Committee Minutes
Local Cooperation

The Niagara Parks Commission had prepared kits with pins and certificates for those who came to the planting of the memorial oak. Their participation was enthusiastic and much appreciated. Several dignitaries and committee members were present. Unfortunately, fewer then ten youth members of Scouting were in attendance. This is largely a result of the restructuring away from districts. The Area structure was unable to effectively get local Scouters on board with the project, creating an incalculable loss from a public relations standpoint.

Ted, Tony, Bill L., Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Gary Burroughs, Clive Buist, Niagara Area Commissioner Anne Piper-Thorn, and five Scouts were in attendance for the unveiling of the event advertising sign at the Niagara-on-the-Lake floral planting. Photos were taken by members of the media. A story has appeared in the Welland Tribune.

The sign advertising the Jamboree anniversary will be unveiled on Monday, August 15 at 10:00 at the corner of Queen Street and Mississauga Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Lord Mayor will be present. Lou emphasized the importance of making the event colourful to attract the media. Bill C. will work with Lou on a media release. Ted and Tony will attend in uniform and will present an anniversary crest. All other committee members are invited to attend as well. Tony will contact the Niagara Area Commissioner about having a couple of youth members attend.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Council

The committee had met with the Lord Major of Niagara-on-the-Lake earlier in the day. He is very supportive and would like to be kept informed about the event. The Lord Mayor would like music at the Scout Brigade parade and suggested Lincoln and Welland Regimental Band. Ted will invite all counsellors to attend the unveiling ceremony.

Tony read the speech to be given later that evening to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Council meeting.

Niagara Parks Commission

Tony is working with the Niagara Parks Commission and Scouts Canada, Niagara Area on the oak planting. He will share the VIP list with the Parks Commission. Committee members will attend the planting.

Delegation to Niagara-on-the-Lake City Council

Liam and Ted have confirmed that the committee will present a delegation to the Niagara-on-the-Lake city council on Monday, June 13. The committee will meet afterwards, either in the city hall or Joseph's Estate. Lou will arrange for a meeting place. Lou suggested visiting the Lord Mayor sometime before the meeting. Lou will arrange this meeting.

The delegation should be about five minutes long. The purpose is to ask for a proclamation recognizing the event. Tony will speak on the committee's behalf. Everyone on the committee is encouraged to attend.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Floral Garden

Ted and Liam met with Clive Buist regarding the sign for the floral garden. Their sign painter will make a sign similar to the masthead on the web site. It will be 18" tall. The WJ'55 emblem is too detailed to be painted. a 12x12" decal or printed sign will have to be provided. The final arrangement need to be made by the middle of June.

Niagara Parks Commission

Bill met with the Niagara Parks Commission. They are working to restore Paradise Grove (which hosted the Timberlands sub-camp in 1955) into an oak savanna and tall grass prairie. They would like to plant a memorial oak as part of the celebration and use that as the kick-off to a program in which local Scouts will plant lupins to attract butterflies. Tony reports that Niagara Area Commissioner is interested. The Commission would also like to unveil an interpretive sign. Bill will work with the Commission to determine the best time for this, probably Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. The Commission will run a story about this project and the Floral Clock planting.

Bill C. mentioned that the Niagara Parks Commission has offered to plant a memorial oak. They would also like help planting flowers by the river. Tony will see if there is interest in this among the Niagara Falls Scouts.

George has been in contact with the Event Management program at Niagara College. An intern has been offered to start the week of March 15. The committee discussed the difficulties of supervising the person and finding a place for them to work. It was suggested that the person could work out of Niagara Falls Scout House, though a phone line would be required. Due to these difficulties, it was decided to not pursue this for now.

Floral Clock

Bill C. reported that there has been great progress regarding the Floral Clock. Bill met with John Kernahan. The Niagara Parks Commission has agreed to plant the clock with fleur-de-lis and the Scouts Canada emblem. They will pay for the planting, a substantial contribution to the celebration.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce

Liam, Ted, and Bill L. met with Jennifer Cebado of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce. The Niagara Advance, a weekly paper, was suggested as a vehicle for local publicity. The editor is Penny Coles. Daily papers are the St. Catharines Standard and Niagara Falls Review. Their 2005 tourist guide is in production. Jennifer will see if adding the celebration to the events page is still possible.

Accommodation fills up quickly and September is a popular month. Attendees should book soon. A on-line directory of available spots is maintained by the Chamber on their web site.

The Chamber offered to mail information packages about the town to people who express an interest. They are willing to include information about the celebration as well. They are willing to place information cards about the event in their display. The Chamber would like to be kept up to date regarding the expected number of attendees.

Ted has written to the Niagara Lion's Club and the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake about the event and is awaiting replies.

Ted has written to Holly Dowd regarding booking a delegation to present to the city council. These bookings are normally booked two months ahead. Ted will be in touch again later in the winter.

Niagara College has an event planning program. George will contact their president to see if they are interested in getting involved.

Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Bill L., Ted, and Liam have met with Clive Buist and Marty Yamich of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Arranging a viewing area for the SBFG parade is no problem. When, where, and the size needed should be communicated to Holly Dowd, town clerk, well in advance of the event.

2005 will be the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International. The local Rotary club has requested to have the floral garden by the golf course dedicated to this theme. The practice has been to give precedence to the greater anniversary. Access to this garden is probably not possible, though they may be able to put a sign in place for the event weekend.

The Town distributes a newsletter to 6500 households every February. The committee is invited to include a writeup about the event and a photo. This would need to be given to the Town by the second week in January.

The committee should be able to book a ten minute community interest presentation to Council at one of their regular meetings. These take place on the second and forth Monday of the month and are broadcast on the community cable channel. This should be booked soon through Holly Dowd.

It was suggested that the committee create a pamphlet about the event for distribution at the two tourist information centres, one by the gardens and the other at Fort George. It may also be possible to put up a poster at these locations.

Marty said that there are 770 bed and breakfast beds in NOTL. The fall is a high season for them due to the wine festivals. 30-40% of the bed are already booked for next September. NOTL does not have motels or hotels, though there are many close by in Niagara Falls. It may be possible to arrange group rates. The Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce is a good contact for that.

The mayor may be able to designate the week preceding the event as World Jamboree Week. Such as designation does not include publicity provided by the city.

Bill C. will thank the mayor for the cooperation of the staff.

Floral Clock

Bill C. has spoken with John Kernahan of the Niagara Parks Commission who will take the idea about the floral clock to their board.

The committee has received an invitation to visit Clive Buist, Director of Parks and Recreation for Niagara-on-the-Lake. He is supportive and would like know the tentative plans. Ted and Bill L. will arrange a visit.

The group discussed the floral clock which is maintained by the Niagara Parks Commission. Tony has a colour photo of the clock from during WJ'55. Bill C. will contact the Commission about a display in the clock for next year.

Ted had sent letters asking for support to Janice Thompson of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and to Gary Burrows, Lord Mayor of NotL. Ron is on the board of the Chamber of Commerce and suggested that the committee call to arrange to make a presentation. Their next board meeting is Tuesday, September 14.

Gary Burrows is supportive and suggested meeting with the parks and recreation director.

The NotL Historical Society is preparing a display about WJ'55. They would like to dedicate the floral garden by the golf course to the Jamboree commemoration next year. This should be brought up at the meeting with the city.

The Scout Brigade of Fort George has invited the committee to hold a meeting during their event, specifically in the afternoon of Saturday, September 18. This will provide an opportunity discuss how the commemoration program could fit with the SBFG program. They have also invited the committee to join them for dinner that evening.

George Howse, who was a Scouter at the time of the Jamboree, suggested that we approach the Rotary and Lions about the possibility of funding. Ted will follow up on those groups and will get the addresses and make the request.