Scoutrees Time is Here

This year's Scoutrees site is on Notman Road.

Go up Hwy. 11N to Sand Dam Road (dump road), turn right on Sand Dam you will see a sign for Notman Road on the right hand side before you get to the entrance to the dump. The plant site is about 2.5 miles or four kilometres in on Notman Road.

Plant times will be:

9:00 a.m. - 1st North Bay/2nd Trout Mills
9:30 a.m. - 3rd Widdifield/4th North Bay
10:00 a.m. - West Ferris
10:30 a.m. - 1st Callander

Hot dogs and juice will be provided after the plant. Please bring shovels and buckets, and dress for the weather. Be prepared for blackflies.

Centennial Campfire Celebration

Nipissing Area's Centennial Campfire to celebrate Scouting's 100th anniversary will be held Wednesday, June 6, at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 555 North Shore Road on Trout Lake.

All Beavers, Cubs and Scouts (and parents), and Scouters (with or without parents) are welcome to attend, sing a few songs and do a few skits around the campfire, and then enjoy juice and birthday cake.

Each section from each group should prepare a song to lead or skit to perform during the campfire. Any individual or group who also wants to join in leading the entertainment is also welcomed to prepare something.

Please invite any former Scouters you may know to join the celebration.

Clean Up With Care

With Pitch-In Canada and spring cleanup efforts underway, Dennis Chippa of the North Bay AIDS Committee has words of advice for Scouters and for Scouters to take to youth members.

"If you see a needle, don't touch it."

The needle, the contents of the syringe and even the exterior of the syringe may be contaminated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or some other infectious disease.

An accidental poking will lead to the threat of HIV or some other diseases, and a month-long course of anti-HIV medication with serious side effects that will still be felt for a second month.

Chippa, who volunteered to join or have another trained person join any group or section on a cleanup effort, offered the following advice:

• Ensure everyone wears gloves;
• Advise everyone, adults and youth, not to touch needles;
• Have him or another committee volunteer attend the cleanup;
• Or call the police or the AIDS committee if a needle is found;
• Be sure everyone washes their hands after the cleanup.

Chippa also demonstrated how to maneuver a needle, without touching it, into a needle-safe container, available from the AIDS committee. Scouters in attendance should be able to demonstrate the method to other Scouters.

To book Chippa for your cleanup, call him at 497-3560.

Scouters Club Notes

• Congratulations Norm – Scouter Norm Giroux, with more than 30 years of service to his credit, received double honours at Wednesday's meeting. Norm was presented with the Commemorative Centennial Medal and the Medal of Merit.

• Motor Madness 2007 – Approximately 185 adults and youth registered for this year's event at the Education Centre cafeteria. Organizers estimate the event will show a small surplus and plan to spend it and money raised by the sale of DVDs on new computer software and a photo-electric timing system for the track. Motor Madness 2007 DVDs can be ordered for $10 from Scouter Ken Sitter and should be available by the end of the month.

• Centennial Campfire – Nipissing Area Scouting youth and adults will celebrate Scouting's centennial with a campfire at the North Bay waterfront, Wednesday, June 6, at 7 p.m. Family and friends are welcome to attend and everyone should make an effort to invite former Scouters to the celebration. Refreshments will follow the celebration. More details will be announced shortly.

• Volunteers Needed – Nipissing Area Scouts have been asked to assist with the cleanup at the Canadian Cancer Society's annual Relay For Life. Cleanup begins at 7 a.m., Saturday, June 16, at CFB North Bay's track. Leaders and sections willing to assist should contact Scouter Ken Mathieu.

• Camp Committee – A Camp Wirribara Committee with representatives from (almost) all Nipissing Area groups has been struck to assist Property Manager Scouter Norm Giroux co-ordinate maintenance and fundraising. Appointed to the committee are Scouter Marten Deforest, First Callander (chair); Scouter Karen Sanschagrin, Second Trout Mills; Scouter Ken Mathieu, First North Bay; and Scouter Greg South, Third Widdifield. West Ferris has yet to appoint a representative.

• Camp Fees Overdue – Scouter Norm Giroux reported that no group committee has paid their fees for Camp Wirribara this year.

• Summer Camp Anyone? – Cub leaders should receive an email shortly with information about holding a summer Cub camp, Aug. 13 to 17, at Camp Wirribara. The email is to determine the level of interest among Cubs to attend a summer camp.

• Annual Scouters Dinner – is tentatively scheduled for Friday, June 22 at the Rose Garden Restaurant, on Lakeshore Drive, with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Cost is $15 and spouses are invited to attend.

Scouting Calendar Update

• West Ferris Roast Beef Dinner Fundraiser – Saturday, April 14, 5:30 p.m., Holy Name Church on Memorial Drive;
• West Ferris Carwash Fundraiser – Saturday, April 21, Tim Hortons at Marshall Avenue and Lakeshore Drive;
• First Callander Carwash Fundraiser – Saturday, April 28, Callander Legion;
• Scouters Club – Wednesday, May 2, 8 p.m., Kinsmen Centre, Cedar Heights Road;
• Scoutrees – Saturday, May 12 (location to be announced);
• Jamboree on the Trails – Saturday, May 12;
• Rendezvous – Friday to Sunday, May 18-20, See website for details;
• Centennial Campfire – Wednesday, June 6, 7 p.m., details to come;
• Relay For Life cleanup – Saturday, June 16, 7 a.m. at CFB North Bay's track
• Annual Scouters Dinner – Friday, June 22, cocktails at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7, Rose Garden Restaurant, Lakeshore Drive;
• CJ '07 – July 29 - Aug. 4, Camp Tamaracouta. See website for details;
• Summer Camp – Aug. 13 - 17, if numbers permit.