Agenda of Loddon District Explorer Leaders Meeting Thu 1st May 2008 at Twyford Scout HQ

Appologies 

Review of Minutes  (http://www.loddonexplorers.co.uk/Leader_Meeting_6Mar08.html )

Matters arising  

Correspondence
 
Stores
Update
 
Tent Hire
Update on bookings
 
Reports
 
DofE  Report (Clair)
 
Young Leader Section Report (Clair)
 
Monday Section Report (Colin)
 
Friday Section Report (Nigel)

Finance!
Fund-raising update and Bank Accounts
 
Subscriptions
It was agreed that we would increase Subs to
Explorers: £8 per month, £32 per term, £96 per year.
Young Leaders: £36 per year (if attending Explorer Meetings as well) and Groups £60.
Revised Subscription forms are now out on the web site, and a letter needs to be sent to all parents, and paper copies handed to all Explorers at meetings over the next few weeks.
 
Bag-packing:
Action:
Volunteer needed to ask Waitrose and to enquire about Scouts National scheme with Sainsburys, which involves a "training day" as well.
 
Car Wash:
Mark suggested that Car Washing is profitable especially in the Spring at Garden Centers
Action
Morgan & Mark to ask new Garden Centre at Hare Hatch, (aka old Farm Shop).
 
Gift Aid (Lynda)
Update us on progress of £628 for 2006 + update on 2007 Gift Aid
Lynda promised at last meeting that by end of Feb 2006 & 2007 will be done, as best she can hope!
(Although when Tax man pays up is another matter)
    
Chain Saw:
Action:
Stu to source cheap loan of chain saw.
 
Explorer Fund-raising Plans and bookings so far for 2008 (Colin)
Carnival Gate
Carnival have offered us the job of "Runners" taking tickets, cash and other items from Gates to HQ and back.
Action:
Lead Explorer: Scott
Leader: Anne-Marie
Need to chase with Carnival Committee and confirm we DO have that role.
 
VW Rally
Sunday 1 June 2008
VW Owners' Rally
Action:
Colin has confirmed with Steve Pool that we have the concession.
This needs to be used as a training for those able to attend Stonor Craft Fair in Aug.
(Colin, Bill, Hazel, Mark are all awa at the County Expedition in Switzerland).
 
General
Otherwise our usual regular confirmed bookings forecasting £5500
 
Marquee Maintenance & Cleaning
They need cleaning and stitching. We MUST put aside money for upkeep and replacement of canvas this year.
We are very naughty about our long term depreciation budget (ie we don't keep a Tent Contingency/Renewal Fund!)
 
Training
Action:
Climbing Authorisations
Update: Course on Tuesday at Earlywood well attended.
Shooting Authorisations
Contact Paul Norris if interested. Will be paid from training budget.
 
Stonor IETF
Almost the entire Leader team is away, we need to train up another team for this year!
Rob, Dan, Stu, Claire? Tim & Anne-Marie, Rob J, Morgan, Dan, Dobby, Andrew Warby, Josh, Owen,
 
 
Paddicks
 
Paddicks Fund-raising Plans and bookings so far for 2008 (Colin)
 
Woodley Carnival Week: Childrens Fun Day
Sat 7th June Woodley Town Centre WTCMI, Childrens Fun Day, Climbing wall. Outside Dentists & Chinese.             
Actions: 
Stu investigate another climbing wall.
Action: Need someone to try and book Bulmershe wall....
Rob & Morgan to book Bouncy Castle from Parkers
Action: Need confirmation.
Book County Display Kit
Action: Colin has booked the kit with County.
Colin: General Admin
 
Paddicks Patch Open Day and Party in the Park Sat 19th April
Excellent write upin the local press, good turnout by Guests, very poor turnout by Loddon District at Open Day and Party in Park
 
St Georges Day Event Sunday 27th April
Seemed to go very well despite the lack of Explorers and Leaders (1 Leader 2 Explorers to put whole thing up!).
Good feedback from across the District.
 
Paddicks Costs Over-run
Zero spend continues, Explorers picking up the tab, will re-charge back when new budget is agreed at AGM and in April
 
Paddicks Electric Bills
Paddicks is now running at £1500 a year on electric bills. Last bill alone was £800, probably estimated.
Action: Stu to ask questions about timers, etc, arc lights and reduce our consumption.
Action: Colin to confirm meter readings are actual not estimated.
Action: Donald and Colin to investigate alternative Energy suppliers with cheaper costs and Direct Debit.
Explorers are at least in part responsible, heaters left on in Pod, and hall, Arc Lamp left on overnight during camps.
Action: Should we set a 15 min time switch on the Arc lamp, maybe the same on the Hall heaters?
The Exec was convinced (by Colin) that the switch from Electric cooking to gas cooking should save a lot of money.
Bottom line: We need to be MUCH more energy conscious on Mondays and on our Camps at Paddicks.
 
Paddicks Patch Activities Update.
 
High Ropes & crate stacking.
Action: Stu to ask Brewery for crates.
 
Climbing Wall
Can we use 2nd hand climbing blocks?
Action: Stu to follow up.
 
Robs Chainsaw Certificate
Rob now has a chain saw license, and is offering his services.
 
Program Planning:
 
Fixing Unit diary dates, meeting plans and allocating Leaders to activities.
 
Monday Program Review (Colin):
(In progress with the Unit Council)....
 
Camps
Stonker 2008: (New Venue! Fet agreed to Organise)
County Explorers: "Run a Joint Meeting": Update: (Lynda) Suggest use one of ours!
Summer Expedition to French "Alps 08": Update. (Nigel, Dan, Mark E, Bill & Hazel & now Colin invited)
 
Activities (Evening or Weekend)
Quad Biking (Hire Quad bikes): Dan H. Dobby.
Day Trip to London (Monopoly Run) Colin Grace & Laura.
Ice Skating (Monday's must be Slough) Colin .... Laura.
Trampoline (Bulmurshe) Anne-Marie & Dobby
Snow Tubing (Bracknell w/e only) Tractor Tyre at Stonker (tarp)
High Ropes (Not Lookout. Another one. Stu, Mark E)
Sky Diving Milton Keynes (Colin)
Caving (Hugh, Colin).
Kayaking (Wokingham Waterside Center or Eyot Scott - Wayne)
Day Trip to Belgium (Anyone? Minibus?) Colin + minibus.
 
Meetings
Army Eve (Stuart to bring an Army person)
Sumo evening (now had several!)
Backwoods Cooking evening (Keith Colin eat local plants)
Survival and basic backwoods camping Skills (Keith & Rob)
Chav Hunting (Large version) ran pretty well.
Fire Fighting and Fire Safety (Paul Stu, knows someone, fire brigade etc)
Beer Brewing (Wine, Lager, Cider, WKD, Vodka, Brewing) Rob Scott
Circus Skills (Bezerka) Colin arranged this and it was very popular.
Rave Night (Morgan, Mark L)
Hot Air Balloons Night (Colin and Andy)
Shooting (Paul Norris 3rd March, very popular, good turnout. Our thanks to Paul
 
Friday Program Review (Nigel):
 
AOB