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SECTION I.
Name, Affiliation, and Organization
- The name of this Lodge of
the Order of the Arrow shall be Shawnee Lodge W.W.W. #51.
- The Lodge shall be
affiliated with the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of
America, and shall be under the supervision of the Council Camping
Committee and under the administrative authority of the Scout
Executive.
- The Lodge shall be
divided into Chapters to coincide with the district organization of
the local council.
SECTION II.
Membership - Information and Procedures
The ORDER OF THE ARROW is Scouting's
National Honor Society, and its purpose is to recognize those Scouts
who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law and the principles of Scout
camping.
- ORDEAL HONOR
QUALIFICATIONS
Youth candidates are designated as those under 21 years of age.
Adult candidates are 21 or older at the time of election.
- Be currently registered in a
chartered Scout troop.
- After registration with a troop
or team, have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping
during the two-year period prior to the election. The 15 days and
nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp
consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident
camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy
Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight,
weekend, or other short-term camps.
- Youth members are elected by a
vote of troop members present at the election. Adult leaders are
elected by a majority vote of adult Scouters present at the
election. Elections are conducted according to procedures outlined
elsewhere in these rules.
- Be in attendance at long-term
camp for one full week when elected. A member not with the troop
at long-term camp is eligible if he attends a Philmont Trek or
another High Adventure Base, a Jamboree, the council's Junior
Leader Training Camp, another week-long Boy Scout camping program
or week-long Wood Badge in the same summer. Failure to meet this
requirement voids an election. Adult candidates must attend the
full term camp the summer of the election. Webelos or Cub camping
is not acceptable.
- Youth members must hold the
First Class Rank at the time of the election.
- Youth members must be approved
by their unit leader.
- Adult candidates are subject to
the approval of the Scout Executive. The Scout Executive may
choose to authorize a waiver for adults for long term camp to
qualify for resident camping experience over the two year period,
upon individual written petition to him stating reason why six
consecutive days of resident camp is unattainable. Only conditions
related to job security or health of the adult will be considered.
No further interpretation or alternatives are to be considered.
This must be done two weeks before the election at the Committee
Meeting.
NOTE: The unit leader must certify
each candidate as to his Scouting spirit and participation. He must
also certify that each candidate meets the specified requirements.
The act of certification will be the leader's signature on the
candidate's citation.
- ORDEAL ELECTION
PROCEDURES
- An Order of the Arrow election
may be held by any Scout troop, in the Greater St. Louis Area
Council.
- Who may vote in the Election?
- Scout Election: Every
registered unit member under 21 years of age present in camp for
the full week may vote. Scouters may not vote on Scout
candidates.
- Adult Scouter
Election: Every registered unit adult Scouter present at the
election may vote. Scouts may not vote on Scouter candidates.
- When and Where are Elections
to be Held?
- Scout Troop: During
the troop's stay in long-term camp. This is done at a Greater
St. Louis Area Council Camp. Troops camping elsewhere must
follow the Elsewhere Camp Election procedures. Procedures are
available at our council office.
- Adult Scouters must
be elected at a committee meeting prior to camp.
- A unit may hold only
one youth and one adult election during any
calendar year. To hold an adult election, a valid youth election
must be held in that same year with youth candidate(s) elected.
- How many Scout Candidates may
a Unit Elect?
- There is no maximum
or minimum number of candidates a unit may elect.
- To be elected, a
candidate must receive votes from at least 50% of those
registered and active members participating in the election. A
voter may list any combination of names, including all eligible
candidates who he believes are worthy to become members of the
Order of the Arrow.
- How Many Adult Candidates May
a Unit Elect?
- Adult Scouters may
elect one of their group to membership during any given calendar
year. Troops or teams having more than 50 registered, active
youth members on or after May 1 of the year of the election may
elect an additional adult for every 50 registered, active youth,
or fraction thereof.
- The adult election
should be held at a regular troop committee meeting. Every
registered leader in attendance may vote. Follow youth election
procedures as possible.
- An adult Scouter
should only be elected to membership when his job in Scouting
will enable him to make the Order of the Arrow program more
meaningful to the lives of the boys, as the Order is principally
a young men’s organization. Scouters are not elected to
membership as recognition.
- Adult Scouters not
registered with chartered units may be elected to candidacy by
the Executive Committee of the Lodge. The camping requirement
may be waived at the discretion of the Scout Executive.
(see Section II A. 8.)
- Members of the
Council's Executive Staff are members ex-officio of the Lodge,
and when newly appointed, if they have not previously been
inducted into some lodge of the Order, should be given an early
opportunity to take the Ordeal and the Ordeal ceremony. Camp
staff members are to be elected in their own unit or if they are
council or district Scouters, they should be elected by the
Lodge Executive Committee.
- Method of Election at Summer
Camp
Voting on candidates should not be on a basis of popularity, but
with a view to electing those who have shown a well-developed
spirit of brotherhood, overwhelming cheerfulness no matter how
tiresome their duties, and a ready willingness to give service
unselfishly and wholeheartedly to others at all times. Only those
members of the troop in camp for that week may vote.
The unit leader is in charge of the election. They will be
assisted by a youth member of the Order of the Arrow designated by
our Lodge. Only those previously defined in these rules as
eligible voters may vote.
The unit election shall be by secret ballot and shall be conducted
in the following manner:
- The unit leader
provides a list of all members of the unit whom he certifies
have met all eligibility requirements. This is posted so that
all members participating in the election may see it.
- The election team
determines the maximum number of names on the ballot (See
Section II B 4 b).
- The unit leader
and/or Arrowman conducting the election will discuss with the
members of the unit the purpose of the Order, the eligibility
requirements, voting procedures, and how a candidate is
inducted. He may explain the emblems of the Order and the
significance of the indian tradition in the Order.
- The members of the
unit then vote, listing on the ballot the names from the
eligibility list of those persons they believe worthy of the
honor. They may list no more than the specified number of the
eligible candidates. Scouts may not be forced to vote for the
maximum.
- The election team
counts the number of ballots turned in.
- The team determines
the number of votes a boy must receive to be elected as follows:
if the number of ballots turned in was even (2, 4, 6, etc.),
divide this number by two. If the number was odd (3, 5, 7,
etc.), add one and then divide by two.
- See section II B.4.b.
for number of votes required for election.
- The election team
fills out a citation for each person elected. The citation must
be signed by the unit leader and the Arrowman conducting the
ceremony.
The unit leader may veto the
election of any candidate after the election by refusing to sign
the candidates citation. However, if one candidate is vetoed,
another may not be substituted in his place. The name will be
dropped and the unit will have one candidate less than the number
which were elected.
It is suggested that the unit leader should consult with the other
adult leaders who are present at the election before exercising
his veto. However, this is the option of the unit leader.
- Ordeal Citation
Procedure
Immediately following the election, the unit leader should
fill out the citation(s) and follow the procedures listed below:
- If at Council camp -
turn in citation(s) at camp office.
- If elected other than
at our Council camp, mail or deliver citation(s) to the Camping
Service at our Boy Scout Service Center.
- Citations must be
received at our Council office no later than two weeks in
advance of the Spring Conclave and three weeks in advance of the
Fall Reunion. If received after this deadline, the candidates
will be invited to the next occurring Spring Conclave or Fall
Reunion.
- Time Limitation on Completion
of Ordeal
A candidate must complete his Ordeal at either of the first two
Lodge functions at which induction is possible after his election.
If a candidate is not in attendance due to illness or some other
reason approved by the Lodge Chief, the candidate may be inducted
at the following event. If a candidate is not inducted within this
time, his election is void. Such a candidate may be re-elected the
next year.
- Disabled Scouts and Scouters
The Executive Committee shall have the power to waive the
camping eligibility requirement of disabled Scouts or Scouters as
stated in the present Ordeal Honor. Qualifications: Individual
Ordeal applications will be considered by a committee appointed by
the Lodge Chief. Upon recommendation of this committee, the
application will be submitted to the Lodge Executive Committee for
a formal vote to approve the nomination.
- BROTHERHOOD HONOR
QUALIFICATION
To be eligible for the Brotherhood Honor an Ordeal member must meet
the following requirements:
- Be currently registered in
Scouting and have a minimum of 10 months active service since
induction as an Ordeal member.
- Scouts must have been in
attendance at long term camp after receiving the Ordeal Honor.
Adults Scouters must have completed at least (6) days and nights
of camping after receiving the Ordeal Honor. These (6) days and
nights of camping may be compiled at either long term camp,
weekend camping trips, or other approved (by unit leader) camping
experience.
- Youth members must be approved
by their unit leader.
- To be eligible for the
Brotherhood Honor an Ordeal member must complete all requirements
on the Brotherhood Progress Card. To complete the service
requirement #3, an Ordeal member may NOT include any service
project completed as a troop function at summer camp. The Chapter
Chief and Chapter officers shall be the only members who may
certify that the Scout has completed this requirement.
- Memorize the Obligation, the
Order of the Arrow song, and the admonition. Know the sign and
hand clasp of the Order and be able to answer all questions in the
official questionnaire satisfactorily to gain a thorough
understanding of the Ordeal.
- Submit a written statement
regarding this rededication to the principles of cheerful service
to his fellow man.
- BROTHERHOOD HONOR
PROCEDURES
- Brotherhood candidates will
submit the Brotherhood Progress Card for membership to the Lodge
Brotherhood Committee.
- With the Brotherhood Progress
Card, the candidate shall submit a written statement concerning at
least one of these three topics:
- How does the
Brotherhood Honor affect any duties and responsibilities as a
member of the Order of the Arrow?
- What new meanings do
the words brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service have to me now
that I am a candidate for the Brotherhood Honor?
- In the future, how
can I better serve my friends, Scouts, and brothers in the
spirit of the brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service?
- Upon the Lodge Brotherhood
Committee approval of the application and statement of
rededication and the candidate’s completion of the questioning,
the candidate may participate in the ceremonies for the Honor at
either the Spring Conclave or the Fall Reunion.
- VIGIL HONOR
- To be eligible for the Vigil
Honor, a Brotherhood member must:
- Be currently
registered in Scouting.
- Have been a
Brotherhood member for a minimum of two years.
- Have given
unselfishly of his service to others.
- Have been nominated
by the Vigil Honor Committee of the Lodge.
- Any member of the Greater St.
Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, may prepare a Vigil
Honor nomination form to submit a candidate for the consideration
to the Vigil Committee. Nomination forms are available from the
Camping Service at our Boy Scout Service Center.
- Vigil Honor candidates will be
called out at the Winter Fellowship Banquet.
- Vigil Honor candidates will
participate in ceremonies for the Vigil Honor at the Spring
Conclave, or at another time set by the Lodge Vigil Honor
Committee.
- TERM OF MEMBERSHIP
A Scout or Scouter after completing
the Ordeal, shall be a member of the Shawnee Loge, Order of the
Arrow, so long as he is registered as a member of the Greater St.
Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, and registers each year
with the Shawnee Lodge.
- UNIFORMING
- All candidates and brothers
participating in an induction ceremony of this Lodge shall wear a
complete and official Scout, Venturer, Explorer, or Scouter
uniform. Candidates not in full uniform are to be handed the sash
in the ceremony.
- The sash is only worn in
complete and full uniform, and over the right shoulder of the
complete and full uniform as described in the current printing of
the Boy Scout/Varsity Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet, or
equivalent pieces of the Venturer or Explorer uniform, with
headgear optional (Headgear is any type of a Scouting hat).
- Sashes and Lodge neckerchiefs
are worn only at OA unctions.
- Lodge Officers
- The officers of this Lodge shall
be Lodge Chief, Lodge 1st Vice-Chief, Lodge 2nd Vice-Chief, Lodge
Recording Secretary, Lodge Corresponding Secretary, and Lodge
Treasurer. These officers must be under 21 years of age and reside
within lodge boundaries during their entire term of office.
- The Lodge Nominating Committee
- The Lodge Nominating
Committee shall be composed of a Chairman appointed by the Lodge
Chief, the six elected Lodge Officers, the immediate past Lodge
Chief, the Chief of each Chapter, the Lodge Lay Adviser or his
designated representative, and the Lodge Staff Adviser or his
designated representative.
- A Chapter Chief, if unable
to attend, has the privilege and responsibility of appointing
his own representative. The Chapter Chief must inform the
Lodge Nominating Committee Chairman and give the Chairman the
name of the representative. However, if a Chapter Chief cannot
attend and if he cannot send a representative, then the Lodge
Nominating Committee Chairman may appoint an Arrowman to fill
the position, provided that the Arrowman has been a voting
member of that chapter for one year.
- If a Lodge Officer or the
immediate past Lodge Chief is unable to attend, the Lodge
Chief may appoint an Arrowman to serve as a substitute.
- The Lodge Nominating
Committee Chairman shall inform the committee members at least
one month in advance of the committee meeting as to date,
time, and place of the meeting.
- Only those committee members
or their designated representatives who are under 21 years of
age may vote. The Chairman may vote only in the case of a tie
vote.
- All authorized substitutes
shall have all privileges granted to the members of the Lodge
Nominating Committee.
- Two-thirds (2/3) of
the voting members of the Lodge Nominating Committee, the
Chairman, and at least one Lodge Adviser must be present in
order to conduct business.
- The Lodge Nominating
Committee meeting is closed to all persons who are not
designated as members of the committee in Section III A.2.a.
- The Lodge Nominating
Committee shall prepare a list of candidates with a minimum of 2
candidates for each office.
- The Lodge Nominating
Committee will consider any petitions recommending nomination
provided they are signed by at least 50 registered voting
members, however, the Lodge Nominating Committee shall have the
final decision of nomination.
- The Lodge Officer election will
be handled at the Fall Reunion. No campaigning or electioneering
outside of these guidelines is allowed.
Chapter Officers
- The Officers of each Chapter of
this Lodge shall be Chief, 1st Vice-Chief, 2nd Vice-Chief, and
Secretary.
- The process of nominating
chapter officers shall be as follows:
- The Chapter Chief,
1st Vice-Chief, 2nd Vice-Chief, Secretary, and Chapter Adviser
shall form a committee for the purpose of appointing members to
their Chapter’s Nominating Committee. Qualifications for
Nominating Committee members are: all appointees must be members
of the Order of the Arrow, Shawnee Lodge, # 51, Greater St.
Louis Area Council, BSA, and members of the Chapter to whose
nominating committee they are appointed, and be under 21 years
of age. Appointees should exemplify the Scout Oath, the Scout
Law, and the principles of the Order of the Arrow. They shall
appoint either 5, 7, 9, or 11 members to the Chapter’s
Nominating Committee, including a chairman. The Adviser to the
Chapter Nominating Committee shall be the Chapter Adviser or his
appointee. It shall be his responsibility to outline at the
first Chapter Nominating meeting the responsibilities of the
committee and the Chapter Officers.
- The Chapter
Nominating Committee will prepare a slate of Chapter Officers
with a minimum of 2 candidates for each office. All candidates
for each office shall exemplify the Scout Oath, the Scout Law,
and the principles of the Order of the Arrow, and shall have
approximately equivalent experience and ability.
- All candidates must
be members of the Order of the Arrow, Shawnee Lodge, #51,
Greater St. Louis Area Council, BSA, and members of the Chapters
in which they are candidates, under 21 years of age, and must
reside within the lodge boundaries during the entire term of
office.
- The Chapter
Nominating Committee shall meet in the month of June, July, or
August at the Chairman’s request. If additional meetings are
required, the Chairman may call them.
- It shall be the
Chairman’s function to preside over the Nominating Committee
meeting(s). He shall appoint a Secretary who shall not keep a
record of the minutes, but a list of the officers and candidates
for office. The Secretary shall contact each of the candidates
for office and verify his acceptance of the nomination. If,
after this check, there are not 2 candidates for each office,
the Nominating Committee must meet again and nominate a minimum
of two (2) candidates for each office.
- A majority of the
Nominating Committee members must be present in order to conduct
business. The Chairman and Adviser must both be present in order
to conduct business.
- Nominations from
Chapter members to be considered by their Chapter Nominating
Committee must be submitted to the Chairman in writing prior to
the first Chapter Nominating Committee meeting.
- The Chapter
Nominating Committee Secretary is responsible for writing a
report giving the following information: the Chapter Offices,
the candidates for each office, their full name, their unit,
their birthday, present age, Scout rank, and Honor in the Order.
A copy of this report must be sent to both the Lodge Chief and
the Lodge Staff Adviser and a third copy must be retained by the
Chairman to be posted at the time of the election. All copies
must have the signature of the Nominating Committee Chairman.
- The process of electing Chapter
Officers shall be as follows:
- Chapter Officers
shall be elected at the Fall Reunion.
- The retiring Chapter
Chief shall conduct the entire election and the retiring Chapter
Secretary shall record the proceedings of the election and
return the results to the Lodge Chief no later than 5:00 p.m. on
Saturday of the Fall Reunion.
- The Chapter Adviser
or his appointee shall outline the responsibilities of the
Chapter Officers at the start of the election. The job
descriptions shall be used for this purpose.
- Nominations may be
received from the floor after the Chapter Nominating Committee
reports its candidates. Candidates so nominated must be present
to accept the nomination, or have at the election a written
statement indicating willingness to serve if elected.
- A biographical sketch
of each candidate’s Scouting career, not to exceed 3 minutes in
length, will be presented. This may be presented by either the
candidate or by his selected representative.
- The method of voting
shall be the decision of the Chapter’s Officers and Adviser at
the required time stated in the Fall Reunion time schedule. A
majority of the brothers in the Chapter who attend the Fall
Reunion must be present at the election. Only Order of the Arrow
members who are under 21 years of age may vote and only in their
respective Chapters.
- No electioneering or
campaigning is allowed outside of these guidelines.
Replacement of an
Officer.In the event of the
inability of a duly elected Lodge or Chapter Officer to fulfill the
responsibilities of his office, the officer may be replaced. Reasons
for this action may be the event of his resignation or having been
removed by the Lay and Staff Advisers. The method of replacement of
said officer shall be as follows:
- In the event that a Lodge
Officer resigns or is unable to fulfill his office, a special
Nominating Committee composed of the remaining Lodge Officers will
nominate a slate of candidates for the vacant office. The Lodge
Executive Committee will vote at a regularly scheduled meeting.
- In the event that a Chapter
Officer resigns or is unable to fulfill his office, a special
Nominating Committee composed of the remaining Chapter Officers
will nominate a slate of candidates for the vacant office. Chapter
members will vote at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Other - Executive
Committee
- The term of all officers,
Chapter and Lodge, shall be from the Fall Reunion through the next
Fall Reunion.
- The Executive Committee of the
Lodge shall be composed of the six elected Lodge Officers, Lodge
Committee Chairmen appointed by the Lodge Chief, Lodge Committee
Advisers appointed by the Lodge Adviser, the immediate past Lodge
Chief, the four elected officers of each Chapter, the Adviser of
each Chapter, the Lodge Lay Adviser, and the Scout Executive or
his designee, the Staff Adviser.
- The Lodge Lay Adviser (a member
of the Council Camping Committee) shall be appointed by the Scout
Executive.
- The Chapter Lay Adviser shall be
appointed by the District Camping Committee Chairman in
consultation with the Chapter Staff Adviser. He serves at their
discretion, for a maximum of three one year terms.
- The Lodge Chief, with the
approval of the Lodge Lay and Staff Advisers, shall form any
standing or temporary Lodge Committees deemed necessary for the
efficient and successful operation of the Lodge.
- Lodge Meetings
- The Lodge Annual Business
Meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Winter Fellowship
Banquet.
- Executive Committee Meetings.
- The Executive
Committee of this Lodge shall hold at least four meetings a
year. The dates shall be determined by the Lodge Chief in
consultation with the Lodge Lay and Staff Advisers.
- The legislative power
shall be vested in the Executive Committee.
- The voting power
shall be vested in the following:
- Lodge 1st Vice-Chief, Lodge
2nd Vice-Chief, Lodge Recording Secretary, Lodge Corresponding
Secretary, and Lodge Treasurer.
- Chapter Chief, Chapter 1st
Vice-Chief, Chapter 2nd Vice-Chief, and Chapter Secretary.
- The Lodge Chief will vote
only in the case of a tie vote.
- Special Executive Committee
meetings may be called at the discretion of the Lodge Chief
with the approval of the Lodge Staff Adviser and Lay Adviser.
Chapter Meetings
- A Chapter shall have no more
than six regular meetings each year. These will be held during the
second seven days of November, February, May, August, and at the
Spring Conclave and Fall Reunion.
- Special meetings may be called
at the discretion of the Chapter Chief with the approval of the
Lodge Chief, the Lodge Lay and Staff Advisers, and the Chapter Lay
and Staff Advisers.
Lodge Committee meetings
may be called by the Committee Chairman with the approval of the
Lodge Chief and the Lodge Lay and Staff Advisers.
Functions
- The Lodge shall schedule a
Spring Conclave, a Fall Reunion, and a Winter Banquet.
- Special activities and service
projects must be approved by the Executive Committee of the Lodge,
and by the Lodge Lay and Staff Advisers. Approval before being
considered at the Executive Committee Meeting must have first been
secured from the Chapter Chief, Chapter Adviser, District Camping
Committee Chairman, Lodge Chief, Lodge Lay Adviser, and Lodge
Staff Adviser.
- A Ceremonial Team Seminar,
Officer Training, and Officer Rededication will be scheduled.
All Lodge, Chapter, and
Committee meetings shall be run in accordance with the most recent
edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (modified).
- Induction Fees
- Ordeal Honor - there shall be an
induction fee for Ordeal candidates payable at the time of
election covering the cost of these items which each new Ordeal
member shall receive:
- Membership card and
Brotherhood progress card
- Ordeal sash
- Lodge Handbook
- Candidate totem
The induction fee shall be set by
the Lodge Chief and his Advisers.
- Brotherhood Honor - there shall
be an induction fee for Brotherhood candidates which will be the
cost of the Brotherhood sash.
- Vigil Honor - the cost of
induction into the Vigil Honor shall be borne by the Shawnee
Lodge.
In order to provide
financial support for operation, the assessments shall be added to
the registration fee for each of the Lodge events.
All Order of the Arrow
funds shall be handled by the Greater St. Louis Area Council office
and shall go through all normal accounting and auditing procedures.
There shall be no Chapter
treasuries. In the development of the Lodge annual budget, funds
will be made available for Chapter mailings, activities, and service
projects. Chapters must gain approval from the Lodge Treasurer and
Lodge Staff Adviser before incurring expenses. All approved
statements will be paid by the Council office.
The Lodge Treasurer and
Council Comptroller shall keep an itemized record of all income and
expenses and shall make a report to Lodge members yearly upon the
completion of the yearly audit. This report shall be published in
The Lookout, the official publication of the Shawnee Lodge.
The Lodge will make an
annual gift to the Friends of Scouting campaign of our Council per
our National OA guidelines.
The Lodge will pay the
conference and transportation fees of the current Lodge Chief to the
National OA Conference or to a National Leadership Seminar during
non NOAC years.
- The Lodge will develop,
purchase, and maintain an inventory of resale Shawnee Lodge items. A
standard mark-up rate will apply to aid in financially supporting
the Lodge.
- Chapters will be
permitted to have chapter neckerchiefs, neckerchief slides, ritual
team jackets, and other such items as approved by the Lodge
Executive Committee. The design of such items must be approved by
the Executive Committee and the money to purchase these items must
be collected in advance of placing an order for such an item or
items. Only items approved by the Executive Committee with a chapter
insignia will be authorized. Reorders of chapter items must be
approved by the Executive Committee prior to each occurrence.
- Neckerchiefs and emblems
must conform to BSA Regulations (70-633).
These rules shall be subject to
amendment at any regular or special meeting of this Lodge or at any
Executive Committee meeting of this Lodge, provided such an amendment
has been submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least one
month prior to such meeting. The amendment will be discussed and voted
on at either the following Executive Committee meeting or a special
business meeting of the Lodge, whichever comes first. A two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote of eligible voting members present shall be
required for passage of the amendment.
No troop, Chapter, or other entity
may conduct any OA ceremonies without the express permission of the
Lodge Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee is the
governing body of our Lodge. Any subject not directly addressed
specifically in these rules should be addressed to this group.
Approved:
Scout Executive
Terry Schwark |
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