ISGF on Facebook!

There is a great social tool available on internet called Facebook. Let’s use it as great opportunity for networking. Directly member to member. Facebook is used all over the world. More about Facebook on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook.

Also a group “ISGF - Adult Scouts and Guides” has been created.

We can involve many members and especially young members who are a lot on Facebook.

You are welcome to join on http://www.facebook.com. Please register first, then type ISGF in “Search” field and then click “Join the group”.

Looking forward to see you on Facebook!

Aleš Čerin

New ISGF homepage

A new look website is under construction and will be launched on May 30, 2008. The World Committee decided to migrate the old existing website running under Plone with the web address www.isgf.org to a Joomla based site. Joomla provides us with the ability to manage the website much easier. The old content will remain and adjusted where necessary. All links have been taken to the new location. A whole new website has been created. Our main focus was to arrange a website in a fast loading, attractive and easy to navigate site. In the beginning this new website will not be perfect but it is much easier to find the documents you are looking for.

Be sure to add www.isgf.org in your favourites. Renewing and updating a website is a huge task of work. The temporary weblog www.isgf.wordpress.com will be functional until we have officially launched the new website.

Nouvelle page d’accueil sur le site de l’AISG

L’AISG prépare son nouveau site web. Il sera opérationnel le 30 mai 2008.

Le Comité mondial a décidé de transférer le site actuel tournant sur Plone et dont l’adresse est www.isgf.org vers un site hébergé chez Joomla.  Joomla nous donne la possibilité de gérer le site web de manière plus simple.  Nous garderons les anciens dossiers et ils seront mis à jour au fur et à mesure. Nous avons mis en place tous les liens sur le nouveau site. C’est donc un tout nouveau site qui a été créé.

Pour ce site, nous avons fixé les critères suivants : chargement rapide, image agréable, convivialité d’accès aux informations. Bien sûr, au début, le site ne sera pas parfait mais vous pourrez accéder plus facilement aux documents que vous recherchez.

Ajoutez bien www.isgf.org à votre liste de favoris. Sachez que renouveler et mettre un site à jour exigent est une tâche gigantesque.  Le blog temporaire www.isgf.wordpress.com continuera à fonctionner jusqu’à la date officielle de lancement du nouveau site.

Leny Doelman

ISGF Sub-regional gathering in Dundee Scotland

Make a note in your diary now! Come and join the ISGF gathering in West Park Conference Centre in the Scottish city of Dundee.

Includes:

• Provost’s Reception on the opening evening
• Excursions into the Scottish countryside
• A Scottish Ceilidh
• Activities ranging from Scottish crafts to Scouting today

Transport arranged from Edinburgh Airport or Dundee Train Station.

Forms available at end of Nov 2008 on ISGF and UKTG websites or from your International Adviser.

Cost of residential event £400.

Anne Cruickshank, PR Adviser

Conference Ticket

This will be the Conference Ticket valid for 4 days. All public transportation (bus, tram, underground, trains) in Vienna can be used unlimited. A good advantage for shopping, sightseeing …

Werner

Uruguay, new member of Central Branch

Juan Salazar, candidate for next World Committee visited Uruguay on a mission as liaison person for Central Branch in order to inform an enthusiast group of former Scouts and Guides.

Visit to Fraternidad de Antiguos Scouts y Guias del Uruguay (FASGU)

In December 2007 this group of former Scouts and Guides was constituted in the city of Montevideo, Uruguay. In 2008 inquiries were made in order to incorporate themselves to the International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF).

Leny Doelman, Central Branch Coordinator, provided them with an information kit and she asked Juan Salazar, member of the National Scout and Guide Fellowship in Chile, to assist her to do the follow-up. Juan offered to visit them to inform them about the requirements, benefits and significance in order to become member of ISGF.

Press Conference

A visit was arranged between the 9th and the 14th of April where various meetings and activities took place in Montevideo where, on the 10th a press conference was held to expose FASGU as a Central Branch unit in Uruguay. Also a meeting was arranged in the city of Juan Lacaze with the idea of given an impulse to the many adults interested and to organize a group in that city regarding the numerous contingent of adults who are in an organized group of Former Scouts since long time.
Juan was accompanied by Fernando Villalobos, also member of a Chilean guild as a way to demonstrate how really a National Scout and Fellowship works, how natural Scout Spirit is and to support them in the beginning of their adventure. Exchange of experiences started, questions were answered and the way of being organized and how they could be linked to ISGF. They were informed from all aspects related to the structure of ISGF.

Juan Lacaze city

After that meeting they moved to the city of Juan Lacaze, two hours away from Montevideo, and end up in a meeting with a scout group of this town. In the opportunity they participated at the closing ceremony of their day activities with all children, boy and girls of that scout group. At the occasion they repeated the previous day conference at Montevideo with enthusiast participants to join FASGU as a guild. It is necessary to remark the enthusiasm of people that attended the meeting and they hope the motivation has been sufficiently strong to make them think to incorporate soon to FASGU. In Juan Lacaze city they visited a small square honouring Lord Baden Powell

Conclusions

Considering the idiosyncrasy of each country, each nationality, It can be concluded that the form how Uruguay has faced its organization, starting from a big group with many aspirations and big achievements, they are on the right track to a proper path and briefly they will consolidate its National organization, attached to the principles of ISGF and its structure and statutes. They have a great sense of unity and identification with scouting. Disciplined, methodical and very inspired. Their great scout spirit is strongly noticeable and its preparation is evident. Although it is certain they have advanced very quickly since they intended to make this group in December 2007, with a total members of 43 people in Montevideo only, and with a listing of many other interested individuals plus the group in Juan Lacaze city, they have understood that now that they already know more about the organization and the form of being linked internationally they will work to lay the foundation for a NSGF to last for the future.

Juan Salazar
Member of Club de Antiguos Scout y Guías de Chili

ISGF European Region Workshop

The host country for the workshop was Cyprus and the Guild members did an excellent job providing hospitality and friendship for all participants from the welcome at the airport until departure. There was an opportunity to enjoy the Cypriot countryside and history and tavernas while visiting some of the local landmarks.

The programme was such that people learnt about each other and many new friendships were forged. Two sub regions, Western and South, were represented and the diversity within them was recognised. The countries represented were Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Everyone present worked very hard and, as can be seen from the report of Liz Aveston (Download), much was achieved.

During the workshop the European Challenge was officially launched.

Thanks go to all the participants, the host country and to the facilitator Liz Aveston for the success of this workshop.

Jane Wardropper
Chairman
European Region

Czech NSGF with new internet site

The Czech NSGF now operates its own website www.skaut.cz/kmendospelych, which enables visitors to read some brief information also in English and German.

Please, visit the site and make network with our brothers and sisters in scouting/guiding from Czech Republik.

Vladislav Jech

National Secretary to the Board

ISGF World Market - complete the forms until 15th of July

This circular has been sent lately to all National Presidents and International Secretaries. Please if you want to contribute or have ideas for having articles sold at the World Market, please inform your National President or International Secretary as they are responsible for this booth.

For all Central Branch countries please apply to Leny Doelman, Central Branch Coordinator Leny.Doelman@inter.NL.net.

“For the second time, the participants to the ISGF World Conference will be able to sell items from their countries during the World Market.

Countries are asked to participate in this fun event where they will be offered the facility of a table top on which to display their goods.

Items for sale, which can be crafts or gifts made in their own country - preferably small and of low value - should be brought by the participants to the ISGF World Conference. Please do not send them in advance.

Countries should also note that items will have to be stored in participants’ rooms until the event, and that any unused items will be the responsibility of the participants who brought them. Please note that it is not allowed to bring food or drinks.

We shall be using specially printed ISGF money only. ISGF money will be on sale at the Conference, but return exchange will not be permitted. Please do not price goods until you have got information about the value of the ISGF Money compared to Euro, which is the current money in Austria.

Each country may choose whether the proceeds of their stall should be put towards their ISGF membership fees or to ISGF Development Fund.

It is hoped that the event will offer a practical way of enabling payment of dues for those National Scout and Guide Fellowships or Central Branch groups and units who have difficulty in sending or bringing currency out of their own country.

It will also be fun for all conference participants and an opportunity to understand something of the cultures of other countries.”

ISGF World Conference
C/o Hans Slanec
Tannengasse 18/3
AT - 1150 Vienna, Austria
E-mail: isgf.vienna08@gmx.net

75th anniversary of St. George’s Guild of Denmark

Dear members of St. George’s Guild of Denmark,

On behalf of the World Committee and World Bureau we congratulate you most happily with your 75th anniversary. We mark this important milestone in ISGF history and you hold the distinction of having the oldest guilds in the history of the International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF).

This anniversary is commemorated after 100 years of Scouting where ISGF organized their special event “The Scout & Guide Spirit Flame” designed to pay homage to the spirit upon which Scouting was founded. Like any celebration, this anniversary gives us pause for reflection. You’ll see your roots and the evidence of your growth. You’ll see our founder did bring life to our vision.

On occasions such as this one, interesting observations are often made about achieving our aims at international level. Nevertheless, in a rapidly integrating world where we are all becoming ever more dependent on one another, it is vital that we put every effort into bringing them closer. It shows that the Danish guilds have made an undeniable contribution in developing our organisation at a global level.
We want you to enjoy celebrating your 75th anniversary.

Yours in Fellowship,

Martine Lévy
Chairman World Committee

International Scout and Guide Fellowship

How a small tussock can roll a heavy load

A wealthy American had lost his way in London. He accosted a small boy and asked him directions. The boy directed him where to go, and the American offered him a gold coin in appreciation, but the boy wouldn‘t accept. „I am a Scout“ said the boy and went his way.

The American was very surprised at this and started to look further into Scouting and what Scouting really stood for. He became so impressed by the Scout Movement and its ideals, that he decided to and in fact did establish a Scout troop in the United States. Today there are some 3,5 million Scouts in the USA.

A few years later the American Scouts sent their English counterparts a beautiful statue as present in commemoration of this. On the statue was an inscription that said: „To the unknown Scout, who with his good turn transported Scouting to the USA“.

This story was told to me by an old and ardent Scout, Mr. Frank Michelsen, who now is over ninety.

Einar Tjörvi