Diary Dates

Very best wishes to everyone for the summer - may God and the weather smile on your camps and expeditions, may your family holidays be relaxing and fun and may you return in September refreshed and renewed, ready to start celebrating our centenary.

District Commissioner

As we approach the main camping season, can I remind everyone of the need to submit a Nights Away Notification at least 15 days before the camp?  The notification, which can be obtained online, should be submitted to DDC Keith Daly.  Additionally you must have a permit holder with the appropriate level of permit at the camp. This is mandatory and from the sectional reports I have heard at AGM's, there appears to be lots of camping going on and not many forms being submitted.

I am delighted there is lots of camping going but please comply with the basic rules for your own protection.

I have recently met with the Vice Presidents and they are keen to be involved with any ceremonial and other events in the District.  So please remember to invite them to any appropriate event.

Brenda Hunt has tentatively agreed to join the District team as a District Cub Scout Leader.  She brings a wealth of Cub experience having run a Pack in Worcester Park for nearly 20 years.  We look forward to her moving amongst us and finding her feet sufficient enough to join us full time.

I have received a letter from Graham Haddock, National Commissioner for Explorer Scouts, which makes clear that it is not appropriate for Explorer Scouts to have alcohol at any Explorer Scout event.

In my travels around Groups at AGMs I have noticed at investitures that scarves are being removed as Beavers go to Cubs and Cubs to Scouts.

Can I remind everyone that once a young person has been invested, normally as a Beaver, there is no need to present the scarf again at any investiture?  Indeed it should not be done, as the aim is to try to make the transition from section to section as seamless as possible.
This applies to badges as well and new uniforms at investiture should already contain the World Membership badge, County/District Badge, Centenary badge.

2007 fast approaches and planning is in full flow both at District and HQ.  Please keep yourself aware of the many events available for young people so that when next year comes they do not miss out.

If you have any ideas or comments on events in 2007, particularly the District Camp, please make them known now when there is sufficient time to discuss and incorporate as necessary.  I would rather be trying to include ideas now than have the comments after the event when it is too late.

Part of our Centenary celebrations is our first ever Dinner programmed for Saturday 1st December. This will be open to all adults in the District. We have started the preliminary planning for this event but our biggest problem is trying to establish the response this will receive. It could be anything from 50 to 250. Having a reasonable idea of numbers is essential in booking a venue. I shall therefore be asking GSLs to provide me with an initial response and please remember this will be open to Wives, Husbands, Partners, Boyfriends and Girlfriends.

Bob Prescott

Accounts

Just a reminder about POR Rule 3.48h

"The Group must ensure that signed copies of the annual report and accounts are sent to the District Treasurer within the 14 days following the Group's Annual General Meeting at which the annual report and accounts were considered and approved."

Appointments -  Joan Burgess

Seatbelt Law

Changes to the seat belt law come into place in September 2006 and will affect young people. An advertising campaign will be run during the summer and details can be found on the website www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk 

Note item 28 particularly about coaches and minibuses.

District Store
The store will be closed during the summer holidays but if you want anything urgently, please contact Brian. 

It has been nice seeing Mary White back at the store recently, looking fit and well.  She and Lesley are currently sharing the responsibility for the badges.  If you need anything during the break you can contact either of them for help.

County Training for 2006/2007 - Brian Beckley

All at Bow Lane Centre, Bow Lane, Morden.

First Aid Training - ring Janet Drinkall for information.

Gilwell Park are running various training events. Full information from www.scouts.org.uk/adulttraining.

More Modules will be added during the year and all will be advertised here in 'Links'.

Anybody can do or revisit any module and is welcome to apply.

Module 16 and all the Commissioner Modules are about to be added but dates and venues are being finalised. Another workshop for 'part trained' leaders is also being planned.

Good Publicity

It is rare that anything good about Scouting gets into the national press but I was recently sent a cutting from the Daily Mirror about a 15 year old who saved a man's life using the skills he had learnt at Scouts.  This lad found a man slumped in the street after a heart attack and his actions were praised by the local ambulance service.

Cubs - Mia Patterson (DCSL)

On June 16th nearly 170 Cubs attended District Cub Camp at Walton Firs campsite on a swelteringly hot weekend.  Lots of fun was had by all including balloon racing, bungee running, archery, face painting, wide games and too many other activities to mention.  Thanks to all the Leaders and adults who helped it to be such a successful camp with lots of very tired but happy Cubs going home on Sunday afternoon. Visitors to the camp included ACC Cubs Caroline Dyer, District Chairman Eric Hayward and Wimbledon and Wandle's own DESC, Neil McLauchlan

We look forward to seeing as many Cub Leaders as possible at the CSL meeting on 5th July for, amongst other things, your input into next year's diary dates.

Explorers - Neil McLauchlan (DESC)

We had several Leaders at the County AGM where the Merton Park Unit gave a film presentation from the Nepal 2005 Expedition and Neil Griffin gave a last minute explanation of their Nepal 2006 Expedition.

The last of the current round of award hikes have taken place and we look forward to presentations later in the year.

Good luck to all Units for their Summer Expeditions, I look forward to the reports later. 

Network - Chris Dean

We are right in the middle of a very busy period of Network summer weekend events at present. The first of these was 'Twickeree', Richmond upon Thames's triennial District Camp held at Marble Hill Park from June 23-25. Scout Network members from across GLSW undertook a number of tasks including car-parking, site security, building and supervising the aerial runway, and taking part in an arena event.

Over the first weekend in July we shall be at Walton Firs for the County Beaver and Cub 'Fun Day', and the Scout Network Conference. We will camp overnight Saturday and the CC will be joining us. The following weekend we can be found in North Wales for the MS Challenge, and from July 14-16 in the Yorkshire Dales for the 3 Peaks Challenge. There are some spare places on both activities so please contact me if you wish to participate.

In August we are taking two hike groups to South Wales to complete their Queen's Scout and Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award expeditions. There will be another expedition week from October 22-28 in the Peak District, and details are posted on the County website. We have arranged a planning meeting on July 23.

If you are considering joining the IST for the World Jamboree in 2007 please register as soon as possible, and no later than July 14. You will then be able to join in all GLSW Jamboree IST Scout Network activities prior to the great event !

The next Scout Network Committee Meeting is at Bow Lane, Morden, on Thursday July 6 at 8pm prompt. All Network Coordinators as well as those elected to the Committee by Conference are requested to attend.

I now have a consignment of the GLSW Scout Network polo shirts in S, M, L and XL, price £9 each - order from myself - and also a good supply of Network cloth uniform badges paid for by County. However, only those who have been invested as Network Scouts and are fully paid up are entitled to wear them.

There are several major trips this summer, and I am sure we will all have plenty to talk about at the Gilwell Reunion in September !

Fellowship - Linda Vaudrey

Our summer meal at the White Hart, Chipstead was very successful.  Thanks to Betty for finding the new venue.

Reminder - the BBQ will be held at Jean and David Gould's house.  The cost will be £5.00 per head.  Please bring your own liquid refreshment.  Let Jean/Dave know by Saturday 15th July, whether or not you will be attending.

Please let Bill Walden know if you will be coming to the formal meeting on 19th September, for catering purposes.  We would like a full house for what should be a very interesting evening.

10 Pin Bowling - Sunday, 3rd September - names to David Gould by Thursday, 31st August.

We hope all members have a good summer.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Ron Waro and his family after the loss of our dear friend June.