Newsletter 2020 January
Welcome back everyone to another year of Scouting at our great local group that celebrates 75 years of service to our suburb. FIRST, a very big thank you for everyone’s efforts last year – the leaders, their partners, their children, the committee, parent patrols and active parents, and to the youth that are energetic and interested in their self-development using the Scout method. And a very warm welcome to our new volunteer leaders. Please read all this important newsletter.
New this year: $25 discount. The group is offering a $25 discount for youth returning for their fourth year. Did you know that most children leave within three years, whilst Scouts provides important development opportunities at all ages, and our group is providing this discount as an incentive and recognition of the value in remaining within the movement for one additional year.
Also, new youth program and badge scheme will commence in April. The scheme is consistent across all sections so easier to understand and most youth will changeover to the new scheme quickly, however youth can choose to remain on the old scheme till end 2022 to complete old badges. No-one is disadvantaged in the transition, and I am available to help. There is a large poster in the main den that describes the new scheme.
Group fees due soon – $25 discount; invoice per child; vouchers.
New: group fee discount for youth that joined prior to 1 Jan 2018 (ie this is their fourth year in Scouts).
New: invoices are per child, not family.
Timing: Renewal invoices will be emailed around 14 Feb and payment deadline is Tue 3 March. This is a very busy time of year for our volunteer treasurer, Joanna, and LIC Alan, and your prompt payment is much appreciated. SJW Scouts has to pay Scout HQ registration for each youth registered at 22 March, so we must receive payment before then.
Continuing: Payment plan. Second child discount. Qld Government Fair Play vouchers.
Can you help 1 hour per month? Put up a poster, committee members, publicity, social patrol.
Scouts runs by volunteers and every family is asked to help 10 hours per year. Please select a way to help and get involved from the list below:
Publicity: print this poster and put it on your school notice board and ask them to publish in their newsletter. Put in any local shops/notice boards. But only our local schools; Ashgrove, Mater Dei, Ithaca, St Finbarrs, Mt St Michaels, Marist, Kelvin Grove and for other schools, please get in touch and I’ll customise a poster for your school.
Parent patrols allow parents to help in organised small groups just like the youth. Select a patrol and get involved.
We have a small committee to support the uniformed leaders that meets monthly and we need general members, a secretary and chair (currently Alan is acting as chair and secretary). Please get in touch if you are willing to help. More info.
Do you have a blue card?
You’ll soon receive a CareMonkey form for each child to nominate if either parent has a blue card (or equivalent such as teacher). We need parents with blue cards to help on camps, particularly in the Joey and cub sections, so your assistance with this is appreciated. We can’t run camps without sufficient parental help.
Scouts help with bushfires: $5 badges available
Scouts have been helping in their local communities and you can help and buy a Scout bushfire badge to wear on your uniform for six months, at a cost of $5. There will be a cash box and register at the first full week back (Thursday 30 Jan to Wed 5 Feb). This is a good thing for the Scouts to spend from their own pocket money – as everyone should have a “donations” bucket. As the badges are sponsored, all proceeds flow to the bushfire appeal. SJW Scouts will pay the shipping fee.
Ask a friend: join scouts, become a leader.
Scouting is such a great pastime, that we’d like to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to join for both youth and adults. We have eight new leaders in 2019, but we do need more cub leaders so have a chat to an existing leader or get in touch with me. And all the youth should invite a friend to their section, but please let your section leader know first. Parents can tell their friends about Scouts.
Calendar: note these in your diary.
7 Feb: Parent presentation “Moving to the next section (age range) in 2020. All parents with children likely to move sections are invited: that is: Joeys who turn 8 this year; cubs who turn 11 this year. We’ll hold separate discussions for the older sections.
14 Feb: Group night: whole group family night with BBQ dinner provided at cost. Parents welcome. Also “Introduction to Scouting” presentation for new families.
21 Feb: Founders night – whole district (our neighbouring groups) night. Details to follow.
1 Mar: Bunnings BBQ fundraiser – help required.
3 Mar: Group renewals fee due, with census deadline of 24 March.
2-3 May: Group family camp. All families welcome.
22 May: Group night and report presentation – all families requested to be represented. BBQ dinner provided.
23 Oct: Group night for term 4
10 Dec: Group breakup fun night.
Our Scout 2025 plan sets out the group priorities and will be voted on at the AGM. Read the draft here.
The summary is:
A-leaders
Enlist 5 leaders (2020 done; NEED 2 more Cub Leaders); Chairman, Secretary; get Group Committee taking more work; parent patrols working; leaders trained; leaders attending DTM and Group Council; Everyone’s mandatory training current (done).
B-Resources
Replace main building OR move into bowls club; renovate Venturer den; deal with canoes; Q Store set-up
C-Program
Program includes OAS stage 5 in seven areas; One youth at stage 7 in seven areas; 80% youth achieve Silver Boomerang/Blue Cord; 10% achieve peak award; SPICES; group activity 1/term; one family activity/year; Adventurous activities (several/year)
D-Membership
80% retention during linking; group membership>112; Parents value scout education; parent info sessions 1/term.
E-Participation
1 unit council/term; OAS mostly youth assessed; youth run activities; “gold award” aspects
F-Development
1 FB post/week; 1 school notice/year; 1 newspaper article/year; active local network; 1 good turn/section/year; signs prominent on local streets.