Scouting Around - Issue 19 - July 2017

Penal Adventurers Win Totem Pole By: Sachin Seejattan

Upcoming Activities August 7 — Scouting for Food Distribution

31 — Independence Day 31 — Fireworks Night Over (@National Scout Centre)

The winning Blue Six from Penal Adventurers pose with the Totem Pole

The 2017 National Lady Grace Grant Totem Pole Competition was held on Saturday, July 15th at Nelson Street R.C Boys, Port of Spain, where nine groups participated representing their districts: Naparima, Cedros, Point Fortin, Arima and Diego Martin. headquarters@scouts.tt 1(868) 624-7271 www.scouts.tt Produced through the kind support of

The results were as follows:  1st place – Penal Adventurers Scout Group of Naparima District.  2nd place – 1st Point Fortin AJSA from Point Fortin District  3rd place – 1st Bien Venue – Naparima District The Headquarters Commissioner for Cub Scouts, Ms. Marlene Griffith presented the Totem Pole to the triumphant Blue Six. All participants were presented with certificates.

The National Lady Grace Grant Totem Pole Competition was named after the first Assistant Cub Scout Leader of the first Cub Pack: 5th Port of Spain, which held its first meeting on January 20th 1928.

The Lady Grace Grant Totem Pole Symbol also known as the “Wolf” represents the leader of the wolf pack in The Jungle Book Story, Akela (the Cub Scout Leader). Deep faith and profound understanding, loyalty, intuition, intelligence are just a few traits the Akela possesses.

This competition test the skills and knowledge of Cub Scout Program from silver to gold level. Every year each District holds their respective Totem Pole Competitions in which the two best packs are chosen to participate in the National Lady Grace Grant Totem Pole.

ScoutsTT - New Membership Fees At a meeting of the National Executive last year a new membership fee structure was approved for all classes of members in the Association. Initially carded to come into effect in January of this year, at the request of some District Commissioners and Sponsoring Authorities, it was delayed to July 2017. The new fee structure has become necessary for a variety of reasons: WOSM Fees A condition of our continued recognition as a National Scouting Organisation (NSO) and full membership in the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is the regular and timely payment of annual fees to the World Bureau and the Interamerican Region.

These fees are linked to the country’s GDP per capita and membership figures. The total registration fees paid average among $10 per member annually yet we currently charge registration fees of $50 for four years. In economically challenging times this is no longer sustainable.

Provision of Services at National Level A portion of the increased fees will go towards an Association-wide insurance plan ensuring all our members are covered by accident and injury insurance. Any remaining fees will go towards supporting the operations of the National Office and other services provided to our membership.

Accurate Membership Records In recent years we have continuously struggled in getting Groups and Districts to submit census returns. With annual registration, we will be provided with an up to date means of tracking membership figures and eliminate the need for a separate census. By updating individual membership records annually we will also be able to better keep track of retention rates – something our current processes do not allow for.

Scouting for Food

NEW YOUTH

ADULT

GROUP

Initial fee per section of $75.00 Annual fee of $40.00

Initial fee per section of $50.00 No Annual fee

Fees paid by January 15th each year

Fees paid upon registration for section

Annual fee of $50.00

Leaders pay $100 every 3 years

One fee for all adult members

Lay Members pay $20 every 3 years

Initial fee of $250 upon Registration

No Group Registration Fee

Annual fee of $100.00 50% of Group fees go towards the District

Districts receive no funding from Groups

Benefits:  Insurance Coverage  Monthly editions of Scouting Around newsletter  10% discount at Scout Shop  Discounts at other merchants

ScoutsTT says a huge thank you to those who have thus far supported this our second annual National Food Drive.

The bins have been closed off at Massy Stores and JTA Supermarkets, where scouts visited and collected donations over a period of eight weeks.

We have also collected from one of the companies who got involved in Scouting for Food this year, Marlog Services in Couva.

Scouting for Food is still up and running at all four Xtra Foods locations (Chaguanas, Endeavour, Grand Bazaar and O’meara) until the end of August.

Marketing and Communications Advisor, Yvan Mendoza (left) receives donation from Melissa Mohammed on behalf of Marlog Services Ltd.

OLD

The next step is distribution. Many groups and districts have started doing distribution to people at their schools or in their communities.

Some of our groups in the southern areas of Trinidad aided some of the families and households affected by the flooding from Tropical Storm Bret.

The 2017 edition closes off on September 15th, allowing for distributions to take place in the first week of school. All distribution forms must be submitted to Scout Headquarters on or before said date.

This initiative has grown from its inception last year and continues to provide a good opportunity to educate our youth and the country at large about one major challenged faced by many in our country and how we can be a part of the solution.

We look forward to even participation and success in 2018.

Go Scouting!

greater

Scouting Around the World

World Scout Jamboree 2019 WHAT IS A WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE? The World Scout Jamboree is above all an educational event that brings together the world’s young people to promote peace and mutual understanding and to develop leadership and life skills.

The 24th World Scout Jamboree will feature the hallmarks of past world jamboree programs, such as the Global Development Village, the World Scout Centre, a special sustainability initiative, and the socialization elements that allow participants to make lifelong friends from around the world.

Unlike any other youth event, the World Scout Jamboree invites you to surround yourself in diverse global cultures by joining your new Scouting friends at a single destination for 12 unforgettable days. The jamboree experience extends beyond your home—and beyond the boundaries of our countries—to create a global adventure that will last a lifetime!

HOSTS AND THEME: This 24th World Scout Jamboree is unique because it is a team effort by Scouts Canada, Asociación de Scouts de México, and the Boy Scouts of America. Our three countries are getting ready to welcome our Scouting friends as family to “Unlock a New World.”

The theme was developed by the youth bid team, also known as the Dream Team. This theme speaks to the new adventures, cultures, and friendships that will be shared

by Scouts from around the world during the 12-day event in North America, a continent often referenced as a “New World.”

SCOUTS TT CONTINGENT The ScoutsTT Contingent will be made up of youth participants, Adult Leaders, International Service Team and a Contingent Management and Support Team.

Our intention is to have a contingent of two troops, additional troops will be added if required. Each troop will consist of four scout patrols of 8 youth, two youth leaders and four adult leaders, one being between the age of 18 and 23.

Contingent Management and Support Team will consist of the following:  Contingent Leader and Deputy Contingent Leader  3 Assistant Contingent Leaders (Program, Troop Operations and IST Support)  Contingent Manager, who will handle all administrative matters inclusive of travel arrangements and finances

Visit www.scouts.tt for more information

New National Youth Commissioner Damian Clarke ScoutsTT is not merely a hiking club, camping club or marching band, nor are we simply a knot-tying or know your country club. We are all of this and so much more.

We are a group of people with the sole purpose of having fun while developing active citizens to create a better world. We must recognize that the progression of young people is driven by our participation in decision making that affects us.

Apart from sharing WOSM's Vision 2023 of becoming "the world’s leading educational youth movement, enabling 100 million young people to be active citizens creating

positive change in their communities and the world, based on shared values”, I have a vision for ScoutsTT. My goals for the movement are guided by The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals and are predicated upon creating platforms at all levels, which allow young men and women to have their voices heard and actively participate in finding resolutions for pressing issues within the movement and the wider society.

I look forward to working with the youth network in creating a better Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension, a better world.

     

Started Scouting in 2009 Held positions of APL, Junior Corps Leader and Senior Corps Leader Completed the NLC in 2015 National Youth Council Chairman 20162017 Received the Joe D'Arcy Award for Gallantry Participant in the WSJ 2015, IAR Youth Forum 2016 and ILT 2016

New Appointments

Quality Scouting

As outlined in the Strategic Plan, the seventh (of seven) strategic priorities is Institutional Strengthening, which recognises the need for the Association to focus its organisation, efforts, and resources for the effective attainment of its Mission.

The Quality Scouting Assessment program is ScoutsTT’s performance recognition program designed to reward success. It measures the performance of groups, districts, zones and national operations to ensure that each of their programs achieves its intended outcomes.

Institutional Strengthening is about looking at the personnel and their roles and ensuring there is alignment between the skills of the people selected and their responsibilities.

NAME

ROLE

Rakesh Deonarine

HQC - Institutional Development & Quality Assurance

Allan Gittens

HQC - Community Outreach & Partnerships

Kerwin Roach

Asst. HQC - Institutional Development & Quality Assurance

Prematie Seejattan Asst. HQC - Cub Scouts (Program) Russel Seebaran

HQC - Rovers

Damian Clarke

National Youth Commissioner

Surendra Maharaj

Zonal Commissioner - South Central

Darren Narcis

Zonal Commissioner - North Central

Lincoln Nelson

Zonal Commissioner - Tobago

Mervyn Quash

District Commissioner - Arima

Kennedy Charran

District Commissioner - Chaguanas

Patrick Welch

District Commissioner - Tobago

It is meant to encourage excellence in providing a quality program at all levels of the Movement that fulfils its mission and delivers on its promise to our youths and communities.

PERSONAL PROFILES: Rakesh Deonarine - Headquarters Commissioner Rakesh has a professional background in the Oil and Gas sector and has previous experience with Quality Management Systems. He has been involved in the Scout Movement for over 30 years. Rakesh has served as a Scout Leader and was recently appointed Group Scout Leader of the 3rd Trinidad Sea Scout Group.

Kerwin Roach - Assistant Headquarters Commissioner Kerwin’s professional background is in the field of Technology Management & Analytics. With over 30 years in Scouting, Kerwin previously held the position of District Commissioner for the Pointe-aPierre Scout District.

STRATEGIC PLAN Towards a New Scouting Adventure

7

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING

Building the organisation’s capacity and strengthening our institutional and management structures has been identified as a key pillar of moving the organisation forward.

Over the past two decades, the deficiencies in this regard have become increasingly important in relation to our inability to successfully implement developmental projects and generate growth. More and more organisations talk about and address issues like institutional development, institutional strengthening, institutional capacity building, and organisational development.

Though using different words, it all boils down to an increased

attention to the organisational management systems.

set-up,

governance

and

WHAT ARE WE WORKING TOWARDS? 1. To be seen as a premier NGO by the Government, business community and donor agencies.

2. An organisational framework that effectively leverages our available resources, promotes accountability, value added, efficiency, continuous improvement, and that is performance and service driven.

3. A diversified income stream that supports our developmental goals and provides for organisational sustainability.