Coosa Lodge

Coosa Lodge, WWW is the Order of the Arrow lodge of the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America, and is headquartered in Birmingham, AL. Coosa Lodge was formed by consolidating three older lodges -- Cherokee Lodge #50, Achunanchi Lodge #135, and Kaskanampo Lodge #310) on January 1, 2000. The lodge consolidation committee, consisting of members from each of the old lodges, selected the name and totem from a list of candidates. The history of those lodge, including Vigil Honor recipients, Founder's Award recipients, Distinguished Service Award recipients, and more, is preserved as part of Coosa Lodge's history.

Origin and History

This article or section is a stub. You can help The Scout History Project by expanding it. In 1998, the Greater Alabama Council was formed from a consolidation of the Tennessee Valley Council, Choccolocco Area Council, and Central Alabama Council. For a short time, each council's Order of the Arrow lodge was allowed to operate autonomously, but the new council was instructed to consolidate its three lodges into a single lodge. Coosa Lodge was issued its first charter on January 1, 2000.

Early Discussions

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1996 Scout-O-Rama

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1998 Tri-Lodge Spring Fellowship

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The Consolidation Committee

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1999 Fall Fellowship Pow-wow

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Lodge Name, Number, and Totem

The consolidation committee selected the name "Coosa" from a list of candidates, including each of the old lodge names. This name comes from the Coosa River, which runs trough eastern Alabama, and also from the Coosa tribe of American Indians, who lived on the shores of the river. In the 1500s, the Coosa chiefdom was considered one of the most powerful in the Southeast.

The number '50' was selected in order to preserve the history of Cherokee Lodge having the oldest continuous lodge charter in the South. Lodge #50 has not missed a single charter year since 1935.

Finally, the consolidation committee selected the red-shouldered hawk, an endanger species indigenous to each of the old lodges, as the totem for the new lodge.

Individual Awards and Recognitions

Vigil Honor

This article or section is a stub. You can help The Scout History Project by expanding it. See Also: Vigil Honor Recipients of Coosa Lodge

Founder's Award

This article or section is a stub. You can help The Scout History Project by expanding it. See Also: Founder's Award Recipients of Cherokee Lodge #50, Founder's Award Recipients of Achunanchi Lodge #135, and Founder's Award Recipients of Kaskanampo Lodge #310

James E. West Fellowship Award

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See Also: James E. West Fellowship Award

Coosa Lodge presents these Fellowships to Arrowmen who have spent countless hours further the ideals of the Order of the Arrow. The award is given as often as is deemed appropriate.

• 2006 - James Tarbox
• 2007 - Travis Tarbox
• 2008 - Stephen Hayes
• 2010 - Will Jackson
• 2011 - Will Cole
• 2012 - Devan Beitel
• 2014 - Luke Lockwood, Jacob Murphree
• 2015 - Thomas Willingham
• 2016 - Mr. Joey Kiker

Distinguished Service Award

See Also: Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award

As a Member of Coosa Lodge

• Dr. James A. Flatt (2009)
• James Tarbox (2009)
• Mr. Richard Gregory ("Greg") Moore (2015)

As a Member of a Legacy Lodge

• Morgan W. Weed (1965), Kaskanampo Lodge #310
• William C. Ingersoll (1969), Kaskanampo Lodge #310
• James E. Johnson (1981), Cherokee Lodge #50
• Kenneth G. Ackerman (1983), Cherokee Lodge #50

Centurion Award

See also: Order of the Arrow Centurion Award

For nearly 100 years, the Order of the Arrow has purposefully recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Therefore, our organization’s centennial provides a unique opportunity to commemorate those among us who are exemplars of the “high ideals and purpose of the Order of the Arrow.”

The Centurion Award aimed to highlight “Hometown Heroes,” or Arrowmen who have meaningfully contributed to the forming, maturing and ongoing operational excellence of their local lodge, and who, in doing so, inspired others to follow in their footsteps.

The Coosa Lodge Key 3 solicited nominations from all of the former Coosa Lodge chiefs and advisers. Then, after careful consideration, twelve recipients were selected from those nominations. Those receipients were:

• Christopher D. Brightwell
• Zack “Chief” Cross
• James A. Flatt
• Mark Hayes
• Phillip Seth Hill
• Jon Ingram
• William P. Jackson
• Joseph F. Kiker
• Donald D. Russell, Jr.
• David R. Self
• Clarence Julian Simmons, III
• Daniel E. Wright

These recipients were be presented with a certificate and recognition ribbon consisting of a red and white ribbon and a metallic totem symbolizing the centennial anniversary of the Order of the Arrow.

This award was a one-time recognition associated with the centennial anniversary of the Order of the Arrow and was bestowed by the National Order of the Arrow Committee. It was modeled after a similar program in the BSA’s 100th anniversary celebration, the 2010 National Hall of Leadership. These honorees serve as exemplars of leadership, modeling to others a commitment to cheerful service as the Order of the Arrow enters its second century.

Lodge Awards and Recognitions

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• 2004 - E. Urner Goodman Camping Award

See Also

• Cherokee Lodge #50
• Achunanchi Lodge #135
• Kaskanampo Lodge #310
• Coosa Lodge Insignia Guide

External Links

• Coosa Lodge Website
• Greater Alabama Council Website