Troop Elections: new leadership, new patrol councils, and four OA nominees

On May 11th, Troop 478 held elections for the Patrol Leadership Council and nominated four Scouts for induction into the Order of the Arrow. The troop's next chapter of leadership is in place.

The new Patrol Leadership Council

Senior Patrol Leader

Noah Kiger

Asst. Senior Patrol Leader

Ryan Young

Scribe / Troop Quartermaster

Luke Frisby

Chaplain's Aide

Grant Stelmak

Den Chief

Cason Guice

Gorilla Patrol Leader

Luke Drury

Gorilla Patrol Quartermaster

Jaxson Turner

Shark Patrol Leader

Julian Stamm

Shark Patrol Quartermaster

Paul Dupré

Snake Patrol Leader

Rory Thomeer

Snake Patrol Quartermaster

Raphael Diaz

Four Scouts nominated for Scouting's honor society

The Order of the Arrow is Scouting America's honor society -- a brotherhood of Scouts and Scouters recognized by their peers for exemplifying the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Nomination is not self-initiated. It comes from fellow Scouts, which makes it one of the most meaningful recognitions in the program. You cannot campaign for it. You earn it by how you show up, every day, when no one is keeping score.

The following Scouts were nominated by their peers for induction into the Order of the Arrow:

Cason Guice

Noah Kiger

Julian Stamm

Ryan Young

To be nominated at the same meeting where you were elected to troop leadership -- as three of these four Scouts were -- says something clear about the kind of young men Troop 478 is developing.

Why troop elections matter

In most youth organizations, adult leaders assign roles. In Scouting, Scouts elect them. The Senior Patrol Leader is chosen by the troop. Patrol Leaders are chosen by their patrols. The positions carry actual responsibility for planning, executing, and leading and the people filling them were put there by the votes of their peers.

Scouting America's program model treats this as foundational. Leadership is not a reward for seniority. It is a responsibility entrusted by the group, accountable to the group, and developed through doing. The SPL who runs a PLC meeting, coordinates three patrol leaders, and helps plan a year of programming is not playing at leadership. He is doing it.

The Gorillas, Sharks, and Snakes of Troop 478 now have their leaders.