Congratulations to Rozy Toomer who has been selected to go to Japan for the Jamboree in 2015. This is very well deserved. The other three who applied are hopeful of attending another international experience.
Well done for both Ben Parker D of E Gold & QSA awards a huge achievement as he did the double at just turned 18.
Congratulations to JJ and Jake for gaining their D of E Bronze award well done to you both. And Simon Pickering on gaining his Young Leader belt
Well Done to Kris Partridge of the 11th and Kay Wilkinson of the 2nd for five years service. Congratulations to Lin Johnson for her 25 years service award. Lin will be retiring from her role as ADC Beavers at Christmas. Thelma as ADC group Support and Eve Willett and Elaine Buckland and Gail Langton will be heading up the District Beaver section in 2014
Well done to the 22nd Regents Park for the group’s 75th Birthday celebration. It was a lovely day which the Mayor and Mayoress thoroughly enjoyed.
Well done to the Canoe Club they had 36 through courses this year. Three beginners courses, two intermediate courses, one three-star course. More representatives from more groups would of course have been welcome. Several groups have done training sessions too.
Also well done to the Scout Patrol from the 1st who were runners up in the County Emlyn competition.
Remembrance Service
Some groups are attending a service at their local churches which is wonderful, for all the other nine groups please come along with a beaver cub and a scout to Guildhall Square at 10am foe the main City Parade. George Longhurst has sent you all the details and I look forward to seeing you and having a good turn out.
Swimming Gala
District Web Site
Wilverley District Camp Site
A big thank you to everyone who came to the Wilverley Maintenance Weekend at the end of August. It was great to have such a good response from you all and we got such a lot done. Wilverley is now setting up a reward system for groups that help with Maintenance so you can still earn yourself points by coming out and doing some more of the jobs that we still have in hand.
The replacement generator project is going well and hopefully will be completed and up and running by the 15th November. It will just be a flick of a switch to turn it on.
New Alternative Promise Wording
The new alternative wording for the promise, gives YOU an alternative to saying duty to God. This takes effect from the 1st January 2014. You may if you wish say instead to uphold the values of scouting. It is your choice.
District Diary and Directory 2014
Graham has updated next year’s diary and the directory both of which are on the district website.
Compass
The Scout Association will be introducing next year a new date base for recording the membership details of all adults and more importantly all young people.
You can find information about Compass here.
If you have computer generated records either on OSM or in your personal records will you please keep them up to date so the switch over will be easier later next year.
Minibuses
The district now has two district permits these are held by me. Every group that uses a minibus from time to time must get the “section 19” permit from HQ. One certificate for each minibus being used. Information here.
Grow your Own Scout Group, Offer the Big Adventure
Thank you to you all for attending the meetings with Thelma to discuss how you can grow your own group. It is clear that every group has a lot to do to enhance what we do and share the load. All will add is Please point out to all your Parents your opportunity boards and the notices that your showing. Notionally 47% of adult members are Parents. Please ask your self what is your group’s average is it at that level?
District Camp 2014
The theme is “space” (thanks to the cub leaders for this suggestion, sorry we didn’t consult everyone about the theme.) Please get this message out to the groups and encourage them to think about how to they might exploit this theme.
All sections are asked if they can come up with some cool and exciting ideas for activities that we might buy in for the camp. And of course ideas for activities for the groups to run themselves. There will be a camp badge competition. Ian will provide info.
We will organise a campsite visit in the New Year. More info on 8th Jan GSL’s meeting. We are organising some blue-card swimming sessions in advance of camp, to give cubs and scouts the chance to participate in water activities.
This has been a very summer for us all. I have been to the following events.
• 2nd Shirley Joint Cub and Beaver Camp at Fernycroft.
• 26th Swaythling Cub Campers badge weekend at Ferny Croft
• 13th Millbrook Summer Fayre
• 11th Freemantle Cub Camp at Wilverley
• 25th and 14th Joint Beaver and Cub Camp at Wilverley
• Network camp at Wilverley
• District Emlyn Competition at Braggers Wood (well done every one who participated and congratulations to the 1st Aldermoor for coming out as the district winning patrol.)
• Cubs David’s Challenge at Wilverley
• The Race for Life in support of cancer research.
• Beaver Logger Head Competition at Wilverley
• Cub Survival camp
• Portswood Fete
• Beaver Fun Day
• 1st Beaver Trip to Moors Valley
• 29th Scout Group Fete
• County Conference
• 1st Beaver Sleepover
• 1st Scout and Cub camp at Wilverley
• Scout Maddison Hunt
• Gilwell DC Open Day
• Scout Raft Race
• 9th Shirley Warren 60th Birthday Camp
• First Response Training
• Recruitment evening which gave us three more student volunteers.
If anyone wishes to talk to me and clarify anything, I am always pleased for you to contact me by email or by phone or in person just ask away.
Yours in Scouting,
Colin Floyd, District Commissioner