Newsletter
NB Ron needs information on Scout Fellowship Dinner &
Taunton Gang Show visit by
Hello
Well it’s that time of
year when the rush to Christmas really begins and the commercial pressures start
to bite. I am sure that we will still remember the true spirit of
Christmas and try to “think of others before
ourselves”.
Capitation – The cost of Fellowship
membership.
I am pleased to be able
to report that at a recent District Executive meeting it was decided to keep our
membership cost to £10 each/year
Past and future
program.
I hope you all enjoyed
Justin’s presentation on the “2006 Pals March” and I am pleased to say that we
raised £50 for the 2007 Poppy Appeal.
Shown below is our future program with
as much detail as is currently available.
Please note particularly the
following events before Christmas namely:
1st Porlock Bingo,
the “Christmas Tree Festival” and 1st Watchet Carol service.
Program
up to May
2008
|
1st Porlock Bingo |
Wednesday 5th December |
Porlock Village Hall |
Invitation from 1st Porlock |
|
Christmas Tree Festival |
6th -9th December |
Methodist Church the Avenue Minehead
|
ADC Cubs The Beavers have a Tree there for charity |
|
1st Watchet Carol Service |
|
|
All SF members in uniform please |
|
WSSF Dinner |
|
Provisional Booking made with Northfield Hotel |
See menu & details at end of this newsletter |
|
Program Planning meeting |
|
|
RB, JM, JMc, JB, PC & JaneB |
|
Visit |
?/2/08 |
Visit |
JM & PC to investigate and arrange |
|
Pub Quiz and food |
|
Valiant Soldier |
Jane B to arrange |
|
@ Brewhouse Theatre |
|
Start Time: Tickets: |
Members to let Ron know if they would like a block
booking made for the Friday evening This
will depend on tickets being available on this
date |
|
WSSF AGM |
|
Porlock? |
Ron to arrange with C & D Corner |
|
St Georges Parade |
|
Dunster RB & JB to attend planning meeting |
Details to follow |
A
complete program of events can be seen at:
http://www.ron.blundell.btinternet.co.uk/pgtres/Program.htm
It is possible that a
number of Scout Fellowship members have not been credited with the correct
number of years service to Scouting on the County records. This may be able to
be corrected. I think the first step would be for those of you who are concerned
to contact me on 01643 703838 to request what has been recorded of your scouting
service. At least you will then be aware of what is currently on the record. If
you feel years have been omitted now comes the difficult bit. It would then be
necessary to provide the evidence that would support any omissions being
corrected. This is fairly straight forward if you have copies of cancelled
warrants but positions such as Badge Secretary, District Vice Chairman or
Treasurer may be more difficult.
However it’s up to you,
give me a ring and we will see what can be done. Don’t be shy any sort of
recognition is cheaper than a pension and there are no pensions in
Scouting.
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THE FUTURE
OF SCOUT FELLOWSHIPS
I have mentioned before
that there has been a HQ review of how Scout Fellowships operate across the
I believe that based on
our past and planned future programs our most natural fit in the proposed new
structure is as a Support
Unit rather than just as a
social grouping.
The details of a Support
Unit are reproduced
below:
The
Support Unit - Details.
1.1
Remit
The support unit may provide
services for all the youth sections and to the adults involved. The decision
making structures of the support unit must be well connected into the decision
making structures of the Group, District, County or headquarters
as
appropriate. The remit is
decided (and reviewed annually) by the Responsible Commissioner who will carry
out some discussions with the members of the support unit as
appropriate.
1.2 Reporting
Structure
Each support unit is
responsible to the Responsible Commissioner for the provision of active support
according to the unit’s remit.
Each support unit is run by
a manager who is appointed by the Responsible Commissioner to fulfil the remit
of the unit.
1.3 Decision Making
Structure
Each support unit is
structured so that it will fulfil its remit. The details of the structure are a
matter for the manager of the unit with the agreement of the Responsible
Commissioner. The structure must ensure that:
communication is maintained amongst the
members;
communication is maintained with the
Group, District, County and HQ structures as appropriate;
and a programme of support activities is
planned according to the agreed remit for the support unit.
The unit is considered
administratively as a part of the Group, District, County or HQ
structure.
1.4 Communication with the
Parent Structures
Members of the support unit
will normally attend relevant meetings to assist in the provision of support. It
is important that members have regular access to appropriate meetings to ensure
that the support unit is an integral part of the provision for young people and
for adults.
1.5
Training
Members of the support unit
will be required to undertake training such that they are safely able to realise
the remit of the unit. The details of the training required will be a matter to
be considered with the UK Adviser for Adult Training. We expect the completion
of Getting Started as a minimum and that a woodbadge would be appropriate at
least for the manager.
Note: The “Getting Started” is
a DVD which I do not regard as a significant hurdle.
RB
1.6
Membership
All members of the support
unit will be appointed (and therefore undertake the standard adult appointment
process including CRB).
This information has
been pasted straight off of the National Website and is provided so that
discussion amongst members can take place on this proposal. However if the
general opinion is that we can meet these objectives I would hope the DC would
support us in the decision to continue as a Support
Fellowship.
It could be that to meet
an agreed future remit more members will be required. I am trying to raise the
profile of the Fellowship particularly amongst leaders and parents. Parents
would be very useful in providing the more physical types of scouting
support. However I understand new
members may challenge our own comfort zones that we have established in SF over
many years.
I plan to email a link
to our web based newsletter for all those WS Leaders with an email
address.
I look forward to
hearing your views or concerns on these subjects.
I have just received the following
email – any volunteers please?
Mountain Bike Challenge needs
you!
Following the great success of this
I need volunteers to help run the
event.
The only details I can give you are
that there will hopefully be three sections to the
event.
The Team
Ride
Racing
Challenges
The location with again be in the
Bridgwater/Taunton area and the event will take place from
I would ideally like three people who
could each run and oversee one of these sections on the day of the event and
hopefully be able to help with some of the organisation of that
section.
Any volunteers are welcome I need
marshals, helpers and Mountain Bike Rangers. For the event to be run safely I
need at least 30 volunteers please could you let me know by the 24th
December if you can help.
I am also looking for a Scout Group or
Fellowship who would like to raise some money from running hot and cold catering
for the event.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if
you have questions:
My email address is
grenter3@hotmail.com
My mobile if Tel:
07813199913
Rachael
Grenter
Mendip Explorer Scout
Leader
Three Course Seated
Meal
Friday 1st
Feb.2008
Northfield Hotel
Minehead
7.00 for 7.3
0PM
Fruit Juice
Prawn Cocktail
Vegetable Soup
Roast
Roast Prime Rib Eye of Beef
Vegetarian option
Roast potatoes, Broccoli, Carrots &
Parsnips
Pavlova
Apple Pie
Coffee & Mints
All at £16.00/head
Please let Ron have
your choices by
Ron Blundell