Voyageur Council Venturer Advisor’s Forum

Meeting Minutes for September 5, 2006

Scout’s Headquarters - National Boardroom

Name	Group	Name	Group
Al Mcphee	1^st Metcalf	Greg McGinnis	2^nd Russell
Alan Clapp	8^th Orleans	Jim McQuaid	112^th Nepean
Alan Griffin	112^th Nepean	Jim Montgomery	1^st Glen Cairn
Alex Davey	1^st Greenwood	Jim Peverley	8^th Orleans
Bill Bowman	1^st Nepean	Joe Boudreau	1^st Greely
Bob Hickson	Voyageur Council	John Stalker	1^st Valley Highlands
Bruce Morton	14^th Gloucester	Ken Shore	1^st Osgood
Catherine Snedden	7^th Kanata	Laurel Rosene	1^st Glen Cairn
Chelsea Corcoran	1^st Vars-Navan	Lawrence Tyler	1^st Richmond
Christiaan Burchell	1^st Nepean	Leah Elwell	Rideau Area Rovers
Chris Tyler	1^st Manotick	Malcolm Volmer	29^th Nepean
Cyndy Courtland	Carleton Place	Mike Jowett	Area Comm Nepean
Dan Karwowski	1^st Glen Cairn	Phil Edens	VRSC / LCS
David Gall	1^st Richmond	Ray Renton	1^st Dunrobin
Don Stalker	DAC Recognition Nepean	Rob Orchin	14^th Gloucester
Doug Proud	1^st Greenwood	Steven Smye	1^st Wakefield
Doug MacKinnon	112^th Nepean	Stewart Ross	Nepean Rover Crew
Eric Hansen	VRRRT	Tim Taylor	123^rd Ottawa
Erin Pate	VRRRT Admin

Opening:

Jim welcomed everyone back after the summer.

Note to correct previous minutes: The October event Senior Section Basic course should read the Senior Section ADVANCED course. It is correct on the council calendar.

The final event tonight is the ground school for Venclimb.

Past Events:

OCRA and WWIII – Stephen had some cards for certification that he handed out to the various groups involved. There were 25 participants and most if not all got their Level I certification. Two of the youth got level ORCA level II that weekend as well. Stephen noted that the instructor, Matt, will be flexible in the future to look at level 2 certification if it is applicable. Matt has the ORCA curriculum in his head and is assessing what he sees during the day.

Stephen is also looking for interest in doing some Level II based on demand so let Stephen Smye know if your group is interested.

River Rescue – No one had volunteered to coordinate over the summer holidays, so Jim has agreed to coordinate the River Rescue session for next summer.

Upcoming Events:

OPE work weekend – Mini – Tim was looking for interest in helping doing post summer cleanup at OPE. It was the same weekend as the couch rally. Accommodation and food were provided and participants were asked to come for Saturday for the workday. Tim needed to know a week ahead of time so he could get the food ordered. Activities would include getting boats out, putting canoes away, and cleaning up composite equipment. Tim Taylor could be reached at 819-561-1613 if interested … any help appreciated.

OPE work weekend – Full – Will take place on the last weekend of April in 2007, and ends up being a major gathering of Rovers, Venturers and Senior Scouts plus leaders and advisors with a limit of 150 participants. The purpose is to clean up after the winter to get ready for the spring and summer season. It is very popular in the Venturer/Rover community and everyone has fun. Sign-up is by late fall if your company wants to attend.

Crazy Canuck - This event was at end of the month, Sept 30^th. The flyer and registration were at the back of the meeting room. This is the 5^th edition. They have had 2 in Gatineau and 2 at OPE and this year they are back at OPE but changed the routes and lengths of routes. The routes take about 5-6 hours and include hiking, canoes, rappelling and mountain biking although not in that order. It is not a race but meant for the average Venturer to try different activities. Last year they had about 75 people with 60 odd participants. This year is being put on by 123^rd and 1^st Nepean, and Ray Renton from Dunrobin. Participants can camp the night before and/or after but up in the orchard as the camp is busy that weekend. Groups can also rent a canoe for 5 bucks a day. Info is on the website as well. Deadline for registration was Sept 24^th.

Venclimb – The event was on September 22^nd and is a climbing camp to allow youth to experience rock climbing outside. Hopefully it will last 2 days but is very weather dependent. The agenda was to drive down on Friday night to set up camp, get up bright and early on Saturday to do some ground school and climbing. On Sunday the participants would go to a different site and climb some more. There are now some restrictions about going to the top of the cliffs so the groups must climb up and rappel down. The cost is about $15 this year to help cover the cost of a badge. Flyers were at the back of the meeting. Christiaan is leading the climbing and Jim Montgomery from Glencairn is doing the administration. They are limiting the event to about 50 people.

Most groups have their own gear, harness, helmet, and ropes. There are subsidies from the VAF budget for ropes if your company is interested, $100 for the first purchase and $50 for second rounds.

Tonight at the VAF meeting, Christiaan will cover basics, knots etc. On Sunday September 17^th, rain or shine, the advisors will meet and they learn how to set up the climbs so can they can monitor and help the youth. Senior Venturers are welcome if they want to learn more about climbing but they want to limit it to about 15 people or so. Those that pre-register for that will meet at 8 am at Westgate and caravan from there.

Jim M. will send out a general call on the 16^th to let everyone know how much equipment is needed. The ratio is that everyone needs a helmet and harness, but the event only needs about 7 ropes or so. Also everyone is to let Jim know if they had excess equipment or needed equipment and he would try to match everyone up.

Bike helmets are ok for that day to just to try out the activity but are really not the proper gear needed. Participants need a helmet that is designed for rocks to hit you. If your company has no equipment, try to join up with a company that has some.

Jim P. proposed that if companies want a subsidy for harnesses, to apply by the end of Sept 17^th and he will let them know by the 19^th to see if there is enough money and it can be spread out evenly.

Rovent: Will be from Oct 20^th to 22^nd. There was a sign-up sheet to leave your name and address for Erin to send out an email later that week. There is an early registration of $25 by 16^th of Sept, otherwise the fee is higher. There is a close off for registration the week before camp, by the 13^th of October, to get final numbers so there is enough food this year. Rovent is a medieval camp at OPE with everyone dressing up in costumes. The agenda is that everyone arrives Friday night and is introduced to the theme of the weekend, for example a mystery to solve. On Saturday there is a medieval fair and different little challenges that the companies gets scored on, e.g. the spider web. There is a siege with a catapult competition to fire flour bags, so start designing now. On Saturday night there is a feast in the dining hall (only meal that is provided), with a roast beef dinner, skits, songs and then a presentation of findings to the Queen of the Quest. There are photos on the VAF website from previous years if anyone is interested. Many companies start designing costumes and catapults over the summer if not by now.

Couch Rally – An email announcing the event was on back table. This year it has been taken over by Rideau Area Rover crew. It will be the same format as for the last few years. They tried to get Ottawa U involved but it was too late for this year so maybe next year as part of frosh week. They have crews coming from Thunder Bay, Midland and Quebec. It is $10 for the day with $5 back to the kids for lunch downtown. There is crest for this year as shown on the front cover of the email page. Now we have 3 crews and a company registered, but groups can register up to the day since we are so close to the event. Just show up with your registration forms, money, couch and digital camera. The rally will be from 10 am to 2pm. They also booked Mackie house for Friday and Sat and VRRRT will come to Ottawa from all across Canada. They are planning to cover at the meeting the new Rover handbook and want input from Venturers and Rovers. It is $5 for dinner at HQ after the event (lasagna) and they will have the museum open if interested. This event is a good way to kick off year, promote team effort. Eric is talking to Value Village, working out a deal for $10 a couch for those interested.

Food Drive – the 17^th annual event is on November 4^th. Same format as for previous years. Venturers will be asked to help at the sorting station. There will be a youth coordinator taking registrations but now do it through Phil until the youth coordinator gets her email address out. If anyone wants to assist at the stores, Phil has a list of area coordinators and will get it out to Jim.

MedVent – The company has been running for about 5 years. This company allows youth to get to know medicine and to do good service. They are looking to fill about 10 spots this year. They also do visits to various groups if they are interested in learning about more. They also welcome groups into the HQ facility to do tours. Contact info was at the back.

VRRRT – This is on hold until Rovers start calling Eric.

JC Report – Stephen Kirby and Angela Rossi are now the PRs. The September event was a movie night at Gloucester Silver City. They are looking at Saunders Farm on Oct 27^th.

Service Corps – Lost Childrens helped at Canada Day, the Teddy Bear picnic, the Highland Games and at the Canada Ex with assistance of various other companies. They are looking for help at the Candlelight service the Tuesday before Remembrance Day and would like youth to come out to help.

Bate Island Cleanup – Scheduled for Oct 28^th for the fall paddle and garbage pick up. Meet at Bate Island, Loren will send out updated information this week.

Training – Stewart noted to the Senior Section Advanced sessions coming up, leaders need their woggle from the basic course to go on the senior course so if you need to, get a mentor and finish it off. If there is still interest in a Woodbadge I or basic course, get 3 or 4 advisors together and then talk to Stewart.

Next Meeting - October 3^rd, i.e. the first Tuesday in October at 7:30 at Scout Headquarters. For any errors or omissions in these minutes, please contact Catherine Snedden at csnedden@forethoughtsystems.com