New Member Induction Process

Brothers and Sisters in the Lodge,

As you may have heard, the Order of the Arrow is adopting some historic and exciting changes to the new member induction process. Fundamentally, the Order of the Arrow is not changing. 

Our purpose is, and always has been, to honor those Scouts who, by their example, live the Scout Oath and Law; to promote camping; to instill in those elected a spirit of servant leadership and to offer leadership and high adventure opportunities to those willing to accept the challenge.

Brotherhood, cheerfulness and service remain the traditions to which we aspire. Those watchwords are the precepts we respect and accept in the Order of the Arrow.

The criterion for election remains the same. What is changing is the way the lodge inducts new members. The ceremonies, while similar to our current ceremonies, are based on the history and traditions of the Order. Instead of the pre-ordeal and ordeal ceremonies, the new ceremonies will be called the “ceremony of the arrow” and the “ceremony of the fire”.

For the past 50 years, the Order has relied on Elangomats to help and guide new inductees through the induction process. In the new induction, that role is now taken on by “Luminaries” who light the way. While the Luminary’s job is similar to the Elangomat’s role, it encompasses much more in terms of guidance and leadership for the new member and requires additional training.

Tonkawa Lodge has been selected, along with Colonneh Lodge, as exemplar lodges to help instruct and host other lodges in the new induction process. This past weekend, 25 members of Tonkawa Lodge and 50 members of Colonneh Lodge attended the National Induction Experience at Camp Wisdom in Dallas. We experienced, firsthand, the entire weekend of the new induction sequence and how it aligns with the Vision, Mission, and Purpose of our Order.

We all want Tonkawa Lodge and our Order to transition to the new induction process successfully; however, we cannot do it without your participation.

All members are invited, but not required, to experience the new induction process for themselves. Tonkawa Lodge has committed to assisting Colonneh Lodge with the Section Induction Experience to be held October 9-11 at Camp Strake near Coldspring, Texas. We want to see as many Tonkawa members attend as possible to take an active role in this historic transition.

Beyond just experiencing the new induction at the Section Induction Experience, we need current members to engage in learning the new ceremony and other members to learn the Luminary function. We are committed to providing at least two ceremony teams and 25 or more Luminaries for the Section Induction Experience at Camp Strake in October.

Tonkawa Lodge has formed an ad hoc committee, led by Trevor Suggs, for the New Induction sequence to engage members and facilitate their learning of the new roles. More information will be available shortly on the Luminary and ceremony training opportunities.

Tonkawa Lodge will conduct its traditional, Native American themed, induction on the weekend of October 2-4, 2026, at Lost Pines Scout Reservation.  Brotherhood ceremonies will also be conducted at this assembly. Brotherhood and Vigil ceremonies will remain traditional for 2026. The Lodge will need our traditional ceremonialists and Elangomats for the October 2-4 assembly.

Our hope as a Lodge is to conduct a new induction experience as soon as December 2026. In 2027, we will return to our normal schedule for assemblies doing the new induction ceremonies in May, October and December. More information will follow on changes to the Brotherhood and Vigil ceremonies for 2027.

If you are interested in being part of this exciting time and taking on a new ceremony or Luminary role in upcoming new member inductions, please let us know by contacting your chapter adviser or a lodge officer or adviser.

Trevor Suggs

2025-2026 Lodge Chief

trevorsuggs@gmail.com

Alex Schueppert

2026-2027 Lodge Chief

alexschueppert@gmail.com

Richard South

Lodge Adviser

Rsouth0917@gmail.com

(512) 796-5250