Diary Dates

The Great Big Left Handshake
During the activities in the Creative Zone during District Camp, a lot of young people contributed to the project which is being undertaken by Scouting to create a giant mural of left hands and which will be displayed at the Tate Modern later this year.
The District contributed some 171 well-drawn and decorated left hand cutouts, which have now been sent to Gilwell for inclusion in the mural. Further details are available on the Scout Association website here.

Alan Maloney
Coordinator of the Creative Zone at District camp 2007

New Appointment Cards
Later this year, The Scout Association will launch new Appointment cards. This month's Scouting magazine address sheet lists the appointments and review dates that will be printed on your card.

Please amend any incorrect information and pass the sheet to Joan Burgess, Appointments Secretary, who will update your details. If you no longer have your address sheet, you can check your details online.

Music and fireworks
Merton Council would like to base their firework display this coming November on Scouting, to celebrate the Centenary.  Does anyone have any tapes or CDs of camp fire songs that we can pass to them?  They need this urgently as the firework company must have three months minimum to prepare the display.  If you can help, please let Lesley Bixby know.

Accounts
In accordance with POR3.48h each 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.

Please ensure you send yours to John Young as soon as possible.

District Sports - 14th July

District Store
The last night of the store before the summer break will be 19th July and it will re-open on 13th September, 7.45 to 9.15pm.
Brian will not be available between 20th July and 12th August or 18th - 25th August.

Pioneering Course

Remote Camping Course - 2007 (Snowdonia National Park)
Sunday 30th September (pre-meet 9.00am-1.30pm)
Friday 5th October to Sunday 7th October

Cost £35.  For details contact Ron Wellbrook, email:  ronwellbrook@hotmail.com

Morden Hall District Headquarters
Next time you are at a meeting at the DHQ, take time to have a quick look at the grounds - most people don't see past the car park and the building.
Groups are welcome to use the headquarters for social or Scouting activities.  Contact the booking secretary, Betty Cronk.

Training - Brian Beckley

Please note that, as it is a very busy year for Scouting, only a limited number of modules are planned from May to September 2007. 

We are planning a 'Getting Started' course, Modules 1, 3/4, 6 shortly. All Provisional warrant holders needing these modules will get a letter inviting them to the training. Anyone else wishing to do this training should contact the Local Training Manager.

During June & July various modules are being planned. (Module 8, 11, 15 and others.) They will be held at Bow Lane on a Wednesday or Thursday evening. Cost £5 a module. Please contact Joan Condon for full information.

• 4 July, Module 11  tbc

• 19 - 21 October, Module 16 at Frylands Wood Campsite.

First Aid Training. Contact Janet Drinkall for information and booking.

Gilwell Park are running various training events plus a number of modules are now available on line at www.scouts.org.uk

Some Modules are available on DVD or CD Rom. (Module 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12.)
More Modules will be added during the year and all will be advertised here in 'LINKS'.

Anybody is welcome to apply to do, or re-do, a module.
Applications can be made :

a) If you are revisiting the Module as 'ongoing learning'. Apply via GSL to Local Training Manager.

b) If you already have a 'Training Adviser' please go via that Adviser to the Local Training Manager.

If you have any questions or queries or need application forms please contact either Joan Condon or me, your Local Training Manager. 

Brian Beckley - Local Training Manager.

Reminder date for your diary: Scouting Sunrise at the Windmill on Wimbledon Common 8am Wednesday 1st August. More details to follow.

Activity Day Sunday 14th October for 7's and over. If anyone has any new ideas for games or crafts that we could use please bring them to the next Beaver Leaders meeting on 18th July at DHQ or you can email them to Hilary at if you are unable to come to the meeting.

Sports Day 14th July.   Help is needed with marshalling etc, if you are free please contact Dave Hodges, he would love to hear from you.

If we don't see you, have a great summer break and come back refreshed for September

Athletes badge testing - 98 cubs attended and earned their athletes badge at Raynes Park playing fields. Thank you to all the Leaders who helped run the bases.

CSL meeting - the next meeting is July 11th at Morden Park DHQ, it is intended to set the diary for the following year at this meeting, so if you want your say in what activities the Cub section undertake in 2007-8, please make sure somebody from your pack attends.

Camps/Pack holidays, I hope anyone having a camp over the summer has a good time but please make sure that your nights away notification is sent to Keith Daly in good time.

The District Patrol Cooking and Camping Standards weekend was held on the 9/10th June at Park Farm, Holly Lane, Banstead.

Thanks go to Gary for finding the site, Dave Hodges for organising the event, Dave Bixby for running the pioneering activity on the Sunday, Peter Hutton for assessing on Saturday, Brian and young Simon for assessing on the Sunday, Simon for living in the area and knowing the fish and chip shop, for Chris our cook and anyone else I've missed!  The weather was glorious and we all had a great time.

The results were:

• 14th Wimbledon A Gold Standard and winners of the trophy

• 23rd Mitcham Silver Standard

• 14th Wimbledon B Bronze Standard

On Wednesday 20th June Dave Bixby led a small party (Dave Hodges, Gary, Chris and myself) to Paches!  Paches is rough woodland on the edge of Ashstead Common (past Chessington World of Adventures, past the Golf Course, on the opposite side of the road, just past a bus stop near a white five bar gate) which Wimbledon and Wandle rent.  Anyone can camp there but it is just woodland, no toilets, no running water so ideal for backwoods camping and cooking.  There are 2 obvious plots but there are 8 in total; it is becoming overgrown through lack of use.  If you would like to be on a working party to tidy up the undergrowth and maybe find the original water supply please contact Dave Bixby or myself!

Young Leaders Report - Liz Laverick ADC General Duties ESL(YL)

I was informed by Bob of my new role and seconds later approached by Ian Newbery ACC ES and asked to attend a one day national conference on "Energise Young Leaders" in Swindon four weeks later!
It was a positive, enjoyable day and I came away excited yet daunted.  I had learnt loads but now realised the extent of what I had agreed to do!

I have spoken to the District Team at our last meeting and to the GSL's at their last meeting to emphasise the help I will need to get this unit off the ground and running.  Just to put names to all the YL in the district across all the sections is a mammoth task, but then to put faces to these names and then help them in their training, especially to complete Module A, which is compulsory in their first 3 months!  In addition I will need the help of every section leader across all the sections including the other ES Units.

I will also need the help of the Scouts as they approach their time to leave the Troop and go on to a Unit.  How they want their Scouting to be delivered will decide how the YL Unit will grow?
I will be contacting everyone involved in all Groups who have Young Leaders.

I there are YL out there who may be reading this then please contact me.

I have received excellent reports of Scout Network involvement at the various Centenary Camps in May, and will be presenting badges at the County Scout Network Conference on June 30 to all participants. Donald Lewis is our newest Scout Network member, being invested during the Sutton Centenary Camp at Walton Firs. Welcome !

During June Scout Network members attended the 'Pubscout' Camp near Coventry, held a sailing evening at Wimbledon Park Lake, and undertook some tree 'surgery' at the Pinewood Scout Training Centre in Shirley. On July 1 we are running an Activity Day for Explorer Scouts and we hope this will be well supported. The following week we shall be in North Wales for the annual MS Challenge charity fundraiser and some mountain walking from the base at Bethesda. Towards the end of the month a large contingent from GLSW will descend upon Hylands Park as part of the IST at the World Jamboree. In early September we shall be at Gilwell for Reunion 07 - please contact me if you would like to come along with the rest of the Network, but hurry as we have to pre-book places.

I am pleased to report that County Scout Network Leaders have been identified for Local Networks in Kingston, Richmond and Sutton, and I would like to fill the remaining vacancies in Croydon and Wimbledon and Wandle as quickly as possible.

Finally tickets, price £15, are now available for the Network New Year's Eve event at Walton Firs. There will be a buffet and live band, plus a Full English Breakfast on New Year's Day.

Summer Meal - Saturday 9th June - a very enjoyable evening.  Many thanks to Jean and Dave for organising.

We have a busy time coming up.  Have you let David Gould know whether you are interested in going to the Pantomime and Gang Show yet?

Wednesday, 11th July - our visit to the House of Commons.  This starts at 7.30 p.m. in the lobby of the House, we shall be shown around by Siobhan McDonagh.  Please let Dave Gould know by Friday 6th July if you would like to go.  We plan to meet at 6.15 p.m., at Morden Underground, in order to travel together.

Reminders:
Saturday 21st July - B.B.Q. at Jean and David's - £5 per head plus bring your own drink.  Let Jean know by Tuesday 17th July if you will be attending.

Thursday 6th September 2007 - Croydon Stagers are putting on their annual 'Music Hall' at Stanley Halls, South Norwood. The cost, including a fish and chip supper, is £12 per head.  If you would like to come please let me know by 30th July, as I have to order tickets, together with cheque, made payable to Linda Vaudrey.  Those of you who have been before know you are in for an entertaining evening but don't expect your Chairman to do his party piece again this year!

Tuesday 18th September - Formal meeting with speaker. Numbers to Bill Walden by 10th September, as light refreshments will be provided.  As in the past Bill always manages to come up trumps with his speaker; we would love to see as many members as possible coming along.

Summer activities
Whatever your plans are for the summer - camping, holidays or just taking a welcome break for a week or two - I hope you have a super time.

For those involved in the Jamboree, whether as a participant, helper or visitor, I know it will be a wonderful experience that you will remember forever.  Enjoy!