Issue 130 Issue 1302018 Oct—Dec Oct—Dec 2018
From the Courtyard
From the Courtyard SAC SCOUTS NEWSLETTER
After a brief newsletter hiatus, our GSL is back—and we couldn’t be happier! Here’s what we he’s got to say.
In this issue Cubs - Let’s Get Moving! - Halloween Party - Kent Cuboree— Photos - Reverse Advent Calender
Scouts - Time to Think
Rovers - In a Knot - Hiking in the Highlands—Photos - Giving it a shot - LAN Party
Announcements
October The month of October tends to kick start a new level of enthusiasm in our Sections. The weather helps too. Outdoor events become more interesting with the cooler weather and hiking and cook outs are more pleasant. Each section sets out its own plans and during October a number of activities have been organised which I am sure you will read about in the next few pages. The leaders as usual are busy planning sectional events and Group activities. Sectional leader meetings and Leaders’ Council meetings are held to ensure things are done properly and coordinated well. Leaders also are heavily involved in meetings at IHQ level for various reasons, be it training and updates on issues and initiatives effecting our operations. A number of our leaders have achieved certain levels of leadership appointments in October and others have started their path to leadership recognition – the Wood badge. This has become a three year process and leaders have to show a lot of commitment and determination to get it done. This comes at a personal cost and sacrifice for our Group volunteers. Doing this work must come from the heart as sometimes it can be a very thankless ‘job’.
New members, moving on and retaining the older ones. During the month of October our Group welcomed a number of new members who joined the Pack and Troop respectively. October tends to be an ‘intake’ month since many members would have started school at College. We would like to welcome all members to the Group and augur that they will enjoy their scouting life no matter how long it may be. New blood sees older blood move on to the next section and this culminates during the going-up ceremony which this year shall be held on November 7th. At the moment our Group has one hundred and thirty members and a sign that our Group is strong and healthy is the larger numbers we are managing to retain in the Unit and Crew. This means we are providing a purpose for them to stick with us during the difficult academic times of their lives. One must not however think that this retention rate and strength in the Group is a recent fact. I happened to be going through some electronic documents on my pc in recent days and went back ten years to 2008 and happened to come across two pictures (below) which show that even in those days we were doing really well. One may call them a blast from the past. The first pic shows the rover crew in 2008 that took part in the Rover Crew Challenge with other local Rover Crews – we had placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd. A great all round performance. Six of the Rovers in the picture are still part of the Group and have been going strong ever since. From the Venture Unit winning team pictured below in 2008, I am proud to say that five out of seven are still fully active members of the Group.