The Citizen, 2002-07-31, Page 7Helping hands
Volunteers spent a recent Saturday building new hiking trails at the Hullett Marsh. Boardwalks
were built to upgrade existing trails as well. (Photo submated)0
Volunteers from far and wide
help at Hullett Marsh workday
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TtiACITPEidlIVMPNE8IONVAILYv31 2002 PAGE 7.
Administration changes planned for Scouting
On Saturday, July 13 there was a
volunteer workday at the Hullett
Marsh.
Volunteers came to Hullett from as
far as London to take part in ongoing
outdoor projects and activities. The
volunteers built a new hiking trail,
built boardwalks to upgrade existing
trails, and worked on other projects
involved in keeping the Hullett
office an evolving facility.
The materials used for the new
trail and enhancement of the old
PEOPLE AROUND
LONDESBORO
Sunday morning services will
resume at Londesboro United
Church this coming Sunday, Aug, 4.
Rev. Ray Hagerman will conduct
that service. The following week
Rev. Cecil Wittich will be pulpit
supply.
During the month of July, the
church narthex and sanctuary have
had a freshening painting. Jim
Stanley has completed stage one of
the interior redecorating. Be
prepared for a complete colour
change.
Letter
to the
editor
THE EDITOR,
There appears to be opposition to
Maitside Orchards closing down.
Perhaps a hog barn would be more
successful. It would provide some
employment and the citizens of
Brussels would be able to enjoy the
sweet smell of success.
Cecil Raynard.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor •
There are some big changes
coming for the Scouting
organization, but it should have little
impact on the young members
involved.
In a similar move to that of the
provincial government's push to
amalgamate municipalities, Scouts
Canada has altered its current
system to eliminate the district
level.
According to Blyth group
committee chairperson Barb Knox,
the present system had five levels,
group (local), district (Huron),
region (Atironta), provincial and
national. District level deals with
administrative and program issues,
said Knox.
"They are doing away with the
administrative side. This will not
supposedly affect groups and the
way the sections operate," said
Knox.
An element of the service, or the
manner in which it is assured
programs are running properly
according to Scouts Canada criteria
has been the job of the District
Commissioner and the service team.
A group Scouter acted as the go
between for the Commissioner and
the sections.
"Here it's been Nancy Hakkers
and she did a lot of the service
aspects from interviewing leaders to
make sure they were suitable, to
finding the answers to program
problems," said Knox.
While there will still be a group
Scouter, the new concept will have
them responsible for overseeing all
program sections and doing away
with the district commissioner,
Knox explains.
Also, with the dissolution of
districts, the areas have been
realigned. All of Huron is now with
Perth and Stratford. Rather than 13
districts in the there will be six or
seven areas.
"There are a lot of unknown
factors," said Knox, with regards to
what she feels the changes will
bring."Amalgamation has taken
place ., before, but the actual
particulars on how well it will
operate remains to be seen."
One rather significant factor is
money. "Doing away with the
district council also meant the
district bank account disappears.
I'm not 100 per cent sure what
happens with that money, but there
is a possibility it might be
distributed back . among the
groups."
Another change is that registration
can be done on-line.
Knox, however, said that she has
received no update or information
on this. "We hav'e set a night aside
for registration and at this point in
time we will rely on the old
system and revert to paper and
pencil."
While the leaders are a little tense
about the changes, Knox said the
group committee has been
reassuring them that they need only
keep on doing what they've done in
the past. "We have excellent
Scouters who enjoy the kids, love to
see them progress and who have
fun. If they concentrate on what
they've always done we'll' get
through."
Saying that Ontario is the lust
province to implement the change in
its entirety, Knox maintains that the
right people in the right job is what's
really important.
"They say this is .a better system.
Scout numbers have been dropping
there's no question about that, and
with this system they feel they can
support and service programs better.
Ask me this time next year and I'll
let you know."
trails was made possible through a
funding grant that was provided
through 'Take Heart Huron' of the
Huron Health Unit.
The Hullett Marsh is operated and
maintained by a non-profit
charitable organization called the
Friends of Hullett. The property is
managed by volunteers, and is
dependent on volunteers to be able
to continue to expand and improve
the Hullett Marsh for ecological and
recreational uses.
New carpeting has been installed
on the front steps of the church. New
carpeting in the narthex and
sanctuary will be laid in the fall.
Much cleanup in the sanctuary
needs to be completed before next
Sunday. If you could spare a few
hours to assist Jack Potter, the
caretaker, and the board of stewards
with this cleanup, give a member of
the board a call. They'll welcome
your help.
There will be another workday
Aug. 17. The volunteers will be
meeting at 9 a.m. at the Hullett
office located on Hydro Line Road.
They will be building an interpretive
trail that will run around the Hullett
Marsh office.
Funding is supplied by the Shell
Environmental Fund.
Volunteers are invited to bring a
barbecue lunch.
For information call David
Beamer at (519) 482-7011.
If you missed Wayne Ward and his
rolling chair about the village last
week you'll be pleased to hear he is
home again. After a brief holiday in
hospital he is ready to enjoy the
outdoors once again.
The date given last week for the
next meeting of the Cheerio Club as
Aug. 14 was in error. The next
gathering to be hosted by Reta
Keiland, is actually Aug. 21.
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296