Wiatava Lodge 106 Standard S-106: The 2023 Trade-O-Ree Attendee Flap
Gathering Under the Cog Stone
There's something special about a Trade-O-Ree attendee flap. These patches commemorate scouts who traveled to one of the Order of the Arrow's national gatherings, trading face-to-face with collectors from across the country. Today I'm looking at the Wiatava Lodge 106 Standard S-106 Solid Flap, an attendee patch from the 2023 Trade-O-Ree - a moment frozen in felt that brings back memories of the energy and camaraderie of the event.
Wiatava Lodge 106 is known throughout OA circles for the Cog Stone totem, a symbol deeply rooted in the lodge's heritage. The Cog Stone appears on many of Wiatava's flaps, representing the mechanical precision and interconnected nature of the lodge's traditions. On this standard S-106 issue, the design features the classic solid flap construction - a single, cohesive piece of felt rather than the cut-edge or ghosted variants that appeared in later years. The white lettering and border crisp against the red field create a striking, traditional look that appeals to collectors who value the simplicity and dignity of solid flaps from the early 2020s.
Solid flaps like this one have a particular charm among traders. They were produced before the industry fully embraced the more elaborate embroidered and mylar techniques, making them a bridge between the older felt-only era and the contemporary designs we see today. The S-106 catalog code places this flap firmly in the mid-series run for Wiatava, when the lodge was experimenting with color combinations and border styles. The rolled edge treatment gives it a finished look that suggests care in the lodge's production standards.
What makes Trade-O-Ree attendee flaps especially valuable is the story behind them. These were carried to a gathering, worn or displayed at trading tables, and exchanged with scouts from dozens of other lodges. You're holding a piece of someone's journey, a memory of a specific weekend when they chose this patch to represent their lodge to the broader OA community. In 2023, the Trade-O-Ree drew collectors from across several regions, making this flap a natural connector piece for anyone building a comprehensive Wiatava collection.
From a collector's standpoint, the condition of solid flaps matters significantly. Felt is more prone to fading and wear than embroidered or mylar alternatives, so a bright, unfaded example like this one commands attention on the trading floor. The white lettering and borders hold their color well when stored properly, and the S-106 has remained in good condition - a testament either to careful handling or a fortunate find at a recent estate sale.
I picked up this flap some time ago, and it's marked in the Collectiblz app among the pieces that have found their way into my personal collection. Whenever I look at it, I'm reminded of why the 2023 Trade-O-Ree mattered - it was a gathering point for our community, a moment when the patches we trade become more than fiber and thread. They become stories of connection.
If you're hunting for Wiatava flaps or looking to round out your 2023 Trade-O-Ree memories, this S-106 standard deserves your attention. Look for solid flaps in this era - they're becoming harder to find as more collectors turn to the newer embroidered designs. The classic construction, the Cog Stone heritage, and the Trade-O-Ree story all converge in this one patch.
