Wednesday, August 5, is a day of celebration. Ninety-four years ago, Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Col. Carroll A. Edson founded the Order of the Arrow. On Wednesday of NOAC, we honor our founders with the Founders' Day Festival.
Founders Day is a day of fun and excitement honoring the lodges, the conference, and the beginnings of the Order. It is a daylong celebration that begins with an opening parade where regions and sections are encouraged to use their creative skills to decorate their own golf cart, and join in the parade. The parade will include both Region and National entries.
In the afternoon, Founders Day participants will be able to visit lodge displays from across the country. This is always an inspiring and fun-filled event. Included will be games, a Pow-Wow coordinated by the American Indian Activities Committee, band and chorus performances and an opportunity to silkscreen a T-shirt with a one-of-a-kind Founders Day logo.
Founders' Day is the biggest day of NOAC and boasts some of the best events that the conference has to offer. The day starts off with the Founders' Parade, followed by the opening ceremony. Then lodges and committees furiously setup their Founders Fair booths, and prepare for the crowds.
The Founders' Fair is comprised of booths setup by lodge contingents and Conference Committees. Many booths included displays of their lodge history, and handed out information about their home area. Many lodges gave away trinkets and lodge items including patches, t-shirts, pens, pencils and even small samples of Mississippi mud. Some booths provided food--those are sometimes the most popular at the fair. Food handouts include raisins from California, dried cranberries from Massachusetts, pretzels from Pennsylvania to name a few. 
When Robert Lukowiak, the CVC of Founders Day events, was asked how Founders Day complemented "The Power of One" theme. He replied by describing the importance of diversity among the lodges, and how it was a great day to salute E. When Robert Lukowiak, the CVC of Founders Day events, was asked how Founders Day reiterated the Power of One theme. He replied by describing the importance of diversity among the lodges, and that it was a great day for saluting E. Urner Goodman and Carol Edson.
Revised 8/5/2009