Our contingent has just returned from Conclave 2012…We were hosted by our good friends from Woa Cholena (322) at their beautiful new facility Camp Pinetreat in Bay Minette, AL.  I want to tell you that the Host Lodge had definitely put in some long hours in preparation for our arrival.  Every aspect of their planning was just phenomenal…from check-in, campsite, food, training, events, and the Friday and Saturday Shows (AWESOME!), EVERYTHING WAS FIRST CLASS!!!

The Conclave theme this year was “Test the Bow – Take the Journey” and every aspect on Conclave was relevant to the theme.  We heard one of the best worship services ever presented by a young man this morning which was tied to the theme.

There were a total of 430, or roughly 30+ percent of our total Section SR-1B members in attendance for the BIG EVENT…One of the highest percentages in the entire Southern Region…and we were part of it!!!

We had a total of 130 contingent members signed up and by Mr. Kolek’s best count, we actually had 120 members present…GREAT SHOWING!!!

Now for the part that you have been anxiously awaiting…How did we do???  Well….It gives me great pleasure to report the following information to you:

Our Lodge Chief, Bryce Segler, was elected by his peers to serve as the 2012-2013 Section SR-1B Secretary!!!  Way to go Bryce!  This if the fourth year in a row that Yustaga Lodge has had a Section Officer (Sam Ammons, Henry Etchberger, William Humphreys, and now Bryce Segler!!!)

Yustaga Lodge was named 2012 Section SR-1B BEST ALL AROUND LODGE!!! This is the Grand-Daddy of all the awards and was possible due to all the hard work we have done throughout the year and as a result of our contingent’s efforts at Conclave.

Other Lodge and Individual Honors/Awards:

1st Place – Publications
1st Place – Youth Ultimate Frisbee
1st Place – Youth Lodgeball
1st Place – Totem Pole Carving
1st Place – Newsletters
1st Place – Annual Planbook
1st Place – Scrapbook
1st Place – Website
2nd Place – Drumming and Singing
2nd Place – Talent Show (Evan Comie)
2nd Place – Cobbler Cook-Off (Appalachee Chapter)
2nd Place- Tug-o-War
2nd Place – Quest Overall Winner
3rd Place – Cobbler Cook-Off (Woapalannee Chapter)
3rd Place – OA Jeopardy
3rd Place – Founder’s Festival
3rd Place – Adult Volleyball
Ordeal Ceremony Team – Honor Lodge

Bryce Segler was also recognized and presented a plaque for serving as a Conclave Vice Chief (CVC).

William Humphreys was recognized with a plaque for his service as Section SR-1B Secretary for the 2011-2012 year.

Wade Hartley was recognized for his service with a nice plaque as Associate Section Adviser for the 2011-2012 year.

Ted Dennis, Bryce Segler, Wade Hartley, and Bill Payne were presented certificates and Conclave Host Flaps for serving as Trainers for Conclave.

Ted Dennis was then called back to the stage and was recognized with a plaque for being the BEST ADULT TRAINER for Conclave 2012!

As a additional note, I want to personally say a big THANK YOU! to David Syfrett who took 700+ pictures throughout the weekend to document for eternity the history of our Lodge…GREAT JOB David!!!  I am quite certain that you will see some of these photos at the Spring Fellowship!

As you can see from all of the awards, Yustaga Lodge is a leader in our Section, and none of this would be possible without such great members!!!  If you did not have a chance to attend Conclave this year, I would certainly encourage you to sign up early to attend what promises to be another great Conclave hosted by our Brothers from Ti’ak Lodge of the Pine Burr Area Council which is located in Wiggins, Mississippi.

Just as our Conclave theme indicated, I want to challenge each of you to test the bow, just as you did in your Pre-Ordeal Ceremony, by getting involved in some aspect of our Lodge…get out of your comfort zone, find a new committee, pick a new project to get involved with and take the risk…While taking the journey, our path or destination may not be certain, but by becoming involved, it can’t be anything but a positive result.

Just as a side note, we are scheduled to host Conclave in 2015…the 100th Anniversary of the Order of the Arrow…You DEFINITELY will want to be a part of this…It will be a CELEBRATION that NO ONE will forget as long as they live!

I am truly blessed to be your Lodge Adviser and want to tell you that I appreciate each and every one you…YOU are an integral part of our Lodge and we would certainly would not be as successful as we are without your involvement.  While we need to celebrate our successes, we cannot rest or become complacent…There is lots of work to do…”Test the Bow…Take the Journey!”

I look forward to seeing you at the Spring Fellowship in two weeks…Our Luau theme is certainly coming together quite well and you will not want to miss the cooking of the pig!

I look forward to seeing each of you very soon and sharing our Lodge and some great stories!!!

Yours in Brotherhood and Cheerful Service/WWW,

Bill Payne
Yustaga Lodge Adviser

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REGISTER FOR CONCLAVE HERE http://event.yustaga385.com/maina.php (Click on “Conclave”)

As hard as it is to believe CONCLAVE 2012 is just around the corner (April 13-15).

The theme for this years Conclave is:  ”Test the Bow…Take the Journey.”

Conclave will be hosted by our Brothers from Woa Cholena Lodge 322 in the Mobile Area Council at their beautiful new Camp Pinetreat.

For those of you who have never been to a Conclave, IT IS AN AWESOME EVENT!!!  Not only do we have some of the best training and trainers available in our Section on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon is dedicated to some EXTREME FUN!!!  There will be Ceremony Competition, Drum and Dancing, etc.  This is also where we have Lodge competition, games, Founder’s Festival (where we play games, cook, and socialize with our Brothers from other Lodges and make friends for life!!!)  Did I mention patch trading???

If tradition remains, the Section will also GIVE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS for the High Adventure Bases (Philmont, Sea Base, Northern Tier, and Wilderness Voyage-Canadian Odyssey).

For those of you who have been, you know you don’t want to miss it!!!

The Yustaga Lodge has been the Section Best-All-Around Lodge many times and we are defending our title from last year and we need your help!!!  Other than hosting Conclave ourselves, this is as close as it comes to being in our backyard and we would love to take EVERYONE with us.

You should have already, or will soon be receiving a postcard from the Lodge concerning Conclave Registration.  While the actual event is not until April, due to new Section and National guidelines, we MUST commit as a Lodge by Friday, February 10, 2012 to the number of participants and merchandise orders…no exceptions!!!  We may, MAY,  be able to get  you a spot after the deadline, HOWEVER, there will be NO CHANCE of getting you any patches, neckerchief, pin, shirts, etc.

So Brothers, I am asking you to “Test the Bow and Take the Journey” with us!!!

I hope to see each of you VERY SOON (Green Bar/YNAW/Ordeal)!!!
Yours in Brotherhood and Cheerful Service/WWW,
Bill Payne, Yustaga Lodge Adviser

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The 2011 Banquet is quickly approaching! You can now register for this even via the online registration system found at http://event.yustaga385.com/

The fees are as followed:

Arrowmen – $20/each (includes patch)
Guest of Arrowmen – $15/each
Extra Patches – $3/each

If you have any questions about the registration, feel free to contact me.

Yours in Cheerful Service,
Lodge Webmaster

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