This year’s recipient of the Founders’ Award is a Brother who has demonstrated sustained commitment to Shu-Shu-Gah Lodge and the Order in varied ways. It is fair to say that his commitment to the Order of the Arrow has become one of the hallmarks of his almost 40 year tenure in Scouting.

As a youth, he became intimately involved in his Chapter and Lodge’s leadership, having served as Lodge Vice Chief. He was elevated to the Vigil Honor in his youth, and continued his steadfast commitment to the core principles of the Order into his adult years. He served both as an adviser to lodge-level committees and as the adviser to Majawat Chapter. For distinguished service to youth, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award.

Involvement in American Indian related events through the Order of the Arrow has always been something which piqued the interest of many Brothers, including this year’s recipient. In his youth, he was involved in Dance Teams on the Chapter Level, and served as a Ceremonialist on more than one occasion. As he grew older, he was not only intrigued by American Indian Events for his own enjoyment, but recognized the importance of these activities as mechanisms for maintaining youth interest and involvement in the Order of the Arrow. He became involved in region-level Indian events and on more than one occasion could be found leading a caravan of youth and adults to Pow Wow’s, dances and competitions.

Desirous of bringing his increased knowledge and experience back home to Shu-Shu-Gah, he conceived of and successfully incepted what was to become a mainstay-event for the Lodge – our annual Indian Seminar. Each year, under his leadership, over 200 Arrowmen and American Indian enthusiasts gather at Alpine Scout Camp for a weekend of training, fellowship and honoring the roots of the Order of the Arrow’s Native American heritage. Annually, the Indian Seminar proves to be an important public event for the Lodge, as well as a key fundraiser when coupled with the annual Trade-O-Ree. Without this Brother’s selfless vision and leadership, it would never have come to fruition.

It wasn’t long after, that others took note of his commitment to this important facet in Scouting, and he began to provide leadership as part of the American Indian Events Staff at numerous National Jamborees. He was eventually invited to participate on the National Order of the Arrow Training Committee, and served on the AIA Staff at many National Order of the Arrow Conferences. In 2003, he had the distinction of serving as the Lead Training Adviser for the OA’s National Program of emphasis, Indian Summer. For his lengthy commitment to the Order on a National Level, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 2004 at the National Conference in Ames, Iowa.

It should be noted that this Brother’s Scouting involvement outside of New York City has never caused his contributions on the local level to waiver. An involved Junior Leader in his youth, he rose through the ranks of Scouting, and continues to serve today as Scoutmaster of his troop – a position he has held for more than a decade. Moreover, when approached, he accepted the very difficult and time-consuming role of Lodge Adviser. Supporting youth-leadership and continuing the Order’s tenet of being a “youth-led, adult-advised” organization have been the cornerstones of his devotion to our Order.

For exemplary service to the Order of the Arrow, and for epitomizing the spirit of achievement as described by E. Urner Goodman & Carroll A. Edson, the 2007 Shu-Shu-Gah Lodge Founders’ Award is proudly presented to Brother Kenneth Hood.