Our article from this time last year, for those who may not have seen it previously…
It’s 9am on a cold, crisp Saturday morning.
Already, the Scout Den is a hive of activity. The Burco bubbles in the kitchen and mugs are warming on a tray. There is a plate of mince pies sitting alongside (the er, breakfast of champions…) and two packs of chocolate biscuits standing upright, awaiting the call to duty.
View original post 1,048 more words
On the eve of Christmas, theirishscouter would like to thank all our readers and contributors during 2015. We wish everyone a wonderful festive period and the very best of everything for the year ahead.
The National Management Committee of Scouting Ireland have set out a roadmap for how the association can best adjust to a new regulatory environment for charities in both jurisdictions. This is a solid roadmap and it deserves support. It is the best way forward for Scouting and in particular, for local Scout Groups.
Continue reading A challenge we can meet
Scouting Ireland is poised on the precipice of what will be perhaps the most fundamental set of changes to how the movement in Ireland works, since the foundation of Scouting on the island in 1908.
Continue reading The Governance of influence
On September 12th, a venerable but directionless national entity, its very purpose called into question by its members and with many of its glories seemingly behind it, engaged in an election to choose a future leader. The rank outsider managed to secure victory in a bitterly contested four-candidate race. The future success of the organization now arguably hangs in the balance…..
Continue reading A new chapter for Scouting in Ireland
In two days time, Scouting Ireland returns to the polls a little earlier than perhaps anyone had expected, to vote in a new Chief Scout.
Theirishscouter is very grateful to everyone who took the time to express their views on the topic of the fellowship patrols in Scouting Ireland, covered in a recent article.
By Steve Cull
There is no greater lie than a statistic.
Anyone who has ever written a report knows that you can manipulate facts and figures to make whatever point you want. Inclusion or omission of certain data can serve whatever devious ends you can dream up. That said, there is a time and place for looking at the numbers and seeing what arises. Let’s see what a quick analysis of the make-up of the National Management Committee since 2004 throws up.
A transparency questionnaire …
1. In Scouting Ireland to date how many National Officers have been members of a fellowship patrol during their term of office?
2. How many employees in Scouting Ireland and its subsidiaries are in a fellowship patrol?
3. How many NMC members since 2004 have been a member of a fellowship patrol whilst in office?
4. Do some fellowship patrols count among their membership both employees and volunteer directors of Scouting Ireland?
5. Would this scenario be likely to present any challenges in terms of optics for stakeholders inside (and outside) Scouting Ireland?
6. What implications would it have for transparency in Scouting Ireland, (a registered charity funded by member subscriptions and government grants)?
7. Is there any reason to believe that conflicts of interest may arise from time to time and what measures might be in place to manage those conflicts of interest?
And what exactly IS a fellowship patrol?
Christy Mc Cann is a former Provincial Commissioner of the North East Province and has recently concluded a successful period as International Commissioner. He has been an active Scouter all his life, working at every level in the Group and beyond. In 2008, he ran Jamboree 2008, a significant event to celebrate Scouting’s centenary and one of the largest events of its kind in Ireland.
He is a candidate for the role of Chief Scout and theirishscouter caught up with him recently to ask him some questions…
theirishscouter 