My notes from the group chair meeting this week:

• New field executive replacing John Wiersma (he's gone to Montreal) Tim Foreman (he's coming from Montreal)  tforeman@scouts.ca He seems a good guy. Really into leader and youth recruitment. Does a lot of school presentations as well as to groups of adults to get them to be leaders. Possibly ask him to come to the banquet and give his speech?
• The area is thinking of having an old style district meeting every 3-4 months. Like before, all leaders would be welcome. Aim is to let leaders voice their opinions directly into the area.
• Car pooling. Current interpretation is where activity starts is the key. If activity starts at the remote site, then you can do one adult per car for the transportation (being a parent). ie "The event is in Ottawa, but I happen to be driving up in an empty van". This was raised as a key issue as it is impacting the program.
• Can't sign any waiver (eg liability) at any activity. I am getting a copy of  the indemity form that we offer in place of signing the waiver.
• Hot chocolate fundraiser coming up. Information is being snail mailed to me. I have faxed and attached the information sheet I received. This is designed to be a spring fundraiser (popcorn being the fall one). Selling price is $6 per box. Each box includes a coupon for $5 at Indigo Books & Music. Group profit is $2 per box. We buy it by the case (8 boxes) - non-returnable. Deadline for ordering is February 28th. Product will arrive by the end of March. We don't take orders for people. We order what we think we can sell, then go and sell the product once it arrives.
• Possible cut-rate registration of $40 for any youth registering during FriendFest. Should be confirmed by the end of the week.
• Group committee training is being made available. Cost is ~$15. Roger should be sending out a syllubus. Duration is 4-6 evening of 2 1/2 hours each. There is also an equivilency chart (ie prove you know the stuff, and you get credit for it). I will get a copy of this.
• We need to get the orientation forms submitted. I will follow-up at some point.
• For the WoodBadge training weekend in Perth. Free baby sitting is available in Perth for the Friday night and Saturday. Contact # is 264-8454.
• Cub Kar & Hobby Show. No graphite on Kub Kars. Any weight additions must be done before the show (will not be done at the show as in past years). Information coming to me via snail mail. ~$25/group entry fee. Take soap box car to hobby show? Both events are at the same time in the Carleton place arena. Should be a reasonable amount of traffic through the place.
• Round-up of leaders being considered. One option is a road trip picking up leaders from each community, with a 30-60min presentation at each group on the special things they do, special leader skills, etc. All Saturday and 1/2 of Sunday. There would also be a "non-Scouting" camp on the Saturday night. ie alcohol available. Another option is just do the camp to cut down on the time committment - my biggest concern. Let me know if who might be interested so I can pass on the numbers. Intent is to generate information sharing between the leaders and encorage contact making.
• Some groups turn their last group committee meeting of the year into a leader party.
• Some groups leaders have a canoe or white water rafting trip in August as a get back together event.
• Hammered home that information needs to come in PDF format, not all these wierd formats.
• Mentioned that information flow could have been better for the Beaver Burr. ie not just a telephone call to the chair
• Asked if WB training could be spread over more nights to make leader time committment easier. Not a good reception, hard to get trainers to come out more times.