Venturer Advisors’ Forum - Voyageur Council

Notes of Meeting – May 4, 2010

National Boardroom - Scout Headquarters

 

 

Adrian Hill

Nepean Rovers

Gil Lepine

4th Orleans

Al McPhee

1st Greely

Greg Brost

1st Orleans

Allan Griffin

112th Nepean

Greg McGinnis

2nd Russell

Allan Yates

1st Merrickville

Jan Stodola

7th Kanata

Andrew Grant

Rideau Rovers

John Dougherty

DCC Program

Bill Bowman

1st Nepean

John Stalker

Valley Highlands/AC

Bob Sylvester

4th Kanata

Kim Lanouette

7th Kanata

Brett Budge

25th Nepean

Mary Hagerman

1st Osgoode

Cal Clupp

2nd Gatineau

Mike Jowett

CC Voyageur

Christiaan Burchell

1st Nepean

Nigel Ward

1st Kanata

Christopher Provost

112th Nepean

Perry Schippers

2nd Gatineau/LCS

Chris Bisaillion

7th Kanata

Ray McKenzie

7th Prescott

Chuck Fraser

1st Glen Cairn

Ray Renton

1st Dunrobin

Cyndy Courtland

Carleton Place

Sarah Saleh

2nd Gatineau

Dean Smith

2nd Orleans

Scott Bury

1st Kanata

Doug MacKinnon

112th Nepean

Sharon Lefebvre

7th Kanata

Doug Proud

1st Greenwood

Stephen  Smye

1st Wakefield

Doug Zahody

3rd Orleans

Tim Taylor

123rd Ottawa

Eugene Lavigne

VRSC

Wally Gale

14th Glster/VAFchair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Remarks

 

 

Wally thanked everyone for attending and promised not to give anyone his cold. He noted that Jill Baxter had a last minute change of plans and was unable to attend this VAF meeting to provide information about Wilderness 1st Aid / 1st Responder training (Canadian Wilderness Medical Training).  Doug Proud will see if this session can be rescheduled to the June VAF meeting.

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

 

Youth Train the Trainer – Report by Raymond Desjardins

Raymond is planning a training event to teach Venturers and Rovers how to train at PL/APL and sixer/seconder workshops.  The original course date was found to conflict with the Couch Rally so Raymond will determine another date and keep the VAF informed.  [Update – the revised date is now Sept. 12, the day after the Couch Rally.]

 

Ven Climb2 Advanced Training (April 17-18) – Report by Christiaan Burchell

Went well, there were 11 participants, good time was had.

 

OPE work weekend (April 23-25th) – Report by Tim Taylor

Huge success, thanks to all who participated.  Largest turnout in 4 years, 221 participants representing 24 groups.  Quality and quantity of work was amazing and there were no injuries. The 11th annual work weekend will be held the last weekend of April 2011.  The VAF thanked Tim for his tremendous efforts in planning, organizing and promoting this annual event over the past 10 years.

 

Whitewater 1 Pre-training (April 25) - Report by Tim Taylor for Adam Taylor

Everything went well, This was Adam’s first experience with an organization of this magnitude.  Thomas Miller presented the morning seminar. Approximately 80 participants took the training – could have used more trainers but still adequate.  Many thanks to all who volunteered to help especially those who volunteered at the last minute.

 

RSVP (April 30 – May 2)  - Report by Adrian Hill on behalf of Neal Rice

The weekend was a huge success and Warden Betty was happy with the state of Camp Opemikon after it was over.  Saturday went well until the weather changed – then large slip-n-slide.  Raymond ran a fireless campfire – excellent.  Crests available for sale $1.50 4 for 5$ nrice@scouts.ca comments/suggestions.  Approximately 150 youth + 40 Advisors + OOS attended, about the maximum that activities could accommodate.  The new bows were well received and worked well.

 

Whitewater 1, 2, 3 – Report by Bill Bowman

Everything is set to go.  Registration is available on the VAF website. 

May 28-30: Canoe level 1 & 3 (ORCA certification) Petawawa River

& Kayak 1-2 Madawaska River at Palmer rapids – room available for all courses

June 4-6: Canoe level 2, Kayak 1&2, mini Canoe level 1 – Palmer Rapids & middle                             Madawaska River – registration full but cancellation spots available

Water levels are very low but are OK.  This merely changes the nature of the runs.

Camp Opemikon canoes are still available – 3 for the first weekend and 2 for the 2nd weekend – fully outfitted and available in Ottawa/Chelsea.  Stephen Smye and company are outfitting the canoes this month.  Contact the Voyageur office to rent them.  Some other Venturer companies may also have some canoes - contact Bill Bowman for contact info.  The Voyageur office is doing an amazingly efficient job of handling payments.  Camping for WW1 will be at Black Bear - looking for an attending advisor to liaise with camp staff.  Camping will be tight but adequate at Paddlers’ Coop on the 2nd weekend.  Volunteers are required to help with the Sunday shuttle for the river run component – Jim Smith organizing.

 

 

Reports

 

 

Service Corps / Lost Children Service (LCS) – Report by Eugene Lavigne

The CNCycle for CHEO on May 2 was successful, with the Lost Children Service available at the War Museum (and).  No children were reported lost and there was only one small first aid requirement but the PR benefit makes this activity very worthwhile.  The next activity is Canada Day (likely at Parliament Hill) which will be busy since the Queen will be present.  Two shifts are anticipated: 9 am-3 pm and 3-11 pm (evening mainly confined to trailer).  Volunteers are provided with lunch and invitation to the volunteer party.

 The second upcoming activity is the SUPER-EX, August 19 to 29, 11 am – 9:30/10 pm (half & full day shifts).  Volunteers can try the rides during quiet periods.

Contact Eugene or Perry to sign up. The activities will be posted on the web site calendar. The LCS is in need of youth/advisors to help coordinate these activities as people are starting to age-out.  The contacts and rapport with the NCC and others are excellent and it is well worth the effort to preserve this.  To further promote Scouting, the LCS would also like to set up some sort of display related to camping or activities such as a rope bridge (done in the past).

 

Joint Council (JC)  - Report by Andrew and Jen

April activity (April 10): The Pineapple Rally went well with 25 in attendance.  No incidents, cool pictures were taken (pineapple with leather jacket) – lots of fun and worth considering doing again.

May Camp (May 21-24):  The theme is ‘Cowboy’s Riding Dinosaurs’.  The venue is Camp Opemikon and registration is due at this VAF meeting May 4th.

June event: A Semi-Formal dance will be held at Mount Calvary Lutheran church (on Smyth Rd east of St. Laurent Blvd) on June 17, 7-10:30 pm.  Youth are allowed to bring 1 guest (Hold Harmless form called for).  Cost is $10 at the door, no advance registration required. 

A Leadership Award is presented by JC to a youth who has shown excellent leadership in JC activities.  Youth can nominate others by submitting a paragraph to Vicky or Alan, signed by 3 additional youth,  indicating why the award is deserved.  Nomination deadline is 7 pm Sunday, May 23 at the dance at May camp. The award will be presented at the next JC meeting.

The Election for next year’s executive will also take place at the next JC meeting.  Youth can nominate other youth at May Camp, any time by email or directly at the JC meeting.

Alan Clapp reported that 78 people (58 in uniform) attended the JC meeting. 

 

 

Training and Development

 

 

Basic/Advanced Wilderness 1st Aid Training – Report by Doug Proud

Training will be scheduled for next fall for a suite of courses, including a session for 1st Responder recertification.  To date 8 youth and 8 adults have taken this training.

 

 

 

Other Business

 

 

RoVent Planning Committee – Report by Doug MacKinnon

There are still some issues that need to be resolved.  All members of the committee (and others interested) are needed at the May 11 meeting to sort out a new plan that no longer includes use of the Cub Field.  The RoVent theme is Shakespeare.  Attendance is limited to Sr. Scouts, Venturers and Rovers as well as the Guiding equivalent.  The World Brotherhood of Scouting Conference attendees will be taking a tour of the camp the same weekend.  The RoVent registration package will be available at the next VAF meeting.

 

Camp Sheldrick Shindig (May 15) – Report by Ray MacKenzie

Senior section youth in groups, accompanied by an advisor, are invited to join the Prescott youth in an all-night dance party at Camp Sheldrick near Winchester.  All Scouts Canada rules apply.  The designated deadline is this May 4 VAF meeting – contact Brian McAuley for more information.

 

OOS Council Cub Camp (June 4-6) – Report by John Dougherty

Offers of service are urgently requested for this upcoming Council cub camp - Venturers/Rovers/Advisors/Leaders.  The cost is $30 catered and includes a shirt and crest.  Please contact Jocelyn at scouterjos@gmail.com.

 

Council DAC requests – Report by John Dougherty

The Canadian Museum of Nature is looking for people to help with traffic control during their parade on Saturday May 22, 10-12 am.  Since there was no response to this request after the last VAF, John provided a negative response to the Museum.  However if anyone is interested, contact John to see if they can still use the help.

 

Council is looking for a volunteer to attend a training session for weather spotters this Saturday May 8 at the Kanata Legion.  The ~3 hour presentation is aimed at recruiting people for this activity but could be presented to Scouting youth from the perspective of improving understanding of weather for outdoors activities, if deemed suitable. One of the VAF members volunteered to attend.

 

VenClimb / Gatineau Park Issue - update from Christiaan Burchell & others

There is no update on VenClimb. The NCC is closing 90% of the climbs in Gatineau Park (see the April VAF minutes) and this impacts VenClimb.  At best Home Cliff could serve for 1 day and this would then side-step the question of camping and driving on farm property.  There was discussion of alternate sites (best contenders might be Calabogie with significant poison ivy and no camping close to the site, and Mont Tremblant area with a number of spots and possibilities for camping but a drive of a couple of hours combined with the need for an early start). Christiaan requires additional help to organize actual plans for VenClimb since the status quo is more than unlikely. Further ideas for VenClimb are solicited from Advisors as well as from youth.

 

VAF members expressed their disapproval of the NCC’s continuing efforts and actions to curtail access to recreation in Gatineau Park in general, with this major issue of climbing significantly affecting senior Scouting.  There was a meeting of the coalition and others interested in ensuring access to Gatineau Park for the climbing community on the 15th of April. The coalition is trying to get the word out about this issue and how to lobby the NCC (Minister is John Baird).  John Dougherty will draft a letter for next VAF meeting and Wally will draft a petition aimed at collecting signatures from all sections. 

 

Couch rally – Report by Andrew Grant

This event is scheduled for Sept. 11, 2010.  Mike Harris has contacted the A Channel to request the use of their parking lot as a base again this year, still awaiting a reply.  The Supreme Court and Lisgar were suggested, each with their issues.  Suggestions for a downtown home base are solicited, capable of handling an activity that last year consisted of 173 participants plus couches.  Contact the Rideau Area Rover Crew with ideas.

 

VAF Budget 2010 – Report by Wally

There is about 450$ left in the budget with key options presently consisting of another SPOT receiver, 2 SPOT licences, additional snowshoes and an archery net.  Additional proposals should be submitted to Wally by email (the sooner the better).  Council has approved a  2010/11 VAF budget for the upcoming year of $3000.  There was brief discussion of a proposal to consider supporting out-of-the-normal, exciting activities such as Dragon boating, wind surfing or Skeet shooting to make them more accessible and perhaps as a prelude to getting more involved.

 

Camp OPE Senior Sections Adventures – Reminder - Wally

Looking to promote the programs at OPE this summer.  There are 5 Venturer level programs available – White Water (4 days at Paddlers’ Co-op), Climbing/High Ropes, 10 day canoe trip through Algonquin Park, and Outdoor Skills & Leadership experience (4-day paddle + 3-day hike for ages 14-15).  The 5th program is a 4-week Outdoors Skills program for ages 15-16 with components of all of these 4 combined with a counselor-in-training placement.  Brochures are available – contact Marilyn. 

 

Wilderness tours – Report by Wally

Wilderness Tours has confirmed that they will not require Scouting groups to sign their waiver when participating in their activities as a Scouting group – the Scouting waiver will suffice (see April VAF notes).  They are offering a 25% group discount on any of their activities in May June & September, 15% in June/July. 

 

Closing Items

 

Wally indicated that he is nearing completion of 3 years as chairman of this forum.  Anyone interested in taking over this position should talk to Wally.

 

John Stalker noted that Basic Canoe and Boat Rescue courses are scheduled for the last 2 weekends of June with sign-up information available on the training page on the Voyageur Council website.

 

Stewart Ross reported there were 11 nominations for the Phil Mondor scholarships, with the four $500 scholarships to be decided by the end of the week.

 

..and a reminder of the Council Golf Tournament June 2 in support of Camp Opemikon ..

 

Next Meeting: Tuesday June 1, 2010 at 7:30 pm                                                                                                                    – Activity organizers are asked to bring dates for confirmed and proposed VAF activities, including those activities open to or affecting the VAF.

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/