Venturer Advisors’ Forum - Voyageur Council
Notes of Meeting – Feb 2, 2010
National Boardroom - Scout Headquarters
Al McPhee |
1st
Greely |
Jocelyn
Robinson |
7th
Kanata/VAF Secr |
Alan
Griffin |
112th
Nepean |
Mary
Hagerman |
1st
Osgoode |
Allan Yates |
1st
Merrickville |
Michelle
Aufie |
Valley
Highlands |
Bill Bowman |
1st
Nepean |
Mike Harris |
Rideau
Rover Crew |
Brett Budge |
25th
Nepean |
Nick Wise |
Rideau Rov/DCC Train |
Brian
McAuley |
7th
Prescott |
Neal Rice |
Nepean
Area/CYC |
Bruce
Murton |
14th
Gloucester |
Nigel Ward |
1st
Kanata |
Cal Clupp |
2nd
Gatineau |
Patrick
Megan |
1st
Wakefield |
Chris Tyler |
1st
Manotick |
Phil Edens |
123rd
Ottawa |
Christiaan
Burchell |
1st
Nepean |
Randy
Miller |
2nd
Russel |
Christopher
Provost |
112th
Nepean |
Ray
McKenzie |
7th
Prescott |
Cyndy
Courtland |
Carleton
Place |
Scott Burry |
1st
Kanata |
David
Laramee |
2nd
Russell |
Scott
Stanley |
1st
Stittsville |
Don Stalker |
Nepean
Rover Crew |
Stephen Smye |
1st
Wakefield |
Doug
MacKinnon |
112th
Nepean |
Stewart
Ross |
DCC
Recognition |
Doug Proud |
1st
Greenwood |
Therese
Desjardins |
137th
Ottawa YES |
Ernest
Koshman |
Nepean
Rover Crew |
Tim Redpath |
1st
Stittsville |
Greg
McGinnis |
2nd
Russell |
Timothy
Taylor |
123rd
Ottawa |
Jim Smith |
27th
Nepean |
Wally Gale |
14th Glster/VAFchair |
John
Stalker |
Valley
Highlands/AC |
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Opening
Remarks
Wally noted that
the sign-in sheet for this meeting contained an additional column for attendees
to indicate their best estimate of the number of youth in their company/crew
that are registered in the Duke of Ed Program (result: 65-68 registered). He will attend a meeting next week organized
by the local Duke of Ed office with a view towards expanding the program.
He also
acknowledged that the meeting had a reasonably challenging agenda that would
again predicate brevity in any discussions.
Upcoming
Events
Winter Mountaineering
Adventure (February – 4 weekends) - Report by Allan Yates
212 in total applied
but after restricting participation and including a last minute cancellation, 172
people signed up to go – totally full.
47 will attend the weekend of Feb 5-7.
Allan will look for feedback after the 1st weekend for the Keene
Hostel and the Brookside Motor Inn.
These are two facilities we have not used in the past - critical to
provide for the increased participation.
LaserQuest
Lockdown (March 6-7) – Report by Mike Harris
Feb 2 was the
deadline to reapply, for those who were on the waiting list and unable to
participate in the previous LQ event. The door is now open everyone who did not
participate in the previous LQ event. On March 2 (next VAF meeting), registration
will be open to everyone, if any room is left.
This system was set up to ensure equitable access to this popular event
after the December event was unable to accommodate people on the waiting list.
OPE work
weekend (April 23-25th) – Report by Tim Taylor
There are now 11 groups representing 120 registered so far, with lots of room
still available and lots of work to be done.
Information is available online on the VAF website. While registration information still goes to
Tim, the Voyageur office is handling all payments and the $10/person cost can
be paid by credit card directly over the telephone (with no additional
charges).
Whitewater 1
Pretraining(April 25) - Report by Adam Taylor
This training
is a pre-requisite for the Whitewater 1 course.
It is scheduled for Sunday of the Ope Work Weekend from 10:30am to
3:00pm. Participants are advised to dress appropriately for the weather and be
prepared for rain or snow. The afternoon
practical session will take place on the water.
The $3.50 cost covers lunch for those not participating in the Work
Weekend. Registration is now open
through a simple form on the VAF website or online at http://tinyurl.com/yd3ywc2. Adam Taylor is organizing this event,
including the on-the-water session and Tom Miller will deliver the indoor
information presentation. Volunteer
instructors for the on-the-water session are required and should contact Adam
or use the online volunteer form available on the VAF web site under “Announcements”.
RSVP
(April 30 – May 2) - Report by Neil Rice
Enrollment
is now open – limited to 120 youth.
Among the activities will be High Ropes, Orienteering and Archery. The cost is $15 per participant, $10 for
offer of service. Registration forms can
be found on the VAF website or in the Youth Network area of the Council website. This is a linking event, with senior Scouts
invited to participate with their Venturer Company. Pathfinders can also
participate.
Whitewater
1, 2, 3, Kayak 1&2 – Report by Michael Wall, Bill
Bowman & Stephen Smye
Registration
is now open and details are available on the VAF website. Payment is through
the Council office (cheque or credit card).
As
in the past, there are 2 Weekends:
May
28-30 – WW1 (introduction to canoe whitewater, also linking event for senior
Scouts)
-
WW3 (ORCA 1A/1B moving water certification for
tandem or solo canoe)
Training by
Bear Creek instructors is located on the Petawawa River near Petawawa, camping
on the forces’ Base.
June
4-6 – WW2 (advanced whitewater canoe, includes river day trip, pre-requisite
WW1)
-
Mini WW1 (to facilitate group
logistics where the previous weekend doesn’t work)
-
WWKayak1 (introduction,
pre-requisite WW1)
-
WWKayak2 (advanced Kayak) Madawaska
River, Canoe 1&2, Kayak 1&2
Training by
Paddlers Coop takes place on the Madawaska River at/near Palmer Rapids
Reports
Service
Corps Lost Children Services @ Winterlude – Report by
Wally on behalf of Perry Schippers
The
weekends of Feb 6/7 and 13/14 are cancelled for this volunteer service for
Winterlude. However these are replaced
by other requirements: Feb 5 (shift from 5-9 pm) at Majors Hill Park, Feb 15 Family
Day (shift from 10am-4pm) & Feb 20-21 (shifts from 10am-2pm and 1:30pm-6pm)
at the Confederation Trailer site. The
website for the 2010 Winterlude Lost Children Service is up. For further information and to volunteer see Http://sites.google.com/site/lcswinterlude2010/. The email to contact LCS is: lcs.winterlude@gmail.com. This latest information was not posted at the
time of the VAF meeting.
Joint Council - Report by Andrew and Jen
- February
event: 12 participated in the Sledding outing.
Fun was had by all
- Winter Camp (Feb. 12-14, 2010): 57 are registered and there are still more
spots available but the deadline is tonight’s VAF (contact Andrew or Jen). There
will be a bus going from Scout Headquarters to Camp Woolsey (just off Dunrobin
Road). The cabins have kitchen
facilities with pots.
- March Event: Climbing at Coyote rock gym (off St.
Laurent Blvd in the back area near MacDonalds) on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from
10am - 12pm. The cost is $18 per person and includes all climbing gear – pay at
the door. If there are 12 or more
participants they will close the gym to the public for this JC event – numbers
are required by March 19. JC.exec2009@gmail.com
Training
and Development
Advanced
Wilderness 1st Aid Jan 16-17 – Report by Doug Proud
75%
of the participants were youth. Doug
will look into running another course in the spring.
Wally
noted that there is a proposal for next year’s budget to focus on supporting
training such as this that promotes the VAF’s high adventure activities, should
the VAF budget be renewed by Council this year. VAF members are asked to send
their ideas to Wally or other key event organizers.
Wood
Badge 1 course – Report by John Stalker
Will
be held March 26-27 (Friday night & Saturday) at Scout HQ. The $5 cost can be paid at the Council office.
Trainer
Workshop (April 17) – Report by Nick Wise
This
workshop is aimed at youth and adults, whether new or on-going trainers, and
will be held at Sir Robert Borden High School.
See the Council website under Training for details.
Other
Business
Rovent Planning committee meeting (Feb 9) – Report by Doug MacKinnon
The Rovent 2010 planning committee will start meeting the second Tuesday
of the month beginning in February - in the Buffam room at Scout HQ from 7:30
to 10 pm. Youth and advisors are welcome
to join in. Items such as the theme and
a crest competition will be discussed.
An adult volunteer to handle finances is required. Rovent will be held Oct 15-17 2010 at
Opemikon
Raising the Scout Flag at City hall (Feb 20) – Report by Wally on behalf of John Dougherty
The flag-raising will kick off Scout and Guide week on Saturday Feb 20
around 11:45am. Potential attendees (youth
and adults) are asked to e-mail John Dougherty, dcc-program@voyageur.scouts.ca, to give him an estimate of numbers. Neckers or even uniform would be
nice but not necessary.
Scouts Day with the Ottawa 67’s (Feb 21) – Report by Wally on behalf of John Dougherty
Tickets to this game are available at $10 and could be used as a
fund-raiser if sold at up to $15. The contact
is Calvin Amell at 613-232-6767.
OOS
Council Cub Camp (June 4-6) – Report by Jocelyn Robinson
Offers
of service are requested for this upcoming Council cub camp. The next planning meeting will be held at
Scout HQ in the Buffam Room on Feb 28 at 7pm - all welcome. Ventures/Rovers and leaders/advisors are
asked to contact Raymond Desjardins or Jocelyn Robinson if interested in this
Offer of Service. The deadline for OOS registration is March 15.
VAF
Activity coordination/organization – Report by Bill Bowman
Volunteers
(youth/advisors/companies/crews) are required to help with the many tasks
associated with running events. Drawing
from the fact that ‘many hands make light work’, Bill prepared a basic form and
a slightly more detailed online form to enable VAF members to easily indicate
their willingness to help out. All
VAF-coordinated activities would benefit from increased involvement in the
various aspects of organization. The
forms are available directly on the VAF website or at VAF meetings. Email your submission to Wally or to Bill
Bowman at wbowman@ncf.ca.
Recognition
– Report by Stewart Ross
Congratulations
to Alan Griffin for achieving the Silver Wolf medal, awarded at the Council AGM
- the only known living recipient in Canada.
There
are 17 scholarships available to Canadian Scouting youth worth $1000 each –
deadline is April 1 for submissions.
Four $500 scholarships are also available in Voyageur Council alone, so
anyone reasonably qualified should consider applying for these. The Council scholarships are not restricted
to first year students.
A
4 hour workshop is scheduled for March to help youth or adults in drafting an
award or scholarship submission.
Stewart
asked everyone to consider making a submission for one of the many awards. All applications should be be submitted to
either the Area Commissioner or directly to the DCC for Recognition (the latter
particularly for Gallantry and Fortitude awards).
Ottawa
“Y” Canoe Club – Wilderness Emergency Presentation (Feb 23)…
- Report by Wally
What
could possibly go wrong? The Search and Rescue Global 1 (SAR G1) Team is
offering a session on staying safe, using technology and conducting evacuations
in wilderness settings - Tuesday Feb 23, 7-9pm at St. Martin’s (2120 Prince
Charles Rd). The presentation is free to
the public (youth/adults) although a donation of 3-5$ to cover costs is
requested from those who can easily cover it.
The SAR G1 Team hopes to use this as part of their recruitment effort.
Presentation by Nigel Ward (1st Kanata) – US
Canyonlands Trip
Nigel Ward treated the VAF to a presentation of 1st
Kanata’s unique hike and canoe trip through the wild wilderness and hot weather
extremes of Bryce Canyon, Green River and the Grand Canyon. The spectacular landscape and unforgivingly
harsh conditions added up to a lifetime experience, a fact that Venturer
participants may come to realize with the passage of time. The summer
conditions were tough but the weather cooperated. They did not visit Las Vegas, much to the
disappointment of the youth. Total cost
(including air fare) was $1350 per participant for a two week trip. Contact
Nigel for more details or some key tips on budgeting for this type of trip.
Next Meeting: Tuesday March 2, 2010
at 7:30 pm. If all goes according to
plan, Bill Bowman will chair this meeting and provide a presentation of his
Venturer Company’s Moose River trip.
The Chair for the Venturer Advisor Forum is Wally Gale
at vafchair@rogers.com. Please contact Wally for any notices to
distribute or information of potential interest to the Voyageur VAF community.
If you find any omissions or errors, please contact
…… Scouter Jocelyn Remus-Robinson at cascahawk@gmail.com or
613-592-4738
…
and visit the VAF website for a goldmine of information, including present,
past and future events http://web.ncf.ca/ad554/