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48th Aberdeen Company fund raise for Malawi The boys of the 48th Aberdeen Company were each given a tube of Smarties around three weeks before their Enrolment and Dedication Service. They were informed that they could eat the Smarties and were to ask there family members to contribute "small change" in exchange for some form of work or task. They brought their Smartie Tubes to the Service and £150.30 was established as the figure raised for the Christian Aid appeal for Niger. A further donation of £30.20 was raised at a party on the suggestion of a parent and passed on to Aberdeen Presbytery for the Malawi appeal. Good work to an excellent cause with Christian Aid happy to recognise the event.
President's Message Looking at the session so far there has been a lot to cheer about but also some areas of concern. Progress towards completing our goals has been better than we could have hoped for (See the table below for details). Getting the Web Site functional as a direct form of communication for up to date information has also been a rewarding experience. Further development to something “cool” and “interesting” will come with time and it has to be said with a lot of learning from the boys. Media coverage has been much improved and the work done in and around the redevelopment of headquarters has been terrific. Contact with Companies to get feedback on a wide ranging questionnaire has been a good and worthwhile experience. Collation of the responses and circulation of the findings is next on the list of things to do so that action can be taken on the future needs of Companies. A special meeting of Battalion Council was held on Tuesday the 6th December to decide the way forward for Battalion H.Q. at Crimon Place. The presentations on the proposed redevelopment were first class but the attendance was poor resulting in no quorum being established. This was especially disappointing due to the guest appearance of our new “Brigade President”, the Very Reverend Alan Main. His words of encouragement tempered with reality were just what was needed in such a situation. Matters now revert back to the Executive for a decision on the next move.
David Laing, Battalion
President.
December 2005.
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Refurbishment of H.Q. Plans for the refurbishment of the buildings at Crimon Place are being reviewed with a view to getting the phasing correct. We now have a building warrant for phase 1 of the refurbishment which includes: - Phase 1 - the Kitchen, the introduction of a new Disabled Toilet, the Ladies & Gents Toilet along with a large percentage of the Electrical and Heating work. Phase 2 - provision of 2 Dormitories with bunk beds, the band room conversion into Dining Area / Leaders Area, old hall Partition with User Friendly Area and GBM Hall Upgrade.
Plans are being knocked into shape and will be presented for each company in the battalion to discuss and comment on. |
Supplies Update Supplies Depot at Crimon Place will be open starting Tuesday the 6th September from 19:30 to 21:00. The following is a guide by month as to evenings the depot will be open: -
September: - Tuesdays & Thursdays October: - Thursdays only. November: - Thursdays only + meeting nights. December: - Thursday the 1st & 8th only. January: -Tuesday the 10th then Thursdays only February: - Thursdays only. March: - Tuesdays & Thursdays April: - Tuesdays & Thursdays May: - Tuesdays & Thursdays up to 16th
After 16th May depot will be closed. Supply Depot Manager, George Collie.
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Fundraising As a result of being able to establish the likely cost of the proposed refurbishment, it has been necessary to form a fund raising committee under the direction of Eric Meston, Battalion Treasurer & Resource Officer. The committee will have a single aim, that of raising the funds necessary to cover the phased expenditure for the refurbishment of Battalion H.Q. Funds for this project are urgently needed. Can you help? Call or e-mail HQ, Crimon Place. |
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Latest: - Watch this space for the latest happenings! Congratulations to the 29th Aberdeen Company on reaching their 100th anniversary! A special centenary service to mark the event was held on Sunday 30th October at St Mary's Parish Church, King Street. Many artefacts and photographs were on display in the hall and the service set the scene back in 1905 when the company started up.
Anchor Boy Activity Afternoon: - Something new for Anchor Boys through-out the Battalion, Games, Activities and lots of Fun at BB HQ on Saturday the 4th February 2006, 13:45 to 16:00. Why not come along and join in if you can ? Bisset Trophy - Junior Section would welcome any proposals for change for this trophy so that interest can be re-activated for more of the boys. Ideas to BB HQ via e-mail or letter please addressed to Heather. |
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Message from the Treasurer
It is my intention to use the website, as well as section meetings, to keep all members up to date with the financial position in the Battalion.
This year the proposed refurbishment of Brigade HQ is my main task. For those that are not aware of the proposal I thought it best to briefly outline the project.
We intend completely refurbishing the ground floor of Crimon Place to form a multi purpose facility which could be used for training, games, social occasions and short term accommodation. This will not only benefit our own Battalion but we hope will encourage other youth groups from throughout the U.K. to visit us in Aberdeen. The purpose of the refurbishment is so that Crimon Place starts to generate income rather than being an overhead which is rarely used. The intention is to try and bring as many training courses and activities back to HQ and reduce costs to the Companies. The facility will be open to other youth groups and organisations at low cost rental which hopefully means it will not only generate sufficient income to cover it’s own running costs but may have excess which can be ploughed back to the Companies in the form of reduced competition entries or reduced Battalion subs. The estimated cost of the building works is £160,000.00. A figure which no doubt will rise by the end of the project. To date we have raised £31,250.00 so we have a long hard road to travel if we want to achieve our target.
I have made many grant applications to various organisations such as Lloyds/TSB Foundation, HBOS Foundation, The Robertson Trust and others and we await their response over the next few months. I have written to 25 local companies asking for assistance but this proved rather unsuccessful and raised only £250.00. If anyone knows of any company they think may be sympathetic to our cause, please let me have the details and I will write to them.
The Executive has also agreed that it would be a good idea to form a Fundraising committee to make suggestions to the Battalion Companies of ways that they could help our task. I know that fundraising for your own Companies is itself very time consuming and important for the survival of the Brigade but I would ask all members this year to make a special effort for the refurbishment. If any officer would like to help in a committee please contact me. Even if you are unable to be part of a committee you may have some ideas of fundraising activities which could be used.
If you have any suggestions or comments please contact me at HQ either by e-mail, by phone through John Robertson ( Tel. 644400 ) or I am in HQ every Tuesday between 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Please keep checking the website for updated information.
Eric Meston, Treasurer and Resource Officer.
