Eurofax 62 (November 1997)
Ray Saunders (rsaunders@WORLD.SCOUT.ORG)
Thu, 6 Nov 1997 14:24:33 -0800
Eurofax is the monthly newsletter of the European Region. It is produced by
the European Scout Office and is distributed by fax to all member
associations in the European Scout Region and the Europe Region WAGGGS, and
others. This text-only version is distributed as an additional service to
members. Reproduction of articles without alteration is encouraged but
Eurofax should be acknowledged as the source of the information.
Scout & Guide Centre Managers' Conference
Seventy five participants met at the Irene Tsimbouki Training Centre near
Athens, Greece to take part in the 5th European Scout & Guide Centre
Managers' Conference, 8-11 October, representing 47 centres from 17
countries in Europe, and several National Organisations. The conference
strengthens and develops co-operation between Scout and Guide Centres and
facilitates working relations amongst their staff members. It offers a
valuable forum for managers of many different types of Centres to meet,
exchange ideas and discuss subjects of common interest. Topics discussed at
the conference included the role of Scout and Guide centres in Europe,
international voluntary staff, safety standards in activities, the use of
evaluations at a centre and the Europe For You ! programme. Participants
ran workshops on a wide range of topics including the use of the Internet,
environmental activities and EuroSteps. Participants also visited Athens
and the local area to experience a Greek evening organised by the Greek
Girl Guides Association. There was a general feeling that the conference
was very worthwhile for all concerned and it is to be hoped that the links
made will continue to grow to the benefit of all your young people. A
special thanks must go to all those who worked so hard to ensure that the
conference was a success. Any Centre interested in hosting the next
conference, (planned for Autumn 1999), should contact John Moffat,
Director, Kandersteg International Scout Centre, CH-3718 Kandersteg,
Switzerland. Tel: (+41.33) 675 82 82 Fax: (+41.33) 675 82 89 Email:
kandersteg@world.scout.org
The Voice of Europe - 17 - 23 January 1998
This European seminar aims to identify how to enable young people to
participate in a democratic process so that they become more active
citizens. At the end, participants will have shared their experience with
others and developed an action plan which their association can use to
achieve the wider aim of the "Voice of Europe". Participants should be aged
between 18 and 30, able to communicate effectively in English and/or
=46rench, a broad understanding/knowledge of communication and an interest i=
n
promoting involvement of young people in active citizenship and should have
experience of a decision making process at national level and the
possibility to participate in this process.. Pfadfinderdorf Zellhof has
been developed by the Salzburg Scouts and Guides into an international
campsite on the edge of Lake Grabensee, near Salzburg. The fee is
BEF 14,000 for each participant. Completed application forms must be
returned to the European Guide and Scout Office by 28 November 1997.
Contact your International Commissioner for further information.
EuroSteps
The EuroSteps '98 booklet is at our printer and we expect to have completed
the initial distribution to national associations by the end of this month.
Thanks to all those national associations which responded to our
questionnaire seeking information about the number of copies required.
EuroSteps are sites where young people aged 16-22 can participate in
projects on the themes of exploration and discovery, quality of life,
democracy, culture, solidarity and career and social skills. There are 63
EuroSteps available in 21 countries in Europe and, for the first time, one
in our neighbouring Arab region, in Tunisia.
Where to Stay in Europe
Where to Stay in Europe 1998 - the directory of Scout Centres and Guide
Centres in Europe - is at an advanced stage of production. This new edition
increases the number of centres represented to 280 in 23 countries.
National associations will receive their copies in December.
Jamboree on the Internet - first success!
The first official World Scout Jamboree on the Internet was held on the
weekend of 18-19 October, at the same time as the 40th Jamboree on the Air.
Nearly 100,000 'hits' were recorded on World Organization pages on the
Internet during the week of JOTI; there was also a significant increase in
traffic during the weeks leading up to the event, and during the week
following. An email address list/guest book was provided for groups to post
information about themselves and to invite messages from others. 753
entries were made from 76 countries/territories These include 70 - or
almost half - of WOSM's 146 member countries. Chatting was also a popular
activity. At one time, some 700 people were logged on to the same network,
with at least 6 channels operating in English, and others in other
languages. A report is being compiled by the World Scout Bureau and all
feedback is appreciated: JOTI@world.scout.org
V=E4ssar=F6 Basic Leader's Training Course
The Swedish Guide and Scout Association invites participants from other
countries to take part in one of its basic leader's training courses
(pre-Woodbadge/Trefoil). The course will be open to Swedish participants
but the working language will be English. Participants will be divided into
patrols for cooking and sleeping outdoors (two tents per patrol: one for
men, one for women). Classes will be held both indoors and outdoors. The
programme will be organized in cooperation between the course team and the
participants and it will include basic leadership knowledge, basic
knowledge in group dynamics, development of young people, experiences of
Scout programmes from different parts of the world. Dates: 2-9 August 1998.
Cost: Approximately SEK 1,750 (all except travel included). Leader in
charge: Mr Mikael Goldberg, Member of the Board of the Swedish Guide and
Scout Association. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and must
be members of a Scout or Guide Association recognized by WOSM or WAGGGS.
More information on these courses may be obtained from the Stockholm
District of the Swedish Guide and Scout Association. Email:
stockholm.ssf@mail.scout.se.
N.B.: Leaders considering participating in this course are advised to check
beforehand with their own national association as to whether such
participation can be considered as a valid part of their personal leader
training.
H=E4nder 98
H=E4nder is the Swedish word for hands, and H=E4nder 97 - the handicraft cam=
p
at V=E4ssar=F6 Scout Centre - is a genuine handicraft course in a camp site
setting. Leaders from 18 years of age and upwards that are members of Scout
or Guide Associations recognized by WOSM and/or WAGGGS and course team
members eat, sleep and work outdoors. The various types of handicraft
include the making of a knife - from the welding of the blade to the making
of the sheath; sewing an anorak or a bagpipe out of reindeer hide; working
with wool; creating old utility articles by the way of axe or knife; making
rope; weaving baskets; outdoor ceramics; tar burning etc. Let's not forget
the small talk, the singing and storytelling that easily takes place while
crafting. H=E4nder is a highly popular course among Swedish leaders, which i=
s
why we recommend a swift preliminary application. The course can accept up
to 60 participants, most of them being Swedish. English, however, is a
widely spoken language and handicraft is certainly possible to teach and
learn through "learning by doing"! Dates: June 21-27 1998 Cost:
Approximately SEK 1,700 (some handicrafts require an additional
SEK 500-2000). Food and lodging on V=E4ssar=F6 included in the price. For
further information, please contact the leader in charge: Mr Hardy Hedskog
<hardy.bibbi@mbox300.swipnet.se>
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
World Scouting was exhibited during the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (Edinburgh, 21st -25th October 1997). The Movement plays an
important role in the Commonwealth, as every member country has a National
Scout Organisation. The stand offered an interesting and informative look
at World Scouting today. The exhibit was prepared in cooperation with The
Scout Association (UK).
The final word=8A
Here is your chance to offer 'the final word=8A' on a topic related to
international Scouting or Guiding. Send your text to the European Guide and
Scout Office. Maximum 130 words, please! Views expressed here are personal
and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the publishers.
I am a member of the generation which generally does not like politics.
Researches say that we observe politics as a dirty game of interests. But
the fact is that politics is the only civilized way of solving problems,
removing obstacles and making this world moving forward. What else remains
if not politics - conflicts and wars. We also know it in Europe. My sincere
belief is that this is your great responsibility as parliamentarians of the
world to try harder to make politics more clear and easy to understand. By
this you will make it more attractive for young people. One of the most
dangerous situations in public life is when citizens are not interested in
what is going on in their country. Especially young people must have wide
knowledge of public affairs and must feel that these affairs affect their
life. Only in this way we will build what is called "the conscious
citizenship" and what Scouting works very hard for.
Piotr Borys
International Commissioner, ZHP (Poland)
addressing the House of Representatives in Manila,=0Bduring the Assembly of
the=0BWorld Scout Parliamentary Union, 20 August 1997
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
