Lodge Bylaws

Tulpe Lodge Rules of Operation

Narragansett Council, BSA

These lodge rules of operation shall not supersede any rules or regulations set forth by the National Order of the Arrow committee, as stated in the most recent edition of the Order of the Arrow handbook.

SECTION I - Name and Affiliation

  1. The name of this organization shall be the Tulpe Lodge #102, W.W.W., hereafter referred to as the Lodge.
  2. The Lodge shall be affiliated with the Narragansett Council #546, B.S.A., and shall be under the administrative authority of its Scout Executive, who is the Supreme Chief of the Fire.
  3. The Lodge shall be divided into as many chapters as there are executive operating service areas of the Narragansett Council #546, B.S.A. Each chapter shall choose a name to represent themselves in the Lodge.
  4. The totem of the Lodge shall be the turtle of any species.
  5. The Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) shall consist of duly elected lodge officers, the immediate past Lodge Chief, duly appointed committee chairmen, chapter chiefs, the Lodge Adviser, chapter advisers, and the Supreme Chief of the Fire or his designee.

SECTION II - The Mission of the Lodge

The mission of our lodge is to achieve the purpose of the Order of the Arrow as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected, capable adults. We strive to strengthen the Scouting program in the Narragansett Council by promoting camping, leadership, and service while exemplifying the ideals of Scouting.

To achieve this, we incorporate the following objectives:

  • Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.
  • Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of Scouting.
  • Develop leaders with the character, spirit, and ability to advance the activities of their units, the Brotherhood, and Scouting.
  • Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a lifelong purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

SECTION III - Logo, Flaps, and Insignia

  1. The Lodge logo shall be determined by the LEC and attached to the end of this document.
  2. The logo shall be used in official Lodge communications, including the website, newsletter, and social media.
  3. The Lodge flap design and all other insignia must be approved by the LEC before production.
  4. Only members of the Lodge may wear the standard issue Lodge flap.

SECTION IV - Requirements and Procedures for Membership Elections

Membership elections shall follow the latest guidelines in the Order of the Arrow Handbook and the Guide to Inductions.

  • Elections must be conducted by trained election teams appointed by the Chapter Chief.
  • Election results must be submitted to the Lodge Adviser no later than June 5th.
  • Candidate letters, including Ordeal details, will be sent prior to the first Ordeal weekend.

SECTION V - Membership

Membership, Brotherhood attainment, and Vigil Honor selection shall follow the requirements outlined in the Order of the Arrow Handbook and the Guide for Officers and Advisers.

SECTION VI - Officers and Advisers

  • The elected Lodge officers are the Lodge Chief, Lodge Vice Chief of Development, Lodge Vice Chief of Program, Lodge Secretary, and Lodge Treasurer.
  • All officers must be under the age of 21 for their entire term.
  • The term of office runs from February 1st to January 31st.
  • Officers may be removed from office by the Lodge Adviser in consultation with the Supreme Chief of the Fire.

SECTION VII - Committees

The Lodge shall have the following standing committees:

  • Troop Relations Committee
  • Brotherhood Committee
  • Vigil Nominating Committee
  • Ceremonies Committee
  • Elangomat Committee

Additional ad-hoc committees may be formed as necessary by the LEC.

SECTION VIII - Elections to Lodge Office

Lodge officer elections shall take place at the Annual Lodge Meeting in January.

The election order is:

  1. Lodge Chief
  2. Lodge Vice Chief of Development
  3. Lodge Vice Chief of Program
  4. Lodge Secretary
  5. Lodge Treasurer

SECTION IX - Lodge Meetings and Activities

  • The Lodge shall hold at least one annual meeting and two additional activities per year.
  • Each meeting shall open with the Obligation of the Order of the Arrow and close with the OA Song.
  • The LEC shall meet monthly from August through June.

SECTION X - Lodge Communications

  • The official Lodge publication is "Turtle Talk," which shall be published quarterly.
  • The Lodge shall maintain a website and utilize social media for communication.

SECTION XI - Dues and Finances

  • Annual dues must be paid by November 30th to maintain active membership.
  • Lodge funds shall be held in trust by the Narragansett Council and follow proper accounting procedures.

SECTION XII - Brotherhood Membership

Brotherhood membership shall be attained according to the guidelines in the Order of the Arrow Handbook.

SECTION XIII - Vigil Honor

The Vigil Honor selection process shall follow the current guidelines set forth by the National Order of the Arrow Committee.

SECTION XIV - Ceremonies

All OA ceremonies shall adhere to the official guidelines established by the National Order of the Arrow Committee.

SECTION XV - Amendments

  1. Amendments may be proposed in writing to the LEC at least one month before the Lodge Annual Meeting.
  2. Amendments require a two-thirds vote of the general membership at the next available meeting.

Revisions affirmed: May 1, 2016; April 30, 2017; April 23, 2019.

End of Document

Schedule a Unit Election This form should be completed annually by the Unit Leader