Dear Adam,
In response to the letter from October, about the Vigil Honor, I would like to nominate someone for the Vigil Honor. How do I make this happen and what is the process as I am not a Vigil Honor member?
Nominating in New Stanton
Dear NN,
Again, per the Manual of Administration: “Nomination Phase. The Chairman shall call a meeting of all active Vigil members after the meeting of the April Lodge weekend at Camp or other suitable location.” Wagion Manual of Administration, December 2007 Edition, Revision #1. IV(B)(3)(a)(1). “The Chairman shall accept all nominations from the floor and add these to any nominations that were received from the membership…After all nominations are [received and] taken, the Chairman shall close the nominations.” IV(B)(3)(a)(2)-(3).
So how do you know who you can nominate? You can obtain the list from the February and April edition of the T-Bird Times. The Chairman will “publish a list of those eligible members along with a request for nominations and the nomination form.” IV(B)(2)(b). For your convenience, I have included a copy below.
Once you have your nomination form or forms filled out, you may return it/them to the Chairman, or to the Adviser.
Remember that when nominating a candidate for the Vigil Honor that it “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].”
“Under NO circumstances should tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow be considered as reason enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.”
Sincerely,
Adam
____________________________________________________________________________________
Vigil Honor Nomination Form
Wagion Manual of Administration, September 1985, Revision #O, Section IX, Form WL5
Retrieved from http://old.wagion.org/home/vigil-nomination.PDF
Dear Fellow Arrowman,
Once again, it is time to nominate Brothers of the Lodge for the Vigil Honor. As in the past, there is included with this letter a nomination form and a list of eligible Brothers. We have gone to extensive lengths to ensure the accuracy of this list.
If you would like to nominate more than one Brother, please photocopy the nomination form. Please fill out this form completely and return to me by [April 1st, 2012] at the following address: [Attn: Wagion Lodge #6 Vigil Honor Chairman, c/o Westmoreland-Fayette Council, 2 Garden Center Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601]. Nominations will also be taken at the weekend.
The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the O/A can bestow upon their members for service to their Lodge and local council. It is a 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 or office to one or more of the following: their Lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting or their Scout camp.
Please remember this as you make your nomination(s).
Yours in Fellowship,
Chairman
PERSON NOMINATED NAME:
TROOP:
ADDRESS:
ACTIVITIES IN SCOUTING:
ACTIVITIES IN O/A:
ACTIVITIES IN COMMUNITY/CHURCH/SCHOOL:
ACTIVITIES IN SCOUT CAMP:
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
SUBMITTED BY:
____________________________________________________________________________________
(From the October edition of the Dear Adam column as printed in the 2011 October T-Bird Times and here on Wagion.org) (http://www.wagion.org/2011/10/01/vigil-voting-process/ posted 1 October 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.)
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
