[Euroscoutinfo-en] Euro.Scout.Info - Issue 57 - May 2008
Joy Morton
Areas of Work
One year on…
Friday, 9 May 2008 was Europe Day. A not as well known fact is that 9 May
2008 also marked exactly one year to the day when we, the current European
Scout Committee was elected by the 19th European Scout Conference in
Portoroz, Slovenia.
Recently, the European Scout Committee has been reflecting on what has
been achieved over the last year and has been identifying what still needs
to be done over the remaining two years. Developing and growing Scouting
is not a speedy process but there are indications that real development
and measurable growth is taking place.
The European Scout Committee looks forward to providing an update on
progress relating to the implementation of ‘Aiming for Excellence’, the
Regional Scout Plan for 2007-2010 as well as on the Resolutions adopted at
the 19th European Scout Conference. This will take place during the
regional meeting at the start of the 38th World Scout Conference on
Monday, 14 July 2008.
Educational Methods
Agora 2008
3-6 April 2008 at Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland
The 2008 edition of Agora, a European event organised by Rovers for
Rovers, took place at KISC with 24 participants from 10 countries have
shared their experiences and learning from each other in a friendly
atmosphere, during a programme that combined outdoor activities, team
games and debates.
An excellent Planning Team of young people from Finland, Luxembourg,
Portugal and UK made this event an unforgettable one. To see more details
about this event and other European Rover initiatives visit [
http://www.rovernet.eu/community ]www.rovernet.eu/community.
THANK YOU all and see you during AGORA 2009!
RoverNet3.0
3-6 April 2008 at Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland
The 3rd edition of the European Forum for Rover Commissioners took place
in KISC, where 23 leaders from 11 countries were present for an event
aimed at exchanging views and experiences on developing and implementing
the programme for the last age section, all in the magnificent setting of
the Swiss Alps. To get more information and see the results of the Forum
please visit [ http://www.rovernet.eu ]www.rovernet.eu.
Taste It
4-7 September 2008 at the St. Andrew’s Scout Centre in Athens, Greece
If you were running a restaurant, what would you do with a dominant cook,
a waiter or waitress having a burnout and a menu that has already been in
place for since ten years?
Would you make some changes, take better 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? Then taste it in
our restaurant, opened from 4 – 7 September in the St. Andrew Scout
Centre, near Athens, Greece.
The invitation and application form for the Network Meeting has just been
published in the new Europak issue.
If you need any further information please contact Milutin Milosevic,
Director, Adult Resources by e-mail: [ mailto:mil...@scout.org
]mil...@scout.org
Mapping Adult Resources
The WOSM - European Region and European Region WAGGGS invited all the
NSOs/MOs to send us information about current projects and expertise in
the area of Adult Resources. The form was distributed in March Europak and
you can find it at this weblink:
[ http://www.europak-online.net/ukeurop0308.html
]www.europak-online.net/ukeurop0308.html
The deadline for returning forms was 20 April 2008. We invite all those
who missed this deadline to send back the information to help ensure we
have views on different activities in the Regions.
Development and Support
The Growth Network is growing. Join us!
25-27 April 2008 in Lisbon, Portugal
At the end of April, Lisbon offered lovely sunny surroundings to a group
of 42 motivated people from different corners of the region for the second
Growth Network meeting. To be more precise, it was also a first meeting,
because it was a Joint Growth Network meeting with WAGGGS.
People have not been idle still after the first meeting in Berlin, Germany
last October. Since then some people of the Network have met in person,
while others have already put into practice some of the best practices
they shared in Berlin. In Lisbon we attracted new people. This time the
sessions focused on three growth factors: communication, youth programme
and recruitment.
The idea of the network is to be a self-sustaining joint network of active
Scouts and Guides from all over the region. Promising examples of
networking were already seen in Lisbon when people from different
associations dealing with similar topics on their agenda of growth and
development had discussions, shared ideas and planned future co-operation.
Finland will host the next meeting. It is scheduled for 6-7 December 2008,
so reserve that weekend for growth! The venue will be in or near Helsinki
and the programme will most probably focus on the three topics not covered
in Lisbon, namely adult resources, external factors and research,
evaluation and analysis. You can learn more about growth factors and best
practices in the Action for Growth report:
http://scout.org/index.php/en/media/files/europe/growth/entire_document As
a result of the networking, new best practices will be added to this
report.
Check also the WAGGGS’s toolkit of membership: [
http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/resources/documents/1003
]www.wagggsworld.org/en/resources/documents/1003
We wish you welcome you to networking with us! If your association has
good (or bad) experiences of growth – be it small or large scale projects
-, share them.
Tailored Support Unit meets
16-18 May 2008 in Zagreb, Croatia
The Tailored Support Unit reviewed applications received to date and
further consideration was given to how the services of the unit can be
promoted wider, giving particular consideration to likely requests from
countries in south east Europe following recent field visits by both
Committee and Staff.
All members of the unit were in attendance. They included Björn Seelbach,
Thomas Ertlthaler, Lidija Pozaic-Frketic and David Bull. Craig Turpie was
also in attendance and provided an in-depth situation assessment of the
current successes and challenges in each country. Katrin Tauscher and
Jordan Bajraktarov from the World Scout Bureau – European Regional Office
supported the meeting.
Relationships and Funding
2011 European Year of Volunteering
Wednesday, 9 April 2008 in Brussels, Belgium
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Marian Harkin (IE), Gisela
Kallenbach (DE), Emmanouil Angelakas (GR), Mieczyslaw Janowski (PL) and
Joel Hasse Ferreira (PT) launched a written declaration in the European
Parliament to propose 2011 be designated the European Year of Volunteering.
However, a declaration in the European Parliament requires 50% +1 (391) of
all MEPs signatures. So we really need your help in mobilising your
national MEPs with collecting signatures. We strongly encourage National
Youth Councils, National Scout Organisations and Red Cross National
Branches to work together with other volunteering organisations to:
1. Make contact with your national MEPs;
2. Personalise and send the attached template letter to MEPs of your
country found in Europak – [ http://www.europak-online.net/ukeurop.html
]www.europak-online.net/ukeurop.html (the details of your MEPs are at
www.europarl.europa.eu);
3. Invite them to participate in a local (to them) activity giving them
the opportunity to learn more about Scouting and volunteering.
This is a great opportunity to affect change at a local, national and
European level. If you would like further information or support in
exploiting this opportunity, then please do not hesitate to contact me, [
mailto:mwa...@scout.org ]mwa...@scout.org.
Committee contacts
Meeting with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
15-16 March 2008
Over the weekend, Craig Turpie, Chairman, participated in a contact
meeting that was called by all associations operating in Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania.
Building on several years of similar gatherings, the meeting provided an
opportunity for all attending to be updated on each other’s recent
successes and challenges. Advice was sought on how to deal with particular
challenges associated with development and growth that were common in all
countries, including how to respond to competition from other similar
organisations.
Field Visit to Bulgaria
18-19 April 2008 in Pleven, Bulgaria
The National Scout Organisation of Bulgaria, Organizatsia na Bulgarskite
Skauty will organise another national Jamboree next summer. To discuss
this and other topics a meeting of local leaders was held during the
weekend near the city of Pleven. João Armando Gonçalves (the committee
contact for Bulgaria) attended this meeting, took the opportunity to
exchange on different topics and collected information about the main
challenges of the NSO. Some direct support within the framework of the
Tailored Support offered by the Region is envisaged in the near future in
order to contribute to the development of specific areas within the
organisation.
Field Visit to Poland
9-11 May 2008 in Warsaw, Poland
Over the weekend, Craig Turpie, the Committee Contact for Poland,
participated in a conference that explored the issue of contemporary
patriotism. The conference was organised by ZHP in partnership with the
Senate.
The first sessions took place in the Senate of the Polish Parliament with
Craig participating in a panel discussion alongside a cross section of
politicians and academics. Much of the debate explored the relationship
and differences between patriotism on the one hand and active citizenship
on the other.
Smaller workshops allowed participants to explore the topics further by
looking at specific questions.
ZHP plans to share the findings of the conference with other European
associations.
Life of the Movement
What a youthful day - Youth law in Latvia accepted
Thursday, 8 May 2008 in the Latvian Parliament
A new youth law passed giving the youth policy sector a strong base for
further development and for the support of youth NGOs. "It was a long time
coming, we’ve been working on this since the mid-nineties. But the
concerted action of national and international NGOs, the Scouts & Guides
and the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs has paid off", said Eva
Ikstena, President of the National Youth Council of Latvia. The Latvian
Scouts and Guides sustained involvement at all stages of the processes
illustrates their commitment to young people in decision-making.
“The Scouts and Guides, together with other youth NGOs, will continue to
work closely with the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs to ensure
that the law is implemented fully, and to lobby for a stable budget line
to ensure the Youth Law will realise its potential”, said Agnija Jansone
of the Latvian Scouts and Guides.
KISC will host a special Members’ Week
21-28 September 2008 in Kandersteg, Switzerland
- Who is the week for?
The week is being specially organised for members of the KISC Association.
These members are a special group of people who support KISC in many
different ways! They are made up of ex-staff and guests of the Centre who
are interested in helping us continue providing the ‘magic’.
- What will the week provide?
The week will provide the opportunity for Members to come together and
enjoy a week long programme in Kandersteg. During the week you will get
the chance to meet KISC Members from all over the world and catch up with
old friends.
- What is so special about the week?
The week is the first event of its kind so KISC want to make it very
special for our members!
A tailor made programme will be provided and you will have the chance to
see the Centre at its best and enjoy the Alps with your fellow members.
- What is included in the week?
The price includes accommodation, full board, luggage transfers from
Kandersteg train station and your week day and evening programme.
Included in the programme will be sight seeing in and around Kandersteg,
day trips in Switzerland, team building activities and guided hikes. There
will also be one day without organised programme where you can do your own
hike, sightseeing or activity with others.
The evening programme will include an International Evening, Campfire,
Sauna and a special last evening!
- Where?
KISC, of course!
- When?
21-28 September 2008
- How many?
The minimum participants is 15, maximum is 50
- How much?
The cost for the entire week is CHF 675.-
- Interested?
Email Katey; [ mailto:p...@kisc.ch ]p...@kisc.ch for more information or to
sign up!
Work in the Kandersteg International Scout Centre – Short Term Staff
13 September till 12 December 2008 in Kandersteg, Switzerland~~
Every 3 months a new group of Scouts arrive at the Centre as strangers and
leave, 3 months later, as friends. These volunteers are known as Short
Term Staff (STS) and work in every area of the Centre, helping where
needed. The next round of applications for Short Term Staff is due on 15
June 2008 to be part of our Autumn season between 13 September till 12
December 2008.
During your three months here you will have the time of your life, make
life long friendships and have the opportunity to explore the Swiss Alps!
Our Staff team is made up of a group of international Scout and Guide
volunteers. Why not join this team and live your dream!
To find out more information about the Centre, the Staff Team and the
different seasons to work in check out the Staff section on [
http://www.kisc.ch ]www.kisc.ch!
Reminders and Deadlines
Short Term Staff at the Kandersteg International Scout Centre
13 September – 12 December 2008 in KISC, Switzerland
Deadline: 15 June 2008
Managing Adult Resources Network Meeting
4-7 September 2008 in Athens, Greece
Deadline: 28 June 2008
Campaign to have 2011 as European Year of Volunteering
In every country in Europe
Deadline: 8 July 2008
The Scout Academy
20-26 October 2008 in Molina, Spain
Deadline: 12 September 2008
Network meeting for Guide and Scout representatives in National Youth
Councils _
21-23 November 2008, Dublin, Ireland
Deadline: 30 September 2008
Useful Information
Europak: [ http://www.europak-online.net ]http://www.europak-online.net
Stay in contact
World Scout Bureau - European Regional Office
Rue Henri Christiné 5, P.O. Box 327
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