Thursday, 6th February 2014
Dear All,
Re: Appointment of a Group Scout Leader – 5th Lancaster
I am delighted to inform you that I have appointed Iain Taylor as the Group Scout Leader (GSL) at 5th Lancaster Scout Group. Iain will be known to all of you through his involvement as Assistant Cub Scout Leader .
Iain in enthusiastic and determined to carry on the excellent work that Velma Keating did whilst she was GSL and is looking forward to working with and supporting you all. Iain is rightly enthusiastic about the potential 5th Lancaster has, and is focussed on helping the group achieve it. His organisational skills, enthusiasm and drive mean that he is well placed to lead the group, and I know he will benefit from the support of you all.
I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Velma Keating for everything she has done as Group Scout Leader over the past seventeen years. Velma approaches everything with a sense of fun, good humour and a caring and nurturing persona that has benefitted the hundreds of children that have been through the group in her tenure. I am delighted that Velma will continue as the new Beaver Scout Leader at the group.
5th Lancaster has committed leaders, good support from the parents and the community and is in a great place to move forward. To that end Iain and I have agreed some objectives to guide our work in the coming months:
• Review the training needs of all adults in the group, and support them through the appropriate training.
• Iain to complete his MSS (GSL) Training
• Hold regular Group Leaders meetings (separately from the Group Executive Committee)
• Strengthen the Group Executive Committee with new members
• Create a group linking and group development plan.
• Identify opportunities for parental and adult recruitment and the recruitment of more young people.
I will be working with Iain in the coming weeks to discuss ways in which the District team can support in these areas. 5th Lancaster is in a strong position, with opportunities to grow membership, offer more nights away and offer more opportunities to the growing population of young people in the area.
The group has an exciting future and I’d like to remind you that the District are committed to supporting the group in any way that we can.
Finally, thank you all, for everything that you do for the young people in your group. Scouting is a wonderful organisation and we all do our bit to make a difference.
Yours in Scouting,
Craig Dewar
District Commissioner
