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Network Russia Scout Fellowship

About the Network

Network Russia is a Scout Fellowship whose aim is to work in Partnership with Scouting in Russia to support its continued development within the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

The Network provides a source of support for:

Encouraging exchanges and visits between Russian and UK Scouts
Sharing and co-ordinating experiences and plans
Providing training and material support
Working with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement

The Benefits to UK Scouting are:

An improved programme for members of our Scout Association
A greater awareness of the international dimension of Scouting
Experience of working in Partnership with people in the development process
Experience of planning and delivering successful expeditions and projects

The Network meets twice a year, normally March and October, at a variety of venues in the UK and produces a Network publication obtainable through a membership subscription.

Members at the Blackhills meeting, March 2003

Chairmans' Message

January 2007

Что делать, Что писать (What to do, What to write)

It’s always a problem for me to pen the chairman’s “bit” for our News Letter. What do I say that’s not trite or old hat or condescending? I was looking through my collection of old Russian post cards, collected over my years of association with the country and spotted the one illustrated. Very apt it seemed to me but not too much help in the situation. Then, this morning I caught a snippet of “Desert Island Discs” on the radio and whoever it was, picked a poem to be read. Again, how apt, so I’ll share it with you.

We all know, or think we know, about Rudyard Kipling, (Indian born British Poet, 1865 – 1936). Yes, the chap who wrote “The Jungle Books” (1894/5), and “Kim” and “The Just So Stories”, the chap who gave us the names for our Cub Scout Leaders and some very good stories. But, he also, and this is where the poem comes in, wrote a poem that I think illustrates what we might ideally expect or wish for our Scouts. Some consider it “Jingoistic Rubbish”, but its sinuous rhythm gets a hold on people who, like us, get things done.

Barry

August 2006

I’m sitting here, at home on my patio, during one of our hot spells. My outside thermometer, on the garage wall is reading 32 C. and as I sit it puts me in mind of a day in the summer of 2004 when a group of us sat on the banks of the Volga some 100 miles from Samara, and, like to-day, dripped; but then we were able to plunge into the luke-warm river and cool off a little. It was hot, but even so, no a patch on Saratov, also on the Volga, on a previous visit, where we arrived by river steamer and couldn’t believe the heat as we waded ashore. They said it was well over 45 C.
Russia can be hot as well as cold; a country of extremes with its temperature, as well as in other areas of daily life.

We in the “Network”, are fortunate in our contacts with Russian young people and their Leaders. They take us as they find us, and we, in our turn, are expected to do likewise, and indeed do so gladly. Nothing is hidden, their friendliness and inbuilt concern for our well-being shows through in the poorest of homes and the simplest of meals.

I have stayed in the opulence of the “Europa” in St. Petersburg, and have been given the most fantastic hospitality in the poorest of Datchas in the wilds of Siberia. I have been in places with the most luxurious Saunas of the Capital and also to the poorest of Banyas in a tin hut by the river,-but it’s the people you remember every time, the welcoming smile, the comradeship, the laughs.

So, what of this year? Not a lot of us going to Russia, but a good number of Russians coming here, either to join the Young Leaders Camp Staff Programme, or just visiting. Plans are a foot, as you might expect, for the 2007 visit to the –40 C. areas in February, as well as the +40 C. areas to the south of Moscow with the Service Project.

As many of you will know, we now have a very attractive “calling card” which will be available to members at the October Meeting (free) to take and leave where ever you happen to be.
Try and join us at Gilwell in September, or on the “British Riviera” at Kevins’ place in October. Hopefully neither +40 C. nor –40 C. but a gentle warm welcome.

Barry.

January 2006

Christmas comes but once a year, It fills us all with love and cheer”.

………however, I think the years are becoming shorter, at least for me, because they feel like they’re coming quicker. Of course, it does depend where you are as to when Christmas actually arrives. For us here in the UK the greeting is “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”, but for our Russian friends it is, “Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas”. This has been pointed out to me several times by friends in Russia.

Judging by the fantastic efforts of some of our members who visited the Orphanage in Kolumna last August, the children there will have had a more comfortable time this year than previously . We received a delightful letter from Margery.

Already, before Christmas in fact, places for the Camp Staff programme are being sort, together with requests for contacts for Summer camp visits here in the UK from groups in Russia. One or two of our members in turn have been invited to attend the Summer camp being held near Pavlodor in Kazakhstan. This is just over the border from Russia, to the south of Omsk in Western Siberia.. I understand that the Scout Group in Omsk run by Kostia Isienko, will be there too. Some may remember that they were in UK a couple of years ago following our study visit over there.

On another front, I have at last, been able to make contact with Veronika Mikalchenkova, the RAS/N International Commissioner. She sends us greeting from the New Scout Association and hopes to meet with some of us in the not too distant future. She said she did not in fact receive Eric’s e-mail last Summer and was sorry she was therefore unable to meet the members of the trip.

So, here we are, facing another year. What does it hold for us and for the Russian Scouts.? More contact at home and away, more visits to old and new friends. I hope we can strengthen the support we give both here and over there, spreading the word wherever we can. There are also one or two domestic chores that we need to attend to so that we as a Scout Fellowship have a sound base from which to work,

See you in the Lake District, or at Gilwell or next October at Kevin’s place down south.

Barry.

January 2005

Normally I would bounce into this letter with Greeting and happy thoughts for the New Year, but somehow, this year, our thoughts are saddened by the appalling natural catastrophe in Asia. As individuals we will all have done our bit, I feel sure, to help with goods or money. I know too, that with our aid will have gone a quiet prayer.

Here, at home, we must not forget that our youngsters will need some word or deed to help them understand the situation. What can we do as Scouts? Is a question I find difficult to answer easily but so often our young Scouts feel they must do something to help and we would not want to stop this kindness. Be there to help and guide where you can.

Changes to the Russian Leadership

Did you know, and not many people do, that our friend Sirgie Sirotkin is no longer the President of ARNSO, he is now the International Commissioner, while Svetlana Sokolova (living in Samara) is now ‘top dog’ so to speak in that she is now President of ARNSO or as she writes it (VNSO). The “all-Russian” bit of ARNSO in Russian is one word starting with “Bce...” as you know in Russian the letter B is a V, so ARNSO is VNSO.

Happenings

There are happenings going to take place this year as every year, in fact by the time you are reading this one on them will have been and gone. Tim and others are again this February taking a group to Losova north of St. Petersburg for the winter expedition. Again this year a full party for the week. No doubt he will be telling us all about it in March. By the way, did YOU contribute an article for us to read? And if not, why not? I hope you will endeavour to join us in March, our meetings are always a good laugh, as well as the serious bit.

The trip to the Orphanage in the summer is well in hand. Eric will be outlining the programme at the meeting I feel sure. Also, in the summer, is the Siberian Study Visit. At this time of writing I don't know the numbers, hope there's enough for a good visit. Then there will be Gillwell which we need to sort. It would be great to see lots of us there waving the flag, or a flag, or some article of clothing etc. AND in October the Autumn meeting...

Barry Dale

September 2004

Dear Friends,

It is with the greatest trepidation that I greet you. Being ( as someone said) a very important Person, is all very well until you have to do something. At this point I feel very unimportant person, having to follow in Bills footsteps makes it even harder.

He said to me “ there is not much to being a chairman, it doesn’t take up much time”.
“ we all fall for it don’t we”. I have already leaned heavily on Bill and Eric and Iam grateful for their support.

I hope it has been a good summer and early Autumn Scouting wise ( I am writing this in June).

It seems that the structure of Russian Scouting has taken a turn in direction and I wonder where that leaves us and our support, other than confused .? Our contact are still there however and they still remain our friends. The orphanages still need outr support and to this end we will hopefully be successful in our autumn 2005 enterprise if you do not know what this is ask Eric.

Our friends in St Petersburgh are still prepared to host our winter expedition to Losova.

Young leaders still want to come over to our various campsites to work, so that programme seems to be ongoing information of this from Bill Turnbull. So maybe while the great and important sort it out we will soldier on and Do Our Best where we can. In my book a scout friend is a friend is a friend.

Since March this year Andrew Jermey the Commissioner for National Fellowships called a half day conference at B.P House Bill and I attended and came away feeling that we as a national fellowship were reasonably well organised and active. We were advised however that we should have a constitution ( more work) I am working on a draft which may or may not be ready for members at our next meeting to comment on. Talking of which meeting will be a half day gathering in the midst of a residential weekend in Cumbria

In June David McKee left Gilwell and is now working for the world bureau in Geneva ( was it something I said?) Davids replacement is Sarah Hobbs with Jackie Marting as her adviser and assistant Julia Westall. We wish them well in trying to keep Network Russia in order.

As I write this I am preparting to take a small group of Explorer to St Petersburgh and the Jamborree in Samara by the time you read this I should be back I am now going to shut up so you can read the rest of the magazine Hope to see you all in November.

Bring a friend.
Yours in Scouting,
Barry Dale

January 2004

The meeting in West Sussex on 8^th March went extremely well – thanks to Pauline & Don Collishaw and Clare Griffin – what wonderful venues we seem to visit. It was such a great pleasure to have had Konstantin Isaenko from Omsk as our guest speaker – Konstantin was in the UK for a long weekend at the invitation of Much Hadham Scouts in advance of the expedition to the UK by the Scouts of Omsk.

At the meeting we finalised the artwork & details for the advertising/application form flyer, the country support pack for Russia and the advertising banners. I am pleased to say that all three were produced with the help of financial support from ASLA – SELECT TRAVEL and BCA Printers, labour from the International Dept. at HQ and Graham Hall’s connections. Thanks to everyone for their contribution especially Barry Dale and Chris Grant. The Flyer and Support Pack were distributed to the complete International circulation – one to each county plus many others with that International bug. Most of the Committee members and others of the Network have a copy and hear that that they have been well received. Contact the International department if you want a copy.

Shortly before the meeting we were fortunate to have had a slot at promoting Russia as a venue for expeditions to Explorer Scout Leaders at workshops in the Midlands and at Gilwell Park – Thanks Mary.

The Study Visit to Western Siberia proved to be a wonderful adventure – see the report elsewhere in this edition – with spectacular hospitality wherever we went. Some of us had also been invited to St. Petersburg for the 300 year anniversary celebrations and again experienced the warmth of a Russian welcome and some memorable events and experiences.

Expeditions this summer by South Yorkshire to St. Petersburg and by Torbay to St. Petersburg and Perm seemed to go very well, with a couple of hiccups, as you can see in their reports. A few of us were privileged to meet the Scouts from Omsk at Tolmers during their link expedition with Much Hadham Scouts. There was also 10 Guides form Omsk and Kemorova at an International camp at Askham Brian College, near York. Dorothy visited and tells me that she saw 3 Scouts/Guides and Valentina, their leader from Mezhdurechensk, and had a whale of a time with gifts and photographs being exchanged. The Michael Durnan Expedition to the UK by 15 Scouts from St. Petersburg took place in August– they spent one week at Phasels Wood Activity Centre followed by hill walking in North Wales before moving down to Docklands for the London experience. Jon and Irina Thorp are currently in Russia visiting Moscow and Etkaterinburg and will be visiting Scouts and Leaders but mainly family.

The Camp Staff Programme went great for the 8 young Russian leaders that accepted the chance but sadly the offers that went to Nizhni Novgorod, St. Petersburg City and Moscow were not taken up. In pairs, they have been at Torbay, Phasels Wood, Hesley Wood and Gradbach for just under 3 weeks before spending 2 days at Docklands for a London Experience. We hope to extend the programme to other regions of Russia next year.

We mounted exhibitions at Norjam, thanks to Roy & Joan Walker, and Kent Jamboree, thanks to Andy Trill, and now we look forward to Gilwell Reunion in September and our next meeting of the Network in October. Then on to 2004 and a Winter Expedition, a Study Visit to the Volga Region and the National Jamboree in Samara (see adverts).

It was good to hear from Murray Hollis in Australia and news of the continued support being given to Russian Scouting in memory of Michael, Marsha and Gwenda – I hope you enjoy reading Murray’s report as much as I did.

As we passed through Moscow, on our way to Western Siberia in May, we met Sergey Sirotkin, the President of ARNSO (you can see the results of our conversation elsewhere in this newsletter). The organisation of Scouting in Russia is not easy – the country and people are extremely diverse – we need to continue to be patient during the teenage years of Scouting within Russia and provide encouragement and support at every opportunity. But we share the same dream: for all Scouts in Russia to belong to one strong integrated organisation within our World Movement meeting the needs of young people.

Best wishes

Bill

August 2003

Expeditions this summer by South Yorkshire to St. Petersburg and by Torbay to St. Petersburg and Perm seemed to go very well, with a couple of hiccups, as you can see in their reports. A few of us were privileged to meet the Scouts from Omsk at Tolmers during their link expedition with Much Hadham Scouts. There was also 10 Guides form Omsk and Kemorova at an International camp at Askham Brian College, near York. Dorothy visited and tells me that she visited the 3 Scouts/Guides and Valentina, their leader from Mezhdurechensk, and had a whale of a time with gifts and photographs being exchanged. The Michael Durnan Expedition to the UK by 15 Scouts from St. Petersburg is taking place at the time of writing – they have spent one week at Phasels Wood Activity Centre and are currently in North Wales before moving down to Docklands for the London experience. Jon and Irina Thorp are currently in Russia visiting Moscow and Etkaterinburg and will be visiting Scouts and Leaders but mainly family.

The Camp Staff Programme is going great for the 8 young Russian leaders that accepted the chance but sadly the offers that went to Nizhni Novgorod, St. Petersburg City and Moscow were not taken up. In pairs, they have been at Torbay, Phasels Wood, Hesley Wood and Gradbach for just under 3 weeks before spending 2 days at Docklands for a London Experience. We hope to extend the programme to other regions of Russia next year.

Best wishes

Bill

January 2003

Since the last newsletter much has happened with the Network and 2003 promises to be even busier.

During the summer holidays scouts from St. Petersburg visited Blair Atholl and Hertfordshire, scouts from Saratov visited Chamboree and I believe that there were Russian scouts at Kibblestone once again. We were also pleased that Hesley Wood were able to host four young leaders on a camp staff programme – this was a trial, from which we learnt much, and from the report backs by the participants a successful trial.

Our activity stand at the Gilwell Reunion was the best yet with indoor and outdoor programme ideas based on Russian activities and the publicity banners, posters and in particular the balloons meant that we were noticed.

The 10^th anniversary meeting at Blackhills, West Bradford was most memorable not only for the presence of the Chief Scout, the Chief Commissioner for England, the County Commissioner for West Yorkshire and the Field Development Officer but also the visit by Yuri Kudriashov, the Historian for Scouting in Russia. Yuri gave a presentation on the history of the Scout Movement in Russia and illustrated clearly how complicated the development of an organisation can be in the early stages of it’s life. But even more memorable was the return of some of our original members, Derek McKenzie, Chris Wilkinson and Mike Stanley, it was great to see them and to hear of their memories of links with Russian Scouts. The splendid cake made by Dorothy Holdsworth depicting St. Basil’s Cathedral will certainly go down as the most ambitious even made. Thanks to all who made it such a successful weekend.

The fourth Study Visit took place in November under the leadership of Eric Chapman to Moscow and Nizhni Novgorod and I am pleased to say was extremely successful (see article by Barry Dale).

Our Web site continues to be visited by many people some of which have contacted us expressing interest in future activities in Russia. Amongst those are Explorer Units in Coventry and Northamptonshire wanting to go to Russia in the summer of 2003 or 2004 to do the Explorer Belt.

At the next meeting in West Sussex on 8^th March we will be visited by Konstantin Isaenko from Omsk. Konstantin is the head of ARNSO in Western Siberia and is now linked with Andrew Fraser’s Scout Group in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. A contingent from Omsk will be visiting in the summer of 2003.

Expeditions by Torbay to Perm, Cheshire to Saratov and Sussex (Scouts & Guides) & South Yorkshire to St Petersburg are also being planned for July/August 2003 in addition to the Fifth Study Visit to Western Siberia (and Kasakhstan). In addition a number of members have been invited to St. Petersburg during the last week of May to witness the celebrations of the 300 year anniversary of the birth of the city by Peter the Great.

Barry Dale has agreed to produce a guidance brochure on how to plan an expedition to Russia with as much useful information as he can muster – if you have any useful ideas for the brochure please let Barry know on 01909 563930. Discussion on Barry’s proposals will be at the March meeting

Graham Hall & Beccy Grundy have agreed to produce three sets of display boards advertising the Network at the International Camps in the UK. Again if you have any ideas please let them know on email hallg@apci.com or 01352 754259 respectively. Discussion on the proposals will be at the next meeting.

Stephen Penney at ASLA has offered to give further sponsorship to Network Russia. Chris Grant has agreed to produce an updated draft promotional leaflet/application form. Again if you have any ideas please let Chris know on 01803 400667 or email wopbobaloolop@hotmail.com. Discussion on the proposals will be at the March meeting.

A Happy and Healthy New Year to you all.

Bill