A FINAL WORD FROM THE DESK OF THIS COMMISH

As my term as your Council Commissioner comes to an end, I find myself reflecting over memories from the past three years. It has been a time of change, challenge, triumph and great personal growth. The one factor that repeatedly comes to my mind is that of the absolutely wonderful people I have met and worked with here in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Our staff members have chosen Scouting not only as a job, but as their career, their livelihood and indeed the livelihood of their families. We in Voyageur Council have a truly dedicated and loyal team of staff members. I cannot express their dedication in mere words. So here is an idea, the next time you wonder what our staff members do, make arrangements to shadow them one day, and see first hand all that they accomplish in your name and for the youth in your community. You will be amazed!

I have also had the privilege of working with an awesome team of volunteers in my Council Deputies and Area Commissioners. They give of their very precious time and share their talents with us all at a Council servicing level. This year has seen Kerry Nicholson, Brian Glenn, Paul Totten, Doug Hall and John Boyce work together to develop visitation tools, training sessions, coaching guidelines, recruitment resources, and the list goes on. All of these resources are used by our trainers and Group Scouters to provide better support to our front line leaders. An active communications portfolio headed by David Wray has seen timely, accurate and thorough information being shared with our members. Our Council treasurer, Stuart Haslett has overseen a movement to the national chart of accounts and sharing of services with Divisional office. I thank you all, staff and volunteer alike, for being members of the team and for your dedication to the Scouting movement.

One of the most significant changes recently has been the move to the Council/Area servicing model. Perhaps the challenge here has been in understanding how this model works. In a Council/Area structure, we can classify our Scouting positions into one of two categories: you either deliver the program to our youth or you support those who deliver the program. Perhaps one of the least known benefits of this model is that it provides a direct line for our program Scouters and Group Committee members to provide feedback and suggestions into Council-wide decisions. Here’s how it works. Decisions are made at the Council level; by committees, with all ten of our Areas having a voice and a vote in the making of those decisions. To start, each Area Commissioner has a vote on the Council Management Committee. This committee is responsible for the overall operations of our Council and is chaired by our Council Commissioner. Each Deputy Area Commissioner also has voting privileges on a Council Committee for their specific portfolio. Thus, your Area Deputies for Youth, Growth, Program, Groups and Training all discuss and vote on how these portfolios will work within our Council. Each of these committees is chaired by the Deputy Council Commissioner of the related portfolio. So you see, under the Council/Area model, the Areas have direct input into all decisions relating to the running of our Council. Personally, I think this direct input is a great move forward. So, if you have suggestions or comments to share, simply contact your Area Commissioner or Deputy. They will bring it directly to the appropriate Council committee for input and possible implementation. It’s that simple, and perhaps even more so, it’s that important, for us all to have a say in our Voyageur Council operations.

I thank you for the privilege and honour of having been your Commissioner. Voyageur Council is moving forward with enthusiasm and with the deep dedication of our volunteers and staff members. I hope the future brings us all many great adventures. As we move towards Scouting’s 100th anniversary, I leave you with this task to ponder over the summer months and into the upcoming Scouting year: realize you are a member of the larger team known as Scouts Canada. Be aware that you are a member of a world-wide organization, indeed the largest youth movement in the world with over 132 member countries including South Africa and Russia. In viewing this bigger picture, “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world, for indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” (Quote from Successories magazine)

Marilyn Johnson, Your Council Commissioner

WHAT’S NEW

Revised Alcohol Policy - Effective Immediately:
1. No alcohol is allowed at youth program activities as specified in the Duty of Care document.
2. No alcohol is permitted on Scout property.
3. Neither Scouts Canada nor any of its groups, sections, areas, or councils will be named on a liquor license or special occasions permit.
4. Alcohol may be served at events that are held in licensed establishments where a third party holds the license. The establishment will provide their own staff.
5. Members of Scouting may not serve alcohol at these events.
6. Youth members may not provide food or cleaning services at events where alcohol is served.
If in doubt ask your Area Commissioner or Council Field Executive for clarification.

National By-law #2 is new and was passed in May. What does this mean for you?
-Provincial Councils have been eliminated across the country. We now operate in three geographical entities, East, Central and West. Central includes Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut.
-The National Commissioner, Mike Scott is now known as the Chief Commissioner.
-The CEO and President, Rob Stewart is now known as the Executive Commissioner.
-There are four Deputy National Commissioners (DNC), three with geographical functions (East, Central and West) and one with a program function. Our DNC for Central is Kim Derry. The DNC for Program is Jeff Smith.
-The 35 Councils currently across the country will be reduced to 20. Ontario currently has 10 and will be reduced to 8. We do not anticipate any changes to our boundaries here in Voyageur Council.
-Each of the 20 Councils will have three votes at the National Annual General Meeting. This means that we will have direct input and influence in National decisions! This is a giant step forward.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Some people have asked just what are senior Councils doing to cut costs.
* First of all, National By-law #2 is a major downsizing of administrative and service team structures across the entire country.
* This will lead to future cost reductions as facilities, assets and servicing costs will be eliminated or amalgamated. All current provincial entities have until 31 May 2004 to develop the specific plans and implement these changes.
* National has developed retail services to include outdoor equipment with the goal of attracting the public to our stores, thus increasing revenues from this source.
* The formation of the Scouts Canada Foundation provides an avenue for seeking donations from business and major community entities as an additional source of revenue. The Scouts Canada Salute Award is one initiative from this Foundation.
* There have been staff reductions both in the Field Executive and support categories, at national, provincial and council levels throughout. For example, Voyageur Council has gone from 3.5 Field Executives to 2.5 Field Executive positions and from 4 support positions to 2.5 positions.
* Provincial Council has closed its building and is now leasing two small offices from existing council properties.
* Provincial Staff has also been reduced from 3 Executive Staff positions down to 2.
* Council office equipment service contracts have been renegotiated to reduce costs.

The use of reserves to subsidize fees over the past years is no longer available as an option to keep membership fees down, so these actions will hopefully provide for some financial relief in the future. That coupled with our efforts to bring the Scouting adventure to more youth will go a long way in continuing to make Scouting an activity of choice for our youth.

Next year will be an exciting challenge as your Council Commissioner. I thought it would only be fitting to tell you a bit about me. My name is John Boyce. I am married with 2 children (one is a Cub). My life has had Scouting in it since I joined the movement as a Cub. Thinking this was neat, I continued through Scouts and then to Venturers. I was also an SIT, Cub Leader "Ca", Scout Leader, and Venturer Advisor. During that time, I started to get more involved with the Servicing of Adults, being on the Water Safety Committee, ADC Scouts, ADC Venturers, DC, ARC and most recently as the DCC of MS&PD. Scouting has made me who I am today. It has enhanced my personal life as well as my career. I am a program-type person that feels that the youth should be heard and have some say. It may be as simple as them wanting hot chocolate at mug up, or having the patrol or six run the entire meeting. I have been told that I am a quiet person, a good listener and a thinker. I am looking forward to another exciting Scouting Year. I hope you are too.

Voyageur Council is pleased to announce and congratulate the following members who have recently been recognized:

* The MEDAL OF MERIT was presented to Scouter Steve Sauve, 63rd Ottawa, Heritage Area

* The MEDAL FOR GOOD SERVICE was presented to Scouter Charles McLeod, 32nd Ottawa, Heritage Area

* The CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION was presented to:
Scouter Steve Boyd, Bells Corners Scouting Group, Nepean Area
Scouter Francis Scholten, 1st Clarence, Odawa Area

* The REGIONAL YOUTH AWARD was presented to the following youth:
Scout Dustin Saunders, Bells Corners Scouting Group, Nepean Area
Scout Mathew Gorman, Bells Corners Scouting Group, Nepean Area
Cub Sara Desmarais, 1st Dalkeith, Stormont-Glengarry Area
Scout Philip Desmarais, 1st Dalkeith, Stormont-Glengarry Area
Scout Kevin Lepa, 1st Lancaster, Stormont-Glengarry Area
Cub Christopher Sweeney, 1st Lancaster, Stormont-Glengarry Area
Venturer Fiaz Hashmi, 22nd Cornwall Venturer Company, Stormont-Glengarry Area
Cub Malcolm Jones, 1st Hawkesbury, Odawa Area

* Congratulations to Shane Dolan of Nepean, and Nicholas Frauley of Ottawa, who are recipients of the FONDATION SCOUTS CANADA FOUNDATION AWARDS! For more information on the Reginald K. Groome Memorial Scholarship please visit http://www.scouts.ca/venturers.asp?cmPageID=258

* The QUEENSWOOD HEIGHTS COMMUNITY AWARDS were presented to the following members of the 1st Orleans Scouting Group: Rover Heather Gaudet, Doug Gee (incoming Group Chair), Archie Newby (Group Treasurer) Scouter Greg Brsot.

Voyageur Council would like to express their sincere appreciation to Heritage Area for hosting the event this year. Special thanks to Cathi Wilkins (Organizing Committee Chair) and members of the committee: Tony Van Muyden Co-Chair, Adrian Camfield, Eugene Lavigne, Jessica Laight, Kim Moore-Ede, Nicholas Wise, Therese Beaulieu, Tony Davis, Will Stevens.

Voyageur Council is pleased and honoured to congratulate the following youth who received their Chief Scout's and Queen's Venturer Award at a lovely ceremony on Saturday, June 7th, at Christ Church Cathedral.

4th Kanata - Eric Reid, Patrick Reid, Steven Skentelbery, Michael Thomsen
Scouter Deborah Turnbull

Loyalist - 1st Bayridge Troop A - Michael Bird, Edward Kenney, Nicholas Mackinder, Colin McMillan
Scouter Robert Northcott

Nepean - Bells Corners Scouting Group - Mathew Gorman, Dustin Saunders
Scouter John Bennett

104th Ottawa - Joshua Elias, John Kemp, Emily Mattiussi, Michael Mattiussi, Gavin McOnie, Michael Sutton
Scouter David McOnie

109th Ottawa - Braydon Desjardins, Raymond Desjardins, Christine St. Denis
Scouter Therese Desjardins

137th Ottawa - Michelle Hennessey, Rohan Mathews, Andrew Schissler
Scouter Walter Mertes

Upper St Lawrence Valley- 1st Elmsley - Duncan MacKenzie, John Trafford
Scouter Angélique Jahn

1st Merrickville - David Dillabough, Steven Dillabough, Stephen Fuller, Michael Gray
Scouter Hope Gray

Is your group switching Group Registrar's for 2003-2004? If so please notify me of the new Registrar's name and group so that I can set them up with access and a password to the system. During the summer months changes will be implemented to the MMS. I suggest you periodically take a look to see 'what's new' so that you are well prepared in September for registration season.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to everyone. This past year has been one of patience and understanding on all our parts. I extend my sincere appreciation to all the many volunteers that helped their fellow scouters throughout the year with MMS. I wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer and look forward to a smoother ride in September.

Thank you, Lynn Levitan, Voyageur Council Registrar, ext. 502 llevitan@scouts.ca

As we in Scouting, are coming to the close of our Scouting year, is it really the end? Think back on the last year, what were your good times, what were the youth's fun times. Ask them what they like or enjoyed most about their Scouting Year. What would they like to do next year? Then as leaders we can look ahead to make it a little more challenging, more fun. Who knows, the youth might actually learn something that they didn't know they learned. Seeing them grow and grow up gives us great joy and many times they make us proud.

Looking back on my past year as your Deputy Council Commissioner for Member Services and Program Development, has been a learning experience for me as well. New job functions, working with a crack group for Deputy Area Commissioners, we developed new tools, and supported many activities throughout the Council. A big THANK YOU to the DAC's for Member Services and Program Development.

John Boyce, Deputy Council Commissioner, Members Services and Program Delivery, john.boyce@sympatico.ca

Please visit the Voyageur Council web site at http://www.voyageur.scouts.ca for details on these events and others.

Sept 26-28	World Brotherhood Camporee
Oct/Nov	Scout Popcorn Campaign
Oct 3-5	Youth Focus Course
Nov 1	Scouts Canada Annual Food Drive
Dec 6	Voyageur Council General Meeting
Jan/Feb	Scout Hot Chocolate Campaign
Feb	Friendfest
April/May	Scoutrees for Canada
April 30-May2	Council Senior Section Camp (seniour Scouts, Venturers, Rovers)
June 4-6	Council Cub Camp
June 5	Chief Scout's & Queen's Venturer Award Ceremony

ATTENTION Troop Sections! The 2003 Loyalist Area World Brotherhood Camporee will be held September 26, 27, 28 at the Riverside-Cedar Campground just east of Morrisburg, Ont. Come join us at the 30th anniversary of this great camp. Meet Scouts from all over Ontario and the northern USA. Registration is now at 2,100 people and we have room for 3,000. The registrations form can be downloaded from http://home.cogeco.ca/~loyalistarea/LABrotherhood.htm Complete the form and mail it in with your deposit now to hold a site. The deadline date is open until we reach 3,000.

Yours in Scouting, Jim Purser, Loyalist Area - DAC Growth, 2003 Brotherhood Camporee Camp Chief, 613-549-2582

Who's been at camp? It's been another busy month, with many groups using the facilities for their spring and year-end camps.

What's new at camp? The entire electrical system and lighting in the Dining Hall have been replaced.

People Notes: Doug Hall has resigned as Composite Camp Director and Darrell Bartraw has assumed that position effective June 5th. Many thanks to Doug for his invaluable contribution to the Group Committee and the best of luck to Darrell for a very successful summer. Given his new position, Darrell has stepped down temporarily as Chair of the Group Committee and Tim Taylor will assume that position until further notice.

Thanks to: Marilyn Johnson for her constant support to the camp during her term as Commissioner. 1st Greenwood Scout Group for their generous donation of metal shelving for the Maintenance Shed - and to Mike Dove for transporting it to camp.

Can you help? We are attempting to compile a complete collection of the annual camp badges (the 2 or 2 1/2 inch round ones) for display in the Dining Hall. We are missing the following years: 1938 -1960, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1996 and 1997. If you can help, please contact Tim.

Contact us! Questions/comments/suggestions on anything concerning your camp? Contact Tim Taylor (561-1613) or email us at opegroupcommittee@voyageur.scouts.ca

A second catering team was formed to share catering assignments with the first team. Our members enjoyed several special event activities including the annual summer barbecue in Dottie Thompson's garden.

It is greatly regretted that three of our members, Trevor O'Brien, Bob Croft and Paul Naish along with our good friend and supporter, Cec Thompson, were called home during the season.

Elections and appointments for the coming season are as follows: Norm Pascoe, Guild Master; Bill Fettes, Treasurer; Gladys Hall, Secretary; Murray Miller, Chaplain; Orville O'Brien, Immediate Past Guild Master and Catering Coordinator; Don Judd, Registrar; Dick Cowan, Auditor; Dietje Hoefsmit-de Lint, Herald; John Waddell, Museum Coordinator; Dave Ridge, Historian; Gary Booth, Special Events Coordinator; Audrey Ridge, Telephone Communications Coordinator; Janet Smith Refreshments Coordinator; and Norm Pascoe, Mamook Papah Correspondent.

Scouters and Guiders, active or retired, are welcome to join our Guild. Contact Norm Pascoe, Guild Master, at (613) 745-1188 or e-mail normpascoe@hotmail.com

That’s right, the store is filled to the rafters with BOTA wear. We have reduced the price of our quality clothing line for a limited time, so hurry in and try it on! Also stop by this summer to see Ottawa’s largest indoor tent room. (Why buy from a box!) Whether you are looking for tents, sleeping bags, rainwear, or mosquito repellant we have it all!

* BOTA: Ball Cap: Reg. $9.99 *Now $ 5.99
* BOTA: Bush Hat Reg. $21.99 *Now $19.99
* BOTA: Fleece Pullovers—all sizes! Reg. $44.99 *Now $29.99
* BOTA: Sweatshirts –all sizes! Reg. $27.99 *Now $19.99
* BOTA: T-shirts–all sizes! Reg. $13.99 *Now $ 9.99
* BOTA: Tempest Rain Jacket—all sizes! Reg. $69.99 *Now $49.99

Store Hours: Monday to Thursday 9-6pm / Friday 9-8pm / Saturday 9-5pm / Sunday 11-4pm.
Thank you for your past, present, and future support. Yours in Scouting, Ian Thomas, National Advertising Coordinator scoutshop@scouts.ca Tel: 613-224-0139 Fax: 613-224-3571

The Evolution of Wheels - Sunday, July 6
An all makes car show featuring vehicles from local collectors as well as hidden gems from the Museum's collection. Come see what happens when your toy cars grow up!

Canada Science and Technology Museum, 1867 St-Laurent Blvd, Ottawa (613) 991-3044 or visit our website www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca

OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
SUMMER HOURS (July 2 to August 29): Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
OFFICE CLOSED: July 1st, August 4th, September 1st

Questions? Comments or concerns about this e-newsletter? We welcome constructive feedback! Please e-mail us at office@voyageur.scouts.ca
Thank you.

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