ROSS & SUTHERLAND DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL

District Commissioners Annual Report

Year ending 31st March 2010

Again it has been a busy year where a number of items have occupied us, and I would like both to look back at past events and look forward at events that challenge us in the future 

New Campsite:

Last year I reported that discussions with Balnagown Estate for a new Campsite were continuing …..however this year I have to say with some sadness that the Owner changed his mind somewhere along the way and was only prepared to allow us a short lease……and grants as you know are not available to us under that condition.………..so we are no further forward.

Reorganisation of Scottish Scouting:

As you know a Regional structure was introduced two years ago and a continuing challenge which faces us was how the new Regional Structure was be financed. A levy of £3 / head was imposed, and is likely to continue. I know that this was not popular……. however my need is to impress upon the Groups how cheap Scouting is compared to other activities – and also urge you to consider raising your Beaver / Cub / or Troop night charges in line with your true costs.

Training:

We are now seeing the benefits of this modular system of Training, and Training Manager Cathy Chambers has I know put in a lot of effort into moving new Leaders through the ‘getting started’ modules, and with the generous and experienced help of Donald Beaton we were able to start ‘first Response ‘ Courses.

I am delighted to note that 10  Leaders completed their Wood Badge during the year - which is a great achievement on their part – and that of their Training Advisers. I feel strongly that Membership of the 1^st Gilwell Scout Troop should be the object of all Leaders.

However from the information (on the MMS system)  we have a number of Leaders who have been with us for a number of years – and who haven’t completed their wood badge – and this is one of the challenges that we need to work on and I hope we will make some progress on this in the coming  year.

We still do not do not have enough local Training Advisers - (I think the term puts people off a bit), but essentially these are more experienced Leaders who help to mentor the newer Leaders through their training – and this is causing us some difficulty  - so to experienced Leaders …..please help us with this.

Leader Appointments

The end of the year saw us break the 100 Leader barrier, thanks to new groups in Fortrose , Fairburn and Balintore (Seaboard), and a restart of Culbokie Group.  - of which I will say more later

In these tasks and many others I wish to record my thanks to my Assistant Commissioners and Members of the Executive Team for coping with the ever increasing workload which is now required in order to adequately administer Scouting within the District.

During the year we have coped remarkably well with the introduction of a new computerised system of recording both new Appointments and Training progress , and thanks must go to Alan Duffield (Deputy commissioner) Willie Mackenzie ( Appointments Secretary),  for the time and effort involved in making this work to our advantage.

I am indebted to Corinna Lonnen for agreeing to become our new ADC for Beavers, and I know that with her enthusiasm this Section of our movement will go swimmingly ! .

All of these items which were of critical importance - were nevertheless additional to our main business which is to support the Groups to deliver quality Scouting in Ross and Sutherland.

In terms of sheer numbers I am glad to report that in line with the National Trend our Membership went do up during the year by 19 Members to the total of 531

Tain are still our biggest Group with 81 Members, with Muir of Ord next with 73 members. and Conon & Maryburgh close behind with 59 members.

New Groups Opening from the 1^st February

I am delighted to report that since the 31^st January the Chanonry Cub Scout Group has re - opened under the inspiration of Ewan Henderson and has five warranted Leaders and is already bursting at the seams.

Also Fairburn Group has also re -opened again under the Leadership of Nicola Mackay as a Beaver Colony it now has three Warranted Leaders, and is also bursting at the seams.

With the help of Marion Porteous (Regional Development Commissioner), a Cub Group has started in Balintore ( Seaboard ) and this is proving a huge success as an ‘After School’ cub pack.

And finally…. under the direction of Steve Hudson (an ex Venture Scout Leader) the Culbokie Scout Group has restarted again and is flourishing

All of which would increase our totals by about 60 extra Members !!  (to nearly 600).

I am delighted to record that our three Explorer Units  ( Highland Extreme – covering Tain & Golspie, /Eilean Dubh covering the south of the District,  and Avoch Sea Unit covering the east of the District are all flourishing and I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to the Leaders concerned

We were also pleased to hear that three of our longest servings Leaders were recognised by the Chief Scout in the St Georges Day Awards by conferring a Bar to their Silver Wolf Medals (they were David Macdonald, Willie Mackenzie, and myself)

During the year I would wish to selectively comment on a number of events:-

Firstly I would like very much to thank our Honorary President, Mrs Janet Bowen, the Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty for her gracious help during the year, and we count ourselves indeed fortunate for her kind support.

We were all delighted to hear that Fiona Smart (our ADC Explorers) had been chosen as a Unit Leader for the Scottish Contingent for next years Jamboree – and we wish her all the best in this huge task.

Our Cub events went well with the Football being won by Tarbat and the Sports being won , I think    (– as my memory is hazy ) by Evanton?? Thanks is due to Owen Smith  ADC Cubs for these events.

Recently we held our Annual Founders day Church Parade which went well and was attended by our Regional Vice President Gavin  Barnard and our sincere thanks go to Donald Beaton and Invergordon group for hosting us -  and to Cathy Chambers who led the Service.

I must pay sincere tribute to John Ford for his experienced Chairmanship of the Ross & Sutherland Scout Council and wise advice to me during the year…..

Thanks must also go to Alan Duffield our Deputy Area Commissioner for acting as Secretary, for producing the District Directory, and for making sense of the HQ database in order to provide us with management reports on appointments and training.  Indeed he has built on Brenda Macgregor’s earlier efforts – with the result that our E Mail communications are now reaching almost all Leaders.

Thanks also to our Badge Secretary Brian Cornaby whose efforts through the year provided you with badges, and indeed we have a small profit to add to the funds,

I would also thank our long serving Treasurer Ken Macnab – who has overseen our finances with both expertise and patience; and also to our David Adams once again – for acting as the Independent Examiner for our Accounts.

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I am conscious of the number of things that we need to do in order to provide our better support to the Groups. – Which is after all our main aim!!. ….and this year it appears that this will be primarily directed to TRAINING and getting more of our Leaders through their Wood Badge

To finish – I must pay a huge tribute once again to all the Leaders who give so freely of their time and energies to provide great Scouting in Ross and Sutherland.

Frank Hallett  District Scout Commissioner 28^th May 2010