Our contribution to the Christchurch relief effort

Thank you all for a fantastic evening!

We had great water activities, but more importantly, we really pulled together to help those affected by the earthquake.

I'm not sure exactly how much food and clothing was collected, but Diane's car was pretty much full up, and I am taking $180.70 to the bank in a few minutes.

Thank you!
Randall
--
Ngati Toa Sea Scout Troop
http://ngatitoaseascouts.blogspot.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/ngatitoa.seascouts

Additional ways we can help

Hi again everyone,

Diane C has just advised me that the Wellington City Mission will be housing people evacuated from Christchurch, housing them in a community hall in Newtown.

In addition to the gold coin donation tomorrow, please bring to the Den anything like spare blankets, spare clothing, tinned or non-perishable food or comfort items that you can donate to the Mission.

Many of the people evacuated are students (some foreign), tourists, families, and pensioners who may have little else but the clothes they are wearing.

Diane will be bringing the donated materials into town on Friday morning, and the BNZ is coordinating a mass transport to the Mission later in the day.  Anything left over will be sent to the Christchurch City Mission to assist those still there.

Thank you again,
Randall

Taking donations this Thursday for earthquake relief

Hi all,

In light of yesterday's earthquake, we are certainly reminded of just how fragile our world can be.  I hope that anyone with friends or family in the Christchurch region has been able to confirm them safe and sound.

Please be prepared to attend Scouts tomorrow night with a gold coin donation - these funds raised will undoubtedly assist some of our fellow Scouts and their families in Canterbury.  I will be delivering our contribution to the Red Cross on Friday.

Thank you,
Randall

many thanks for cleanup efforts

A huge thanks to all the families that turned up last night to give the den a thorough going-over... the kitchen looks simply amazing!  And all the donkey work done in the boatsheds means just a trip to the tip and good sweep-out!  Fantastic!

I did come home with some lonely clothing from the pool on Wednesday night; please let me know if you are missing something otherwise it will go in the lost & found bin.

====
So Scouts proper will resume at 6:30pm next Thursday. 
As a general rule for Terms 4 and 1, the Scouts should bring wet gear every evening unless otherwise advised. 
The minimum gear would consist of:

• beanie
• sunglasses
• splash jacket
• top and bottom polyprops
• wetsuit (instead of or in addition to the polyprops
• boardies (to protect the bum of the wetsuit)
• socks
• beach shoes or other sturdy footwear (please not crocs as they tend to float away at inopportune times)
• towel

We have a couple of local regattas coming up mid-month so I will be asking the kids this Thursday if they plan to attend.

• Harbour Race on Saturday 19 February
• Hickson Regatta on Sunday 20 February, both hosted by Britannia

Please have a chat with your Scouts about these events, as every little bit of experience they can get will benefit them.

====
Finally, there are a few very special boats moored at Queen's Wharf (Ferg's Kayaks) that might be of interest to racers.  These are Eco 60 boats in the middle of the world's longest solo race, the Velux 5 Oceans.  Solo, as in *one* crew member sailing a 60-foot yacht over 30,000 kilometers across some of the world's most unforgiving seas.  The skippers have completed the second leg, from South Africa to Wellington, and will be leaving Wellington on Sunday around midday on their way around Cape Horn to the Atlantic side of South America.  These are gorgeous boats and should be a spectacular sight leaving the harbour.  check out www.velux5oceans.com for photos, video and stories.

Cheers,
Randall