Dear Adam,
I was wondering about the Vigil voting process. Usually on the list of people are those who have been a brotherhood member for 3 years and not 2 years. Isn’t it 2 years as a brotherhood member before you can be nominated to become Vigil?
Inquiring about Vigil
Dear Inquiring,
“The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council, and Scouting. Membership cannot be won by a person’s conscious endeavors. The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position of office to the [lodge, the council, the camp, and/or the scouting community].”
The Vigil Nominating list generated for the April T-Bird is those individuals who have “attained at least 2 years as a brotherhood member of the lodge.” It is 24 COMPLETE months since becoming a brotherhood. If you became a Brotherhood member in June of 2009, you would not be eligible for Vigil until June of 2011. Voting takes place in April. Thus, if you are eligible for Vigil in August of 2011, when the first call-outs of the 2011 class are, you will not have been eligible at the time of voting for that class. This is why many people don’t make the list until they have ALMOST completed 3 full years as a brotherhood member. Remember though, receiving the Vigil Honor is just that: an honor. “Under NO circumstances should tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow be considered as reason enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.”
In April, the Vigil Honor members of our lodge meet behind lock and key and propose nominations, as well as take in to consideration all nominations submitted on paper. After a brief discussion, the adults then leave and the youth vote for the new Vigil class. These names are not revealed until the first calling out ceremony in August. If you have any more questions about the Vigil Honor I would direct you to talk to the Chairman or the Adviser, Rich Browning.
Sincerely,
Adam
