Dear friends,

We have been identifying different ways of how to deliver Bureau-Info, the World Bureau news, in an effective way, in terms of costs and time consuming. The last issue was posted on the website and we e-mailed you the link to this publication. Today we will keep to this process as we find it appropriate. The information is in your box as soon as it is released. The various links in the text are background information you can file from your side. However we will continue to circulate this document on paper as not all of you are connected. We hope that we will be an e-connected organisation in the near future.

We would like to say that a proactive relationship is established or re-established between the World Bureau and many NSGFs and that information sharing is carried out on an ongoing basis. We would like to pay tribute to those National Presidents and International Secretaries for their commitment to ISGF and for having understood the role of the World Bureau. We will do our best to respond more effectively to the many and various needs they may express.

                                                     News from the Regions

  Clervaux

The 23^rd Western Europe Sub-Regional gathering has just ended. More than 60 participants from 9 countries (Austria, Belgium, Benin, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, UK) attended the Gathering and could appreciate the speech delivered by the keynote Speaker, Mr Patrick Goergen.  “Europe without Borders: Bridges to Peace” was the theme of the Conference and the Gathering too. Martine Levy and Anne Dupont, respectively Chairman and Member of the World Committee, made a presentation on ISGF. Werner Weilguny, Chairman of the Europe Region Committee, communicated on the functioning of the Europe Region. Leny Doelman communicated on Scouting in the Netherlands, explaining how the Dutch Fellowship membership increased from 200 to 3.600 members in less than two years. 

Bodoe

The Host Committee and the participants carried on their work in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. Bjorg Walstad, Vice-Chairman of the World Committee, represented ISGF. She collected 1100 euros for “the Scout&Guide Spirit Flame” project. We would like to pay tribute to our members for their generous donation.

  Rothenburg(30 August-3^rd September 2006)

The German Fellowship that welcomes the 5^th Central Europe Sub-regional Gathering is expecting around 185 participants from 17 countries. The Central Europe Sub-region will subsidise participants from the Eastern European countries thanks to its solidarity fund.

Seven Workshops have been set up. Participants will have to work on “how to plan the future”.  We expect that these workshops will link their work to the recommendations made at the Specialist meetings, Lillehammer, June 2005.

 MED 2006 (7-12 November 2006)

MASCI, the Italian Fellowship, has already registered 400 subscriptions.  Participants from 20 countries (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Congo, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Israel, Italy, Libya, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda and United Kingdom) will meet. Around 200 Italians will take part in this event. Around one hundred persons are on a waiting list and the registration deadline has been extended to the 30^th September 2006. 

 What a wonderful opportunity to have such a multicultural gathering where people will contribute to spreading strong messages for “peace and solidarity among people”. This multicultural Gathering will give  better visibility to an Organisation backing values beyond borders, colour of skin or ethnic and religious background.

6^th ISGF Europe Region Conference

This Conference will be held from 20-24 June 2007, in Krakow, Poland. A preliminary programme and information on the conference fees are available on our website: 6th ISGF Europe Regional Conference

 ISGF info-Centre- Jamboree 2007

The Europe Region will run the Info centre on behalf of ISGF. Staff to run this booth is required. If you want to apply we invite you to read the information posted on our website: ISGF Info Center  . This document will be sent by snail mail to those who are not connected.

                                   News from the National Scout and Guide Fellowships

 Chile

We have just been informed about the election of a new board. We welcome Mrs Eva Finkelstein as  National President and Mrs Dora Araya as International Secretary.

Ghana

Ghana is a new ISGF member. A new leadership is looking after The Fellowship (NAFOGG).  Mrs Rose Mortgabe and Dorinda Bannermann-Bruce were respectively appointed National President and International Secretary. Edward Mettle-Nunoo is still active within this Fellowship. Our congratulations to Rose and Dorinda.

Greece

The Greek Fellowship (JCFSGG) is having its Annual meeting in October at Corfu Island. One of the major issues of this Assembly is the implementation of a Good Turn. Last year 60% of the participants became human organ donors. Interested by the UNHCR programme  published by ISGF, they would like to link one of their actions to this programme.  

 Malaysia

FOFSAG, the Malaysian Fellowship, is organising a golf tournament on 12^th November 2006 to raise funds for its activities. For more information:Gulf tournament in Malaysia

 New Zealand

The NZSGF (the New Zealand Fellowship) had their General Assembly on the 23^rd April 2006. Mrs Mary Crane and Mrs Deidre Carter have been respectively appointed National President and International Secretary. We would like to convey our congratulations to the new board.

 UK

The UK Adult Scout Alliance, the other UK Fellowship, held its General Assembly on 6^th May 2006. We would like to convey your congratulations to Allan Page and Brian Staines who were respectively appointed National President and International Secretary.

 Switzerland

The “Anciens Scouts de Suisse” elected a new board. Peter Huber is the new National President. Esther Hausammann remains the International Secretary. Our warmest congratulations to both of them.

                                           News from the World Committee

 Meeting in Brussels

The next World Committee meeting will take place on 25-29 October 2006. The outcome of the preceding World committee and the Steering Committee meetings were released in the Chairman’s Newsletter. This publication will be delivered regularly after each meeting to enable smooth and proactive communication between the World Committee and the NSGFs.

 Scout and Guide Spirit Flame

You will have already received the Chairman’s letter concerning the Scout and Guide Spirit Flame. You will soon receive the Marketing Plan set up by the PR & communication team. A PR package (Logo Power Point presentation, an advertisment to be released in your national magazine,…) will follow. A special website, linked to ISGF website will be launched. We shall also come up with suggestions on how to get involved and ideas for sponsoring the flame even if it will not cross your country.

 The website

The Communication & PR team is working out a new presentation of our website to make it more friendly user and more attractive towards younger generations. Their proposal will be examined at the next World committee meeting for approval.

 ISGF leaflet

The ISGF leaflet has been updated. You can order it from the World Bureau. We will charge the postage only. Thanks to the Norwegian Fellowship (St Georgs Gildene I Norge) which made a donation of one thousand one hundred euros which will partly cover the printing and lay out costs of the leaflet. We convey our warmest thanks to the Norwegian Fellowship.

 Visas

Mario Sica, in charge of “legal questions” within the World Committee, issued a document on visas, approved by the World Committee.  It gives recommendations on the necessary steps for obtaining a visa when you want to attend an event. For more information: Obtaining Visas

 Central Branch

Congo Brazzaville and Iran are now members of the Central Branch as we received new registrations from these two countries lately.

                                                   News from WAGGGS and WOSM  

WAGGGS

 In the World Bureau circular issued May 2006, we read that Lesley Bulmann-Lever, the Chief Executive of WAGGGS was resigning as of 31 December 2006.

In this circular we  read, “By next June I will have served ten years and I feel that WAGGGS will benefit from the fresh perspective of a new Chief Executive…….”  An application process will be launched shortly. We join WAGGGS members in thanking Lesley for her commitment to Girl Guiding. We appreciated her help and prompt reply whenever required.

 WOSM

 We were invited by Mike Walker, Director, Communications and External relationship, Pascale Boulanger and KatrinTauscher to attend the inauguration of their premises that were refurbished in accordance with the new logo. It was an opportunity to meet David Mc Kee, Director of the WOMS Europe Region who performed the inauguration. Heather Roy and Rosemary Hindle from WAGGGS and representatives of the Belgian Scout Associations attended this get together. We can say that we are building a strong and amicable relationship with our sister organisations and the Belgian Youth associations which is erasing the past isolation of the ISGF World Bureau.

                                              News from the World Bureau

Key codes for the intranet

Key codes will soon be released for the newly elected NP and IS soon. They will have access to the information posted in the Intranet side of the web. The tendency now is to have more and more information released in the Internet. Yet these keys are delivered to enable our NSGFs to implement information on the web from their side.  As I said in previous issues, the system is friendly user and it is not necessary to have a data processing background to implement information. Instructions on how to use it are available and if you have not received them, I will be pleased to send them again

 Articles for the World Gazette Mondiale

The deadline has been fixed as the 31 July 2006. Exceptionally, between the 27 and 31 July may we kindly ask you to forward your articles, if any, to Xavier Rousseau e-mail address (eloy.annick@skynet.be).  Xavier will pass on your articles to Rigmor Lauridsen, the Editor.

Holidays-  World Bureau staff

Thje World Bureau will be closed 8-15 JAugust 2006.

 I will be on holiday from 28 July-15 August 2006.  If you need any information between 31st  July and 8 August you can address your request to Xavier who will be pleased to help. However we would like to remind you that he is a part time employee and he is not in the office on a permanent basis.

I wish you a wonderful and peaceful season.

 Faouzia Kchouk

Secretary General

World Bureau, 24^th July 2006

 Bureau-info is the World Bureau news

Director of the publication: Martine Levy

Editor: Faouzia Kchouk