So it seems Annual General Meeting season is truly upon us!  I attended Bath, Cabot and Wansdyke District AGMs in the last couple of weeks and Steve (Deputy County Commissioner for Operations) has also attended a few.  Our intention has been to try this year to cover all the District AGMs (so far as possible) ourselves. This has given us the opportunity to share our plans and to meet a large number of you.  I have used the opportunity to talk about what we must focus on in the coming years to move from good to great Scouting which is significantly growing.  I think we need to aspire to be outstanding and to not be shy about telling the world how great Scouting is.  From all the stories I’ve heard from you already about Groups recruiting lots of people new to Scouting and doing some really exceptional things, I know many of you are already aiming high.  This is great – well done! 

Our governance structures mean that each Group and District tends to be a separate charity and therefore has its own AGM.  This is good because it places accountability and participation for shaping local Scouting in the hands of local members and these events can also provide an opportunity to engage with the community and other stakeholders to showcase what we do.  It is this same strong sense of identity and belonging that appeals to so many of us.  However, there can be a downside.  We need to be careful not to become introspective and parochial.

If Groups and Districts are to thrive and be truly outstanding examples of Scouting, they need to treat these “structures” as a means to an end.  They are there to provide a framework of support but they should not be a barrier to developing the provision of Scouting in a community.  By this I mean that we need to not let perceived boundaries (Sections, Groups, Districts, Counties) get in the way of making sure we use our resources to best effect for young people and acting in the best interests of the wider Movement in achieving its mission.  We are really one organisation with one promise and one mission. 

Let’s not forget this – let’s “look wide”, share our ideas and resources and remember we’re all in this together.  Imagine for instance, how much duplication could be avoided if adult volunteers in nearby sections and groups collaborated on programme planning and delivery, if recruitment and development initiatives looked to place new resources and people where they have the greatest potential to benefit Scouting, if our equipment and buildings were easily available to one another.  I urge you to be proactive and pragmatic.  Do what you need to do to make this happen.  Keep the end in mind and don’t get too hung up on the means – whether structures, traditional ways of doing things or endless meetings for their own sake.  Let’s get on with it! Scouting will be bigger and better if we do.

As well as looking forward, Annual General Meetings are especially an occasion for looking back, for reflecting on achievements and acknowledging success. I would like to say a huge thank you for everything you do for Scouting – both volunteers working directly with young people and those providing support to adults and our administration.  It simply wouldn’t happen without you.  Ensure you do the formal business quickly and efficiently given proper opportunity for accountability and scrutiny, then use your AGMs to say thank you to all who help Scouting and make sure the young people to play their part by having a say in the year ahead and showing off their achievements.  Their needs and aspirations that must always be at the heart of what we do.

What were your highlights of the past Scouting year?  How effective were your AGMs this year and what could you do differently next time?