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Ripon & District News Update
May 2011

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Forthcoming Events and Meetings

Ian Hick, as many of you are aware, has been very ill.
The good news is that Ian is now home, consigned to "light duties" and convalescence for the next few weeks.
We wish him well and hope that, in the not-too-distant future, he will make a full recovery

Most of you will be aware that my term as DC comes to end on May 11, the date of the District AGM.
I have no idea who our next DC will be, but it’s generally known that discussions are afoot to reorganise the District boundaries in the County with fewer Districts in the future.
It’s possible, however, that the name of a new DC for Ripon & District will be announced within the next couple of weeks by County.
If this doesn’t happen, I remind you that the rule in Scouting is that the County Commissioner assumes the role and responsibilities of the DC; so please contact Ian Bardon if you wish to consult your "DC" after May 11
’m not sure just what I’ll be doing in Scouting in the future.
I shall certainly be assisting John McGrath on the County Training Team, work which will include delivering general adult training courses, Safeguarding Awareness training and First Response.
I’ll also continue to be a member of DAS and support District events as a helper.
Although I have not been asked to do so by anyone, I’ll carry on as "editor" for the Ripon Gazette articles, so please send your contributions to me for the time being at least

Thank you all so much for your support of District, and of me as your DC, over the past few years

We‘re hoping that as many of you as possible will be able to attend the District AGM on May 11.
If you do, you will be handed a copy of the Annual Report for 2010-2011.
For those who cannot get to the AGM, please find below a number of paragraphs from my DC’s report, as a matter of interest . . .

Events

District provided a range of events during the course of the year, offering opportunities for fun and activity to Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and members of our newly-founded Active Support Unit under the capable management of Anne Collins.
Highlights during 2010 were undoubtedly the annual camp at Westwick Hall Farm and a superb Carol Service organised by Elaine Day and Andrew Roberts.
In 2011 there have been several events of exceptionally high quality: the Scouts Patrol Challenge organised by David Day; a brilliant Fun Day for Beavers arranged at Holy Trinity by Andrew Roberts; and an innovative Cubs Hike/Treasure Hunt delivered in Boroughbridge by the Collins family and other Leaders.
I should also mention yet another excellent Backwoods Cooking afternoon arranged by Colin Slator.

The ESU, although small, runs efficiently under Phil Oakley’s enthusiastic leadership and a range of outdoor pursuits was offered to the youngsters in the unit.
The Morocco expedition, already much publicised in the press and elsewhere, was undoubtedly the highlight of the year for the Explorers, along with Phil’s Award for Meritorious Conduct.

St George’s Day 2010 was a very special event superbly orchestrated by Mike Collins at the Church of Christ the Consoler in Skelton-on-Ure.
Given the location of the church, we had none of the usual problems with road closures and traffic management, thank goodness!

In the absence of two ADCs, it’s not easy to mount a series of District events, year in, year out.
The fact that events do happen is down to the willingness of Leaders to go the extra mile and spend time producing activities for the District as well as for their Groups.
Such commitment is, I’m sure, much appreciated by all adults in Scouting in the District, and, of course, by hundreds of children and young people who are the beneficiaries.

Leaders and Leadership

Successful Scouting stands or falls on the number and calibre of its leaders, and we continue to have a great team of leaders in the District.
The team is on the whole small but stable, but we did lose some leaders during the year: many thanks in particular to Angela Farmery and Jenny Langley (4th Ripon) for their committed service to Scouting over many years.

On the other hand, we gained several new leaders: Steve Fincham (4th Ripon), Jo Watts
(1st Bishop Monkton), John Grannan (1st Masham), Delvine Lowther, Wayne Scurrah, Trevor Plowright, Diane Gallon and Joanne Mays (all 1st Boroughbridge).

There have been a number of role changes during the past 12 months: Peter Cheesbrough – SL, 4th Ripon; Steve Howard – SL, 1st Masham; and Dennis Bailey – CSL, 1st Bishop Monkton which is now an independent Group and doing very well indeed!

I take this opportunity to thank once again the following people (among many others) for their contribution to District: Shirley Fell as Chairman of the Appointments Advisory Committee; Gillian Moorhouse for her work as District Secretary; Steve Snow as web master; Jim McIntyre for his first-class contribution as Appointments Secretary; Kath Addy for the work she does in the background as Badge Secretary; and Vince Kane who has been a highly efficient Treasurer over the past several years and who retires this May.

Although not strictly in the 2010-2011 Scouting year, it seems appropriate to record these two prestigious Scout Association awards, recently announced: Elaine Day: bar to Silver Acorn; Shirley Fell: Silver Acorn.
Well done to both!

Census

Details of the last Census have already been circulated to members, but it’s encouraging to be able to report another year of increased membership in the District, the highest increase (11%) for many years. 
This was to a large extent due to impressive growth in Boroughbridge and the start of a new Group in Bishop Monkton.

Training

Training continues to be something of an uphill battle, especially as the District has no Local Training Manager responsible for it, and only a very small number of TAs.
Successes over the past twelve months have been two Wood Badge awards: to Dennis Bailey (1st Bishop Monkton) and Janine Toole (4th Ripon).
It's also worth noting that all current Leaders, bar one, have an up-to-date First Aid certificate; and, as a District, we have made an excellent start with the new Safeguarding Awareness training introduced by HQ at the end of 2010.

Young Leaders

Young Leaders are undoubtedly one of the strengths of the District.
Many Groups have a strong Young Leader contingent and the contribution provided by Young Leaders in general is second-to-none.
I was very pleased that two 6th Ripon YLs attended a County training weekend in March.
Also, it was encouraging to hear that David Taylor and Keiran Newman, until recently YLs at 6th Ripon, have now signed up as adult Leaders.

John : April 25th 2011