Three SR-9 Arrowmen Named to Receive OA's Distinguished Service Award
At the May National BSA meeting the National OA Committee announced the 2009 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. Please congratulate Mr. Larry M. Newton, James A. Flatt, MD and Mr. Keith Swedenburg. Mr. Newton is from Alabamu Lodge and served as the 2007 Order of the Arrow's National Vice Chief. Dr. Flatt is from Coosa Lodge and is our SR-9 Adviser. Mr. Swedenburg is the Southern Region OA Staff Adviser. In addition to Mr. Swedenburg, his wife Patsy Swedenburg was selected as the 2009 recipient of the Red Arrow Award.
The Distinguished Service Award was created in 1940 to honor those who rendered service to the Order beyond the lodge level. The award is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The award is presented every two years during NOAC. Since the time of the first awards were presented, less than 750 Distinguished Service Awards have been presented.
The award is a sterling silver arrowhead, bearing an arrow pointing
upward and to the wearer's right, suspended from a white neck-ribbon
upon which are embroidered red
arrows. A white square knot embroidered
upon red cloth is also available. Presentation of the award is limited;
nominations are open to both youth and adult.
SR-9 is grateful to have such dedicated Arrowmen providing outstanding leadership on the Section, Regional and Nation levels. we can look up to them as examples of the Order of the Arrow's BEST!
These awards will be presented at the 2009 National Order of the Arrow Conference. For a full listing of all recipients, please click here.
Over 780 Attend 2009 Conclave
My Brothers,
Conclave is indeed over and a new Section year has begun. The last year was filled with many new experiences as we embarked on a new journey as Southern Region, Section Nine. Last year, the COC and the Section Officers set many lofty goals, many of which were attained. The Inaugural SR-9 Conclave was a huge success! I truly refreshed as 780+ Arrowmen streamed into the Flatt-Rock Arena at beautiful Camp Comer on Friday night for the opening show! The next day training, ceremonies, and ultimate Frisbee kept every Arrowmen busy but in a very fun atmosphere. After lunch, things really got going! National Chief Jack O'Neill sat in for a Meet the Man session where several members of our section had the opportunity to get to know our national chief! As the afternoon continued, dancers warmed up during many festive heats during the Pow-Wow, and some of us cooled down as we went for a "dunk" in the icy waters of the dunking booth in an effort to raise money for NOAC Scholarships! Before supper, I was elected to serve you as your chief for the next year. Rajpal Sagoo of Egwa Tawa Dee was elected as Section Vice-Chief, and Dan Trust of Echeconee was re-elected Section Secretary.
As we look forward to serving you during the next year, we have many goals to accomplish, as well as some new ones to set. Also, I would like to thank James Tarbox, Jonathan Stone, and Matt Chandler for their service last year. During the course of the next year it is our sincere hope to serve you to the best of our abilities and provide you with an excellent Section program! Look for more updates to the SR-9 website soon as well as several issues of The "Nine Feathers" the official SR-9 Newsletter. As Arrowmen we are called to serve, if you desire to serve in the capacity of the Section program, please don't hesitate to contact me! Thank you for all you do and I'll see you August 1-6 at NOAC!
Your Servant,
Jordan Ellington Hammons
Chief
Southern Region, Section Nine
NOAC Scholarships Winners Announced
SR-9 has announced the NOAC Scholarship program. All members under 21 during the conference were eligible to apply. The scholarships will help offset the cost of the Conference.
SR-9 would like the thank our NOAC Committee Chairman Kenney Barton, NOAC Committee
Adviser Joe Shea, and OAHA Adviser Ryan Braddy for their work on this
overall scholarship effort. Their expertise and opinions have helped us to
create this process. Welcome to SR-9 "Heart of the South" Welcome all Arrowmen to the new Southern Region Section 9 (SR-9). Your history starts now!
As an integral part of the Boy Scout program, the Southern Region of the Order of the Arrow has been affected by several council realignments into new geographic areas. After our 2007 conclaves, the new Section 9 was formed consisting of nine lodges covering the majority of Alabama and Georgia. SR-9 is in the “Heart of the South.” Election for section officers were held during the 2008 conclaves for the new sections. The resulting elections say the officers elected and their positions being aligned in the section their lodge would be in. As a result, SR-9 currently has two Section Chiefs, a Vice Section Chief, and two Section Secretaries. At the 2009 Section Conclave, when elections are next held, officers will be one of each Section Chief, Vice Chief, and Secretary.
Austin Yost
Alibamu
Jonathan Limbrick
Alibamu
Peter Myer
Alibamu
Robert Shannon Snipes
Egwa Tawa Dee
Aaron Jourdan
Mowogo
Gable
Mowogo
D. J. Haymore
Mowogo
William Reavis
Damon Ashley
Jacob Smith
Patrick Kidd
Jason Davis
Ini-To
