This past year marks the 75th anniversary of Spe-Le-Yai Lodge. Going into 2018, excitement was high for anticipated events and changes sure to come.

During our 75th anniversary year, Spe-Le-Yai took on a new face: literally. Overseen by our LEC, the Lodge rebranded itself: a new coyote head fused with the classic Spe-Le-Yai howl. The Lodge also approved a new merchandise item: a deck of playing cards with the new logo on the back. In addition to the new logo and merchandise, our communications team produced a new aesthetic website patterned after the OA Western Region. Our LEC also implemented the Lodge Service Award adapted from Malibu Lodge (a sister lodge in our section). This award enables arrowmen to receive a gold bordered lodge flap if they earn 25 points worth of service (1 per hour, 5 per weekend, 10 per week). If this was not enough already, Spe-Le-Yai’s LEC decided to host an new event for the whole council: Family Movie Night. If this event is a success this week, it is sure to be making an appearance next year.

In 2018, Spe-Le-Yai provided youth and adult staff during Rocket Academy, Haunt-On, Resident Camp, Day Camps, and Camporee. During these campouts, arrowmen staffed all areas of camp including the archery range, BB gun range, trading post, craft areas, pool, Scout craft, and kitchen. Alongside these duties, youth assisted families by helping set-up tents and other general work.
At our Spring and Fall Ordeal Weekends we inducted 4 candidates. Although this number is small compared to last year, we currently have 100% activation rate within the first month (the percent of inductees that attend their first event after joining). Lodges across the nation have the most trouble with this number. In total, at Ordeals alone, Spe-Le-Yai has dedicated nearly 250 man hours of service to improve Camp Verdugo Oaks in 2018. At these two Ordeals we had a total of 6 eligible Arrowmen seal their membership by earning Brotherhood. This year, Spe-Le-Yai gave $850 worth of supplies and donations to the council.

Over the past year, our lodge has participated in numerous service projects around our community. These have ranged from ecological projects at Deukmejian Wilderness Park, to the creation of burritos for the homeless on skid row. In addition to service in our community, Spe-Le-Yai helped beautify the council center by pulling weeds, raking leaves, and laying mulch.

The nationally revamped National Leadership Seminar (NLS) came to the Hubert Eaton Scout Reservation this year. Two members from Spe-Le-Yai, myself included, attended this training and were some of the first to go through this innovative weekend.

To close out the summer, our contingent of 8 members flew to Indiana University for National Order of the Arrow Conference 2018 (NOAC). Thousands of Arrowmen gathered at this major university for a thrilling week of training, shows, sports competitions, fellowship, and fun.  We even had a member of our own lodge serve on training staff at this national event.

Later, in mid-September, arrowmen from Section W-4N gathered at Camp Three Falls for Conclave 2018: Goodman and the Goblet of Thunder. While at Conclave, the 16 arrowmen from Spe-Le-Yai enjoyed a relaxing weekend filled with trainings, sports competitions, patch auctions, fellowship with other Arrowmen, and even a rave in the famous Three Falls Fort.

This Thursday, officers will be elected to serve in 2019. These leaders will be installed to their positions on December 15th at our annual Lodge Banquet following our annual Lodge Leadership Development training. This day of training will be required for officers, and open to all other Lodge members and advisers.
As you can tell, this last year has been monumental for Spe-Le-Yai as we look to fulfilling the mission of the Order on the final leg toward our centennial year. I am pleased with the progress the lodge has made this year and hope that you can be as proud of Spe-Le-yai as I am.  

Respectfully Submitted,
Brayden Armes
Spe-Le-Yai Lodge Chief 2018