Thu 08 Oct 2009 |
|
Group Newsletter 1 of 2009 |
|
To All Scouts, Cubs and Parents.
This is the first of many Group Newsletters to be published – we hope to make this a monthly distribution. In addition to the Group Newsletters, we will distribute the Troop (Scouts) Newsletters and Pack (Cubs) Newsletters as required.
This newsletter brings good news – things are looking up!
As you are aware, the group finances have had a rocky ride over the last short while. We have now gotten control of the finances – we now know who owes us money, and who we owe money to!
Our current position is this:
a) We have invoiced everyone – and Sue has been following up. Thank you to all who have paid outstanding fees, and we encourage those that are not paid up to settle their accounts as soon as possible.
b) We have paid the water bill in full. We have only consumed 10 Kl in the last month, which means no more run away water bills.
c) We still owe one of the committee members an amount of +/- R 6,600.00, paid out of their pocket to ensure the water was not cut off – this amount needs to be paid back as soon as the group has money available.
d) We need to pay the Area fees – an amount of +/- R 5,000.00.
e) The committee, after battling tirelessly over the last year, is about to have the signatories changed! We will have control over our bank account!
enough about finances…
In September, members of the Troop took part in the Chairman’s Challenge Rafting Competition at the Vaal River (Parys). We thoroughly enjoyed the event, and took 9th Place! Well done team!
In October, our Troop (Peter, Sean and Andrew) took part in the North Western District Bert Franz Senior Hike, held at Jembisa Game Lodge in Limpopo – and took 1st Place - way to go guys! They had a ball hiking and cycling through the reserve – even though it rained a bit!
If you have a look in the hall / passage / store rooms / kitchens, you will notice that these are CLEAN!
On Friday 2nd, Peter, Bradley, Sean, Ruan, Andrew and his friend Sasha (who we borrowed from the German Troop for the night), worked like Trojans with Sue Briggs and myself for 4 hours. Everything from the dens and store rooms was dumped in the hall, cleaned, sorted and then repacked neatly. Tyres were stacked; trommels, ropes, etc, cleaned and packed on shelves in the storeroom; rubbish discarded; the basins and toilets in the bathrooms cleaned; the kitchen cleaned and tidied and all crockery and dishcloths washed.
The hall hasn't looked this good in years and, best of all, the guys had fun doing it!!
Outside the hall, things are looking a little different too! I am sure you have all seen the Tree Fuschias (the South African un-common tree of the year 2009), planted during Arbor week! These are settling in, and have already changed the look of the property. In addition, we have planted a row of plants at the top of the embankment, to stop the 4x4’s and concrete trucks (believe it), from driving down the embankment, to avoid having to drive down the furrowed lane on the side! Hopefully the drivers will have pity on the little plants!
We also have an identity at long last – the first of our signs is up on the small gate. Thanks a mil Sue!
Caylee is running a fun and worthwhile programme for the cubs, with my assistance (as the warranted Scouter). Caylee is incredible – I am not sure how she copes! She has taken to running cubs like a fish to water, and puts together enjoyable, educational programs that follow the Cub Syllabus! Wow!
Now, as I have mentioned, Caylee is like Superwoman, but Superwoman needs some assistance! Leigh Grobbelaar will be putting together a roster of cub parents (this is for both moms and dads), to assist in running the Cub Program. Everyone needs to help out, and this really isn’t a chore – Caylee is so organised, it is a matter of coming along and having fun, whilst bonding with your son and his friends!
There are a few changes coming up at 1st Craighall Park Scout Group, as follows:
a) Scouting is now open to boys and girls! We are awaiting expectedly for young ladies to join both the Pack and Troop! If you know anyone who has a daughter who would lie to join the biggest youth organisation in the world, let them know!
If you are a little concerned about having girls in Scouting, let me put your mind at rest. In South Africa, mixed groups have existed for 5 years +, and in most cases the Groups have become stronger through the integration, and there have been no problems. There are obviously guidelines, and we need to ensure we have female Scouters present, etc, but otherwise the new system works!
b) Ashleigh Barnard and Cameron McNaughton will be joining the ranks of Scouters in the new year. Ashleigh will probably become Troop Scouter, and Cameron will become an Assistant Troop Scouter.
c) We are starting a recycling initiative – there will be bins for different types of litter.
d) As of Friday 9th, we will be operating a tuck shop at the Scout Hall. The tuck shop will supply Hot foods, chocolates (limited amounts will be sold to the Cubs and Scouts – to stop them bouncing off the walls), drinks, crisps and maybe even some kind of dessert! The tuck shop has been set up as a service to the Cubs and Scouts, and of course as a fund raising initiative – please support it! The food will be sold at competitive prices.
e) As a result of the Tuck Shop, the Golden Arches up the road will loose business on a Friday Night! Over the years MacDonalds wrappers, etc, have become common sights littering the Scout Hall. This is set to become a thing of the past!
In terms of “take aways” (especially from up the road), we have had various problems, and would like to ask that their food not be consumed at the Scout hall – not knocking them in any way, and their food is great, but these are the issues we have with the Scouts buying “take aways”:
As stated above – the wrappers end up all over the Scout hall.
Scouts are dropped off at the hall early – say 18h00 – no problem. The problem arises in that the parents, when they drop their sons, have put them under my care. The guys then leave the property, and walk up to buy food – if something happens to them, the parents will look to me – they were placed in my care!
The Scouts that have “take aways” then eat their food during the evening (if you have ever seen the table between the front door and the kitchen on a Friday evening you will understand). This means that they don’t fully take part in the activities, as they are eating. In addition, other Scouts that do not have “take aways”, end up pestering them for food – not fair on anybody.
As a result of the problems experienced, we ask that you rather support the Tuck Shop, or have dinner at home, before coming to Scouts!
 A couple of dates to diarise:
JOTI / JOTA - 17 and 18th October 2009 @ Delta Park Scout Grounds. We have the sole rights to sell food / tuck at the event. We will need assistance. I will send out a circular soon, and Leigh will contact you to see when you can assist.
Craighall Primary Fun Day – 7th November 2009. We will be having three stalls at the Fun Day – to raise much needed funds, to pay off our debt! These will include a foofee slide, marshmallow roasting and a craft making stall! We expect all parents to get involved for an hour or two on the day. Leigh will contact you soon.
1st Craighall Park AGM – 20 November 2009 @ 18h00 at the Scout Hall – keep this date free!
We expect all parents to attend. More details to follow.
NB – We need to increase the number of committee members to about 7, from the current 4
members. Please seriously consider becoming involved in the Group at this level. By being involved, you are able to interact with the people who make up the Scout Group, and really become part of the Scout family. There is not too much work, and by sharing it we all have great fun! Applications are open … no seriously, please give this some thought, as we will need to have nominations in advance of the AGM!
District Campfire – 27th November 2009 @ Delta Park Scout Grounds. We have the sole rights to sell food / tuck at the event. We will need assistance. Leigh will contact you to see when you can assist.
There seems like a lot of work ahead – and this is true – but these are opportunities to raise funds that are not to be missed, and in the process we will build up the spirit of “Ubuntu” in our group – not a bad thing!
As noted above, our Group is now in a strong position going forward! Our finances are under control, our Cub Pack is being run well, the Troop has taken various good placings in the year and the leadership thereof is coming together and building nicely, the hall is looking good, we will be eating less “unhealthy food”, and we have opportunities to make additional money to pay off our debt, whilst allowing the parent body to get to know each other – the real way to build a strong group!
Are you excited? I am!
Yours in Scouting
Kevin Rens
Group Scouter
|
To all Scouts and Scout Parents,
It is a while since I last sent out a newsletter, and we have been quite busy (which probably explains the lack of newsletters) since then!
Since our last newsletter in May, we have had the Advancement camp (May), and Strauss Shield (July). Both events went well (although there were a few mutters after Strauss), and the Scouts enjoyed camping on arguably two of the coldest weekends this winter! Craighall came third at Strauss Shield – an excellent placing! Next year the other groups are really going to have to work hard to keep ahead, or we will leave them behind!
We have a plethora of events coming up in September, as follows:
Junior Scout Hike: 5 – 6 September ‘09
Chairmans Challenge: 11 – 13 September ‘09
Senior Scout Hike (Bert Franz) 24 – 27 September ‘09
As you can see, three of the four weekends in September will be taken up with Scouting activities. Fortunately no one Scout will be going on all of the events!
Junior Scout hike is open to all Scouts up to age 14½, and Senior Scout hike is open to all Scouts 14 years and older, who are able to cope with some heavy hiking! The catch is that no scout can attend both events! Please let me know soonest if you are able to attend either of the hikes – Junior closes 27 August ‘09!
The team for Chairman’s Challenge has been chosen, and it comprises of:
Peter Briggs, Bradley Joslin, Sean Zietsman, Ruan McLeod, Kyle Sims and Andrew Bell
You have all been notified of your inclusion in the Chairman’s team previously, and we are relying on you to attend. If you cannot make the weekend, please let me know ASAP, so that we can make alternative arrangements.
Graham Slade has handed over the position of Pack Scouter (Cubs), to Caylee Harman. Caylee has embraced the position, and is working very hard to produce great Cub programs, which fulfil the advancement requirements, and keep the Cubs entertained. Unfortunately Caylee is not warranted, and is unable to lead the pack on her own.
As a result of the predicament we find ourselves in with Cubs, and actually fitting in with the long term plans of the group, I have become the Group Scouter of 1st Craighall Park Scout Group. I will continue to lead the Troop for the foreseeable future, but we do have plans in place to replace me, with a new Troop Scouter. This will free me up, in time, to look after the Group as a whole, instead of concentrating my efforts on the Troop (Scouts) only. As I am involved in the Pack now, I have a new name – Baloo! Who was / is Baloo??
In terms of the Cubs, we do have quite a problem at the moment, in that the Cub Pack has a very small membership, and we have about 6 Cubs coming up to Scouts – which is great news for the Troop, but not such good news for the Cub Pack.
Our Pack has a very low membership – about 10 – 12 at the moment, which means that when the Cubs that are now too old for Cubs go to Scouts (basically when you are 10¾ you should be moving up to Scouts, and be a member of the Troop before you turn 11), the Pack will have 4 – 6 members.
Aaargh! This is a problem, because a Pack needs a minimum of 6 Cubs to operate! 
So what can we do? Well, we have started advertising our Cub Pack in School Newsletters, The Caxtons, and the JoziKids web site http://www.jozikids.co.za/, and even on chalkboards outside the hall. We will also, hopefully have a stall at the Craighall Primary fun day in November (7th November ‘09 - keep the day free).
From your side, you can tell your friends and family who have kids the right age (for Cubs – 7 – 10¾, Scouts 11 – 17½) about how great the Scout program is; you can tell your friends at School, and cousins, etc, about how great Cubs and Scouts is; you can let us know when your School will be having their fun days; you can visit JoziKids, admire the photo’s, see the report about Scouting and our group in particular, and write a nice report about the group; and let us know who to contact to get an advert in your School newsletter! Of course you can bring friends to visit as well – so they actually get to see what we do at Scouts!
From the Scouts side of things, things are looking up! We are investing two new recruits - Brandon and Kyle, on Friday 28th August. There are a couple of other new recruits who we would like to invest in a couple of weeks, and we will have the Cubs that have reached their expiry date (from Cubs), join us in about a month!
If my calculations are correct, we will probably have 24 Scouts at the start of the Fourth term! Hooray! The Troop will be at is highest number since the 90’s! This means more fun and excitement as we are able to do more adventurous programs, with a good number of Scouts! What shall we call our new patrol?
We are busy recruiting new Scouters to run the Troop, and you will notice them around on a Friday – exciting stuff! As mentioned before though, I will continue to run the Troop for the foreseeable future.
On a sad note, we have said goodbye to Allister Fenton, who reached his Scout “sell by date” (18) on 01 August ’09. This was really an end of an era, as the Fenton family have been involved in the Troop for many years – since Allister started as a Cub – presumably 10 years ago! His younger brother, Simon was a member of Cubs and Scouts, and his father, Ian Fenton, was our Pack Scouter for a period of time. Allister was one of the members of the team that took part in the Cedarberg Adventure last year, and also attended the Chairman’s Challenge event when we last attended in 2002! We thank the Fenton’s for their loyal support (see Scout Law: 2), over the years, and in particular for the many times that they helped us with transport. Allister will be spending next year in Rustenburg, working for Adventure and Beyond, and enjoying his “gap” year. We anticipate Allister’s possible return to Craighall in 2011!
Stuart Reid will turn 18 in September. We will say goodbye to him at that stage. Stuart will be studying in Pretoria from 2010, and will most likely join a Troop there.
Both Allister and Stuart are writing Matric (Grade 12) this year, and we wish them well with their prelim and final exams. We pray that they will be inspired to be diligent in their studies, and that they will be able to remember all they have learnt when they are writing their exams.
Yours in Scouting
P.S. Do you know anyone (adult) who can help at Cubs? Let me know!
__________________________ Our AGM will be held towards the end
Kevin Rens (Group Scouter) of October or early November.
1st Craighall Park Scout Group
Mobile: 083 236 0095 District campfire – 27 November ’09 |
Thu 23 Apr 2009 |
|
Written by Harley Allkins
|
|
| |
To all Scouts and Scout Parents,
After a rather hectic first term, we now have a whole new term ahead of us. We have already had a Friday meeting, and although we were few in number (I believe that Private Schools were on holiday), we had a lot of fun – from our activities, we have discovered that if we increase our numbers, we will have more fun! So, start recruiting! This is a collective effort – at present we have 13 Scouts – and I want to increase the numbers to 24 by Chairman’s!
Speaking about Chairman’s, I am sure you have all heard the great news that we have been invited, to the Chairman’s Challenge, which takes place in September. We are going to win – or at least have fun trying to win – impossible is nothing! I am busy trying to get assistance from ex-Scouts, who have attended Chairman’s in the past, who can assist us in our preparations – this is going to be good. More info to follow!
This term and the next are going to be challenging. This term has only one District event - the Cycle Challenge (diarise it - 6th June). Next term has the Strauss Shield camp (24 – 26 July), Junior Scout Hike (5 – 6 September), Chairman’s Challenge (11 – 13 September), and the Senior Scout Hike (24 – 27 September). Phew, sounds exhausting already – please diarise these dates now!
When I mentioned the Challenge (last paragraph), I wasn’t talking about the events – but more the fact that in between the events I have decided that we will push badge work – interest badges and advancement badges – and here is the Challenge – by the end of the third term, each Scout needs at least 1 new interest badge, and to have completed at least one level of advancement! We will achieve this by having an advancement camp (probably end May – date to be confirmed), and we must push to achieve this advancement! We have 13 future Springboks in our group – and it is up to us to make this happen!
I have already started working on the plans for doing our Swimming Badge – which will be done at the Craighall Planet Fitness Club - thanks guys – possibly on 1st May (public holiday) – let me know if you can make this so that I can confirm the booking so that I can confirm!
Tomorrow night (24 April) we are having a chilled evening at the hall – with a bonfire and a braai (whilst we are still in National Productivity Month, and everyone is in holiday mode)! As discussed last week bring R10.00 for the boerie and rolls! Bring a friend and we won’t charge them for theirs!
I have not as yet received all contact details for all the Scouts (form sent out in January). Please let me have yours ASAP if you haven’t already! Let me know if you need the form sent again.
We need to increase the parent involvement in Scouting – if you are able to help out at all please let me know. In particular I need help on Friday nights – and you don’t have to go into uniform, just a bit of assistance will free me up to make Scouts even more exciting! If you, or anyone you know, would like to get involved – let me know!
Looking forward to a great term.
|
Thu 19 Mar 2009 |
|
Craighall Make it to Chairmans |
|
Written by Harley Allkins
|
|
| |
Our boys have done a splendid job at Kontiki and we have been invited to Chairman's challenge! This is an incredible feat - Congratulations to everyone involved. Here is our certificate - Click on the picture below to see the full image 
|
|
