Scouting Statewide November 2002
VENTURING ON . . . news from Venturing SA
KATE’S BLURB:
I have a couple of riddles for you all:
Why have we had to cancel the last Unit Management Course and the last Leadership Course?
Why, when we have approx 400 Venturer Scouts in the State do we not get the minimum 15 to the Unit Management and 20 to the Leadership Course?
Why is it so???????
Do you realize it is not only the Venturer Scouts who are aiming for their QSA but also, any Venturer Scouts in your Units who should be encouraged to do these two courses? You should be encouraging every one of your Venturer Scouts to attend both of these courses. These courses are not only designed to be part of the requirements for the QSA but, to help with the understanding of running a Unit and also Leadership skills which will be of immense value all throughout their lives.
So what’s the problem??
Promotion - by the Course Managers? We have given you the dates of both of these courses throughout the year in Statewide and they are publicised on the Website, so I can’t see a problem there.
If you as Leaders are promoting these courses to your Venturer Scouts - there shouldn’t be a problem there either. My question is - are you doing this? Are you actively promoting the benefits of these courses to your Units? Are you actively promoting them to both your Queen’s Scouts who are eligible and those who are not aiming for their QS? If you are then again, there is no problem. How do your Venturer Scouts find out about these courses? Do your Venturer Scouts get the Statewide to read? Do you give them your copy of Statewide to keep in the Den? Are you promoting the Venturer Website? www.scoutnet.net.au/venturers/. This site has been very professionally designed and updated by Mike Turner who has his fingers not only on the keyboard but also, on the pulse of Venturing Australia wide. Please keep this site on your Unit wall somewhere so it reminds everyone where to look and find out what is going on with Venturer Scouts. Do yourself a favour and have a good look around the site - you may find loads of things that are of interest to both you and your Venturer Scouts.
But, still my question to you is “Why aren’t we getting the Venturer Scouts to these courses?” I don’t know the answer - but if you would like to ask your Venturer Scouts to see what they say and if you would like to let me know - I would appreciate it.
The next Meet and Munch is on Wednesday the 13th November. This is only for DVL’s, VSL’s and AVSL’s - not for Units, as you would have read in my last Statewide Blurb. Please make the effort to attend this one as we have a very interesting guest speaker who is paralleling his Scouting life with his personal life. So please come along and support your fellow Venturer Scout Leaders and Section.
Supersplash is now well on it’s way to being the biggest and best so far. By now you should have received your copy of the application form - but if not - have a look on the Website or contact Jo Scheiffers (041 267 4531). Please help the Venturer Section to make this a great weekend to everyone and remember that numbers are limited to 300 (which includes Venturer Scouts, Leaders and support staff) so get your applications in and get ready for a really good weekend.
Venturer Leaders Gathering: This is the Venturer Section’s annual conference (which we are not calling a conference) but a “Gathering of the Clans”. This will be on the second weekend of February 2003. Again, be prepared for a very different but fun filled weekend. So iron your kilt, dry clean your sporran, polish your dirk and wash your tankards, and be prepared to have FUN. . . It will be held at the TOC H at Victor Harbour - a new venue for us newies - but one that has been used previously by the Section many years ago. Again, can I plead with you to make the effort to attend this and meet other crazy members of the Venturer Section?
I hope you will help me in my quest to find out about the lack of numbers to the above courses and also make it a point to attend Supersplash and the Venturer Leaders Gathering.
A big hullo to Maurice Davey - it was so nice to see you at Gilwell.
Gang Show was terrific - Chris and I were amongst the invited guests to attend the Friday night show and had a lovely time during intermission with the Governor and the other guests. Keep up the good work all those involved and I look forward to seeing the show next year.
So keep smiling and remember that support is just a phone call or email away. Please use the resources we have in Scouting.
Yours in Venturing
Kate Ryder
Branch Commissioner - Venturer Scouts.
