The Lighthouse -- January 1995
Scouts Canada -- Whitby District Newsletter
CONTENTS
While only limited distribution was possible for the first issue of The Lighthouse this year, this second issue should be going to every adult leader and every Venturer and Rover in the district.
We are almost half-way through the Scouting year, but there is still a lot to plan for to get the most of it.
One of my projects between now and July, is to help prepare our six youth members who will be attending the 18th World Jamboree in Holland, August 1-11, 1995.
I have been selected as a Troop Scouter for the patrol which will include youth from 1st Whitby, 9th Whitby, 1st Ashburn, 1st Thornhill, and 1st Barrie.
The youth members have been hard at work raising the $3000 needed to pay for the three-week trip.
District Council was able to contribute about one-third towards the cost out of monies saved up for World Jamboree experiences.
It's time to make your final plans for Scout-Guide Week in February. Most groups hold their banquet during this week and often organize a church parade in honour of our founder Lord Baden-Powell.
Yours in Scouting,
Brian Wick
The Whitby Gilwellians (leaders who have completed Wood Badge training) will be holding a fund-raising dance for their group in March. A DJ will entertain with music and there will be a buffet lunch at the end of the evening. The fun begins around 8 pm on Saturday, March 25. Tickets are available from Noreen Wild, Pat Dick, Sharon Leonard or John Wyld.
This child abuse prevention course is mandatory for all leaders. If you haven't yet been to the course, you'll have two more opportunities on March 7 and 9. The course starts at 8:00 pm and only lasts 45 minutes (maybe even a bit less). Members of the district council and group committees are welcome to attend too. We'd really like to have 100% of our leaders trained in this course with these two more classes. The location has to be confirmed still, so contact your ADC for the location. Advance registration is not necessary. Register at the door.
Come and find out how to make your Group Committee more effective at the Whitby District ``Group Committee Scouters' Training'' workshop.
The course will be held on Friday evening, January 27, and continued all day Saturday, the 28th (you get to go home at night). The training team includes Jennifer Ackland, Dave Smith, Penny Scuse and Hilda Danforth.
Topics will include your role, finance, problem-solving, and an overview of Scouting's programs.
A small fee ($10 per person) will cover the cost of meals on Saturday.
Several people are already registered, but there is still room for more. Contact Jennifer Ackland at 668-7680 to register. Open to all those on Group Committees as well as those interested in becoming involved.
After being virtually dormant for a year, the Lakeridge Regional Rover Roundtable is meeting again. The next meeting is ``$5 pizza day'' at the C.O. Bick Police College in northern Scarborough. It will be on the morning of Feb. 4. If you have Rovers in your group, be sure they are represented. These regional roundtables are the only way the Ontario Roundtable has any credibility. Contact Neil Wick (655-4065) for more information.
A small clarification on the previous issue's report concerning honours and awards. It was stated that ``it is not necessary to be registered in Scouting to earn service time.'' Actually, the point was that not every adult who registers with the district is actually a paid member with Scouts Canada.
Don't forget that Scout-Guide week (officially Feb. 19 to 26 this year) is coming up very fast. Encourage your youth members to wear their uniforms to school on B.-P.'s birthday, Feb. 22. This tradition can help us attract even more members. Wear your uniform and show the community how proud you are to be a member of our great movement.
We are operating an information table in the Whitby Mall for the week. If you can spare two hours to help man the booth, call Neil Wick at 655-4065.
A new name, but the same old game. This annual fundraiser/environmental program is scheduled for the last Saturday in April to coincide with Arbour Week.
The plan is to get a tree planting site along the new Waterfront Trail which will connect Burlington Bay with Brighton, Ontario.
The segment along the waterfront south of Co-Steel LASCO may be a potential planting site. This will be determined by the level of commitment from the Town of Whitby, who paid the cost of the trees last year.
Most groups have found the Scoutrees for Canada as financially rewarding as Apple Day.
Sixty percent of the money collected by the youth stays within their own groups, ten percent goes to the District Council to cover expenses associated with the planting, and the remainder goes to Provincial Council, National Council and overseas. Scoutrees for Canada is an important source of funds for the Canadian ``Scout Brotherhood Fund'' which pays for farming expansion, clean drinking water, and other necessary projects in developing countries.
Canvassing kits will be distributed at or before the March meeting of Whitby District Council. The chairman for the 1995 project is Andé Harknett. The committee next meets at Coffee Time Donuts at 7:30 on February 15. Make sure a representative from your group attends.
While we've had some some good news stories about Scouting in the local papers this year, we could have more. If you have any kind of activity of special interest, don't hesitate to contact me. On district events involving several groups, we'd like to keep the harassment of the newspaper people to a minimum, so it's best if you check with me before calling the paper.
If you have anything you'd like put in the Lighthouse, call me about that too, preferably at least a week before a district council meeting.
Neil Wick (655-4065)
V.P. Public Relations
Numerous people in several countries are involved in Scouting discussions on computer. The easiest way to get into this in Whitby is to call a BBS on the Fidonet echo system. The Connection BBS can be reached by modem at 434-5833. Messages left here are ``echoed'' to numerous other Bulletin Board Systems in Canada, the U.S., England, and several other countries.
Fidonet actually has two areas: Scouter (mainly for adults) and Scouting (for kids). I'm not sure if the Connection carries both of these. Many other good Scouting discussions take place by computer too. Watch the next issue of The Lighthouse for information on Internet Scout resources.
A Colony Part I course is being held by Humber Seneca District the evenings of Feb. 16, Feb. 23, Mar. 1, and all day Saturday, Mar. 4. The D.C. there, Dave Coutts (905-859-1560) will have information.
A combined Colony Part I and Pack Part I is being held by Owasco District (Ajax/Pickering) on Feb. 13, 15, 23, and 25. Bill vander Valk (428-7237) is the contact.
A Pack and Troop Part II will be held on the three weekends of May 12-14, May 26-28, and June 16-18, at Greenwood Conservation Area.
Contact your service team member for more details.
- Jan. 21
- Emergency First Aid course
- Jan. 27-28
- Group Committee course at All Saints church
- Jan. 28-29
- Winter I camp at Heber Down Conservation Area
- Jan. 30 to Feb. 25
- Kub Kar races at Whitby Mall every Mon.-Wed.
- Feb. 4
- Region youth forum. Youth will represent our district.
- Feb. 4
- Regional Beaver Sharing Session (by invitation)
- Feb. 4-5
- Standard First Aid course (call Kevin Tomlinson to register)
- Feb. 15
- Scoutrees for Canada committee meeting at 7:30
- Feb. 16
- Whitby District Council meeting
- Feb. 18
- 18-wheeler race for Scouts at Whitby Mall
- Feb. 18-25
- Scout-Guide Week Display at Whitby Mall
- Feb. 22
- B.-P.'s birthday -- wear your uniform to school
- Feb. 25
- Kub Kar finals at Whitby Mall
- Feb. 25
- Winter II camp at Algonquin Park
- Mar. 7
- Child abuse prevention course
- Mar. 9
- Child abuse prevention course
- Mar. 19 and 26 (7 pm to 9 pm)
- Canoeing course. Contact Colin Williamson (668-5476) or Will Luchford.
- Mar. 23
- Whitby District Council meeting (one week later in March, due to school break)
- Spring
- There will be a camp certificate course held in the spring. Contact Kevin Tomlinson
- Apr. 8
- White Tail Slap at Heydenshore Pavilion
- Apr. 20
- Whitby District Council meeting
- Apr. 22
- Venturer Shooting Event at Camp Samac
- Apr. 29
- Scoutrees for Canada planting day
- Apr. 29-30
- Trainer Development I course hosted by Whitby (by invitation, call Steve Simmons for information)
- May 6
- Scout Shooting Event at Camp Samac
- May 18
- Whitby District Council meeting
- May 26-28
- District Cuboree at Heber Down C.A.
- May 27
- Beaver Log Jamb at Heber Down C.A.
See the contacts page.
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