Abbeyside Scout Unit Notes 10th December 2007

4th Waterford Unit
St Joseph’s
Abbeyside
Scouting Ireland

Cub Scout Pack, Scout Troop & Venture Scout Group Notes

10/12/2007

South Eastern Province Youth Forum
On Friday evening November 30th scouts and ventures from across the province diverged on Melleray Scout Centre for the first annual South Eastern Province Youth Conference with scouts arriving between eight and ten. Scouts came from as near as Abbeyside and as far away as Bray Co. Wicklow. The scouts and ventures were then divided up into seven troops five scout and two venture troops with 30 in each. After an icebreaker the Chief Scout who officially opened the conference addressed all present. By now it was 10:30 when all leaders went to a meeting discussing the plan of action for the weekend. After supper it was time for bed. With lights out at 1am.

Saturday began at 8 with breakfast being in two sittings as were all meals with such high numbers in attendance! At 9:15 the troops began the seven bases the bases were extremely informative and helpful they focussed on scouts taking control of their troops, their counties and the organisation as a whole. They included bases at which ideas for games were thought up and ideas for the 2008 Irish jamboree. For example scout troop 2 had a base dealing with the new programme at 9:15 then at 1:15 had a base dealing with youth participation in scout groups and county forums. After which a games base was done with one of the games being tightrope walking in which the entire troop had to pull a rope tight in a circle and the scouts were asked to walk across the rope! Then a break for lunch after which they took part in the jamboree 2008 base in which ideas were discussed for the programme of the jamboree. After a visit was made to the Boulder Wall was made and a video discussing mountain pursuit challenges was shown. Then it was time for the programme events in your group and county base. And then the bases were finished off with the assault course and archery. After all the bases scouts were given some well-disserved free time and dinner!! At eight o clock it was time for a scouts own service with songs and prayers and stories read out. Then the campfire began at 9:30, which went off with out a hitch. Then from 11 to about 1:15 their was a disco held with lights and as one scout described it “its deadly they have lights and the hole shebang!” Lights out was 1:30.

Sunday began with breakfast at 8:30. Then at 10 the forum began with the representatives from each group sitting at the main table the forum was a new experience for most and was one well worth experiencing many motions were put forward by the groups and many were very similar which is a good sign showing that all Scouts wanted similar issues to b debated and things to be changed. The motions passed include changes to be made to the uniform, for the Scouting Ireland to seek further funding from the government to improve Scout Dens and facilities. After the forum a Scout was chosen to represent his/her county at provincial level. After clean up and lunch the closing ceremony took place with thanks from many of the leader high up in Scouting Ireland after the closing ceremony all began the journey home a log journey for some a not so long journey for others.
By Joe Conway P.L.

Calendar Of Events
We have put our Activities onto an online Calendar, you can see these on the Blog Spot or the Abbeyside Scout Group site.

Group Annual Registration
Annual Registration is now due and must be paid by 15th December 2007, of €40-00 per member, any cheques should be made payable to 4th Waterford Unit, Abbeyside Scout Group. Thank You.

Patrol Leader Training
This past weekend some members of the 4th attended a Patrol Leaders Training Weekend run by Waterford Scout County in Mount Melleray Scout Centre, Cappoquin. We will have a report for next week from those present.

Cub Scout Pack Investiture
The Cub Scout Pack are holding an Investiture in the Scout Den on Thursday Night 20th December 2007, all parents of the Cubs are invited to attend. The Cubs being invested have completed a number of different of tests. Learned to do some Scout knots, learned about Scouting and attended a number of Activities.

Cub Scout Pack - News & Information

Cub Scout Meeting 29th November
Last weeks meeting began with the cub prayer followed by Gearoid and Michael taking the subs. All cubs were then introduced to a new cub Larry Brazil who had just joined that night. After this the first game of the evening was enjoyed by all cubs, being a game of North, South, East, West and this was excellently run by Cearbhall. However some of the Cubs found this game hard going with many of them running in the wrong direction resulting in elimination. Two games of this was played and enjoyed by all. After this we moved onto a very important part of the meeting. This was namely preparation for the upcoming investiture of the cubs. This event hasn’t taken place in a long time in Abbeyside for the Cub section so this will be a very important event for the troop. The cubs went through a practice run of what will happen on the night and all cubs had a chance to say there cub promise and hold the flag like they will do on the investiture night. After this important event had taken place Gearoid organized a game of Who Stole My Chicken and the new cub Larry Brazil outwitted all the older more experienced cubs in this and guessed on four occasions Who Stole His Chicken. The meeting finished up with the notices about the upcoming cub regional quiz on Sunday the 9th in Ferrybank Hall. A notice was handed out to all cubs relating to this event. Seanie played a quick game of the corner game, which the cubs seemed to enjoy also before the prayer and fallout to bring another exciting meeting to its conclusion.

Cub Pack Meeting 6th December
Our meeting this week started with Aidan saying the cubs scout prayer followed by subs being taken up by Gearoid. It was then straight into playing some games and the first one of the night was a relay race, which got the blood flowing very quickly. Then Michael and Cearbhall played the corner game with the four clans that is proving to be very popular. This was followed by a couple of games of head and harp that everyone again enjoyed. It was time to leave the games and do some drill, even though it may not always be popular with the cubs, it is essential to the discipline of the unit and of the meeting. The cubs then did a drawing on a blank sheet of paper that was shaped like a neckerchief, which to them depicted cub scouting. The best three drawings will be put forward to represent Abbeyside at county level and the best drawing from the county will be put on next year's fun weekend neckerchief. Gearoid then asked for definite numbers for the county table quiz in Ferrybank on Sunday 9th. He then gave out a notice to the cubs detailing the Cub Investiture night on Thursday Dec.20th for everyone to bring home. Aidan then said the final prayer and the cub pack were dismissed.

Waterford Scout County Cub Quiz FERRYBANK
On Sunday Dec.9th six cubs from the 4th Waterford headed to Ferrybank to represent the Troop in the Cub County Quiz. A big effort was put in by the six lads and after ten rounds of some hard and some not so hard questions, as well as a wide variety of answers, our team of Cal, Eoghan, Luke, Daniel, Sean and Kevin came within ten points of the winners St. Paul’s. Well-done lads. We also hope that Isaac who did travel but had to return home due to being sick is now feeling a lot better. The team then stopped off for a little snack on the way home. As always a big thank you to the parents who provided transport on the day as well as those who offered and were not needed, without you the Cub’s enjoyment of the day wouldn't be possible, all your help is appreciated.

New Members
New members are always welcome so if there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Cubs have a Parent/Guardian call along with you to the meeting and talk to one of the Leaders. The Cub age is from 8 years to 10½ /11 years. Their meeting night will be on a Thursday night from seven fifteen to eight forty five. If you have any questions before then you can E-Mail the Cubs on cubpack@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Gearoid will get back in contact with you.

Scout Troop – News & Information

Scout Meeting 08/12/'07
The meeting began with everyone saying the prayer followed by the two patrols falling out to their patrol corners. Gearoid then took up subs. The Scout’s brains were then put to the test with an individual brainteaser of 23 questions being asked with the three highest scores given a prize at the end of the meeting. Examples of the some of the questions being, 18 H on a G C. The answer 18 holes on a golf course. By the end we had two scouts with twelve points, Aaron and Dylan and two on ten points, Tony and Kevin so a tiebreaker round was called for to see who got third prize between Tony and Kevin and after five tiebreaker questions it was Kevin who took third place.
It was then games time and Michael refereed a doubles badminton tournament between those who had turned up on the night with Aaron and Kevin being the victors in the end. It was then time to play the card relay game between the two patrols,the first time the Tiger patrol won due to Kevin coming to the table and forgetting to pick up the last card but the Eagle patrol had their revenge second time round due to a mistake at the start from Owen. Eamonn then told everyone that he would examine them on their photographer badge after Christmas and also reminded everyone of the awards night on Dec.22nd. The final prayer was said and everyone was dismissed.

Venture Scout Group – Information
The Ventures will be going Paint Balling this coming weekend this is the first of the County Events for this Scouting Year. This event was organised by Sandy and a large number of Ventures from around Waterford Scout County will be attending. So a good day looks to be on the cards.
Some of the Ventures attended the South Eastern Province Forum in Mount Melleray we all look forward to hearing how they got on. For further information contact Sandy. You can E-Mail the Venture Group on venturegroup@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Sandy will get in contact with you.

Full Uniform
Full Uniform is Black Polished Shoes/Boots, Navy/Black Socks, Uniform Trousers, Uniform Belt, Uniform Jumper (Cubs), Uniform Shirt (Scouts), Group Neckerchief, Woggle (Plus Spare), Lanyard (Scouts), Whistle (Scouts), Badges, Group Cap, Uniform Jacket (Scouts).
Any Scout or Cub in the Unit longer than six weeks should have this Uniform. Scouting Ireland is a Uniformed Organisation.
The Scout and Cub Scout Uniform are available from the Outdoor Adventure Store, Mc Curtain Street, Cork.
We carry some items such as Group Badge €3-50, Group Neckerchief €5-50, Woggle €1-50, and Group Baseball Cap €15-00. As well, as some other small items. Just ask the Leaders and they will help you out.
If there is anyone who has been in the Cubs or Scouts and wishes to pass on their Uniform in part or full contact one of the Leaders. Thank You.

Catering Crew
Abbeyside were on Catering Crew on the weekend for the South Eastern Province Youth Forum in Mount Melleray Scout Activity & Sports Centre it was a very busy weekend with over 200 Youth Members along with a large number of adults. Well done to Geoff, Muller, Sandy, Gearoid, James, Kieran, Ciaran, Michael and Brendan.

Web Site
Keep up to date with all the happenings of the 4th Waterford through our web pages, on the blog http://www.abbeyside.blogspot.com/ and http://www.abbeysidescoutgroup.com/ we would be only, happy to hear any comments you may have. E-Mails us any pictures you may have either for the paper or to put on the blog site, if you a bebo or other page that would be a suitable link forward it on, also to scribe@abbeysidescoutgroup.com

Scribe.