The past few months have gone by so quickly. O-Shot-Caw Lodge put on so much since the last release of the patchwork. We had a beautiful Winter Ordeal weekend at Camp Everglades. We put on a massive Indian Display at both Lincoln-Marti Camporee and Scoutmaster's Camporee. O-Shot-Caw Lodge had an amazing Banquet and selected very suitable Leaders for recipients of the Founder's Award and Vigil Honor. Our eyes are on the horizon and we will continue forward.

The Winter Ordeal was held January 7-9, 2011, at Camp Everglades. It was a great weekend with gorgeous weather, great food, awesome fellowship, and cheerful service. Our largest project was the construction of a much needed composting toilet. We inducted nearly 100 new members and 27 Brothers sealed their ties with Brotherhood membership. Congratulations to all new Brothers and Brotherhood members!

Last Year, our Lodge made a significant push to provide more presence at council events. This year we kept the standard set by providing a real presence at Lincoln-Marti Camporee and Scoutmaster's Camporee. Lincoln-Marti was a complete success. Many people learned about Native American Culture and more about our Order. The display at last years Scoutmaster's Camporee set the standard of size, but this year, we added even more. The display was so busy that we had to push the closing time back an hour, and even when we did close, Scouts still didn't want to leave. It was nothing short of phenomenal.

Recently, the O-Shot-Caw Lodge Banquet was held on March 4-6 at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, FL. It was a fantastic weekend! Congratulations to all members whom sealed their ties in Brotherhood on Friday night. Saturday was full of training seminars and Chapter competitions. I would like to thank John Semander for planning excellent training seminars, and I would like to thank all instructors. I would also like to thank Jake Cutler for providing terrific games for the competitions. I am also very happy to congratulate our two Founders Award recipients R.J. Hickman and Bill Gilliland. These two individuals truly represent the ideal of scouting and our Order. I would also like to congratulate our newest Brothers who were selected for the Vigil Honor: Colby Kudja, Wilson Valle, Will McKinley, Jake Cutler, Kristoffer Senzig, Kevin Innes, Jesus “Gene” Olive, and Charly Yost. These are real Leaders in service to our Lodge. Congratu-lations!

One of the most anticipated events of the year is right around the corner, the 2011 Section Conference at Tanah-Keeta Scout Reservation on April 8-10, 2011. Register online or at the Scout Office. This is an opportunity for O-Shot-Caw to show our Section what we have accomplished this year. We will remind Section S4 who O-Shot-Caw is!

I look forward to seeing you all at the 2011 Section Conference!

Yours in Brotherhood,
Jonathon Yost
O-Shot-Caw Lodge Chief

I hope you all had a wonderful, fun, and safe Holiday season. It has been a successful year and O-Shot-Caw is looking to 2011 without fear. The Lodge has been right on track continuing down the path of cheerful service. We recently held or attended some successful events like Haunted Forest, Section Seminars, and the Scout Show.

On October 23, 2010, at Markham Park, O-Shot-Caw Lodge held our annual Haunted Forest, one of the largest service events in scouting. Over the course of a day, Arrowmen put together a massive display to entertain Cub Scouts and families across South Florida. The 2010 Haunted Forest was extremely successful due to all of the hard work and dedication from the Brothers of O-Shot-Caw Lodge. Our Lodge raised an astonishing $20,000 to support the Joseph Aaron Abbott Campership Fund which helps to make it possible for Scouts with financial needs to attend summer camp.

Following the Haunted Forest, O-Shot-Caw Lodge attended the Section S4 Seminars. It was a chilly weekend, but still lots of fun. The weekend was hosted by Timuquan Lodge and they did an excellent job running the event.

In December our Lodge volunteered to help with the South Florida Council Scout Show. O-Shot-Caw had an Indian Village display where young scouts got the opportunity to learn more about the Drum Team, Dance Team, and the Order of the Arrow.
It is that time of year to pay your annual dues. Please log on to o-shot-caw.org and make your payment. Just around the corner are many exciting events. I can't wait to see you all out there!

It is my pleasure to announce that O-Shot-Caw Lodge #265 is a National Quality Lodge for 2010. This is an outstanding achievement for our Lodge, it is something we aim for because it is the vision the Order of the Arrow has for Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service.

It has been an extraordinary year for us. I have enjoyed serving as your Chief and I look forward to serving you in 2011.

Yours in Brotherhood,
Jonathon Yost
O-Shot-Caw Lodge Chief

I hope everyone is doing well now that the Summer has wound down and has started into an amazing Autumn. O-Shot-Caw Lodge has kicked off the fall just perfectly and is standing strong, moving ever forward, and setting the pace for cheerful service.

Back in August, O-Shot-Caw Lodge leaders gathered together for our annual Lodge Leadership Development on August 21, 2010. The event was held at Shula's Hotel in Miami Lakes. The leaders arrived early in the morning and were trained throughout most of the day. The food was excellent, the staff professional, and the training was very worthwhile to all who attended.

After LLD, the Lodge helped South Florida Council host a September 11th Remembrance Ceremony on the ninth anniversary of the tragic attacks. The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer was said by Lee Thornton Davis, a member of the Lodge Executive Committee. We then paused for a moment of silence at 8:46 am, the moment 9 years ago when the first plane hit the first twin tower. The rest of the morning was spent singing patriotic songs and thanking the men and women of the fire and police departments for their courage and protection.

On September 24 - 26, 2010, the Lodge gathered for the Fall Ordeal. The Ordeal was held at the Heron Preserve in Markham Park. Paldani definitely cooked some of the best food I have ever had at an Ordeal. It was very good and we were fed well. Hnu-Ra-Con, brought in some real creativity with their slip-n-slide style of dodge ball, I had a ton of fun playing that one. Also, Elgixin held an excellent Interfaith Worship. Overall, the Lodge gave a ton of cheerful service and had a blast.

Well, as great as the fall has been so far, O-Shot-Caw will ascend to new heights as we venture farther into the year. Coming ever so closely is our annual Haunted Forest. The Haunted Forest will be held on October 22-24th, 2010. I encourage all brothers to attend. Why? Because it is so much fun! I have yet to attend a Haunted Forest and not have the time of my life. And the sole purpose of the event is to raise money for the Joseph Aaron Abbot Campership Fund, a fund created to help scouts go to summer camp. The next event that is also rapidly approaching is Section Seminars. It will be held on November 5-7th, 2010 at Sandhill Scout Reservation in Brooksville, Florida. The event is a huge gathering of Order of the Arrow brothers from across Florida. The gathering is for fellowship with others who share an interest in Service, American Indian Activities, Leadership, or Ceremonies.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Haunted Forest and the Section Seminars!

Yours in Brotherhood,
Jonathon Yost
O-Shot-Caw Lodge Chief