Opening Assembly
The Summit officially began with an opening assembly of all
1100 plus participants and staff. A short video highlighting the history of the Order
started things off, followed by the traditional bonnet passing ceremony as the 1999 National Officers were recognized as our top
youth leaders. |
|
Ryan Pitts, the 1996 National Chief, was presented with the
Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service to the OA. A portion of the new
Unit Elections video was shown, to wide applause.
|
Ryan Pitts |
|
This new video, which will
be mailed to lodges this fall,
can be used as a resource both in conducting
the actual unit election, and in training unit election teams.
Then, Frederick Schmechel, Lodge Chief of Kola Lodge #464, the service
lodge for the Summit, welcomed everyone to Colorado and to Fort Collins. The service
lodge has over 60 people working at all hours to support the event. |
|
|
Frederick Schmechel |
The keynote address of the Summit was then given by Ed Pease, National Chairman of the
Order of the Arrow. He noted that all present were now a part of history, and that they
had a chance to make history as well. He reviewed where the OA Strategic Plan had come
from, and how the Summit participants would be helping to shape the plan's implementation.
The event would be a working seminar, he said, unmatched in its opportunity for service. Each member present should strive to respond "I am
ready..." He concluded by challenging the audience to "help the torch burn as
brightly as possible, before passing it on..."
Each of the four region chiefs then gave some inspiring thoughts on the meaning of the
summit, and why we were here.
The assembly ended with challenge from National Chief Will Parker to participate fully
in all parts of this first ever National Leadership Summit. As participants left the room
to the beat of high energy music, each was presented with a copy of the "History of
the Order of the Arrow" as a remembrance of their involvement with this historic
event.
|
Ed Pease, autographing a copy of the History of the Order of the
Arrow for a young Arrowman, after the assembly. |
This page revised 8/6/99.
|