October 2013
32nd Pack Chingford
"Running the very best pack possible"
October 2013
News Letter
Statistics 41 cubs + 4 visiting Beaver 6 leaders 9 core helpers
September exceeded all expectations. New blood in our leadership team, Warwick Castle trip, shadow pack, naturalist badge, our elephant project, the trading game, battle of the sixes and a football competition. We have started the new Cub year really well. As always parent support has been central to our achievements, many thanks to all who's contributions and time have made it all possible. October has a few jewels for our Cubs to enjoy. Our elephant project should be completed, we have a hikes badge, Athletes badge evening, a London visit and much more. Parents are advised that as a group we are not without resources, all of which support our youth membership. If finance is an issue with any activity please have a word with a section leader, you will find us helpful and discrete. Well a lot to cover so the following are the main points coming up:
Last Shadow Pack group Tuesday 1st October
Our Hobbycraft project, picture above, has been very successful and enjoyed by all the cubs who have attended so far. Thank you to all our Parents who have made this activity possible. Shadow Pack policy has also ensured that the main pack activities have been more manageable. Many thanks. Our elephant is beginning to look quite stunning, the store is planning some exciting ornamentations for the last week. The carcass has cost the pack a fair bit of money, with Hobbycraft supplying free the decoration activity which would have more than doubled its price. The challenge now is finding a proper home for the creature. Cubs are expressing their opinion and keeping it as a Pack mascot seems the best option. We now need to find it a name. Cubs can nominate and vote on a name in October. The winning choices creator will be given a suitable prize.
Group and Family hike 2pm Sunday 6th October
As I write this I have in my hand a Licence from the City of London allowing us to take billions of people on a trek through their forest. We depart from Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge and return by @5pm. This is a cub hike and earns a Hikes away credit, it's a gentle walk not a strenuous action man marathon. Even Akela will walk, Families are welcome but we will not take responsibility for non member siblings. Refreshments will be provided half way. These Group forest walks have been very well attended in the past and are good fun. Uniform dress for the weather (which will be fine).
Athletes Badge evening Tuesday 8th October
Running, jumping, throwing, skipping, the Pack return to indoor, heated, Lea Valley athletics centre for another manic night of sport. All cubs will gain a badge for participation (with a good attitude), those with fire in their toes will gain athletes plus and only one Olympic hopeful will gain the very rare stage three Athletes badge Alela will contribute from his hidden stash. Cubs will need to wear sports kit, uniform green top and scarf. (the centre is across the road from the Odeon multi screen complex).
District Cub Quiz 18th October
The Pack will send two teams to the District quiz on the 18th October, we will select our Team on the 1st, In the hall after Shadow Pack to allow everybody to take part. Apparently some quick exercises before the quiz emboldens the little grey matter and improves chances. Time will tell.
New Leader for Our Pack
Getting more cubs is difficult, gaining more people happy to help in the Pack Leadership Team is very good news for the 32nd. Kevin Walker, David Kerr and Richard Chusney, have all offered to help. We also have a new Young Leader and have retained all our established team who built the successful pack we have today. Please help and support our new Leaders whenever you can. Remember we still, very much so, need ordinary parent help on many occasions and Sam Gash (Shere Khan) coordinates this for the pack. All parents commit to helping when their child joins and it is an obligation of membership, help where you can. Our inclusion and support makes us strong.
Zombie Camp 1st-3rd November
Invitations have already gone out, Camp is open to all pack member (aged over 8). Please starve your prospective zombies from now to add to the realism. Cubs should have a distressed set of clothes for the Saturday nights battle. Best results are by letting them sleep in shallow boxes buried under ground for a few weeks. Any questions please contact a leader.
Packs new photograph web site
Our Cybertech cohort have completed the Packs web page and this has now been launched. Access is restricted and to gain entry you need to follow the following Link:
https://sites.google.com/site/chingfordpack/home
To access the photos they will need to send an email to;
Advise us, their name, name of their child or the reason they wish to be added. The photos are stored on Google Picasa so they need to provide us with a Gmail address.
If they don't have a Gmail address they can create one at https://accounts.google.com/SignUp?service=mail
Many thanks to Techmage Dan Magill and his dark arts expertise, the site may still have a few demons running loose, if you spot any please let us know and Dan will exorcise them. My understanding is that the web site is so huge if you were to lay it flat on the ground it would take up more space than north America.
Outstanding July subscriptions
A minority of families have yet to pay July Subs. July was a short month and some families were on holiday early. Monthly Subscriptions are still due. Subs are calculate over a year to cover your child's insurances, programme, capitation and other event subsidies. We do not collect for August but do for every other month of the year. We offer sibling subsidies and will support families in difficulty. Please have a word with a uniformed Leader if you have outstanding subs and an issue paying them.
Matilda Tuesday 12th November
This event is selling out, we have two tickets left to sell and many adults after them. Group policy is that uniform youth members have very first option and we will offload any unsold tickets at the end of October. Tickets are a fantastic £25 which includes coach transport. The Pack will run a normal meeting for those not attending the Matilda Trip.
Parent running for Scouting if you can help please do
You can help Michael Sugrue raise money for Scouting by donating directly to their fundraising page - http://www.justgiving.com/Michael-Sugrue.
JustGiving sends your donation straight to The Scout Association and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more.
Thank you for your support!
The Sugrue Family
Parish Bazaar Appeal
To help repay the cost of the Parish Hall usage our Scout group runs a Tombola stall at the annual Parish Bazaar on the 16th November. As usual we are requesting that each and every family provides a bottle of wine or similar new luxury gift of same value that can be used as a prize on the stall. This appeal is for all sections and is the only annual levy imposed by the group on its membership. Parish sponsorship enables us to provide scouting at the lowest possible cost, the 32nd have significantly lower subscription and running costs than other local scout groups. Helping here helps your child’s Scouting. Please bring in your donations at the latest, by the 12th of November. Families with more than one member are only asked for one bottle per family.
In the pipeline
Items are subject to change and additional items will be added. Handouts will be available for core event.
· Cub Hike 6th October
· Athletes Badge 8th October
· London Visit 29th October
· Halloween Camp 1st -3rd November
· District Fireworks 5th November
· Remembrance Sunday Parade 10th November
· Matilda November 12th (west end show)
· Swimming Evening 19th November
· Map Readers Course (Older Cubs)23rd November
· Christmas Party December 17th
· The Hobbit 2 Odeon film showing 20th December
Lots going on but October is a tad less hectic, cubs do not need to do everything but they should aim to turn up for meetings. Pack places are at a premium at present and if your child is not taking advantage of their membership we will ask them to move on so somebody else can.
Any questions or issues please have a word with a leader.
Pack information is available from:
https://sites.google.com/site/chingfordpack/home
Generic scouting information is obtainable from: https://members.scouts.org.uk/supportresources