North Star

Elangomat is the Lenni Lenape word meaning friend. As an Elangomat you'll be responsible for a "clan" of 8-10 candidates whom you'll work with during their Ordeal. You will spend most of the day with your clan, eating the same food, doing the same work, and setting an example of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service, which the candidates learn through you. A brief training course given by your chapter or the lodge will tell you all you'll need to know as an Elangomat. Because of the influence you'll have in motivating the quality of your new brothers, your service as an Elangomat is one of the most important and rewarding things you can do in the lodge.

Being an Elangomat is one way of getting a
requirement signed-off for Brotherhood!

In order to better the Induction Process, the Extended Elangomat program is essential in getting new members in our Lodge aware of events and meetings that help them along the path towards brotherhood. The new program will aid in the induction of candidates and help them seal their membership in the Order. We are seeking new methods to ensure that Elangomats will have a fair chance to guide new members toward Brotherhood. Our new rules regarding the completion of the Extended Elangomat program, in conjunction with a double patch, will be implemented at the 2007 Spring Conclave. If you would like to play a crucial part of this important program, contact your Chapter Induction/Enrichment or Elangomat Chairman and tell him you want to be an Elangomat. Following is what the Extended Elangomat patch will look like.

An Elangomat will be presented the first half of the patch upon completion of his work day with the candidates. In order to earn the second half of the patch the elangomat must complete the following requirements and get them signed off by the chapter chief.

1. Each Elangomat receive and fill out the Extended Elangomat Program requirement card.
2. Each Elangomat must complete both Lodge and Chapter level Elangomat training sessions.
3. Each Elangomat with the aid of another must properly lead a clan of 5-10 candidates through their service at either the Fall Reunion or Spring Conclave, and must lead the group in discussion.
4. Each Elangomat, with the aid of another, must maintain contact with the members of their clan for a period of one year, and encourage participation at Order of the Arrow events as well as completion of the Brotherhood Card. This will be checked by the Chapter Elangomat Chairman contacting Elangomats and checking the status periodically. Also, break-out sessions may be held for new members and their Elangomats at Chapter Meetings.
5. At the discretion of the Chapter Chief and Advisor, the clan should have a quality rate of members who attain the Brotherhood Honor after their one year membership in the Order of the Arrow.

Frequently Asked Questions of the
Elangomat Program

Q: Why is the Elangomat job important?
A: The Elangomat is critical in the Order of the Arrow because it is essential to the membership of new members that their Induction is meaningful and helpful. If a Candidate gets the wrong impression of the Order or does not understand what is happening during the process, he will soon abandon our lodge. Elangomat is Lenni Lennape for friend and a friend is just what new members need. They need guidance to see the path to Brotherhood and why it is important.

Q: What does an Elangomat do at a Spring Conclave or Fall Reunion?
A: The Elangomat supervises the candidates at all times during the Ordeal experience. He watches that candidates are safe, healthy, and adhering to the tests of the Ordeal. He also is the logical leader. He gets his group to where they need to be on time with the appropriate attire and equipment. Lastly, he supports the candidates and encourages them in their time of testing.

Q: What do I need to Bring?
A: You want to bring a day pack, lots of water, and some type of tool. Just remember what you brought to your ordeal.

Q: Spring Conclave/Fall Reunion is over now what?
A: An Elangomats job is not over right after the candidates finish their Ordeal. The Lodge would like to try something different for a change. You should write down the candidates name and number, so you can contact them before a chapter meeting/event to encourage them to come to the meeting, and stick with them until they earned brotherhood.

One of the thing Shawnee Lodge lacks, is the Brotherhood conversion rate. The Lodge must "convert" 30% of the previous years new Ordeal members, to become a Quality Lodge. Since Shawnee Lodge is one of the biggest lodge, which makes it harder on us, we need elangomats to stay with their candidates over the year to help them obtain brotherhood.

Q: How often should I contact Candidates?
A: At least once a month with information about Chapter and Lodge Events.

Q: What drives me to keep communication with those Candidates for so long?
A: The incentives of Brotherhood and a patch are no reason to give aid to your fellow brothers. Merely job perks, the two in no way compare to the kind of impact you can have on new members. As an Elangomat, you have a responsibility to your clan to give them the best chance they can have at becoming successful in the Order of the Arrow which can affect the rest of their lives. As a representative of your chapter and lodge, candidates base their views of the Order on their experience with you and if it is a poor one they may leave forever. It is your duty to show them how great our brotherhood can be so they can choose to go on or not and not be shunned away.

Q: Why do I have a Co-Elangomat?
A: Two Elangomats are paired together so that they may assist each other and make sure no clan gets one Elangomat who fails on the job.

Q: Why is attaining the Brotherhood Honor important?
A: Becoming Brotherhood is the sealing of one’s membership in the Order. It means after you have been elected by peers and undergone an Ordeal, you have continued on by thriving on brotherhood, cheerfulness and service and completing the tasks of the Brotherhood Honor. The commitment it takes to reach this point is the ticket to Brotherhood. By sealing your membership, you can receive a full understanding of the Order of the Arrow and learn why you were elected in the first place – not for what you have done but for what you are expected to do. 

Q: When is my Brotherhood Card signed off and when do I get the patch?
A: Upon entrance in the program, the first half of the Elangomat Patch will be given and Brotherhood Cards will be signed. Only after the Elangomat Card is completed can the Elangomat receive the second half of the patch.

Q: Who do I talk to if I have questions or want to sign up to be an Elangomat?
A: The Chapter Induction and Enrichment Chairman or Chapter Elangomat Chairman and Lodge Induction and Enrichment Chairman are very knowledgeable as well as both lodge and chapter officers.