National Vice Chief Interview
By Kevin Clipper
Michael Kipp serves as the 2018 national vice chief for the Order of the Arrow. Kipp is an Eagle Scout, and Vigil Honor member of Sakima Lodge. Previously, Michael served as section chief for C-6A, and is a recipient of the Founder’s Award. Michael is a strategy and organizational management major at Purdue University and plans to pursue a career in human resources management.
When asked about his most significant experience in Scouting, Kipp turned to time he spent on the trail at Philmont Scout Ranch with the OA Trail crew. “Encountering challenges and then working together as a crew to overcome them was something special,” he said. “Not only did it force us to work closer together, it proved to us we were able to achieve whatever we put our minds to. Having attended Philmont previously with a troop, it was amazing to get to revisit everything I loved about the ranch and experience it in a whole new way.”
Kipp values the opportunities as national vice chief. “I’ve made a lot of great friends throughout my time in the OA,” Kipp explained. “Serving as the national vice chief this year has given me the opportunity to reconnect with so many people I otherwise wouldn’t see. Most importantly, it has allowed me to continue making even more friendships with even more people. Seeing so many of them together at this national conference is truly special.”
Kipp’s thoughts for the week ahead elaborated that he wants Arrowmen not only to bring the experiences from the conference home with them, but take action on them. “This week is going to be a lot of fun and it could all just going to turn into a distant memory if we don’t do something with this experience when we get back,” said Kipp. “We have to choose to apply the skills we’ve learned this week and engage in the leadership of our lodges and chapters. If we don’t, Scouts just like yourself might miss out on phenomenal experience and opportunities like NOAC down the road,” he added.
Meet National Chief Anthony Peluso in this article!
