Red Border November 2010

The latest version of the Red Border is available to read.

JOTA/JOTI 2010

JOTA/JOTI 2010

Hi All,

Please click on the above image to see more pictures taken during the Jamboree On The Air/Jamboree On The Internet (JOTA/JOTI) event which took place over the weekend of 16th/17th October 2010.

What is the Jamboree-On-The-Air?
The JOTA is an annual event in which about half-a-million Scouts and Guides all over the world make contacts with each other by means of amateur radio. Short-wave radio signals carry their voices to virtually any corner of the world. It’s the shear excitement of having a live conversation with a fellow Scout or Guide at some other place in the world that attracts so many young people to this event. JOTA is a true Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared. It’s a unique opportunity for each individual Scout to get the real feeling of belonging to a worldwide movement.

What is the Jamboree-On-The-Internet?
Similarly to the JOTA, the Jamboree-On-The-Internet connects Scouts using Internet techniques. The JOTI is a separate event, but held on the same weekend as the Jamboree-On-the-Air. Units can choose to take part in either one, or both events.

Basically, the aim of the event is to make contact with other Scout Groups worldwide using radio communication and/or Internet chat or voice.

During the event, which we ran from 8pm Saturday night through to 1pm Sunday morning, we set-up an amateur radio station inside HQ to allow us to make contact via radio communication and, we also set-up a couple of notebook PC’s to allow us to make contact over the Internet, using a mobile broadband connection.

To make allowances for the different timezones across the world and to sustain interest if contacts were intermittant, we set-up camp inside HQ with the pop-up tents for a sleepover!

There was also an Xbox 360 and a DVD player plus projector on offer for further entertainment.

We asked the Scouts to bring along some food for a little midnight feasting, play games, read, chat and watch some films, as well as take part in the main JOTA/JOTI theme of the evening.

In the morning we cooked bacon and sausage sandwiches for breakfast.

As you can see from the pictures, I also put some some pioneering skills to good use by constructing two supports for a half size G5RV HF antenna that was raised up at the back of HQ!

The agenda for the weekend was as follows;

Arrive at our Scout HQ on Sat 16th Oct around 8pm

Take part in JOTA/JOTI event and other activities on offer

Sleepover in pop-up tents

Breakfast

Arrange for parents to collect from HQ at 1pm on Sunday 17th Oct

Have a load of fun for 16 hours!

Although the radio activity was a little sparse, we made plenty of contacts on the Internet using IRC (text).

The event was a great success and although most of us got no sleep Saturday night(!), we would have to say that the Scouts had a fantastic time!

We will definitely be taking part in the event again next year.

All the best,

Chief, Calico, Smee & Kaa

Brumventure 2010

Brumventure 2010

Hi All,

Latest pictures from our participation in the Brumventure 2010 event, which took place at Pikes Pool, near Bromsgrove.

Once again we entered one of the largest contingent of Scouts from any one group in the district and we took part in the DIY, Navigation, Master at Arms - Archery and Pioneering badges.

It was a fantastic event and all 11 members of our Troop who signed up for the event received their badges at the end of the weekend.

Brumventure takes place every year and it is an excellent opportunity to gain an activity badge in a short space of time.

Well done to all those who took part!

Hope you enjoy the photo’s.

All the best,

Skip and Chief

Expedition Challenge 2010

Expedition Challenge 2010

Hi All,

Latest pictures from our participation in this year's Expedition Challenge badge event, which took place on 2nd & 3rd October in the beautiful White Peak area of the Peak District.

During the expedition, our team had to;

- journey for at least 4 hours a day
- use a map to keep track of where they were
- play a full part in the team
- achieve at least one goal (cooking a hot meal)
- stay overnight in a hostel

Our team of 5 did exceptionally well, despite some appalling weather on Sunday, and received their badges at the end of the 2 day event.

Well done to Jacob H, Jacob B, Edward C, Pia K-J and Jenny C for taking part!

Our commiseration to James P who had to pull out of the team last minute due to illness.

Hope you enjoy the photo’s!

All the best,

Skip and Chief

Sponsored Walk

Many thanks to all those who attended the Sponsored Walk last night.

We will let you know how much was raised as soon as we can.

In the meantime, here are some photos from the event.

Sponsored Walk 2010

Rummage Appeal

From the Group Chairman

Hello good Parents,

*****PLEASE ACTION THIS*****

Now, trusting that you had an enjoyable Summer Break and that you and your children will soon be
starting to think about Christmas, we now present the perfect opportunity for you to dispose of all the
old and no longer used or required items of clothing, toys or general sundries.

We speak, of course, of our ever-popular and ‘coming up soon’ GRAND RUMMAGE SALE! This
is the perfect opportunity to have an early ‘Spring Clean’ and sort out all the items you have at home
or in the garage, shed or attic THAT YOU NO ALSO LONGER WANT TO USE. and then just think
of the amount of extra room you will have!

As you would have read in your Red Border, from the last SALE which was very well attended, we
achieved a total of £580 - which was put to VERY good use for the benefit of all the children in the
Group.

So, please start now and see just what you can start sending down NOW to the HQ.
Some ‘content’ has already arrived but we do need a lot more - particularly clothing and linens etc -
so by bringing some of the items listed here down to the Hall each week, you will help to increase the
quantity of

Men’s, ladies and children’s clothing and shoes
Handbags of all shapes and sizes
Linen, curtains, fabrics and the like
Toys, games, books, records, CD’s, DVD’s
General bric-a-brac including china, glass, jewellery, garden tools, lamps, wooden bits
(but NOT furniture!), pots and pans, plates, old radios, portable TVs, kettles, teas-maids, cases, vases,
etc., etc.

Please start bringing any of these items NOW for storage in the Annexe prior to sorting and displaying
on Thursday 11th November and then sold from 10.30 am on Saturday 13th November.

This is your ideal opportunity for a good ‘clear-out’, giving you at home the benefit of more space
and the Scout Group the benefit of essential extra funding - in 12 years over £7000 has been raised!

I promise you, any contribution you make is valuable and most worthwhile
.
Ian Banks, Group Chairman.

P.S. If you able or would enjoy to help with the sorting and/or selling, please do give
Gwyn Lloyd a call on (0121) 373 1295.