Spe-Le-Yai Lodge is off to Another Great Start

In February, the Lodge held its annual Vigil Dinner and conducted a Vigil Induction for two of its members, Carol Olen and Manuel Sibrian. Also in February, members of the Tribe of Tahquitz attended our Lodge Meeting to encourage our members to start a Dance Team. In March, the Lodge participated in the W4A Conclave at Forest Lawn Scout Reservation. We were in charge of providing the sports activities, which was very challenging given the low temperature. At the Conclave our former Lodge Chief Manuel Sibrian was elected Section Vice-Chief. We had 20 of our members register for this annual activity. Next year our Lodge is the host lodge in March of 2009. In late April, the Lodge supported outdoor program by providing service at the Cub Scout Rocket Academy at CVO. Not only was one of our members the chair of this event, David Potter, but we also manned the Kitchen, worked in the Trading Post, and ran the campfire program. We also provided an Arrow of Light Ceremony during the campfire. The following weekend the Lodge held its annual Spring Service Weekend and Ordeal. We provided a great deal of service to CVO and inducted over 20 new members into our Lodge. Because Spe-Le-Yai is the host lodge for the next Conclave, we will be hosting all the Section Meetings for the coming year. The first Section Meeting will be held at the Council Office the first Saturday in June and will include a tour of our Council’s Scout Museum.

During the summer of 2008, six of our members will be participating in ArrowCorp⁵. The Order of the Arrow has had a long-standing interest in coordinating a national service project, utilizing the infrastructure and leadership established over many years of success at the Boy Scouts of America's high adventure bases. Working closely together, the United States Forest Service and the OA have chosen five project sites, spread across America that will be the focus of our combined efforts. ArrowCorps ⁵ (pronounced Arrow Corps Five) will provide an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each participant to set an example of leadership in service to those who treasure our national forests. Our lodge members will travel to Shasta-Trinity National Forest the second week of July. The ArrowCorps⁵ Shasta-Trinity National Forest Project (ASTP) is located in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest an hour drive through 60 miles of magnificent country side north of Redding, California. The California/Oregon border is another 60 miles north. Interstate 5 (I5), a major north-south highway, bisects the project into east and west sections, with the city of Mt. Shasta, at an elevation of about 3600 feet, being at about the center of the entire project elements. The ASTP consists of several elements of work on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), feeder trails to the PCT, illegal dump site clean-up, and fuel reduction. The purpose of the project is to provide much needed assistance to the National Forest with trail maintenance and clean-up that otherwise would not be done. The projects will require a range of abilities that should be sufficient to provide all participants with a satisfying experience, while rendering a service to the forest and future visitors. We will be making a stop in Sacramento to visit the state capital and other historic sites and the following day drive up to Shasta for our orientation and distribution to our various work sites on the trail.

In Memory of Mike Vacca

Mike Vacca, a beloved member of our lodge passed away on Friday November 30, 2007.

December 7, 1961 – November 30, 2007

Mike joined our lodge as an Ordeal member in May 1977 at Stetson Creek Ranch an old VHC scout camp. He became brotherhood in May 1978 in the same area. Mike served the lodge for many years and received the Vigil in 1998. His name is Wakanchinye, which is translated as "Holy Elder Brother" from the Lakota (Western Sioux) language.

Mike also earned the Song of the Coyote award, and the Founders' award for his continued dedicated service.

Mike was an active member of the Ceremonies team as a youth and adult, he served as a Lodge advisor, and a member of the Coyote Singers and Dance team as an adult.

Mike completed his Woodbadge and was a proud beaver

Mike's scouting career began when he joined cub scout pack 315 in 1969. He then graduated into Troop 315 where he earned his Life badge. Mike was "Life for Life" he spent many years helping other scouts earn their Eagle Awards.

As an assistant Scoutmaster and committee member, his primary activities were, assisting Scouts in getting their Eagle Award, coordinating the Ad-Altare Dei Scouting religious award program in the troop, and being the primary instructor for the First Aid merit Badge, particularly significant as shortly after earning the award, one of his young students saved the life of an infant relative.

Funeral Arrangements

Rosary

Friday December 14, 2007
10:00 am 9:00 am
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
10321 Tujunga Canyon Blvd.
Tujunga, CA 91042-1821
Google Map™

Funeral

Friday December 14, 2007
10:30 am 9:30 am
Directly following the Rosary at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Interment

San Fernando Mission Cemetery
11160 Stranwood Avenue
Mission Hills, CA 91345
(818) 361-7387
Google Map™

Mike wished to cremated. In lieu of Flowers Mike's family are asking for donations to a Boy Scout Scholarship Fund.

Mike, you will be missed.

2008 Registration is due

Its time to register once again. Please register with the lodge using the form below.

Download the registration form.

Manny's Eagle Project

Join Manny in replacing benches for his Eagle Project.

Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Tujunga Saturday July 28, 2007 from 8:00 am to ???.

Download the Flyer.

Meeting Time Changes

The youth members of Spe-Le-Yai have decided in a 12 to 1 vote that lodge meetings will start at 7:00 pm and end at 8:30 pm on the third Thursday of each month. Meetings have been running from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. This move has been made in an effort get our members home earlier.

May Brotherhood Ceremony

The next Brotherhood Ceremony will be held May 29, 2007 at 7:30 pm at the Council Office.

If you are interested in going through the Brotherhood Ceremony you need to meet the requirements in the Order of The Arrow Handbook. You also need to attend the Brotherhood Review.

The Brotherhood Review is setup so that you are interviewed by lodge members to make sure you are ready for The Brotherhood. The Brotherhood Review will take place at 7:00 pm the evening of the ceremony. The fee for the ceremony will be $15.00.