Over the last month I have been adding to my ever growing “in tray” as I have tried to identify outstanding issues and would like to express my gratitude to all those who have helped me try to understand what has happened in the past. Once this “fire fighting” has reduced then I look forward to being able to give more attention to planning for the future.
The District is in a strong position overall and I was impressed at my first meeting of the District Executive by the strength of will to make decisions and move things forward. In the future, I will be using my “Chatter” to keep you abreast of the key issues.
We are still looking for a new District Treasurer and to this end have made some initial steps to advertise the post. In the meantime, I am grateful to John Young for agreeing to hold down the day to day requirements and to Keith Angliss for his tremendous efforts in drafting the District Accounts for 2009. These have now gone forward for audit.
You will see when these accounts are published, that the proceeds from the sale of Atlasta Hall (ex 25th Mitcham HQ), came through in the autumn. The Executive has now signed off on some proposals for what I have called “Atlasta Fund”. Details are available on the web site.
The Extraordinary General Meeting of the District Scout Council in order to sign off these December 2009 District Accounts and review membership and workings of your Executive Committee will be held at Morden Hall DHQ 8pm on Wednesday 13th October 2010.
Attendance is open to: “Commissioners; District and Group Active Support Managers;
Scouters; Administrators; Section Assistants; Skills Instructors; Advisers; all Explorer
Scouts; all members of the District Scout Network; Chairmen of Troop Leadership Forums
in the District; Members and Associate Members of the Movement registered in the
Scout District and including Members of District Scout Active Support Units; all
parents of Explorer Scouts; persons elected or reselected annually by the District
Scout Council on the recommendation of the District Commissioner and the District
Executive Committee; the County Commissioner and County Chairman are ex-
If likely attendance is high, then I have a “Plan B” to move the meeting to a larger venue! It is my hope to open the meeting up to a “Questions and Answers” session in order to receive your ideas and feedback on future plans.
To quote P.O.R. “The District Executive Committee exists to support the District
Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of the appointment and to provide support
for Scout Groups and Explorer Scout Units in the District”. I have received one
self-
We now only receive 18 awards, instead of the 24 we used to get, spread over 9 months of the year. Each award is worth £200, which must be spent on the Section, (or used by the Section if the Group benefits) for equipment or an activity suggested by Scout or Explorer Scout who received the Award, in conjunction with the Leaders.
Each award winner can only receive one award, so a Scout who moves on to an Explorer unit cannot put forward to receive another award as an Explorer.
It has become more difficult to obtain your nominations, despite reminders, in time to submit them to JP, so again I would remind all that you may miss out if you do not let me have them by the 15th of the month preceding your allocated month. You may let me have the forms before the 15th and that way you will not forget (and may receive your money earlier).
The next round of awards are as follows:-
September: Merton Park ESU and 1st Morden Scouts.
October: 5th Morden Scouts and
6th/12th Mitcham Scouts.
November: 8th Morden and 8th Wimbledon Scouts.
January 2011: 9th
Wimbledon and 11th Mitcham Scouts.
If you would like another copy of the application form please contact me and I will forward a copy to you, wimwantreas@btinternet.com .
The UK Government has stopped the implementation of the Vetting and Barring Scheme
in England and Wales while it undergoes a review. The requirements for Criminal Records
Bureau disclosures remain unchanged as does the roll-
Diary Dates

|
9th July |
7:45pm - |
Module 11 - |
|
|
7:45pm - |
Module 17 - |
|
14th July |
7:30pm - |
First Aid Refresher Course |
|
18th September |
9:00am - |
Module 10 - |
|
19th September |
10:00am - |
Module 25 - |
|
25th September |
9:00am - |
Module 12 - |
|
|
2:00pm - |
Module 18 - |
|
29th September |
7:45pm - |
Module 16 - |
|
10th October |
10:00am - |
Module 20 - |
|
|
2:00pm - |
Module 23 - |
|
16th - |
Module 16 - | |
|
16th October |
9:00am - |
Module 10 - |
|
31st October |
10:00am - |
Module 13 - |
|
|
10:00am - |
Module 21 - |
|
6th November |
10:00am - |
Module 22 - |
|
|
2:00pm - |
Module 25 - |
|
|
2:00pm - |
Module 26 - |
|
14th November |
10:00am - |
Module 7 - |
|
|
11:45am - |
Module 19 - |
|
|
2:30pm - |
Module 17 - |
|
21st November |
9:00am - |
Module 10 - |
Please note that all Modules from September to December 2010 (apart from those specified
above) will be at Morden Hall DHQ.
All Leaders who have already booked for Modules
will be advised of the change of venue and a map will be issued.
Further information on training can be found on the GLSW web site.
Don’t forget that the Store closes for the summer on 22 July and re-
We currently have a SALE on:
Old style Beaver sweatshirts sizes 32 and 34 only £3
Old style Beaver polos £2.50
Old
Style Cub sweatshirts sizes 34 and 36 only £4
Old style Cub polos £2.50
Old style
adult sweatshirts 1 x L and 1 x XL £3
Don’t forget that grants can be obtained towards the cost of your training – you get 100% of the cost of your obligatory training back and up to 50% for skills training eg canoeing or climbing. Check the Wimbledon and Wandle website (District Information section on the Info page) for details of how you apply for grants, especially the discretionary ones.
Please encourage your older Scouts and Explorers to celebrate the end of term at this event. There will be live music; a cash BBQ and Bar (strictly no alcohol – and none can be brought in either); ticket price £5. Contact ailie.burlinson@btinternet.com for more information or tickets.
Merton Priory Homes have a £1m grant programme and applications are welcome from
community groups.
mphcommunityfund@circleanglia.org is the contact email and the closing
date for applications is 1 October 2010

If you would like to be notified by email each time Links is published,
click on this link links@wimbledonandwandlescouts.org and we will add you to the list
Copy for the next issue should be with the editor by Thursday 2nd September
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
John Lubbock
I hope you all have wonderful summer camps, camps that create special memories for
everyone taking part.
Be adventurous; be happy; be safe.






As I write, we have just received the sad news of the untimely death of Mike Edwards, until recently GSL of the 1st Morden, and his funeral will take place on 2nd July. Mike was both a cub and a scout at the 11th Mitcham, where he also served as ASL and on the group executive; he became involved with the 1st Morden when his children joined the group. For those who knew him he was a man of great knowledge, understanding and wisdom; he was a giver of sound counsel and bore his very serious illness with amazing fortitude over a long period of time. Our heartfelt condolences go to Gill, Rohan, Matthias and Sophronie, as they deal with life without a loving husband and father. He was, and remains, a great example of what it is to be a Scout, something for which we all try to strive, both for ourselves and the scouts in our care.
This being the last Links until September, may I wish everyone a wonderful summer with lots of exciting Nights Away!
Joe
