who serves on the National Committee. The members are selected based on their areas of expertise and their value to the Order's Strategic Plan, but Mr. Chilutti reminded all attendees that, "the most important thing is to remember that program starts on the local level, and that's really where it starts for you as well as for us...Like the Vigil Honor, you shouldn't seek it-- it should find you. It's the same [with the National Committee]"

What is to come in the years ahead?
In 2007, the Committee is planning a Summit-like event to roll out the new Strategic Plan. At the event, training targeted at lodge leadership and the lodge key three will be used to prepare for the 2008 ArrowCorps⁵.

The National Committee is focusing on training the lodges for ArrowCorps⁵, both promotionally and physically.  The new program will orchestrate 5,000 Arrowmen conducting service projects in 5 national parks over 5 weeks. National Committee member Glenn Ault noted that "any lodge could go to any project."  Lodges will not be required to attend the national park project closest to them.

The next three National Order of the Arrow Conferences will take place in 2009, 2011, and 2013; the 2009 NOAC will be held at Indiana University. Another interesting piece of information shared was that since the National Scout Jamboree was moved to even years, and NOAC has been moved to odd years, both organizations will have their 100^th anniversary celebrations during their scheduled gatherings.