District Exec Nov

County Exec Nov

County Exec 10th Oct

County Exec 12th Sept

District Exec July 20th

Unit Exec 12th July

Present: 2nd Bolton-Le-Sands Tritons

16th Lancaster Vikings

ACC for venture scouts Carl Hankinson

ADC for Lonsdale Peter Fricker

Apologies: 3rd Morecambe

Anna Rees

The party took place on Monday 30th October at 2nd Bolton-Le-Sands scout hut. The general opinion was that the party was good when it was happening but there could have been more care with the organisation. However the event happened which is a positive point for us to work from. Heres to good events in the future.

COUNTY REPORT:

34th Lancaster attended the Service Crew Challenge at Waddecar Beacon Fell. We are told a good time was had by all.

Overall the camp was a success, lots of work was done (but more socialising, I think)

The disco was cool but the camp was a bit wet. This didn’t dampen anyones spirits!!

If you haven’t been to one of these camps then you are obviously not organised so get yourself to the next one which is on 26th-28th Jan. It only costs £10 which is a BARGAIN!

Forms are available from your leaders.

Clare Hill has tickets for the County Doo 2001. It should be an excellent night, it was last year. You can contact her on (01524) 730886. Tickets are £3.50 and you need to have your own transport. It will be held at Preston Grasshoppers.

In July 2001 a large group of brave young people are venturing into the unknown...... Austria. The expedition is for two weeks during which they are undertaking a 100 mile expedition. There will be plenty of parties and fun bits. TimWakefield is hoping to go but is currently short of a partner. The cost is low and this is a fantastic opportunity. You must be 17.5 years of age by July 2001 and if you are interested please contact ACC Carl Hankinson on [email protected] 01772 866433

The destinations have been whittled down to Calgary or Washington, The next meeting is in the spring and early indications show the price to be roughly £850. The closing date is June, July 2001

Places are available for fun and frolics in the snow. The event is in the Cairngormes and no experience is required. You can ice climb, ice walk, sledge and you can even have snow fights! How much fun do you want, it is only £85 but the closing date is Christmas. Contact Peter Fricker.

This is an evening of acoustic guitar at the Wishing Well in Preston. It is taking place on the 28th of December and costs £3.00. The event is to raise funds for Anna Rees and Helen Ashcroft to do their explorer belt expedition in U.S.A. If you are interested then contact Anna on (01524) 793006.

DISTRICT ROUND UP:

WE HAVE A NEW ADC!! Congratulations to Pete Fricker of 16th Lancaster on becoming the new ADC for Lonsdale District. I’m sure we will all do our best to make his life hell.....I mean easier!!!!!

Pete tells us his early plans are to visit each unit to speak to their leaders and execs to make sure everything is running smoothly. He intends to look at awrd schemes and unit programmes. Remember the quality of the district lies in its units.

Three county reps will be travalling to Preston each month for us. These brave souls are, Tim Wakefield (16th Lancaster), Oliver Birkill (2nd Bolton-Le-Sands) and Clare Hill (2nd Bolton-Le-Sands).

There will be a dragnet for the whole district on 4th March 2001. WATCH THIS SPACE!!

This is one to add to your diary. Mon 5th February at 35th Lancaster HQ. Clare Hill and Tim Wakefield are th organising commitee.

9th December Saturday, 8:15pm Halton Community Center. Tickets are £2.00 and are available soon. Contact Iain Cooper (01524) 822312

We need more units represented at our meetings

We need to have a successful Christmas Bash

County Venture Scout Council Meeting Held at County Hall Preston, Nov at

Present:
John Byrne - Chair
Helen Ashcroft - Secretary
Kev Pennington - Treasurer

Lonsdale – Clare Hill
Blackpool -
Wyre – Martin Allen, Jenny Allen, Rachel Purdie,
Andrew Dawson, Dave Edwards, Andy Ingle, Liz Parikh
Fylde – Vicky Jones
Preston - Matt Bent, Dan Thompson,
Chorely - Jo Millington, Gaz Heaton
South Ribble – John Prince, Martin Yates, Lucy Croft, Natalie Clayton
Ormskirk –

Carl Hankinson - ACC, Mick Harvey - CVSL, Pete Fricker – Lonsdale ADC, Bob Charbray - Wyre AVSL, Dave Millington - Chorely VSL, Karl Taylor - Preston VSL, Marie Wilson – South Ribble VSL, Gail Danks – Chorley
ADC, Ash Green - Ormskirk ADC, Chris Bainbridge - Lonsdale VSL Janet Jones – Fylde VSL, George Rowntree
– South Ribble VSL

Apologies:
Lynn Tompsett, Ali Daniels, Phil Emmott, Anna Rees

Previous Events:
Service Crew Challenge - 11th November
On Beacon Fell, a really good Saturday and a good laugh too. Went exceptionally well. 98 teams booked in and 94 turned up on the day, 27 of them were 15 1/2+ teams. Well done to Endeavour (3rd) Nomads(2nd) and congratulations to 6th Fulwood who managed to win it. Bases were run very well but there was a bit of a wait
on a few due to the large number of teams. Well worth doing next year.
Environment Weekend - 20th - 22nd October
Fantastic weekend. The weather was good, the work done was fantastic – a big thank you from Phil for doing
that, the atmosphere was wonderful. Thanks to the catering people. On the whole it worked well with a much more social atmosphere. The Saturday night entertainment was excellent – thanks to Andy Mc etc. Benefited form the Network presence (did you think so?) If anyone has any ideas for Friday night or any suggestions about the catering then get in touch with George Rowntree please. (Bob would like a sprung dance floor!)
Autumn Meet - Derbyshire Peaks Weekend - 3rd - 5^th November
Was for anyone interested in walking, climbing, hiking, etc, for any ability. Most people either went walking or climbing on the Saturday and then Climbing or to the caves on the Sunday. Was a really good laugh and everyone got on really well. Had a fantastic meal on the Saturday in the pub followed by a bit of a sing-song. About 30 people went all together. Well worth going on next time.
Lord Derby Competition 13th – 15th October
Regional competition based around the Venture scout
award. 6th Fulwood represented West Lancs and managed to win that too. Saturday night was a social evening and then Sunday night there was a cooking competition. Good and we would encourage teams to do it next year.
Future events:
Getting Organised - 17th - 19th November
Forms out with minutes and in Go West, and on website. Cost of £10 for the weekend at Guys Farm. Ace for finding out how Ventures works, to meet people and for ideas.
U-Bet for leaders - 19th November
Forms out too. Get your leaders on this if they have not already been.
Mexico Moot Presentation - 3rd January 2001
Ventures, all section leaders and Scout Network are invited to see how good abroad events are. 7.30pm at County Hall. Uniform not required.

Preston Grasshoppers 7:30pm £3 with ticket, £5 on the door. Tickets have been given to reps:
Wyre - Martin Allen & Liz Parikh, Fylde – Vicky Jones
Blackpool – , Ormskirk – Ali Daniels(volunteered by Ash Green), South Ribble – Lucy Croft, Preston – Dan Thompson, Chorley – Jo Millington, Lonsdale – Clare Hill
Limited number of tickets so be sure to get yours!!!
Explorer Belt - August 2001
(to coincide with Austria and nearer to results date). Own arrangements still need to be made for travel to Austria. Still two people without a partner. Meeting on the 19th December to see how things are going.
Alps Trip - July 21st - August 4th 2001
To Austria but you don't need to be an expert, just need to have an interest and a smile. Will be plenty of things to do. Information has gone out and is on the Website. Booking up fast so get sorted if you want to go.
Red Rose 2002
Narrowed it down to either Calgary or Washington, New Jersey region. Meeting next spring so keep eyes open. Brian Sturgess is the big Camp Chief for the camp. Costs are currently being negotiated to being about £850 ish.
Closing date will probably be end of June/July 2001 + £50 deposit
Snow and Ice - Febuary - 15th - 20th - 24th
Really good mountaineering week, for all abilities with many options available. Don’t have to be an expert and it is a really good laugh. Fantastic accommodation with TV and Bar on site and Pool table and showers and its ace!
£85 for each half and includes food and transport. Closing date is Christmas, forms will be out soon but is already filing up fast. 31 left on 2nd phase.

Discussion (see end)
Venture Scouting will probably end in 2002 so how can we mark the end of Venture Scouting? How can we be remembered? What can we do so that Venture Scouting is never forgotten?

Scout Network
Anyone can join between 18 and 25 yrs, runs on same basis as Ventures but no leaders and infrequent meetings. Are only one Network per district and a county group, Julie Paton is county advisor for the section. Big Scary Walk up Sca Fell Pike planned for 26^th November and information will be out soon on that or ring Julie P. Not a race though more like a leisurely Sunday stroll. Is also a Network Social Ball big Formal do thingy on 5th January £16 for meal and everything. Bar open until one and DJ is ace. (Julie and Bob will both be wearing dresses so it is a once in a lifetime thing!!) Will also be an Easter activity weekend. Things are being discussed for that.

Treasurers Report
Made a profit on Environment Weekend but that will be going to new catering equipment. Apart from that everything is groovy!

ACCs Report
Web Site – If anyone has any ideas on what we can do then give Carl a ring. Also a venture scout e-groups
is being set up so look out for that coming your way.

Queen Scout Awards Evening will be April 9th. Get it done by Christmas if you want to go to Windsor 2001.
Explorer Belt – remember you don’t just have to do it with the county support one are lots doing it on their own so if you want to do it then do it!
Aussie Moot People will be in touch for anyone between 18 and 25 that wants to go to Australia on the Moot.
Jamboree 2003 contingent leader is David Bull. The other leaders are being sorted out now. Will be applications for service teams and HQ support out soon.
Wed 11th April will be an information meeting.
District programs need to be sorted in order to get units together on occasions, so that you are working together. And send Carl a copy of the minutes too if you can.
Pete Fricker is the new ADC for Lonsdale (good luck)

Uniform Review & Programme review
Unofficially decision has been made so look out for changes. Venture Scouts will become Explorer Scouts (14-18) and The Network (18-25) Are presentations for each district :
Wyre – Feb 6^th Fylde – Jan 24^th Blackpool – Jan 17^th Ormskirk – Jan 15^th South Ribble – Jan 23^rd Preston – Jan 8^th Chorley – Jan 10^th Lonsdale – Jan 18^th
Business as usual until told otherwise!!
National support for Venture Scouts will cease at the end of 2003.
Get in touch with the older scouts and get them to Ventures. Look out for changes in February .

AOB
Acoustic night – 28th December tickets are £3 but if you want to come then give me a call. Tickets should be out at some point (Anna is sorting them). As yet the venue has been booked but doesn’t exist (Anna), so details will be out shortly. But apart from that it should be a really good night.
Already are lots of people playing/singing but if you would like to do a few tunes then get in touch – Ash 01695 579772, [email protected] Cheers everyone.

"Dying is an art. Like everything else I do it exceptionally well." Sylvia Plath

Next meeting is Tuesday 12th December, County Hall Preston 8pm,

Discussion Point
Venture Scouting will probably end in 2002 so how can we mark the end of Venture Scouting? How can we be remembered? What can we do so that Venture Scouting is never forgotten?

Well this is what we came up with:

Obviously a party to end all parties, with fireworksand balloons and sausage rolls and triangular butties and jelly and ice cream and stuff.
Drinking weekend.
Unit challenge throughout the county, throughout the year.
District Activity once a month with prizes and things.
Permanent display to be put up at a campsite – a plaque or something.
Banquet on Hellvellyn or something
‘Party in the Park’ style concert with bands and tunes and hotdogs…festival type thing.
Invite previous ventures to a reunion do.
Weekend abroad to the Isle of Man or something just to go and do stuff all together.
Memorial-like a nature reserve or ecology site at one of the campsites.
Time capsule of venture scouting over the past 30 odd years.
Big book of memories, a volume from each district, with Venture Scouts old and new having an input.
Cocktail called ‘Venture Scouting’
Sculpture of a venture scout
Totem pole that everyone is invited to help carve or pose for…
Huge concert at Bolton Wanderers for anyone in Venture Scouts Nation-wide.
Badges for everyone in Venture Scouting,
Big event one weekend with neckers and t-shirts.
Film to promote the new sections, and to commemorate old sections with famous people who’ve been in Ventures to do a bit.
Lots of advertising for the new sections getting all the media involved.
Street Parties
Big expeditions to the highest places the lowest place etc to plant a big ‘venture scouting works’ flags there.
Right posh shindig with pongy cheese instead of summer social
Have the change over on the Sunday of County Venture Scout Camp
Have a county doo that is based around the theme ‘Venture Scouting through the ages’
Major PR blow-out with fireworks and exploding cows and dwarfs…
Have a moot fun day thingy again.
Have a big campfire to commemorate Ventures and as it fades everyone turns and leaves to go to another really big fire to celebrate the new section


=====
Just when you think you've finally hit bottom,
someone tosses you a shovel.

 County Venture Scout Council Meeting Held at County Hall Preston,
On Tuesday 12th September at 8pm

Present:
John Byrne - Chair
Anna Rees - Vice Chair
Kev Pennington - Treasurer
Helen Ashcroft - Secretary

Lonsdale - Chris Greaves
Blackpool -
Wyre -
Fylde - Jen Swift
Preston - Phil Emmott, Dave Gethin, Will Stewart, Matt
Bent
Chorely - Jo Millington, Steven Whittle
South Ribble - Natalie Clayton, Graham Thompson,
Martin Wells
Ormskirk -

Carl Hankinson - ACC, Mick Harvey - CVSL, Pete Fricker - Lonsdale VSL, Bob Charbray - Wyre AVSL, Dave Millington - Chorely VSL, Karl Taylor - Preston VSL

Apologies:
Lynn Thompsett Ormskirk VSL, Ricko Charnock Ormskirk, John Seed CVSL.

Previous Events:
Red Rose 2000
Lots of people from all over the place went and had a really ace time. What went on worked well, and people enjoyed it. There was always something for them to do. Sub camps were excellent and the bar was well attended and well managed by Mick. A big thanks to the Ventures who were there and created an excellent atmosphere with great enthusiasm from all. Waddecar Beacon was a great source of information and entertainment and copies of all issues and reports of what was going on is available on http://www.westlancashirescouts.org.uk so go and see it.
Summer Social
Thanks to everyone who turned up despite other major events being on at the same time. It was ace the way people pulled together and got into the swing of it. Thanks to Mick and those who stepped in to help out with the food. Those who dressed up really enjoyed it and made the most of the opportunity.
Mexico Moot
Everyone enjoyed themselves loads, despite the rain. Excellent to see Andy McKay get his Queens Scout presented on top of a pyramid(?!) - Well done - and to see all those who made the effort and wore their uniform for him, without being asked. Everyone made loads of friends and it was lovely the way the contingent made the effort to get on with everyone. The time at the orphanage was a great experience too and well worth it. Will Stewart and Ed Peacock went to Boston on their Explorer Belt expedition where they met with a lot of scouts and watched the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Had an ace time. -

Future events:
Mexico Moot Presentation - 3rd January 2001 Ventures, all section leaders and Scout Network are invited. 7.30pm at County Hall. Uniform not required. Flyer enclosed.
Alps Trip - July 21st - August 4th 2001 To Austria but you don't need to be an expert, just need to have an interest and a smile. Information will be out soon as will ideas on cost.
Explorer Belt - CHANGE OF DATE - 4th August - 18^th August 2001 (to coincide with Austria and nearer to results date) Own arrangements still need to be made for travel to Austria.
Environment Weekend - 20th - 22nd October £5 for food - fully catered. Flyers and forms out already and on website. (Or Email US)
Getting Organised - 17th - 19th November Forms out with minutes and in Go West, and on website. (OR EMAIL US) Cost of £10 for the weekend at Guys Farm. Ace for finding out how ventures works, to meet people and for ideas.
U-Bet for leaders - 19th November Forms out too.
Service Crew Challenge - 11th November On Beacon Fell, a really good Saturday and a good laugh too. Forms out with minutes and on website. Get forms sent off ASAP.
Red Rose 2002 - Meeting 11th October Helme Lodge to disscuss ideas of where it is to be held. Want your opinions on a number of venues. Open to anyone who is interested.

Scout Network
Had social and BBQ at GT on August 26th and it wasreally well attended and despite the hospital eventthe night went really well with some going off to do Mountain biking or hikes etc. Are more events in the pipeline - activity weekend in Easter, big VS camps and stuff. And the Districts are beginning to get properly sorted out.
Treasurers Report
Made a profit on summer social. Allowed a £400 budget for Environment Weekend.
ADCs Report
Excellent summer with VS on Explorer Belts, summer Staff, Queens Scouts expeditions, International camps etc. That's Brilliant! New year now so reports and finishing things off and getting new Reps sorted because of Uni and stuff need
to be a priority! Information will be going out to all VSLs called GO WEST. It is an information pack with forms etc in and is very important. Hassle them for the information. Leaders are needed for contingent leaders for the Thailand Jamboree 2003. Paid for by County and so open to everyone. Applications available from Maggie but must be back before October 10th. Will be information out at Easter to let you know about staffing opportunities.
New ADCs
Ormskirks new ADC is Ash Green - thanks to Mike B for all his time and help. Lonsdale and Fylde have no ADCs yet.
Outdoor Weekend - 3rd - 5th November For anyone interested in Walking, climbing, hiking, etc. For all sections VS up. A really flexible weekend for any ability.
Snow and Ice - Febuary - 15th - 24^th Really good mountaineering week, for all abilities with many options available. Info out soon.
QSAs Get things finished off before December and Presented because Windsor is well worth the trip.

AOB
Ash and Anna are trying to organise an Acoustic night for sometime around Christmas and are looking for some
talent to perform, a venue in Preston area too would be most helpful if anyone has any ideas. Please if anyone can help then contact either Anna - [email protected] or Ash - [email protected] ASAP. Thanks
Network Meeting at 8pm on Thursday at County Hall
Maccy D's have got a 2 for 1 offer on for Alton Towers tickets if anyone fancied a night out.
Jamboree Video is for sale now!!! With apparently loads of West Lancs on it!

Elections
All the current CVSC were unanimously re-elected because it's ace!

"A friend walks in when everyone else walks out."

Next meeting is Tuesday 10th October, County Hall
Preston 8pm,
Don't forget District Reports!!!