What’s in a Color?
By Judy Blase Woodruff
We rely on colors for a number of things throughout our lives. We know to ‘stop’ at a red traffic light and ‘go’ when it turns green. Some of us think that a yellow traffic light means hurry up and get through the intersection, when in actuality, it means slow down and get ready to stop.
At Camp Ondessonk, we also use colors to distinguish between a variety of things. There are multiple colors used to create a boondoggle keychain. Hoppers in the Dining Hall are instructed by colored light bulbs. Units are defined by their color t-shirt. But the Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha uses colors to differentiate the positions of Lodge Members within the organization. Listed below are the meanings of each color of Lodge sash.
General membership for boys/men no matter their age – solid RED sash with the Ondessonk logo.
General membership for girls/women, no matter their age – solid light BLUE sash with the Ondessonk logo.
Male Council Official – RED SATIN sash with dark blue trim with the Ondessonk logo.
Female Council Official – light BLUE SATIN sash with red trim, with the Ondessonk logo.
Male Lodge Official (1st term) – GOLD SATIN sash with RED TRIM on both sides with the Ondessonk logo.
Female Lodge Official (1st term) – GOLD SATIN sash with dark BLUE TRIM on both sides with the Ondessonk logo.
Senior Lodge Official (2+ terms) – GOLD SATIN sash with dark BLUE TRIM on one side and RED TRIM on the other with the Ondessonk logo. (Blue trim on top for females and red trim on top for males.)
Lodge Officials and Senior Lodge Official (second from right)
Retired Official – SILVER SATIN sash with the same color trim as their highest-ranking Official sash with the Ondessonk logo. For example, a retired male Lodge Official would have a silver satin sash with red trim on both sides, but a retired male Senior Lodge Official would have a silver satin sash with red trim on the top and dark blue trim on the bottom. Likewise, a retired female Lodge Official would have a silver satin sash with dark blue trim on both sides, and a retired female Senior Lodge Official would have a silver satin sash with dark blue trim on top and red trim on the bottom.
Retired Officials
Merit of St. René Goupil Award – GREEN sash with WHITE TRIM on both sides with the Ondessonk logo. This award is presented to a deserving non-lodge member for meritorious service to Lodge, Camp Ondessonk, and their community.
St. Jean de Brébeuf Award – BLACK sash with GOLD TRIM on both sides with the Ondessonk logo. This award is presented to a deserving Lodge Member for meritorious service to Lodge, Camp Ondessonk, and their community.
So, the next time you spot one of these colored sashes, you will know exactly what position that person holds within the Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha organization.
Click here to learn more about The Loyal Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha.