Lodges leave a legacy in more ways than one
By Zach Brown
As we progress into the next century of service, many stories will be molded into one cohesive legacy for Arrowmen to learn from in generations to come. A legacy is much more that what modern eyes have come to comfortably see as a history. It is something that has a lasting effect. A legacy is similar to art in that it causes those who view it to feel a certain way yet is still a form of history because of its factual relevance.
NOAC 2015 provided numerous opportunities for lodges and individuals to leave a legacy for the future. Each lodge was challenged to compile a display from their own legacy. These lodge histories will then be intertwined into one. All of these aspects were put in place to bridge the theme from the 2012 NOAC, “United, We Leave a Legacy,” to the centennial NOAC 2015 . The “Leaving a Legacy” display is at The Hub between the High Adventure tent and the ArrowTour booths. You can visit this display not only to see your own lodge’s display, but to learn about all of the lodges’ histories that combine to make us one Order.
Another largely significant point of leaving a legacy at this NOAC resides in the Legacy Fellows Endowment Center. The Legacy Center is the carpeted area in the left wing of the NOAC trading post and is an open space for potential donors to meet with representatives and discuss the purpose of the endowment fund and what their personal hopes are for the money that they donate.
The donations for this centennial year was centered on a tier system, ranging from $1 to $1,000 or more. The tiers feature gifts of limited, numbered patch sets for High Adventure, Boy Scouts of America awards, Order of the Arrow awards, and the three principles of the Order. They also feature 100 numbered centennial sashes and a scrapbook of the Order’s history and purpose. The final level of donation gives the donor the opportunity to be called a Legacy Fellow. James McClelland, a liaison for the Legacy Center said, “It is not about the gifts; it is about building relationships.” He also explained that the endowment fund is founded on the principles of investing in a program with the money of those who were directly affected by its opportunities and experiences, rather than just money that is taken of persuaded donors or ritzy philanthropists. The donors for the endowment are genuinely proud to give their money to the organization that changed their life as a youth, adult or both.
The National OA Endowment provides funding for many aspects of the Order, such as our OA high adventure programs, scholarships, service grants, and many other special OA programs. Your input, large or small, can help support the portion of the Order that you feel most meaningful. Supporting the endowment is far more than just a donation of money, but a donation of time, hopes, wishes, and your own personal legacy, all to advance the Order we have all come to call home.
