Scouts cost

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 668, 23 December 1996, Page 4

Scouts cost

• The highlight of any Scouts career is to attend a jamboree. It therefore follows that attendance at an international jamboree is going to be even better. That is why Scouts' parents are willing to fundraise for their children to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The history behind the sale of the Scout lodge, that is the 24 berth bunkhouse behind the Scout hall, and the sale of the scout hall is this: The lodge was built with a 1 00 per cent loan of $70,000. It was then realised that chattels were needed so a $ 1 0,000 overdraft was arranged. The idea was that occupancy of the lodge was to be used to pay the mortgage, rates, insurance, etc, and any left over was to be used by the group for whatever reason. Unfortunately the reality didn't anywhere cover payments due. To try to get out of the financial nightmare the committee, after much soul searching and after trying very hard to get rid of rate arrears and back payments, decided to sell the lodge. To do this we had to subdivide the section so as to keep the hall. The Ruapehu District Council, quite correctly, pointed out to us that the original resource consent to build the lodge contained a condition that a sealed driveway with five carparks be supplied. This must be done, at a cost of

approximately $15,000, before clear title is given. The council has also advised us that because this is a new subdivision the hall on the front section will also now need a sealed driveway and carparks. This has been estimated to cost $ 1 0,000. The hall itself also requires urgent maintenance including weatherboards, painting, windows etc., at an estimate of another $ 1 0,000. This will still leave us with a hall which is too small for our 42 scouts or the 28 Cubs. As an aside, the national average size for a Scout group is nine so our Scout group leaders must be doing something right and should be congratulated for their efforts. I hope that 'Local Identity' came to our stall at the Ohakune Christmas carni-

val (incidentally our fourth major fundraiser this year, after the "Twister" movie premiere, a formal dinner attended by 80 people, and a major pre-Christmas raffle, none of which have gone to jamboree funds) and got a personal explanation of the above, which is obviously only an outline, and has had any fears relating to the group allayed. If not, our AGM is in mid-February and his/her attendance is most welcome. I know my (and my committee' s) conscience is perfectly clear. I welcome any queries or comments regarding scouting in Ohakune. My home phone number is 385-8548.

Mark

Hays,

chairman, Ruapehu Scout Group.

Terrill Nation, secretary, Ruapehu Scout Group