Thank you all for such a warm welcome during my first official week in the role.  As you know, I have spent the last month information gathering, preparing and meeting lots of people.  Neil, Graham and Clare have been especially helpful during this handover period.  I would like to thank them once again form all of us for their excellent contribution Scouting in Avon.  I wish them well with whatever they do next – and I’m certain that they will continue to contribute to Scouting into the future. 

As you know Steve Smith is Deputy County Commissioner (Operations) – a role that combines oversight of both the programme and adult support functions.  He and I will work together very closely.  One of the first tasks I have asked him to do is to take some time to review our support arrangements and structure, checking that it is as effective as it can be for the future and that is reflects what our members want and need.  I hope you will all welcome Steve as warmly as you have welcomed me.

My next key step will be to meet with the management team collectively for the first time on 17^th May.  This will be the start of a planning process in which we will establish clear objectives and a rolling annual plan.  This will focus our attention and resources on making a difference to supporting and developing Scouting and it will enable us to regularly monitor our progress.  

Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to share your own views with me, and to invite me to meet you. I have taken note of everything I have heard and I will continue to listen hard to all of you – especially our young people.  One of the things I will do very soon is to establish a few more ways through which I can keep in regular contact with you.  I’ll keep you posted on that and will bring you more news on a regular basis.

As I end my first message I wish to thank all of you who organised and took part in the brilliant Bear Hunt event.  Also, I would thank you for your efforts in achieving Avon’s eighth consecutive year of growth which led to some fantastic media coverage – an incredible achievement! I hope to see as many of you as possible at the Jamboree towards the end of the month, where we will also be joined by the UK Chief Commissioner, Wayne Bulpitt.  It’s shaping up to be another awesome adventure.  What an exceptional month or two for Scouting in Avon!  Well done all of you.

I am so excited about the future for Scouting in Avon and I look forward to shaping this with you over the months and years to come.

Dan Wood

County Commissioner