OA Unit Elections FAQ,

Frequently asked Questions

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1. I have a Scout who will be first class in a couple of weeks. Can your Election team come back to our Troop meeting after that and perform another election for him?

2. I heard that only OA members in a Troop can vote for other members of the Troop to join the OA.

3. Why do 50% of the registered youth have to be present in order to hold the elections? A lot of our Scouts are semi-active and don’t regularly attend.  Couldn’t we just hold the election with whomever is there?

4. One of the nominees in the election was just one vote short of the minimum needed to become a candidate for membership in the OA. Can I call a Scout who is not at the troop meeting tonight to find out who he wants to vote for? Maybe we can get that one more vote that’s needed for this nominee to qualify.

5. The adult that our Troop would like to nominate has only been in the Troop for a few months. They did go on several campouts with their son’s Weblos Den last year and attended summer camp with the Troop last summer. Can we still nominate this person even though most of their fifteen days and nights camping were with their son’s Weblos Den?

6. My Scouts cannot make it to the Call Out Ceremony at the Spring Camporee. If they can’t make it to the Call Out Ceremony then they cannot attend an Ordeal.?

7. Will the adults who are nominated be called out during the Spring Camporee?

8. One of my Scouts who was elected last year was not able to attend an Ordeal. Can they attend one of the Ordeals this year?

    9. Can our Troop nominate more than one adult?

   10. Is there any limit to the number of youth who are placed on the ballot for election?

   11. Can a Scoutmaster conduct his own election?

   12. Can my Venture Crew, Varsity Team or Explorer Post have an election?

   13. How are adult nominations considered?

   14. Once the adult nomination form is submitted, what happens then?

   15. When must OA Unit Election be completed by and the paperwork turned into the Chapter Adviser?

1. I have a Scout who will be first class in a couple of weeks. Can your Election team come back to our Troop meeting after that and perform another election for him?

-         No, the election would either have to be rescheduled to a different night or the scout will have to wait for elections the following year. A Scout Troop is only allowed one election per year. There can be no follow-up elections for scouts that do not meet the eligibility requirements at the time of the election

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2. I heard that only OA members in a Troop can vote for other members of the Troop to join the OA.

-         Wrong, all Scouts registered in a Troop, 20 years of age and under, may vote in the election. One of the unique features about the OA is that both members and non members vote on the nominees.

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3. Why do 50% of the registered youth have to be present in order to hold the elections? A lot of our Scouts are semi-active and don’t regularly attend.  Couldn’t we just hold the election with whomever is there?

-         No. The reason for requiring that 50% of the registered youth are present is so that it is a fair and democratic election.  If you do not have 50% of your REGISTERED membership present, then the election will not be held.  You may request to reschedule the election ONE TIME, and at the Election Teams discretion, MAY be rescheduled.

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4. One of the nominees in the election was just one vote short of the minimum needed to become a candidate for membership in the OA. Can I call a Scout who is not at the troop meeting tonight to find out who he wants to vote for? Maybe we can get that one more vote that’s needed for this nominee to qualify.

-         All elections are opened and closed at the Troop meeting. There can be no more voting after the elections are officially closed. Also, there can be no proxy voting during the election, only Scouts present at the Troop meeting may vote.

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5. The adult that our Troop would like to nominate has only been in the Troop for a few months. They did go on several campouts with their son’s Weblos Den last year and attended summer camp with the Troop last summer. Can we still nominate this person even though most of their fifteen days and nights camping were with their son’s Weblos Den?

-         Yes, but only if the campouts were with second year Weblos will the requirement for the 15 days and nights camping be satisfied.

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6. My Scouts cannot make it to the Call Out Ceremony at the Spring Camporee. If they can’t make it to the Call Out Ceremony then they cannot attend an Ordeal.

-         Wrong, the Call Out is only a public recognition of those Scouts who were nominated to be candidates for membership in the OA. It is not a requirement to attend a Call Out before attending an Ordeal. Once a Scout is elected by their Troop, then that person may attend an Ordeal.

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7. Will the adults who are nominated be called out during the Spring Camporee?

-         No. The Callout Ceremony at the Spring Camporee is to recognize the youth that were elected within their Troops.

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8. One of my Scouts who was elected last year was not able to attend an Ordeal. Can they attend one of the Ordeals this year?

-         No, if a Scout was not able to attend an Ordeal last year then they must go through the entire election process over again.

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9. Can our Troop nominate more than one adult?

-         A Scout Unit may only nominate 1 adult per 49 Scouts registered in their particular Unit.

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10.  Is there any limit to the number of youth who are placed on the ballot for election?
 -    Provided they all meet the eligibility requirements, no.

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11. Can a Scoutmaster conduct his own election?
 -   NO! All elections must be conducted with at least one member of the Chapter or Lodge election team present, preferably a member from outside the troop.

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12. Can my Venture Crew, Varsity Team or Explorer Post have an election?
-   O-A elections can only be held by Scout Troops and Varsity Teams. Elections cannot be held by Venture Crews or Explorer Posts.

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13. How are adult nominations considered?

-   The adult nomination process is very selective. Since the O-A exists by and large for the youth, with the youth only, serving in the leadership positions, adult nominations are carefully screened. The committee considers the adults ability to perform the necessary functions to help the O-A fulfill its goals and purposes, how the adult will be an asset to the Lodge and whether the adult will be a positive role model to the youth. O-A membership is NOT a recognition for service either past or present NOR a reward for achievement or position.

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14. Once the adult nomination form is submitted, what happens then?
 -   Within 6 weeks of receipt, the Adult Nomination Committee, through the Lodge Adviser, will generally respond in one of three ways. If approved, the nominee will receive a letter noting such. If additional information is needed, the nominator (unit committee chairman) will receive a letter requesting the additional information. If denied, the nominator will receive a letter noting such and the reasons why.

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15. When must OA Unit Election be completed by and the paperwork turned into the Chapter Adviser?

-   All Elections must be completed by March 21, 2012. All paperwork for Elections must be turned into the ACA Chapter Adviser, James Hermes, by this date.

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