Emerald Scouts Newsletter September 2018 I’m writing and reflecting on our Annual Reporting and Presentation evening (ARAP) and want to express thanks again to the youth members, leaders, committee members and parents and friends who make Emerald Scout Group the great, safe, exciting and diverse place it is. I’m going to paraphrase some of what I’ve already written in my ARAP report for those who haven’t had the opportunity to look it over. I’m amazed at the commitment and dedication of our leaders and other volunteers, and grateful for the creative, adventurous, fun-filled and challenged activities and opportunities that are made available to all our youth and adult members. Reading through the reports from each Section, looking at the term programmes, talking to the kids and seeing photos and accounts all illustrate an abundance of experiences whereby our Group is clearly a community, working together to teach and learn values such as friendship, resilience and leadership. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated leadership but, as demonstrated through our recent Leaderbuild meetings and requests directly to families, we are in great need of adult volunteers in a multitude of areas. We need leaders, we need a Quartermaster, we need a Grants Officer – we need our community of members to step up and participate in working bees, fundraising activities such as the Monster Raffle, sausage sizzles and the Christmas Tree Sales, and take on other roles of which there are many. We simply cannot exist without the support and commitment of families and we’re currently struggling to ensure that jobs that need doing are able to be done. Please consider, re-consider, and contact us to support the Group that provides unique, adventurous and educational experiences for your children. I would like to thank the members of the committee for their work and support over the past year as well as our leaders and youth leaders. Let’s all look forward to a prosperous 2018-19 year! Regards, Tanja Korsten, Emerald Committee Chair

Important Dates This calendar will not reflect everything going on in every section. Please check

your section’s Facebook page or Team App

October 10th Scout COM Meeting October 16th Fees due November 21st Scout COM Meeting November 30th Emerald Twilight Market 3-8.45pm November 30th Christmas Tree delivery December 1st & 2nd December 7th & 8th December 15th & 16th Christmas Tree Sales 9am-2pm December 14th Emerald Carols by the Lake

Member Profile

Alice Hunt My name is Alice. I’m 12 years old and I’ve been in Scouts for 2 years. In Scouts we do lots of fun activities like brown treasure, cooking, swimming, patrol activities and many more enjoyable activities. We also make fires, walk around Emerald and at end of term do something extra fun like laser tag. This year I have participated in a number of camps including Stradbroke Cup (which we won Gold in), Fantastic Race, Echuca and Kurth Kiln, these were all a lot of fun. In January 2019 I’m looking forward to go on Jamboree, which is a 12 night camp in Adelaide….can’t wait! Alice Hunt - Scouts

Monster Raffle Thankyou to all the families and individuals who were able to sell (or buy their own!) raffle tickets. We raised around $600 and this money will help us to continue to subsidise the cost of scout camps.

Grants Recently the Committee submitted two Grant applications. One is for a Volunteer Grant to support the efforts of our volunteers. We have made an application for $3,850 to spend on a range of items including computer equipment, first aid training, cleaning and gardening equipment and items, furniture and appliances and storage. The second is to support planned upgrades to the Group Centre including to the meeting room and to our lighting. We will let you know how our applications go!

Emerald Scout Group Website

www.emeraldscouts.org.au We have launched our new look website! Please head on over and take a look at our recently renewed site. You’ll find examples of term programs, a photo gallery, information about each Section and more. We’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions too!

Chief Scouts Ambassador

Scarf Up for Scouting is a visible way of developing our community links, using youth members as the public face of Scouting. It all started at Big Day Scout in 2015, when Chief Scout, Shane Jacobson, was invested with the State scarf. He then used the same stage to invest a young person from nearly every Group in Victoria with the State scarf. Those young members became our Scarf Up Ambassadors, leading a push to get that scarf on many prominent people at public events. Emerald Scout Group’s Chief Scout Ambassador has been Ewan McLean for some time and at this year’s ARAP, Cub Scout Hilary Green was invested with the State scarf and will be our ambassador for the next 12 months period. This means Hilary will take part in Scarf Up ceremonies in our local area and be our group’s ambassador and representative. A job to honour! Congratulations, Hilary!

Scouting Facts! Speak like a Scout HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED ABOUT A WOGGLE OR DEBATED THE MEANING OF HOP? SCOUTING HAS ITS OWN WEIRD AND WONDERFUL LANGUAGE THAT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO DECIPHER.

Here are some of the words and phrases:

Akela – This is a traditional title for the Leader in Charge of a Cub Scout Pack. (See “Jungle Book”.)

B-P – When Scouts talk about B-P, they aren’t referring to a servo! These initials are our simple

abbreviation for the man who started it all back in 1907, Lord Robert Baden-Powell.

Cuboree – This is a mix of mud, water and plenty of laughter as 3500 Victorian Cub Scouts share an action-

packed camp every three years.

Gang Show – This is an annual stage show, named after the UK original. The Melbourne Gang Show has

been running since 1953, written, performed and produced by Scouts and Guides. Melbourne Gang Show

is one of seven shows put on by Victorian Scouts. Apart from Sunraysia and Albury Gang Shows, there are

“Showtimes” – Camberwell, South Metro, Strzelecki and Whitehorse Showtime.

Gilwell Park – B-P’s famous UK training base inspired our own Scouts Victoria campsite at Gembrook.

Good Turn – This is a traditional phrase that’s still used by Scouts and Guides around the world. It’s all

about doing something good for somebody else every day.

Grey Wolf Award – This is the highest award available to Cub Scouts.

Handshake – Scouts traditionally shake their left hands for greetings and badge presentations.

HOP - The 'Joey Scout HOP' is the formal opening ceremony used by Joeys. It represents the motto 'Help

Other People'.

Jamboree – You probably already know the meaning of this one, because these large scale Scout camps

are famous around the world! Our own version, held every 3 years, is known as ‘AJ’ for Australian

Jamboree.

Jungle Book – Many Cub Scout titles are drawn from characters in Rudyard Kipling’s famous book,

including Bagheera, Baloo, Kaa and Akela.

JOTA / JOTI – The 'Jamboree of the Air' and 'Jamboree of the Internet' are a massive, once a year

opportunity for Scouts around the world to get to know each other through radio and the internet.

Kangaree – This is a weekend camp for Joey Scouts, held every two years

Mob – A group of Joey Scouts is known as a ‘mob’.

Moot - Every three years, Rovers converge on one location for a ten-day extravaganza of activities at the

National Moot.

Pack – A group of Cub Scouts that meet together is known as a Pack.

Patrol - A small sub-group of a Scout Troop. A Patrol is led by the Patrol Leader.

Salute – B-P came up with our global Scout salute - holding up three middle fingers with the little finger

tucked under the thumb – and we still use it at Scout ceremonies.

Six - A small sub-group of a Cub Scout Pack. A Six is led by the Sixer.

Troop – A group of Scouts that meet together is known as a Troop. (The same word is used as a collective

noun for baboons. It’s not known if there is any link!)

Woggle – This is a handy one to know for trivia nights. It’s the name of the ring used to hold the Scout

scarf, and it dates back to the 1920s. (The Americans had their own version, called Boon Doggles.)

Wood Badge – Advanced qualification for Leaders which ends in presentation of wood beads, a parchment

and a Gilwell Scarf.

Venture – This is the Venturers’ version of the Jamboree.

YiS – This signoff on emails or letters is an abbreviation for 'Yours in Scouting'.

- Taken from https://scoutsvictoria.com.au/about-us/speak-like-a-scout/

Could this be you? The Committee would like to extend the following opportunities to parents. Being on the Committee is a rewarding experience that is social as well as informative, and of course services our Scout Group. The Group holds monthly meetings at the Emerald Scout Hall. Not all of the holders of these positions would be expected to attend meetings. We are looking for a

• Fundraising Coordinator – you would not have to be responsible for every fundraiser! Many other parents would step up to volunteer for different fundraising efforts. This role involves coordination of these efforts and could be a joint/shared position.

• Maintenance Officer – The Maintenance officer would not have to fix or maintain everything, but again, be responsible for coordinating any maintenance issues, undertaking checks and perhaps attending to small issues.

• Parent Liaison Officer – This small role has been established to help new parents to Scouting and their child/ren, or those who were trialling our programs, make the transition. This person will welcome new families, provide them with our Welcome Pack, ensures they feel encouraged and is available to answer any questions they might have, refer specific questions on to Leaders and offer a friendly smile. We need a parent of a cub and a scout currently.

• Quarter Master – The Quarter Master takes stock of our Scout Group’s gear and assets, especially after major events and camps. We have taken an initial stock so we’re looking for someone to manage the ins and outs!

• Leaders! - Loads of rewards! Personal satisfaction, sense of achievement, adventurous activities, qualifications at Cert 2, 3, 4 and Diploma levels, travel, fun and great opportunities. Full training and ongoing support is provided.

More detail about any of these roles can be given on request. Please contact Tanja (Committee Chair) 0413 487 211 or mikeandtanja@bigpond.com if you’re interested!

SISEP (Scouts International Student Exchange Program) – Leitia Shipsey

- Excerpt from Leitia’s report in ARAP

My exchange was an incredible experience and something I’m never going to forget. Over the 5 weeks I got to experience a new culture, make lasting friendships and finally know what it’s like to have a white Christmas.

My host family was incredible and they welcomed me into their home like I was one of their own. I helped with the chores, celebrated birthdays and visited relatives and got to know the family’s story which was incredible. I went to a Danish school which was different but oddly familiar to my own, where I was able to help out with English classes and make friends with my host sister’s classmates, we’d often get distracted in class as my new friends were always eager to learn and compare the differences between Australian and Danish life. I also went to scouts each week on Wednesday where we would help with the beaver scouts (similar to joeys), then go on to scouts. Finally, to finish off the trip we got to spend a week in England with the rest of the scouts who took part in the exchange, where we became ultimate tourists, fitting as much as we could in the little time we had. Though I can’t speak for everyone who went on the exchange I can say we all

thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone considering going. Leitia Shipsey (1st Emerald)

Emerald Scout Group Out n’ About