• Bill Turnball welcomed everyone but in particular our Russian Guests, Irina and Vera
• It was noted Ernie Johnson has recently been awarded with a gift marking 70 years of Scouting
• Welcome from the Chairman of the management committee of Hesley wood
• Rikki the warden also explained that the site was opened in 1949 and includes 149 acres of wood, a training centre, a crew building and in total 4 accommodation blocks. This year there are plans for building a multi activity climbing frame and an activity licence has been obtained
• Brochures were made available
• A plaque was presented to the Hesley wood staff as a thank you

• Edited version given, Steph Roberts who had been leading the group at the last minute was injured leaving Tina to lead the group. First night the kids decide to explore Russia alone, thankfully they arrived home before 2am Which was the deadline for the bridge opening in St Petersburg
• The Scouts enjoyed the train journey to camp the best
• Attended a museum on route (space exhibits)
• Arrived at Jamboree to camp with Zuberry troop from Perm region
• Glossed over events of jamboree
• Notes available for viewing
• There are plans for their hosts to make a return visit

East Sussex (Don)

• Anticipating a visit from their contact Rita
• East Sussex are planning to extend there links with Rubinsk and Yaroslav

• 14 Russians anticipated from Archangel for the International camp at Charnwood (www.leicscouts.uk)
• Russian Dolls painted in the present Scout uniform are not available at the moment, they will let us know when they were available again (made in Archangel)

John Thorpe (left message will Bill)

• plans to travel to Rumania with Russian Scouts are still going to plan

• The guides official photographer from the Jamboree has placed the best pick of her pictures on CD Rom , copies are now available from Emma Davies at a fee

• The video with English commentary has been produced and Dave Hollinshead and Mike Benyon who are in Russia at this moment are collecting the video from Pasha so it should be available for viewing at the next meeting
• Copies are likely to be around £10.00 to £15.00

Crass stitch banner

• Jo Finlay (South Yorkshire) can arrange for someone to assist the groups with the cross stitch patches if the groups design there patches
• Around the edge it is proposed to sew group name tapes around the banner

• Barry and Paul have found a base 180k (2 hours on the train) north of St Petersburg close to the border of Finland which could be used and advertised nationally to run both Duke of Edinburgh award expeditions and Explorer belt expeditions
• Some photos of the site covered in snow are available, it was thought that this would be a way to promote the network, create a base for the network members to visit, encourage Russian teenage Scouts as Interpreters
• Plan to visit next year for an assessment, if the project is thought to be a good idea
• This matter was to be further discussed in the afternoon session.

The Aim of the Network (Bill Turnball)

Bill proposed and the meeting adopted the aim ;

• Network Russia is a group of people whose aim is to work in partnership with Scouting in Russia to enable their continued development within the World Organisation of the Scout Movement
• The Network provides a source of support for;
  • Encouraging exchanges and visits between Russian And UK Scouts
  • Sharing and coordinating experiences and plans
  • Providing training and material support
• Working with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement
• The benefits to UK Scouting are;
  • An improved programme for our members in this country
  • Greater awareness of the international dimension of Scouting
  • Experience of working in partnership with people in the development process
  • Experience of planning and delivering successful expeditions and projects
• The network meets twice a year, normally in March and October, at a variety of venues in the UK and produces a Network publication obtainable through subscription (forms can be obtained from the International Department at Gilwell Park). In addition the Network offers a presentation of the Network’s achievements and future plans and how it can help your involvement in Scouting in Russia

Website (Eric/Chris)

Eric has noticed that other networks are more advanced with there Web sites. Ours looks like it has not been updated since 1997

• Chris mentioned that a Microsoft community that has been set up, anyone who is a member can amend or add information to the site, the details of which are in the latest newsletter
• The manager of the site can decide who is allowed to be a member as this will restrict unwanted material being put on the site
• Bill mentioned that headquarters want us to be on Scout Base UK because the content is monitored.
• There can be links put in place between Scout Base UK and the community site.

Guide to Russia (Scout Publications)

Headquarters would like the Network to produce the copy for a brochure or note which can be provided to groups contemplating planning trips to Russia

• Travel, ideas, cultural ideas , places to stay, camp sites to visit
• A volunteer is needed to do the copy and then headquarters will produce it all
• John Thorpe, Gary, Anne and Kevin have agreed to assist

Using International Networks to get things done

• This is a draft document that David bull has been working on
• Part 3 of the documents looks at national fellowship’s which the Network considered some years ago.
• Bill wanted to raise the Network becoming a fellowship.
• It was suggested that the name could remain the same, we could register as a charity and this will lead to access to funding for study visits etc.
• It would assist those who have given assistance to the network who have not been members of the Scout Association, they would then not need to join other county or district fellowships to attend International Jamborees..
• The disadvantages include formalising our administration.

• We could readdress the system for subscriptions, with having a treasurer
• The motion was passed, so Bill will now look to setting up this
• It was agreed we would need

Chairman, Treasurer, Membership secretary, Minutes secretary, Guide liaison officer

• those voted and seconded Bill Turnball-Chairman

Eric Chapman- Treasurer

Fred Russell- membership Secretary

Rachel Strong – minutes Secretary

Anne Maher- guide liaison officer

• It was mentioned that an AGM would have to be held, it was suggested that the March meeting would be the appropriate venue each year.
• Eric proposed to keep his signatories, John and Malcolm Race on the Networks bank account it was more convenient for him to keep the signatories within his District- this was approved.
• The membership fees will now go through Eric accounts
• Subs for People who are already paying capitation fees will be £5.00 per year collected by Fred Russell. Others will have to pay the capitation fees in addition to this.
• The financial year will run from 1^st February 2001 to 31^st January 2002 and then continuing each year.

• Eric produced his accounts and went through each item, the accounts are to be signed and audited by Nigel Bairstow. He is the District Treasurer for West Bradford who we will appoint as Auditor for the Networks fellowship accounts
• The bank account is in the name of Network Russia Scouts
• Current bank balance £234.63
• Income £3472.01 for the period 29^th May 2000- 31^st January 2001
• Expenditure £3237.38 for the same period

• ERIC proposed to provide the plaques to each campsite we visit
• Claire asked the availability of the network badges, Eric will ask David Mckee if he has a supply otherwise will ask him to order them.
• Claire and Kevin are attending a jamboree in Sussex and will look to sourcing promotional material and selling the badges.
• Eric has noticed other networks have their own neckers/ scarfs
• The fellowship are redesigning their badge as they are no longer allied to the international fellowship organisation.
• Eric will look in to obtaining nametapes.
• Fred maybe able to source pin badges from the U.S. although Eric maybe able to find a source as well (Middle East)
• Suggestion of having a car windscreen sticker.

Newsletter

• Chris is responsible for the technical side of the newsletter and Steph coordinates and gathers the information.
• It is suggested that those with access to the net can take it of the net , or receive it by email as this will save some postage costs.
• It is proposed that Torbay Scouts deal with the Distribution and reclaim their costs from the Treasurer
• There will be two productions each year
• The copy date will be 31^st August 2001 for the next edition.
• We will combine the booking forms for the next meeting in the next edition.
• It was asked that the next copy be out for the Gilwell reunion

Interest Groups

Study visiy to ARNSO - Don

The objective was to bring new leaders (up to a maximum of 32) to visit new areas to make new links, for October 2002

• Thought that the Leaders would want to visit Moscow before going of into about 3 different directions
• We would want the leaders to experience simple/student type accommodation as the scouts would be more likely to experience this type of accommodation.
• Visits would be set up for Schools , and home hospitality
• Would need experienced leaders to take the three groups to the new regions of Russia

Grand tour of NORS - Bill/Barry

Agree a small expedition would be good thing to gather information about where the groups stood , whether they understood NORS had been accepted in to WOSM In an informal atmosphere

• Felt September / October would be the best time to visit
• Felt 3 to 4 members from the network to attend

Explorer Belt/Queesn Scout Award/D of E

• Look at the 22-24 year old that would fall into the new age range for Scouts
• Make sure only capable children/ youngsters take part
• Formed a small group to take this matter forward
• Look to next Easter to send the first party out to survey and test the theory
• Agreed there was a lot of interest
• Aimed to make this an annual event

Steph asked that everyone share there ideas

Red , white and blue with network logo

Jean Carter was awarded a certificate by the Leicester members in recognition of her experiences in Russia

networkrussia.org.ukwww

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