Vigil

Overview

Alertness to the needs of others is the mark of the Vigil Honor. It calls for an individual with an unusual awareness of the possibilities within each situation.

The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for exceptional service to lodge, council, community and Scouting. Membership cannot be won by a person’s conscious endeavors.

The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position of office to one or more of the following:

• Order of the Arrow
• Scouting community
• Scout Camp
• Community

Under NO circumstances should tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow be considered as reason enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.

Any member of the Order of the Arrow registered in Scouting and in good standing in a regularly chartered lodge is eligible for recommendation to the National Order of the Arrow Committee for elevation to the Vigil Honor provided that, at the time of the recommendation, the individual has been a Brotherhood member for a minimum of two years.

A lodge may nominate a maximum of two percent of their registered Arrowmen once a year, through the Vigil Honor petition, found in the annual re-charter packet. At least 50 percent of all nominated must be under 21 at the time of nomination.

Vigil Nomination Form

The Vigil Honor is one not to be taken lightly as it is the measure of an Arrowmans devotion to the ideals set by our Founders: E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson. Now is time to look around and see who has the “Can-Do” attitude and one who always lives by the Scout Oath and Law.

The minimum requirements for consideration for the Vigil Honor are being a Brotherhood Member for at least 2 years with their dues paid and current minimum of last 3 years. So look around your Troops, Chapters and Lodge and see who has 2 years as a Brotherhood Honor and deserves to be recognized for their involvement and dedication to Scouting. YES, I said dedication to Scouting, and did not say to the Order of the Arrow.

In the Order of the Arrow, SERVICE is paramount to the attitude of a good Arrowman. Service to community, family, God and service to the Unit to which we belong are just a few areas that an Arrowman will devote himself.

Camping is another area where an Arrowman demonstrates their attitude. An Arrowman that is willing to help others enjoy the out of doors and experience the wonders of nature is an Arrowman worthy of the Vigil Honor

Please look around you and see if there is an Arrowman that meets these criteria, then nominate them for the Vigil Honor.

Link for Vigil Nomination online form.

When making a nomination, perform the following review:

• Consider the statement above in the first paragraph to pre-qualify your nominee. Does he/she fit the description given?
• Make sure your nominee is current for the past three (3) years with dues.  If not, you will need to get your nominee up to date by attaching a check to the Nomination Form.  You may also inform your nominee that you are considering nominating him for an award, but that he/she needs to have the past 3 years of dues paid.
• Make sure your nominee has been a Brotherhood member for at least 24 months as of the date of the Vigil Committee’s selection of candidates, which will be done on Saturday, at the Heard Scout Pueblo Ordeal.  You can call your Chapter or Lodge to check the official Candidate List after the May LEC.  The Candidate List will be updated for that meeting. Your Chapter and Lodge will also have the Nomination Petitions available at the May LEC, and the revised Nomination Procedures if needed. Any other records needed should also be available through the Lodge or Chapter.
• Follow these instructions and fill out the petition carefully: Type or clearly print all the information asked for onto the petition.
• Leave the Indian name blank.
• Provide the English translation name. The Indian name will be provided by Lodge.
• The Essay information called for must be typed on an 8½ x 11 sheet of paper and attached to the petition. The essay should be written in size 12 font and may not be more than 1 page.
• Describe in the Essay the nominee’s character and what positive impacts his/her work in the program provides to his/her  peers, and to scouts.  How many youth has he/she worked with or assisted in his/her Unit / School / Home / District / Chapter / Lodge / Council / etc., and what has been his/her impact on them.  Be as specific about non-scouting activities as you are with scouting activities.
• Provide a summary of the training he/she has had, and training he/she has been involved with on staff.
• Provide his/her days and nights of camping over the past 2 years. Also provide the total days and nights of scouting camping.
• What leadership positions has he/she held in scouting, church, school, sports, work, etc…
• It is important to end the essay with a statement as to why you believe the nominee is worthy to be a candidate. What are your expectations of the work and impact he/she will have on the program if selected.
• Sign the Nomination Petition and turn it in to your Chapter Adviser by the September LEC deadline.