Owaneco Lodge #313
S24 Flap
Connecticut Yankee Council (#72)
Owaneco Lodge #313 S24 flap. Owaneco Lodge #313 was chartered in 1999 in the Connecticut Yankee Council (#72) located in Millford, Connecticut. The Owaneco #313 totem is Owaneco, 2nd Sachem of Mohegan Tribe.
Owaneco Lodge Merger History
Owaneco Lodge #313 was chartered in 1999 in the Connecticut Yankee Council (#72) located in Millford, Connecticut. Owaneco Lodge #313 was formed in 1999 from the merger of Tankiteke Lodge #313 and Arcoon Lodge #369. The Owaneco #313 totem is Owaneco, 2nd Sachem of Mohegan Tribe.
Tankiteke Lodge #313 was chartered in 1973 in the Fairfield County Council located in Norwalk, Connecticut. In 1973, Tankiteke Lodge was formed in 1973 from the merger of Mauwehu Lodge #389, Chief Pomperaug Lodge #408, and Ponus Lodge #521. The Tankiteke Lodge totem was Hoop of the universe.
Mauwehu Lodge #389 was chartered in 1948 in the Mauwehu Council located in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The Mauwehu Lodge totem was a Gray wolf.
Chief Pomperaug Lodge #408 was chartered in 1949 in the Pomperaug Council located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Chief Pomperaug Lodge totem was a Panther.
Ponus Lodge #521 was chartered in 1956 in the Alfred W. Dater Council located in Glenbrook, Connecticut. Chartered in 1956. The Ponus Lodge totem was the Turtle.
Arcoon Lodge #369 was chartered in 1947 in the Quinnipiac Council located in Hamden, Connecticut. In 1954, Arcoon Lodge #369 changed its name from Chi Sigma Lodge #369. In 1978, Arcoon Lodge #369 absorbed Wangunks Lodge #274. The Arcoon lodge totem was a Raccoon with feather.
Chi Sigma Lodge # 369 was in the Quinnipiac Council located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Chi Sigma Lodge totem was a Raccoon with feather.
Wangunks Lodge #274 was chartered in 1944 in the Central Connecticut Council. located in Meridian, Connecticut. The Wangunks Lodge totem was an American Eagle.
Owaneco Lodge History
When the Connecticut Yankee Council was formed in January 1998, OA members from the two former Council Lodges (Tankiteke 313 and Arcoon 369) formed a lodge steering committee. A total of six meetings were needed to complete the merger between the two Lodges. At their first meeting on February 14, 1998, basic structure of the Lodge was discussed and another meeting was scheduled for March 22. During the second meeting, the committee focused on Committee responsibilities. The third meeting (May 4) the committee made plans for a joint June Ordeal and briefly discussed bylaws and Lodge names. A name was agreed upon during the fourth meeting (August 14) where the committee decided that there would be one Fellowship instead of two separate ones. Bylaws were also written and finalized. At the fifth meeting (August 23), the committee planned the Fall Fellowship and discussed what events the new Lodge would hold. During the final meeting (September 20), the committee made finishing touches on the Fellowship plans.
The 1998 Fall Fellowship “In the Morning of a New Day” would serve to be the first event as one Lodge. During the weekend, members of both Lodges enjoyed food, fun, games, fellowship, and brotherhood. On Sunday October 4, 1998, Owaneco Lodge 313 was born. This historic event took place during the first Lodge meeting where the Lodge membership approved the Lodge Name, Number, and Bylaws. The first group of Lodge Officers were also selected at that time. Garland Jackson was elected Lodge Chief. Chapters remained the same within the Lodge to make a total of seven: Aschewon (Sleeping Giant District), Keewayden (Lighthouse District), Ockenuck (Wepawaug Valley District), Pequot (Nutmeg District), Powahay (Powahay District), Saganaw (Saganaw District), and Scatacook (Scatacook District).
The Lodge’s first year the Executive Committee worked to mold the new Lodge program. Several changes were made by the Lodge’s Executive Committee to combine the traditions of Tankiteke and Arcoon and adapt a new Lodge program. It was also during 1998 when Ockenuck Chapter re-named itself to the Arcoon Chapter. On the Section level, Jeff Berkowitz was elected as the Section NE-3A Vice Chief and Adam Fromm was elected as the Section Secretary. Jeff later finished the year as the Section Chief when the position became vacant.
The 1999-2000 Lodge year began with the election of Eric Boehm to the position of Lodge Chief at the 1999 June Ordeal. The Lodge continued to sharpen and make changes to the Lodge program. At the Section NE-3A Conclave, Bill Chin was elected as the Section Vice Chief. The Lodge sent two youths and an adult to the first ever National Leadership Summit at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Lodge Chiefs and other youth officers from all across the country met to discuss and plan the National Order of the Arrow program. Bill Chin also attended the event and represented the Section. During the year, seven Chapters became six when Pequot (Nutmeg) and Saganaw (Saganaw) combined to form the new Chief Pomperaug Chapter (Pomperaug District). It was also during the 1999 year that Owaneco Lodge achieved “Honor Lodge” for the first time in its short history.
In the 2000-2001 Lodge year, Damien Becroft was selected to serve as Lodge Chief at the June Ordeal. In the summer of 2000, the Lodge went to its first National Order of the Arrow Conference at the University of Tennessee. The Lodge sent a spirited contingent of 16 youth, 6 adults, and 3 youth staff members to the Conference. The Ceremonies Team comprised of Mike McCann, Bob Kravecs, Michael Card, and Rob Emerson was awarded National “Honor” status for their performance in the Pre-Ordeal Ceremony. Bill Chin was also awarded “Honor” status for his performance in the Vigil Honor Ceremony. Later in the year, the Lodge donated $7500 for the construction of new latrines at Camp Sequassen. The Executive Committee also decided to switch the Fall Fellowship and May Ordeal weekends. This switch was made in order to give Ordeal candidates more time to prepare for their Ordeal weekend after their Call Out ceremony during the Spring Camporees. The Lodge’s first Spring Fellowship was held in May of 2001.
The 2001-2002 Lodge year saw the election of Bob Kravecs as Owaneco’s forth Lodge Chief. The phrase, “Catch the Higher Vision,” was chosen as the theme for the year. The Lodge focused on increasing active membership and improving Lodge events. In addition the Lodge Officers worked to strengthen the core committees of the Lodge. The Lodge sent its first contingent to a National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill.
In June of 2002, Bob Kravecs was re-elected as Lodge Chief, making him the Lodge’s first multiple term Lodge Chief. The theme, “For He Who Serves His Fellows is of All His Fellows Greatest,” was selected as the theme for the year. In the summer of 2002, a contingent of 13 youth, 5 adults, 4 youth staff, and 3 adult staff members to the campus of Indiana University for the National Order of the Arrow Conference. The Lodge will spend the 2002-2003 year focusing on building the Chapter program, increasing youth participation, and preparing for the 2003 Section NE-2C Conclave which will be held at Camp Sequassen and hosted by Owaneco Lodge.
In 2003, Owaneco Lodge continued soaring “Onward and Upward” with the election of Rob Anstett as Lodge Chief. In the summer of 2003, a contingent of 6 youth, 4 adults, and 2 youth staff traveled to Ashville, NC to experience OA Indian Summer. Also during the summer of ’03, Owaneco initiated an OA Summer Camp program to increase brotherhood conversions and to fundraise money for Camp Sequassen. That September, Camp Sequassen became the host of over 300 arrowman as Owaneco Lodge hosted a spectacular “Lights, Camera, Conclave” experience for NE-2C. Michael Card served as Conclave Coordinator and executed a spectacular weekend. During the event, from Owaneco, Rob Kravecs was elected as Section NE-2C Chief and Kevin Sylvester as section secretary.
The 2004-2005 year saw the election of Kevin Sylvester as lodge chief. As Lodge Chief, Kevin envisioned the lodge to “Continue Faithfully to Serve.” In the Summer of 2004, an enormous, energetic contingent travel to Ames, IO for NOAC 2004. The conference proved to be an amazing event for Owaneco. The Ceremonies Team comprised of Dave Chick, Charlie Johnson, and Sean Murphy were awarded National “Honor” status for their performance in the Pre-Ordeal Ceremony. The Quinnipiac Dancers also continued to celebrate their 30th anniversary at NOAC as they were successful in both the group dance competition and drum competition. Dan Fagan, who competed individually in the fancy dance category, was placed in the top 10 in the nation, and wad able to dance on stage during the Native American Show. In late August of 2004, Kevin Sylvester was elected to serve as Section Chief of NE-2C. John Chick was also elected as Section Vice-Chief. Since Kevin could not hold both Lodge and Section Chief positions, Drew Sansevero was appointed by the Supreme Chief of the Fire to carry out the remaining term of office.
Please note that the Owaneco Lodge History is copied from the Owaneco web site.
Bill Griesmyer -- Last updated 28-May-2011