Chatlines - Issue 05

8/8/2019 Chatlines - Issue 05

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Dec 08-Jan 09EDITORIAL

So here we are, coming up to Christmas so fast it makes your head spin when you think of all the little jobs

and arrangements you still have to make before the day itself is upon us! With all the razz-a-matazz andhype about writing cards, buying gifts, putting up decorations, stocking the larder with seasonal goodies,

etc, etc; its hard to take time to pause and reflect on the true meaning of what we are celebrating. Thegreatest gift we can give the world is P*E*A*C*E, and that starts with each of us celebrating the good in

every other person instead of criticizing or feeling threatened by them. Spread this attitude around, and, if itgrew to encircle the world, Peace would follow as a by-product. Make it your New Year Promise to ensure

that your Scout Group learns about and earns the World Friendship Badge. For now, I wish you all a verymerry Christmas full of fun and friends and kindness; and hope you will have a blessed New Year of

Scouting excitement and opportunity and adventure, with the health and will to enjoy it all. B.Ed

Exec Xmas Social

Christmas Eve

Chrisatmas Day

Boxing Day

New Years Eve2009

New Years Day

GS Rehearsal

Cub RehearsalFellowship

Beaver Scout Ldr Mtg

Pack Scout Ldr MrgExec Comm

GSL/DT Mtg

Troop Scout Ldr Mtg

Dist. Camp Comm___________________

Other Notable Forth-

coming Events

Cub Craft CompetitionExplorer Swim Gala

C. S. Awards B & C

Gang Show

Gang Show

St. Georges DayDistrict Yomp

Back to Basic w/eDistrict AGM

Cub 5-a-side

Expl DofE ExpeditionCounty Parade

County AGM

District Camp

Beaver Fun DayExpl Summer CampGilwell Reunion

Mingle

Cub Activity Day

DEC

JAN

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Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Sep

16

24

25

2631

1

8

912

14

1520

21

22

29____

722

4

31

1-4

1926

8-1014

17

30/17

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26-28

1125/14-6

18-20

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DCs BITWe are fast approaching the end of 2008 with only the few weeks running up to Christmas left.By now you should have seen next years District Diary and noted the events which you hope

to take part in. District events and activities are there to assist our Sections; Groups and Unitswith programme planning and to strengthen its content. They have all been discussed at thevarious District Section meeting before inclusion. I look forward to see you all at these events.

Our District Scout Shop is a major contributor to both Warrington Districts funds so I take thisopportunity to remind you all how important it is to make sure all our members use it for pur-chase of uniforms, etc. Please make sure that parents of all new starters are aware of the shop

and its contribution to our District. Anyone using other outlets is depriving Scouting of in-come and giving profit to commercial concerns.

Our Christmas celebrations have got off to a great start with the Carol Serviceat Boteler High School. It was pleasing to see so many of you there. I caninform you that this years District Charity (North West Air Ambulance) wasgiven a cheque for 700 on the night. After the retiring collection the totalfor the evening with this and the Group and Unit contributions was nearer to

800. I think there is more to come in so I hope to be able to send anothercheque early in the New Year. Thank you to all who contributed.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and best wishesfor the New Year together with my thanks for your contribution in time andeffort to Scouting in 2008.

Tony Warburton - District Commissioner

ChatlineIssue 5Page 1

Cont...

Bfoot Mapcheck Oct 7

Cub Swim Gala 18

Blakfoot Hike 23-25

Gang Show enrol Nov 5Scout Swim Gala 15

District Dance 21

Expl Winter Camp Dec 4-6Carol Service 8

EC Party 15


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ChatlineEd 5 Page 2

Warrington West District Explorer Christmas Camp

Southport, 57 December 2008

Reported by Zak Preston

When we arrived at WatersideLodge it was late and the seagullswere struggling to fight the coastalbreeze. As the rest of the explorers

drifted in, some drifted off to thelocal McDonalds (we were their

best customers that weekend) andsoon came back loaded withMcFlurrys and Big Macs. In themorning we woke to a beautifulcooked breakfast and then went into

Southport. There were some goodplaces to go like the skate park(which was greatly improved withthe use of a wheelchair), cinema,town centre, swimming pool, bowl-ing alley and of course the pier and

beach where the sea was not evenvisible. After coming back fromour activities we enjoyed a Christ-mas dinner with the DC and thenhad a frivolous time playing the

games Brenda had prepared for us.We eventually fell asleep and wereawakened by Rob in time for a bigclean up and goodbye. We wouldcertainly go back again and woulddefinitely recommend the Water-

side Lodge. On behalf of all theExplorers we would like to thankall of our leaders who took theirtime in organising, cooking andcoping with us over the weekend.

The Presidents Patch:Christmas is a time for giving when gifts are exchanged and worthycauses supported. This was certainly the case at the District Carol Ser-vice when a cheque for 700 was presented to the North West Air Am-bulance Service. This was money raised entirely by our younger mem-bers and I offer my thanks and congratulations.It was also pleasing to see the Carol Service so well supported by a fullHouse.Finally, may my wife and I wish all our members of District a Happyand Peaceful Christmas.

Yours in ScoutingGeorge Carman


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Chatline - Ed 5 Page 3

So, now is the time of year when the nights go dark practically before we get out of school. and it can be verycold, windy, snowy or just miserably wet. This puts more stress on providing good, fun programmes for meet-ings when we are more likely to be restricted to using indoor facilities during evening activities. Therefore,

here are a few ideas we have gathered to try and brighten up a dark night or two.

WINTER WONDERLAND

Visit yournearest kart

track; or build aScoutcar and

have it ready foryour own races

come nextSpring

Book anevening on

the DistrictClimbingWall and

learn Rockclimbingunderproper in-struction.

Learn to play tunes on some

musical instruments (you can

make some of these your-

selves) and have a littlecombo ready to perform at

your next Group AGM

Why not challenge another Troop. AYouth Club, or even the Army to agame of some sort?


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WET WEATHER WAYS IN WINTER TO WAKE UP WEARY EXPLORERS


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Near the end of November a ceremony was held at Forest Camp to name

and dedicate the newly built retreat situated on the site of the previous

open-air chapel. We were happy to have the Warrington West ex-Chaplain, Rev. John Reed, back with us for this. The single wall of the

retreat has been covered by a beautifully painted mural depicting Scouting

symbols and activities the full length of the wall. As a result of a requestby County for suitable name suggestions for the new edifice, THE HAVEN

was the chosen contribution. Its contributor, Mr. Vernon Henry, performed

the unveiling ceremony of the mural; and its young lady artist fromManchester was presented with a bouquet . Widnes Fellowship provided

very welcome hot drinks and refreshments as we returned to the LakesideActivity centre with cold hands and red noses. Subsequently I received a

poem written by Vernon Henry as follows:

Saturday, 22nd November (2008)

To Forest Camp, we made our way;

An invitation on this dry; cool day,

To the unveiling, in a chapel, rural;A lovely; long; hand painted Mural.

The lady artist; cameras and many guests were there,And our County Chaplain to close with a prayer!

We were then fed and watered,

Thanks to Gods, and Fellowship hands.

From the Mural, our Scout Founder looked upon us,

As ever to guide us in our Promise to show young people,

How to be Trusted; Loyal and Helpful;And to enjoy all the adventures; shown in Brush and Paint.

At home, on the eve of that memorable day,And in our church, on a hill, on Sunday

To my Lord, I sincerely wanted and did say;

Thank You for that precious time,I shared with our Sisters and BrothersIn a Movement which goes your way.

Bless you all,Vernon Henry

A one week course with the National Scout &Guide Symphony Orchestra is to be held inChester, 2-9 Aug 2009, with professional

orchestral conductors and tutors. Applicantsmust be Scouts/Guides aged 13-25 years andproficient players of orchestral instruments. A

great opportunity and, as far as I know, the firsttime the NSGSO have held the course in the

North-West. Enquiries by email to: [email protected]. Application

forms can be downloaded from: www.nsgso,org.uk Public performanceswill be on 7 & 8 Aug to include works by Holst, Grieg, Shostakovich,

Tchaikovsky, Copland and Bizet.


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Diggerland Day Out

On Sunday, 5th October, the 28th Warrington Scout

Group made a visit to Diggerland, Chapelford. It was a

fantastic day. The forecast wasnt great, but the sun came

out about 10 a.m. and stayed out, all day! Beavers, Cubs

and Scouts alike were all kept thoroughly amused. Youcould sit in and actually operate real JCB diggers.

Leaders too joined in but it took them a little longer to

master the controls!

There was a giant digger called Spin Dizzy which did

just that! You could ride on a digger round the course,

test your dexterity by knocking down skittles, pick out

bricks buried under stones. There were cars rather like

ones used by clowns in a circus where you could dodge

each other. You had the opportunity to sit in a 4wd,

NEW YEAR - NEW OPPORTUNITIES - NEW EXPERIENCES

while you were taken off road and shown

exactly what playing in the mud is all about.

Everyone received a certificate of compe-

tency and were all asking when they could go

again.

Documents

Chatlines - Issue 05