4th Waterford Unit, St Joseph's, Abbeyside Scout Group Notes, 15th December 2008

4th Waterford
St Joseph’s
Abbeyside
Scouting Ireland

Cub Scout Pack & Scout Troop Notes

15/12/2008
Awards
The Annual Awards were presented after the Group Mass. Group Chairman Jim Shine presented Scout Of The Year to Chris Janes. Group Leader Brian Mulvihill presented Patrol Leader Of The Year to Aaron Fraher. Leader Michael Organ put up the Peg for Annual Camp 2008 Barcelona. Other presentations were also made on the day for the Indoor Cooking Competition won by the Kestrel Patrol.
Group Annual Mass
The Annual 4th Waterford Unit, St. Joseph’s, Abbeyside Scout Group, Scouting Ireland, Mass was held on Sunday 14th December, 2008 at twelve o’clock in Abbeyside Church.
We all gathered at the den at 11.30 on Sunday morning for roll call and a Uniform Inspection before our Group Mass in Abbeyside Church. Hi Vis vests were given out to the Scouts and some of the Cubs. Eighteen Cubs from the Thursday Night Section along with twenty Cubs from the Monday Night Section, twenty Scouts and Leaders marched to the Church to pray for members of the 4th, past present and future to give thanks for the year just gone and pray for the coming one. Afterwards it was back to the den to see Scout Leader Brendan make various presentations for the Scout Year just gone and to give both Cub Sections a view of what they could become a part of in years to come. Some photographs were then taken before Gearoid then took the food orders from both Cub Sections before ringing it through to McDonald's who were waiting for us when we arrived. The Scouts divided into their Patrols for getting food and went to various places for their lunch. Once we had eaten we headed to the cinema where Gearoid bought tickets for the Cubs, and Brendan for the Scouts to see Madagascar and once inside everyone's eyes were glued to the screen. A big thank you must be said to all the Leaders who gave up their Sunday, to the Cubs who behaved themselves all day at all three venues and also to the parents for being so prompt in collecting everyone. To the Scouts for their attention and co-operation. A great day was had by all.
Annual Registration
All members in all Sections are reminded that Group Annual Registration is now due for payment. The amount this year is €40.00 per person and should be given to your Section Leader at your weekly meeting. This registration covers Cubs, Scouts, Leaders and Committee Members for 2009.
Calendar Of Events
We have updated our Activities onto an on-line Calendar, you can see these on the Blog Spot or the Abbeyside Scout Group site. These can also be viewed on the ‘White Board’ on the wall in the Scout Den.
Web Site
Keep up to date with all the happenings of the 4th Waterford through our web pages, on the blog www.abbeyside.blogspot.com and www.abbeysidescoutgroup.com, which we are currently updating. We would be only happy to hear any comments you may have. Check out our Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin to see how things are there too on www.glenshelanescoutcampsite.com E-Mails us any pictures you may have either for the paper or to put on the blog site, if you have a bebo or other page that would be a suitable link forward it on, also to scribe@abbeysidescoutgroup.com

Cub Scout Pack - News & Information
Monday Night Cub Section Meeting
Parents and Cubs are to note the new meeting time for Monday night meetings. The meeting will start at the usual time of 7pm but will now finish at 8.15pm. Please attend meetings on time. Cubs are also reminded that they must have Full Correct Uniform for upcoming events. Uniforms must be purchased from the Outdoor Adventure Store (Scout Shop) in Cork, they cannot be ordered from the Leaders.
Thursday Night Cub Section Meeting
Our meeting this week started with the saying of the Cubs Scout Promise and Law followed by subs being taken up by section leader Gearoid. It was then time for some merit badgework as Isaac did his book reader badge and then answered some questions from the cub pack under the watchful eye of assistant leader Mandy. The cubs then found out what they were going to make out of the empty mineral bottles that Gearoid had told them to bring in as he explained to them how to make a rain gauge. This was done by taking the label off the bottle, then cutting the top third off it turning it upside down and placing inside the bottom two thirds. A label was then stuck to the side of the bottle having placed cm measurements on it so as the rain could accurately be calculated once inside. Each Cub then put his name on the rain gauge and instructed to keep an eye on the amount of rain fall over the next number of weeks. A number of games were then played including catch and dodge ball before Mandy gave out a notice to be brought home about the group mass and trip to the cinema the following Sunday. Gearoid told everyone that next week’s meeting was the last one before Christmas. Final prayer was said and everyone was dismissed.
Contact
If there are any questions about the Meetings, Event, Hikes, or Activities of the Thursday Night Abbeyside Cub Scout Section then you should contact Gearoid Fraher, Thursday Night Cub Scout Section Leader.
If there are any questions about the Meetings, Event, Hikes, or Activities of the Monday Night Abbeyside Cub Scout Section then you should contact Brian Mulvihill, Monday Night Cub Scout Section Leader.
If a Cub is unable to attend any Activity, Event or Meeting, you are asked to please let the Cub Scout Section Leader know in advance, this can be done by text or phone on their mobile number. Parents are asked to ensure that their son is on time for meetings and other activities as organised by the Leaders, as late arrival tends to delay or disrupt the running of the meetings for everyone else, thank you.
New Members
Our books are presently limited to new members joining. If there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Cubs have a Parent/Guardian call to one of the Cub Scout Pack Meetings and talk to Brian on Monday Night or talk to Gearoid on Thursday Night to see about joining or have their name put on a waiting list. The Cub age is from 8 years to 10½ /11 years. The Monday Night Cub Pack Meeting starts at seven and finishes at eight fifteen. The Thursday Night Cub Pack Meeting Starts at seven fifteen and finishes at eight forty five.

Scout Troop – News & Information
Saturday Scout Troop Meeting
Our meeting this week was mufti and much more relaxed meeting followed. As always the saying of the Scout Prayer followed Fall In and Patrol Formation. When the Patrols went to their Patrol Corners they spoke of their Patrol Activity for over Christmas. As attendance was done by Gearóid, Brendan collected Annual Registration. The Scout Troop then divided into two groups for the next part of the meeting. Here all the Scouts practised tying the Clove Hitch, this was to be done as a game but some people were unable to remember how the Clove Hitch was tied, with the help of the Leaders everyone got it right in the end. Still in their two Teams a Team game was played. For this each Scout had hold of another Scouts hand both Left and Right as long as you had one Scout with your Left Hand and another by your Right Hand. The idea of the game was for the Team to make a circle without letting go of each other’s hands. This is where working together as a Team comes into play. Scouts had to manoeuvre themselves over hands and under hands, around others for this to work. This proved great fun as people stretched and squirmed to make the circle, it did not matter if you ended up facing in or out of the circle once the circle was complete. A game of ‘Yes No’ followed. This took a different direction than intended but again was good fun. The Patrols were reminded that since some of the Patrols had decided to put items on their Patrol Box they should all do so using a Scouting Theme, this is to be done for the New Year. Gearoid then organised a game of ‘Buzz Bomb’ a new game for the Scouts, the rules were explained and the object clear. Each Team had six small balls there was one larger ball in the centre of the den, this had to be moved using the smaller balls to the other teams end. This is a game we shall see feature on the meeting planner for future meetings. Those who were taking part in the Secret Santa would be exchanging gifts after the Group Mass. Everyone was then reminded about the Group Mass the following Morning all present said they would be there. One or two would be going to the Match after Mass. The meeting ended with the Scout Prayer and the order for Fall Out being given. This is our last Scout Meeting before Christmas we will be returning on January 10th 2009, this will be a Full Uniform Meeting.
New Members
New members are always welcome so if there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Scouts have an adult call along with you to the meeting and talk to Brendan. The Scout age is from 10½ years to 15/16 years. Scout Meetings are on a Saturday night from seven to nine.
Contact
If any parent has a question about the Scout Troop then they should talk to Brendan before or after a Scout Meeting. You can E-Mail the Abbeyside Scout Troop on scouttroop@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Brendan will get in contact with you.

Scribe.