Updates and Changes
Last Updated February 2024
Click on each item below to learn more.
BSA Registration Policy, Effective Sept. 1, 2023
As of September 1, 2023, all adults (18+) staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered in an adult, fee-required position with the BSA.
BSA registration is checked by our registration team & those found to not be in compliance will be notified to correct the issue prior to checking in at the event.
Barriers to Abuse Update - Effective July 1st, 2023 in Allegheny Highlands Council
New Policy - Elimination of the 72-Hour Rule: Click Here for Details
Calendar of Events Updates
Registrations/Details for Some Lodges Events have been opened/added visit our events page here for details.
2024 Membership Dues are due.
It's that time of year again to pay your membership dues in Ho-Nan-Ne-Ho-Ont Lodge 165 for 2024!
Paying your dues entitles you to all the benefits of lodge membership, including attending Lodge events, participating in OA High Adventure Programs, National Trainings / Events and representing your unit.
Remember you must be dues paid to wear the Lodge Flap and you must be currently registered in the BSA to be in the OA.
Membership Dues are $15.00
Membership dues can be paid online by Clicking Here or in person at any lodge event.
Unsure if your dues are current? You now have two ways to check.
You can now check your dues status by visiting your OA Membership Portal by visiting https://portal.oa-bsa.org, Once Logged in click on the "Update Your Profile" Tab, Look for Lodge Member Information - Dues Paid Through Box (This will show the Max Year your Dues are Paid.) Don't Have your Membership Portal Setup yet visit http://portal.ahcoa165.org/ to learn how.
OR
You can submit a lookup request by filling out the google form found Here and a member of our Team will get back to you within 48-72 hours.
National Order of the Arrow NOAC - Trailblazer Scholarship:
Available for Arrowmen Under the Age of 21:
Trailblazer Scholarship:
Application Criteria & Eligibility:
Applications for the Trailblazer Scholarship can be found HERE. Applications will open on November 1, 2023 and the last day to submit a scholarship application will be January 31, 2024.
Eligibility requirements for the Trailblazer Scholarship Program include:
Be registered for NOAC within NOAERS as a youth delegate with a contingent or as a youth staff member by January 31, 2024
Submit a Trailblazer Scholarship application, which will be routed to your council’s OA Event Approver for approval (if a lodge contingent delegate) by January 31, 2024. No supplemental approval is required for staff members.
Be under the age of 21 through the last day of the conference, August 3, 2024.
The Scholarship Committee will determine scholarship amounts for each applicant. Lodges, sections, or regions do not have a role in reviewing and approving Trailblazer Scholarship applications but may be contacted by the committee to validate requests.
Applicants and their respective contingent leaders will be notified of their scholarship status and a potential award by Friday, March 15, 2024. Trailblazer Scholarship awards will be applied directly to the individual registration account within the NOAERS. Funds will not be mailed.
Question in the Trailblazer Scholarship application will include financial information such as the size of household, parent or guardian name(s), total annual household income before taxes, and the requested scholarship amount. There will be additional free form response questions, such as why are you interested in attending NOAC, what are you doing to raise funds to attend NOAC, and if you do not receive the scholarship amount you requested, how might that impact your ability to attend NOAC?
For More Information Click Here.
2024 National Order of the Arrow Conference Registration Is Now Open
See Events Page for Details and to Register
2023 Holiday Party and 2024 Officer Elections Registation Is Now Open
See Events Page for Details and to Register
2024 Officer Elections
Youth Members want to get involved in Lodge Leadership?
Check out how by visiting our Officer Elections Page Here
Lodge Executive Committee Officer Letter of Intent Forms are available in a fillable PDF and an Online Google Form this year.
Submissions must be made by December 1st, 2023, this is to give the Lodge Advisers Time to go over all the received forms.
Elections for 2024 Lodge Executive Committee Officers will take place during the Holiday Party December 16th and 17th at Camp Merz
For more information on the Holiday Party and to register visit our Event Page Here
2023 Fall Fellowship Update
Our Spring Fellowship will happen during Monster Mash - See Events Page for Details and to Register
Summer Gathering and 50th Anniversary Party Registation Is Now Open
See Events Page for Details and to Register
2023 Spring Fellowship Update
Our Spring Fellowship will happen during the Council Camp-o-ree See Events Page for Details and to Register
2023 Unit Elections
Unit Election Season is Coming Up!
The 2023 Unit Election Season will run from February 20th to November 20th
All Unit Leaders, Committee Chairs, and OA Unit Representatives should have received an Email Today (February 1st) with information on scheduling their Unit’s Election.
These Emails are sent automatically from no-reply-382@lodgemaster.oa-bsa.org, based on your Units information stored in the OA LodgeMaster Membership Database. Please check your spam/junk folders.
UPDATE – We have received a few emails stating emails went out to past Unit Leaders, Committee Chairs, and OA Unit Representatives, Our Team is aware and is working on a fix, but it looks like this issue was caused because of synchronization error between the contact information stored in our database and the Council/National systems, as Unit Recharters are still be being processed. If possible please forward these emails to the new Unit Leaders, Committee Chairs, and OA Unit Representatives and Email our team at unitelections@ahcoa165.org with their contact information and we will work on getting it updated within our database.
If your unit did not receive the email or have questions, please email us at - unitelections@ahcoa165.org.
For More Information on Unit Elections Click Here
Membership Dues Change
During the Annual Business Meeting that happened during the Lodge Holiday Party held on December 17th, 2022, the Lodge Executive Committee and Members in attendance voted to change the membership dues fee from the current $10.00 for One Year, $19.00 for Two Years, & $26.00 for Three Years, to $𝟭𝟱.𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗘𝗥-𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥.
For members that have paid in advance, you will not be affected until it’s time to renew your membership.
Emails will be sent out by Monday January 2nd, 2023, to all members past and present with information on the last time their dues were paid.
If you do not receive an email by January 2nd, 2023, at 9:00 PM EST this is because your email is not on file with the Lodge Communications Team.
To update or add or change your email and other information Click Here or your OA Member Portal (Don't have your member portal setup yet Click Here to find out how)
Membership Cards
Lodge Membership Cards are back!! Members can now view and print their membership card, through the OA Member Portal HERE. Don't have your member portal setup yet Click Here to find out how
Lodge's 50th Anniversary
Our Lodge will be Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2023!! Keep an eye out for new things related to our anniversary. If you would like to be on the committee to help organize the 50th Anniversary event currently scheduled for August 25th -27th, 2023 at Camp Merz, please reach out to the following:
Youth 17 and Under - Please Contact David R. Your Lodge Chief at lodgechief@ahcoa165.org
Members 18 and Older - Please Contact Robert Perrine at lodgeadviser@ahcoa165.org