News
Send your news stories and photos for publishing in the News section info@clydescouts.org.uk. To keep the website looking fresh, I need in excess of 300 news stories each year so all reasonable contributions will be used.
Communications Update
Author: Gary Bainbridge | Date: 06-08-2010
The following article is from the text of a letter that is being posted to all adults in Clyde Region next week.
Communications Update
With the new Scouting session about to start, I thought I would take this opportunity to write and update you about some of the communications work that has been progressing in recent months.
Clyde Connections
The Region's newsletter is distributed 3 times a year to all adults in Clyde Region. As well as being posted out, it is also available on our website and we have now made it available using digital publishing software which means you can read it online, interactively.
In April of this year, we ran an online poll to survey our membership on their views about Clyde Connections, including how it is published in the future. The response to the poll was a 100% yes for making Clyde Connections an online newsletter for those adults who have an email address recorded in the membership database at scouts.org.uk
I reported this fact to the Regional Executive Committee when they met in June and they supported my recommendation that with effect from the August/September2010 issue, Clyde Connections will not be posted to adults who we can contact by email to tell them that it's available online.
This will help to further reduce the Region's carbon footprint and will also free up staff time and money that we can put to use supporting Scouting in other ways.
For those adults who do not yet have an email address in the membership database, we will continue to post it to you.
clydescouts.org.uk
Use of the Region's website at clydescouts.org.uk continues to grow and it is particularly good that more Groups and Sections have shared the activities that they are doing with us so that we can increase the number of news stories online. Please keep the stories coming, the online poll that we ran showed a clear interest in using the website to share programme ideas and information about activities that Groups and Districts are doing.
eNews
So that we can keep you up-to-date with new stories and information that is being posted online, we are now sending out Clyde eNews, approximately fortnightly. This is sent to all adults in the Region who have an email address in the membership database. If you don't receive eNews, please go to scouts.org.uk, register and then sign in and update your personal details. If you have any problems doing this, please get in touch.
I hope that you have had a good summer and that the camps and activities you have organised for your section went well. Please remember to send me pictures and stories so that we can share the good news about the adventure that our young people are enjoying.
As ever, please don't hesitate to get in touch if there is anything that the Region can do to support you.
Clyde Development Project gets under way!
Author: Gary Bainbridge | Date: 05-08-2010
Earlier this week, we were delighted to welcome Marie Clare McLinden to the Regional Office in the newly created post of Local Development Officer.
Marie Clare will be with us for the next 3 years, supporting the development of Scouting and recruiting adult volunteers across the Region.
I'm sure that everyone will join with me in welcoming Marie Clare to this exciting new post and I asked her to tell us a bit about herself so that you can get to know her so over to Marie Clare!
'After studying at University, I worked as an Environment Officer in Glasgow East Regeneration Agency. I delivered educational activities and workshops to young people and I worked with the local community to help them develop their greenspace and this encouraged and taught people about how to care for and improve their local environment.
I am really excited to be part of the Scouts and I'm looking forward to the new challenges this will bring. I have already had experience volunteering with the Guides in Motherwell where I have enjoyed working with the young people to complete badges and challenges as well as work with the wider community. I have gained some great experiences from this, including learning to bake which, along with making jewellery which is now a hobby I love to do at home.
I can't wait to meet and start work with everyone involved across the region where I will be able to learn much more about the Scouts as well as learn some new skills along the way.'
Marie Clare can be contacted in the Regional Office and at marieclare.mclinden@clydescouts.org.uk
Network heads North
Author: Gary Bainbridge | Date: 21-07-2010
It always gets a bit quieter in the Regional Office at this time of year and earlier this month, I took the opportunity to catch up on some time off and headed off to camp with a Group of Scout Networkers.
The 77th Glasgow Scout Network is no ordinary Unit; they provide an opportunity for physically disabled young people to experience Scouting at its best!
Our summer camp adventure began first thing on the Monday morning when we gathered with 2 minibuses at The Quay in Glasgow and 8 Networkers and 9 Leaders loaded ourselves and our gear into the minibuses to head for Badaguish, just outside Aviemore. Badaguish is a fully accessible outdoor centre with modern log cabins and was an ideal setting for summer camp.
During the course of the week we went cycling, clay pidgeon shooting and fishing, tried out the swimming pools in Inverness and at the Macdonald Resort in Aviemore and of course has some time to relax in camp.
After what seemed like no time at all, we were packing up and heading off for our next destination; Fort Augustus.
We spent our last 2 nights of summer camp at Cumberlands Campsite and on the Saturday, the Networkers walked the Great Glen Way from Altsigh to Invermoriston which for them was knackering but rewarding to complete the hike.
All too soon, Sunday morning was with us and we were striking camp ready for the journey back to Glasgow, with a pit stop at The Green Welly in Tyndrum.
