APRinbox

APRIL 2006

Monthly publication of World Scout Bureau/

Asia Pacific Regional office

Manila, Philippines

publications@worldnet.scout.org

WHAT’S NEW IN THE REGION	Regional Leaders meet in Taiwan With the gracious hosting of Scouts of China, the Regional Scout Committee met in Tainan, Taiwan in the early part of March. The committee set its sights far up to 2012 by laying the timeframe of the 23^rd APR Scout Conference sometime in October-December 2009, the 6^th APR Summit between July-August in 2010, and the 24^th APR Scout Conference in 2012. For forthcoming events, the agenda was confirmed particularly the APR Scout Leaders Summit this May and the APR Conference in 2007. Current regional matters were highlighted in the meeting including the progress of sub-committee work, regional budget, situation analysis of emerging NSOs, evaluation of the last APR Jamboree, and regional awards. Regional Chairman Eric Khoo led the meeting with the presence of World Scout Committee chairman Herman Hui. Scouts of China Chief Commissioner Dr Yung Chaur Shin offered a most congenial hospitality including a reception by the Tainan County Magistrate and a visit to the Buddha Light International Centre, a huge institution that visibly supports Scouting in various ways.
	16 countries gather at Marketing Workshop in Malaysia The heart of Kuala Lumpur was the meeting point of 56 participants from 16 countries who actively participated in the APR Workshop on Marketing Scouting for Growth. Starting with an assessment of Scout association’s marketing initiatives to an in-depth SWOT analysis, the workshop presented core marketing principles for non-profit organizations like Scouting. Participants concluded the workshop with four models of marketing plans for Scout organizations. Marketing practitioners, Mr Richard Miller of Australia and Mr Chin Chee Choy of Malaysia, were the resource persons. Appreciation was given to the amiable hosts, Chief Commissioner Kamaruddin Kachar and Dato Kaharudin as well as their untiring volunteers and staff. The workshop was highly supported by Chairman Eric Khoo, Profile Sub-Committee Chairman Dr Mohd Mukhyuddin as the workshop director, and Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed. Sub-committee members who fully managed the discussion groups were Anthony Chan (Hong Kong), Alex Choo (Singapore), Brata Hardjosubroto (Indonesia), Yoshio Danjo (Japan), Prakorb Mukura (Thailand) and Koo Hong Kiong (Malaysia), with Ms Luz Taray of APR as coordinator. RSC member Tan Cheng Kiong addressed the workshop at the closing. A number of senior APR leaders came for a visit to personally express their greetings and good wishes.
	Indonesia to host APR Workshop on Partnerships through PR Gerakan Pramuka/Indonesia and APR will embark on the importance of developing partnerships, strengthening image and networking with the upcoming Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Developing Partnerships through PR on 12-15 July 2006. The workshop will design a strategy and guideline for NSOs to improve the image of Scouting with special focus on partnership development. Eventually, a strong PR network is envisaged among NSOs who agree on inter-related PR programs and activities. The chosen place for the workshop is the cool city of Bandung, the capital of West Java Province, which is 2.5 hours drive from Jakarta. After the workshop, on 16July, will be an occasion of solidarity for participants to join thousands of Indonesian youth at the opening ceremony of the National Jamboree at the campsite around 20 km from the city.
	APR Workshop on Scouting for Young People with Special Needs, Australia The above captioned event would be the “first” Regional Workshop for Young People with Special Needs to be hosted by Scouts Australia on 24 September to 1 October 2006. This will be at B.P. Park, Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. The workshop aims to provide the commissioners or adult leaders with tools that would enhance Youth Programme as attractive and challenging to young people especially those with special needs. Participants will have the opportunity to be staff members during the Agoonoree from Sunday, 24 September and stay on until the following Sunday, 1 October, for a practical experience on dealing with people having special needs.
	3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Air/Internet Jamboree Scout Association of Japan is this year’s host of the regional air and internet Jamboree on 5-6 August. All NSOs are encouraged to actively and widely promote this event to their members. As in the past two Jamborees, country coordinators were appointed to directly link with the host organizer. A regional circular was issued recently providing details on how to take part, what the activities are, and how to link.
	4^th APR Photo contest pre-selection This year’s contest received 147 entries from Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Korea and the Philippines. Late entrants from other countries will be included in the 2007 contest. Manila-based professional photographers selected the best 15 photos as finalists for the grand selection of 6 winners to take place in Tokyo. Awards for this 2006 contest will be given at the APR Scout Leaders Summit in the Philippines in May.
	“One World One Promise” in several Languages World Scouting’s centennial theme “One World One Promise” is translated to several languages and badges are produced in Bangladeshi, Bahasa (Indonesia and Malaysia), Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Taiwan) and Filipino.
WHAT’S NEW IN NATIONAL SCOUT ORGANIZATIONS	Brunei reviews strategic plan One-and-a-half years after Scout Leaders in Brunei Darussalam developed their plan towards 2008, the APR office facilitated a mid-term review to re-examine the plan’s progress. Fifty-one Scout Leaders joined the review of their strategic priorities in Management, Youth Programme, Adult Resources, Finance and Membership. They recommended to add Communications and Public Relations as a new priority and agreed on a support structure that involve committee support, volunteer support and professional support. Matassim bin Hj Duraman and Prassanna of APR office directed the workshop. Chief Scout Pehin Hussain and President Pehin Ali addressed the participants, together with RSC Vice-Chairman Zainal Abidin.
	Scout Leaders Training in Tuvalu There are about 600 Scouts in Tuvalu in the eight inhabited islands. The recent Basic Training Course was the first in the island, held in a long narrow islet named Funafuti. Heavy rains did not deter the Scout Leaders and Girl Guide Leaders, 43 of them, from completing the course. As part of skills training in heightening environmental awareness, participants had a 6 km hike from the village centre with the task of picking up rubbish along the way. Fijian trainers Kajal Umarao and Humphrey Chang ran the training from 4 to 10 March, with Thian Hiong Boon of APR office.
	Woodbadge Course in Solomon Islands In the midst of a cyclone hitting the Pacific, the advanced training course went on as scheduled at the National Girl Guide Headquarters in Honiara from 14-20 March. All 27 Scout Leaders and Commissioners participated well with the enthusiastic support of trainers from Australia – Carol Cope, Peter Gribon and Sheridan Bunney, and from PNG – Morea Lohia, and Thian Hiong Boon of APR office. Scouting has been in the country for 78 years. It receives support from the government, particularly from the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs who graced the opening. The Scout President, Mr Alex Wang reaffirmed his support with an offer to use his island ‘Fera’ for camping activities in the Pacific islands.
	Climb to Nepal’s Baden Powell Peak planned for 2007 On the initiative of Nepal Scouts, the Royal Government of Nepal named one of the peaks in the Himalayas as Baden Powell Peak, a fitting and timely tribute to the founder of Scouting. A climb as well as a trail are planned for 2007 to commemorate 100 years of Scouting. More information will be issued in the coming months.
	Japan announced new national leaders SAJ announces new appointments of national leaders effective 1April 2006: Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr Tsunao Hashimoto Chief Commissioner Mr Satoshi Ito Deputy Chief Commissioner Mr Tsuneo Shinoda Deputy Chief Commissioner Mr Toshihide Shimizu International Commissioner Mr Yoshio Danjo National Secretary Mr Shoiji Kanai Mr Yuji Wakayama retired from the post of National Secretary on 31 March. He conveys his appreciation to all who extended cooperation during his term of service.
	Korea has new International Commissioner Simon Hang-Bock Rhee was elected International Commissioner of Korea Scout Association (KSA) on 22 March at the KSA National Annual Meeting. Mr Rhee is currently the Chairman of APR Management Sub-Committee. He succeeds Dr Kim Pyong Choi who retired after serving 8 years as International Commissioner.
WHAT’S ON-GOING APRIL	2nd Preparatory Meeting of 22^nd APR Regional Scout Conference, Japan Scout Association of Japan and APR executives are meeting this April to prepare for the APR conference on 11-16 October 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. Apart from the main conference agenda, they will devise programs for special events, i.e. accompanying person’s program, International Commissioners Gathering, Training Team Gathering, Foundation Members Gathering and Foundation fund raising activity. The meeting will form the staff organization of the 4^th APR Youth Forum and APR Course for Leader Trainers which are ancillary events preceding the conference. APR Trainers Gathering, Bangladesh National Training Commissioners (NTC) from around 8 countries are gathering on 8-9 April at the National Training Centre of Bangladesh Scouts in Mouchak. The commissioners are representing Indonesia, Macau, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Philippines, Maldives, and the European Scout Office. APR Training System Development workshop, Bangladesh After the NTC gathering, the workshop follows on 10-13 April in Mouchak with participants from nine countries. Resource speakers will be Peter Blatch (Australia), Dr Mak Wai-ming (Hong Kong) and Dr Evelyn Vicencio (Philippines). International Programme Development Workshop for the Rover Section, Maldives In just two weeks, from 17-21 April, a number of Scout leaders will be at the “sunny side”, Maldives, for the international workshop for programme development designed for the Rover Section. Mainly organized by the World Scout Bureau central office and supported by the APR, countries attending are Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Scouts of China, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Malawi, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Togo and the UK.
WHAT’S UPCOMING MAY 2006	Second World Scout Interreligious Symposium (WSIS), Taiwan “Together for Harmony and Peace” is the theme of the world symposium that will be held at the Fo Guang Shan Temple in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, from 5 May to 8 May 2006 (arrivals on 4 May and departures on 9 May). Bringing together representatives of National Scout Organizations and the Scout Religious Alliances, the WSIS will reinforce the value of Scouting as an institution promoting inter-religious dialogue. The WSIS works to further co-operation and understanding of inter-religious issues throughout the Scout Movement. APR and BSP prepare for APR Scout Leaders Summit, Philippines Venue. Summit venue is the Grand Villa Resort and Butterfly Center in Los Baños, Laguna, around one and a half hours drive from Manila. Summit starts on 18 May and ends on 21^st. Sub-committees will meet on 17 May afternoon and the Regional Scout Committee on 18 May morning. Agenda. Discussions will highlight critical issues faced by NSOs in the region, such as membership fee as well as membership growth, profile of the movement, recruitment and retaining leaders, review of youth programme, and risk management. Recognition. Major donors to the WOSM Tsunami Scout Aid Fund will be given special recognition. In addition, past chairmen of the Regional Scout Committee who served from 1956 will be cited (some posthumously) for their contributions in the development of regional Scouting. There had been 22 regional chairmen during the past 50 years. BIMP-EAGA Urban Scouts Jamboree, Philippines The acronym stands for Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area. Scouts aged 11-17.5 of these neighbor countries will camp together on 26 May to 2 June in Davao City, Philippines. Around 5,000 Scouts from Philippines and overseas are targeted to attend.
BE PREPARED JULY-AUGUST 2006	National Jamboree 2006, Indonesia National Scout Organizations are invited to send their young people who are 11-15 years old, to the Indonesia National Jamboree on 16-23 July in Kiarapayung Campsite, Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, West Java Province. The campsite sits on an elevation of 900 meters above sea with inviting mountain air and cool temperature. The Jamboree will offer a mix of learning and adventure, as well as explorations and community service for the environment. Scouts of China 9^th National Jamboree Scouts of China seek the participation of other Scout associations in welcoming the centennial year of Scouting during their 9^th National Jamboree and Joint National Camp for Centennial Celebration of World Scouting Movement. The camp is a joint activity of Scouts of China and Girl Scouts of Taiwan from 27 July to 2 August 2006 at the Tsuo Ma-Lai Farm in Tainan Country located at the southern part of Taiwan. Target participation is around 15,000 Scouts and Girl Scouts aged 11-17 years. 14th Nippon Jamboree (14NJ)- Special Invitation Programme The Jamboree is on 3-7 August at “Refresh Village” in Suzu-city, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, located around 620 km northwest of Tokyo. A special invitation programme is an integral part of the Jamboree that offers sponsorship to young people of selected National Scout Organizations who will take part both in the special programme and the Nippon Jamboree. International Patrol Jamboree/Korea Korea Scout Association (KSA) will organize the International Patrol Jamboree on 9-14 August. The Jamboree invites the age group of 12-18 years old. For international solidarity, KSA just created the Operation Suncheon for 42 participants from 14 countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Kiribati, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Macau, Polynesia Scouts Council, Cambodia and Vietnam. APR office coordinates the Operation Suncheon on behalf of KSA. - end

APRinbox is the monthly e-newsletter of World Scout Bureau/Asia Pacific Region circulated to Scouts and adult leaders in the global community of the Scout Movement, edited by Ms Luz Taray and Ms Theresa Quine of the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Manila, Philippines. Email:publications@worldnet.scout.org

FEBRUARY 2006