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| The Lighthouse -- Nov/Dec 1997
Scouts Canada -- Whitby District Newsletter
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CONTENTS
Snow, snow, snow!! Break out the
snowshoes and toboggans; it's time to go
winter camping and I hope you've got a
cabin or a quinzee reserved for your
campers because it's the outings that keeps
the kids in Scouting.
JOTA Camp
The Scouts held their annual district camp
on JOTA weekend and you can check out
Scouter Brian Scott's recollections
elsewhere in this month's Lighthouse.
Apple Day
This year's Apple Day was a big success
and it is one of the best opportunities to
meet those people not familiar with
Scouting (Yes, there are a few!) And also it
give the youth a chance to experience both
cold calling and direct sales first-hand. I'm
proud to say that Provincial Executive
Director Barry Hardaker had occasion to
meet some of our members and he
commented to me what a great job they
were doing promoting Scouting.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a special time for
many members in the community, and I was
glad to see the Whitby Scouting was
represented at both the downtown and
Brooklin services. One special event that I
was invited to was 9th Whitby Troop's
special Remembrance Day meeting. We
met at St. Mark's and marched en masse to
the cenotaph where we were received by a
piper playing ”Scotland the Brave.• This
really hit home for me since my deceased
veteran father served with Scottish forces in
the European theatre in World War II. A
couple of readings and another tune from
the piper gave everyone a chance to reflect
on the sacrifices caused by war.
Canoes
I'm already getting calls to reserve the
canoes for next spring, so call early to avoid
disappointment.
From Scouts to Mayor
Finally, congratulations to Marcel Brunelle
on his election as mayor. His Honour has a
long history of involvement with Whitby
District Scouts both as a youth member as
as commissioner and president of the
council.
Till later
Good Scouting,
Scouter Jack
This year's Whitby District JOTA/JOTI
(Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet)
was held on October 17, 18 and
19. The idea behind JOTA is that Scouts
from around the world try and contact each
other via ham radio on several selected
frequencies. JOTI started a couple of years
ago probably because computers with
Internet software were easier to come by
than ham radios. Scouts can contact each
other using e-mail, chat using char software,
or surf Scouting related Web sites around
the world.
The Whitby District camp was held at
Heber Down Conservation Area in Whitby.
Attendance has always been good for this
event and this year was no exception as 140
Scouts, Venturers, and Rovers and 38 adults
attended.
Several formats for this event have ben tried
in the past and this year another new format
was planned. Beginning after opening on
Saturday morning, troops were scheduled to
attend one of two locations for their hour in
the Internet and one hour on the ham radio
at the camp.
Through the generosity of the Board of
Education and a local computer learning
centre (Multikeys), each Scout and most
Scouters were able to have their own
computer for the hour. Several good
contacts were made using the ham radios
provided by the South Pickering Amateur
Radio Club, which was arranged by one of
the Scouters in the District.
While not scheduled at either one of these
events, the troops had unstructured time to
use as they chose. Many troops used this
camp to work on the requirements for the
BP Woodsman Badge. The Rovers carried
out site inspections and planned the
campfire.
A very successful campfire completed the
day which was complimented by great
weather. The camp closed on Sunday
morning after Scouts' Own.
Scouter Brian Scott
It's become a tradition over the last few
years for all interested adult members in the
district to get together at a local restaurant
in December. This year we will gather at
Honey Garlic Restaurant in Ajax on
December 4. We've told the restaurant that
we'll start arriving around 6:30 to 7:00 pm.
Cost is $9.99 per person plus drinks and
there is a three-drink limit (each person
pays for their own at the restaurant). This is
a non-uniformed event, just a chance to
relax and have a good time with your fellow
adult members of Scouting. See you there!
Training is going well this year. The Part I
Beaver Wood Badge, hosted by Whitby, is
currently finishing up and has been well
attended with 22 participants, most of them
from Whitby.
Some of the upcoming courses were
distributed to membrs of the service team
and some others previously, but please talk
to your Service Team member or check the
Whitby District Web pages for updates.
Our ADC for Training, Frank Pioro, is
working hard to get you the information on
all the available courses in this area, both
inside and outside the White Pine Region.
Groups doing fund-raising are reminded
that approval from the district executive is
required in advance of your activity. It's
much appreciated if you can get these to
one of the executive before the monthly
executive meeting. There is no meeting in
December. Upcoming meetings will be
January 7, February 11, March 11, April 8,
May 13, June 10. While a form with the
information is preferred, if you can't find a
form a verbal request is better than nothing.
There seems to be some confusion on the
matter of the beret which was formerly part
of the Canadian Scout uniform:
The following decision was made at the
national meeting in May: "The beret (and
hat badges) are deleted from the official
dress of Scouts Canada, effective
September 1, 1997. A field hat and toque,
as supplied by Scouts Canada Supply
Service, is the only authorized head-wear
for wear with the uniform when conditions
warrant." In other words, if you are wearing
a beret with your uniform, you are not
wearing the full, official uniform. Two type
of hats are authorized for wear with the
uniform: the Scouts Canada bush hat
(available from the Scout Shop, $15.88) and
the new Scouts Canada polar fleece toque
(available at the Scout Shop, $8.95).
Activity dress may be chosen by each
section for wear at all appropriate
occasions.
Uniform changes to be discussed at the
November 22 national meeting are the
removal of the colur-coding from the edges
of the sash, changing to one colour of
woven or leather belt for all section,
elimination of garters and knee-length socks
in favour of ankle length socks, and the
possibility of a distinctive woggle for group
committee members. There will also be
discussion of skirts or culottes for female
members. We'll keep you posted on any
decisions.
President
Dave Archer 668-4123
Fax 668-7259
david.archer@sympatico.ca
Past President/V.P. Group Servicing
Brian Wick 655-4065
brianwick@iname.com
Partner Relations
Hugh Robertson 666-2719
Treasurer/Registrar
Viola Tebble 668-6303
vtebble@idirect.com
Secretary
Lewis Williams 666-3180
mary.shea@sympatico.ca
V.P. Public Relations
Neil Wick 655-3429
Fax 655-5191
webmaster@whitbyscouts.org
Scoutrees for Canada
Andé Harknett 430-0780
Honours & Awards
John Peacock 668-8060
District Commissioner
Jack Welsh 430-0641
Fax 430-2531
ADC Beavers
Patricia Dick 666-1655
ADC Cubs
Larry Webb 655-8844
larryw@idirect.com
ADC Scouts
Kevin Tomlinson 430-8524
ADC Venturer/Rovers
Bob Dempster 668-1979
ADC Training
Frank Pioro 665-6420
Scouting for Youth with Disabilities (SYD)
Jill Tomlinson 430-8524
Quartermaster
John Sullivan 668-6949
Resource Person
Jennifer Ackland 665-0358
Group Servicing
Karen Granville 668-0306
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