Comments for Nick's Ramblings http://blog.nawbus.co.uk The random thoughts of a Group Scout Leader in the UK Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:36:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Mike Rowe by Nick http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1178&cpage=1#comment-2259 Nick Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:36:39 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1178#comment-2259 I agree with you entirely Chris. We don't trumpet the achievements of the Queens Scout Award as the BSA do for the Eagle Scout Award and that is a shame. I suspect most Americans will have at least a vague idea of what an Eagle Scout is, but would most Britons know what a Queen's Scout is? Doubt it. The thing with the people you mention is that they have been approached by the SA in some form or another, where as Mike Rowe has done all this independently of the BSA. However, it is the media that plays a great part and the bad news stories about Scouting are always the ones that get greater prominence. Having said that, it is noticeable how there are more positive stories around these days! I agree with you entirely Chris.
We don’t trumpet the achievements of the Queens Scout Award as the BSA do for the Eagle Scout Award and that is a shame. I suspect most Americans will have at least a vague idea of what an Eagle Scout is, but would most Britons know what a Queen’s Scout is? Doubt it.
The thing with the people you mention is that they have been approached by the SA in some form or another, where as Mike Rowe has done all this independently of the BSA. However, it is the media that plays a great part and the bad news stories about Scouting are always the ones that get greater prominence. Having said that, it is noticeable how there are more positive stories around these days!

]]> Comment on Mike Rowe by Chris Meadows http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1178&cpage=1#comment-2258 Chris Meadows Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:55:14 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1178#comment-2258 Nick I think that it is not that there is no-one spreading the word it is just that the British Media only care when something goes wrong. positive stories don't sell coloum inches as well. People that currently spring to mind Peter Duncan - Will I am sure continue to promote scouting Chris Evans - Was an ambasidor in the Scouting Entrepreneur Challenge Everyone who recieved a Birthday badge this and previous years I am sure will look to in a small way promote Scouting. I think the problem is we don't marked ourself well enough see my post about the Queens Scout for more thoughts (http://www.jabbering.co.uk/2010/01/the-queens-scout-award/) TTFN K Nick

I think that it is not that there is no-one spreading the word it is just that the British Media only care when something goes wrong. positive stories don’t sell coloum inches as well.

People that currently spring to mind

Peter Duncan – Will I am sure continue to promote scouting
Chris Evans – Was an ambasidor in the Scouting Entrepreneur Challenge
Everyone who recieved a Birthday badge this and previous years I am sure will look to in a small way promote Scouting.

I think the problem is we don’t marked ourself well enough see my post about the Queens Scout for more thoughts (http://www.jabbering.co.uk/2010/01/the-queens-scout-award/)

TTFN
K

]]> Comment on Scouts & The Invasion of Britain by Chris Meadows http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1175&cpage=1#comment-2257 Chris Meadows Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:47:27 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1175#comment-2257 Nick I think, it is about thinking back to the time in which this was written. We need to remember that BP based allot if not all of his training for Scouts in army "Scouting" techniques; in truth he got the idea from watching messenger boy running messages along the front lines. Also the International Scout Bureau use to be in London and was often managed by senior civil servants and did receive information about the current economical, health, environmental, and youth climates in the countries were it member organisations were. I would think that with that amount of information coming in "for a good purpose" it is not that much of a leap to think that MI6 & MI5 would be keep tabs on the information. So if you were writing propaganda about something it is pretty easy to piece the bits together to make scouting look like some underground intelligence organisation still thanks for digging up the info it is an interesting read. TTFN K Nick

I think, it is about thinking back to the time in which this was written.

We need to remember that BP based allot if not all of his training for Scouts in army “Scouting” techniques; in truth he got the idea from watching messenger boy running messages along the front lines.
Also the International Scout Bureau use to be in London and was often managed by senior civil servants and did receive information about the current economical, health, environmental, and youth climates in the countries were it member organisations were.
I would think that with that amount of information coming in “for a good purpose” it is not that much of a leap to think that MI6 & MI5 would be keep tabs on the information.

So if you were writing propaganda about something it is pretty easy to piece the bits together to make scouting look like some underground intelligence organisation

still thanks for digging up the info it is an interesting read.

TTFN
K

]]> Comment on Recognising the Commitment by Nick http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1164&cpage=1#comment-2255 Nick Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:16:04 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1164#comment-2255 As my Mum says 'it doesn't take any effort to say thank you!' And thanks for your kind words - I'm all embarrassed now :$ As my Mum says ‘it doesn’t take any effort to say thank you!’
And thanks for your kind words – I’m all embarrassed now :$

]]> Comment on Recognising the Commitment by LottaN http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1164&cpage=1#comment-2254 LottaN Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:40:22 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1164#comment-2254 Mmm, some people don't think that awards, or even badges, is modern enough for scouting or in any context... They are a great pat on the shoulder and there should indeed be more of pats on the shoulder, to the scouts as well as the leaders as well as to the parents and other volonteers. Awards are great, but all the more important is the every-day thank-yous and appriciative smiles. It is so easy to forget to appriciate enough, not to take for granted, and to tell others that "so-and-so is such a great asset, don't know what we'd do without so-and-so" and forget to tell so-and-so themselves! So I'm going to tell YOU that I really appriciate your blog and the time you put in it, for all our sakes, and that it is lovely to be able to follow your scouting life in this way. Thanks! Lotta Mmm, some people don’t think that awards, or even badges, is modern enough for scouting or in any context… They are a great pat on the shoulder and there should indeed be more of pats on the shoulder, to the scouts as well as the leaders as well as to the parents and other volonteers. Awards are great, but all the more important is the every-day thank-yous and appriciative smiles. It is so easy to forget to appriciate enough, not to take for granted, and to tell others that “so-and-so is such a great asset, don’t know what we’d do without so-and-so” and forget to tell so-and-so themselves!
So I’m going to tell YOU that I really appriciate your blog and the time you put in it, for all our sakes, and that it is lovely to be able to follow your scouting life in this way.
Thanks!
Lotta

]]> Comment on Earning It by Nick http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162&cpage=1#comment-2253 Nick Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:54:22 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162#comment-2253 Actually doing the fundraising is like Adam says, part of the experience! In my Group we've always had a 'policy' (don't want to sound too grand here!) that if parents can't afford something, then we'll try to work something out. The whole point of being a Scout is not can you afford to do the activity, but doing the activity. It's for the experience and doing something different! Actually doing the fundraising is like Adam says, part of the experience!
In my Group we’ve always had a ‘policy’ (don’t want to sound too grand here!) that if parents can’t afford something, then we’ll try to work something out. The whole point of being a Scout is not can you afford to do the activity, but doing the activity. It’s for the experience and doing something different!

]]> Comment on Earning It by LottaN http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162&cpage=1#comment-2252 LottaN Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:01:44 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162#comment-2252 I almost felt sick reading about your experience with the large-walleted parent. HOW can people just assume that money is no issue? The good thing from, what I understand off the selection process, is that you are chosen to go on your enthusiasm and not on the size of your parents' wallet. But then of course the District has a bit of a responsability to step in and help, if there are Scouts who are super-representatives of scouting, but who can't afford to go, by giving a contribution, a stipend or grant and help out with finansing ideas. Scouting should be open to anyone who would like to share our values, but we have to realise that some people, who could really benefit from the context of scouting, have a problem just paying the membership fee! I remember a conversation with a parent in my group in England, where he asked to be able to pospone payment of the £2.50, as the school uniforms had cost a bit more than expected that month. In our Swedish group we had a couple of members, brothers, who stopped coming as they couldn't afford paying two memberships (400SEK, appr £35 per annum) and buying the equipment needed for hiking. This raised awareness in our group, and we now have spare equipment for loan, and always give this information to ALL new members. And all leaders have been given information about the aplication to get the membership funded for families of lower means from a national charity, just in case. Our district is pretty well off and is giving stipends for people who wants to go to international events like Explorer Belt, or Jamborees. If the scouts want to attend leadership training they can apply for a grant, as we then in turn can apply for a grant from the EU. This evens things out a bit, but there is still the problem that scouting is very much a white, middleclass activity.... I almost felt sick reading about your experience with the large-walleted parent. HOW can people just assume that money is no issue?
The good thing from, what I understand off the selection process, is that you are chosen to go on your enthusiasm and not on the size of your parents’ wallet. But then of course the District has a bit of a responsability to step in and help, if there are Scouts who are super-representatives of scouting, but who can’t afford to go, by giving a contribution, a stipend or grant and help out with finansing ideas.
Scouting should be open to anyone who would like to share our values, but we have to realise that some people, who could really benefit from the context of scouting, have a problem just paying the membership fee! I remember a conversation with a parent in my group in England, where he asked to be able to pospone payment of the £2.50, as the school uniforms had cost a bit more than expected that month. In our Swedish group we had a couple of members, brothers, who stopped coming as they couldn’t afford paying two memberships (400SEK, appr £35 per annum) and buying the equipment needed for hiking. This raised awareness in our group, and we now have spare equipment for loan, and always give this information to ALL new members. And all leaders have been given information about the aplication to get the membership funded for families of lower means from a national charity, just in case.
Our district is pretty well off and is giving stipends for people who wants to go to international events like Explorer Belt, or Jamborees. If the scouts want to attend leadership training they can apply for a grant, as we then in turn can apply for a grant from the EU. This evens things out a bit, but there is still the problem that scouting is very much a white, middleclass activity….

]]> Comment on Earning It by Adam http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162&cpage=1#comment-2251 Adam Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:05:52 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162#comment-2251 By working together and fundraising with other people you get to know the people who you are going with, which seems like an essential part of the experience for me. I don't think you should be able to just write a cheque. By working together and fundraising with other people you get to know the people who you are going with, which seems like an essential part of the experience for me. I don’t think you should be able to just write a cheque.

]]> Comment on Earning It by Chris Meadows http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162&cpage=1#comment-2250 Chris Meadows Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:12:02 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1162#comment-2250 Nick I agree with your post above, it gets worse than that. When I too the Unit to the Jamboree in 2007, the disparaty between the districts within our county and within Counties I spoke to was amazing. The normal caculation is 3rd from the District, 3rd from the Young person and 3rd from the Group/Fundraising/other sources. However some districts paid half the young persons free some paid all the fee some paid £100 that was it. The variation within the counties was in final cost, the UK contingent gave the county a cost and the county had to collect that from the Young people. Some Counties said well it cost £1000 that is all you will pay, some said it costs £1500 and the £500 is for a build up etc. We fundraised for the event £18,000 to provide kit, training, unit meeting etc for the Jambore unit in 2007 that is above the £1000 raised by the indervidual as a fee. It is not a cheap experience but one that well change the young person life, it really is a once in a life time experience and faising the money is all part of that. Nick

I agree with your post above, it gets worse than that. When I too the Unit to the Jamboree in 2007, the disparaty between the districts within our county and within Counties I spoke to was amazing.
The normal caculation is 3rd from the District, 3rd from the Young person and 3rd from the Group/Fundraising/other sources. However some districts paid half the young persons free some paid all the fee some paid £100 that was it.

The variation within the counties was in final cost, the UK contingent gave the county a cost and the county had to collect that from the Young people. Some Counties said well it cost £1000 that is all you will pay, some said it costs £1500 and the £500 is for a build up etc.

We fundraised for the event £18,000 to provide kit, training, unit meeting etc for the Jambore unit in 2007 that is above the £1000 raised by the indervidual as a fee.

It is not a cheap experience but one that well change the young person life, it really is a once in a life time experience and faising the money is all part of that.

]]> Comment on My Country’s Flag by Nick's Ramblings » Blog Archive » The Most Popular Posts http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=755&cpage=1#comment-2248 Nick's Ramblings » Blog Archive » The Most Popular Posts Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:24:29 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=755#comment-2248 [...] were being advised not to parade on St. George’s Day carrying the English and Union flags (read it here). And to illustrate I had pictures of both the flags taken from a site which had pictures of [...] [...] were being advised not to parade on St. George’s Day carrying the English and Union flags (read it here). And to illustrate I had pictures of both the flags taken from a site which had pictures of [...]

]]> Comment on Internet Safety by Nick's Ramblings » Blog Archive » Internet Safety – The Course http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1128&cpage=1#comment-2245 Nick's Ramblings » Blog Archive » Internet Safety – The Course Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:48:01 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1128#comment-2245 [...] week I ‘attended’ an online course on internet safety for parents (previously mentioned here), which was set up by the Scout Association, but run by [...] [...] week I ‘attended’ an online course on internet safety for parents (previously mentioned here), which was set up by the Scout Association, but run by [...]

]]> Comment on Internet Safety by Some Useful Bits | Jabbering All Day Long http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1128&cpage=1#comment-2239 Some Useful Bits | Jabbering All Day Long Wed, 19 May 2010 08:14:07 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1128#comment-2239 [...] However my good friend Nick from Nicks Ramblings beat me to it so take a look at his website <HERE> or at the Scout Association website [...] [...] However my good friend Nick from Nicks Ramblings beat me to it so take a look at his website <HERE> or at the Scout Association website [...]

]]> Comment on On the Up! by Nick's Ramblings » Blog Archive » Local Numbers http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1112&cpage=1#comment-2237 Nick's Ramblings » Blog Archive » Local Numbers Mon, 10 May 2010 21:21:56 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1112#comment-2237 [...] couple of weeks ago the Scout Association released the figures from this year’s census and the reported that the [...] [...] couple of weeks ago the Scout Association released the figures from this year’s census and the reported that the [...]

]]> Comment on BP’s Hat! by Chris Meadows http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1123&cpage=1#comment-2235 Chris Meadows Wed, 05 May 2010 13:57:11 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1123#comment-2235 Nick Maybe we should campaign to Gillwell to buy the hat back YIS K Nick

Maybe we should campaign to Gillwell to buy the hat back

YIS

K

]]> Comment on A Complete Guide To Scouting Skills – A Review by Mark ASL http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1066&cpage=1#comment-2234 Mark ASL Sat, 01 May 2010 11:50:15 +0000 http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=1066#comment-2234 Godd review, Nick. I've been hesitating ordering since it was released. It is also available from The Book People (link below) for £4.99 + £1.95 delivery (no, I don't work for them!). I'm ordering mine in a mo. They might even find their way into workplaces via their agents. http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10051_184306_100_500020__category_ Godd review, Nick. I’ve been hesitating ordering since it was released. It is also available from The Book People (link below) for £4.99 + £1.95 delivery (no, I don’t work for them!). I’m ordering mine in a mo. They might even find their way into workplaces via their agents.

http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10051_184306_100_500020__category_

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