Venturers - South Australia

Scouting Statewide May 2002

VENTURING ON     . . . news from Venturing SA

Hi everyone! I am excited!!! Have I told anyone lately? I am even thinking of getting myself some really loud and ugly shirts to wear because I am just so excited. About what I hear some interested people say. Well - about Venturing of course. I have had the chance to chat to a few people lately who aren't in Scouts and I was able to explain to them about the Act of Loyalty and also the ANZAC Eve Vigil and I was surprised to find myself getting really emotional about what I was talking about. Surprised? Yes, surprised - well as we all do at various times of our lives - I was getting a bit despondent and feeling “is this worth the time and effort?” and after talking to these people I found that I still had the passion. That is the thing - do you still have the passion - even if you are feeling a little run down and low in the good vibes section? If there is that deep down feeling - then keep on keeping on, because you will sooner than later start to feel brighter and much more energetic about Venturing. One new thing on the Venturer calendar - just for an example - is we have had one M & M meeting (Meet and Munch - for Venturer Leaders) so far and we had representatives from quite a few Units. It was our inaugural meeting and we might just have to tweak it just a little to fine tune it, but overall I reckon it went well. The idea of these M & M’s is to have Leaders attend (in uniform) and chat about what is happening in Venturing. They happen at Scout HQ every second Wednesday of the odd numbered months at 7.30pm. I will endeavour to get ideas from Leaders as to what they want to discuss and we will have a chance to discuss 2 topics each meeting, what they want to hear about and talk with other Leaders about. I would like to see networking between Units and Leaders and also activities between Units and Districts happen. This can only happen when we start to network. So you reckon network is a bit of a 90's word. So what? So what about trying it - it works. The more we meet other Leaders, the more we find out that we may not be alone with our problems (challenges) in our Units or we may not be the only Leader who has yet to do any training and maybe if you network you might find that when you do start your training that you may already know someone on the course. So the idea behind the M & M’s is getting Leaders to meet other Leaders and sharing ideas and chatting. As you can guess chatting is something I like to do and if you ever ring me up you should always make a cup of tea and grab a biscuit!!!!
Thirteen Venturers will have attended the ANZAC Eve Ceremony on the 24th April by the time you get to read this. It is refreshing to say that I did not have to work hard at getting the participants to help - they all asked if they could help. This will happen next year so please if any of your Venturers ask to help - please ask them to ring me to put their name on the list. It is a wonderful experience.
We have had a few suggestions of new things for the Section to do. The first thing is the Rover Section has brilliantly organised the “RoVenture Skirmish” Please show your support for what these fantastic people have done for us - we don't have to organise anything!!! Just think - an activity you can just roll up to and not have to organise! Just what any Leader and Venturer wants. It is on the 16th June, down at Strathalbyn - unfortunately I won't be able to make it due to a conference in Canberra - a National BC Venturers conference that should be excellent.
The next one is also for the Venturers - it is sort of like the great bike hike. It begins in the Flinders and ends about Burra. I am hoping to get more info on this soon - but it was agreed on at the last BVC and we should all support it and encourage our Venturers to make up a team. Paul Ware is the contact for this event - so let your Venturers know this in on and lets support it.
The next activity is for Venturer Leaders to attend. It will sort of be an M & M but underground. All Venturer Leaders are invited to go on a caving weekend at Curramulka. This is only for Leaders and I would again, encourage any Leader to participate - even if you don't go caving all weekend - come along for some fun and frivolity. Ooooh - did I say the “F” word? Yes - we will be having fun - and the more people we get along the more fun we will have!!! See how it works? You, meeting, other Leaders, join in, talk and therefore have fun. It is easy. Trust me - I'm your Branch Commissioner!!
So as you can read - lots has been happening in the Venturer Section and a lot has been planned for the next 6 months. Can I say just one more time? - Pleeeaase come along to the M & M’s and pleeeaase encourage your Venturers to take part in the activities planned for them and pleeeaase keep up with communication to your District Venturer Leader and other Leaders everywhere and to me.
PS: I had a bit of a computer glitch last month which wiped out all of our emails and email addresses - so if you have previously emailed me before or let me know your email address - can you send me an email again - just even if is says hi from so and so - I need to build up my address book again.
I think that is about all for now - just remember keep on keeping on and if you feel a bit flat sometimes - give someone a ring - chose another Leader who you know has a positive outlook and have a chat. Read the Celestial Sisters “Words of Wisdom” and keep smiling. Peter Lane ended his speech at the Queen’s Scout and Queen’s Guide dinner with a magnificent statement - I think we can all read it and believe it - it goes
“You are all beautiful and you are all intelligent - and don't let anyone tell you any different”. And on that note I will leave you and hope to see y’all soon.

Yours in Venturing
Kate Ryder
BC Venturers.