New site about Virginia OA

I've been working on a new web site that documents the events attended by Virginia OA Lodges, like Pow Wows, Conclaves, and the like.

It's far from complete and I have big plans for expansion to include other content, but I'm finally ready to share the link and encourage you to take a peek when you have a chance!

http://va-oa.org

I really hope to make it far more than just a catalog of items issued, and have worked hard to gather relevant information about each event including special guests who attended, election and competition results, and much more. I encourage you to share your memories, pictures, and items like newsletters or meeting notes to help preserve the rich history of the Order of the Arrow in Virginia.

New Virginia lodges circa 1952

While researching dates of the early Area 3-C Pow Wows I came across this item in the Order of the Arrow National Bulletin Winter 1952 edition:

Other documents state that Kecoughtan Lodge was originally granted its charter on July 5, 1951, and Powhatan Lodge was first chartered on June 18,1951, so it took the National Office more than a year to report the new Lodges from Virginia. At least they included their names, which is more than can be said for Lodges 458, 464, 465, and 467! Of course, information traveled much slower in those days.

2011 Scout Sunday patch posted

Larry Johnson sent me a picture of the beautiful 2011 version of the Scout Sunday patch, issued to commemorate the annual gathering of Scouts for sunrise worship service at the Yorktown Monument. This year's patch is purple and can now be viewed with many prior versions on the Colonial Virginia Council emblems page in the District issue category, since the event is sponsored by Chesapeake Bay District.

2011 Colonial Virginia Council Friends of Scouting CSP issued

Larry Johnson sent me a picture of the newly released 2011 Friends of Scouting CSP from Colonial Virginia Council.  This issue is the eighth in a set of 12, each devoted to a point of the Scout Law. This year's point is Cheerful and the patch design reflects the sailing area of the Council's Bayport Scout Reservation which is located in Jamaica, Virginia, on the shores of the Rappahannock River with access to the Chesapeake Bay. The sailing program called CHASE is an acronym for Chesapeake Bay High Adventure Sailing Experience.

Friends of Scouting is an important funding source for Colonial Virginia Council, representing 20% of their operating budget. Take a moment to send in your donation today and add this beautiful patch to your collection while helping promote Scouting in Southeast Virginia. You can download the flyer with more information and an order form here.

Fake of Kecoughtan S4 found on eBay

Recently I spotted on eBay a crude fake of a 463s5, the white background Kecoughtan 25th Anniversary flap with black border and lettering. The seller was located in Okinawa and advised me that it was purchased at Flight Patch Shop on Gate 2 Street and was the only one available.

The differences in the fake and the real version are so extreme that it's virtually impossible to confuse them unless you know absolutely nothing about Kecoughtan issues. The fake has a cut edge and the embroidered design is ragged and uneven. Above is a picture of the Okinawa version from 2010 and below is a picture of the actual item from 1976.