Miwok Lodge Rules

Article I: Name and Affiliation

A. The name of this Lodge shall be Miwok (the people) with the national Order of the Arrow number designation of 439, and shall operate under the National Order of the Arrow Bylaws; Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui.

B. The Lodge shall be affiliated with the Santa Clara County Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America, and shall be under the supervision of the Council Executive Committee and the administrative authority of its Council Scout Executive.

C. The Totem of the Lodge shall be the Silver Fox, Vulpus fulva.

Article II: Requirements for Membership

A. The requirements for membership in the Miwok Lodge shall be current payment of dues and as required in the current printing of the Order of the Arrow Handbook.

B. Procedures of the Ordeal shall be in accordance with the Order of the Arrow Handbook, Administrative Guide for the Ordeal, and the National Elangomat-Nimat Program.

Article III: Organization

A. The Lodge Executive Committee (LEC) shall be the decision making body of the Lodge. The LEC shall meet monthly and at the discretion of the Lodge Chief with the advice of the Lodge Key Three (Lodge Chief, Lodge Adviser, and Staff Adviser). It shall be led by the Lodge Chief under the Executive Committee Operating Procedures Policy.

B. The voting members of the LEC shall be: The Lodge Officers, Chapter Chiefs, Lodge Operating Committee Chairmen, and Immediate Past Lodge Chief (if under the age of 21). No member of the LEC shall hold more than one vote.

C. The nonvoting members of the LEC shall be: Lodge Advisers, Staff Adviser, Chapter Advisers, a Council Committee Representative, Lodge Operating Committee Advisers, Lodge Ad-hoc Committee Chairman, Lodge Ad-hoc Committee Advisers, Immediate Past Chief (if over the age of 21), Section Representatives, and Council Scout Executive.

D. The LEC quorum shall be one more than half of the voting members of the committee.

E. The Lodge shall be comprised of Chapters corresponding to the districts of the council. Each chapter shall come under the supervision of the Chapter Key Three (Chapter Chief, Chapter Adviser, and District Executive) and the administrative authority of the LEC.

F. The elected officers of the Lodge shall be the Chief, Program Vice-Chief, Administrative Vice-Chief, Communications Vice-Chief, and Finance Vice-Chief.

G. The elected officers of the chapter shall be the Chapter Chief and any other officers approved by the Chapter Key Three. They shall be elected in accordance with the Elections Policy.

H. The Lodge and Chapter Officers shall be elected by the Lodge Youth membership. All elected members of the Lodge and Chapter must be under the age of 21 during their entire term of office. Elections shall be conducted according to the Elections Policy. Any officer may be removed for cause according to the Elections Policy.

I. The Council Scout Executive shall appoint the Lodge, Chapter, and Staff Advisers annually. Lodge Committee Advisers shall be appointed by the Lodge Adviser.

J. In the event of resignation by or vacancy of office of a Lodge Officer, a new officer shall be appointed according to the Elections Policy.

K. In the event of resignation by or vacancy of the office of Chapter Chief, the Lodge Chief shall appoint the officer with approval from the LEC according to the Elections Policy.

L. The Lodge Key Three may define Operating and Ad-hoc Committees of the Lodge according to the Committees Policy. The Lodge Chief shall appoint a youth chairman and the Lodge Adviser shall appoint an adult adviser to the committee. The Lodge Key Three shall be ex-officio members of all Lodge Committees. Committees shall be formed and operate under the Committees Policy.

M. Lodge Committees may author Policies at the direction of the Lodge Chief. Policies shall be subject to approval by the LEC. Approved Policies shall be recorded by the Lodge Communications Vice-Chief and shall be published and kept with other Lodge Policies.

N. Lodge decisions may be made by consensus. When decisions are made by voting, adult Scouters, age 21 and older, do not have a vote in matters of Lodge business.

O. The Lodge shall meet at the Lodge Banquet/Annual Meeting and at events designated by the LEC.

Article IV: Financial Operation

A. The Budge Committee shall submit to the Lodge Executive Committee, no later than the October LEC meeting, a proposed Lodge Budget for the following year. A budget must be approved by the end of November by a majority of a LEC quorum.

B. All Order of the Arrow Lodge funds shall be handled through the Council Service Center under normal Council accounting procedures and the Lodge Finance and Budget Policies. The Lodge Finance Vice-Chief shall be responsible for accounting for all Lodge funds and shall make a report of current balance, income, expenditure, and all outstanding bills at each LEC Meeting.

C. All Lodge expenditures, assets and properties, memorabilia and patches, retail operations, and fundraising must be budgeted and managed according to the Finance Policy and appropriate individual policies.

D. All Lodge assets shall be tracked according to the Inventory Policy.

E. All Lodge Retail shall be managed according to the Retail Inventory Policy.

F. Lodge Memorabilia and Patches shall be administered according to the Memorabilia Policy.

G. Fundraising shall happen in accordance to the Fundraising Policy .

Article V: Brotherhood and Vigil

A. Completion of Brotherhood Honor shall be in accordance with the current printing of the Order of the Arrow Handbook.

B. Attainment of Vigil honor shall be accordance with the latest editions of the Order of the Arrow Handbook and Guide for Officers & Advisers. Vigil Honor Candidates selection shall be held according to the Vigil Policy.

Article VI: Amendments

A. Proposed amendments to the Lodge Rules must have Lodge-wide notification according to the Executive Committee Operating Procedures Policy after they have been proposed to the LEC before they can be ratified.

B. To pass, an amendment must receive at least two-thirds majority vote of the LEC.

C. The amendments shall be recorded by the Lodge Communications Vice-Chief and notice published in the Miwok Legend.

D. These rules and related policies must be reviewed when necessary by an appointed committee or the LEC.

Last Revised 09/20/2001