Passing of Vigil Honor Brother Bruce Kastner

All,

It is with great sorrow that I relay the news of the passing of our brother Bruce Kastner.

Bruce was a longtime member of T254, Etowah District, and a Vigil Honor Member of Mowogo Lodge, Japeechen Chapter.

Bruce went through his Ordeal as an adult leader in June of 2001 at Camp Rainey Mountain and was awarded the Vigil Honor in May of 2008. He served our lodge as Japeechen Chapter Adviser from 12/31/2009 to 12/31/2010.

I had the distinct honor of having his guidance prior to taking over as Chapter Adviser in 2011. His guidance played a significant role in shaping the future of Japeechen Chapter.

Below is a link to Bruce’s Obituary from Ingram’s Funeral Home in Cumming, GA…

https://www.ingramfuneralhome.com/obituary/582241/Bruce-Kastner/

Yours in Service,

Mark Pouncey

PreCamp Registration is Open!

Brothers,

Registration for Pre-Camp opened yesterday, and unlike our last Lodge event everyone is invited! This event is a great opportunity to give back to our council and Camp Rainey Mountain while having fun and meeting new people.

As a participant you’ll get to work alongside your chapter to do service work and prepare Camp Rainey Mountain for the summer. This is one of the best ways to meet members of your chapter and participate in what the Order of The Arrow truly embodies, Cheerful Service.

Your 2021 LEC has a great weekend of fellowship, cheerful service, and good meals planned that you don’t want to miss! But to make this event the best it can be, we’re in need of staff and volunteers.

Of all the ways you can help, arguably the most important and always needed is the Elangomat. Elangomat is the Leni Lenape word for ‘’Friend’’ and as an Elangomat you are just that. You are a friend to the ordeal candidates, providing cheerful service alongside them and guiding them through their ordeal. I’ve served as an Elangomat 4+ times and enjoyed every minute of it! There’s just one Elangomat training day between now and Pre-Camp. If you want to serve as an Elangomat you must attend this training, it’s May 8th at Scoutland and you can
register here on the lodge website.

If Elangomating isn’t your thing, you can serve in the equally important role of ceremonialist. As a ceremonialist, you help induct new members in a dramatic, traditional and historic manner, leaving an impression that lasts for years. Having also been a ceremonialist, I can say almost nothing compares.

If you prefer to work behind the scenes, Indian Engineers help set up the ceremony rings, light torches, build fires, and generally make sure everything looks perfect for the candidates. The environment created by Indian Engineers for my Ordeal ceremony as a candidate left an impression that I will not forget.

Another option is Kitchen/Check-In Staff! In this role, you can help cook/serve meals, welcome people to events, prep the dining hall, and much more! Right now we’re in desperate need of members to fill this role, so even if you can just volunteer for part of the weekend, it would be a great help!

If you are interested in photography, join the Communications team and help by photographing activities and events over the course of the weekend!

If you would like to volunteer,
please fill out the staff form and register on the Lodge Website!

Please refer to the council COVID-19 precautions here: https://www.nega-bsa.org/COVID-19 for expectations regarding safety for all.

Now of course the weekend isn’t all just work, a large feast will be held on Saturday night, followed by a great campfire and awards ceremony to recognize everyone who served in 2020! Afterwards, there will be a cracker barrel and plenty of time for fellowship and brotherhood between members of our lodge!

Register now on the lodge website for an amazing weekend experience! I hope to see you there!

Yours in Cheerfulness,

Will Benjamin
2021 Vice Chief of Communications

PreCamp Fellowship Registration

Brothers and Candidates,

We are happy to inform you that registration forms for PreCamp Fellowship are now available on line. Please use the registration links in the menu, or quick links on the right side of this page.

If you are a newly elected OA Candidate, please use the Ordeal Candidate registration link. Existing Lodge members must use the regular member registration links.

Conclave Reminders

Brothers,

In just 4 days, Arrowmen from across Georgia and Alabama will be gathering at Camp Patten for a weekend of fellowship, training, and most importantly, fun. Having been on the Council of Chiefs calls, I can guarantee you that this year's events will be superb, and I personally cannot wait to partake in many of the events that will be offered. The event, like many others, will only be made more fantastic with more people, and as such, I want to personally extend an invitation to you to join us at this year's conclave. The cost for the event will be $60, and will last from Friday night, April 16th, to Sunday morning, April 18th. You can register for the event here.

Furthermore, if you are already set on attending, I would highly encourage you to consider staying for the section elections Sunday morning. Our lodge will have two candidates running for section office, James Chalmers and myself, and we would love to have your support!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about the event, or anything in general, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Yours in Brotherhood,

Jacob A. Ball | Vice Chief of Membership
Mowogo Lodge

Elangomat Training

Brothers,

This Saturday, April 10th, we will be hosting an Elangomat training at Camp Rainey Mountain's TNT Shelters from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm.

There is no cost for the training, but you will need to bring your own lunch. Please also bring a water bottle, work gloves, work clothes, a notebook and pen, a mask, and a raincoat.

Registration for this event is on the Mowogo Website. It will close Thursday at midnight.

If you are interested in serving at Pre-Camp this year, and either have not been previously trained or would like to be eligible for Wolf Clan this year, please register to attend.

Please remember, chapters have a requirement to have 2 trained Elangomats for every 10 candidates who attend an ordeal weekend. The more people you have trained, the easier you will be able to make this.

Thank you so much for your dedication to our lodge, and I look forward to seeing you at our training this weekend!

Yours in Brotherhood,
Jacob A. Ball
Vice Chief of Membership, Mowogo Lodge