Diary Dates

District Commissioner

I have sent a note out to GSL's, which contains a number of issues but principally Monday 22nd January 2007, which will be a GSL/Census evening, when the census returns will be collected and the relevant payment made. The District Treasurer will be on hand to receive payment and issue receipts. Groups who do not hand in their census and payment will subsequently be charged the full rate. HQ has decided to hold its payment figure at £19.10 less the 50p discounted figure for prompt payment. The County and District have yet to decide what figure they will be requiring but you will be advised well in advance of 22nd January 07.

Please make note and be aware this gives you 7 months notice.

Thank you to those who put the last detail for St George's Day into action whilst I was away on holiday.  It was certainly a different location, where the pre-planning was totally ruined by the late letting of the five a side pitch. That, together with the wet weather, made life at a new location difficult. However the young people seemed to enjoy it and the Band was a real triumph. I have booked Sacred Heart Church for next year and full details will be published by the end of July.

The other important note is that I will definitely produce a detailed programme of all District events for 2007 to be published by the end of July this year. The intention is that all venues will be booked prior to July so details can be published very early. It will also allow Groups to plan their own centenary events with some confidence that there will be no clashes.

It has been good to visit so many Groups in the last month and what is clear to me is that there is some superb Scouting going on right around the District. The number of Groups I attended who had a hall full of parents further encouraged me. I detect an increase in the interest in Scouting from Parents together with increasing numbers of young people. I was really thrilled by what I saw and we have to build on this for the future.

Planning on the Centenary District camp is proceeding well. We have definite number returns from 13 Groups and I am hoping the other 7 will join us. We already have 500/600 campers and 200 Beavers visiting. There are some good ideas being looked at but if you have a good idea or comment then get these in as soon as possible. Please contact Neil McLauchlan who is chair of the camp committee.

2007 Update
There are several new HQ events planned for 2007, briefly they are:-

  • National Mega Gig for Scouts and Explorers Sat 23rd June Manchester Stadium

  • National Beaver and Cub fun days at Gilwell Park 16/17th June

  • National Festival of Scouting at Millennium Dome Sat 24th Nov

  • National winter camp at Gilwell for Explorers 5/7th Jan

Gilwell have also announced that there will be week-by-week centenary programmes available to every Leader for the whole of the year. This sounds like a really useful resource and one worth using.

Congratulations to Martin Whiting ex DC of Wimbledon and Merton who has been appointed ACC General Duties as has Janet Drinkall. Janet takes over Joan Uridge's responsibilities, particularly County Commissioners Standard. Joan has decided to stand down.

There will be an evening for all Chairpersons, Treasurers and Secretaries on Monday 11th September at Kenneth Black DHQ commencing at 8.00 pm. I will send out details once the hall booking has been confirmed.

Bob Prescott

Camp Name & Logo
We are running a competition for the following:

This is open to all members, Leaders and Adult helpers etc. The logo will be made into a badge.
Entries by the end of July 2006 to Neil McLauchlan. Please mark your entries with your full name, Group, Section or contact details.

Keep up to Date about District Camp

There is a button on the web site Home Page linking to information about the District Camp. Please access this for the latest camp information.

District Store
The store will close after business on Thursday 20 July until 14th September, for the summer break. If you need anything urgently, please contact Brian.

New items:

Both items special order only.

Centenary Scarves and Badges
You probably saw the advert for the new centenary scarves and badges in the current issue of Scouting.
They will be available through the Store and Badge Secretaries, special order only.  My sources suggest that Bob has a few ideas regarding the scarf - watch this space . . .

You may order sets of the badges now for delivery in September, but the individual badges will not be available until November.  They will cost £1 each (£4 for the set of 4).

Books
The District has a large stock of books left over from past book sales.  If any Group would like them, please contact Cliff Condon.
If there are any left over after your event, they can be recycled at the Morden Hall DHQ.

Warden
Bentley Copse has new wardens:
Graham and Julie Anker    01483 202424  warden@bentleycopse.fsnet.co.uk

Our thoughts have been with Jean and John Prior after their son died recently.  They have asked me to publish the following:

"Jean and John Prior would like to thank all their Scouting friends for their kind thoughts, prayers and support on the sudden death of Kevin."

Cubs 90th

 and Beavers 20th 

birthday celebrations

at the County Cub and Beaver Funday

Walton Firs Campsite

on

   1 July 2006 

This will be an unforgettable fun packed day of adventure, celebration and thrilling events. Come and try exciting activities and skills including bows and arrows (Beavers) archery (Cubs), the maze, camp cookery, arts and crafts, amateur radio, Scouting skills, puzzles and games, skittle alley and circus skills (Abseiling and climbing for Cubs)
These are only a few of the things on offer so don't miss out...

If you haven't already confirmed that your Cub or Beaver Section(s) will be attending please contact:
Beaver Scouts: Andy Elgar

Cub Scouts: Michèle McNamara

County Training for 2006 - 2007 - Brian Beckley

All at Bow Lane Centre, Bow Lane,Morden.
First Module on date is am. Last Module on date pm. Please check middle Modules with your Local training Manager. 

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 finalized. Another workshop for 'part trained' leaders is also being planned.

Beavers - Andy Elgar (ADC Beavers)

Have you given me all your numbers for Beaver Scouts and Adults attending the County Joint Birthday Celebration Event at Walton Firs?  If not, or if you know of Leaders from other Sections who would like to help on the day with our bases, please contact me as soon as possible.

Finally, just a reminder, that the next Beaver Scout Leaders' meeting will be Wednesday 19th July at DHQ Morden for 8pm - please do feel free to invite your Assistant Leaders to these meetings, it is a good way for them to meet the Beaver Scout Leaders from other Groups within the District and provides a discussion forum for all items Beaver Scout related.

Cubs - Michèle McNamara (ADC Cubs)

7 Aside Football competition: this took place at Raynes Park High School on May 14th and the weather remained kind to us. 15 teams of 9 took part and in a remarkably good-natured competition, the results were as follows: -

I do have 2 items of lost property from this event, one water bottle and one Adidas top size 34/36 mainly dark blue with yellow, red and white pattern, if no one claims these items within the next 4 weeks I shall dispose of them.

Our thanks go to all those who volunteered their help before or on the day to get this competition up and running, especially the referees.

District Camp:  please remember that we must have all medical forms before the camp. We have approximately 170 cubs attending this camp and I'm sure we are all hoping for good weather that weekend.

County Fun Day:  the coaches have now been booked and the transport cost for Leaders will be notified shortly. 

Scouts - Liz Laverick (ADC Scouts)

I forwarded information from Mark Patrick, ACC Scouts, by email to all Groups about the Centenary Patrol Leaders' Camp 26 to 28th July 2007.  I need names of nominees by the 6th June 2006 (forms to be completed) to pass onto Mark for the County AGM on the 7th June.  The whole County only have 2/3 places, as this Camp is open across the country so the names are to be drawn out of a hat at the AGM.

The next County event is Mission Improbable a weekend camp at Walton Firs in September; Scouts can attend without their Leaders (though Leaders can volunteer to help with activities).  This is an excellent way for Scouts to gain experience of camping if their Leaders have not gained their Nights Away Permit and for new Leaders to observe good camping and outdoor activities in action.

Forms can be found in the County Year Book and the closing date is in June.  This is very popular and places fill very quickly, so get those forms in!

Our next Troop Leaders Meeting will be Tuesday 20th June 2006 at 8pm, our host will be Dave Bixby at the 1st Morden HQ, Central Road (iron gates near the chicane) - football does not seem to be a factor!  Please send apologies and agenda items ASAP.

Explorers - Neil McLauchlan (DESC)

We held an extremely successful District Explorer Scout Sports night & BBQ on Thursday 18th May at the Old Wimbledonians. All five units were represented and took part in an evening of sports and silly games. Many thanks to Neil Griffin and the Wimbledon Unit for hosting the evening, organising the games and Neil spending all evening behind the BBQ churning out great burgers.

Fellowship - Linda Vaudrey

Unfortunately, our walk in May had to be cancelled due to lack of response.  We are hoping for a better response for our forthcoming events.   

Reminder: the summer meal is at the White Hart, Hazelwood Lane, Chipstead, 7.30 p.m on 10th June.  If you need any further information please contact Betty or Rob.

Our annual B.B.Q. will again be held at Jean and David Gould's home.  This will be on Saturday, 22nd July and we hope to see as many members as possible.  If you would like to attend please let Jean or David know.  Further details in the next Links.

If you cannot make the B.B.Q. then please make sure you come to the formal meeting on Tuesday 19th September at the Wandle DHQ.  Bill Walden has come up trumps again with his speaker and wonders just how much you know about 'Dactylography' - you will have to come just to find out what the word means and whether I've spelt it correctly!

I have been asked by Mary White to thank you for the cards and good wishes she received during her recent illness.  Happily she has now fully recovered.

We also send our best wishes to Jean and John Prior who are in our thoughts at the moment.

There is a new uniform badge available to signify investiture and membership of the Scout Network section.
Initially by special order only, until we know how many people want them.  44p each.

Scouting Proverbs
As printed in The Book of Scouting published to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in 1967: