OA Metal Flaps
THE STORY OF THE OA METAL FLAP
The metal flap idea first presented itself with the Wahpinachi Lodge 308 M1 in the 1960s. This was the first attempt to create a Metal Flap. It was simply a decal placed on a curved piece of metal shaped like a Flap. It had pins on the reverse and was numbered. Here is the story from David Girdner, who was Lodge Chief of Wahpinachi at the time.
"In 1965 I served as the Lodge Secretary (20 years after its founding of Wahpinachi) and we came out with our first fully embroidered patch. Few liked the original lodge flap and its variations. The 1965 flap was also made with trading in mind for the upcoming 1965 NOAC and lots were made. That 1965 patch was designed by adult lodge member, and later Vigil Honor member, Bill Fancher. Bill made and installed signage in the Richmond, Indiana area. Richmond was then the Whitewater Valley Council's headquarters. Bill also volunteered with the national OA Team that designed, constructed and arranged signage at a number of NOAC's main stages. Bill was then involved in the brain trust that came up with the idea of a metal flap. Bill focused on the decal that was to be attached to the aluminum frame. After about 18 months, I became Lodge Chief for the year 1967 when the M1 was being created and approved. Some members did not like the idea initially. The metal was not against National rules then as there were not any. Mr. Kurt McGee was the Lodge Advisor at the time. Kurt was a trained Metalurgist working in an industrial factory in Richmond. All design pieces, cost estimates were presented to the committee I chaired on numerous occasions. The metal was made curved so that it would more closely fit the chest of the wearer. One tricky part was to get the metal spikes that were to go through the cloth of the shirt to join the catch button. That was perhaps the weak area as it was designed not to just attach thru the shirt flap but also to go thru a regular sewn on patch. You only received one metal flap per life so you could decide when to wear it...perhaps only a few times a year. So you took off the metal flap and you had the cloth flap already to go.
The Professional Advisor was Jack Scott who went on to National BSA and he was responsible for food services at National Jamborees. Jack and I both became Vigil Honor members of the Wahpinachi Lodge on August 13, 1966. The Supreme Chief of the Fire was James (Jim) Bishop. Each metal flap had a number etched on the back. I and others insisted that all except for one notable exception would be rolled out randomly. Thus the Lodge Chief got number 114. Metal Flap number 1 went to Vigil Honor member (1964) Dennis (Denny) DeHaven with all other numbers being distributed randomly.
The cloth flap from 1965 that the M1 is based on was designed as the regular replacement flap for the basic design from 1945 to 1965. Secondarily, it was designed as a patch to trade starting with the 1965 NOAC. Old timers in the Lodge who were also traders noted that OA members from around the country really did not like the original. Also we were in the heart of NOAC country - Bloomington, IN) and had a large contingent of official and non official attendees. The final argument presented to the lodge committee was that the new patch was a great way to present ourselves to OA members from around the country. So 1965 was totally separate from what came two years later with the M1. The first talk I remember of the M1 saga had nothing to do with metal. Rather, in the summer of 1966 (and after the perceived success of the new regular/ trading flap of 1965) some informal discussions had the focus on the"one per life" patch. That was the beginning of the evolution to the M1.
Wahpinachi 308 produced notable Lodge Chiefs. 1962 Chief David J. Ross would go on to be Executive at Kansas City and later was number 3 to the Chief Scout Executive. As for me, I became the second Council Commissioner of the Ozark Trails Council. There I became the visionary force that led to the forming of The Tribe of Lone Bear."
WWW, David C. Girdner
REINTRODUCTION OF THE OA METAL FLAP
Former Southern Region Chair Dr. James Flatt came up with an idea to try and reintroduce the Metal Flap. In the mid-80's, when Dr. Flatt was thinking of an idea for a flap that could be removed (so the uniform could be washed) and replaced on the pocket flap, still looking like a mint flap. Flatt shared the story of how the Metal Flap re-emerged below:
“I was aware that Lodge 308 had tried the idea years ago, but theirs was actually a decal placed on a flap-shaped piece of aluminum with a pin glued to the back. Now, the mid-80's was the era of the hat pin, so I wondered if a pin company could just enlarge the pin to flap size, add more pins on the back - and create a flap actually made of metal pin material.
I drew up a design for a Vigil flap for my original lodge - Pellissippi 230 - and approached a hat pin company about the idea. The company said it could be done, but the cost would be pretty exorbitant for the 1980's, so the idea was shelved. But, I kept the design, thinking one day that the opportunity might present itself to resurrect the idea.
Fast forward to 1999, when I was appointed as the first Lodge Adviser for the new Coosa Lodge. We were looking for novel ideas that would help us unite the 3 lodges of Kaskanampo, Achunanchi and Cherokee and create a new tradition... and I pulled out the old Pellissippi design, modified it a bit, and again submitted it to the pin companies. The price was still significant, but as it was presented to the LEC as a restricted item that would only be offered for members who attended the vigil ceremony each year... the cost became a minor issue relative to the novelty of the item with a new lodge. The timing was perfect and it was a highly anticipated item, first offered at our 2000 Fall Fellowship. Only those Vigil members who attended the Vigil ceremony were offered the opportunity to purchase one, and the interest in this helped take us from only a small handful of Vigil attendees for the prior lodges to over 125 at our first Coosa Vigil ceremony. The tradition was set, and we continue to have great turnouts at the ceremony to support our new Vigil members.
The first time they were seen outside our lodge was at the 2001 conclave, and Egwa picked up on the idea, producing their 2002 NOAC metal flap. The Vigil metal flap generated national interest at the 2002 NOAC, as many of us wore them. I can still recall several episodes where someone from another lodge would come up to me and tap the flap with their finger, confirming that it was indeed a metal flap, and ask about it. After that, we began to see several lodges adopt the idea. “
WWW
James
Pictured below are Metal Flaps in three forms: 1) Pin back; 2) Magnetic back; or 3) Buckle. Flaps falling into the first two categories are normal flap size. Buckles come is several sizes from normal flaps to three inches in length.
Should you see any items of memorabilia missing from these collections, please email campmoreland@gmail.com with updates.
The metal flap idea first presented itself with the Wahpinachi Lodge 308 M1 in the 1960s. This was the first attempt to create a Metal Flap. It was simply a decal placed on a curved piece of metal shaped like a Flap. It had pins on the reverse and was numbered. Here is the story from David Girdner, who was Lodge Chief of Wahpinachi at the time.
"In 1965 I served as the Lodge Secretary (20 years after its founding of Wahpinachi) and we came out with our first fully embroidered patch. Few liked the original lodge flap and its variations. The 1965 flap was also made with trading in mind for the upcoming 1965 NOAC and lots were made. That 1965 patch was designed by adult lodge member, and later Vigil Honor member, Bill Fancher. Bill made and installed signage in the Richmond, Indiana area. Richmond was then the Whitewater Valley Council's headquarters. Bill also volunteered with the national OA Team that designed, constructed and arranged signage at a number of NOAC's main stages. Bill was then involved in the brain trust that came up with the idea of a metal flap. Bill focused on the decal that was to be attached to the aluminum frame. After about 18 months, I became Lodge Chief for the year 1967 when the M1 was being created and approved. Some members did not like the idea initially. The metal was not against National rules then as there were not any. Mr. Kurt McGee was the Lodge Advisor at the time. Kurt was a trained Metalurgist working in an industrial factory in Richmond. All design pieces, cost estimates were presented to the committee I chaired on numerous occasions. The metal was made curved so that it would more closely fit the chest of the wearer. One tricky part was to get the metal spikes that were to go through the cloth of the shirt to join the catch button. That was perhaps the weak area as it was designed not to just attach thru the shirt flap but also to go thru a regular sewn on patch. You only received one metal flap per life so you could decide when to wear it...perhaps only a few times a year. So you took off the metal flap and you had the cloth flap already to go.
The Professional Advisor was Jack Scott who went on to National BSA and he was responsible for food services at National Jamborees. Jack and I both became Vigil Honor members of the Wahpinachi Lodge on August 13, 1966. The Supreme Chief of the Fire was James (Jim) Bishop. Each metal flap had a number etched on the back. I and others insisted that all except for one notable exception would be rolled out randomly. Thus the Lodge Chief got number 114. Metal Flap number 1 went to Vigil Honor member (1964) Dennis (Denny) DeHaven with all other numbers being distributed randomly.
The cloth flap from 1965 that the M1 is based on was designed as the regular replacement flap for the basic design from 1945 to 1965. Secondarily, it was designed as a patch to trade starting with the 1965 NOAC. Old timers in the Lodge who were also traders noted that OA members from around the country really did not like the original. Also we were in the heart of NOAC country - Bloomington, IN) and had a large contingent of official and non official attendees. The final argument presented to the lodge committee was that the new patch was a great way to present ourselves to OA members from around the country. So 1965 was totally separate from what came two years later with the M1. The first talk I remember of the M1 saga had nothing to do with metal. Rather, in the summer of 1966 (and after the perceived success of the new regular/ trading flap of 1965) some informal discussions had the focus on the"one per life" patch. That was the beginning of the evolution to the M1.
Wahpinachi 308 produced notable Lodge Chiefs. 1962 Chief David J. Ross would go on to be Executive at Kansas City and later was number 3 to the Chief Scout Executive. As for me, I became the second Council Commissioner of the Ozark Trails Council. There I became the visionary force that led to the forming of The Tribe of Lone Bear."
WWW, David C. Girdner
REINTRODUCTION OF THE OA METAL FLAP
Former Southern Region Chair Dr. James Flatt came up with an idea to try and reintroduce the Metal Flap. In the mid-80's, when Dr. Flatt was thinking of an idea for a flap that could be removed (so the uniform could be washed) and replaced on the pocket flap, still looking like a mint flap. Flatt shared the story of how the Metal Flap re-emerged below:
“I was aware that Lodge 308 had tried the idea years ago, but theirs was actually a decal placed on a flap-shaped piece of aluminum with a pin glued to the back. Now, the mid-80's was the era of the hat pin, so I wondered if a pin company could just enlarge the pin to flap size, add more pins on the back - and create a flap actually made of metal pin material.
I drew up a design for a Vigil flap for my original lodge - Pellissippi 230 - and approached a hat pin company about the idea. The company said it could be done, but the cost would be pretty exorbitant for the 1980's, so the idea was shelved. But, I kept the design, thinking one day that the opportunity might present itself to resurrect the idea.
Fast forward to 1999, when I was appointed as the first Lodge Adviser for the new Coosa Lodge. We were looking for novel ideas that would help us unite the 3 lodges of Kaskanampo, Achunanchi and Cherokee and create a new tradition... and I pulled out the old Pellissippi design, modified it a bit, and again submitted it to the pin companies. The price was still significant, but as it was presented to the LEC as a restricted item that would only be offered for members who attended the vigil ceremony each year... the cost became a minor issue relative to the novelty of the item with a new lodge. The timing was perfect and it was a highly anticipated item, first offered at our 2000 Fall Fellowship. Only those Vigil members who attended the Vigil ceremony were offered the opportunity to purchase one, and the interest in this helped take us from only a small handful of Vigil attendees for the prior lodges to over 125 at our first Coosa Vigil ceremony. The tradition was set, and we continue to have great turnouts at the ceremony to support our new Vigil members.
The first time they were seen outside our lodge was at the 2001 conclave, and Egwa picked up on the idea, producing their 2002 NOAC metal flap. The Vigil metal flap generated national interest at the 2002 NOAC, as many of us wore them. I can still recall several episodes where someone from another lodge would come up to me and tap the flap with their finger, confirming that it was indeed a metal flap, and ask about it. After that, we began to see several lodges adopt the idea. “
WWW
James
Pictured below are Metal Flaps in three forms: 1) Pin back; 2) Magnetic back; or 3) Buckle. Flaps falling into the first two categories are normal flap size. Buckles come is several sizes from normal flaps to three inches in length.
Should you see any items of memorabilia missing from these collections, please email campmoreland@gmail.com with updates.
OA Rubber Flaps
THE STORY OF THE OA RUBBER FLAP
Do you know THE HISTORY OF THE RUBBER FLAP? For those that don't know the story to the beginning of the rubber patches, We'll tell it to you, as the origin was in North Carolina.
Catawba Lodge 459 made the first ever rubber patch. It was a 2004 Dixie host lodge patch (pictured above). Well, long story short it didn't do well. They were poor sellers for Catawba because they were not a flap shape and they had no pins for wear.
Fast forward to 2011 and Occoneechee made the first flap shaped rubber patch F-17 (with pins) as a Lodge spirit item for the SR7B conclave. We have regularly seen rubber flaps appear since that time and they have always done well for the Lodge's issuing them. So there ya have it patch fans! The history of Rubber patches!
WWW
Greg Grimes
Do you know THE HISTORY OF THE RUBBER FLAP? For those that don't know the story to the beginning of the rubber patches, We'll tell it to you, as the origin was in North Carolina.
Catawba Lodge 459 made the first ever rubber patch. It was a 2004 Dixie host lodge patch (pictured above). Well, long story short it didn't do well. They were poor sellers for Catawba because they were not a flap shape and they had no pins for wear.
Fast forward to 2011 and Occoneechee made the first flap shaped rubber patch F-17 (with pins) as a Lodge spirit item for the SR7B conclave. We have regularly seen rubber flaps appear since that time and they have always done well for the Lodge's issuing them. So there ya have it patch fans! The history of Rubber patches!
WWW
Greg Grimes
Alabama O.A. Buckles
Listed below are all known Alabama Order of the Arrow Lodge Buckle Issues. They are listed alphabetically by Lodge. Should you notice one missing, please let us know.
