Network Russia Meeting Minutes

Chalfont Heights 21^st October, 2000.

• The County Commissioner welcomed everyone just before the meeting as he had to rush of to another meeting

• Steph was announced as the new editor of the magazine, a new issue was sent out this week, those who haven’t received a copy will need to register with Mo Tweeny our Subscription Secretary

• Orders will be taken for those wanting Russian dolls dressed in scout uniforms by Leicester Scouts

• Congratulations were given to Peter Relph and his new Russian bride Vera. Vera and the family should be joining Peter in this country in December 2000

• Welcome to Peter Duck, from the Scout and Guide Stamp collector Club

• The group were referred to a list of members, any changes need to be sent and identified to Mo Tweeny

• Welcome to Mark Larigo from the International Scoutbase

• Eric will be available for any Network Russia sales & Barry is still selling pens

- They took 18 scouts and 11 leaders

- Set off from Heathrow to Moscow on Aeroflot with no problems, until they missed the train to Saratov by 3 minutes and therefore slept on the station until then travelling in steerage with Uzbeckistans. One wallet was stolen and it felt quite threatening at times. They then arrived at Saratov under police escort and managed to stay at the Jamboree for one and a half days before moving on to Moscow again staying in a Scout Hut.

- In Moscow visited Red Square and Lenin’s tomb and met scouts from all over the world while singing scout songs in Red Square

- They went on the train to NJandoma for the Borovoe camp before going on to Kargopol with a more relaxing and enjoyable train journey. At Kargopol they were met by lots of school children in the square with the TV interviews. They were treated as celebrities and organised with the local school a crafts day, the headmistress Ludmilla was converted to the idea of scouting and immediately wanted to start up a Scout Group.

- They all then went on to Archangel (Arkhangelsk), to be met by a band. In Archangel they went to a cinema, played local team at football and met many more friends.

- In the lead up to Peters wedding, Peter was asked to complete a number of tasks to show his intentions were good.. The wedding was a very beautiful experience, followed by a visit to a wooden museum village were Peter and Vera had the usual wedding photos taken. At the Village they were met by girls in traditional costume.

- Leicester then flew again by Areoflot to St Petersburg and were escorted with great efficiency by Roman Anokov for two days sight seeing.

- The Leicester contingent can organise Russian Dolls decorated in scout uniforms at a cost of £20.00 to include P&P Contact Gary to order Tel; 0116 281 1602.

• 10 Scouts and 3 Leaders flew via BA to St Petersburg initially which provided a pleasant warm-up to Russia. Staying at the Hotel Moscow(!) and having guided tours and meals out added to the holiday atmosphere.

• We then headed into Russia by (36 hour) train to Perm which proved to be an excellent way to see the country and meet Russians if only a little tiring. In Perm we met our partner Scout group. Introductions were brief due to time constraints because of unforeseen travel restrictions so within 16 hours of arriving there, we left, by train again, with 250 of the Perm regions Scouts for Saratov. This shorter journey again proved to be a very good way to get to know the people we would be camping with.

• Despite some problems (of our own making) everyone thoroughly enjoyed the jamboree and were sorry to leave. Organisation and entertainment were of the highest standard and provided many happy memories and valuable friendships.

• Following the jamboree we travelled by train to spend 3 days in Moscow which, though impressive, was a bit of an anticlimax after all that had gone before.

• The return journey to the UK was uneventful which was probably just as well as we were all exhausted. Our thanks to everyone who made this wonderful experience possible.

• The Russians had set up a superb team of 30 medics headed by Tatiana and assisted by Victor who spoke excellent English at a Russian field hospital. We moved in our 8 team members (which extended to 12 members throughout the camp). There was 3 wards, a dispensary and an operating theatre for minor operations. There was 2 ambulances which were used most days. Four people were hospitalised, one scout with ulcers, 2 guides , one with an allergic reaction to the camp site, and Jean with her broken arm. Torbay scouts endured anal swabs for dysentery. In total there were 101 casualties.

• The local hospitals were very good. Jean had special treatment having her operation on a Saturday when they would not normally work. They had their act together and couldn’t be faulted. Fred believed that the Brits got the best of everything, over and above what Fred suspected the Russians were getting the facilities on the site included toilets, waste disposal sights, and recycling centres and showers.

• Initially they visited St Petersburg to meet friends they have known for 7 years and lived with them in home hospitality for one week. They ran a troop night giving them jelly and custard, while the Russian hosts organised a Banja.

• They decided the Adults should try out the Banja first and had vodka and music before stripping off to be beaten by birch twigs which was fully recommended by Barry. The children enjoyed the Banja and want to build one in South Yorkshire.

• They then joined their hosts on a 36 hour train journey to Saratov in an open compartment, buying food from the sellers on the platform and almost missing the train when it left on of its stops.

• At Saratov they went to the campsite by a 4 hour river trip along the river Volga.On camp they shared in the jobs and met another group from Petrasovosk they then went on a train to Moscow staying at the hotel Rossiya doing the tourist trail.

• They missed out on an invitation by their host to go to the Black Sea as they were only invited some 6 weeks before they went.

• 32 people to include 10 leaders 22 children.

• They decided to miss out on home hospitality and therefore stayed in a hotel 40 minutes on the tube on the outskirts of Moscow. There were some strange people milling around the hotel reception area.

• They went on the train for a 16 hour train journey to Saratov, followed by a police escort to the camp. They found the camp well organised, the communication system was excellent, much better than at the last Jamboree. Malcolm couldn’t believe the difference in the 3 years.

• They went back to Moscow flying Lufthansa. Sharn on the flight out was given her wood badge.

• Malcolm was surprised at the development within Russia and what appeared now to be an European influence with cafes on street corners.

• Their contact at the last moment informed them that he couldn’t go to the camp because he had changed Jobs

• They had a 19 hour train journey to an old pioneer camp in Volgagrad.

• They had anticipated travelling with our hosts to Saratov but then discovered that they were leaving the next morning by bus. They found that their train tickets had not been booked so they queued for 3 hours for tickets and travelled comfort class. They were treated as royalty and enjoyed the camp. Heather was extremely impressed at the changes made in the 3 years and was gratified that they had listened to the changes we had suggested at the planning stage for the camp.

• Lynne’s friends and contacts decided to go to the Moscow jamboree rather than the Saratov Jamboree. Lynne was invited to visit Rubinsk for 3 days before the jamboree and her friends were good enough to collect her by car and then return her to Moscow. Lynne felt that the summer is not a good time of year to visit because all the scout leaders are busy and away at camp.

• All the scout groups in Yaroslav had decided to join ARNSO and send representatives to meetings of the Moscow District. In Rubinsk economic conditions are causing problems, they have lost there scout hut and have had to divide the groups so that some meet at a church and the other group are still deciding what to do.

• Lynne met the Guide group from Yaroslav at the jamboree ( invited by WAGGS)

• Since the Jamboree Lynne has received an email which confirmed all the Rubinsk groups have now joined ARNSO. One member, a leader from Rubinsk will be visiting East Sussex at Christmas this year.

• Peter enjoyed every minute of it and thought Saratov was beautiful. Sitting out at the café In the centre of Saratov summed up the camp for him, one of the Russians asked him if he would be returning to Russia, and he said he had to say yes.
• He was on the medical team
• The sight was wonderful, the evenings were good, he enjoyed relaxing at the bar
• Peter remembered the night of the storm and was amazed when the bar still continued serving.
• He made many friends, and is corresponding with some of them.
• Peter mentioned that the medical team had been on the local and national Russian television

• He first came involved in 1998 when some of the leaders from the jamboree came to learn some tips for running an international camp. The director of activities Svetlana was one of those attended and he felt she listened very attentively. He kept in contact with her. She was responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies and even the market. She asked him by email for ideas and solutions to some problems she was encountering. David decided to take a contingent from Cheshire to the jamboree.

• David was then asked to be contingent leader and decided that he needed to coordinate the travel arrangements, recruit a team to assist the Russian jamboree staff, and liase with all the leaders taking groups to the Jamboree.

• He decided to have 4 groups of teams, medical activities, service crew and catering.

• He had a staff selection meeting and a get together to sort out the travel documents.

• The groups made there own travel arrangements. The crew travelled together in two groups all meeting in Moscow. In Moscow the crew visited the Kremlin, the Circus, Red Square and had a bus tour around the city. Travelled to Saratov by train first class, greeted by friends on arrival.

• The service crew directed by Kevin Angell ensured there was sufficient water on the staff site and kept the site organised, tidy and the toilets cleaned. There was little work made available by the Russians.

• Freds medical team were satisfied with the arrangements made by the Russians.
• The catering team had planned to work with Russians in a joint team of caterers, there was however outside caterers brought in which made the catering team redundant.

• The activity team worked well with the Russians in the mornings and then had time off in the afternoons, they were perhaps underused in the afternoons.

• The British Pavilion was great success, our supplies of information on England had to be rationed. The Pavilion was used for meetings by both the English and the Russians.

• Dave met with the ex prime minister of Russia at the Jamboree site speaking to him for approximately 10 minutes.

• The site used for the jamboree was not the site originally intended. The original site had been in the process of being prepared for the Jamboree for 2 years with electricity supplied. Due to an outbreak of mice the venue had to be changed. The site used was next to a holiday village.

• Bill added that he had still not received a copy of the official jamboree video.

• Attended the Moscow jamboree and had then an impromptu visit of 56 Russians who decided to organise 2 coaches to travel from Moscow to Britain through France. The whole trip was organised within 3 weeks. There were a few problems with visas. They had everything in the coaches, including all their food. When they arrived approximately 12 looked a little overdressed and asked which hotel they were staying in. They turned out not to be scouts but financiers for the trip. Mike organised some hotel accommodation for them and the bus drivers and entertained them with visits to the theatre. The financiers were there to learn about scouting and came up with the finance to publish a scouting for boys magazine. Mike has arranged for badges to be purchased through a Spanish company paid for in Britain.

• There was one problem with one boy having an allergic reaction to Penicillin after being treated for a boil.

• They were surprised at the speed with which the World scout organisations decision to go with ARNSO.

• Mike has arranged for some funds for publishing bibles which will be sold in Russia for scout funds.

• Visited the Czech republic with Russian friends, meeting in Prague for 2 weeks. They were able to use bikes and boats on the lake free of charge.

• They have agreed to do a similar thing next year this time meeting in Romania.

Irene spoke introducing herself from Ekaterinburg which was a closed centre were Scouts there were deprived of meeting other people from different cultures.

- As a speaker of English and Russian she had the opportunity that others didn’t to speak with others, particularly when she was in Russia she maintained links with Cheshire.

Bill was congratulated at the jamboree for receiving his award for his contribution to Russian Scouting.

He receives your emails on anything associated with international matters.

Mark asked for your contributions and ideas about how you want to receive and have Network information on the Scoutbase.

He mentioned that other networks have there own web sites, the Russian network information is on the Scoutbase website

We were reminded that we must remember that we in the UK are ahead with our technology and that we mustn’t make the information inaccessible to those who are not so technically advanced.

Steph has taken over responsibility for the newsletter with the able assistance of one of her Scout leaders, Chris. Members are requested to pass on any information for publication

From the 2^nd October 2000 the ARNSO group has been recognised by the World organisation as the official scout organisation for Russia

Approximately three months ago the World Scout Organisation asked those that wished to object and have a say about ARNSO to be adopted as the recognised organisation for Russian Scouting, it is not known as to what the responses were.

Questions were asked as to how the Network is to react to this information in discussion groups.

Wish to stick with the contacts they have but explain to them the pragmatic advantage of them joining ARNSO. Suggested an ambassador went to speak to them – Barry Dale

Unlikely to attend a Jamboree organised with NORS as a contingent from the UK except with individual contacts

Lean on ARNSO to encourage them to contact the NORS groups and ask them to join. Invite Russian scouts to Russian Network meetings

SUPPORT NORS groups still.

Can HQ give lay mans brief on how they think things are going, we don’t have enough information available until we get to Network meetings and then we don’t have the time to consider that information

Bill explained that the HQ has little if no information from their own sources, and that more information comes through the networks links.

Decided that needed to change our aim

To encourage all Russian Scouts to belong to a unified national scout organisation and to continue to give support.

Remove the word viable in Para 4

Want to know how to encourage the people within NORS to join and want to join ARNSO and WOSM- can this be produced by headquarters as the group discussing this didn’t know what the benefits were.

We thought the president of ARNSO could come to a Network Meeting we may understand more about his organisation and we could speak to him about involving NORS, again to be fair the president of Norse should also be invited

We would also want a representative of WOSM to attend

Communication discussed, does Russian Network publish information to the HQ international Department, it was felt that information should be disseminated.

Bill reported on a meeting he and 2 other Network members had with international commissioners at the end of September 2000

Bill also reported that David Mckee and David Bull are keen to have a study visit with ARNSO members for new group contacts to be established.

Shirts and fleece information is all in the newsletter

• The notes of this meeting with agenda of the next meeting to go with the next newsletter
• Can the groups that have been publish their accounts to assist other groups planning trips to Russia as then information about say cost of coaches and hotels in Russia
• Can they also provide information about grant aid obtained.
• HQ have a booklet for 10 most popular European countries visiting, it was suggested the network could do one for Russia on a broad basis and Lynne Wordingham has volunteered to pioneer this.
• The link section Mr and Mrs Walker have two scouts from Scotland want pen-pals within Russia, Peter Crean is to become our link man
• If there is any one interested in the internet or the design of a web page for the network are to meet with Mark from Scoutbase.

It was reported back to the secretary by Peter Relph that he and Jonathon Thorpe had met with Mark Larigo of Scout Base UK to discuss a plan of action for the Network Russia web page. The first step will be to update the basic page on Scout Base, Peter Relph will undertake this as quickly as possible. The first update will not be a redesign just an update. It was decided that as there is plenty of space on the Scoutbase web page the Network will continue to occupy a place on the Scoutbase site, after redesign (a long term plan ) it should be possible for updates, newsletters and amendments to be carried out by reference to either Mark Larigo or Peter Relph.

networkrussia.org.ukwww

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