Did millennium fever show itself in your community? The County bankers recently gave me a tour of their vaults and showed me millions of new notes saved in case there was a run on cash supplies as a result of millennium fever - it didn’t happen!
We should make the Millennium something very special - something to remember - for our Scouts. A touch of excitement - of fever - is surely allowable here. The Millennium Family Camp at Tyntesfield is one such opportunity. The site is terrific and the potential for fun and excitement is legion. We owe it to our young people to make them aware of it and to extend to them the chance to do something very special. Chief and Queen Scout Award recipients also have a unique opportunity to enjoy 2000 minutes of action packed adventure at Gilwell Park this summer.
However, I come across many young people who have not heard of either event or have not been enthused to take them up. Why is this? Are we Leaders being fair in not extending these opportunities to them? Can’t we be bothered? We don’t have the right to make choices for them. If your Scouts are not involved, ask yourself ‘is it because of me’? It is not too late to put these opportunities in place - please do it.
You will all have read or seen the consequences of the tragic death of one of our Scouts in Snowdonia last autumn. Our hearts go out to Jonathan’s family and to the Group and Leaders. We for our part must continue to make every effort to discharge in full the duty of care we take on in providing a programme for young people. Our age-related programme in central to activity planning. Our system of Authorisations for Adventurous Activities works well: it is an 'enabling' step, which means Leaders and parents can be sure that party leaders are trained and responsible, and that leaders have the authority and support of The Scout Association behind all that is done. Please make quite sure that all activities, adventurous or less so, take place properly and within our rules – the rules are there to protect both you and the young people. The consequences for not doing so can, believe me, be serious in the extreme.
Roger Starr
The next edition of the
Bulletin will be in June 2000. Items for publication should be sent
to the County Office as soon as they become available. The last date
for inclusion is 14th May 2000.
Circulated to all Leaders,
Commissioners and Administrators by Districts. Published
1st day of February, April, July, October and December.
Bar to Long Service Decoration
John Vailes, Wansdyke
Long Service Decoration
Maureen Purnell, Severn Vale
Ian Rowsell, South Cotswold
Margaret Williams, South Cotswold
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10 year Service Certificate |
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Anna Dudley, Bristol North East |
Sarah Dando, South Cotswold |
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Graham Clark, Avon |
Nigel Greenslade, Wansdyke |
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Silver Wolf
C.J. Sparrow, Group President,
28th Bathampton
Bar to Silver Acorn
Mrs. G.I. Emsley, Honorary
Scouter, District Vice-President, Axe.
Silver Acorn
T.H. Bower, Bristol West - Member
District Executive Committee, Member District Scout Fellowship
G.S. Brown, GSL, 173rd Ebeneezer Methodist
M.J. Hunt, GSL, 1st Burrington and Wrington
Medal of Merit
Syd Cherrill, ACC (International)
Richard Parsons, SL, 148th Bristol
(1st Stockwood)
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Chief Scout's Award |
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Robert Vanderplank, 1st Congresbury |
Dave Hawkins, 1st Portishead, Portbury |
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Kim Tyrell-Marsh, 1st Blagdon |
Dominic Hill, 81st Bristol |
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Additional Responsibilities:
Stuart Ballard ACC (VS)
From April 1st - County Advisor
for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Press Officer
H. John Wilkins, 28 St. Annes Ave.
Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2EH
Tel: 0117 9865899, E-Mail john.wilkins@avonscouts.org.uk
Please note incorrect
telephone number:
Number in Directory for John
Jones, Rowing and Pulling, should be amended to: 0117-963 1550
Please note new address:
Tony Fleming, 35 Black Barn
Lane,Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1BP
Tel/fax: 01291 671199
E-mail: tony.fleming@avonscouts.org.uk
As a result of the tragic accidents in the mountains last year, there has been a change in the rules regarding parties moving together in the hills.
With immediate effect, POR Rule 40(1)(f) has been amended to read:
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Every party must include at least one named and designated party leader, and no party may exceed a maximum of seven in all. If a Troop, Unit etc has more than seven in the area parties must move either on different routes or, if on the same route, with clear time and geographical separation between them in order that they do not become mixed" |
The only exception to this is when Form M holders are training Ten Tors teams, for which alternative arrangements have been instigated. If you are involved in training Ten Tors teams then you will need to have your Form M amended to enable you to ‘supervise’ parties. Please contact me for further details.
On a lighter note, if you require advice/information regarding any summer expeditions or camps then this is the time to contact us. Please do not leave it until the last minute.
More details on the next Basic Skills course will be distributed through the Districts in due course. The meet at Beddgelert, Snowdonia is being held over the weekend of 22nd to 24th September. This weekend is aimed at Leaders and older Venture Scouts who have experience of the hills and moorlands, who wish to have a taste of the mountains and even to try some scrambling. Form M assessments for England and Wales can also be carried out by arrangement, contact us for more details.
Finally, can everyone who has a stash of Form M Application Forms, destroy them. Some of the applications we receive are on forms in excess of 15 years old!!
Up to date application forms and additional details are easily available by asking for a Form M pack from County Office. Old forms will be returned in future.
Jeremy Baldock
Tel 01443-411729 or e-mail: jeremy.baldock@avonscouts.org.uk
County Mountain Activities Web Page: http://www.avonscouts.org.uk/mountain-activities
OUR COUNTRYSIDE
With Summer Outdoor Programme’s now being made, please spare a thought for the Countryside it could do with some help.
Projects like cleaning up your local park of litter, cans, and other rubbish etc. (Aluminium cans are worth about £800 per ton). Helping to clean up ponds, clearing the footpaths of undergrowth and growing trees from seeds for the Forest of Avon all helps the Countryside and makes it a better looking place in which to spend our free time. We have all taken for granted what is around us, but how much better it could be - we can all do something now. Our young people can earn badges for the work done. Why not carry out a study of the local birdlife, mammals, plants and wild flowers. All can be used to help gain badges and learn about our countryside at the same time.
Mike Dorgan – Conservation & the Environment
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CHELWOOD CAMP SITE
Barn, Water Points and Toilets
Plenty of room for all - we never crowd you |
BOWLEREE 2001
East Lancashire Scouts & Guides international
camp, 21st – 28th July 2001 at Bowley Scout Camp, Great Harwood,
Lancashire. Scouts & Guides aged 10 ½ years and above will
have the opportunity to develop new skills, take part in a wide range
of adventurous activities and forge international friendships. The
camp fee of £95 includes a camp badge, handbook, activities,
scarf and T-shirt, but excludes the cost of food, travel and any
camping equipment needed. For further information please contact:
The Booking Secretary, Bowleree 2001, 1 Stockwood
Close, Blackburn, Lancs. BB2 7QW. E-mail: bowleree2001@hotmail.com
or visit our website: www.bowleree.co.uk
Some months ago I was chatting with about ten Group Chairmen (not Avon, I hasten to add!) on the subject of Trustees. They all know that their Group Executives were trustees for the purposes of the Charities Acts, so I asked them who were the Trustees of their Scout buildings.
Three immediately said they had no idea. A further three said they had never seen the deeds and/or lease of their property and they were pretty sure that their Group Secretary would not know. One Chairman said that two of his Trustees (man and wife) were now living in Australia, address unknown. Two Chairmen were aware that one of their Trustees had died some years ago. So what is the problem?
No problem at all until you want to sell part of the Group Building or Land, or to acquire an extra piece of land. Perhaps negotiate a new Lease or maybe apply for a Lottery Grant. So what can you do about it? You could consider appointing the Scout Association Trust Corporation as your Trustee. This is a "perpetual" Trustee with a full-time Secretary/Solicitor at Baden-Powell House. It’s affairs are managed at regular Board Meetings by four volunteer Directors &ldots; yes, I am one of them!
Further information from Margaret Johnson at BP House or alternately you can give me a call on 01793 782109.
Tom Webb - County Auditor.
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BARNDANCE 2000
Saturday 17th June, 7.00pm to Midnight BBQ & Pig Roast - Licensed Bar - Camping
Information and Bookings: |
NARROW
BOATS Day, weekend and Week bookings available May - September
Training courses organised annually |
Minibus Training
Available from: Bristol
Community Transport
185-189 Easton Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0HQ
Enquiries: Tel 0117-902 0159 Email BCTtraining@aol.com
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Workshop for
members of Appointments Sub-Committees
13th May 2000
There is to be a half-day workshop for members of
District Appointments Sub-Committees on Saturday 13th May 200, which
is intended for all members of, and advisers to, such committees. It
will be held at Woodhouse Park from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. There
will be no charge for this workshop.
The role of the District Appointments sub-Committee is
of increasing importance, not least because of child protection
implications and leader suitability requirements. Accordingly, I do
hope that you will encourage all such Committee members and advisers
to attend.
Further details from County
Office Tel: 01454 613006.
Sue Gillett, ACC (AT)
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Introduction
to Scouting - Stage 4
4th - 11th
June 2000
To those Leaders who wish to attend the June 11th INS/4 course; please note it will be held at the 26th Group H.Q., Westbury on Trym and not at Woodhouse Park. Directions to the H.Q. will be sent out with the Course joining instructions.
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Skills of Scouting
14th
–18th August 2000
Skills of Scouting is now being offered as a
residential course at Woodhouse Park. This course may particularly
suit those of you who work shifts or who otherwise find it difficult
to attend weekend courses.
This course provides the opportunity to complete the
whole year of your Skills of Scouting courses in 5 days.
Places are still available – further details from County
Office Tel: 01454 613006
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Training Review
New arrangements for training will apply from later
this year. Local Induction Training (replacing existing Stages 1 and
2) will be undertaken by Group Scout Leaders supported by the
District Team and the first formal stage of Introductory Training
(replacing Stages 3 and 4) will be delivered on a co-operative basis
between Assistant District Commissioners (Adult Training) and members
of the County Training Team.
There will be a launch of these revised arrangements
in each District over the next few months.
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RESOURCE CENTRE 2000
The Resource Centre at Woodhouse
Park will be open on the first and third Tuesday in each month.
In the Resource Centre you will
find books for use when programme planning. The Resource Centre at Woodhouse Park will answer these needs and is available to all Leaders in Avon county - Please make use of this excellent facility. |
Training at Woodhouse Park
At a recent Sectional Programme training
weekend, there were thirty participants. To run the weekend, 3
members of the Training Team were supported by 5 tutors from across
the County, a team of 4 in the kitchen, 4 ACCs, 2 DCs and our newly
appointed County Secretary. (Try putting that to music!)
Although our training is serious in aim it is
not all serious in content. We obviously had to discuss such things
as rules for adventurous activities, finances, insurance, programme
planning and ceremonies but there was also a lot discussion about the
more fun things such as camping, hiking, climbing, and canoeing and
we had a few laughs as well!!!
We all agreed to undergo the required training
when we first took out our warrants, it is an essential part of being
an effective leader, it is a great way to meet other like-minded
people, to share ideas and if approached with the right attitude can
be fun.
I have been taking part in training events over
the last few years as a participant, a tutor and a trainer and I am
always amazed at the depth of skills and talents our section leaders
are able to demonstrate during training sessions. If they are able to
pass on some of these skills with the same amount of enthusiasm to
the young people in their groups we will be offering excellent
Scouting in Avon County.
Clive Sandrey, ADC(Scouts), Severn Vale
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