FAQ's

Election FAQ's

Many troops have questions about OA elections.  Woapalanne Lodge has compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions.  The list is not intended to be exhaustive.  Scouts who have a question that is not addressed should contact:

  • RJ Bubnowski,  Lodge Chief – Contact Us
  • Adults should contact: Bill Stroh, Lodge Adviser– Contact Us

A:  Each troop may hold an election once each year.

A:  As many as are eligible.  There is no limit to the number of scouts that a troop may elect. 

A:  Adults are not elected but may be nominated by the unit committee. As long as at least one youth is nominated, a troop may nominate 1 adult for every 3 Scouts elected.  Adults must have the same camping requirements as youths, should be in good standing with their troops, and should be chosen for their potential service to the OA.  The unit leader may also be chosen, provided he/she has served for at least 12 months.

  1. Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
  2. Have experienced 15 nights of Scout camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.
  3. At the time of their election, youth must be under the age of 21, and hold one of the following ranks corresponding to the type unit in which they are being considered for election: Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery Award, or the Sea Scout Ordinary rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor or Sea Scout Skipper, be elected by the youth members of their unit.

A:  A simple majority of the votes cast.  If a scout receives 11 of 20 votes cast, he is elected.  A candidate may vote for himself.

A:  If a troop has active OA members trained in running an election, they can run their own elections.  The election should be conducted by the youth leadership of the troop with adult guidance.  Adults should not conduct OA elections.

A:  A majority of the active scouts registered in the unit must be present.

A:  Yes:  first, review the procedures with the youth who will conduct the election; second, prepare a ballot in advance listing all the candidates in alphabetical order; third, monitor the youth leaders as they count the ballots to assure a fair outcome.

A:  The Lodge is happy to provide election assistance where possible.  Given the large number of troops in the Council, the Lodge is unable to provide youth members to conduct elections for all troops.  Our priority is assisting troops that currently have no OA members.  Lodge officers are always available, however, to explain and discuss election procedures with your scouts.

A:  Report the results on our lodge website form at https://ppcbsa.org/programs/oa/election-form. Please type all of your information into the spreadsheet.  Save the form and email it to Lodge Adviser Bill Stroh at [email protected] as soon as you can.  Be careful to provide accurate e-mail addresses.  Invitations to the Ordeal weekends will be sent to candidates by e-mail.  You will need each candidate’s BSA#, DOB, email, phone #, and address.  Remember, the troop’s election report must be submitted for candidates to be contacted or permitted to attend an Ordeal.

A:  Most elections take place between January and April.  Our only request is that you leave enough time for the full process to play out:  election form received, registration forms e-mailed to candidates, candidates mail registration forms and payment back to the office.  Aim to get the election form into the office at least three weeks before an Ordeal weekend if you would like your scouts to participate in that weekend.

A:  No, registration forms are sent out by the Lodge.

A:  Yes.  All paperwork and fees must be received in the council office no later later than the Saturday before the weekend you plan to attend.

A:  The Lodge hosts three Ordeal weekends each year, two in the spring and one in the fall.  A candidate has one year from the time he is elected to complete the Ordeal.  If he does not, he must be re-elected.

A:  Most elections take place between January and April.  Our only request is that you leave enough time for the full process to play out:  election form received, registration forms e-mailed to candidates, candidates mail registration forms and payment back to the office.  Aim to get the election form into the office at least three weeks before an Ordeal weekend if you would like your scouts to participate in that weekend.

The Order of the Arrow troop representatives act as the youth liaison between Woapalanne Lodge #43 and their troops. This is a youth leadership position that counts for the Star, Life, and Eagle requirement. The OA Troop Representative duties are as follows:

  • Serve as a communication link between the lodge and the troop
  • Encourage Scouts to actively participate in community service projects.
  • Promote and record Service to America in the troop.
  • Run or assist with leadership training in the troop
  • Encourage Arrowmen to actively participate in the lodge functions and seal their membership in the OA by becoming a Brotherhood Member.

The representative should be an older Scout that younger Scouts look up to and be someone who lives by the scout Oath, Law and OA Obligation. To apply, use this  Troop Representative Form.