Centennial Celebrations

This NOAC celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Order of the Arrow. A special committee was formed to commemorate this historic occasion at NOAC. Throughout 2014 and 2015 the Centennial Celebrations committee has prepared several programs, events, and awards all culminating at NOAC 2015! The details are below on all of the exciting activities planned.

Centennial sash

To commemorate the Order’s centennial anniversary, each guest and staff member attending NOAC will receive a special centennial sash that can be worn only during the conference. The sash will feature an inverted white arrow on a red sash and a unique design celebrating the centennial. The sash will not be level specific, so each Arrowman – an Ordeal, Brotherhood or Vigil Honor member – will receive the same design on their sash. Additionally, sashes will be one-size-fits-all with a length in between a standard “regular” and “long” OA sash.

As part of the orientation, centennial sashes will be distributed to contingent leaders in exchange for the lodge’s kiln-dried wood for the Centennial Fire and any outstanding Legacy Project items (lids and history books). Staff members will receive their centennial sash through their respective conference committee.

Sashes for adult contingent members who were displaced due to the conference attendance cap will be handled separately from the contingent process. The national service center will be reaching out to each lodge to request the number of sashes they would like to purchase, up to the number of displaced adults who were in the registration system or on the national waitlist as of October 10th, 2014. Sashes will be mailed to each council’s office at the close of the conference. The cost to councils is $25 per sash, with a suggested sale price of $50, allowing the lodge to keep $25 to support its program. More details on this process will be provided to councils in the coming weeks.

Centurion Award Distribution

Centurion Awards and recognition certificates will be distributed to contingent leaders during orientation at the 2015 National Order of the Arrow Conference. These items will be provided at no cost and lodges will receive them regardless of their Centurions’ attendance at NOAC. Contingent leaders will receive all of their local lodge’s Centurions, including those on NOAC staff. If lodges have exercised the option of ordering the recognition items for a deceased Centurion, they will receive these at NOAC for distribution at a later date to the family or a volunteer who might represent this Centurion. In order to receive recognition materials for posthumous Centurions, the lodge must have requested them through the online Centurion portal.

This red and white ribbon and a metallic totem symbolizing our centennial anniversary is intended for wear when in field uniform (Class A) at formal Scouting recognition events (e.g., courts of honor, banquets) and National Order of the Arrow Conferences. While in activity uniform (Class B) at NOAC, Centurions will be identified by an exclusive ribbon attached to their nametag.

Several lodges are planning for a formal presentation of their Centurions during NOAC. Please consider a meaningful and thoughtful presentation of this once-in-a-lifetime honor for each of your lodge’s Centurions. Lodges are encouraged to recognize all of their Centurions at appropriate lodge or council functions. Such examples include the lodge’s annual holiday banquet or council awards dinner.

Please see the Centurion Award FAQ for a listing of common inquiries. Any other questions on the Centurion Award can be directed to oa100@oa-bsa.org.

Legacy Display

Every lodge will have a unique display showcased throughout the duration of NOAC in the Legacy Display Tent at The Hub. This will be the first-ever comprehensive history of the Order of the Arrow told from the perspective of individual lodges. Each lodge’s display will be comprised of its legacy lid, history book and legacy rock. The Legacy Display concept is unique to NOAC 2015 and is sure to offer reflection, connection and discovery. For every lodge to have a complete display, each contingent should bring both its lodge legacy lid and lodge history book. These items will be collected during orientation. Special recognition will be given to each lodge that completes all four milestones of the Legacy Project (rock, lid, history book & wood). In addition, special commemorative recognition will be given to the best rock, lid & history book examples as determined by the national chief & national chairman.

While not part of the Legacy Display itself, lodges should also bring wood to be placed on the Centennial Fire as part of the Centennial Rededication Ceremony. This wood will be burned and the ashes commingled with ashes from wood collected from all other lodges around the country, the Summit Circle, Brotherhood Barn and Treasure Island Scout Reservation. Participating lodges will leave NOAC with a commemorative, limited-edition vial filled with ash from the Centennial Fire. A limited number of these vials will also be sold at the trading post to support the national OA endowment fund.

Don’t forget to bring these Legacy Project items with you and be a part of this historic celebration! See here for more information on the Legacy Project.

Centennial Fire

The Centennial Fire will be the centerpiece of the Centennial Rededication Ceremony. Wood contributions must be kiln-dried, be free of disease & insects, not consist of bark, pine or ash and not be pre-burned. The Legacy Project crate (given to lodges at NOAC 2012) should contain more than one piece of wood such that the crate is full (but not overfilled). Additional details regarding adherence to state and local laws regarding the transportation of wood over state line. Each lodge will exchange kiln-dried wood for its contingent’s centennial sashes at orientation. At the end of NOAC, only those lodges contributing wood to the Centennial Fire and participating in the rededication ceremony will be given a commemorative, limited-edition vial of ash from the Centennial Fire.

Contingents who register for the Centennial Rededication Ceremony in the conference registration portal will be assigned a day and time to participate in the ceremony based on their respective Innovative Engine program. Ceremonies will take place approximately every 30 minutes from 9am through 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This information will be communicated directly to contingent leaders in mid-July. During the onsite orientation process, contingent leaders will have the opportunity to change their scheduled time or sign up for a ceremony if they did not do so as part of the registration process. On most evenings, the Centennial Fire will be open for individual guests to spend some time at this unique space without a formal program.

Centennial Gala

The Centennial Gala will be the premier banquet at NOAC on Wednesday, August 5th and is by invitation. While other aspects of the conference may focus on our first 100 years, the Gala program will emphasize and introduce the Order’s focus on the next century. Guests will be transported to the Lansing Convention Center for an exclusive evening replete with a reception, upscale meal and inspiring program to be enjoyed alongside fellow Arrowmen who will become the Order's leaders after the centennial. The Gala program will incorporate the conference theme, "It Starts With Us," and allow guests to begin thinking about the impact they will make on others, Scouting and the Order for the next century.

This event is geared toward Arrowmen who are considered "change agents" for the future of the Order, even though they may not necessarily hold a formal title or office at the time of the conference. If you will play a key role in shaping the Order's history as we kick of our next century, don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Bus transportation will be provided from Cherry Lane Park at 4pm and guests will be transported to Breslin Arena directly after the Centennial Gala. Paid parking is available at Lansing Convention Center for guests opting to drive. Tickets will be required to board the bus and to enter the event. A reception will be held at 4:30pm and dinner will follow at 5pm.

Registration is now open for individual youth guests and staff. To register log on to your NOAC Registration account and find the Centennial Gala under the activities tab (on the left).

Centennial Festival

The Centennial Festival is a live music festival on Friday of NOAC. Kicking off the day in Spartan Stadium, a special conference-wide ceremony, official photograph and service project will ensure all guests are in the proper spirit to celebrate throughout the day. The Festival will feature several bands from a variety of genres, with on-stage entertainers performing in between acts. During the Festival, lodges will have an opportunity to showcase a unique display or ‘Starting Point,’ including best practices for others to learn from for their own improvement. In each display’s design, lodges will share a taste of their hometowns by including local traditions, landmarks, games and/or giveaways (but not food items).

Nearly all conference guests and staff are likely to pass through this area of The Hub, so lodges will want to put together a thoughtful display. Plan to impress! The Centennial Festival will be the feature event on Friday of NOAC.

This opportunity to be a part of your lodge’s ‘Starting Point’ and will be a phenomenal opportunity to celebrate your lodge’s success and learn from others. Talk with your contingent leader if you would like to play a part in putting together your lodge’s display. Your contingent leader will have detailed information about the specific requirements and can answer any questions you might have.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Centennial Festival Key Lead, Ian Pinnavaia (ian.pinnavaia@gmail.com). The Centennial Celebrations Committee looks forward to witnessing the innovative and exciting displays from each lodge across the nation!

Centurion Reception

The Centurion Reception, which will take place on Friday afternoon during the Centennial Festival at NOAC, will be a fun and interactive opportunity for Arrowmen to meet, congratulate and network with Centurion Award recipients. Arrowmen will have the unique opportunity to hear stories about many Centurions and the volumes of thankless service and devotion to lodges, councils and communities that have been provided by the Order’s most dedicated volunteers.

Last revised on July 14, 2015