To be a current Lodge Member you need to pay your dues. In addition, you must be a currently-active registered member of the Northeast Illinois Council, a district or unit chartered within NEIC, or otherwise actively registered with Scouting America in order to be a member of the Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge of the Order of the Arrow (this is a National Policy). Members who pay their 2025 dues will also receive one of our current Lodge Flaps as shown above. 

Why Pay Dues?

Besides maintaining your active registration in the Order of the Arrow both in our Lodge and Nationally, here are benefits to you, your Lodge, and the Council of paying dues.

• Chapter social events like Yakwa'hay's Annual Fish Fry, Aptakisic's Bowling Night, and Namachani's Nickel City (arcade) Night.
• Occasional food or other items at Chapter and Lodge events
• You get a Lodge Service T-Shirt (must also attend a Lodge service weekend event)
• Ability to attend the OA's High Adventure program (https://oa-scouting.org/high-adventure)
• Ability to attend OA Section and National Events and trainings
• Provides awards for outstanding OA members
• Provides finances in support of Youth Leadership Development
• Supports projects and materials at our Council Camps - Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan, Camp Crown, and Camp Oakarro
• Supports our Council financially through Endowment and Friends of Scouting contributions
• Free Lodge event admission (as a Sustaining Dues paid member)

Regular Dues

Regular dues for 2025 will remain the same as it has since 2022 at $25 per member. Regular dues maintain your membership in our Lodge and the Order of the Arrow. With Regular dues, you will pay for each event that you attend.

Sustaining Dues

Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge also offers a Sustaining dues option. In addition to including the regular dues, sustaining dues also cover your event fees for all Lodge events other than the Winter Banquet. The 2025 events are listed here: 2024-2025 Event Calendar. For 2025, we will maintain the same sustaining dues fee of $65 that we had since 2023.  

Haven't Paid OA Dues Recently? Here's Your Chance to Get a 95th Anniversary Lodge Flap

Everyone who paid dues in 2024 received (or will soon) a 95th Anniversary Lodge Flap. If you did not pay dues in 2024, then you still have the opportunity to get a 95th Anniversary Lodge Flap. The first 50 people who did not pay dues in 2024 will receive the 95th Anniverdary Lodge Flap in addition to the current Lodge Flap. Be one of the 50 and get this awesome collector's Lodge flap!

(Note: If you paid 2024 dues, you are already entitiled to a 95th Anniversary Lodge Flap; most people have already received this flap at recent Lodge events and meetings. Those who have not received one can pick it up at the Winter Banquet or it will be mailed in January.)

How Can I Get My OA Membership Card Or Find Out If My Dues Are Paid?

You can login into the OA Member Portal where you can see your membership information, update your contact information, view and print out your membership card, and check our OA calendar. See https://neic.ihub.app/posts/107067/new-oa-member-portal for more details. If you don't have an OA Member Portal account, please email our Membership and Membership Adviser. 

Note About 2025 Lodge Event Registration Fees

We expect the Lodge event registration fees to be the same as in 2023 & 2024; these are typically $25 except Memorial Day weekend is $30 due to the extra meals. Sustaining-level members do not pay for individual Lodge event registrations except for the Winter Banquet. More details on Lodge Events can be found on the 2024-2025 Event Calendar. 

Verifying Your Active Scouting America Registration

Your BSA Member ID is required to renew your OA membership. You will enter your ID along with your name when you register. This dues site has a database added that inlcudes all OA members whose reocrds are verified with the National BSA and show an active BSA registration. If the last time you paid your dues was before 2014, you may need to contact the Lodge Adviser. Please note that if you enter your BSA ID and the registration system does not find you, please contact us to resolve the issue. We have found that we often have an incorrect BSA ID or birth date in our records.

You can get your BSA ID in several ways.

• Your BSA ID number is available on your BSA membership card.
• You may also find your BSA ID in your Order of the Arrow LodgeMaster portal account. You can request access to your Portal account by contacting the Lodge Adviser.
• You can get your BSA ID number from ScoutBook.
• Your unit committee chairperson or advancement chairperson should have access to your BSA ID on Unit Charters or through ScoutBook if you do not have access.
• Last, if you need help, please email the Membership Committee. We can provide the BSA ID we have on record.

*A 3% Processing Fee will be assessed for all online Credit Card payments. **A 0.5% Processing Fee will be assessed for all online e-Check payments. *** Checks sent or brought to 850 Forest Edge Drive, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 will not be assessed this Processing Fee. Make sure the Memo line mentions your registration number.