District Commissioner’s Parent/Leader Centenary Challenge
We will all be busy this year with the Centenary Celebrations and can use all the help we can get. Headquarters have suggested that we get parents involved this year to a greater extent then usual (after all almost half of our leadership comes from parents who offer to help).
To promote this the District has come up with the idea of a Centenary Challenge. It is mainly aimed at the parents but can also be completed by Leaders. Adults will be asked to give up to 100 hours to their Group. This could be in the form of administrative assistance (collecting subs at meetings, keeping records etc.) or helping at section meetings or outings or at Group events or with maintenance of buildings or equipment. Parents may have a particular skill which they could use. The range of help is not limited as long as it involves the parents in supporting Scouting.
In recognition of the time and help given the District will supply certificates which can be presented to the participants. The Group AGM in 2008 could be a suitable occasion to make the presentation (and could be a spur to get more parents to attend). Not every individual can give 100 hours so there will be staged levels of achievement of 25, 50 and 75 hours. For 100 hours there will be in addition to the certificate a lapel badge. The District will provide the certificates and badges. It could be that an individual could not provide the help by themselves so families could work together to get the award.
All Groups will need to do is sign up the parents and keep a record of the hours given and ask the District for the appropriate number and type of certificate required. It will up to the Groups to be responsible for ensuring that the hours are put in.
In order not to leave out our hard working Leaders the scheme will be extended to them. They will need to do the hours outside of the usual time they give to section meetings and regular Group events. (A Leader taking their section to the District Centenary Camp for the full camp of 3 nights will rack up at least 70 hours). For Leaders in addition to the certificate the District will provide a cloth badge to be worn on the uniform during 2008.
Below is a letter to give to parents. This can also be downloaded as a ready-to-print PDF file (Parent/Leader Centenary Challenge Letter):
District Commissioner’s Centenary Challenge
Dear Parent
As part of Scouting’s Centenary Celebrations the District is issuing a challenge to all parents to help their son’s or daughter’s Group.
Can you give some time to help us to provide better Scouting for our members? It could be anything from helping at section meeting (taking subs, keeping records etc.) to helping with the Group (administration, maintenance of buildings or equipment, catering for events or helping with fund raising). Anything will be welcome e.g. helping to drive the young people to camp. Staying on to help at the camp, apart from being great fun would add almost 50 hours for a weekend to the total.
As this is our Centenary we are hoping that people will be able to give up to 100 hours over 2007 but we know that everyone is busy so there will be intermediate stages of 25, 50 and 75 hours. If an individual person cannot give all the time themselves, how about involving all the family in a joint effort?
In recognition of your time and thank you we will provide a certificate for the appropriate number of hours given. For 100 hours in addition to the certificate there will also be a lapel badge. Certificates will be presented after the end of the Centenary Year at a suitable Group Event.
All you need to do is to let one of the Leaders know you want to take part (as well as helping!). We will do the rest.