Encompass Issue 52 – May 2013 - Kawana Scouts

General ManagerOutdoors CompeonsThere are three excing compeons run by QORF, the QueenslandOutdoor Recreaon Federaon (Scouts are a memberorganisaon), that Scouts need to be aware of:1. Queensland Young Adventurer scholarship for a youngperson or group of young people (16 – 26 years old) up to$2500. Fancy any funding for an excing expedion?2. “It’s beer Outdoors” Photo Compeon: there are sevencategories of this Please consider those people you knowwho may be interested and/or eligible to take part.3. Visioning the Outdoors Short Film Compeon: entries willclose 21 June, 2013.Our members are ideally placed to apply and enter. Please promotethem within your area; we have so many members, there should bemore Scout entries. For more informaon on these compeons,please check out the QORF website www.qorf.org.au.2014 Calendar – photos and sponsorshipScouts Queensland is also looking for some great photos too. Weare planning to produce a 2014 Scouts Queensland calendar. If youhave any photos of Scout acvies that you would like us toconsider for inclusion, please let the Markeng and PromoonsManager (markengmanager@scoutsqld.com.au) know.There is also an opportunity to adverse in a calendar that will bedistributed across the state. If you belong to a business ororganisaon which may be interested in adversing in the calendar,please let the Markeng and Promoons Manager(markengmanager@scoutsqld.com.au) know and we will providedetails on the adversing rates.Membership FeesBy the me this Encompass edion is out, the invoices formembership renewal fees will be with the Group. Please take stepsto have all the renewal fees paid on me (30 day terms). All exisngmembers (as at 1 April) are invoiced a renewal fee, which is lowerthan previous years. There is an increase for new members but thisreflects the actual cost of enrolment. This is the new membershipfee structure for the Branch.Safety and ComplianceIt is essenal that our properes are safe and compliant withlegislaon. To ensure that this occurs, and idenfy and address anyissues that may exist, we are embarking on an important mulstage project, starng with a Branch-wide survey. We are alsotaking this opportunity to gather data on our properes forinsurance purposes. Insurers will be able to provide lowerpremiums if we can provide beer informaon.The first step is the “Queensland Branch Property and FaciliesAudit 2013”. Recently a paper copy was sent to all formaonleaders (GLs, DCs, RCs, etc) with a link to the online “surveymonkey” version, so that the data can be collated efficiently. Weare asking that every “Scout” building is inspected with reference tothe survey quesons. I understand that this is a big project, pleasemake it a team effort and share the load. I would encourageeveryone to ask others to assist.16Ian Lightbodygm@scoutsqld.com.auWith the survey data, we need to then come up with a plan. Somebuildings will need aenon; hopefully this can be done locally andare low cost. However, there may be a need for more substanalwork requiring grant funding or donaons, and we can help withthat.The highest priority is that the buildings are safe. Thank you foryour ancipated support and assistance with this project.Bunk Bed LegislaonAs part of the “Queensland Branch Property and Facilies Audit2013” the state of bunk beds is being assessed. In October 2012new bunk bed legislaon came into force, and Scout campsiteshave taken measures to ensure that our bunk beds are eitherdisabled (for bunk rooms used by those under 9 years of age) orcompliant. At present, Camp Cooroora (Cooroy) and TyamolumCampsite (Mt Crosby) are the only two campsites to be assessed asbeing compliant; others will follow.The Fair Trading website provides the following advice on bunk bedsafety:• Only children over nine years of age should use bunk beds.(but no Joey Scouts or Cub Scouts)• Consider using single beds as a safer alternave to bunkbeds.• Don't allow children to play on bunk beds.• Allow at least two metres of clearance between ceiling fansand bunk beds.• Ensure the ladder is firmly fixed to the bunk bed.• Ensure there are no gaps of between 95mm and 230mmthat could trap your child's head.• On the top bunk, make sure that the top of the guardrail is atleast 160mm above the top of the maress to preventchildren rolling out.It is important to restate that there is now a policy that all JoeyScouts and Cub Scouts are prohibited from using the upper bunk ofbunk beds. We understand that the new legislaon will restrict thenumber of sites that can be used by medium to large sized JoeyScout Mobs and Cub Scout Packs but we are bound by thelegislaon and this policy. Thank you for your understanding.A BIG THANK YOU!!!I would like to express my sincere thanks to the work being done byour growing volunteer army at the Queensland Scout Centre. It ismaking a real difference and making a valuable contribuon to theorganisaon. If you can help in the office, spread mulch or weed thegarden, plant trees or help as a weekend warden at one of ourcampsites, please let us know.Many of you will know Shaun Sandilands, our Markeng andPromoons Manager. He finishes up in this role on Friday 10 May tofurther his chosen career but will connue in his volunteerposions. Shaun has been a dedicated and enthusiasc member ofstaff. We thank him for his fine efforts and wish him all the verybest for the future. Farewell.