VOYAGEUR VISION, March 2005
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GREETINGS! Please copy and share this e-newsletter with members in your group! The e-newsletter will update you on the latest news about Scouts Canada. It is sent to all registered members, mid-month, using e-mail addresses from the Membership Management System.
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I N T H I S I S S U E
Gone Home
From the Desk of the Council Commissioner
What's New
Membership Management System
Volunteer Development and Training
Membership Development and Growth
Honours and Awards
Communications and Public Relations
Fundraising
Upcoming Events
OPE Update
Camp Apple Hill
Scout Shop
Canada Aviation Museum
Group Connections
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GONE HOME - Scouter Ken Clarke (Rev. Bill Clarke's father) February 28, 2005. Ken was twice president of Kingston District Council, and Warden of the Otter Lake (ON)Camp during his 25 years of Service. Ken was also a recipient of the Medal of Good Service and the Medal of Merit;

Scouter Leo Tavormina, March 6, 2005, age 42 years, of the 1st Maxville Beaver Colony. Survived by his wife and 4 daughters. Leo became a Beaver Leader with 2nd Alexandria in 2000, and had been part of 1st Maxville since 2003; and

Cynthia Tyler, mother of Laurence Tyler, Carleton Area.
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FROM THE DESK OF THE COMMISSIONER

To our Troops and Companies, a reminder of the CCJam 05 taking place this summer at Tamaracouta Scout Reserve, from July 3-9. There is still space available. For leaders who want to be involved there is still room for Offers of Service. You can contact Lisa Skentelbery at lisa.skent@sympatico.ca . Lisa is in charge of the OOS registration.

Also for Troops, Companies and Crews there is the RSVP camp. Check www.voyageur.scouts.ca for more details.

The Scouting movement is celebrating the Year of the Veteran. Check this month's Leader Magazine and www.scouts.ca for more details. This is a good opportunity for our youth to thank those who have fought for freedom, ours and others.

The Beaveree is happening May 14-15 in Petawawa at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.  This should be a great time for the Beavers.

For many groups it is the time of year for Cub Kars and Scout Trucks. This is a great time to get together with other scouters and also have the youth interact with other groups. This is a time for sharing and building the Scouting Spirit. But most important, this is a time for FUN. Plan for camps in the spring and let the youth have input in what your section will be doing and what food to eat. You might be surprised by the answers you receive to the questions you have given.

Yours in Scouting,

John Boyce, Council Commissioner, Voyageur, commissioner@voyageur.scouts.ca, ext 601
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WHATS NEW

Free for pick up, 25+ years of the Leader Magazine. Contact Sharon Eaton - 613-838-3650, eatrich@magma.ca
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The Duke of Edinburgh's Award  - Young Canadians Challenge

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary program that encourages personal development and community involvement for young people.  It was conceived by H.R.H. Prince Philip in 1956 to foster self-discipline, enterprise and perseverance in all young people. The Program was introduced in Canada in 1963, and has seen over 300,000 young people participate in the Award Program.

Any young person between the ages of 14 and 25 can participate in the Award Program.  There are three levels to the Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold; each with an increasing degree of commitment. Within each level there are four sections:
·         Community Service: Encourages participants to realize that, as members of a community, they have responsibility to others and that their help is needed.
·         Skills Development: Encourages participants to discover and develop personal interests and social and practical skills.
·         Physical Recreation: Encourages participation in physical activity and provides an opportunity to improve performance and learn to appreciate Physical Recreation as an important component of a healthy life style.
·         Expeditions: Participants develop self-reliance by undertaking an interesting journey of discovery in the natural environment.

Participants complete activities in each of these areas and as a result, qualify for approval for an Award. The program is recognized worldwide and has helped many youth obtain scholarships, employment and is used as a viable self-investment tool. The Award is based upon individual effort and improvement, taking into account the participant's initial capabilities.

For more information regarding the Award Program, please visit the website at www.dukeofed.org or contact:

Keri Abella
Regional Field Officer
c/o The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa
(613) 232-0925 ext 30
dukeofed@bgcottawa.org
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MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Thank you to all Area Commissioners that have taken the "bull by the horns" so to speak and contacted any of their groups that have members still listed as 'prospective' in MMS. I have noticed an increase of VRAD paperwork being sent to the Council office including interview, reference check and Police Records Check documentation as related to the outstanding paperwork. As always, it is never too late to send in any registration paperwork hanging around. Well done!

Lynn Levitan, Council Registrar, llevitan@scouts.ca, ext 502
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VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

Congratulations to the following individuals for successfully completing training qualifications:
Leonard Baak, 1st Stittsville,  Woodbadge Basic Colony;
David Sissing, 4th Kanata, Woodbadge Basic Troop;
Gerry Mackenzie, 4th Kanata, Woodbadge Basic Troop;
Brian Gunther, 1st Stittsville, Woodbadge Basic Colony;
David Hall, 1st Stittsville, Woodbadge Basic Troop; and
Darrell Bond, 3rd Kanata, Woodbadge Basic Pack.

Tony van Muyden, DCC Volunteer Development and Training, dcc-training@voyageur.scouts.ca
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MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH

Friendfest 2005. Congratulations to all the groups that participated in Friendfest this year.  As a result, 66 new members have joined scouting. Special thanks to our four top groups this year: 1st Bayridge with 33%, The Nepean Rover Crew with 25%, 1st Drummond Group with 15%, and 1st North Gower with 9%. Congratulations on your excellent work.

Group Growth Plan. Now is the time with pre-registration just around the corner to talk to your DAC of Growth or your Council Field Executive and to fill out your Group Growth Plan. The Group Growth Plan is an excellent tool designed to help make it easy for you to provide a fun and exciting experience for youth and leaders. By completing the Group Growth Plan, your group will anticipate future membership needs and the plan will assist you in developing strategies to retain youth and provide planning for growth. By following the simple four step process your group will be well on it's way to membership success!

School talks. It's not too early to start contacting your schools and to talk to your Field Executive about School talks for early registration. Believe it or not, many groups used School talks to recruit during the pre-registration period. Give us a call, there is nothing we would enjoy doing more of than School talks.

Testimonial -  "just a note to thank you both for the school talks you did for us last week. They were a great success.  We had our early registration last night and signed up 25 new members (10 Beavers, 11 Cubs & 4 Scouts) and a new leader. Considering that we only had a total 32 youth this year, this is a huge increase for us. Thanks again for your help."  Al Burns, Group Committee Chair, 2nd Russell Scouting

Jeff Benson, Field Executive,
Guy Latour, Field Executive,
Sharon Thomson, DCC Membership Development and Growth,
dcc-growth@voyageur.scouts.ca
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HONOURS AND AWARDS

"The best thing to do behind a person's back is to pat it " - Franklin P. Jones

The Council Honours and Awards Committee extends congratulations to the following individuals for receiving awards:

Colin Marriott, 8th Brockville Troop, Medal of Merit; and
Jennifer Bradley, 137th Ottawa, Order of the Caribou.

Last month a new form in use, "Career Checklist" was brought to your attention. This form, when filled out line by line, gives a detailed history on the individual that you are wishing to have acknowledged. It would also prove very beneficial, if you would include a letter outlining any other information not included on the form. (i.e. Why you wish to nominate this individual?  What extra have they done beyond their Scouting position? etc.).  By doing so, it would give the Honours and Awards Committee a better picture of the individual, thus the time frame for processing the award is shortened.  Otherwise, the committee would have to contact you, the nominator, for more information, thus delaying the process and/or an award given at a lower level.

It is great seeing the submissions coming in.  Keep up the great work.

Michelle Niefer, Honours and Awards Chair, awards@voyageur.scouts.ca
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COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS

BREAKFAST @ THE NEW RO (Friday, March 18th)

Greetings,

Following our successful appearance on the New RO during Winterlude, we have been invited to take part in the Breakfast morning show on Friday. Thirty Scouting youth and parents will be part of the studio audience from 7:00 am to 9 am as part of Kid's Week. We will have a segment at 7:45 am to showcase our Scouting programs. Tune in and watch us in action!

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to participate. We were delighted by the response to our invitation and, unfortunately, quickly reached the number of maximum number of participants which we were asked to provide. We hope that we will have another opportunity to invite you to join us as we showcase our Scouting programs.

Yours in Scouting,

David Wray, Communications & Public Relations, communications@voyageur.scouts.ca
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FUNDRAISING

Scout Hot Chocolate

It's -30 in Ottawa this morning as I write this message... sure would be a good time to have a cup of "Scout Hot Chocolate!"
A message regarding our latest Scout Hot Chocolate offer is slowly filtering out into the field. Scout Hot Chocolate is now being sold at $5.00 a case ( ten boxes per case). If your Group sells it for as little as $2.00 a box you make a $15.00 profit. Consider setting up a display in a local business. Please support Scouting by getting this message out to your groups, friends, families, businesses, schools, etc. This is a great opportunity for your Groups to raise funds for the up coming Jamborees this summer and in 2007. Please note that Scout Hot Chocolate will not be offered next year.

Golf Tournament (June 8th)

Mark your calendars for the Annual Scouts Canada Voyageur Council Golf Tournament & Auction. This year's tournament will once again be held at the beautiful Loch March Golf and Country Club. Our wish this year is to have 100 golfers out to this exciting event. Please promote this event with friends, family and co-workers. Registration forms to this fun event that helps raise money for Scouting in the Voyageur Council are now available at the Council Office or visit the Council Web site, www.voyageur.scouts.ca. For tournament details or information, please contact Voyageur Council at 225-2770 Ext. 500 or 1-888-726-8876 or Darrell Bartraw at 298-9119 or opegroupcommittee@voyageur.scouts.ca.

We are still looking for auction items and promotional prizes to be given away for all attendees. Any assistance is gratefully appreciated.

Scout Popcorn

Although the Official Scouts Canada Voyageur Council Popcorn campaign is over there is still a great opportunity to raise additional funds for your Group. The Voyageur Council office has lots of Popcorn product in stock which you can purchase and sell to raise additional funds for your Group. By using the "Show & Sell" system of having the product available for immediate purchase you can increase your sales. Consider setting up a display in one of your local businesses. You may wish to borrow the Scouts Canada popcorn machine to help promote your fundraiser. Balloons and posters are also available.

For more information on Scout Popcorn please contact the Voyageur Council Office at 225-2770, extension 500 or 1-888-726-8876 or click on the link on the Voyageur Council Web site.

Darrell Bartraw, Revenue Development Chair, easternontario@scouts.ca
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UPCOMING EVENTS

SCOUTREES (May)

The City of Ottawa is celebrating it's 150th anniversary this summer and as part of that celebration we have received funding to help the Scoutree program plant trees throughout the city. This additional funding means this year almost all the trees purchased for planting within the city will be at no cost to us. What does that me for you? It means groups participating in planting this year will raise more funds for both their group and the World Brotherhood Fund. If you are interested in helping the environment, raising funds for your local group and for the World Brotherhood Fund, and getting out to have some fun, give your local Area Scoutrees Coordinator or Area Commissioner a call. Don't know who they are? Please give me a call and I will put you in touch with the right person.

Guy Latour, Council Field Executive, glatour@scouts.ca, ext 504

BEAVER BIRTHDAY BASH - May 14-15

Who:  All Beavers in Voyageur Council
Why:  To celebrate 30 years of Beavering in Canada
Where:  Petawawa, Ontario
When:  Saturday, May 14 - Sunday, May 15, 2005
You're all invited to Voyageur Council's BEAVER BIRTHDAY BASH, the largest birthday sleepover imaginable.  Come and join other colonies from across the Council participate in a variety of small and large group activities.  An opportunity that Beavers will only have this one chance to be a part of.  Guaranteed to be a party ALL who attend will remember.
For more information visit the BEAVER BIRTHDAY BASH link at www.voyageur.scouts.ca
Grace Jones, Council Beaveree Chair gracemj@rogers.com

RSVP CAMP - May 6-8

Pre-registration deadline April 1, 2005.
For more information contact Susie Page, susie_sunny@sympatico.ca or visit www.vrrrt.org
Please read the Calendar of Events and Training Calendar e-newsletter or visit the Voyageur Council web site at http://www.voyageur.scouts.ca for details on upcoming events.
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OPE UPDATE

March/April Bookings:  There is still room available for your group during the March and April period.  Make a booking and enjoy a late winter/early spring weekend at camp.

Spring Specials:  Don't forget our spring rental special for Paddlers" Cove - just $12 per person includes your campsite for the weekend and as many canoes and equipment as your group needs. These specials are available from May 1st to June 19th.

Summer "Composite Camp":  The summer camp brochure is now available on the camp website.  The camp includes a wide range of programs - biking, paddling, Outdoor Skills, rock-climbing, plus a wide range of activities for younger youth - all these and more are available. Check the brochure for details and sign up soon.

Attention Adult Scouters: Adult Scouter positions are available for 2005 summer camp. Come and spend a week of fun and adventure at Camp Opemikon. Applications and information will be available on our website by the end of this week. Check it out at www.opemikon.ca

Camp Souvenirs: Looking for a memento of your visit to OPE? We have camp crests ($2), copies of the camp history ("OPE - The First Sixty Years") ($5) and copies of the Ben Babalosky print of camp scenes ($40) for sale. Ask the Warden for your choice. 

Website address for Camp Opemikon:  You can now reach us at www.opemikon.ca.

Camp Bookings: through Pamela at the Council office, 225-2770 ext 503 or by e-mail at pbazinet@scouts.ca.

Camp Operations and Summer Camp: contact Marilyn Johnson at ext 506 or mjohnson@scouts.ca.

Participation in Opemikon Scouting Group: contact Darrell Bartraw (825-8886) or Tim Taylor (561-1613) or email opegroupcommittee@voyageur.scouts.ca
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CAMP APPLE HILL

Situated in Eastern Ontario, on 300 acres of pristine countryside. Three access roads provide easy access to all the property. Two on the north and one on the south interconnecting with each other, the north west access road opens into about 5 acres of open cut grass, near a large marsh ideal for medium to large groups. North road east brings you into the heart of mixed forest with smaller campsites . The South access road enters into about 40 acres of level fields with the grass cut, naturally divided into 5 sections by small tree lines yet open enough to provide easy supervision of all the area. Complete with a pole barn of 20ft by 30 ft. The interconnecting roads are for staff vehicles only, but pedestrian traffic any time. The camp offers different types of camping whether it is bush camping or open fields at either the north or south ends large or small groups young or old.

Facilities

- 2 wells located on property provide for NON DRINKABLE WATER suitable for washing etc.

- Outhouses

- Picnic Tables are available but must be returned to their original location after use.

- Fire Wood, Much damaged wood exists throughout the property left over from the Ice Storm and we encourage you to pick it up and use in your camp fires. Much of it has been cut into smaller length and spread at different locations.

- Large and small marsh areas with different types of wild life (Ducks,birds,deer,beavers,wild turkeys and many more)

- Chapel

- Archery / Air Rifle Range

Location

Less than an hour from Ottawa. Take Hwy 417 east to Hwy 138 South (Cornwall exit) Take Hwy 43 east (toward Alexandria) Turn right onto local road into Apple Hill. In Apple Hill turn left at the fire hall onto Kenyon Conc. #2 east proceed about 1 mile to camp.

Camp Bookings

Contact the Camp Warden, Wade Bates at wade.bates@sympatico.ca

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SCOUT SHOP
Store Hours: Monday to Thursday 9-6pm / Friday 9-7pm / Saturday 9-5pm /Sunday 11-4pm.
Thank you for your past, present, and future support.
Ian Thomas, National Advertising Coordinator, scoutshop@scouts.ca Tel: 613-224-0139 Fax: 613-224-3571
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
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**CANADA AVIATION MUSEUM - NIGHT FLIGHT SLEEPOVER PROGRAM
How about a night of total fun at the Canada Aviation Museum! All you need is a sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush, and a taste for extraordinary fun. We supply the adventure. An evening program is also available. For more information: 613 993-4264 or www.aviation.technomuses.ca
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**GROUP CONNECTIONS - FUNDRAISING
Is your group short on your Fundraising? Fantastic offer from the Ottodrome International Speedway and Flea Market!!
Book your group outing of 36 or more, to take in the Stock Car Races on a Saturday night (Adults $9.00, Youth 11-15 $5.00 and Children up to 10 years old FREE) and receive a complimentary booth at the Sunday Flea Market for Fundraising  (Average daily traffic at the Flea Market 8 - 10 thousand patrons in one day).
Find out more @ http://www.groupconnections.ca/FeatureBusinesses_Otto.htm or contact them directly at 613-831-6648 or www.ottodrome.com or david@ottodrome.com

FREE service for Scout Leaders
Call us at 851-8586 or sign up now @ http://www.groupconnections.ca/Register_files/Register.htm
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SCOUTS CANADA, EASTERN ONTARIO ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE
1345 Baseline Road, Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario, K2C 0A7
tel. (613) 225-2770 / 1-888-SCOUTS NOW (726-8876) / fax (613) 225-2802
e-mail: easternontario@scouts.ca
web site: http://www.voyageur.scouts.ca
OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Questions? Comments or concerns about this e-newsletter? We welcome constructive feedback! Please e-mail us at easternontario@scouts.ca Thank you.
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**Denotes a paid advertisement. Note: Advertisements of a product or service do not indicate approval by Scouts Canada, Voyageur Council. Voyageur Council assumes no responsibility by warranty or otherwise with respect to products advertised.
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Deadline for April issue: April 11, 2005.

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