The Woggle

GSL's Update

I hope you all had a good Xmas break and I wish you all every success for 2008. We have another year of variety and fun planned for the members of the group. (See overleaf)

2007 ends with top awards
6 members of our Group finished our Centenary year by receiving the top awards of their section.

Reuben Knight, Freddie Steel and Bailey MacCallum from Aspen Beaver Colony were presented with their Chief Scout's Bronze Award by Nigel Valette the District Commissioner for Havant.

A few days later Rory Kelly, Alex Blake and Harry Hick of Jupiter Cubs received their Chief Scout's Silver award.

These awards mean that 42 top awards were presented in 2007.

5000 Cards Delivered - Thank You
Thank you to everyone who helped us with our Xmas card delivery before Christmas. Over 5000 cards were sorted by our Explorers in record time and delivered before Christmas. This raised over £900 profit for the group.

Have you Joined our 100 Club

The first draw of our 2008 100 Club will take place at the end of January. It is not too late to join us. The cost is £24 for the year and you will have the chance to win one (or more) of 41 prizes ranging between £25 and £100. For details contact Lorna on 92341445 or get an application form online at www.haylingscouts.org.uk

Our Show

One of our two Group Events this year will be our first "Gang Show" for 10 years. We will be performing on Friday 29th February and twice on Saturday 1st March at the Hayling School. Why not come along and be entertained by our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers who will be performing a series of songs, sketches and scams. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for Children and Senior Citizens and can be purchased from any Leader, our ticket offices on 92462786 or by visiting the Hayling Bookshop in Mengham or Belmont Barbers in West Town.

Family Fun Day

Another date for your diary is Saturday June 28th when we are holding a family fun day on Hayling. You will receive more details on this event after Easter, but please make a note in your diaries now, for what promises to be a great day of different activities.

Census Shows Increase
I have just completed our annual Census and our youth membership has increased by over 10%. The biggest increase has been in the Scout Section (ages 10 to 14). This is a positive reflection on our Leaders who continue to give freely of their time and has no doubt been helped by the increased publicity from our Centenary Year.

Explorers Bag Packing
In the days leading up to Christmas, visitors to Asda in Bedhampton would have found many of our Explorers offering to Pack bags. This fund raising activity is in support of their expedition to Switzerland in 2009. Well done to all of you who took part.

Explorers to Switzerland
In 2009 30 Explorers from Hayling will be taking part in a County Expedition to the Kandestag Scout center in Switzerland. Apart from spending time in the Swiss Alps, the Explorers will be able to try Ice Climbing, Gorge Running and other adventurous activities not readily available in the UK. The expedition also coincides with the Swiss National Day when they will join the residents of the local villages in a carnival.

Aspen Beaver Sleepover
The Beavers of Aspen Colony spent a weekend of games, activities and watching films at their annual Sleep over in December. Every Aspen Beaver took part and their activities included a Craft base, Archery and working their way around an indoor Assault course.

Their weekend finished with the presentation of a Centenary Neckerchief to Rob Bond for his help during the weekend and for his support throughout our Centenary Year.

30 Trees Planted
20 Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Leaders spent a saturday morning recently planting 30 trees in Copse Lane Hayling. This planting not only helps the environment but also meets some of the requirements of the Group Environmental Badge. Our thanks to Rob Bond for finding a suitable location for our trees.

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Christingle Services
Our Beavers and Cubs took part in 2 Christingle Services leading up to Christmas. 36 members of Redwood beavers and Jupiter Cubs attended a District service in Havant, whilst a similar number from Aspen Beavers and Saturn Cubs joined the service at St Peter's Church on Hayling.

Help us to reduce Paper
Over the past year we have managed to send this newsletter and other information online to more than 60% of Parents and supporters. If you are a user of email and the internet but have received this newsletter on paper, then you can help by subscribing to our online communications.

Whilst we will need your email address, I can assure you that we will not provide this information to anyone outside of the Hayling Scout Group. Our leaders are starting to use email to keep parents up to date with their programmes and activities and this is proving to be of great benefit to everyone. If you wish to receive information online then go to our website at www.haylingscouts.org.uk and select the "Contact Us" on the top right. If you are reading this online - Thank You!

Book Sale Raises £600
Our last book sale held at the beginning of December raised over £600 profit for the group. We would like to thank everyone who came along to peruse and buy some of the 8000 books on offer. Our next sale is on the 31st May 2008.

Standing Order

Many of our parents now pay their subs via Standing Order. This has the benefit of a regular monthly outgoing and helps the Leaders and our Subs team by reducing the administration at the beginning of each term. If you would like to pay subs this way then ask your leader for a form with a view to starting in April 2008.

Gift Aid
This term we will again be following up with all parents who are not yet signed up to ask you to allow us to collect Gift Aid on your subs. All we need is your approval and that you are a payer of Income Tax. We do not require any financial details.