Hopefully as we enter March, Spring is just around the corner and we can hold on to the promise of better weather, although in Ireland, that can never be guaranteed even in July and August! That said, March is the time to start at least thinking about venturing outdoors again and planning Pack and Troop camps. While many Packs and Troops previously have and will plan to hold their own camps again this year, two excellent ready-made weekend opportunities are available in 2002. Both the District Camp at Delamont and the NI Cub Camp at Crawfordsburn promise a well organised and balanced programme.

For older Scouts and Venture Scouts, it might be worthwhile checking out some of the information about opportunities in Europe and further afield. Our ACC (International), Robin Connor has information on many forthcoming camps and regularly lists these in Belfast Scouting. So whether we plan our own camps, or join in one of the larger events being organised, let’s as Leaders try to get as many of our Cubs and Scouts outdoors and under canvas as often as possible in the coming months!

My congratulations to all Sections who have taken part in recent District events Cub Scout Mountain-Biking, Cub Scout Quiz, Beaver Uni-hoc and the Scout Football and to the winning teams in each event. It would be wrong of me not to say a special word of congratulations to the team from the new 28th Beaver Colony who took part in their very first event at the District Uni-hock competition and by all reports really enjoyed themselves and according to the Beavers themselves, " Watch out East Belfast, we’ll be back next year to win!!"- well done and great to see the 28th back into the heart of the District again.

The changes ahead for Scouting in East are currently being worked on and our District Change Manager, Colin McShane, the Deputy D.C and I will be arranging briefing sessions with Groups and Section Leaders over the next lot of months. The launch will provide us with our new material and along with the new Commissioners for Explorers and Network we will be discussing and implementing the new Sections within East District. The Deputy DC will be arranging a meeting with all Scout Leaders and I will meet with all the GSLs as soon as possible to brief everyone and discuss possible problems which we may run into as we implement the new programme.

I was delighted to see a large turn-out at the recent District Child-Protection course which our A.D.C Paula organised. I would ask all GSLs and Section Leaders to please ensure that ALL Leaders in the District have had training in Child Protection. The Deputy D.C and myself were present at the District Executive meeting during which a presentation was made to our former District Badge Secretary John McCay. I am sure that everyone in East will wish John a very happy retirement.

Alan and I will be in touch with most of our Groups over the next few months regarding the changes ahead. With the full co-operation of every Group in the District and positive attitudes that these changes ahead will work and move Scouting forward in East, we can hopefully implement all changes and have the new Sections fully up and running by the end of 2003 It is important that Leaders and Groups have their say in the implementation of all the changes ahead and I would encourage everyone in East to attend any meetings or briefings as we strive to "sell" all the new aspects of Scouting to our young people.

Bronze, Ross White, 30th Pack

David, CSL 30th

Ode to a lost love....

The poem below was found, written on a scrap of paper on St.Valentine’s Day 15 years ago and stuffed into a film canister left on Hare’s Gap, by Roy and a some of the lads from 3rd Group who were hiking in the Mournes recently . Roy has asked me to print the poem in case any of you happen to know of the author or the beautiful Rosalie.

It matters not, for still you stay radiant in this heart of mine!

Roy Lamont, GSL 3rd

Northern Ireland Orienteering Competition at Crawfordsburn

East District was represented by six teams from 10th and 30th Packs and 3 teams from 24th and 99th Troops at this year’s event on 9th February. The Cubs and Scouts braved heavy rain and muddy conditions to complete the course, returning sometime later wet and bedraggled with soggy scorecards but undiminished enthusiasm! Unfortunately however, no medals were to return to East on this occasion, possibly explained partly by the fact that at least one Cub was distracted from the competition and was observed joining the numbers in the tuck shop queue before handing in his score card in this timed event. Never mind! Many thanks to Colin, Chris, Jenny and the Wardens’ team for organising the competition.

Beaver Scout Uni-hoc competition

Saturday 9th February and it was pistols at dawn (or rather hockey sticks at 1.30 pm) for the eager Beavers of East Belfast. 12 teams, representing 8 Colonies, assembled at the 7th H.Q. to do battle, and do battle they did! With 30 games to be played, the whole operation proceeded with military precision, until the Grand final. If enthusiasm was the only factor in winning, we would have had 12 winners. Unfortunately only one team could carry off the trophy, but which one?

It was a very weary bunch who left for home following an action packed afternoon, full of excitement and passion which even Old Trafford would have been proud of, and looking forward already to next year. Our D.C. was suitably impressed with the efforts as he was there in his role of honorary Beaver leader 28th Colony. Special thanks must go to Deirdre and Harry Kissick who burned the midnight oil arranging the leagues and matches-not an east task with such a big field. Thanks also to our Deputy D.C Alan, who presented the prizes, and found a new job for when he retires from active Scouting. We have offered him the job of door supervisor (bouncer) at all Beaver events. Well done to all the colonies who took part and congratulations on your behaviour. Here's to next year and an even bigger entry- but be warned. The cup stays in Oakland Avenue!!!!!!!!!!

Liz Whitley, BSL 10th/ ADC Beavers

Cub Scout Swimming Badge Night

Once again this year, about 30 Cubs from 10th, 27th, 30th and 33rd Cubs met up on a Friday evening in January at Avoneil Leisure Centre to complete the Swimming Badge. Many thanks to the staff at Avoneil for the use of the pool and also to Alison Brown (27th), Donna Hawthorne (30th) and Richard Clark (10th) who helped out as badge examiners on the night. Congratulations to the following:

Kyle Young (10th): Patrick Thompson (30th); Patrick Morrow (30th); Ross White (30th); Craig Featherstone-Haugh (33rd) [5]

New Year in Gilnahirk's China Town

30th Pack celebrated the Chinese New Year in style with a Chinese Night in early February. Having dressed up in traditional Chinese costume complete with bin-bag coats, hats and moustaches, we checked out the Chinese 12 year calendar and discovered that by coincidence most of the Cubs were either Monkeys, Rats or Snakes, while Kaa was a Dragon ! Then followed a series of team challenges including the ‘Mandarin Orange Game’, ‘Grab the Tail of the Blind Dragon’, chopstick and tea siphoning relays, crossing the South China Sea, Noodle Knots and‘Prawn Cracker’ (a version of Chubby Bunnies!) as well as seaweed eating!! This was followed by a hilarious sumo wrestling competition and rounded off with a traditional Chinese Take-Away of Chop Suey and Fried Rice, Chow Mein and Banana Fritter.

David, CSL 30th

District Cub Scout Quiz

This year’s District Quiz was hosted by 9th Group at Sydenham Methodist Church on Monday 11th February, with 10 teams entered representing 6 Packs- 3rd, 9th, 10th, 27th, 30th and 99th. With questions that would have challenged Einstein, let alone your average Cub Leader, ‘ask the audience’ wasn’t really an option, and with all mobile ‘phones busy as various Akelas tried to track down missing team members who hadn’t quite made it to Sydenham for the 7.00pm start, the Cubs opted for ‘fifty fifty’ or in other words, completely wild guesses and random answers. It didn’t take our Quiz Master, ADC Suzi, too long however to find the weakest link- the Leaders from 3rd, 10th and 30th Packs (‘self included) who had been press-ganged into helping out had difficulty marking the Cubs’ answers even when the questions were explained to them and the correct answers placed on the table in front of them!! Its just as well we weren’t actually taking part or we might have really embarrassed ourselves! Many thanks to John and Suzi, and to Pat, Ann and Jonathan (9th) for setting up the Hall and laying on the refreshments. Congratulations to the winning team of Max Porter, Michael Magill, Rory Foye and Tom Noteman (30th A Team) who will represent East District at the NI Final at Cookstown in March. Full results were as follows:

10th Place, 3rd Pack ‘B’ Team, 33 points

David, CSL 30th

Events in March

1st: Scout 5-a-side Football (under 16s), Avoneil Leisure Centre 7-9pm