Venturer Advisors’
Forum - Voyageur Council
Notes of
Meeting – September 7, 2010 7:30pm
National
Boardroom - Scout Headquarters
Al McPhee |
1st Greely |
John Dougherty |
DCC Program |
Alan Griffin |
112th
|
John O'Neil |
1st Dunrobin |
Ashley Schippers |
Heritage Rovers - 2nd Gat |
John Stalker |
Valley H-Carl Pl/AC |
Bill Bowman |
1st
|
Larry House |
1st Manotick |
Brett Budge |
25th
|
Luc Henrie |
1st |
Brian McAuley |
7th
|
Mary Hagerman |
1st Osgoode |
Bruce Morton |
14th
|
Mike Jowett |
CC Voyageur |
Christiaan Burchell |
1st
|
Nigel Ward |
1st
|
Chuck Fraser |
1st Glen Cairn |
Perry Schippers |
2nd Gatineau & LCS |
Cyndy Courtland |
|
Phil Edens |
123rd
|
Darrell Bond |
3rd |
Ray MacKenzie |
7th
|
David Laramee |
2nd Russell |
Rod |
1st Manotick |
Doug MacKinnon |
112th
|
Sandra Redshaw |
3rd
|
Doug Proud |
1st
|
Scott Bury |
1st
|
Eric Ebeltoft |
11th
|
Scott Stanley |
1st Stittsville |
Eugene Lavigne |
Service Corps |
Sharon Lefebvre |
7th
|
Greg McGinnis |
2nd Russell |
Stephen Smye |
1st
|
Guy Morgan |
1st Kemptville |
Steve Doody |
25th
|
Jan Stodola |
7th
|
Terry Rimmington |
1st
|
Jocelyn Robinson |
VAF Secr |
Thomas Miller |
2nd |
Al McPhee |
1st Greely |
|
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Opening Remarks – Approval of Agenda Wally Gale Wally welcomed new and
returning VAF participants to this first meeting of the 2010/11 season. He noted the special agenda items on
MedVent and VenClimb ground
school in addition to coverage of many upcoming activities. Round-table introductions
followed. Anyone who is missing the
VAF emails or would like to be on the VAF email distribution list should contact
Wally at vafchair@rogers.com to be placed on the list. Meeting attendees are included when they
indicate their email address on the circulating attendee
list. Minutes Jocelyn Remus-Robinson Just a reminder to provide
Jocelyn with any reports or notes (paper copy or email) that would help to
ensure the accuracy and completeness of these minutes. MedVent recruitment – special information item By: Brad Smith The Ottawa Medical
Venturers program (MedVent) is a special partnership
between Voyageur Council and the Ottawa Paramedic Service. A number of their
members also belong to their home Venturer company. For
those potentially interested in joining, there will be an open house at
Both MedVent and Police Venturers are vocational additions to
traditional Venturer Companies. These programs offer hands-on exposure
to these careers through a number of formats including training, and help to
facilitate a decision about whether they would like to do this in college. This
valuable experience in turn enhances the possibility of acceptance to highly
competitive educational programs and related careers. Past ‘grads’ have found
jobs with the Ottawa Paramedic Services as well as the OPP, RCMP and Fire
services in various locations in Canada. MedVent is looking towards
tripling their numbers (presently 10) through this recruitment. Members have the opportunity to
participate in a number of Public and Scouting events in a first aid service
capacity. Information about MedVent and Police
Venturers, including the open house recruitment/information night is available
at: http://ottawamedvent.bpsmicro.com/default.aspx http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/Community/TeenLounge/youth_ventures.aspx Past
Activities WW2/miniWW1/Kayak1-2 Palmer Rapids (June 5-6) By: Bill Bowman This whitewater weekend
training/playing has become increasingly popular despite the rainy conditions of
that weekend (better than snow!). There were 134 participants: WW2-61,
miniWW1-24, K1-23, K2-6. Paddlers
Co-op did a great job of instruction and was again very supportive to all the
youth and advisors. The Whitewater2 canoeing classes spent both days in the
rapids at Palmer Rapids and didn’t perform the traditional Sunday run down the
river due to excessively low water.
VAF feedback supported the proposal to consider continuing this format in
future with the possibility of running the river available as an option or
possibly on a different weekend.
Allan Yates made arrangements with the instructor of the Whitewater
Kayak2 class to run the Ottawa River’s Beachburg
rapids on Sunday – an excellent experience and a lot of fun in relatively low
water conditions. A special thanks to Stephen Smye and the 1st Wakefield Company for a very
economical outfitting of the 6 OPE whitewater canoes (thigh straps, knee pads,
and float bag cages). Other
companies interested in outfitting their canoes with this “Mike Yee” system are
welcome to contact 1st Boat Rescue & Basic Canoe (June/10) By: John Stalker These courses were
held up at Whispering Pines Scout Camp near Upcoming
Activities Couch Rally -
Sept.
11
By: RARC \ Raymond
Desjardins The Couch Rally is set to
go, with the registration package available on the VAF website. The Rideau Area
Rover Crew is looking for volunteers to help with the various stations. Contact Raymond at raymonddesjardins494@hotmail.com for information or to sign up.
All registrations can be paid to Andrew Grant upon arrival at the event. Volunteers are still required to help
run station activities. This is a great get-to-know-you event, and is open to
Sr. Scouts to help fill your team of 4-6 participants. VenClimb - Sept.
25-26
By: Christiaan Burchell VenClimb is also a go this year,
with the format similar to years past. Ray has indicated that camping is
available in the farm field near the Home Cliff climbing site. All participants are to be onsite for
The cost is $10 per youth
to be paid upon arrival - no charge for advisors. If you have any ropes,
harnesses, or helmets that can be loaned out contact Christiaan to arrange a drop off / pick up. http://mc/compose?to=cjburchell@yahoo.com Contact Ray Renton to
register ( http://mc/compose?to=renton@quixnet.net or
613-832-3292) The advance training/orientation day
for Advisors and for those youth able to help with the VenClimb setup (VenClimb2 youth) is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19 (Saturday Sept. 18 rain
date – Christiaan to advise participants based on the
weather forecast). Contact Christiaan to sign up for
this. Crazy Canuck Challenge - Oct. 2 By: Bill Bowman & Nigel Ward Crazy Canuck will be held
this year in Bill Bowman: wbowman@ncf.ca or 613-828-3362
RoVent - Oct.
15-17 By: Rovent Committee – Chris Majka The Rovent registration package is ready for distribution and
posting on the VAF website, and is also available on the Voyageur Council
website. Due to the anticipated huge number of registrations, potential
participants are asked to note the following changes from past years:
The deadline for
payment/registration is the October 5 VAF meeting. No pay, no play. Note that this event is covered on
Facebook.
Any further questions can be sent to: roventc@gmail.com. Food Drive
Sorting Station – Nov 6.
By: Phil Edens Venturers and
Rovers are again solicited to sort food at the Ottawa Food Bank during this
year’s annual food drive. Based on
feedback from past years there will be a strict control on the maximum number of
volunteers for each shift - to improve the overall efficiency of this sorting
station while offering a satisfying experience for participants. Youth that show
up at the station without advance registration will be asked to leave if the
maximum number is registered (normally the situation). More information will
follow at the next meeting. Contact Caelan Robertson (organizer) to register at caelanrobertson@gmail.com The
123rd Scouting Group is coordinating the overall food drive so
questions related to helping out at a food collection station can also be
directed to Caelan. Phil is a backup
contact - edens.family@sympatico.ca & Philip.Edens@ottawa.ca Tel 613-580-2424 ext
28924 Reports
(as available/required)
Service Corps
(VRSC) Lost Children
By: Eugene Lavigne Last year the Service Corps
LC contributed 700 hours in community services to the
Contact
Upcoming events (more
information at Oct VAF): November 11 Remembrance Day
at Canadian War Memorial November 8-9 Veterans
Candlelight Service Joint Council
(JC) – September
activity
Scouting Advisor: Alan Clapp Joint Council will be
meeting at Thunderbird Raceway ( From Alan: Please encourage your youth to show up in uniform, the
room was full with approx half in uniform. Training &
Development Youth Train the
Trainer - Sept 12
By: Raymond Desjardins Due to lack of
sufficient enrolment this training has been postponed. Keep an eye on the Voyager Council
training calendar for a later offering - and stay tuned
for a FOCUS course in preparation possibly for the late fall.
Wood
Badge 1 (at RoVent)
By: John
Stalker John has asked that all
participants register for the class via the Council office by October
9th. Details are
available on the Council training calendar. John is also soliciting
trainers of all ages and is hoping to get some youth to train some components.
Contact John if interested: j_stalker@sympatico.ca Wilderness 1st Aid / 1st Responder By: Doug Proud The following
courses/dates are available at prices similar to past years (approx. $350 for
the WFR and about half of that for each of the other two): Wilderness First Aid class will be October
22-24 Advanced Wilderness First Aid will be November
12-14 Wilderness First Responder (WFR) will be January
7-9 There is also the
possibility of recertifying the WFR if less than 2 years old and there are
already 6 likely participants (8 minimum required). The WFR certification is
valid for 3 years but after 2 years the full suite of 6 days of training is
required to maintain certification after the 3rd year.For more information contact Doug Proud at the next
meeting. Wood Badge II By: Wally Gale There will be an
all-section WB 2 this spring which will include Company. The dates are
Feb. 25 - 27 and March 25 - 27 at Other
Business/Announcements World Scout Foundation meeting welcome By: John Dougherty John and Voyageur Council
is looking for a few youth and leaders who would
represent Ottawa/Canada Scouting in welcoming the World Scout Foundation to
An
information/training session will be provided. If interested contact John at doughjo@trytel.com Volunteers
and Resources For the benefit
of new members in particular, Wally noted that all events coordinated through
the VAF are organized/initiated and run by individual VAF members and all
members are requested to contribute as possible. An event may start as an activity
enjoyed by a Venturer company and expand into
something with a larger organizing effort and greater participation. The VAF website includes a mechanism for
members to submit their interest in helping (under “Announcements”) – or members
are encouraged to talk to existing activity coordinators. Resources such as archery, climbing, snowshoeing and whitewater canoeing equipment are available to members. Some were purchased through VAF funds (Council) and others are the property of other groups. See “Resources” on the VAF website for further information. Next Meeting:
VAF Website
Address: 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 |