National Order of the Arrow Conference
The National Order of the Arrow Conference - NOAC - is the Order's biennial gathering of Arrowmen from around the country. Held on a Midwestern university campus for 5 days in late summer, NOAC offers training, fellowship, awesome shows, competitions and evaluations for dance and ceremonies, and Founders' Day activities, with many other things available to do from sunup until deep in the night! Attendance is usually around 7000 youth and adults, and Nawakwa typically sends from 15 to 30 lodge members.
The 2006 NOAC was held at Michigan State University. Thirty Nawakwa Arrowmen made the trek north. The Ceremonial Team sent 9 members, who brought home NINETEEN Honor Medals (the highest recognition). The Dance Team sent several members, too. Four Ceremonial Team members from Pamunkey Chapter also opened the Indian Show in front of the 8000 attendees in the arena! Several other Lodge members work as part of the staff for the event, working on the Shows crew. Many of our lodge members have acted in the shows, too.
The next NOAC will be held in 2009 (to get back in sync with the Jamboree and the Order's 100th birthday in 2015). Indiana University, a popular NOAC destination, will host us once again. You can expect the cost to be in the area of $650 to $700. This includes the Conference fee, transportation, and Lodge logo items. Staff pays only the Conference fee, plus their own transportation to the conference.
The Conference is a pinnacle event in an Arrowman's life, so YOU should plan to attend the next National Order of the Arrow Conference! For more information, ask any of the many Nawakwa Arrowmen who have attended the event in the past.
For more information about NOAC in general, go to: The National Order of the Arrow site, http://www.oa-bsa.org
If you are interested in working on the Shows staff, go to: OA Shows, Delivering Scouting's Message, http://www.oashows.org