LEADERS CONFERENCE

FERMANAGH

On the weekend of the 25^th of February Leaders from the six scouting and guiding organisations north and south meet in Fermanagh for a very special conference. I think I can say that not one person went home on Sunday who did not have a good time.

After arriving on Friday night and settling into are chalets and signing up for activities a bit of supper was had by all followed by an ice breaking game. After every body got acquainted we all settled down in the Share centres lounge for some entertainment from a rather foxy local singer. Even Therese Courtney was heard to sing followed by Brian Ennis, fare play to him but I think we will leave it to the girl’s, as they are easier on the eye, sorry Brian. The lounge stayed open till about 1o’clock, no Sunday closing over the border thank god. So after that we all retired to chalet 9 for a bit of chat and a couple of songs, but off to bed for an early start to the conference on Saturday morning.

Saturday 26^th saw the official start to the conference after breakfast at 8:00 the conference kicked of at 9:30 with a brief welcome and the aim of the weekend from Dave Monaghan. At 10:00 we had are first speaker Mr Eamonn Waters on the changing trends, policies and needs off the attending associations, a well structured talk that made a lot of us think about where are organisations are and where they are going. After a brief question and answer session we split into groups for are first workshop. Were for the first time the members of each association sat down together to discuss how we currently run are groups and how we see things for the future, I personally got a lot out of this workshop as I did with them all. Then for some light relief we sat down for tea and coffee. This was followed by are first activity the raft race, with materials provided each group set about building a canoe type vessel. After an hour of frantic designing and building my groups craft hit the water but like the Titanic failed to survive its maiden voyage and like a proud captain Tony Smith went down with his ship. But after a rescue and salvage operation we headed for lunch and then on with the conference.

The second speaker Mr Ian Mc Keever from Today FM’s AA roadwatch talked to us on corporate image, marketing and fundraising. This particular topic caught a lot of peoples attention as he talked about the image of are organisations and how it is possible to put a structure in place to help improve are image. A lot of people had question on this topic and Mr Mc keever was very helpful in his answers and decided to join us for dinner and stayed the night in the centre. This was followed by another workshop on how to get the right image of ventures and rangers across to the public. More tea and coffee and back to have a presentation on the days two workshops, a lot of good ideas came out of those workshops and all involved should be proud of there work now lets see if we can implement some of those ideas.

At 5:00 we had are activities such as swimming, go-carting, climbing, archery, sailing and pottery. My choice was climbing which was a surprise to even me, as heights are something I am not too fond off. But challenges are what are organisations are all about so I had ago and surprised myself with the small task for some of making it up a climbing wall and back down. Then it was of to the shower to be nice and fresh for mass at 7:00.

At 8:00 it was into the blues, navies, browns and greens for the formal dinner before which Mark Geraghty and Suzy Lynam presented a proposal for the marketing of the explorer belt 2000 with the much-appreciated help of Mr Mc Keever. A very enjoyable dinner was had by all and then we retired to the lounge for a kareokee night, which left nothing else to do but retire to chalet 10 for a late night sins-song.

Scouts own on Sunday morning was well but together, prayers, stories and songs presented by members of the associations made it even that bit more enjoyable. Ten thirty saw are final speaker Mr Walter Rader speak to us on The Three C’s, Communication, Co-Operation and Co-Ordination. He explained to us why there is no reason why any one of are organisations separately or combined can not use these practices to help us all in the future.

I can not forget to mention the youth participation in the weekend who joined us for some of the conference and had their own conference in Enniskillen.They had there own ideas for the future of ventures and rangers, and as the future of are organisations their participation and ideas were welcome by all present. On Sunday afternoon they presented there plans to help the associations organise more joint national activities to make sure this first step is but one of many in the years to come.

Lunch was followed by the final comments and notices and then it was time for us all to say are good byes but hopefully for to long. A lot of contacts and friends were made over the weekend, which should lead to more joint activities.

I think it would be fare for me to say that everybody had a great weekend and as usual the craic was had by all. Hopefully this is the first step in the future of all the associations and I look forward to next year and all we can accomplish between then and now.

Gerard Rice