Hello,
I like many of you took time today to remember those who we have lost who fought for our freedom. On behalf of Birkenhead Scouts I want to ensure that we never forget and ensure that we will always continue to stop and remember. As they shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
I can't believe that its the last contact of 2021 already! What a year this has been. It's felt much more positive and 'normal' than 2020 and I am truly hoping that 2022 will be even more normal and even more positive!
I want to start with a Save The Date.... Saturday 11th December 2021! Last year we started an annual tradition of saying Thank You and sent all our members a thank you tent and decoration. This year, since we are allowed to get together we will be doing something slightly different and details will be coming out soon.... So stay tuned for a Contact+!
However... enough talk about the end of the year and onto the DC Ramblings proper!
As ever October and November have seen me delivering several Module 10A sessions and a Module 10B Session. If you are still outstanding with your First Response training please take a look at our What's On page for more information! You must complete this by 31st January 2022 at the latest.
We've hosted a County Nights Away Assessors CPD day at Birkenhead Scout Centre and 2 of our 3 Nights Away Assessors attended to get all of the latest information and training!
I attended the Merseyside Police Public Order training facility at a super secret location with Viking Explorers and invested a whole host of new Explorers into the Unit. I have also visited Viking (but for one night only...) Wizard Adventure Quest Golf with Wizard ESU and invested even more new Explorers into the ranks! Amazing to see us retaining and recruiting so many 14 year olds! Massive thank you to all our Explorer Leaders for their fabulous work!
Every month PJ (DDC), Kathy (District Chair) and I sit down to review and recap on the progress we are making and this month was no exception. A really great night and it made us realise just how far we have come over the last 5 years!
I've also attended the Scout Shop Business Committee and heard about the amazing work from our Retail Volunteers! Last Saturday alone they served 27 customers in 4 hours! I know the team have had real supplier difficulties these last few months so my personal thanks to them for their perseverance and commitment to the Shop. If you are interested in giving up a little chunk of time, even just 1 night every other month, then please get in touch with Lynne Southerin, our Retail Operations Manager.
Of personal note, this month, after a long break I've started swimming again and it's reminded me that we all need to take time out, to focus on ourselves and our own wellbeing. So in the run up to the festive season, with a little more time on your hands than usual due to the postponement of the Wirral Charity Christmas Post I'd recommend to you all to take a moment for yourself and do something just for you!
Finally, I do like to use these Ramblings as a moment of reflection and our current climate emergency seems a fitting place to reflect upon given the ongoing COP26. Sir David Attenborough said "We are, after all, the greatest problem solvers to have ever existed on Earth. If working apart, we are a force powerful enough to destabilize our planet. Surely working together, we are powerful enough to save it.”.
I'm a keen advocate for trying to save our planet as are The Scouts with our #PromiseToThePlanet. Bear Grylls, Chief Scout said, "Today, we’re faced with a hard, stark choice. Take action now, and stop climate change. Or leave it for another generation. With the excuse it was too difficult. Too demanding. Too impossible."
So, if I may, ask for 2 personal plea's this Contact. My second plea is for you all to take another quiet moment of reflection to see what you can do to try and help reduce your carbon footprint and take another step forward to helping save our precious planet, their is no planet B. I will be making a personal plea to our District Executive tonight at our Trustees meeting to help Birkenhead Scouts further reduce our Carbon Footprint, to help us be the leaders, the do-ers, the give-it-goers for climate change.
I sincerely hope that you all have a wonderful break over the festive period. If you celebrate Christmas then Merry Christmas but if not I hope that you still have a relaxed time with family and friends whilst also making time for yourself and I am looking forward to seeing you all refreshed in the new year.
Yours in Scouting,
Matt Jones