|
The Lighthouse -- Jan/Feb 1999Scouts Canada -- Whitby District Newsletter |
Should we adopt a highway as a district? What about making it a project for your group? The 1st Whitby Group is currently applying. It’s a great opportunity for service work for the members and it also helps to increase the visibility of Scouting, since a sign appears on the section of highway adopted.
Have you got any great ideas for celebrating the coming millennium? We are sending a representative to the Town Millennium Committee and one idea is to dig up a time capsule that was left a Camp Batty north of Brooklin 25 years ago.
It’s been decided that Whitby District will have a uniform badge to be worn during the year 2000. Submit your designs to the District President or District Commissioner by May 31. Next January may seem a long way off, but we need to get a design chosen before the summer break, so that the badges can be ordered and distributed in December for wear starting January 1.
We’ve received a 1998 Watershed Award from the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) acknowledging our contribution of over 4000 man-hours of labour in planting trees in recent years. We’ve done such a good job of filling in the waterfront trail area that there’s no room this year to put in more trees, so we’ll be cleaning up one of our previous planting sites this spring. The date will be announced soon.
The Christmas Dinner at Honey Garlic
Restaurant was a big success this year, with what was probably
a record attendance.
As per the November National Council vote, Scouts Canada is now fully co-ed in all sections. (The only exceptions are in cases where the sponsoring organization does not permit this for religious reasons.) Every group must accept females on the same basis as males. Groups are advised to try and make sure some female leaders are involved where the situation warrants it.
Leaders are advised that the 6-page camp form is for weekend camps, not for evening outings. If your group is going out for the evening (out of view of your regular meeting hall), you need to complete form A1.1, not the 6-page form.
Rock climbing facilities usually ask for a disclaimer from liability from participants. Scouts Canada forbids members to engage in any activity where a disclaimer is required. Whitby District has a signed contract with Canadian Extreme Sports in Pickering so that our members do not have to sign a disclaimer to use this location for a group activity. So, if your group wants to go rock climbing, this activity is available. Contact the district commissioner for details.
If you are contacted about a youth committee meeting, try to get one of your youth to attend. Our youth committee chair this year, Jason, had a difficult time getting representatives to come to meetings. You can expect a meeting sometime this spring to elect a new chair. The purpose of the youth committee is to allow the youth members to give input into the program so that everything is not imposed on them from above. Scouting was established as a youth movement from the beginning. The adults are only there to help the youth; the youth are really the ones who should be steering the program. There will be a region-wide weekend for district presidents, commissioners, and youth chairs this coming October 1-3.
The Beavers are planning two big get-togethers this spring. There will be the usual District Log Jam day, this year at Brooklin Memorial Park (beside the arena). Also, in honour of the 25th anniversary of the Beaver program in Canada, there will be a regional Beaveree held at Beavermeade Park in Peterborough on May 15. About 30% of all the Beavers in Whitby are planning to attend. The White Tail Slap, where older Beavers get together with Cubs, will be held this year on April 10 at St. John’s Parish Centre.
The Cubs completed their four weeks of KubKar races last month and they’d like to thank the Town of Whitby for again allowing the races to be held at Iroquois Park Arena. It’s not easy to find a place that can be booked for four weeks in a row like that and Iroquois Park is especially appreciated because there’s lots of room for spectators.
The big upcoming Cub event is May 15 when the Cubs will assemble at Fort York for a very special district Cuboree.
The Scouts, too, have been very busy in the last month. A capacity crowd attended the annual LazerQuest competition. With 207 youth in attendance, the numbers were up about 30% over last year. Almost all Troops attended, though two had not registered by deadline time and could not attend. The event was so well organized and went so smoothly that there was time to squeeze in a little leader competition as well.
The Scouts 18-wheelers races at the KubKar track saw about double the number of last years entries. This event seems to be getting more and more popular, so plans are underway to expand it next year with more prize categories.
Upcoming is the Shooting Competition weekend, with senior Cubs invited to attend some of the activities (though they are too young to shoot). This will be held on May 1 and 2.
Several active Venturer Companies are operating and they’ve even held some district-wide activities recently. On March 9, 32 Whitby Venturers attended a rock climbing evening at Canadian Extreme Sports in Pickering. (See the DC’s report for more on this facility.)
The 2nd Whitby Fire Venturers now have a web page with a list of their upcoming activities. You may have seen the slogan "Put the OUT in Scouting" and the Venturers are certainly doing that, especially as spring arrives. They have a meeting place at the Thickson Rd. fire station, but it seems that they’re out more than they’re in.
A letter is going out, but in case you don’t receive the letter, here is a reminder to to check two important things that cheques on any Scouting bank account must have. The name of the account on the cheques must include Scouts Canada, for example "Scouts Canada 1st Whitby Beavers" or "Scouts Canada 2nd Whitby Group Committee" or "Scouts Canada 3rd Whitby Scouting Auxilliary." There is a danger of losing the hard-earned money if this is not adhered to and a group changes leadership or closes. Secondly, all chequing accounts must require two signatures. This, too, is for your protection.
The popcorn sales went very well this year and we are looking forward to doing it again next fall. Group profits from the sales were over $15,000 over 12 groups, so the average group earned well over $1,000. If you’re still waiting for your crests, you should be getting them soon as we were promised delivery in mid-March.
Several Whitby youth are just back from the World Jamboree in Chile and they’re willing to come to your group and tell you about it. Contact Scouter Brian Wick, who also attended, if you’d like a speaker for your group.
The next big international event is right in your back yard for 10 days this December and January. If you’ll remember how your back yard looked last January, you’ll know that this is Snow Jam, also known as Jam des Neiges, to be held near Québec City. This challenging event for youth 14-17 will be held for 10 days and the cost is $450.00, which includes all activities, food, and gear. There’s a magificent web site with more information at http://www.jamneiges.org/ or ask Scouter Brian for details. This event is officially sanctioned by the World Organization of the Scouting Movement, invitation have gone out to every country of the world, and it’s your chance to join them for the first ever international Scout jamboree to be held in the snow.
Be sure to check our district web site at
http://pobox.com/~scouts
for the latest updates. Note that the character before the word "scouts" is a tilde, usually found on the computer keyboard beside the "1" key and not a dash or hyphen.
Up to the Whitby District Home Page