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Anticipation - hope - suspense - despair - delight!
Want to put some zing into your program? Why not try a Kub Kar Rally? You get all of the above, and our youth get a leg up on a badge or two. As a bonus, a Kub Kar Rally is a great way to get parents involved. What father can resist the urge to show off his skill in modelling and preparing model racing cars to get the maximum performance. Some will even be able to demonstrate how they won "the big one" when they were a Cub.
Kub Kars, of course, have been around for years and years. More recently, 18 Wheelers (for Scouts) and Beaver Buggies have been introduced. There is no reason on earth why they can't generate the same kind of interest and excitement that Kub kar racing does. Many youth participate through the Area event, but the same thing can be done in your own Section or Group.
The cars are registered and weighed - in several hours prior to the rally. They then go to the pit area where final adjustments are made. Finally, inspections are done to ensure the cars conform to the rules and then they are put in a quarantine until the race.
The races start with the "drivers" sitting on the floor around the track watching everything that goes on. Woe betide anyone who appears to get an unfair advantage, real or imagined.
Finally, all is ready. Three names are called out for the first heat. The starter trips the handle and the cars are on their way. One car takes an early lead but the other two start to catch up, then another takes over the lead about half way down the track. But the third is gaining, perhaps urged on by the shouts of encouragement from the friends of the driver. At the same time, the supporters of the other drivers are yelling encouragement to their cars.
The cars hit the finish line to cheers for the winner and vows of "Just wait till the next heat - that was a slow lane." And so it goes with the noise level rising as the drivers and their families get into the spirit of the event.
With the third heat, the slowest cars are dropped and those remaining are more evenly matched. The tension and excitement increase. As more and more cars are eliminated, the anticipation and tension grows even higher and more concentrated. Finally, only three cars are left and the excitement is almost unbearable. Having gone through a long elimination process, these cars are very close in performance. Nobody dares leave and all the attention is focused on the final three. The Cubs can hardly contain themselves. At the conclusion of the final race the place explodes with cheers and high fives for the winner and groans for the losers, as well as pledges to, "Wait till next year!"
Still, the "next year" that the Cubs are talking about is fast approaching and there is no time like the present to get started. So if you are looking for an exciting, proven activity for your Colony, Pack or Troop (and who isn't?) this is it. What are you waiting for? Go for it! Whether it's Beaver Buggies, Kub Kars or 18 Wheelers for your Scouts, create a little excitement and perhaps even start a new tradition for your Section.
Certainly there are more important things in life than money, but even if it doesn't make the world go round, it sure does help to make things move along. As responsible Scouters, we all share in the responsibility to ensure that we properly account for, safely keep, and spend the public funds raised to help us meet our Mission and Principles.
The Treasurer's first duty should be to become familiar with By-Laws, Policies and Procedures, Fall 1998 (especially the Finance sections, pages 34 to 41) and the Finance section of the Group Committee Handbook, January 1997, pages 46 to 48. For keeping accurate records, see the Financial Record Book, available in your Scout Shop. These resources describe Scouting's rules for financial management. With the aid of a bank account, a budget and regular reporting, the Treasurer must ensure that the Group's financial obligations are met.
It's a common mistake to assume that it is the Treasurer's job alone to make financial decisions on behalf of the entire Group. Instead, the Treasurer is there to provide advice and information that enables the Group Committee as a whole to make these decisions.
You'll want an account from which the Group can draw cheques. Some financial institutions have special arrangements for non-profit groups to minimize service charges. The staff of the branch should be able to help you complete the necessary forms.
The bank accounts of Scouting Groups must be clearly identified as "Scouts Canada," together with the name of the Group. This ensures easy identification if the account is ever forgotten. Recently, Scouting was able to recover more than $1,000 from defunct accounts, all because the account included Scouting in its title. If your Group already has an account that doesn't fit this requirement, your branch staff can help you change the name without disrupting anything else.
At least two people must always sign cheques and withdrawal slips. A good format is any two of the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Group Committee Chair, although other combinations of executive members are equally valid. Strongly discourage the practice of having a second signing officer sign a few blank cheques in advance so that the Treasurer won't have to chase people to issue a cheque. Cheques require two signatures for security reasons. Blank signed cheques leave signing officers open to suspicion if anything should go wrong.
How do you plan the Group's budget? Budgeting is the process of determining how much money you're likely to spend over a given period and how much money you will bring in to cover these expenses. With the input and help of the Leaders (keeping their prepared programme plans in mind) and other Group Committee members, the Treasurer should complete the Group budget before the beginning of the Group's financial year. It should then be presented to the entire committee for discussion, perhaps revision and eventually approval.
Start by looking at the financial records from last year. Start with the expenses. Where will they differ for the coming year? Have the Sections grown? Have costs gone up? Are additional activities planned? The expense column tells the Committee how much it needs to raise to cover activities.
Similarly, look at sources of income for the year. What fund raisers work for your Group? Are you getting the return on invested effort and time that you deserve? If your Group is a new one and doesn't have financial statements from previous years to look back upon, call upon a neighbouring Group or your Area Chair for advice.
Committee up-to-date on Group finances is one of the Treasurer's duties. It can be as simple as a verbal report on the current bank balance and any significant transactions made since the last report. This should be recorded in the Group Committee's regular meeting minutes.
At all levels of Scouting, a report of financial transactions must be prepared and reviewed by the next senior Council. In the case of Groups, it is the Region to which this report is made in the form of the annual Group Financial Statement (Form 6). A copy of this is also annually presented to the Group's Community Partner (Sponsor) and one is kept with the Group's records.
Sections should not have their own separate bank accounts. If it seems that they feel it necessary to open their own bank account, it usually indicates that programme Leaders are taking on jobs, such as fundraising, that should be the responsibility of your Group Committee.
The role of Group Treasurer is an important part of the Group team. With some attention to appropriate process and sound principles, the Group can successfully fund the Scouting Adventure.
Great idea that helped everyone. A real win-win effect for all areas of Scouting
Please, if you see one of these Scouters listed below, say thank you for that extra effort in making this year's "Popcorn Campaign" a success in the Toronto Area for the benefit of everyone.
Doug and Gayle Mason for their tireless effort in making this program happen. AGINCOURT; Ken Carey and Habeeb Zayne, BENDALE; Ken Braden and Jim Stemp, BROWNSEA; Pearl Ivens, EAST SCARBOROUGH; Gerry Myers, HUMBER WEST; Ron Gryschuk and Marilyn Coulthrust, OLD MILL; Brian Booton, SETON; Dan (Dab) Orichefsky and Renee Peat, SKYLINE; Shanie Mangulins and Ron Porter, SUNNYBROOK; Edie MacEachern and Roy Winters, THE ALDERS; Jacques Jones and Linda Pletzer, WEST SCARBOROUGH; John Blake and Barry Stainton, WILLOW VALLEY; David Barron.
Thanks to all of our support team who helped us with distribution and the office staff for their administrative assistance.
Scouters, Scouting youth and visitors watch as everyone has a chance at climbing the wall displayed at the Popcorn string afternoon on October 2 at the Dufferin Mall
COORDINATOR TO GET YOUR COMMITMENT AND ORDER FORMS. PRIZE PROGRAM AVAILABLE ONLY: NO MAJOR PRIZES, SPE- CIAL PRIZES, OR ADVERTISING. SALE FROM FEBRUARY 21,1999 TO MARCH 20 1999. |
Whether you are a Leader in a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack, Scout Troop, Venturer Company or Rover Crew, your Section should include Service as a key component of the program. Many Sections already are quite active with individual service projects like park clean ups, helping their sponsors and collecting for the local food bank. Often, while these projects meet the program requirements, they become commonplace and lack an element of fun. Maybe it's time to consider some other projects to bring the excitement back into this important element of Scout programs.
Young people in Scouting learn that it's cool to care about others. Service projects are important because youth in Scouting make a difference!
Youth Recognition CeremonyPlan ahead and be prepared for the annualYouth Recognition Ceremony. There are two very important dates that cannot be changed, so please take note. 1. The ceremony will be held On Tuesday, May 11, 1999. 2. The deadline for receiving applications is Friday, April 16, 1999. Time and tide wait for no one and neither can the deadline. |
Music for Special OccasionsDo you know a Scout Venturer or Rover who plays the bagpipe? Any buglers out there? How about instruments used in ceremonies from other parts of the world?We are searching for any Scouting youth members who can play their ceremonial instrument and add something special to our ceremonies. This is an opportunity for us to proudly present the cultural richness of our Region at the special occasions we celebrate during the year. If you have any leads, call Bill Sargent (239-8664) or Frank Grisbrook (490-6364, extension 244). |
NEW SCOUT PROGRAM
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In case you've missed the news because you've been trapped in your meeting room or on an extended camp for the last year, Scouts Canada Greater Toronto Region is holding its 3rd Jamboree July 8 to 15, 2000, at Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Originally the brainchild of the Special Events Cornmittee, this project has been in the planning stages for approximately a year, and received the Region's blessing to proceed on July 1. The Jamboree Committee now has a dedicated staff of more than 30 volunteers (I've resisted the temptation to call us committed, even though a number of us should be.) This number has been growing, and will continue to do so as we approach the event.
So, you may ask, what have we been doing for the past year? Actually, we've accomplished quite a bit.
One of our earliest tasks was to find a site. This wasn't as easy as it may sound. Because it is a Toronto jamboree, we set out to find a place that was accessible to the GTR community. We knew it would have to:
The third point eliminated a number of good sites. Public campgrounds (like national and provincial parks) weren't eager to take that much camping space off their inventory for that length of time. The half dozen or so sites in the city were either too small or otherwise unsuitable.
At any rate, after months of site visits, presentations and debates, Fort George got the nod. There's loads of room, the staff is eager to work with us, there is a site nearby for water activities, the community welcomes us. It's close to Toronto, and the fort is an interesting camp feature.
Once that was settled, the programme committee could get to work. Plans are still underway, but many of the activities have been selected. There will be a huge mud hole, a BMX course, and archaeological dig, movies, campfires, crafts, pioneering projects, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking.
Participants will also get a chance to discover the adventure and excitement of SCUBA diving. They will experience and introduction to SCUBA in a pool under the guidance of PADI certified instructors, including a brief class of instruction on equipment and technique. The rest of the time will be spent submerged.
There is also a Cub Programme where, among other activities, 80 youth and Leaders will be able to spend a night in one of the fort's blockhouses. And arrangements have been made for a cruise on the Niagara River aboard the 1903 vintage steamship, the SS Pumper. A word of warning, however. Because space islimited and we expect high demand for this programme, we strongly suggest that you reserve your quickly to avoid disappointment.
And for the Beavers, we are developing a programme that will allow them to enjoy an exciting day at the Jamboree. The youngest members of our organization will be visiting on a day basis. Details will be released as they become available.
The theme for the Jamboree is "From our Past, to our Future." The fort provides the obvious link to our past. One of our links to the future will be the Internet. This is the first jamboree the Region has hosted since this communication phenomenon has become available to the general public, and we plan to use it. We have been publicizing the event on the worldwide web and we suggest you check in at www.scoutgtr.org for information and updates. (Those of you who don't have Internet access may be pleased to know that you can log in at any public library.) We also intend to publish a website from the jamboree itself, with the campers acting as reporters, photographers, and programmers. That way we can share our jamboree experience with the largest possible audience.
Our website is constantly under construction. One of the features is a Menu Contest. Any Scout or Venturer, individually or as a Group, can submit a menu for a breakfast, lunch or supper, along with a shopping list and preparation techniques. These will be tested by our Camp Chef, who will select the best from each month's submissions. Prizes will be awarded and the winners will get full recognition when their names and menus are published in the participant's handbook.
So ... the programme is well underway and we are hard at work pulling everything together. Purchasing people are scouring the area for deals on equipment, supplies, and materials. Site folk are planning the infrastructure. Marketing is spreading the word. Security and safety issues are being examined and addressed. Budget supervisors are rapping knuckles and administrators are doing whatever it is that administrators do (we're assured it's important, though). There's still lots to do. If you'd like to get in on the fun, we're accepting Offers of Service.
The cost for all this is remarkably low. Fees for each GTR participant will be $250 ($285 for Canadian participants outside GTR and $325 for those from other Scouting areas.) This cost does not include food or transportation to and from the site and there may be additional fees for some special programme activities. The Cub Programme will cost each participant $70, but meals are included. Because of the limited space, a $20 deposit will be required for each space you are reserving.
We're doing our darndest to be as accessible as possible. If you and your group would like to attend, you can get more information at our www.scoutgtr.org, or by writing to:
Greater Toronto Region's Third Jamboree
c/o Scouts Canada, Greater Toronto Region
265 Yorkland Blvd., 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M2J 5C7
(416) 490-6364 ext. 460
e-mail: ron.nicholson@sympatico.ca
(We're working on facilities for receiving
messages by carrier pigeon.)
Don't let this opportunity pass you by! It promises to be a ton of fun. Of course, you can always wait and attend the next one in another 20 to 30 years.
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