Beenleigh Scout Group Newsletter Jan 2015

Welcome back to all our members for 2015. I hope you all had a great Christmas and a wonderful start to 2015 and are ready and raring to go from January 27. This newsletter has some details for the year ahead and I encourage all to read this. I will try and keep it as brief as possible.

 

 Start Dates

• Cubs & Joeys - January 27
• Scouts -  January 30
• Venturers - February 2

Fees for 2015

 

Due to an increase in our general operational costs. We have had to increase the weekly fees to $8 which means a term fee of $80. This decision has not been taken lightly.

 

Member renewal fees for 2015/2016 year will be:

• $121 for first family member
• $116 for second family member
• $111 for all other subsequent members.

These fees must be paid by March 15, 2015 or chances are your youth member will not be able to attend scouting activities.

 

Venturer Scout parents -  Due to the later start due to the public holiday this term, to minimise effort to recalculate fees the section will be provided a free activity which the Venturer Unit will decide upon to use the extra weeks funds. 

 

Get Started Vouchers - Round 5

Round 5 of the ‘Get in the Game’ Get Started Voucher program will be opening earlier than previously publicised on Wednesday 28 January 2015.

The Get Started Program assists children and young people who can least afford or may otherwise benefit from joining a sport or recreation club by providing a voucher of $150 to help pay for membership and/or registration fees.

Vouchers are issued on a first come first served basis and the January / February 2014 round closed after 2 weeks as the funds had been fully allocated, so please encourage your families to apply early.

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/funding/getinthegame/getstarted.html 

 

 Group Fundraising 2015 - The Goal

 

Our fundraising efforts in 2015 will continue with the same events :

• Chocolate Drive - March  to October - continual boxes will be available.
• 2 x Car Boot Sales & Car Washes - March 28 & August 29 (please mark your calendars)
• Hot Rod Eliminators
• Beenleigh Sport Club Raffles (4 in next 6 months)
• Trivia Nights x 2

The money raised this year will need to be put to two major areas:

• Hut Roof replacement or re-cladding - roof is leaking and needs repairs.
• Front entrance erosion problem - stop the dirt running over the footpath with a stepped landscape in front of main den.

It takes all of us to help keep the place in great condition and we need everyone to be involved please. 

 

Group Shirts 

 

We are looking to do another reorder of the well received group shirts. In the middle of February we will seek your input into numbers as to keep the costs low we have to order a minimum amount.  Cost will  be approximately $30 this time.

 

Group Accounts

 

Thank you everyone who got their accounts up to date. At this time we still have over $2000 in outstanding fees. Could I please ask if you are still outstanding to bring your account up to date as soon as possible. Your current statements will be issued shortly after this newsletter is sent,

 

Group Leader absence

I will be away from January 24 - January 28. I can be contacted by phone but may not get signal all the time. I will be back on deck from 12pm on January 28.

 

Roles to be filled

I am currently looking the following roles to be filled this year. If you are interested please let me know.

• Assistant Venturer Leader - Urgent
• Assistant Group Leader - Urgent
• Fundraising Coordinator - this is now about managing our suite of fundraising and coordination. 

Final Word

I look forward to 2015 and taking the next steps in continuing the good work we do. I am hoping in Term 2 we can start to look at a second Cub Pack and possible Second Scout night. There is a lot of work to be done before this happens but I believe we can achieve this as interest is growing and we are full in most sections.  

 

If you know any 14 - 18 year old looking for fun and have never experienced Scouting Venturers are now 11 strong and will continue to grow this year. It is an exciting time for this section going from a handful to 15 by June.  

 

Also, we are always on the look out for Joey Scouts, spread the word and lets keep our 3 leaders this year busy little beavers.

 

Enjoy 2015 it will be a big year, especially with ANZAC 100 year celebrations. This year the badge for Our Heritage - Their Service will be a one off Gold badge it will be a keeper.  

 

Keep smiling and I loook forward to your continued support in 2015 

 

 

Yours in Scouting,
Stephen Hughes (Bagheera)
Group Leader
Beenleigh Scout Group
0490 181 933


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General Meeting - 20 Nov, 2014 @ 7pm

GENERAL MEETING 

20 NOVEMBER, 2014 - 7 PM 

The Hut 

You are invited to attend the final Support Committee meeting for the year. All sections will present an update since May and advise on what is planned for 2015.

Items that will be tabled for approval:

• Increase in fees to $8 a week
• Outline for fundraising for events
• Nominations for open roles:
• Assistant Group Leader
• Fundraiser Coordinator 

These are the main items we need your input for approval and support.

As a family within the Group you are all on the Group Support Committee and have voting rights on what happens in supporting the upkeep and future development of the group. Please come along and show your support and help continue to build on what we have achieved in 2014.  

Yours in Scouting,
Stephen Hughes (Bagheera)
Group Leader
Beenleigh Scout Group .

Seeking Leaders & general roles - Volunteering is more than giving up your time!

Good morning everyone,

I am writing to you all today to consider the operational needs of this Scout Group and how you can assist us in the running the Group.

In today's society everyone is busy and free time is precious. We all enjoy what Scouting gives to our youth members, but this does not come about without the need of Volunteers. All current Leaders and helpers, plus Executive Support Committee are volunteers and we all do an awesome job and through our continued support the group has seen a near capacity Joey Scout Section, reinstatement of the Venturer Scouts and continued strong numbers in both Cub Scouts and Scouts, as well as waiting lists being established.

It is only through volunteering can we achieve and give to our youth members. It is now time to again put the call out for family members to consider the rewards on offer for volunteering. Yes at times it may look unrewarding, and leaders looking strung out, but in reality we get huge kickbacks based on what we do and provide the youth members. In seeing them grow and become well-mannered and enthusiastic members who gain experiences that can set them up for life.

For me I get the rewards that help in my day to day real life work, Scouts has provided an avenue to learn and grow in leadership, but also gives me an opportunity to have fun, do activities and experiences I would rarely get to do at home.

But as leaders, we are stretched from time to time, and pressure on our families can be immense. Only with more assistance and willingness of others to give time as a volunteer and assist across all sections can we lighten the load of everyone involved.

Scouting works on a team principal and in working and sharing the load the amount of time involved for everyone lessens, without compromising the running of the Group and Sections.

Right now we need to look at seeking assistance from you in the following roles:

Critical needs:

- Assistant Joey Scout Leader

- Assistant Venturer Scout Leader

Currently we only have one leader in each section who coordinates/runs the night. If they fall ill or wish to take leave, there is no backup leader readily available from within the section to assist. It then falls to myself or other section leaders to step in and attempt to run as well as a section trained leader. As you can image, add pressure to those filling in. So if you are keen to take on the leader role please contact me to meet with you and discuss further. You get full training supplied and get to have a lot of fun and help kids grow.

- Fundraising Coordinator

As Group Leader I now need to separate myself from Fundraising and running the Group. Our group now has set events we run each year to generate income for outside sources to assist in work at the den. These events are:

• Car Boot Sale & Car Wash (March & Aug)
• Chocolate Drives ( June & October)
• Car Parking coordination
• Beenleigh Swap Meet
• Eliminators Hot Rod Show
• General BBQ’s – as needed and based on a return of $400.
• Oversight of Jamboree & Cuboree fundraising efforts.

These are not difficult to organise, and we seem to have enough volunteers, at times, to run effectively.

If you are prepared to take this role on and reduce my workload please contact me.

Other Roles

- Cub Scout Leaders

- Scout Leaders

With a growing waiting list and full sections there is now a need to look at how we can start new section nights. In order to do this we need volunteers to become Leaders and Assistants, you will be trained and ready to take this on when the time is right.

- Maintenance Coordinator

This is about helping organise working bees and identify work to be carried out, assist in quote gathering and be available when Logan Council needs access for inspections.

In closing, we all have to do our bit to run the group, you do not have to be exceptional, just organised and a desire to keep things running well for now and into the future. If you are prepared to assist please contact myself to discuss.

Thank you all for your time and support of the group.

Yours in Scouting,
Stephen Hughes (Bagheera)
Group Leader
Beenleigh Scout Group
0490 181 933


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Free Event: Paddle the Albert River

PADDLE THE ALBERT RIVER

LOGAN CITY COUNCIL FREE EVENT

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

   9AM - 11AM

 

ALBERTA PARK

STANMORE ROAD & BEENLEIGH BEAUDESERT RD

(UNDER BRIDGE ON STANDMORE RD)

 

BOOKING ESSENTUIAL BY 24 SEPT, 2014 TO:

environment@logan.qld.gov.au or call 3412 5059

 

THIS IS NOT A PLANNED SCOUTING ACTIVITY

BUT WE ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO GO ALONG FOR A FUN DAY OUT. 

 

This event is part of the World Rivers Day. 

Enjoy a leisurely paddle up the river and find hidden treasures you would not normally.

 

Enjoy a BBQ at the end, which our Group will be hosting from 10:30am. 

Hope to see you there.

 

 

Yours in Scouting,
Stephen Hughes (Bagheera)
Group Leader
Beenleigh Scout Group
0490 181 933


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Working Bee Photos and Thank you

Thank you to all those that assisted on the weekend effort of taking the Car Park gardens from Drab to Fab!. See the photos for the huge effort and difference it has created. In time with the plant growth we will see a great new entry to our park.

Car Boot Sale & Car Wash Outcomes

On Saturday, 31 August the Beenleigh Scout Group held its second Car Boot Sale and Car Wash for 2014. The results of the end of day takings, allowing for expenses was approximately $1050. This broke down to around 25 cars, 15 stall holders and profits from the Cake Stall and BBQ. 

Thank you everyone for the effort put in - I know my body is telling I worked those cars today!

The Paddle the Albert River BBQ Fundraiser

The Paddle the Albert River BBQ Fundraiser

The Logan City Council is promoting a Paddle on the Albert River as a free activity. The group has been offered to run the BBQ, turn up and cook only supply nothing. We will run the BBQ from around 10 am to 11:15 am.  The group is being offered a donation for this.

 

At this time I am unsure where this will take place and will inform once I know more.

 

If you can assist at the BBQ, can you please advise so I can coordinate. I will need to know before 18 September as I head to Cuboree on 19 September and will not return until 27 September - where the much needed AFL Grand Final resting afternoon awaits me :) 

 

CANOEING 

  

The activity attached to the fundraiser is open to the general public to attend, they have 30 canoes and I have been asked to find out if families would be interested in attending the canoe event.  

 

This activity will not be a Scouting one so no forms will be required, but if you are attending just register you are attending so I can advise Logan City Council of potential numbers.

 

You will also be able to take your own canoes and kayaks if you have them, again please advise if you intend to do this. 

 

Date: 28 September, 2014

Time:  9am - 11am.

Are you attending? Yes I am attending. No, I cannot attend. 


Yours in Scouting,
Stephen Hughes (Bagheera)
Group Leader
Beenleigh Scout Group
0490 181 933


This message was sent from Dibbs Club Manager (www.dibbssm.net) as a circular email. Other people will have received this email.