Tom Kita Chara Lodge

Chiefly Speaking …

My Fellow Arrowmen, Brothers, and Friends,

The new lodge year is upon us!  And I am excited to serve this year as your Lodge Chief. 

The officers and I, along with the Lodge Executive Committee, are working hard to make sure the “TKC Attitude” grows. 

When at Fall Conference in August I began to ask newer Arrowmen what confused them about the Order of the Arrow, what questions they had, and what things the lodge could do to make them understand the Ordeal they just went through.  As I was asking the new Arrowmen these questions I began to reflect on my first year as an Arrowmen.  I had a lot of similar questions when I was a first year Arrowmen in 2002.  Each person was filled with confusion, mystery, and curiosity; just as I was.

As a new Arrowmen in Tom Kita Chara Lodge I wore my flap patch, thong, and sash not knowing the true meaning of the Order.  I was an inactive member of the Order for the first few years I was in the lodge.  The only reason being is I did not seek out the true meaning of the Order.    

It wasn’t until three years ago I started to understand the true meaning of the Order of the Arrow, when I joined the Crystal Lake Scout Reservation Camp Staff.  That year drew me into the Order.  The ceremonies on Wednesday and Thursday night made me think of what I could do to better serve the Order of the Arrow.  At Fall Conference 2005 I decided to join the Lodge Executive Committee and since then the Order has strengthened my understanding of the Order and taught me endless life lessons.  I never dreamed that I would be talking to YOU, the Arrowmen of Tom Kita Chara Lodge, as YOUR Lodge Chief.

I challenge all of you to take an active role in supporting the Lodge and the Order.  Come to a Lodge event, watch the ceremonies at Summer Camp, and get involved.  To learn more about the Order you must participate in the Order.  If you are inactive you will not understand and live to the full ideals of brother, cheerfulness, and service.

Yours in the Brotherhood,
Kyle Retzki
Lodge Chief