The Woggle

The Newsletter of the 3rd Hayling Scout Group
January 2006

GSL's Update

Happy New Year
I hope everyone had a relaxing Christmas and on behalf of all of us involved with the Group may I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.

100 Club Draw
Congratulations to Pete Rowson, M Spencer and Fred Mant who each win £25 in our January draw and to John Hubbard who wins our first quarterly prize of £50.

Xmas Post raises just under £1000
Many thanks to all of you who helped us with our Xmas Post deliveries. Over the two weekends we delivered over 6500 cards and raised nearly £1000 towards our Acivities Fund, which will help support the activities at our Group Activity weekend in June (See later in this edition of the Woggle).

Subs for 2006 to 2007
At our Executive meeting in November we reviewed our finances and decided that our subscriptions would remain the same from April 2006 to March 2007. This means £22 per term, or £5.50 per month for those paying by Standing Order.

Standing Order for your Subs
On the subject of Standing Orders, over 1/3 of our subs are now paid this way, which removes the challenge of each term of finding and paying the subs, plus makes it a lot easier for the Leaders and those parent volunteers who collect them. If you would consider payment of subs by standing order then please contact your leader for the form. Many Thanks

Gift Aid
if you have not yet signed up for the Gift Aid scheme, I would urge you to consider helping us by joining. We get a rebate of 28p for every £1 of subs from the Inland Revenue and do not need any personal details.

All we need from you is a signed form which olny contains name and address and no other financial or personal details. We will shortly be sending out a form and more details to those of you not yet signed up.

Thanks to Mel Cole

Although most of you will not have had any contact with Mel, over the past few years she has been the person responsible for collating all of your subs payments and passing the details and money onto our Treasurer. Mel is now standing down and on behalf of the Executive, the Leaders and in particular the treasurer I would like to thank Mel for her help with this important role. My thanks to Karen Wells for agreeing to take over.

Please help us to reduce our paper costs

An increasing number of you receive our newsletters and other information electronically. For those who have not yet subscribed then why not send me an email to gsl@haylingscouts.org.uk or subscribe online via our website at www.haylingscouts.org.uk.

Our Next Event - Something New

Fancy trying some authentic Indian recipes, then why not book your place at our next event which takes place at the HQ on Saturday 11th February.

We decided to try something completely different for our next event, and when an Indian family have offered to prepare a range of dishes for us to sample this seemed like a great idea.

All you have to do is to:-

• Book your Place at £10 per ticket
• Bring along your plate and cutlery
• Bring your own bottle (or two)
• Turn up by 7:30 at the HQ
• Enjoy the evening and the company
• Anticipated end time 10:00

You will also be able to see our new roof!!!

Places are strictly limited to 100, so please do not delay, book your place now by calling Ian Hawke or emailing me at gsl@haylingscouts.org.uk

What Next for the HQ ?

Even after a remarkable 2005 and our new Roof, we still have much to do.

In the middle of January we will see the damaged interior ceiling in the back corridor replaced and then we will start on our next programme to improve both the safety and security of the HQ.

We have identified the improvements we would like to see introduced but unlike the roof we will not need to start a massive fund raising programme. We will do the work as we are financially able to.

Items for change include:-

• New fencing to the East boundary
• The introduction of double glazed safety windows along the Western side of the HQ
• Additional outside lighting at the rear and to the West of the HQ
• More crash mats for games and activities
• Additional lighting in the loft areas and the craft cupboard
• Improvements for access for disabled users, in response to the new Disability Discrimination Act
• A new front door

Community Service

This remains one of the main training focus areas for Scouting and in 2005 we estimate that the group did over 500 hours service, which does not includ things like the Xmas Post or other fund raising events.

Group Activity Weekend & Camp

Date: Friday 23rd June 2006 to Sunday 25th June 2006
Location: Lyons Copse near Shedfield

This years event will be a camp for the Cubs, Scouts & Explorers and a day visit on Saturday 24th June for the Beavers.

Our organising team have meetings arranged, to complete the list of activities, but already booked for the Saturday are the Climbing and Abseiling Towers, the Archery, Water activities and some surprise items.

The cost for those camping will be about £25 to cover food, some activities and camp fees (The activities fund / Xmas Post will cover many of the activities) and for the Beavers day visit about £8 to £10.

As this is an official Scout camp site, shower and toilet facilities are available and provided as part of camping fees payable by all attendees.

You will receive more details in the coming months and also the normal forms to complete, but please make a note of the dates in your diaries now, for what I know will be a great weekend for all concerned.

Did You Know

One of our Explorer Scouts spent last summer in the Himilayer Mountains as part of a Hampshire Scout Expedition and training plan to climb Everest in 2007. More details next month.