S E M I A L A C H E E   L O D G E   
Serving the Suwannee River Area Council Since 1943

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About the Lodge and the Order of the Arrow

The following information is provided to all members and interested individuals to help everyone better understand the mission and purpose of the Order of the Arrow and Semialachee Lodge . The National Order of the Arrow website provided most of the information regarding the Order of the Arrow in general.

 

 

 

 

Semialachee Lodge Basics

 

          Semialachee Lodge is the local chapter of the Order of the Arrow, and subscribes to all of the nationally mandated policies as given by the National Order of the Arrow Committee.  Semialachee Lodge serves the counties of the Suwannee River Area Council in northern Florida and southern Georgia. The totem of the lodge is a crawling Seminole Indian.

HISTORY OF SEMIALACHEE LODGE

          Semialachee Lodge was founded in 1943 as the Suriarco Lodge 239. The idea came from a Field Executive named Bill Huskey who transferred to the Suwannee River Area Council from Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he had been involved with the Order of the Arrow. The first Semialachee Ordeal was conducted at Camp Orchard Pond during the regular summer camp season in June 1943.   The name "Suriarco" is a combination of the first two letters from each word in the name of the council. SUwannee RIver ARea COuncil = Suriarco).  The name "Semialachee," which is a contraction of "Seminole" and "Apalachee," was adopted in 1948.

          The lodge was assigned to Area 6-D in 1948, and it hosted the annual conferences for that section in 1950, 1955, 1963, and 1968.  Over the years, Semialachee furnished the Area and the National Committee with several members.  Jack Champion served as assistant to the National Order of the Arrow Conference Chief in 1954 and 1956, as well as the Chief of Area 6-D in 1955. Paxton Briley served as Area Secretary that same year.  Bill Kennedy served as Area Chief in 1966. Paul Cureton served as Area Secretary.

          The 1970's were a busy time for Semialachee Lodge. Energetic leadership led to the introduction of the most successful chapter system ever tried in the lodge, as well as innovative new lodge events and an increase in membership. In 1972, the Area system of organization was replaced by the "Sections," and Semialachee Lodge became a member of Section SE-6.  The lodge hosted the 1974 Section SE-6 Conference. Toward the end of the 1970's, the chapter system fell out of use.

          Semialachee Lodge furnished Section SE-6 with two leaders in 1981. Mike Dalton was the Section Secretary and Bruce Landrum was the section Vice-Chief. In 1983, the local Council Executive disbanded the lodge and initiated its reorganization.  A new group of officers was elected, and the lodge began to rebuild.  AJ Rother was elected Section Historian at the 1984 Conference. The sections were reorganized in 1985, landing Semialachee in the new Section SE-1. Semialachee Lodge hosted the first SE-1 conference in 1985. AJ Rother was re-elected Section Historian at this conference.  

          Particularly strong leaders began to appear in the lodge in the late 80's and 90's.  One Semialachee lodge chief, Sean Cox, went on to become the Section SE-1 chief in 1991 and then National Chief in 1992.  The lodge hosted the 1994 Section 4 Conference. The lodge experienced a shortage of funds in the later 90's, but began to recover in the early 2000's with the advent of new programs and the hosting of the 2003 Section 4 South Conference.

          Today, Semialachee Lodge continues to provide its members with a variety of leadership opportunities and a strong tradition of fellowship and service to the council and camp.  

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THE LODGE PROGRAM

          Semialachee Lodge provides its members with a variety of activities that address all elements of the Purpose of the Order of the Arrow. Lodge functions are scheduled for several different purposes, and a number of leadership opportunities are offered to allow all interested youth the opportunity to design and execute a part of the lodge's program.  The following is a list of all of the different kinds of activities in Semialachee Lodge.

  1. Lodge Fellowship Weekends - The lodge holds four weekend events every year, three of which are specifically meant for fellowship of the members, as well as service to the camp and council. Fellowship weekends are an opportunity for lodge members to catch up with fellow members, provide service to the camp, conduct business within their committees, enjoy activities planned by the Program Committee, attend training that might be offered, and generally have a good time. Important ceremonies for Brotherhood membership, the Vigil Honor, or other recognition may be included. Attendance at lodge weekends is not mandatory, but encouraged.  
  1. Ordeal Weekends - The Ordeal is the process by which new members are introduced to the ideals of the Order.  The largest Ordeal occurs in August or Septemeber, and a make-up Ordeal is held in February for those scouts who were unable to attend the Fall Ordeal. Scouts "tapped out" for OA membership are considered "candidates" until they have completed the Ordeal at one of these weekends. Both candidates and members attend Ordeal weekends. Candidates are taught the ideals of the Order through a variety of symbolic challenges, best described in the OA Basics section of the national OA website. Members asisst with the Ordeal, and keep some of the same regulations as candidates as a reminder of the tenets of the Order. Ordeal weekends are particularly important; they bring new members to the lodge and represent the lodge's most important service efforts to the camp and council. The lodge elects officers to its Executive Committee at the Fall Ordeal.
  1. Annual Family Banquet - Each year in December, Semialachee Lodge hosts a banquet for members and their families. Recognitions and presentations related to the year's activities are regular themes, accompanied by a semi-formal dinner.  Every lodge member should try to attend the banquet.
  1. Lodge Executive Committee Meetings - The Lodge Executive Committee is composed of the officers of the lodge, elected annually at the Fall Ordeal Weekend. Lodge officers consist of the Lodge Chief, the Vice-Chief of Service, the Vice-Chief of Program, the Vice-Chief of Inductions, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Historian. The LEC also includes the chairmen of various committees that operate under the direction of lodge officers, as well as OA Troop Representatives. The LEC meeting is an opportunity for officers and committee chairmen to report on their activities over the previous month, discuss plans for the upcoming months, discuss and vote on lodge policies and decisions, and hear proposals for new programs and business. Any member of the lodge may attend an LEC meeting, as well as any interested parents.   Although meeting dates are subject to change, the LEC meetings are usually held every first Thursday of the month.
  1. Section Events - Semialachee Lodge belongs to Section 4 South, which encompasses all of the lodges in Florida except Yustaga Lodge to the west. The lodges of Section 4 South meet twice a year. One meeting (Section Seminars) occurs in the fall, usually November, when training is conducted and the lodge chiefs meet to discuss business regarding the section and the upcoming section conference. The section conference is held annually in April at one of the lodges' camps. Training, fellowship, competitions, and ceremonies are enjoyed by members of all 8 lodges in the section.  Each lodge has the opportunity to compete in a number of different events; every member can help.
  1. National Events - Members of Semialachee Lodge may choose to attend events offered at the Region or National level. The National Leadership Seminar is a special program in which selected lodge members attend a top-notch training facility for a weekend of intensive leadership development from Region, Section, and National OA leaders from all over the United States.  The National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) is held every two years on the campus of a major university. NOAC is pure OA program, packed into five days of training, competitions, incredible professionally developed shows, displays from across the nation, and unbeatable fellowship opportunities. NOAC is Scouting's second-largest gathering, as Scouts from all over the United States and the world come together to share and celebrate the Order.  

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THE ORGANIZATION OF THE LODGE

          Semialachee Lodge is governed by a Lodge Executive Committee made up of youth who direct the lodge program, manage the lodge's finances, and organize service projects for the council, camp, and community. Each youth officer or committee chairman is advised by an adult member of the lodge. The LEC is headed by the Lodge Chief.  Each officer of the Lodge Executive Committee has committees which operate under his direction. The following list identifies the leadership of the lodge. Please note that not every committee listed next to the officer positions may be active.

LODGE CHIEF

Vice-Chief of Program
          Event Committees
          Dance & Drum

Vice-Chief of Inductions
          Ceremonies Team
          Unit Elections
          Ordeal Committees

Vice-Chief of Service
          Service

Secretary
          Newsletter
          Membership
          Website

Treasurer
          Lodge Box
          Patch Design

Historian
          Museum Relations
          King's Cup

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Semialachee Lodge
Suwannee River Area Council #664
2032 Thomasville Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32308

 

This website is a publication of the Suwannee River Area Council © 2006 and is subject to its website disclaimer.