Kayanernh-Kowa Lodge 219

Lodge Operating Guidelines

Article I: General
1. The name of this lodge of the Order of the Arrow shall be Kayanernh-Kowa Lodge "The Great Binding Law of Peace" 219 W.W.W.
2. This lodge shall be affiliated with the Hiawatha Seaway Council, B.S.A. and shall be under the authority of the Scout executive
3. The Totem of this lodge shall be the Wampum Belt

Article II: Lodge Structure
1. The lodge shall be under the administration of the Lodge Executive Committee chaired by the Lodge Chief.
2. Lodge Vice Chiefs are responsible for the committees as assigned by the Lodge Chief.
  1. Lodge Committee Chairmen will be selected by the Lodge Officer in charge of that committee with the approval of the Lodge Chief and the Lodge Lay Adviser.
  2. Lodge Committee Chairman may build any administrative structure to serve the lodge subject to the approval of the appointing officer.
3. Each District of the Council will have an Order of the Arrow Chapter affiliated with it. They will govern OA relations for the district. Each Chapter will be set up according to District boundaries, and will change as they change boundaries. Chapter Chiefs report to the Lodge Chief. Additionally, Chapters can select their own name, subject to LEC approval.

Article III: Lodge Officers and Chapter Chiefs
1. The following lodge officers shall be elected by a majority of the voting lodge membership in attendance at the Annual Spring Fellowship Business meeting and serve until the following Spring Fellowship. Abstentions shall not be counted toward the total number of votes. This is with the exception of the charter year in which officers will be elected on June 5, 1999 and serve until the fall fellowship in the year 2000.
  1. Chief
  2. Vice Chief of Activities
  3. Vice Chief of Membership Affairs
  4. Vice Chief of Service
  5. Secretary
  6. Treasurer
2. Each Chapter will annually elect a Chapter Chief. The elections are under the same provisions as the Officer Elections.
3. Eligibility for Election
  1. A candidate for election to a lodge office must be an active lodge member under 21 years of age for the entire administrative year.
  2. A candidate for election must be present at the time of election or send a written notice of his acceptance of the nomination.
  3. A candidate must submit a written notice of intent to the Scout Executive or designee 7 days prior to the election. This letter must list all positions the candidate wishes to run for, which is limited to two of the six lodge offices as provided in Article III, Section A.
4. Responsibilities of all Lodge Officers and Chapter Chiefs are described in the most recent edition of the Order of the Arrow Handbook and Guide for Officers and Advisers. Additional responsibilities may be assigned by the Lodge Chief.

Article IV: Removal of Lodge Executive Committee Members and Chapter Chiefs
1. Any Lodge Executive Committee Chairman may be removed from the office and replaced upon the recommendation of the appropriate Lodge Officer, and upon the approval of the Lodge Chief and Lodge Lay Adviser.
2. Removal of the Lodge Chief may be done by a 2/3 vote of the general members in attendance at the designated Lodge Function. Upon the removal or resignation, the Vice Chief of Activities will hold the position until a proper election is held.
3. Removal of a Lodge Officer may be done by a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the Lodge Executive Committee.
4. Removal of a Chapter Chief may be done by a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the members of the respective chapter.
5. In the event an Officer or Chapter Chief is removed from or resigns from office, the Lodge Chief shall appoint an interim replacement. The replacement will serve until a proper election is held.

Article V: Lodge and Chapter Functions
1. The Lodge shall annually schedule and hold the following functions:
  1. Banquet
  2. Spring Fellowship
  3. Fall Fellowship
2. The Chapter shall annually schedule and hold the following functions:
  1. District/Chapter service day coordinated by a Service Day Coordinator appointed by the Chapter Chief.
Article VI: Meetings
1. The Lodge Chief shall conduct a business meeting at each lodge Fellowship. A quorum at a general meeting shall be the active voting members in attendance and require a majority of those present to conduct business.
2. The Lodge Executive Committee shall meet at least 4 times annually to conduct lodge business. A quorum to conduct business shall be 50% of the voting members of the Lodge Executive Committee and require a simple majority.
3. Special meetings of the Lodge Executive Committee or the entire membership may be called by the Key-3 or by the Council Executive.
4. The Lodge Chief is a non-voting member at all lodge meetings except in cases where a single vote is necessary to break a tie.

Article VII: Dues
1. Dues shall be collected annually and recorded by the Vice Chief of Membership. The amount to be collected will be determined by the Lodge Executive Committee on an annual basis. Dues shall be deposited with the Council Service Center.
2. Inactive members may be restored to active status by paying one year’s back dues in addition to current dues.

Article VIII: Accounting
1. All Order of the Arrow funds shall be handled through the Council Service Center and go through the normal accounting system and procedures of the council.

Article IX: Amending the Lodge Operating Guidelines
1. The lodge operating guidelines may be amended through the following process: The executive committee must view and have opportunity to discuss the proposed revision at least 30 days in advance. The full lodge must then be mailed the proposal at least 14 days in advance. The proposal may become ratified by a vote of at least fifty percent plus one vote at a full lodge meeting by the voting members of the lodge.

Article X: Additional Policy
1. Any Lodge policy not specifically outlined in any BSA approved publication or the Kayanernh-Kowa #219 Operating Guidelines shall be at the discretion of the Lodge Chief.

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Last Updated: 03/09/2007