[Euroscoutinfo-en] Euro.Scout.Info - Issue 61 - September 2008
Joy Morton
Introduction
Interviews have been held to renew the staffing of the Brussels Office.
More than 130 applications were received and 7 people were interviewed.
Director of External Relations and Funding - this position will be filled
by Mrs Alix Masson, currently the Policy Officer with the European Youth
Forum. Alix was a member of Guides de France in her youth and knows well
the activities of WOSM particularly in Europe.
Fundraising and EVS Support Officer - this position will be filled by Mr
Nicolo Pranzini a District Commissioner in AGESCI who has been working for
a local cooperative organisation, the Global Village in his home town.
Both Alix and Nicolo will take up their positions in late October, early
November. We wish them well and welcome them to supporting Scouting at
regional level.
Areas of Work
The Scout Academy
Currently there are more than 110 participants and trainers/facilitators
registered for the Scout Academy with a few promises of participants still
to come. While the deadline for booking has passed, it is still possible
to book places. Have a look at the blog. [
http://www.scoutacademy.blogspot.com/ ]www.scoutacademy.blogspot.com/
Educational Methods
Recipes for managing leaders
4 - 7 September 2007, St. Andrews Scout Centre north of Athens, Greece
If you were running a restaurant, what would you do with a dominant cook,
a waitress having burnout and a menu that is already for ten years in
place? Would you make some changes, take care of your employees and listen
to the chef?
What do you do with your adults in Scouting? Do you have a plan? Does it
work? Would you like to share it and learn new methods? These were some of
the questions that started the discussions and sharing during the Network
Meeting on Managing Adult Resources.
The Network Meeting was held with 21 participants from 12 countries where
the opportunity was used to promote exchange and share ideas and
experiences on various issues relating to how we support our human
capital. Topics discussed included; motivation and appraisal, job
definition, mentoring and coaching, administration, risk management,
flexibility, innovation, open-mindedness, quality, culture in a group,
recognition and motivation, training, resources, management and leadership.
There was a real Scout atmosphere with open-minded people, an excellent
venue, warm weather and delicious Greek cuisine that contributed to making
this event a pleasant memory for all the participants.
Development and Support
Finland shares good practices for growth
Recruiting young people and adults is sometimes difficult. In Helsinki,
the capital city of Finland, almost every fourth child aged 10 to 13 years
has been involved in Scouting and Guiding for some time. Unfortunately,
many members leave this hobby during their teenage years. As young people
and adults are important for the local Scout groups, a "joinscouting.net"
recruitment project was started.
The aim of this project was to launch a web page where young people (from
15 years) and adults could get a modern view of Scouting and Guiding and
send messages about their wish to become members. The web page is promoted
by posters that have been spread to universities and other places where
there are lots of young students.
A humorous cookie campaign was used to make Scouting visible in the city.
A strong stereotype can be used in a positive way, like giving people
cookies packed in a paper bag with "joinscouting.net" stickers.
Stereotypes and contrasts have been used in posters as well, an example
being a picture of a fire and the text designed with kitchen utensils.
People visiting the web page and contacting the association will be guided
to a welcome to Scouting course, giving them the basic knowledge they need
or updating their view if they were members many years ago. Then they are
ready to join a local group and help us grow.
We'd like to learn about your best practice!
The Growth Network is a good forum for sharing new ideas and best
practices that help you and us to grow. In the previous article you read
how the Guides and Scouts of the capital region in Finland have tackled
the topic of recruiting students and adults. Does your association have a
success story in growth or would you like to learn from others? We want to
encourage you to share best practices and learn from others. The next
Growth Network will take place in Finland on 6 - 8 December 2008. Join the
Growth Network! If you have any further questions, just contact Katrin at:
[ mailto:ktau...@scout.org ]ktau...@scout.org
Relationships and Funding
European Parliament calls for empowering young people
On the initiative of the European Youth Forum, 433 Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs) signed a written declaration calling on the European
Commission and the EU Member States to take into account the needs of
young people when developing policies that affect them. The declaration
also calls on the European Commission to commit to developing a more
horizontal youth policy; something endorsed by the Council of Ministers
but that has not yet been translated into tangible action. Furthermore,
the declaration reminds EU Member States to focus on youth when
implementing the Lisbon National Reform Programmes. European Scouting and
many NSOs played an active and important role in making this initiative a
success.
The MEPs supporting the declaration include some leading figures in the
European Parliament, such as Graham Watson, Chair of the ALDE Group,
Joseph Daul, Chair of the EPP-ED Group, Francis Wurtz, Chair of the
GUE/NGL Group, Daniel Cohn-Benit and Monica Frassoni, co-Presidents of the
Greens/EFA Group, and Poul-Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of
European Socialists.
This decision by the European Parliament provides a good basis for taking
the interests of young people better into account in different policies,
which is also in line with the Resolution 15/07 of the European Scout
Conference. If you want to know more on how to use this tool in your NSO,
contact Jaakko Weuro at the European Scout Office,
[ mailto:jwe...@scout.org ]jwe...@scout.org.
More information and the text of the Written Declaration can be found
here: [ http://www.youthforum.org/declaration.html
]www.youthforum.org/declaration.html
Mr Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General addresses volunteering
The Secretary-General of the UN, Mr Ban Ki-moon has published a report on
the follow-up of 2001 - International Year of Volunteer. The Report
examines the state of volunteering around the world through the four
lenses of Recognition, Facilitation, Networking and Promotion. This report
concludes that the vibrancy of volunteering globally engendered by IYV
2001 continues, although the pace and direction of growth is the subject
of a number of factors that are explained in the Report itself. These
factors need to be recognized and understood if volunteering is to be
properly incorporated into national policy and programmes.
The Report contains a number of recommendations, including proposals for
marking the 10th anniversary of IYV in 2011, that will be considered by
Governments during the coming weeks. A resolution will be drafted and
submitted for approval at an inter-governmental meeting to be held in New
York on 6 October. The resolution will then be taken up at a formal
plenary session of the UN General Assembly in December when it should be
formally adopted by governments.
The Secretary-Generalís report also refers specifically to the resolution
adopted by the World Scout Conference in Korea that calls for recognising
volunteering as a priority within the ìStrategy for Scoutingî and to
maximize the opportunity provided by the 10th anniversary of the
International Year of Volunteers!
You can read the report at this link, [
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/63/184
]www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/63/184.
For more information, contact Jaakko Weuro [ mailto:jwe...@scout.org
]jwe...@scout.org.
Maltese and Polish Scouts tap into the EU's 'Youth in Action' Programme
21-31 July 2008 in the San River valley, Poland
The Qrendi Scout Group attended a youth exchange programme, entitled
'Never Ending Story', which was held in Poland as part of the EU 'Youth in
Action' Programme. Ten Maltese Scouts joined 11 Polish Scouts from Hufiec
Szczecin of ZHP (the Polish Scout and Guide Association) in this programme.
The international gathering was held at the Berdo Scout Campsite, located
near Myczkowce in the San River valley in the heart of the Bieszczady
Mountains. The campsite, which was a ten-minute boat ride from the
mainland, was located on an island on the largest artificial body of water
in Poland - the Solina Reservoir. Mud and water games, fresh-water
fishing, Scouting woodcraft, trekking and camouflage activities,
brainstorming sessions, environmental discussions and teamwork games, also
formed part of the programme.
Youth in Action is the Programme the European Union has set up for young
people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship,
solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in
shaping the Union's future. Youth in Action is a Programme for all,
offering financial assistance to its various programmeís applicants.
More information can be found at this link: [
http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/news/2008/maltese_and_polish_scouts_tap_into_the_eu_s_youth_in_action_programme
]www.scout.org/en/information_events/news/2008/maltese_and_polish_scouts_tap_into_the_eu_s_youth_in_action_programme
Committee Contacts
Visit to Germany
Weekend of 5 - 7 September 2008 at Castle Rieneck, Germany
The Committee Contact for Germany, Zorica Skakun attended the meeting of
German Guide and Scout Federation. During the meeting, which is held every
second year, the four associationsí Board members worked separately but
also met together to discuss common challenges and the international work
of the Federation. The results of the WAGGGS and WOSM World Conferences
were also presented.
Being active and positive to develop the growth of Scouting and Guiding in
Germany, the German Scout Federation have been focused on Youth Programme,
Training Systems evaluation and review, quality, external partnerships and
all projects relevant to sustainability and attracting to more young
people. Some news from Germany:
In Verband Christlicher Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder - VCP
- "Mission possible"- reviewed the Youth Programme implementation kick-off
In Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft St. Georg - DPSG
- The revised training scheme increased DPSGís number of leaders
- In 2010, ìCapital of Cultureî celebrations take place with partner
industrial cities in Europe. Find your city in the list and join the
international gatherings of Scouts. More at
[ http://www.moveto10.eu/ ]www.moveto10.eu
In Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder ñ BdP
At the General Assembly last year, BdP decided to start a Youth Programme
evaluation process in order to measure the equivalence of the Youth
Programme proposal and its implementation at local level.
The 9th BdP National Camp will be held in Buhlenberg 29 July till 8 August
2009. The application deadline is on 1 December 2008. More info at [
http://www.seitenweit.pfadfinden.de/international
]www.seitenweit.pfadfinden.de/international.
News from Associacao dos Escoteiros de Portugal
6 September 2008 in Costa da Caparica, Portugal
AEP celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2008. The major national activity
was held in Costa da Caparica, dedicated to the European Year of
Inter-cultural Dialogue. To celebrate the future AEP invited Scouts and
other young people of different cultures. Portuguese, African, Eastern
European, Catholic and Jewish young people were invited to discuss and
share Millennium Development Goals, cooperation and development, and many
other topics.
Life of the Movement
Meeting of the Super Friends in Geneva
30-31 August 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland
At the end of August, most of the Super Friends (personalities responsible
for the development of the FOSE programme in their own countries) met with
Board members and their Geneva colleagues for a~working weekend. The
promotion of the FOSE programme is the most popular activity of the
European Scout Foundation at the moment. A good exchange of ideas took
place all leading towards the increasing number of FOSE (almost 300). A
review of the Small Projects was also done.
More FOSE signed up for their 10th annual gathering
16-19 October 2008 in Hungary
The annual Gathering of the FOSE is planned to take place in Hungary with
some 40 Friends who have already signed up. If you want to take part -
please feel free to contact the organiser of the Gathering, Rene Karla of
Vienna [ mailto:rene....@chello.at ]rene....@chello.at.
Reminders and Deadlines
The Scout Academy
20 - 26 October 2008 in Molina, Spain
Deadline: still open for booking
Network meeting for Guide and Scout representatives in National Youth
Councils _
21 - 23 November 2008, Dublin, Ireland
Deadline: 30 September 2008
Round Table on Diversity
7 - 9 November 2008, Malmo, Sweden
Deadline: 1 October 2008
Round Table on Membership
7 - 9 November 2008, Malmo, Sweden
Deadline: 1 October 2008
Training for new members of National Boards
First weekend of December 2008 in Latvia
Deadline: 3 October 2008
Chief Executivesí Meeting,
25 - 26 November 2008, Prague, Czech Republic
Deadline: 10 October 2008
Event for Chief Volunteers, Chief Guides, Chief Scouts, Chief
Commissioners, Chairpersons or equivalent
21 - 23 November 2008 in Zürich, Switzerland
Deadline: 24 October 2008
Long Term Staff Positions at KISC
4 or 7 - 10 month positions at KISC, Switzerland
Deadline: 1 December 2008
Useful Information
Europak: www.europak-online.net
Stay in contact
World Scout Bureau
European Regional Office
P.O. Box 327
Rue Henri ChristinÈ 5
CH-1211 Geneva 4
Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 705 11 00
Fax: (+41 22) 705 11 09
Email: [ mailto:eur...@scout.org ]eur...@scout.org
Web: [ http://www.scout.org/europe ]www.scout.org/europe