Frequently Asked Question

Adults who are between 18 and 20 years of age and are registered to your unit (even as an adult leader) and otherwise meet the youth qualifications may be elected at the youth election. Note that adult leaders between 18 and 20 can and should also vote in the election.

Nominations for adults 21 and over may be submitted online using a link which will be emailed to the unit leader and committee chair (as recorded with Michigan Crossroads Council) within 24 hours after your youth election report is filed online with the lodge, if your unit is eligible to submit adults based on the results of your youth election. If you are a unit leader or committee chair and think you should have gotten a nomination link and haven't, please file a support ticket in the Unit Elections Help topic.

Adults may be nominated by your unit committee per the guidelines below:

Adult leaders in units:

Each year, upon holding a unit election for youth candidates that results in at least one youth candidate being elected, the unit committee may nominate registered unit adults, 21 years of age or older, for membership in the OA to the lodge adult selection committee, composed of the lodge adviser, the chairman of the council committee on which the lodge adviser serves, and the lodge staff adviser. The number of adults nominated can be no more than two-thirds of the number of youth candidates elected, rounded up where the number of youth candidates is not a multiple of three. In addition to the two-thirds limit, the unit committee may nominate the currently serving unit leader (but not assistant leaders), as long as he or she has served as unit leader for at least the previous 12 months. Recommendations of the adult selection committee, with the approval of the Scout executive, will be candidates for induction, provided the following conditions are fulfilled:

• Selection of the adult is based on the ability to perform the necessary functions to help the OA fulfill its purpose, and not for recognition of service, including current or prior achievement and positions.

• The individual will be an asset to the OA because of demonstrated abilities that fulfill the purpose of the Order.

• The camping requirements set forth for youth members are fulfilled.

• The adult leader’s membership will provide a positive example for the growth and development of the youth members of the lodge.

Adult leaders in council and district positions:

The lodge adviser, district chairmen, council president, or members of the professional staff may nominate adults to the lodge adult selection committee. All requirements set forth for adult leaders in units must be fulfilled, with the exception of the camping requirements, which may be waived at the discretion of the lodge adviser and Scout executive. Recommendations of the adult selection committee, with the approval of the Scout executive, serving as Supreme Chief of the Fire, will become candidates for induction.

Adults may be nominated for membership only one time per year as either unit Scouters or district/council Scouters, but not both. How they are nominated depends on where they maintain their primary registration.