Order of Arrow makes a point to honor the best in Scouting

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SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR: Candidates for the 2014 Vigil Honor were announced at Wapashuwi Lodge’s Order of the Arrow banquet. From left to right are Chris Leymarie of Boy Scout Troop 60 in Boardman; Noah Bokansky of Troop 99 in Newbury, Ohio; Linny Harden and Debi DeConcilus of Troop 31 in Niles; Clayton Burrows of Troop 100 in Hubbard; A.J. Gioglio of Troop 101 in Struthers; and Terri Andrews of Willoughby, Ohio, a committee member of the Headwaters District.

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Pleso

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Gioglio

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John

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Reed

Staff report

WARREN

For its annual Winter Banquet recently, Wapashuwi Lodge, Order of the Arrow of the Greater Western Reserve Council, Boy Scouts of America, met at DiVieste Banquet Hall.

The OA, considered to be Scouting’s National Honor Society, has more than 180,000 members.

After dinner, Jason Wolf, council executive, and Brandon West, lodge staff adviser, honored the 2013 lodge officers and advisers for their service.

Ricky Angeletti, central region chief, installed the following 2014 officers: Andrew Pleso, lodge chief; Chris Leymarie, lodge executive vice chief; Nicholas Locke, lodge secretary; Jonathan Feigert, lodge treasurer; Seth Welch, Neatoka Chapter chief; Mitch Oshaben, Stigwandish Chapter chief; Connor Orr, Tapawingo Chapter chief; Scott Brown, T’sisgoli Ama Chapter chief; Corey Smith, vice chief of camping and service; Mitchell Babej, vice chief of communications; John LaPolla, vice chief of membership; and Evan John, vice chief of native American heritage.

Three members, Bart Gensburg, Noah Marsh and Paul Parrish, received special recognition for outstanding service to Unit Elections last year.

The Gary Waldorf Native American Heritage Award went to Pleso for his contributions to the heritage and ceremonies of the lodge.

The Stewards of the Shadow Award was given to A.J. Gioglio of Boy Scout Troop 101 in Struthers, for extensive behind-the-scenes work on lodge ceremonies.

Two special awards highlighted the evening. Arrowman of the Year goes to one youth and one adult for outstanding service to the lodge while exemplifying the spirit of the OA. The youth award went to Evan John of Poland, of Troop 101, and the adult award went to Alan Reed.

Angeletti was the featured speaker for the evening, and Bret Gensburg and Pleso gave the closing remarks.

For information about Scouting, call the Greater Western Reserve Council at 330-898-8474 or 800-234-7268, or visit www.bsa-gwrc.org. For information about the lodge visit www.wapashuwi.org, or the OA, visit www.oa-bsa.org.