Congratulations to the 1^st Stags for winning the County Emlyn scouting skills competition. Well done and congratulations to Andy and his team of Leaders at the 1^st Scout Troop. “Be very proud”.

 

Let’s all shout load how good we are!!

We have a lot to be proud of in our scouting, having been in post for three years it is timely to note the achievements we have all made together.

In no particular order:

• Very supportive District Executive Council
• Adult recruitment on the up.
• Over 800 members in Southampton a record high.
• Wilverley camp site greatly improved
• Adult Training Greatly improved.
• Support to Groups greatly improved.
• All groups are full, thriving and looking forward with enthusiasm.
• A much improved media, communication and district web site.
• All district events and camps have improved.
• Our young Leader trainees continue to support our scouting well.
• A great number of bronze, silver and gold Chief Scout award winners. Quality scouting.
• Growing help & support from our Active Support Unit.
• Lots of additional adventurous activities taking place.

Scout Association Compass Membership System Data.

I spoke of this last month but for those that did not read it then, please note the launch of the new scout data base has been delayed for a few weeks whilst they fine tune the system. It will be opened for business very soon. When that happens we will have to major task of making sure all our young people are safely and accurately recorded on the system. You are being asked by Graham to tell him how you presently keep those confidential records. Further updates will be given out over the next few weeks.

If you keep your records on OSM there will be a day when that information will be transferred to compass so please make sure what records you have in OSM are correct.

Going forward it will be each group and section leader’s responsibility to make sure that the Compass data is up to date. That is a big job so groups may look to assign someone to take on that work on all the section leader’s behalf. It is your decision. I will be talking more to Group Scout Leaders at our next meeting which is being held on Wednesday 8^th October at Bevious Town School at 7.30pm.

I Challenge you all. I would like many more Parents to be asked to get involved the more we have the more fun it would be for us. I challenge all of you to ask one person to get involved. I often get told that Parents would help if they were asked.

District Sports Swimming Gala

The District are holding its annual swimming gala at the Quays on Saturday 15^th November so for those of you that are sports representatives please get in touch with me or Graham Meering and offer to get involved.

District Directory September 2014

We will be updating our district directory very soon so if you have any changes in your group please make sure Graham is aware of those so that your group information is up to date.

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,
Mob Tel 07770364711 or colin.floyd@ntlworld.com

 

There are places available for Hampshire scouts…

The day will follow the now well established format of starting with a colour ceremony on the boat-deck aft at 10.00 followed by six training modules set about different parts of the ship which all participants will experience during the course of the day finishing with the lowering of the colours at 16.00. The six training modules referred to willl cover a) the bridge scenario, how a ship is navigated / steered, compass, radar, signals, etc., b) introduction to an Admiralty chart, how to plot a course., c) working with heavy ropes on the forward deck, heave a line, a few useful knots, etc., d) the rescue RIB on the water, boat / water safety, steer a Fig 8 course etc., e) the fire scenario, hazards, extinguishers, B.A. equipment, run out hoses, etc., f) tour of the machinery spaces, learn how steam is raised and the ship is propelled / steered. In the event of inclement weather wet weather gear will be req’d for activities about the deck – participants wil also need a packed lunch., drinks, cocolate bars, crisps, ice cream and the like are available to purchase and our shop will be open over the 45 min. lunch time period.

Quite amazingly the cost is just £17.50 / young participant with no charge made for accompanying adults / leaders who may like to sit in on the training modules and to make things easy places may be reserved by the simple expedient of an e-mail to myself with payment by cash or cheque (not credit card) at the top of the gangway when coming aboard on the day. More information and a good selection of pictures from previous training days are availabe on our web-site which is www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk If any further information is req’d then please do not hesitate to ask.

Many thanks in anticipation of your usual full and kind support,

Yours “aye”

Richard Jarvis