Diary Dates

Summer's over . . .

Did it ever arrive?  How was your camp or expedition? Did the weather tax your ingenuity?  

I'm sure that - rain or shine - your members had a great time at summer camp.  Often the storms help to make the memories.

National Trust Fayre - 'Kiddies' Corner'

For the past 12 years we have supported the National Trust Fayre in Morden Park but the time has come to re-think the event.  There was a short discussion at the last GSLs' meeting but now a special meeting has been called to decide on the future of our involvement.  The District Team and all Group members who wish to have their say (GSLs, Chairmen, Supporters etc) are invited:  Tuesday 21st September at 7.45pm at Morden Hall HQ.

Invitation

The Wimbledon (Edgehill) Explorer Unit would like to invite you to two forthcoming events:

Wednesday 15th September: AGM at The Upper Parish Hall, Sacred Heart church, Edgehill, Wimbledon.  7.00pm - to include a presentation on their recent expedition to Nicaragua.

Friday 24th Sept:  'Family Quiz' at The Upper Parish Hall, Sacred Heart church, Edgehill, Wimbledon.  7.30pm. 

For further details contact Catriona.

Nights Away

The 1st September deadline has arrived.  

If you don't have a Nights Away Permit, you can't take your members away - even for a one night sleepover!

Contact Brian Beckley and arrange for your assessment.

Applying for a grant?

Have a look at the County's website for some very useful phrases

www.glswscouts.org.uk

District Commissioner - Bob Prescott

I hope everyone had a good summer and that all camps and outings were very successful. The reports I have received have all been very good, so well done to all.

September is traditionally the start of a new scout year and I expect your plans and programmes are all in place so that we can give the young people a great autumn of scouting. I look forward to hearing your news and plans in due course.

As usual there are changes to consider:

  • We have a new Chief Scout nominated and he lives in Wimbledon. I am certain that Peter Duncan will be a wonderful Leader of Scouting in this country and I believe it is an inspired choice and look forward to him beginning his work in September.

  • The camp permit scheme commences on 1st September. Please contact Brian Beckley or myself if you wish to get fast tracked to your own permit. Please remember you must have a permit holder in attendance for a night's away experience from now on.

  • The new Leader training scheme commences and a reminder that all GSL's and Commissioners must do module 25 as soon as possible.

  • As of July 2004 there is no upper age limit on warranted service. All warrants that were due to expire in March 2005 because of your 65th birthday are automatically extended to 30th June to allow time for you to decide if you wish to continue and for the appointments committee to review the warrant. Please contact either myself or Joan Burgess if you have any queries.

 

New District Badges are now available and will be distributed to Groups based upon your census figures. All further badges will be paid for in the normal way.

Sadly we say goodbye to Gareth Beynon and Evelyn Steele from the District Team and I would like to thank them both for the wonderful service they have given and for all their support through the merger. We congratulate and wish Gareth the best of luck in the Deputy headship he has accepted in Bristol. I am pleased that Gareth will be able to keep in touch with the District at weekends and fulfil a role as a District Explorer Scout Leader. I am now actively looking for a new District Explorer Scout Commissioner.

Liz Laverick has also asked to have a sabbatical during the coming year for family reasons; the remainder of the Cub Scout team will deputise for Liz through the year.

I am delighted that Andy Elgar has accepted my invitation to become ADC Beavers and will assume these duties with immediate effect. We shall need at least two District Beaver Leaders to support Andy. Let Andy know if you feel this is something you would like to do.

Finally . . .

Many of you will know I have not been too well lately. My thanks to everyone for the expressions of good will received. I am pleased to say that the drug regime now prescribed is beginning to make a difference and I am almost back to normal service.

District Diary

The electronic version will be updated regularly, as new dates are agreed.  Hard copies of the diary, as it stands now, are available from the Morden Hall HQ.

SID Directory

Are you listed on the Scoutbase email directory SID? The two former District listings have been merged and there is a considerable amount of out of date information on there. Please check your entry to make sure that it is correct.

Chiltern 20

Scouts:  are you interested in the Chiltern 20 in October? This is run by the same folk who run the Southern 50 Challenge and is a useful introduction to the main event.

Details on website http://www.Scouts_gln_southern50.org.uk

The Gimme5 Challenge

Have you registered for the Gimme5 Challenge which will take place between 12 and 20 March 2005?  This is something which everyone, from the youngest Beaver upwards, can get involved in.  Log on to www.gimmie5.org.uk or phone Scout HQ on 0845 300 1818 quoting G5C001001. 

Beavers - Andy Elgar

I hope you all had a pleasant and enjoyable Summer break and are looking forward to resuming your colony meetings.  I'm sure you have plenty of fun packed programmes planned for your young people over the coming months.

As you are aware, Evelyn Steele has made a decision to step down as ADC from the end of July.  I'm sure you'll agree, and will join with me in thanking Evelyn for all her time, effort and hard work she has put into Beaver Scouting in both this, and previous Districts over the years.  Also thank you to those who attended our a last Beaver Leaders meeting where a gift presentation was made - I've never seen Evelyn quite so lost for words !!!!
So what happens now ??? Well, I can confirm that I've been asked to take on the role of ADC.  Although Evelyn will be a hard act to follow, I am looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead and hope I'll have your support in my decision.  I look forward to working with you all in the coming months.

Finally, just a reminder, the next Beaver Leaders Meeting is Wednesday 15th September for 8pm at District HQ in Morden.

"Thank you to those Leaders who attended our July Meeting.   Thank you also to everyone for the gifts presented to me on my 'retirement from Scouting' and your kind words.   What a lovely surprise!   I have enjoyed my Scouting life and, like a lot of you, have seen many changes in the 20 years I have been involved.

Thank you to everyone for your help and support during my role as ADC."  

Evelyn Steele

Cubs - Michele MacNamara

The next event for the Cubs is the Swimming Gala on October 2nd, details and entry forms have been sent out to all packs. Please make sure you return your entry form in time (September 30th), as no entries will be accepted after that date. We could still do with a couple more volunteers.

November 7th the Handicraft Competition will be held at 22nd Wimbledon H.Q. please make a note of the date now.

Please note the cycle cross planned for September 19th has been cancelled, as a suitable venue could not be found at such short notice. 

Liz Laverick will be taking a sabbatical for the next year and the DCSL's will be meeting with her and the DC shortly to discuss how the section will run in her absence. If you have any questions or problems please approach one of them.

Scouts - Paul Atkins

I hope that all of your Summer Camps and expeditions were a great success and that treatment for Trench Foot & Webbed Feet is well under way.

Our next Scouters' meeting is on Thursday 2nd September at the 11th Mitcham HQ, Mitcham Park (behind the Police Station). Please make every effort to ensure that your Troop is represented as we have to agree arrangements for the Swimming Gala, Incident Hike and Troop Quiz which are all scheduled for this term.

The Nights Away scheme is now in operation so you need a Permit for any overnight events that you are planning.  Please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the scheme before you take young people away.

Explorer Scouts - Neil Griffin

The Wimbledon Unit have just returned from a successful Expedition to Nicaragua. During three weeks working in a very poor area of Ocotal, (Barrio Sandino) the 44 members, including Leaders and members of the Network demolished and rebuilt a 60 square metre building to house a kitchen and dining area, as well as workshops and an area for communal use, (including a police post) in the grounds of a pre-school.

The Unit also installed a new water pipe, repaired the existing school's roof, latrine and doors / windows, renewed fencing, completely redecorated it (with Green and Purple highlights!), built an adventure playground and provided hard and soft landscaping.

We will have a video available which we hope to show at the District AGM..

The final week was spent in the south of the country. Some of the Unit members completed their PADI open water certification and everyone was involved in a host of water-based and land-based adventurous activities from hiking around active volcanoes to deep sea sports fishing.

The Unit appeared on Nicaraguan TV when our band performed and the members danced during a 'telethon' to raise money for kids with disabilities.

We are about to set out on a Bank Holiday weekend camp in Surrey, so that the whole Unit get a chance to be together and we don't forget what its like to be under canvas. Rain and all!

Our AGM is being held at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall, at 7.30, September 15th. There will be a presentation of the expedition and DVDs will be on sale. Hope to see you there.

I am sure that Tom Griffin will be putting some images onto the Network section of the website, as soon as he (like the rest of us) has got over the shock of returning to work.

Network - Chris Dean

The Greater London SW Scout Network is two years old on September 1 - doesn't time fly - and already membership has grown to more than 100 County-wide.

We had an excellent Conference weekend at Frylands Wood on July 10/11, and this was followed by the Scout Network Project in Belarus, which was hugely successful. The team will be giving a Presentation at the County Training Centre, Bow Lane, Morden on September 15 at 8.15 pm - all are welcome.

Towards the end of August, 16 members are travelling to The Lake District to complete their Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award expeditions, and we hope for a successful outcome.

Activities have continued throughout the summer holidays, and the sailing session at Wimbledon Park was well supported and much enjoyed although the winds were uncharacteristically light, and rather flukey!

September looks like being a very busy month for the GLSW Scout Network. On September 4 we will competing in the Dragonboat Races at Longridge, and for the whole of that weekend there will be a major presence at the Gilwell Reunion. The following weekend we shall be at Poole Harbour for our second Investiture of 2004, then on either 18 or 19 September there is an opportunity to go paragliding.  Finally, in September we have been asked to run skill bases for Richmond Cubs at their annual Ian Goddard Challenge - volunteers are wanted for this.

The next Scout Network Committee Meeting is on 6 September at the 1st Kingston Hill HQ at 8pm prompt. Should you wish to know more about the Scout Network please contact Chris Griffin or Steve Grogan locally, or Chris Dean (CSNC).

Fellowship

Recent Events
A big thank you to Dave and Jean for holding the BBQ at their house, and also to John.  A very pleasant evening was spent by all.

Reminders:  

Sunday 5th September: visit to Kew Gardens details from John.

Wednesday 22nd September: formal meeting at Morden Hall DHQ  please contact Bill Walden to let him know if you can attend.  As many members as possible please.  Refreshments will be provided.

 
Forthcoming Events:
Sunday 10th October Ten Pin Bowling, David Lloyd Centre.  Please contact Dave Gould if you are interested.

We would like to send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to John Prior who we understand has been in hospital recently.

On a personal note, may I thank everyone, on behalf of Bill, for their cards, good wishes and telephone calls.  At the moment he is still in hospital but we hope to have him home shortly.  Many thanks, Linda.

"A few words of encouragement can sometimes tip the scales between another's failure or success."