Voyageur Council Venturer Advisor’s Forum

Meeting Minutes for October 4, 2005

Scout’s Headquarters - National Boardroom

Final

Attendees:

Name	Group	Name	Group
Jim Peverley	8^th Orleans	Catherine Snedden	7^th Kanata
Bill Bowman	1^st Nepean	Dave McOnie	104^th Ottawa
Mike Jowett	27^th, 29^th Nepean	Christian Bertchel	1^st Nepean
Malcolm Volmer	29^th Nepean	Stewart Ross	Nepean Rovers
Ray Renton	1^st Dunrobin	Wally Gale	14^th Gloucester
Laurel Rosene	1^st Glen Cairn	Joe Boudreau	1^st Greely Venturers
Alan Griffin	112^th Nepean	Jim Montgomery	1^st Glen Cairn
Jim McQuaid	112^th Nepean	Anne-Marie Simoneau	28^th Ottawa
Phil Edens	VRSC / LCS	Dan Karwowski	1^st Glen Cairn
Doug Proud	1^st Greenwood	David Gall	1^st Richmond
Carl Barrows	137^th Ottawa	Laurence Tyler	1^st Richmond

Past Events:

Couch Rally:

The event went very well, 7 couches participated. The weather was a challenge as it rained all day but all had fun. Bill Bowman asks for anyone who has pictures of the event to copies of their photos to him for posting on the website.

Many awards were given out and plaques presented at the meeting to the leaders of the groups who won the various awards.

Venclimb:

This was an excellent opportunity for climbing and it went off very well. They had a little rain on Sunday but the event was considered a success.

Crazy Canuck:

Very good weather, 18 Companies and 18 advisors and all had a good time and got done what they wanted to get done. There were 85 for dinner. The Canoeing was difficult due to wind on the lake so that took awhile. Overall the event was well organized and all had fun. Many advisors helped out in many ways, selflessly giving their time to shuttle equipment around. Bill would like to thank them all very much for their help.

Bill would like to know if anyone has suggestions for routes and lakes for routes. There had been suggestions to make the event later in the year when it is less busy or spread it over the night (although it can be colder later and some like the single day commitment).

Coming Events:

Food Drive:

November 5, 2005 is the 16^th annual food drive. Hoping to top last year’s total of 42 ton, or $8400 dollars. Last year they went back to paper bags and that made a difference. Also noted that the lists provided last year were very helpful and will be available again this year. The sorting station is looking for primarily Ventures. They will be set up for 2 or 3 shifts at our usual station. They can only have 20 people at a time for capacity reasons. Sorting station is on Michael St. off St. Laurent (Michael and Parisien near the 416). Need to let Phil know as he is limited for the number per shift.

It is the same youth coordinator as last few years but Phil will take the calls and will send Jim the coordinates on the event. There is also a list of area coordinators coming out in Voyageur Vision next week.

Sponsors are the same as for last few of years, LOEB, CIBC and Purolator who will have 7 trucks on the road for us. Also there may be the Super C store in Barrhaven and Bells Corners. Sorting station will run from 11 am to 6 or 7 pm, whenever they finish the last run. However groups should stay at the stores until the last driver shows up. Groups should expect to stay at stores until 4 to 5 pm. If there are any bags of food placed in the bins after the last truck leaves, the food bank will get them on Monday.

Phil was asked if they need help for 2 or 3 nights before for shelf stripping to help get the new food in. At this time no help is required. New bags are being printed as we speak. Last year’s bags and any left over from this year should be turned in if not picked up as expected, as they are used for distribution to their clients. So as a note to coordinators, put the extra bags on the last truck out as there should be none left over.

Rovent:

Stewart handed out an event summary to draw our attention to the 2^nd and 3^rd paragraphs. The sessions are open to all advisors, group committee leaders and all who have woggles in cubs and beavers. They have the option of attending and not paying if they are ok with not getting the materials. Another option is that there will be a schedule posted Friday night so participants can pick sessions. The training is listed on resource website,

Jen noted the date of the camp is Oct 21-23. Cost is $25 or $35 if taking the training course as noted above. Registration deadline is Oct 19^th to get numbers. Please bring cheques as don’t want to have too much cash on hand. Can bring cheques with you to the camp… at least call by 19^th to let them know how many. Email addresses are on the form so can contact those people or can contact Jen at email address cutebaloo@gmail.com or email Alan Griffith. Jen noted to please not call after 10 pm and before 9 am in the morning. Jen will also send information to Jim so he can send it out.

There will be a medieval fair and a whole medieval weekend for a lot of fun. There is also a really cool pumpkin carving contest but need to bring your own so plan accordingly. For people that have been there before, there are rules about the bombs for the catapult. Only flour in bags but then if use paper mache, no more than 2 layers of paper and still only flour, no other content such as pumpkin guts and spaghetti dinner. Also no water balloons at the siege.

Service Corps Report:

Phil wanted to thank any participants from Canada Day and from the Maxville Highland games. This was their 3^rd year at the games with the numbers attending and assisting growing each year. They are also providing assistance in the grandstand for the elderly and the handicap, selling programs, and whatever else they need to assist the games. The group from Apple Hill helped. The Exhibition was also a success.

The Medvent unit participated in the Central Canada Jamboree. They had a lot of cases, 400 cases in 9 days. Some were heat, sunstroke, a dozen sent to hospital. Size of the site was significant but had an ATV available so mobility was easier.

Phil also distributed recruitment fliers for Medvent. They are looking at starting a 3^rd Platoon. There is also discussions going on with Ottawa Fire Services and the Police Ventures are also coming back under the Service Corps wing.

Lost children services itself has some growth, gone from 1 advisor to 5. On a regular basis have 18 youth and 8 wanting to come in. Medvent is around 25 with potential 12 additional. There are also now similar units in Toronto, Windsor and Montreal or Quebec City.

VRRRT:

Phil also noted, as well as CERT, There will be a VRRRT meeting at the same time as the upcoming Winterlude weekend events. They will be participating with lost children services in Winterlude. And the second weekend with the other group.

Also note the CERT meeting on the Sunday of ROVENT.

JC Report:

- Many new people showed up tonight.

- New Scouting PR is Alex Aronec, new treasurer Erin Middlebrook.

- Winter Camp is on February 3, 2006. Currently thinking of having it at Camp Woolsey on 6^th Line.

- October 21, Friday evening going to Saunders Farm, 7 to 10 pm. If enough people are going they will get a bus to leave a scout headquarters. This is to be confirmed. Cost is $12 but will be more if they get a bus. Location is Saunders Farm near Munster Hamlet in the west end. (NB Event was ultimately cancelled).

New Items:

1) 1^st Glen Cairn, will be volunteering with the clean up on Bates Island with the Ottawa River Keepers. It is a good opportunity as the water is really low to go and support this environmental activity. It is also happening on the 22^nd, at the same time as Rovent, so if don’t go there, come on and help. She needs volunteers! And it will get neat press coverage.

They will have Tim Horton’s coffee with the community cruiser. It will be a very organized plan for our guys and although there are others who help out. There will also be a barb-q. There will be posters around on this and Jim will email info around when he gets it. They also have this event in the spring but the water is high and pushy.

2) Dave noted that Bill from Camp Nochemick wanted to announce to groups that have campsites there and regularly use the place, that there will be a one day clean-up on Oct 29 … all are also welcome to stay over. Now this camp will be restricted to the groups Bill knows as they have had problems with cut trees and fires in wrong place. If you want to use it, call Bill and discuss. There are lots of open space and lots of woods.

3) Phil noted that there is a young couple looking for an active group to participate in. If anybody interested in having a young couple as advisors (he has been a member since 1988). Get in touch with Phil; they will be moving into Barrhaven in April.