June  07       No 95

It has been too long since the last newsletter to report on all the events which have gone on. You will hear all about those at the AGM and review of the year next week in any case so this edition will concentrate more on the future.

We are now well into Scouting's Centenary year. There are events and activities planned all year from section and group to National and International so keep an eye out for information

Editor phone and fax 0117 9625425

 

Cub Sports

During the year the packs have  entered District hockey, football and swimming competitions and county football doing well in all of them including winning the district football trophy.

 

Other events

Other events during the last few months have included a District Cub badge day, the district Cub 90th birthday party at Easton Leisure centre, St Georgian Bath a county fun for St George’s day and most recently the centenary camp.

 

Toilets

You will be aware by now that our toilets have finally been completed, making a huge difference to the facilities at the hut.

 

And the next project is …….

The refurbishment of the kitchen. If you can help with upgrading our kitchen in anyway it would be much appreciated. Maybe you are upgrading your kitchen or cooker and would like to see your old things going to a new home or indeed perhaps you are a dab hand at kitchen fitting!

 

Scouts

You may be aware of some changes at Scouts. First of all there are so many of them now that we have had to find places in other groups for some of our Cubs to transfer to. A group will be going to the 90th in Westbury Village and later another group will go to the 62nd near Horfield Common.

 

The team has been swelled by the welcome addition of Tom and David although we could still use more help as unfortunately (for us) Ben is leaving to do a year’s exchange in Canada. We wish him well in that

 

Scouting’s Centenary

Centenary camp

Hopefully it has not escaped your attention that 2007 is Scouting’s Centenary. For those of us on camp we had a real occasion to celebrate, especially as Peter Duncan, the Chief Scout (yes — he of Blue Peter fame) visited us as part of his tour round the centenary camps taking place all over the country at the same time. The camps made the National news with footage being shown of our subcamp and activity field.

It was the wettest camp most of us could remember. Well done all those who survived. You can find out more at http://www.avonscouts.org.uk/tof/ where there is a blog and some photos.

 

World Jamboree

Others are even luckier to be going to the World Jamboree in July. Kim, Akela and Becky are all attending. If you would like to receive a postcard from the jamboree (and help our fundraising) please provide £2 and your name and address

 

Before and after the Jamboree  (July 22nd -26th and August 8th -12th)we are hosting Scouts fromm Germany and Iceland  in Bristol. If you would like to forge life long friendships with Scouts from another country by allowing beds to be used in your house for a few days please see Alwyn or any of the other leaders.

 

There are also opportunities for everyone to attend as a day visitor or to help before and after in the build and take down periods.

 

Sunrise Ceremonies Wednesday 1st August

On 1st August 2007 Scouts of every age from around UK will join with 28 million Scouts from around the world to celebrate the dawn of a new Century of Scouting.

Scouting was founded on 1st August 1907 and so this day one hundred years on provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate and demonstrate the relevance of 21st Century Scouting for 21st Century young people

How will you be celebrating on 1st  August? How will you be joining 28million other people to renew your promise?

The key county event on Wednesday 1st August will be on the beach, and beach lawns, at Weston-super-Mare.

 

 

Traditional Beach Party
on the Sands at Weston-super-Mare
1st August 2007
To celebrate 100 years of Scouting

Sunrise Promise Renewal at 8.00am
plus other times during the day linking with other Countries

Party Starts at 11.00am, finishing at 5.00pm

Events will include Sand Castle Competition, Beach Volleyball, Beach Rounders, Beach Football, Parachute Games, Tug of War, Face Painting, Woggle Making and lots more

There will be a series of District based “Villages” on the Beach Lawns

 

 

 

There will also be the opportunity to attend a ‘Sunrise Ceremony’ at 8.00am at Bath Race Course (as a guest of “WanJam”; the Wansdyke District Jamboree) and also at Woodhouse Park. If you’re away  on Wednesday 1st August, have a look at http://scouting2007.esriuk.com/eventsmap/  This map exists to show as complete a picture as possible of the events that are happening across the UK during 2007, to demonstrate the breath and number of unique events to celebrate our Centenary, and to enable everyone to attend Scouting’s Sunrise on August 1st. It is the aim of this map to show every Scouting’s Sunrise and Centenary Camp happening during 2007.

To qualify for your Sunrise badge please report on the event you attended

 

Competitions

Avon Scouts are running an all age photography competition throughout the year. Entries can be of any scouting event during the year.

 

The 44th would like to celebrate the year by creating a mural on our HQ wall and by producing a group centenary teeshirt. Designs for both should be submitted to Mark Goree (Chil). The closing date will be advised later.

 

Centenary souvenirs

There is a range of gifts and souvenirs for the centenary, including the distinctive centenary necker which can be worn in addition to the group one throughout the year. There is a catalogue on the notice board in HQ or you can find details on www.scouts.org.uk/shop.  There will also be a stamp issue on 26th July and the design on this year’s 50p coin is  a Scouting one.

 

Group AGM and Review of the Year Tuesday 12th  June 6.45pm at Scout HQ

This year is going to be something different, and not just because it is our centenary. Rather than listening to the leaders we plan to listen to the boys. Each section will be doing something different to demonstrate what they have done in the past year and why they love Scouting. There will also be displays and photos on display. Following their presentations we will have fun activities for the boys outside (weather permitting) and a bar open inside.

 

Please make every effort for your son(s) to help out their fellow Scouts and please come along to support them. Come and see what they have been up to and why they keep wanting to come back!

 

The Executive Committee supports the leaders in providing an exciting programme for the boys. This year the hard work has already been done (especially by Jeremy Swann and Mark Guy) in overseeing the building of our new toilets. We now need new members to give the leaders feedback on the Group and assist with the 2-3 events that we put on each year. If you are willing to give up to say 8 evenings a year, enjoy being sociable and want to give something back to the Group please consider joining the Committee.

 

I really hope to see you all on 12th  June for a really fun and sociable evening.

 

Reports

If you have organised or participated in any event please report on it and send or e mail your copy to me. Newsletters are usually 2 weeks after a GEC meeting so I can use any copy received by 1 week after.

 

Future events

Now get out your diaries. Make a note of all the events coming up in the Scouting calendar. Section leaders will also inform you about other events.

Also please keep an eye on the notice boards. There is a calendar in the entrance area which should have most information.

 

 

Tuesday 12th June

Annual review of the year

Saturday 16th June

Giant Sleepover.  Wolves and Beavers

1st August

Sunrise Ceremony One World One Promise Weston super Mare seafront at the same time as others across the world 100 years from the camp on Brownsea Island

14th -16th September

Group Camp

Bristol LEA Term and Holiday Dates 2007/2008

·                     Term 1 Monday 3 September to Friday 19 October 2007

·                     Term 2 Wednesday 31 October to Wednesday 19 December 2007

·                     Term 3 Thursday 3 January to Friday 15 February 2008

·                     Term 4 Monday 25 February to Friday 4 April 2008

·                     Term 5 Monday 21 April to Friday 23 May 2008

·                     Term 6 Monday 2 June to Friday 25 July 2008

Please note that the Easter bank holidays will form a long weekend within Term 4 and not part of the subsequent two week holiday. Easter falls on Sunday 23rd March.

Section meetings will be in line with school terms, although there may be some variation when school terms begin or end midweek.