First Board meeting of the Suncheon Scout Centre held

In the presence of the Regional Scout Committee member Mr Prakorb Mukura, who is representing the Committee at the Board for the next three years, and chaired by Korea Scout Association International Commissioner Mr Simon Hang-Bock Rhee, the first Board meeting of the Suncheon Asia-Pacific Region Scout Centre was held at the Suncheon city hall on 5th September 2009.

The Board meeting, among other things, reviewed the work of the centre for the last eight months including management, process and method of recruiting volunteers, future programmes and ways to enhance the image of the centre as truly Asia-Pacific. It was attended by the Board members including President and Vice-President of the Jeonnam Scout Council, Suncheon City Government, representative of the Mayor of Suncheon city, members from Korea Scout Association and World Scout Bureau/Asia-Pacific Region Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed.

The Board members separately met the volunteers who were still at the centre to seek their opinion and feedback about their assignment at the Centre.

In December 2008, the memorandum of agreement for the three-party collaboration was signed between Suncheon City government, KSA and the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee to establish the centre, to offer activities and create staff opportunities inside and outside the region. Since then, seven staff Scout volunteers from Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal and Philippines had the opportunity to serve at the centre. Presently, there are two volunteers who are completing their term. The next batch of volunteers will arrive for the next round of activities in December.

The Centre will also be the venue of the next APR Scout Jamboree on August 2010 and several development facilities are planned before the Jamboree. In view of the regional jamboree, the next Board meeting is also planned early August 2010 prior to the Jamboree opening.