Hacking and other stuff

Just leafleted half the town with my leaflet for the Town Council by election. Positive feedback so far. Met a fab woman, called Kim who is already a Town Councillor who wants to start a Winterton Youth Council - great idea. Linking in with some of the BYC campaigns about education, workplace and civil liberties would be a good thing, particularly their current campaign against raising of the school leaving age.

Leafleting always gives one time to think - mainly about what tomorrow brings, but also about things I've heard today. For example I spent quite a lot of time thinking about why we struggle in so many walks of life to recruit volunteers. I think it's about how we ask people. I went into a group meeting recently and the parents - some 30 odd - were berated for the behaviour of their kids and also for being lazy and not volunteering. Hmmmm. Not the best advert for flexible Scouting, nor for anything. We should start from the premise of what people *can* give, and allowing them to be part of the team, at their level. If they can offer half an hour a week, what about taking the register and doing the subs? If they can spare an hour a week, then come along and join in. Involve them in the planning, give them a part of the meeting to 'own', or ask them to do the shopping or cutting out. Can they be on a rota? And if someone - hallelujah - offers once a month or once a fortnight, and hints they'd like to be in uniform, then let them. Bring them on baord, include them, point out what positive benefits there are for them, and show them how to enjoy Scouting! After all, if it isn't fun, then why would anyone bother. And the same holds for any volunteer post.

Just home to find daughter Daisy railing, as usual, against bed time. Dog tired she may be, but determined she certainly is to stay up later than any other living creature in the family. Talking of living creatures, Sarah the goldfish seems to have perked up. Oh joy. Did find Jessie, the cat, looking pretty interested at the bowl earlier but the rattle of cat food won over.

Finally well done Lewis Hamilton! The glamour of Formula One gets me every time, shallow though that may be. I love the speed but my conscience does prick me, with all that fuel being used and the cost to the environment of the travelling etc. Great to have a British winner at Silverstone though.