None since the last meeting although it was known that Dave Hollinshead had been to Saratov early January.

• Bill provided a plan that he, Sergey Sirotkin and David McKee had discussed at a meeting at Gilwell following their visit to the Docklands Scout Project.
• Sergey was very impressed with the Network and with what we have done in the past and our plans for the future.
• Sergey had proposed that we set up a joint Russian/British Scout Fellowship. The first meeting is proposed for the Easter Expedition and the second during the Study visit in November. . Bill felt it would be very interesting as with each meeting there will be different people attending
• The structure for Network Russia has been provided to Sergey.
• In February 2002 there was an inter regional meeting in Omsk, but because the invite was only received 1 week before the meeting neither David McKee, David Bull nor Bill were able to attend.
• It was confirmed that we plan to push the explorer belt developments in Russia at the next Gilwell Reunion.
• Bill intends to get some of our projects and expeditions in Talking Points and out to all IACC’s

WINTER EXPEDITION TO ST PETERSBURG EASTER 2002 – PAUL & TIM

• Since Easter when this was conceived they have been talking with their three Russian contacts to sort out travel arrangements and the content of our programme. Originally the idea was to work on the explorer belt. Now the trip will be used to see and plan a explorer belt expedition
• Venture scouts from Rotherham and Devon are attending
• There was a meeting in Herefordshire to get everyone together
• We have found that the Scout insurance limits the amount of cash to £1000 per leader, but we have been told that we can split the group into two and then take the required funding split between the two groups.
• Authorisation has been sought for skiing and walking in Winter conditions. This is still pending at the moment
• Bill confirmed that the Russian Embassy have changed their procedures for Visa applications. It seems that if you post your applications they are now dealt with very quickly. The visas are now attached to the passports so it is essential that they’re sent into the Embassy. The cost is now £30.00 for adults or £15.00 for those under 17. These costs only apply if you send them of with at least a week before you travel. If you need a visa to be issued that day they will charge £80.00
• The programme includes the two groups flying from Heathrow and Manchester with Lufthansa to Frankfurt and then to St Petersburg together. After staying in a hotel for the first night public transport is to be used to travel to Losavo. They will spend some time in home hospitality, there is an evening at the ballet, a day trip around the city and the joint fellowship meeting.

• Provisionally the dates are 1^st – 10^th November 2002 when it will be relatively cold.
• The idea is for all the study visit to go to Moscow and then split in to four sub-groups
• We hope the size of the group will be around 20
• Plan to stay 1 night in a hotel similar to that which would be used with children
• There will be some home hospitality in four towns around Moscow
• Overnight by train to Niznij Novgorod home hospitality as well as visiting a camp site where the 4^th jamboree may be held and then back to Moscow
• The second network meeting will be had there
• Interest from 5-6 people currently interested
• The next fellowship meeting will be used for everyone going to meet before they go.
• The cost will be around £500

• Sergey Sirotkin asked us to visit Siberia and give a boost to Scouting in that area.
• The visit will be to Omsk towards the end of May when the weather will suit us better.
• There may be an opportunity to visit Moscow before travelling out by train to Omsk – however time may mean that we go by plane both ways.
• There is a scouting community in Omsk, the area is large with a population of approximately 1 million
• The study visit will split into 4 groups to include Tomsk, Sedelikova, Novosiburrsk and Tymen
• The cost will be greater because of the travel arrangements estimated at £650- £750
• The visit is likely to last for 10 days

BASES

• St Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities of the World. The people are open to world culture as well. There are many historical places of interest.
• Moscow is very serious, rife with corruption
• Don’t play the people of the two cities against one another, St Petersburg people would be offended to be considered to have come from Moscow.
• Russians will discuss politics, and the serious side of life rather than pleasantries such as the weather or the garden
• Some Russians will not smile unless they know you, they appear aggressive but aren’t
• Russians are very friendly, its important for their survival , they rely on one another.
• They like to drink tea
• They like to go to dachas, having steam baths. All social activities.

Ideas suggested:

• Invites to previous speakers, Asla people, local and national press, local Russian people, ACCI’s.
• Party ideas, a cake in the shape of St Basils
• A market of peoples collections of Russian memorabilia
• Russian entertainment, dancing, ballet, chekov play,circus,art,A casino from time zone,Fancy dress,Russian games,Sauna/banya,Vodka tasting.
• Chairman should give a speech in Russian
• A Russian murder mystery
• It’s a knockout on a Russian theme

• Ideas include vodka tasting, 50 shots an hour
• Russian doll painting in purple and gold for the jubilee
• Designing a scroll/ colouring a scroll
• Plaster egg/feberge eggs
• A banya- 50p entry with a purple towel
• Russian music/balilicas
• Making blinis/borsche
• Purple and gold woggles
• Purple and gold neckers
• A BBQ
• Displaying the web site
• Raffling a cake with a Russian flag and St Basils on it
• A Russian design covered in coins
• A display from those who attend St Petersburg this Easter
• Flyers to be given out

Bill Turnbull reported that we were formed one year ago at Hesley Wood . Fred has sent his apologies and reported that 68 people have joined, 48 members hold warrants, 3 are venture scouts and 17 are not warranted.

Since our formation we have promoted ourselves at the Gilwell Reunion once again – the size of the International displays showed that interest in international scouting is growing.

Tim has been promoting the fellowship in Nottingham and Eric has been publicising us at a North Yorkshire County Scout business meeting.

Bill did some promotion at Charnwood and met three separate groups from Russia.

The Network news has been well received and thanks to Chris for all the work he is doing for the website

The October meeting in Well End was recognised as one of our best meetings with Sergey Sirotkin attending.

We need however to get ourselves recognised nationally with more advertising

We have had marriages this year, with Howard and Katya and good wishes are sent to them

Scouting in Russia is now to be focused on ARNSO, our new members will be encouraged to have links with ARNSO members.

Everyone was to be invited to the tenth anniversary party of NR in October 2002.

TREASURERS REPORT

• Last year the Bradford District Treasurer checked the accounts and is willing to do so again this year.
• The balance this year in the account is £399.46 plus there are some items in stock so we have resources of approximately £700.00
• We will be looking to open a higher interest account to gain more interest
• Postage should reduce this next year as Fred should not have to post all previous members about subscriptions
• The Treasurers report was accepted- proposed by Malcolm Race
• And seconded by Anne Angel
• The Auditor Nigel Bairstowe was proposed by Tim Axe and seconded by Jo Finley and accepted by all.

The current committee was proposed to stand as it was. Barry Dale proposed and Anne Chapman seconded and it was formally accepted by all.

• It was confirmed that membership to the network is £5.00 unless you have to pay capitation then it is £20.00
• Following discussion on the Rules of the Fellowship Necker, it was agreed that it was to be issued only to Fellowship Members.
• It was stated that all members of the Fellowship are entitled to wear the new fellowship badge, but not the international fellowship badge.
• The next Annual General Meeting was set for March 2003

Barry explained there is a new procedure for getting a visa in a hurry. A Russian tourist company will require you to complete all the paperwork and send it to them with $50.00. You should then be able to collect the visa at the port of entry (Moscow and St Petersburg) Steven Penny from ASLA explained however that there are problems with this. Firstly they wont send any confirmation paperwork and the Airlines are not prepared to accept people on flights without visas. The advice is not to rely on this type of visa arrangement.

Barry suggested it would be useful if headquarters could provide a scroll or formal greetings letter that we can give out to hosts and local government people in Russia

CLOSE OF MEETING – MEDITATION & FLAG DOWN

networkrussia.org.ukwww

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