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If you’re planning to attend the upcoming Ordeal at Camp Sequoyah, the pre-registration deadline for new candidates is August 1st. If you’re already a member, you can register on-site. If you’ve been an Ordeal member for 10 months, it’s time to seal your membership and become a Brotherhood member!

If you’re a member, the cost for the weekend is $10. There is no fee for Brotherhood Candidates. If you bought a 2008 Event Pass, your fees are already paid!

For Ordeal Candidates, the cost is $35 if you pre-register by August 1 or $40 if you miss the deadline. This price includes your new sash, your OA handbook, and other materials that will be provided by the Lodge upon the completion of your Ordeal.

Ordeal Candidate Pre-Registration Form
Instructions for Your Ordeal
Brotherhood Info: Order of the Arrow “JumpStart”

Visitation for Don Burt’s funeral will be this Friday, July 11th, at 1pm at First United Methodist Church in Florence (click here for a map to the church). The funeral will begin at 2pm at the same church with internment at the Greenview Cemetery in Florence (click here for a map to the cemetery).

Class A uniforms are greatly encouraged, as one of Don’s final wishes was to have a Scouting presence at his funeral.

I value behavior that leaves a good impression on what others in Scouting think of me. I believe in and have tried to live in accordance with the values of the Scout Oath and Law. I hold the value of trustworthiness and responsibility in my life important. However I value friendship as most important to me. I value volunteering and will continue as long as I am physically able.

- An excerpt from Don’s Wood Badge ticket.

The family has established a memorial fund, checks should be made out to the Greater Alabama Council, BSA.  Mail the checks to:  The Donald Burt Westmoreland Memorial, 516 Liberty Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35242.

Scouting Family,

I was notified this morning that Don Burt passed away last night; July 4, 2008 in Texas.

Four years ago Don moved from Florence, Alabama to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas to be closer to his daughter and family. He transferred his Scouting and OA membership to the Lodge that would end up beating us for the national title in dodge ball at the last NOAC. Ever dependable, Don continued to visit us here twice a year attending Coosa Fall and Spring Fellowships!

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Three Coosa members attended the Mark Twain National Forest service project as part of the OA’s ArrowCorps5 from June 5th to June 14th.  Nathan Bradbury, Dr. James Flatt, and Mr. David Murphree served on the Gathering Staff for the Mark Twain site and helped provide participants with quality shows along with other team members from across the nation.  

The service project at Mark Twain was to clear a glade of red cedar trees that were resistant to control burns in order to restore the glade.  The goal was to clear 100 acres, and Arrowman reached that goal and exceeded it by clearing a total of 143 acres.  As a result of the work the OA accomplished, Forestry officials named the glade the Arrowman worked in, “Arrowman Glade”.  

Look for more updates as Coosa Arrowman attend the Bridger-Teton AC5 site in July.

As you may’ve heard, Coosa Lodge Chief Gregory Keith recently received an appointment to the upcoming class at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Congratulations to him on this tremendous honor!

Due to the responsibilities that come with that appointment, Gregory has decided to vacate his position as Lodge Chief and, in compliance with the Lodge Rules, the Vice Chief of Service immediately assumes the Lodge Chief’s role. Ryan Sweeny has accepted that responsibility and is currently working to confirm his replacement as Vice Chief of Service.

This weekend was the May Ordeal. Usually this is not the largest Ordeal, but the turnout was magnificent! 86 new Brothers were inducted and 19 Brothers sealed their membership in the lodge by attaining Brotherhood.

For those of the new Brothers into the lodge check out the “After Your Ordeal” page located in “Candidate’s Corner” at the top of the page. Thanks go out to all the Brothers who showed up and worked. It rained a bit Saturday morning but the sun came out by lunch time and warmed everything up.

The E. Urner Goodman Camping Award Lodge flaps debuted this weekend. Do not forget to get these to celebrate our Lodge’s achievement!  The second rocker for the new Coosa back-patch was given to those who attended the Ordeal this weekend.

Thanks for a great weekend and Welcome to the new Brothers in our lodge!

For those of you keeping a sharp eye on your calendar, you’re already well aware that the first Ordeal of 2008 starts this weekend!

If you’re an Ordeal candidate, take a look at the Candidate’s Corner section of this site and make sure you’ve got everything you need. If you have any problems or questions, talk to your Scoutmaster and he should be able to get you ready to go. If you still have problems contact a member of the LEC (find the “Leadership Roster” in the sidebar) and they’ll do their best to help you.

If you’re a member, bring some work clothes and a cheerful spirit!

It’s going to be slightly chilly with a chance of rain throughout the weekend (everyone bring a jacket!), but it’ll be a great weekend of service and fellowship.

See you at camp!

With Conclave in the history books, the realignment of Section SR-6S takes effect and Coosa Lodge is now part of SR-9. We bid farewell to Talidandaganu’ as they join SR-6 and welcome newcomers Aracoma and Alibamu as they join Coosa, Egwa Tawa Dee, Mowogo, Waguli, Echeconnee, Chattahoochee, and Ini-To to form the new Section SR-9.

Our congratulations go out to Coosa Lodge members James Tarbox, who will serve as Section Co-Chief, and Dr. James Flatt, who will serve as Section Adviser.

More information on the realignment can be found here:
http://www.southern.oa-bsa.org/content/news.php?id=80

Also, be sure to bookmark the new SR-9 website:
http://www.sr-9.org

Coosa Lodge had another phenomenal showing at the 2008 Conclave!

Our Team Dance won first place, our individual dancers received honors, our ceremony teams received honors, Coosa Shows lived up to the hype, James Tarbox won a second term as Section Chief, and Coosa Lodge was selected to host the 2009 SR-9 Conclave at Camp Comer.

Coosa Lodge also won the Section Recognition Award, which is one of the most competitive and prestigious awards available in the Section.  Congratulations to everyone who helped make that possible!

If you weren’t at Camp Lumpkin this weekend, you missed a great event. Make plans now to help Coosa Lodge get the brand-new Section SR-9 kicked off to a great start next spring!