When I heard that the first conference bringing together the Guide and Scout Associations on this Island was happening in Fermanagh, I had to go. I love being part of history. The six associations were Irish Girl Guides, Catholic Guides of Ireland, The Guide Association, The Northern Ireland Scout Association and Scouting Ireland SAI/CSI. Venturers and Rangers getting together to discuss Development, bound to be fun.
I had never been on a Venturer Weekend before so I was a bit concerned at my ability to mingle with the others. I needn't have worried. A friendlier bunch of people I have yet to meet. The craic was mighty. I was tired from the travel and a hard week so I went to bed at 01:30. Some of the others managed to make it back at 4:30. Yet the energy and the buzz was so great already that everybody was up for breakfast at 9.
We opened the conference and straight into the forum. We saw the results of a survey that the Youth Council of Ireland had commissioned. It impressed upon us that young people have many other activities to choose from and that Venturing had to compete with this. We could do a better job though so we broke into smaller groups to discuss how we make Venturing better. After lunch came my highlight of the weekend. Ian McKeever a PR consultant spoke very positively about how scouting could improve its message to the Public in several easy managed steps. A lot of people thought that it was just typical PR talks from a smooth suave operator. We challenge him to back up what he was saying. He did not balk or run. He said "let's do it". In two hours of concentrated effort we had devised a plan to promote the EXPLORER BELT on a national scale. It seemed easy with Ian on board to guide us. Anyway watch your TV and listen to the radio, Venturing is going big! .
On Sunday Walter Rader brought us through the 3C's of
Communication, Co-operation and Co-ordination. Another excellent
speaker who charged us all up with enthusnism for Venturing and
how we can make it better. With all this energy about we met with
members of our Association and shared info and discussed how we
can do things better. There was no talk of starting tomorrow or
next week. We were starting now.
The Venturers and the Rangers are forming a grouping called CAT (Co-operation
and Training) to bring the groups closer together. This will
start its real work in June as the members are doing the Leaving
Cert. They didn't ask permission but just did it. Venturing for
young people by young people. CAT hope to lead the way for the
Associations to move closer together. Other fresh ideas which
came from the floor was one shared HQ. A magazine called RAVE(RAngers
and Venturers). Better Communication and more modern
communication.
In all honesty I can say that the weekend was a huge success and
that amount of energy that everybody had was amazing. When the
next conference comes around; Go on it.
Robert Batt, 164th Brackenstown.