WEST SOMERSET SCOUT FELLOWSHIP
Chairman’s Report for SF AGM
2007
Firstly I
would like to welcome our DC Graham and thank Betty our secretary and Audrey our
Treasurer for their support and work during the year. Also all the other members
for their ongoing support of West Somerset Scouting.
Currently there are 27 members including a new member namely Jane Butland
Scout Fellowship members continue to hold a number of positions in local scouting including George Tailors role as District Chaplain, John Burt continues as President and executive member of 1st Exmoor, 2 members serve on the District Appointments committee, One member is a Training Adviser and three members are members of the District Executive including Tony Bullen who is now District Treasurer.
As part of the Centenary Celebrations all members have received an anniversary mug largely as the result of the efforts of George and his team.
10 members have returned signed “Gift Aid” forms.
Our Fellowship was invited to join the Counties other Fellowships for a “meet” at the Centenary Camp and this information was included in the last newsletter together with details of cost and information on paper work, no members responded so I have offered our apologies.
Also in the last newsletter was a request for updated members email addresses so that the newsletter distribution costs could be reduced – there has been no response from this request so we have made the assumption that members email addresses are correct or you are happy with current postal distribution arrangements.
Support of local scouting activities
included:
Assisting at Publicity event at Dunster Country fair.
Work at Horner campsite (clearing felled timber).
The District Cub Football was cancelled due
to inclement weather although SF members had offered help with the
scoring.
There was an excellent attendance at 1st Watchet Carol Service with Shirley officiating.
Most members served cream teas all day at the District fund raising event during Wimbledon Week.
The Fellowship provided hot drinks refreshments at Horner KO
There was SF representation at the gang show preliminary planning meeting.
Members
attended the Founders Day Service at Dunster followed by drinks and discussion
at the Luttrell arms
We assisted with the Annual St Georges Day parade by receiving the flags, acting as church ushers, diecting parking, George and Shirley officiated at the service and Betty and Dennis describing their early Guiding and Scouting experiences. Prior to the parade a draft risk assessment was prepared for consideration by the planning committee.
Two members were judges for District Cub Handicraft Competition.
3 members attend District Executive meetings.
2 members attend appointment committee meetings to interview new leaders.
Unfortunately a number of District Cub events were run during their annual cub camp and the services of the Fellowship were not required.
A representative attended two County Fellowship meetings at Tangier see our web site for reports.
One member
assisting 1st
Work is ongoing with Graham towards the
publication of a book of Local Scouting to celebrate Scoutings Centenary –
currently stalled pending source of funding-one application
failed.
Social activities
included:
Our SF Annual Dinner was replaced by a Centenary Dinner which was attended by a limited number of members. It is believed that the cost and location were a significant issue in the limited attendance.
Photo competition (Portrait) Winner Jean Mote.
Bar-B-Q at Audrey and Clive’s – another successful and popular annual event.
Although the year has been a busy one in terms of support to Scouting there have been fewer social events and I feel I must apologise to those members who volunteered at our last AGM to attend meetings to plan more events as I did not take up these offers due to family pressures. However ideas and offers to arrange social events would be very welcome after this AGM.
At last years AGM I outlined my aim to achieve the following during this past year:
Whilst some of these objectives have been
met work needs to be done in raising awareness and recruiting younger members -
this is an urgent and necessary
requirement.
The Fellowship website continues at:
http://www.ron.blundell.btinternet.co.uk/pgtres/Scoutfell.htm which provides links to local and National Information. Our web site can be easily accessed via the District Web site by Typing in “West Somerset Scouts” into the address bar.
Ron Blundell
Chairman