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October 16 Voyageur Council COVID Update

Voyageur Council COVID Update
October 16, 2020
***Voyageur Council to remain in Stage 1 at this time***
 
Dear Scouters,
 
Following the guidance from public health authorities in Ontario and Quebec, we continue to recommend virtual programming for all Scouting activities. Accordingly, we are not prepared to lift our in-person pause at this time.
 
We, as the Council Key 3, appreciate the feedback we have received to date. We continue to assess provincial and local health authorities’ guidelines and will assess the feasibility of geographically-limited reactivation of in-person Scouting activities as part of next week's update.
 
We recognise that this pause has impacted fall plans and we sincerely hope we will be able to safely return to in-person activities soon. In the mean time, we encourage all of our Scouters to review all of the virtual resources available at https://www.scouts.ca/news-and-events/covid-19/welcome-back-resources.html and to check out the training modules available through the David Huestis Learning Centre.
 
Looking for other ideas for what your Sections could get up to during the in-person pause? Why not check out the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) event being run by the National Museum's Radio Team (see below) as a great way to get involved with the broader Scouting community! There is additional information below as well about an upcoming opportunity for members of the Council to speak to the Voyageur Council Voting Members, head of our National Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November.
 
Also, it’s not too late to register for the free event to discuss resiliency with Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe on Oct. 18th.  You can access more information and sign up for the event here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/raising-resilient-children-webinar-tickets-123094698557
 
This message, as with our previous emails, will be made available on our Council COVID page and on our Facebook Group.
 
Thank you once again for all that you've done, all that you continue to do, and for all that you contribute to Scouting.
 
Yours in Scouting,
 
Voyageur Council Key 3
Paige Gladwin (Council Youth Commissioner), paige.gladwin@scouts.ca
Nicolas DesRoches (Council Commissioner), nicolas.desroches@scouts.ca
Christopher Blais (Interim Council Relationship Manager), christopher.blais@scouts.ca
 
 
You're Invited to a Discussion with our Council Voting Members!
 
To all Fellow Scouters in Voyageur Council,
 
Earlier this summer Voyageur Council elected three voting members to represent Voyageur Council at the Scouts Canada Annual General Meeting in November. Thank you for electing Geoff Priems (1st Bayridge Group Commissioner, geoffrey.priems@scouts.ca), Cam Thomas (Troop Scouter 1st North Grenville and 1st Manotick, cthomas@scouts.ca) and Quinn McKinney (Rideau Area Rover Crew, quinn.mckinney@scouts.ca) as your Council Voting Members. Our main role is to vote on matters raised at the Scouts Canada Annual General Meeting, such as accepting the auditor’s report and most importantly, voting in the election of members to the Board of Governors (BoG) for the next year. The BoG sets policy for Scouts Canada, appoints senior National staff and generally oversees Scouts Canada operations.
 
We also have a role to provide an avenue for Ordinary Members (all Adult Volunteers and Youth Members over 14 years old) to express issues and concerns to the Board of Governors and senior staff. Although we as voting delegates do NOT establish policy or oversee the operations of Scouts Canada, we have an opportunity to engage with Board members and senior staff, offer suggestions and constructive criticism.
 
With this in mind we have a few questions for you:
  1. What are the major challenges and issues facing you right now as a Scouter?
  2. How are things going with your group and program?
  3. If there was one thing you wanted to say to the Board of Governors, what would it be?
 
Please send your responses to the three of us (emails above) along with anything else you‘d like us to pass on to the Board of Governors.
 
We are also planning at least one Zoom call with any of you that would like to take part to discuss Scouting issues and items you would like us to carry up the line. The date for this call is Thursday, October 29 from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. To register, please use this link: Council Voting Member Feedback Session Registration.
 
We realize everyone is full on with family, work and Scouting matters during this crazy time, but if you have time we would love to hear from you. We can’t promise to resolve your issues but we commit to bringing them forward to the Board and senior management. 
 
Yours in Scouting,
 
Quinn McKinney, Geoff Priems, and Cam Thomas
 
Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) October 16 to 18, 2020
 
Given our current pause to in-person activities, the Scouts Canada Amateur Radio Station (VE3SHQ) will not be able to participate in this important annual international Scouting event in the same way as in recent years.
 
However, through the marvels of technology, our National Museum’s Radio Team has devised a way for Scouts and Scouters to participate in JOTA virtually and safely from their own homes via Zoom. The Radio Team members will operate from their home Amateur Radio Stations by passing the National Museum’s VE3SHQ/P call sign (i.e., P = portable) back and forth between their home stations as required.
 
This method will allow Youth to talk safely with other Scouts around the world from their own homes. If they don’t want to talk on the radio, they can watch and listen. All those who would like to participate should contact VE3SHQ@scouts.ca to register with the Radio Team’s Zoom operator, who will be responsible for queuing participants. Those who wish to participate must install the Zoom video conferencing client on their computers.
 
One member of our Radio Team will be on-air Friday, October 16th from 8:00 to 10:00 PM, but registration of Youth will only be scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day, with a break for lunch from 12:00 Noon to 12:30 PM.
 
We anticipate that this virtual event will be very successful and lead to new and renewed friendships, not only amongst Scouts and Scouters in Voyageur Council, but also nationally and internationally. Registration for the event can be made by contacting VE3SHQ@scouts.ca. Your registration will be confirmed with the Zoom link for the event.

 

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