Name

Group

Name

Group

Alan Griffin

112^th Nepean

Joel Martin

8^th Orleans

Andrew Peverley

Carleton Area Rovers

Joel MacWilliam

Nepean Rover Crew

Bill Bowman

1^st Nepean

John Dougherty

Odawa Area

Braydon Desjardins

Rideau Area Rover Crew

Malcolm Volmer

27^th Nepean

Brian McAuley

7^th Prescott

Mike Jowett

Nepean Area

Bruce Morton

14^th Gloucester

Ray Renton

1^st Dunrobin

Catherine Snedden

Carleton Area Rovers

Raymond Desjardins

Rideau Area Rover Crew

Chris Tyler

1^st Manotick

Sharon Ley

7^th Kanata

Christiaan Burchell

1^st Nepean

Stephen Smye

1^st Wakefield

Dean Smith

2^nd Orleans

Stewart Ross

Nepean Area Senior Section

Doug MacKinnon

112^th Nepean

Tim Harbinson

137^th Ottawa

Doug Proud

1^st Greenwood

Thérèse Desjardins

137^th Ottawa

Greg McGinnis

2^nd Russell

Terry Graham

1^st Manotick

Jan Stodola

7^th Kanata

Wayne Clarke

1^st Orleans

Jim McQuaid

112^th Nepean

Wally Gale

14^th Gloucester 

Opening Remarks:

A presentation was provided by the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association.  Their web address is http://ottawamba.org/OMBA2/index.html.  Kevin Cameron (presentation coordinator), Scott Forsyth (one of the founders of the club) and two others from the association came to present to the VAF.  The OMBA was launched in the spring of 2005.  It has grown to over 250 members and is made up of riders of all ages and skill levels. The association serves as an advocate for mountain biking with local groups and landowners and organizes trail building days, weekly group rides in the summer, and monthly group rides.

Past Events:

Winter weekend:  (Christiaan and Doug) The first weekend trip was great with about 15 people and decent weather.  The Hut was overbooked with about 14 still in the field in tents but it worked out.  There were 4 hikes with 2 groups going up Hurricane, one up Cascade and one up Big Slide.  The second weekend was well planned with 2 clear days.  Hikes were up Algonquin, Hurricane and Big Slide.  Those that got to the top said it was great.  For groups that helped clean the hut on the second weekend, thanks were extended through Christiaan from the hut manager.  The middle weekend organized by Doug also went well with great views from the hikes.

End result is that the format works, so we will repeat this for next year.  However Christiaan would like more help on administration side, e.g. ideally get a Venturer company to take over and he can provide the contacts and advice.

Gatineau Loppet: (Wally) There were 25 adults and Venturers that took care of 3 feed stations.  It was a great winter camping weekend and everybody is keen to come back again.  It is a limited access event with a cap at about 30 people.  So next year they will give priority to those with experience serving in this event and then take on newcomers.

Upcoming Activities:

OPE Work Weekend:  (Wally) Tim Taylor sent out a note through Wally indicating groups who have signed up to date so please review if you think you have registered.  If you have not emailed Tim, do it soon as it looks like there is still a bit of room left.  The mechanism for paying fees as per an email request was to pay the $10 per person once you arrive at the camp.

Outdoor Awareness Skills Session:  This has been discussed before that The Carleton Area Rover Crew is running a camp for 30 senior scouts and younger Venturers on basic outdoor skills, e.g. General ground canoe knowledge, Canoeing, Trip planning session, General Equipment Repair i.e. tents, stoves, Trail Cooking and light weight packing.  There are 34 spots available.  Registration went out to some leaders and it is also on the web.  The deadline for registration is Friday March 14^th.

RSVP Camp (Joel): Joel is with the Nepean rover crew and spoke to the camp at this meeting.  It will be held on the first weekend of May which is the 2^nd to 4^th.  It is open to Guides (Pathfinders) as well.  It is a chance to get out and have some fun.  There will be canoeing, high ropes, and archery.  Registration is a flat fee of $20 however for those providing offers of service, the cost is $16.  Contact Joel MacWilliam, jmacwilliam@gmail.com for any questions.  Registration is on the VAF website for any other information.  There is no deadline for registration set yet but they are looking to try and firm this up around April 15^th.

White Water Sessions: (Bill)  Jim is shadowing Bill to help understand how it is organized and take over more next year.  Bill noted for this year we are ready to go with registration opening up tonight.  Forms are out and some were on the back table for the events and a signup sheet for the pre-training.  Some notes that Bill wanted to make are as follows:

-         Registration is only valid when the organizers get both the form and payment (i.e. check).

-         Voyageur Council leaders, Venturers and Senior Scouts get priority.  Others such as Pathfinders will be allowed if there is still room.  It is not open to general public.

-         There are two grants available this year as noted on the form.  Only registered members of Voyageur council are eligible for those grants..

-         The Camping for White Water 1 and 3 weekend is not finalized but they went ahead and printed up forms with assurance with Tim Taylor that Petawawa will find some room on the base.  It will be on the website when an update is provided.

-         Registration on the website will go on tomorrow (March 5, 2008).

-         Boundless adventures took over the road fix up funding for the Buck Bay Access Road.  There will not be a fee but they will accept donations towards the repair project.  If you wish to donate, Jim and Bill will collect the funds and forward to Boundless Adventurers.

-         Pre-training mandatory for first time participants.  The only exception is if your group has direct access to Mike Millar (the trainer) and can organize their own pre-training.  Please confirm with Bill first if you take that route.

-         Pre-training starts at 10:30 am on the Sunday of the OPE Work Weekend.  The lunch fee is $3.50.

-         Don’t bring fiberglass or Kevlar canoes to the sessions, they will not survive.  Your group needs an ABS canoe.  OPE canoes are available in limited numbers however you have to transport them yourself, bring your own canoe gear (paddles, tie bags, etc.) and book through the Council office.

-         The organizers are still hoping to run a small White Water 1 session at the White Water 2 weekend if the numbers permit.  Jim and Bill will confirm if enough sign up.  If you wish to attend this specific session, use yellow form please for that purpose.  It will be a more expensive session at Paddler Co-op though.  So it is only for those that can absolutely not make it to the regular session on the previous weekend.

-         The deadline is the May VAF meeting (May 6^th) although last year all the sessions were full prior to the meeting.  The pre-training session registration has no deadline.

For the White Water 3 session, the organizer is Stephen Smye.  He says he has the same notes as Bill but please send your registration for that session to Stephen.

Venclimb 2: (Christiaan)  He has been talking with Marilyn about doing a training weekend in April at OPE but he needs to confirm the dates.  It will be either on the weekend of the 11,12,13 or 18,19,20 in April (hint he is leaning towards the first weekend).  If you are interested, see Christiaan as this event will be max 8-10 people as he is the only trainer with Marilyn asking for 2-4 of those spaces.  Note, this course will not include a whole lot of climbing as it will be skills oriented.  Email Christiaan if you are interested.  The cost will likely be around $30-$40 including food and accommodations.  All equipment will be provided but if your group has their own equipment please bring it along to help out.

Interfaith Service: (Alan) Alan noted it is this coming Sunday March 9^th.  People are to gather at 3 pm with the service starting at 4 to about 5 pm for all faiths and diplomats celebrating Commonwealth Day.  Need older and stronger boys for the heavy flags.  It is at Knox Church at Elgin and Lisgar.  There will be a little banquet at end the end of the service.  Full scout dress uniform is required.  If interested contact Alan Griffin. 

Reports:

Joint Council Activities:  (Andrew)  The March event will be a Miniputt evening, but this time not overnight. It will be held on Saturday the  29^th from 7-9 pm.  The cost will be $12 per person to be collected at the event and they need a minimum 15 people to hold the event.  It will be at the Putting Edge on Merivale (near Hunt Club).  For information, contact Nathalie or Andrew or go onto the JC website. Please email your intent to come so they know they have enough participants to hold the event.

The Winter Camp went well.  It was noted that some of the pranking this year was a little extreme so there will be some more controls next year.  Otherwise it was a good weekend.

Lost Children – Winterlude:  No formal report at the meeting, but 7^th Kanata sent a couple of youth and they had a good time.  They wanted to go back next year.

Senior Section Youth Committee (SSYC): Wally noted he received an email recently from Phil Gazaleh that the next planned SSYC meeting is cancelled and another one will be scheduled after Easter.

VRRT: (Raymond)  The group is having their second meeting at Mackie House in Nepean at19 Leeming Drive on Monday March 17^th at 7 pm.  All are welcome.

Training and Development:

Training and Development:  Bob had CDs to hand out from the last Part I session.  He will mail out those he still has.

Trainers Conference: Stewart noted that this session will be held on March 29^th.  Registration is $10 per person.  The deadline for registration is this Friday.  Information is on the Voyageur Council website under Training. 

Senior Section Part II: Stewart asked that if we are interested, please talk to our DACs about our desire for a session or we may not have one next year.  A show of hands in the VAF meeting indicated there is significant interest but to be effective, this request needs to come from the grass roots.  Send an email to your DAC for training or Area Commissioners.

Voyageur Council Whole Leaders Conference: (Stewart and Mike)  This is a conference for all section leaders with a number of sessions around how to increase your skills as a leader, e.g. age appropriate sessions on crafts, games, outside activities, skits, campfires, ceremonies, awards, creative cooking, choosing canoes, project WILD, Tall Ship Adventures, and many more.  The session is now planned for April 19^th 2008 in Smith Falls (299 Percy Street) from 8 am to 4:30 pm.  The cost is $20.00 per person including lunch with cash credit card or cheques made out to ‘Scouts Canada – Voyageur Council” and sent to the council office.  Deadline for registration is Friday April 4, 2008.   For more information contact  lisa.skent@sympatico.ca.

Boat Pro Course: This course is Canadian Transport approved and provides candidates passing the exam to acquire their Pleasure Craft Operators Certificate.  The course also meets the Scouts – Power Craft Badge requirements.  The course is given in cooperation with the Britannia Power Squadron over 2 days on April 5^th and 6^th from 9 am to 3 pm.  It will be given at Scout Head Quarters, 1345 Baseline Rod.  The fee is $9.00 (with various subsidies for scouting) for the course and test or $20.00 for those that would also like to receive a manual.  The course is limited to 30 people but is limited to a mature 12 years old and up.  Participants need to bring their own snacks and lunch and paper and pen for taking notes.  Registration deadline is March 23^rd.  Registration is to Pamela Bazinet at Voyageur Council office 613-225-2770 or pbazinet@scouts.ca and please indicate is a manual is to be purchased.

Note the deadline for all operators to have this certificate is the coming September so this course will help avoid the crush to obtain the certificate in the fall.

Next Meeting:  Tuesday April 1, 2008 at 7:30 pm

The Chair for the Venturer Advisor Forum is Wally Gale at vafchair@rogers.com.  Please contact Wally for any notices to distribute or ideas on future topics.

If there are any omissions or corrections in the minutes, please contact Catherine Snedden at csnedden@forethoughtsystems.com

Also view current and previous copies of the minutes and other VAF notices at http://web.ncf.ca/ad554/ or contact Bill Bowman at wbowman@ncf.ca to get information posted to this website.