Subject: Updates Regarding Candidate Recognition.
To: Lodge Leadership
Cc: Kyle Waiss <[email protected]>
From: Jordan Landtiser <[email protected]>

I was asked to write this message a while back regarding the announcement of candidates at the election. I know many of you have a number of concerns, all of which are concern's I shared when first learning about these changes. Hopefully this email can answer many of your questions regarding this topic, and gives you an insight about this decision to explain to other concerned adults. I've also included Kyle Waiss, the Immediate Past Lodge Chief from Kanwa tho Lodge and the current Lead Coordinator for Polestar on the national Inductions and Ceremonial Events (ICE) committee. If you have any additional questions please let Kyle or myself know.

Before I begin, a lot of the rationale explained in this email comes from Polestar: Inductions Leadership Training. This training (released in May of 2021) is a first-of-its-kind training designed to enable lodge leadership with the tools to take their Induction opportunities to the next level! A version of this training is slated to be offered at the section conclave in April (Kyle is also serving on the section's Conclave Planning Team, and will be at conclave for in-person discussions). Additionally, there are numerous facilitators that can offer the training exclusively to the lodge.
The unit election is by far the most important stage of the OA's Induction. It is the stage where we fulfill the first part of our purpose: "Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition". The first part of that is pretty simple: recognize Scouts that go above and beyond. The election is that recognition method, via being the gateway to the rest of the Induction and the larger OA organization. By announcing the candidates the night of, the second part of that purpose is fulfilled. As explained in Polestar, the Scout is chosen as a role model by their peers at the election, which directly inspires that individual Scout. To reach the rest of the unit, they need to see and know the Scouts that were elected, so as to strive to earn that recognition at a future elcetion. That’s why we need to immediately recognize candidates. 

When Polestar was released last year, it was accompanied by new national standards that dictate specific policy items of the Induction. One of the new unit election standards is the requirement to use the national unit election script. This features a “Candidate Recognition” section to ensure that the significance of the vote leaves an immediate impression on both the candidate and the Scouts in their unit. It also puts Ordeal registration information and a parent letter into our candidate’s hands right away, rather than potentially waiting weeks or months for the next opportunity.
The announcement of candidates was a decision that was not taken lightly, countless hours of research & testing was done to ensure that this was a necessary change to make to ensure the best Induction experience. This change was actually approved by the National Committee a while ago (circa 2019), but has not been included in the "Guide to Inductions" yet due to other exigent factors.

This change additionally relieves some of the stress the chapters have with running unit elections. All of our chapters have 50 or more units, Chippewa having close to 100 active units. With historically a single youth managing elections per chapter, it is unrealistic to track individual unit's requests on when a candidate should be notified on their election status, especially with the new Lodgemaster system designed to prevent this. Instead on gambling on whether units will actually hold a call-out, as well as circumventing a system designed to lighten the load on volunteers, announcing the candidates the night of is the right direction to go.  

With that being said, this change does not make the call-out meaningless. The national ICE committee recognizes that many lodges have rich traditions for these ceremonies, and they may serve as a further celebratory acknowledgement of the candidate’s election. As explained in Polestar: "Call-out ceremonies are not nationally standardized, but there are national guidelines. So we should always refer to the Guide to Inductions as we develop our call-outs. These include protecting our candidates’ experience in the Induction, which is why we shouldn’t shoot arrows—as Kichkinet does in the pre-Ordeal ceremony—or use other elements from the ceremonies yet to come."

Furthermore, "Call-outs also provide a valuable opportunity for parents and non-members in the Scouting community to learn about the Order. We want people to know about the exciting things we do, and a call-out can provide a glimpse into our values and vision. But we never get a second chance to make a good first impression, so call-outs need to be done well if we’re going to do them at all. When carefully planned by lodge leaders, they can be exciting, memorable opportunities to showcase the energy and enthusiasm of members, as well as the presence and contributions of the local lodge within the council".

The national policy updates released in Polestar have had a soft roll-out. Further supporting documentation is forthcoming, but in the meantime Polestar was released to prepare lodges to execute these changes with excellence. Now that Polestar has been out long enough that we are knowledgeable and trained in these changes, the expectation is that we make these changes now. This year we have leniency regarding this change, but this is set to take full effect at NOAC 2022. Most lodges are enacting this change for the 2022 Induction year, that is why for 2022 myself & Ryan Dodd felt it was in our best interest to announce this change to be up to date with national policy, but be flexible to troops wishing to carry out their already planned traditions; with the expectation being understood that this will not be an option beginning in 2023. Speakin with Kyle, he implemented this exact policy last year in Kanwa tho and had great success with units that traditional withheld election results in lieu of a summer camp call-out ceremony. I feel this is an excellent compromise and continue to stand by the decisions made.