INbox@APR         August 2005

 

INbox@APR is published monthly by the Asia Pacific Office of the World Scout Bureau. 

To get a copy, send a request to publications@apr.scout.org

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What’s NEW

 

JULY 2005

 

KOREA • 13th Korea International Rover Moot

It was a historic and memorable moment especially for the Korean Rovers who crossed the borders of North and South Korea. Around 400 Rovers from Korea and abroad marched with messages of peace from South Korea into the heart of North Korea, culminating in Guemgang mountain where the Rover Moot was held. Participants from overseas including the APR team crossed through the DM Zone with customs and immigration formalities. The APR team comprised of Regional Committee member Oh Sang-Gyoon, APR Jamboree Chief Sutham Phanthusak, immediate past Chairman of the Regional Scout Committee Anthony Thng and Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed.

AFGHANISTAN Basic Unit Leaders Training Course for Afghanistan Scout Leaders

To continue the program of support to Afghanistan Scouts, another Basic Training Course for the Scout Section was held on 17–23 July in Kabul for 48 Unit Scout Leaders, having an almost equal number of males and females. Members of the training team were Dr B.D. Sharma and Dr Saiprabhavathi from the Bharat Scouts & Guides, Mr Faisal Jamil Shah and Mr Atiq-Ur-Rehman from Pakistan Boy Scouts association and Mr Thian Hiong-Boon from the Regional Office who was the Course Leader.  A Japanese group of Rovers AJSEP contributed US$1000 for the training while the rest was fully supported by APR.

 

THAILAND • Regional Scout Committee Meeting

With complete attendance of Regional Scout Committee members led by Chairman Eric Khoo and the presence of all seven sub-committee/task force chairmen, three regional consultants and APR executives, the committee meeting was held on 30-31 July at the Navy Hotel in Sattahip, Thailand, highlighting these issues:

  Review of the APR Plan 2004-2007

  APR Golden Jubilee and World Scouting Centenary Celebrations

  Review of potential member countries

  Update on the Tsunami Scout Aid Fund

  Update on the 25th APR Scout Jamboree

Other issues reviewed the region’s performance, the evaluation of the Brunei conference and the report of the regional treasurer. Clubbed with related activities, the gathering was an occasion for over 100 Scout leaders to meet and discuss issues of regional and national interest.

 

Sub-Committee Meetings

All seven APR Sub-Committees/Task Force met simultaneously in Sattahip with agenda pertaining to their priorities and 3-year plan of action as envisaged in the Regional Plan for 2004-2007. All sub-committee meetings were well-attended and effectively presided by the sub-committee chairmen, namely Ms Mari Nakano for Youth Programme, Peter Blatch for Adult Resources, Simon Rhee for Management, Paulus Tjakrawan for Financial Resources, Dr Mukhuyuddin Bin Sarwani for Scouting Profile, Ghazanfar Mashkoor for 2006-2007 Celebrations, and Anthony Thng for the APR Scout Foundation Management Committee.

 

ATAS Meeting

Chairman Simon Rhee arranged a meeting of the ATAS (Association of Top Achiever Scouts) during the Sattahip meeting. He also took the opportunity to recruit more ATAS members which now has over 50 members. ATAS collected US$1000 from members as an initial membership in the APR Scout Foundation.

 

Head of Contingents Visit

Prior to the contingent heads visit, the Jamboree Host Organizing Committee reviewed the dry run of the regional Jamboree with a national camp of 6000 Scouts from Thailand including participants from Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Pakistan. Two days were allocated for a Head of Contingents meeting representing 17 countries in the region together with a participant from Greece.

 

The generous hospitality of Thai Scouts, including the government, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Hotel Association of Thailand, made excellent arrangements for logistics, accommodation and social events. 

 

REGION  Publication of APR documents

In time for the above meetings, APR office produced and distributed three publications – APR Constitution and By-Laws, Conference Resolutions and the APR 2004-2007 Plan.

 

A number of publications will be produced further for the APR Golden Jubilee Celebrations and the World Scouting Centenary. The UK Scout Association gave permission to reprint the “Rovering to Success” as a commemorative issue for 2006-2007.

 

WORLD SCOUTING   Tsunami Update

The Tsunami Scout Aid Fund monitoring group approved a total of 22 projects amounting to US$220,000. Projects are broken down as follows:

  Indonesia – 12 projects (one project sponsored by WAGGGS)

  Sri Lanka -  6 projects  (one project sponsored by Scouts Canada)

  Thailand – one project

  Maldives – one project

  Tanzania – one project

  Seychelles – one project

 

Four other projects are under review.

 

WORLD SCOUTING   Participation at the Tunisia World Scout Conference

At least 20 out of 23 member NSOs in the region will attend the Tunisia Conference in early September. Meetings are being planned during the World Conference, particularly the Regional Scout Committee, Scouting Profile Sub-Committee, Management Sub-Committee and 2006-2007 Task Force. The Regional Scout Committee and Sub-committees have been briefed on the papers to be presented during the Conference that will have a direct bearing on the region and NSOs, i.e. Governance Paper, Communications Strategy for World Scouting and Gifts for Peace.

 

WORLD SCOUTING • Bronze Wolf

Two prominent members in the region have been conferred with the Bronze Wolf – Mr Anthony Thng of Singapore and Mr Saiful Islam Khan of Bangladesh. Apart from their national credentials in Scouting, Anthony has been Chairman of the APR Scout Committee and served twice as Chairman of the APR PR Sub-Committee. Saiful Islam Khan has been an active member of the PR and the Marketing Sub-Committees and a current member of the 2006-2007 Task Force.

 

JAPAN • Regional Director’s Visit

Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed visited Japan for a meeting with International Commissioner Yashio Danjo, Deputy International Commissioner Ms Mari Nakano, National Secretary Yuji Wakayama, Deputy National Secretary Konosuke Kobayashi, and Senior Manager Mr Takayasu Sato.

 

On this visit was the send-off ceremony for Japanese Scout Contingents to the Boy Scouts of America 2005 camp as well as the Eurojam 2005. Time was also devoted for a briefing for five Japanese participants to the forthcoming World Scout Youth Forum in Tunisia.

 

The Regional Director awarded the insignias to recently recruited members of the APR Scout Foundation, namely Dr Tomomichi Gouke (Bronze Palm), Mr Takashi Tanaka (Associate member) and Mr Kenichiro Tanabe (Associate member). Japan has a total 119 members with the sum contribution of US$233,279, second to Hong Kong in total membership in the Foundation.

 

In preparation for the 22nd Regional Scout Conference to be hosted by the Scout Association of Japan in 2007, the Regional Director discussed with SAJ leaders the confirmation of the Host Organizing Committee, the appointment of the CLT Course Director and the Youth Forum Director, conference bulletin, conference website, commemorative stamps, among others.

 

GONE HOME • Akira Watanabe, Japan

Mr Akira Watanabe, former Chief Scout of Japan, passed away at the age of 103, on 23 July 2005. Mr Watanabe was a prominent Scout leader and well-respected figure in Japan and in World Scouting. He was a recipient of the APR Award for Distinguished Service as a recognition for his his outstanding contributions.

 

 

What’s ON

 

AUGUST 2005

 

MALAYSIA Visit of APR Team

A team comprising of the Regional Director, the Regional Chairmen and others will visit Malaysia on 19-22 August 2005 to meet national leaders on issues of mutual benefits. They will take this occasion to have a follow-up meeting with WAGGGS Asia Pacific Region colleagues in Kuala Lumpur on 20th August.

 

CHINA-JAPAN-KOREA (CJK) Rovers start new project

A group of CJK (China-Japan-Korea) Rovers will visit their Filipino counterparts this August in Marikina city, Philippines. The visit forms part of a series of projects undertaken by CJK Rovers to serve less privileged communities.

 

MACAUCourse for Assistant Leader Trainers (CALT)

The CALT for about 20 Woodbadge holders in Macau, including one from Polynesia, is on-going from 1st of August until the 8th. Trainers are Chang Jin-Sung and Chen Huann-Ran from Taiwan, Tan Beng Siang from Malaysia and Francisco Chan from Macau. Thian Hiong-Boon of APR office is the course coordinator.

 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the PNG CALT supposed to be held on 8-14 August has been postponed.

 

MONGOLIAMongolian 3rd National Jamboree

A few days from now, Scouts in Mongolia will organize its 3rd National Jamboree in Khentii Mountains, at the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. Scouts in Mongolia and from overseas are expected to take part in the Jamboree on 10-17 August.

 

 

What’s UP

 

MALDIVES AND TAIWANPostponement of Rover Events

Because of the holding of the World Scout Conference, where the resource persons are actively taking part, the International Workshop on the Rover Programme scheduled in Maldives is postponed for April 2006. Subsequently, the Rover Wood Badge set for November 2005 in Taiwan will be postponed following the Maldives workshop.

 

 

Timelines

 

  31 August 2005 – Submission of reply for participation in the 7th National Jamboree in Sri Lanka

  1 October 2005 – submission of reservation form A for the 14th Nippon Jamboree

 

 

 

 

04 August 2005

inbox/8-2005

publications/llt