The NW Scouters' Club is a co-operative of Scout Troops. Representatives of member Scout Troops gather to share ideas and experience, plan joint activities, and pursue other projects of mutual benefit.
Skip Mahar, 1st Elmira Scout Troop.
Jim Williamson, 1st Freeport Scout Troop.
Diane Furlong, 25 Kitchener Scout Troop.
Liam Morland, 21st Waterloo Scout Troop.
The meeting opened at 18:45. Scouter Ted led the Scout Promise. Minutes and agenda were reviewed and agreed.
The Fall Ice Break drew a many people, including a number of new faces. Thanks go to Ben Noseworthy for the sausages. A "Spring Thaw" social will be held in the spring, probably on April 9, 2002 at Camp Mohawk. Planning will be done at the next meeting.
The Club's first fall hike was met with warm, sunny weather. Nineteen Scouts and six Scouters representing four troops participated. 11th Kitchener Scout Troop and 5th Waterloo Scout Troop camped overnight at Rattlesnake Point and were joined by the 14th Waterloo Scout Troop and 25th Kitchener Scout Troop on Saturday morning. The 14th also had their Cubs present for a day hike. The troops hiked to Crawford Lake, arriving shortly after noon. Lunch was prepared by the lake. Shortly after 13:00 the troops left for Camp Manitou, arriving about 15:30. Pot luck supper was prepared. It was a feast featuring two chilies, meatballs and tortellini, and beef steakette with onion and potato done as tinfoil dinners. An informal campfire was prepared by the 5th Waterloo. Everyone was tired and got an early night. On Sunday each troop had its own program. There was a Scouter's 5 and flag lowering at 10:00.
Holding the hike as a Club event allowed troops to attend with only one Scouter, who would otherwise be unable to shuttle the vehicles. It might have been better at the end of the hike to have one Scouter supervise cave exploring while the shuttle was taking place rather than have the Scouts hang around in the parking lot. A similar hike was tentatively scheduled for November 22-24, 2002.
Pierre will book Lions Lodge for next year's workshop, which is to be held November 1-3, 2002. The fee will be $30; $35 for late registrations (cut-off date to be determined). This should encourage advanced registration.
Ben announced that the South Waterloo District would hold their winter camp, ANIK, the same weekend as the Club camp. ANIK will be held at Peacehaven Scout Camp near Drumbo. The Club members decided to join in that event. The Club will participate in the Saturday challenge program organised by SWD. On Sunday, each troop will bring and run a native game for the other troops. Games of northern origin are encouraged. Possibilities for native games include snow snake and high kick.
The registration fee is $10.00 per participant. The fee includes a badge. Ben will provide the information and Ted will have it distributed to the Scouters' Club. The camp runs Friday evening to Sunday at 13:00.
The Pentagon was a round table sharing of ideas.
Ted noted email discussion with Liam about the five sections and the shape of the Chief Scouts Award (pentagonal). Everyone agreed that this observation should be added to the "Lore of the Pentagon". New Club attendees should be told that it took a committee months to come up with the name. Only after they are thoroughly convinced of this will they be told the real reason: that at the first ever Club meeting there were five tables that just happened to form a pentagon.
Scouters mentioned some ideas for summer camps. Ben noted that Great Lakes Jambo 2002 is July 6-14. Pierre noted the canoeing option at Haliburton Scout Reserve proposed by Brian Robertson (information in NWD's Scouting News, November/December 2001). JamBec 2002 is July 14-20 at Camp Tamaracouta. Ted suggested that since the Canadian Jamborees have been cancelled, the Club could look at other possibilities for as a long term objective.
Tony P suggested setting up a skills profile listing. Scouters could list the three things they are best at and would be willing to share with others. The list could also include outside resource people.
Hung asked about the role of the Club and its relation to other sections. A discussion of linking activities followed. Others suggested that there should be a Pentagon devoted to linking. A linking camp was suggested. Ben thought that the Club should be section-oriented but if other sections got started they could be invited for a linking night.
Ted G would like to join in with other troops as they have only five Scouts. Ted's troop would like to visit another or have another troop visit them, perhaps for a floor hockey or dodge ball tournament on a Saturday.
Pierre noted that Scouts do not keep up on their knots. In their troop, each Scout receives a small piece of rope to bring to the meeting as part of the uniform. At the inspection they have to tie one knot. Others noted the difficulty of getting the Scouts to work on their knots and suggested working on only one or two knots at a time and spending no more than 10-15 minutes on it at any one time.
Ken suggested that troops get together for special events outside of meeting night such as going to special places or having events with just one other troop. Tony S suggested having a Pentagon for Scouters to share events that they have done in the past. Various Scouters contributed ideas such as the Warplane museum in Mount Hope (Hamilton), the London Air Show, Fort York in Toronto, an Ontario Science Centre sleep over, and visiting Euclid Trucks with Scouter Paul Frieburger. Locally, there is Canada Cordage, City Hall, and others.
Tony S noted that short-term planning was often lacking. "What are we doing tonight?" is too often the question. He suggested a timed schedule for each meeting. A duty patrol could assist planning it. Ben said that they now use the name Honour patrol, as this has a more positive spin to it. Hung suggested that Duty Patrol is good, as the name pointed to doing ones "Duty". Sometimes there is no "Honour" in doing the duty.
Tony P said that in suggesting activities, the Scouts should be asked to think of things taking into account safety, fun, and learning. Each of these objectives should be considered by them when putting forward program ideas. He has a system of rewards for points. A scout gets a point for cooking the meal, washing up, getting the fire wood, bringing the water, leading the opening, etc. The Scouts agree on the points system. Tony P keeps an eye open for items the youth would like, such as a compass, hatchet, knife, mess kit, etc. Each item is available for a certain number of points. A scout can accumulate his points and apply them to any item of their choosing. Others made suggestions for a successful system of patrol points. The points system should operate on a short term basis, no longer than 2 months, as the Scouts may lose interest if it is a longer time. Purchase of the items for the system can be funded by group committee, by adding a small amount to camp fees, dues, or fundraising projects.
Ted noted some upcoming events. On February 2, 2002, NWD will hold an open house at NWD Scouthouse. Liam will make a presentation about Kandersteg International Scout Centre. They hope to get a troop to camp out on Friday night in the adirondack that is under construction. Their will be the tepee set up as well. If there is enough snow, a quinzhee could be built to complete the demonstration camp. The media will be invited.
Ted is looking for Scouts to form the flag party for the Multicultural Festival on the last weekend in June, 2002. NWD Camporee is May 24-26, 2002. Pierre is planning a troop ski trip.
Scouters were particularly pleased with the sharing during the Pentagon, in particular, the ideas for future Pentagons. The meeting started and ended on time and advanced planning is in place for an active Club program.
—Minutes prepared by Ted Claxton and Liam Morland.
