February 09 No 98

Happy New Year. You will be receiving this newsletter slightly later than you might have expected as the January Exec meeting was postponed for a couple of weeks. Apologies for that.

Chairman’s message

Hello from your new Chairman.  Yes, Alwyn twisted my arm and now I have the difficult job of persuading the Exec to go to the pub!  Maybe the new venue is the reason we are planning more fun events over the next year as well as improving a few things for the leaders.   St. George’s this year will be a bit different – weather permitting we will do the same as last year and march from HQ to church and back, but on our return we will run a free BBQ and put on a few games and a bar.  So why not join us and your child/ren for the whole event?  And in the guise of why change a winning formula the BBQ will again come out before the Giant Sleepover.  The idea this year is to have a summer fun event before the sleepover.  This will entail a family quiz and more of the usual fun.  If you fancy dreaming up great ideas, great company down the pub and are a dab hand at BBQ tongs why not think about joining the Exec.  Just speak to any of the Leaders or the other members of the Exec – myself, Margaret Faulkner, Suzy Matthews, Phil Grew or Ron Higgs.

 Christmas was a monumental event for the Beavers – Marie Amey has left the area and stepped down as Brown Beaver after more years than she would care for me to divulge.  Thank you to everyone who came on her last night to make it extra special.  She will be sorely missed but life goes on with Annie Goree now at the helm but more help is needed to make Beavers go from strength to strength. 

After a long period of diligent service our cleaner has now hung up her duster.  We are therefore on the lookout for someone who can spend up to 2 and a half hours a week (normally it takes less) for which we will pay £16.25.  Aside from time when playgroup or a section is in HQ it can be done anytime.  If you know of anyone reliable please put them in contact with me on 942 0144.  Thanks.

Mark Goree (previously known as Chil!)

GSL’s message

You may be aware of a number of changes that have taken place in the Group Leadership. Mark has stepped down as Group Scout Leader but I am hugely grateful he has agreed to take up the role of Group Chairman. We have not had a chairman for some time and Mark was acting chairman as well as being GSL and running a section.

Martin (Rikki) has taken over the leadership of the Wolves Cub Pack although hopefully I will still be there most weeks. All the parent help we are getting now is much appreciated especially Annie C who will be helping on a regular basis.

We were very sorry to say goodbye to Brown Beaver, Marie, who left the group at Christmas to move nearer to her daughter. She will be missed (but we hope she will be back for camp). Her assistant Purple Beaver, Annie G, is now in charge. Thanks Annie.

There are several parents helping out on a regular basis now throughout the group. Thanks to them all. I will get round and meet you all eventually.

Alwyn Leverton (Akela)

Tigers

Over the past few months Tigers have been to Castle Quarry twice and had a go at tunnelling, archery, shooting and climbing. We have also recently been working on our Caring Challenge and had a visit from staff from the Family Centre (Deaf Children) who gave us a deaf awareness session. The cubs had a very good attempt at sign language and raised over £100 for the charity.

Our Christmas bash was at the Raceway where the boys enjoyed a number of games of laser tag in an attempt to take out the leaders who remained dominant throughout! Earlier we went on a night hike at Blaise Castle following a trail of strategically placed glow sticks in search of the monster from the woods!

We also enjoyed a visit together with Wolves to Southmead Police Station where we had a good insight in to the operational side of the Police. The recent snow has allowed the boys the opportunity to act as a pack in ganging up on Shere Khan who took refuge in the hut.

Future highlights include a visit by Bristol Zoo and fun swim/swim badge sessions in North Bristol. We will also be recording with sound effects a special one off radio drama for the Sarah Jane Adventures.

Andrew Bowyer (Kaa)

Wolves

The Wolves have had a full programme recently, including a number of visitors and outings towards the end of last term. I have never seen them so quiet for so long as when we had a visit from Monica, who is deaf and uses sign language, and her interpreter. They were all finger spelling their names by the end of the evening. Bristol Zoo outreach brought along some of their small animals on another evening. As you see above both packs also visited the Police Station.

More recently almost the whole pack earned emergency aid stage 1 badge. They are looking forward to meetings planned by the new senior six and by the team of young leaders.

Looking to the future

We are looking for ideas of a way to celebrate next year which will be the 44^th anniversary of the 44^th. One way would be to extend the leader team so that all sections are fully staffed for the numbers of young people in them – even to be able to open more sections to accommodate even more young people.

There are a number of families in Westbury Park and Henleaze who have had sons in the group but now have little or no contact. Many of these lads are exactly the people we are looking for to boost the leadership team. Do you know any of our previous members who are now 18+? Do encourage them to get in touch, pass on a copy of the newsletter to them, invite them along to events.

We have the possibility of opening a second Scout Troop operating on a slightly alternative format, meeting once a month on Saturday afternoons / early evening. This would mean just as much Scouting as a weekly 2 hour meeting but in concentrated blocks. We would be interested to hear what you think about this idea. Would it suit your youngster? Would you be interested in helping to lead such a troop?

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.

7^th March Cub Swimming gala

22^nd March. Church Parade. Trinity Henleaze URC.

22^nd April Group exec meeting

25^th April Cub 6 a side football tournament

26^th April St Georges Day service and BBQ lunch details tbc.

15^th -17^th May District Cub camp

20^th June BBQ, family quiz and Giant Sleepover

4^th July Westbury Park Festival Street Party

5^th July Church Parade. Westbury Park Festival Service

14^th July Annual General Meeting

2^nd – 8^th August Summer Camp

9^th September Group exec meeting

18^th – 20^th September Camp to be confirmed

21^st October Group exec meeting

5^th November tbc Annual fireworks event

11^th December Group exec meeting

All parents of young people in the group are members of the Group Council. Can you help in anyway – fundraising, organising social events, HQ maintenance, administration. There are vacancies for parent representatives from most sections. Could this be you? You are always welcome to come along to an Exec meeting to have your say in the running of your children’s Scout Group.

Camps

You will see from the list of dates that several camps are planned this year including a new venture – a summer camp. The last summer camp in the group was 2001, long enough ago that non of the boys and few of the leaders have had the opportunity. Summer camp is a fantastic opportunity to get some real quality Scouting with plenty of time to relax and to try things there is no time for on a weekend camp. At the moment places are limited to a maximum of 12 but with more adults available then more places become available to the young people. We plan to use a local campsite, using parent transport to help us to go offsite to use facilities for various water activities.

Parents! It’s your adventure too

Take the opportunity

to join the leadership team

at one of our camps this year

May 15^th -17^th District Cub Camp

June 20^th Giant Sleepover

August 2^nd - 8^th new this year.

Activity camp. Venue to be arranged.

September 18^th -20^th Group Camp

Other opportunities may be arranged subject to leader availability.

Any suggestions?