By the time that you receive this, our Beavers will have been on their much anticipated visit to see Otis the Ardvark at the Waterfront, the Easter holidays will have come and gone, we will have marched along the Upper Newtownards Road to Stormont and back, and final preparations will be under way for the District A.G.M. and Cub Scout and Scout County Flag competitions (Let’s make a real effort to bring both Flags back to East District this year). There does appear at last to be a real buzz about Scouting in East Belfast again and lots of events are taking place for all of our Sections. Great progress has been made in re-establishing 28th Group and much credit must be given particularly to DC, Ian, and to Anne Jackson and Jim Stitt for all their hard work. Plans are also at an advanced stage for the new Young Leaders Forum and for restarting the District Fellowship. With all the changes afoot, it is important that we all keep up-to-date with all that’s going on, but also that we play an active part in turning all these plans into reality. There is much more still to be done, particularly in revamping District events and competitions and trying out a few new ones, more Leaders are needed for several of our Groups and all of us should be thinking of ways to recruit new members. American presidents are often judged on their first ‘100 days’ in office. Ian has achieved a lot in the short time that he has been DC. That is why that it is important that we all make a special effort to turn up at the AGM to show our support for Ian and the Team and to air our views on the way ahead. Put the date in your diary now and plan to attend. Ian assures me that this is an AGM not to be missed and that much more is planned in the coming months to add to the progress already made. Please do keep all the news coming in, not only for Scouting East, but also to enable Alex and I to keep the District website as up-to-date as possible. East is one of only two Districts in Northern Ireland to have a website, but it will only be as good as the contributions received from all of our Scouters and members. If any of your Scouts or Young leaders would like help to set up a webpage for your Group or Section, please let us know and we might be able to arrange a course at District level. Don’t forget to make the best of the clear nights for outdoor activities, and keep the editor happy by letting me know what all you get up to,

David

From the District Commissioner

By the time that you read this newssheet the first meeting of our new District Fellowship will have taken place down at the 28th Hall at Tamar Street. I place a very high importance on having the District Fellowship back up and running to help the District Team, Alan and I get the ‘buzz back in East Scouting’ and hope that Groups will encourage members of their Groups, lay members and former members to get involved with the Fellowship. I hope to give a full report on the Fellowship in the next edition of Scouting East.

It is our intention to look at the arrangements for a District camp for next year 2002, probably around the end of September. I will be appointing a sub-committee to make the necessary arrangements and to build on the programme which was used for the Millennium Camp last year. It would be good to have feedback from the Groups on ideas etc. for this District Camp and we hope to start now in making necessary arrangements.

Ian

Update on 28th Group

The Open Evening was recently held at Tamar Street and although we were not knocked down by the rush to join the new Group around 8 names have been added to the roll. The Beaver and Cub Scout sections will therefore recommence at the beginning of May with both Sections meeting initially on a Wednesday evening. It is hoped that through word of mouth and publicity over the summer months that numbers will have increased for re-starting in September. Can I thank the Scouters within the District who took the time and trouble to support GSL Jim Stitt at the Open Evening by helping out and would again appeal for more support from Groups and Leaders from the District.

It is our intention to organise ‘work parties’ over the summer at Tamar Street and I hope that the District will show their support by turning up and helping. On a very positive note, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Ernie and Rhoda Sharp as joint Presidents of the new 28th Group which will serve as an important link to the old 28th and a very experienced ‘back-up’ to the new GSL and his team.

Ian

Publicity Team

As you are all aware publicity is a powerful tool in today's world. Last month we succeeded in having an article published in Belfast Community Telegraph about the new 28th Group in Tamar Street. The only way that we can tell people outside Scouting what we are doing is through the media - it is up to you all as individuals within your own Groups to feed information and pictures through to David or myself for forwarding to the local press or for inclusion on the newly updated Website. East Belfast is one of the few districts to have a Website of its own. Is there anything else you would like to see included - would you be interested in setting up your own webpage for your Group? If you have any information/ stories/ideas for us please contact us at eastbelfast@yahoo.com

Alex

27th Cubs at Legoland

Friday 16th March 6.00am my alarm goes off and at last the Legoland trip had arrived. After breakfast I made my way over to Ardnavalley Scout Centre to meet up with the rest of my cubs (the 27th) and get on the coach. Everyone was very excited-the 20th even began to sing! Five hours later and we are all on the HSS from Dun Loughaire to Holyhead. On the boat we waited for our lunch and mucked around. Once in Holyhead it was back onto the coach for another seven hours until we arrived at our hostel tired but happy! After a pizza tea it was bed and sleep.

Sunday 18th March 6.15am Akela wakes us to get into the shower and get packed. After breakfast it was off to Birmingham for Cadbury World. Whenever we arrived there it was snowing so we were rushed into the chocolate museum where we learnt all about the history of Cadbury`s. We got lots of free samples - my favourite was the fudge. Cadbury World was very interesting. On the coach at Holyhead we held a Cubs’ Own and the 20th were singing yet again! On the boat we had MacDonald`s and then it was next stop Ardnavalley. When we got there at midnight our families were waiting for us. It had been a really great trip with lots to remember including Big Steve`s impersonation of Father Jack!

Mark McConkey, 27th

30th Cub Pack weekend in County Fermanagh

Undaunted by the continuing Foot and Mouth Crisis, 30th Pack ventured to Co.Fermanagh for their first Pack Holiday of 2001 at the Share Centre, Lisnaskea from 23rd-25th March. For once, Akela alerted to a short-cut through Brookeborough village was not the last to arrive at our base for the weekend. However, he didn’t quite get there quickly enough to stop Kaa from sorting out the sleeping arrangements and selecting the best behaved Cubs to share her chalet for the weekend, leaving Akela in charge of the ‘insomniacs’ in the other chalet! After settling in and exploring the site as we played a game of hunt by torchlight, it was time for some indoor games, including a new game supplied by Kaa called ‘Ippy Tippy’ which unfortunately Akela never did quite get the hang of (which explains why he ended up covered in lipstick??!!!)

We rounded off the day with some badge work and swimming in the Pool, and a few more indoor games before a reasonably early night (1.00am or 2.00am if you allow for the clocks going forward!). On Sunday morning, we were up early to pack before breakfast and Cubs Own and then headed down to the archery range. The morning activity session ended with a game of ‘fuseball’ in which the Cubs were strapped into the bars of a giant table soccer board and got to play with a giant football! Quite amusing when not all players want to go in the same direction at the same time! Some of the Cubs were quite astounded that Akela managed to score two goals!! Many thanks to the staff at the Share Centre for a great weekend and to Carolyn (CSL,11th) and Richard ACSL 10th) for all their help.

David, Fiona and Jan (30th)

East District Scout 5-a-side Football Competition

The Scouts 5-a-side competition was held at Avoneil Leisure Centre on Tuesday 6th and 13th March 2001. Altogether 8 Troops participated over the two evenings: namely 4th, 7th, 10th, 27th, 30th, 33rd, 73rd and 99th. After a keenly fought contest the results were as follows:-

Both winners and runners-up go through to the County Final to be held at Maysfield Leisure Centre on Saturday 24th March. Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who took part in what was a successful competition.

Stephen Anderson,ADC [Scouts]

Belfast County Beaver Unihoc Competition

East was represented at the County Final by teams from 7th and 30th Colonies, winners and runners-up, respectively, of the District Competition. Well done to both teams who progressed as far as the semi-finals, eventually drawing against each other in an exciting 3rd v 4th place playoff to end the day in joint 3rd place. The photo below, which appeared in recent edition of the Community Telegraph, shows two of East’s Beavers in action.

Stephen Hand, ADC [Beavers]