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 service to lodge, council, 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
- 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 1 for every 50 dues-paid members in the previous year. At least 50 percent of all nominated must be under 21 at the time of nomination.
VIGIL HONOR SELECTION PROCEDURES-WAHISSA LODGE #118, OLD HICKORY COUNCIL
- The Lodge Chief appoints a Vigil Chief by the Lodge Officers Training Seminar (LOTS) to begin work on the Vigil Selection and Induction for the ensuing year. The Vigil Chief and Adviser must be good standing Vigil Honor members of Wahissa Lodge. During the LOTS Executive Committee Meeting there should be a vote to grant the Vigil Nominating Committee (VNC) autonomy for the ensuing year.
- The Lodge VCAD with the assistance of the Vigil Chief should compile a list by the end of Winter Fellowship of all Vigil Honor eligible members. This is also the deadline to pay lodge dues to be eligible for the Vigil Honor.
- The Vigil Chief appoints the Vigil Nominating Committee by May 1, and it should consist of the following members:
a. Vigil Chief and Vigil Adviser
b. Lodge Chief and Lodge Adviser
c. Lodge Staff Adviser
d. All Chapter Chiefs and their Advisers (if eligible should send a representative)
e. One non-eligible, non-Vigil youth leaders from each chapter
f. All youth and adult Vigil Honor members of Wahissa Lodge
g. All non-eligible, non-Vigil youth member of the Lodge Executive Committee - Each Vigil eligible member is notified in writing by February 1 of their eligibility and is provided with a Vigil questionnaire. The member should return this questionnaire to the Vigil Chief by a specific date chosen by the Vigil Chief. Completion of this form is not required for selection, but the information is helpful to the VNC when evaluating a
candidate. This questionnaire shall be a paper copy sent in the mail and an electronic form sent through email. This form shall also be sent to those who have not paid their dues in two years and are eligible for the Vigil Honor. The questionnaire should ask for: A) General Information- name, address, birthday, parents’ names, school attended, scouting id number, and YPT date (if 18+); B) Scouting Experiences- current registration, leadership positions held, highest rank, and other scouting awards; C) OA experience- dates of Ordeal and Brotherhood, offices held, and events attended; D) Additional comments the member may wish to list. - The Vigil Nominating Committee shall be held the Friday evening of Spring Fellowship. Due and timely notice will be given. All VNC members will be notified in writing of the time and location of the meeting. Each receives an alphabetical listing of the Vigil Eligible. All VNC members should review this list to prepare for discussion and voting. They are remined that they will be required to sign a pledge of secrecy concerning all discussion and results.
- Before the VNC meeting the Lodge VCAD and the Vigil Chief confirm all members listed in the eligibility list are indeed eligible. Work with the Lodge Staff Adviser to insure all listed are registered in scouting and have current YPT.
- An electronic nomination form will be sent out to all members of the lodge prior to the VNC asking the name of the nominator and nominee. This will give a candidate a mark on the candidate list. This is to allow members to nominate if they cannot be present at the VNC.
- The procedures governing the meeting of the VNC are as follows:
a. The Vigil Chief conducts discussion and selection of Vigil Honor Candidates. The Vigil Chief begins with a review of Vigil Honor ideals and Requirements.
b. Each member receives a complete list of those eligible. Each member then signs a written pledge of secrecy not to reveal any of the discussion or outcome expect when necessary to conduct later duties pertaining to the Vigil Honor. The Vigil Chief also announces the names of any scouters that do not affect the lodge quota.
c. The Vigil Chief reads the list of Vigil Candidates aloud slowly. Any committee member may ask that a person be “marked” for further consideration. Before the list is called the Vigil Chief will read the names nominated as outlined in Section 7 VNC members must understand that if they mark an individual, they must
consider them worthy of the Vigil and be willing to speak on their behalf. The Vigil Chief notes the names of those not marked the first time. During the second reading any additional name may be marked, but afterwards no name may be added to the marked list.
d. Proceeding alphabetically through the marked list, each candidate is discussed individually as to their worthiness of the Vigil Honor. Both adult and youth may contribute, but the Vigil Chief reserves the right to terminate redundant or harmful statements to preserve order and regulate the flow of comments.
e. Following discussion, each VNC member under age 21 receives a ballot containing the names of all youth marked. They vote on each candidate individually, voting yes or no, with no limits to the number one may designate yes or no.
f. The Lodge Chief (or their representative), the Vigil Chief, the Vigil Adviser, and the Lodge Adviser tally the voting of all ballots. Each candidate receiving 50% or more yes voted from those cast is retained to the next ballot. Any ballot left blank will not be counted. A second ballot will be taken if the quota is seceded in the first.
g. VNC members under 21 then receives a ballot containing the names of all adults marked and proceed to vote on them in the same manner as outlined in 8D and 8E for youth candidates. Certain adult scouters do not count against the total quota (outlines by the Vigil Chief in 8B) but the total of adult nominees, including theses scouters, must not exceed the number of youths nominated.
h. If the combined total of youth and adults to be retained is less than or equal to the maximum number of nominees allowed by the national quotes, the percentage of youth nominated is 50% or more, the balloting is complete. - Once a member of the VNC has entered the building in which the meeting is being held they will not be allowed to leave unless granted permission by the Vigil Chief or it is an emergency.
- A meeting of all Vigil Honor member is held immediately following the selection of candidates and is assigned two Vigil members to act as their guides. The Vigil Chief should outline their duties. The guides can recommend a Vigil Name to the Vigil Chief no later than two weeks following the VNC.
- The Vigil Chief completes the Vigil Honor petitions for each candidate to the National Order of the Arrow. Those approved by the National Order of the Arrow will be tapped as candidates for the Vigil Honor.
- The public tap out, Vigil induction ceremonies, and the Annual Banquet presentation are presented by the Vigil Honor membership of Wahissa Lodge. Vigil candidates may be inducted at any time with the approval of the Vigil Chief. In most situations a candidate should be inducted at the Vigil Weekend.
- Each Head Guide is required to write a narration for their candidate and submit it to the Vigil Chief by June 1.
- Should a candidate fail to complete their induction within a year after selection their election is reseeded and will be re-balloted at the VNC.
- Should the need for revision of these Vigil procedures become apparent, the Vigil Chief with the assistants of the Vigil Honor youth of the lodge revises this set of procedures and submitted them to the Lodge Executive Committee for approval.
Revised on January 7, 2022, by Vigil Chief Jaron G. Sears