Diary Dates

Easter Greetings

St George's Day Awards

Many congratulations to the following who have received awards in the District:

We also offer our congratulations to the following

There are a number of others in the County who have received awards; all listed in April issue of Scouting Magazine.

Census January 2004
The last thing both our Districts did before the amalgamation was to complete the Census - see below.  Any Groups that have not paid their membership fees yet should do so immediately, please.  £20.30 per person.

First Steps Training
Thursdays 13th & 27th May and 17th June 2004   7.30 pm - 10 pm.
Venue Wallington & Carshalton D.H.Q. All three Thursdays to be completed.  Application form and further information from Margaret Pooley - District Training Records Administrator.

National Trust Fayre

As Bob has mentioned in his report, Scouting will have a very high profile at the NT Fayre on 1 -3 May, as the mobile display unit will be there.  Hopefully this will attract a lot of people to our 'Children's Corner' and make the Groups running the stalls a lot of money!  If you want to be part of this action and haven't booked in with John Tweedley or Bill Vaudrey get on to them as soon as possible, at the time of writing the slots on Sunday between 12pm & 6pm are unallocated as well as Monday 4pm - 6pm.
It's a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours and all helpers get a free pass to the Fayre.

Help is also needed on Friday afternoon.  Are you free then?  If so, please contact Bill.
 

Giant Sleepover

Have you registered your Cub Pack for the Giant Sleepover on 19 June 2004?  Cub Packs and Primary Schools all over the country will be involved and the aim is to set a new world record.  Each young person who takes part will receive a free goody bag and every Group will get a comprehensive Event Guide which will include fundraising ideas.

Check out and register your Group's interest on www.giantsleepover.com or call them on 0870 240 1640.  Participation will be on a first come first served basis.

Thames Bridges Bike Ride

The Stroke Association are organising a bike ride over the 14 bridges from Tower Bridge to Hurst Park (near Hampton Court) on 23 May 2004.  You might like to take part, but they are also looking for marshals.  Give them a call on nationalevents@stroke.org.uk or 020 7566 0311.

District Store

Don't forget that the Store will be closed during the school holidays on 7th and 14th April.

Beavers - Evelyn Steele

It was nice to welcome some 'new faces' to our Meeting on 17 March and I would thank those Leaders who tendered their apologies.   If you are unable to attend a Leaders' Meeting, please would you send a brief report on your Colony activities, number of Beavers plus warranted leaders, etc. to be added to the Minutes - this could be emailed to Evelyn Steele or Andy Elgar if this is easier for you.

You should all have received a letter inviting your Colony to participate in a District outing to Gilwell Park on 19 June.   Please remember to advise by the date requested if you would like to attend, with obviously very rough numbers (Beavers and adults), so that we can have some idea as to whether the outing should go ahead.  

The first DCSL meeting on the 10th March was very well attended, in fact so well attended that it was decided all future meetings would have to be held at the District HQ at Morden Hall Park as the meeting room at Kenneth Black Memorial Hall would be too small.  The meeting was also attended by DC Bob Prescot and ACC Cubs/ACC Beavers Jenny Ririe.  I sincerely hope that all future meetings will finish long before 10.35pm!  Please read the minutes if you did not attend.  If you are not already on the postal or e-mailing list, then contact Michele McNamara.

Wednesdays seem to suit the majority and the start time has to be 8.30pm.

Future Dates

Sunday April 4th - Activity Day.  Frylands Wood for all cubs over 9 ½.  Mia should have had your numbers by now.

May 1st to 3rd - National Trust Fair.  The Scout Truck will be there.  Volunteers as usual to run games and volunteers to man the Truck.

Wednesday May 5th - DCSL Meeting 8.30pm Morden Hall Park HQ.

Sunday 9th May - 7-a-side Football Competition at Raynes Park High School.  Details will be sent out shortly.

Friday 4th June - Athletes Badge Sutton Arena 6 to 9pm.

Cub and Scout Sports Day - either the 3rd or the 10th July probably at Hillcross School.

Our recent Scouters' meeting was not as well attended as the previous one but as we were in competition with a London derby football match the low turnout was not unexpected. Thank you to those Troop leaders who have volunteered to represent Wimbledon & Wandle at the New Programme Audit with representatives from HQ in May, some well presented arguments were aired at the meeting which warrant passing on to those responsible for the new approach within the Scout section.

Many Scouters have strong opinions on the proposed disposal of some of our local camping facilities. The most effective way to make your opinions known is to write to the current site leaseholders who are the ones who have to make the first decisions about what they wish to do with their sites. We will achieve nothing by just discussing the subject amongst ourselves so if you feel strongly about the proposed changes, please put pen to paper.

I will shortly be circulating details of our Patrol Camping Weekend so please register your entry as soon as you can so that we can ensure we have the right level of adult organisation to support the number of Patrols who plan to attend.

For those Troops with Scouts coming up to Explorer age, please remember to let Dick Hooper, our Explorer Scout Administrator, know so that the transfer between Troop and Unit can be made as smoothly as possible.

And finally, at the risk of becoming a one-subject bore, may I remind you again to get your Nights Away Permit applications in to Bob as soon as possible. Thank you.

Recent Events;    

Saturday, 28th February - the Fellowship entered a not very successful team, in the 7th Morden Quiz Night.  However, an enjoyable evening was had by all.

Sunday, 7th March - Fellowship A.G.M. - indifferent turn out - hope to see more of you at forthcoming events.  Thank you to Jean Gould for laying on the refreshments.

Forthcoming Events:     

Wednesday, 21st April - Beetle Drive and Fish 'n Chip supper.  Names to Bill  with your supper order by Friday 16th April please.

Sunday 25th April - St George's Day Parade, The Canons, Mitcham.  If you can help please contact Bill on the above number.

National Trust Fayre - Friday 30th April to Monday 3rd May - if you can help during this period please contact Bill, as soon as possible.  As you probably know the Headquarters Mobile Display Unit will be on site during this period to promote Scouting.

Best wishes to Florrie Smith and Bill Walden who have both been under the weather recently.  We hope they will soon be fighting fit!