GZC Council Meeting Minutes (5 Nov)

MEMORANDUM FOR GZC COUNCIL

SUBJECT: 05 November meeting minutes

1. The Green Zone Council met on 05 November at 1130 for its weekly planning meeting.

2. The following members were present:
Ralph Allen Greg Mahoney Larry Douglas
Pat Bell Dan Bradford Jason Pogacnik
William King Rhonda Horried Eric Fretz


3. We discussed the following events:

- Frame with Certificate of Appreciation, flag, and patches has been done for the recognition of Major Stu Wolfe
- Official Knot Patches are in and other new design patches will be in soon.
- A few old patches are left for sale.
- GZC to apply to National for approval of patches and design a certificate to go with the patches
- GZC picture exchange day to be held at Ralph Allen’s office on 11 Nov from 100 to 1400. The historian, Rhonda Horried, will start building a file of pictures to share and has started designing a website.
- Conex box located in the scouting area needs rearrangement for gear accessibility and Embassy conex box is empty.
- One of the projects we will be working soon is to mark the walls around the camping area with an Iraqi Scout symbol to help us secure the woods for the scouts permanently
We need spray paint, if anyone knows how to get some please let us know
- The project to locate scouting books in Arabic continues. Any suggests please let us know.
- Volunteers from Aegis are interested in supporting the GZC. We will be putting together a wish list for them. If you have ideas on different needs, please let us know. Aegis contact is Kevin Halborg.
- GZC liaisons designing a template for tracking contacts back in the States. Please forward any US contacts to Pat Bell or Greg Mahoney
- Ralph Allen’s home council is sending items for the Pinewood Derby.
- Jason Pogacnik, volunteer from GAO, is to follow up on the land issue concerning the scouting camp with a State Department contact
- No action forward with the Girls Only or Boys Only events until the GZC is contacted by the Iraqi BS/GS contact.


4. The Treasures report is as follows:
-$3013.07 in available cash

5. The following nomination was made:
- To show appreciation to KBR Charlie Wilson for his assistance to GZC it was suggested that the GZC present him with a patch and popcorn – APPROVED


6. GZC Links:
MNF-I GZC link: https://mnfi.intranet.iraq.centcom.mil/sites/JASG/Green%20Zone%20Council/default.aspx
WWW Blog link: http://greenzonecouncil.blogspot.com/
Email address; GreenZoneCounci@yahoo.com


7. Fund raisers are available for all who may be interested in selling some items. Ralph Allen is currently the POC; he has the following items that could be sold:
-New computer bags are available
-T-Shirts
-POPCORN

8. The next meeting will be held in room B-104 at the Palace on 12 November 1130.



//SIGNED//
Pat Bell
Green Zone Council
Secretary

What are Iraqi Scout Camps like?

While the GZC functions in the International Zone, there is a whole country outside our little enclave that is going about their business. Like scouts everywhere, Iraqi scouting has many ties to the joys of nature and camping. Iraqi scouts go to camps, and when they have a camp their schedule may look something like this.

(Special thanks to Zeenat and Moayad for providing this)

Hour Event
0530 Wake up
0545 Morning sports/Calisthenics
0615 Prepare breakfast
0700 Tent/camp Inspection
0730 Flag raising ceremony
0800 Morning activity/Scout Skills
1200 End activity morning/Prepare Lunch/free time
1600 Evening activity (sports, scout activities)
1800 Prepare Dinner
1900 End evening activity (lowering flag ceremony)
2030 Meeting of honor council (camp fire starts)
2100 Night activity (camp fire)
2200 End night activity
2230 Lights off/quiet time/go to sleep

Major Schweiss ~ Virginia Pilot

The following link is to an article about Major Tina Scheiss published in the Virgina Pilot. MAJ. Schweiss was a valuable member of the GZC durring her deployment here to Baghdad. She went above and beyaond to assist in all aspects of the scouting movement here in Iraq. Her influence lives on in the heart of the children and she is greatly missed.

http://hamptonroads.com/node/473564

A Girls Day Out !

Recently the Green Zone Council was pleased to participate in a girls day out. The event encompassed ballon animal making, crafts where the girls made braclets, and photo albums and the girls also had the expierence of getting their hair and nails done! There were many team building games. The girls were all smiles and greatly enjoyed the activities.

Community Service Event

Hello Scouters!! Recently, the boy and girl scouts here in Iraq went out in the community to help beautify the area. The children found a playground in need of repair, so they grabbed thier paintbrushes and went to work! The children were happy as the put a bright coat of paint on the equipment. Everyone had a great day and now the children of that area have a fresh, and colorfull place to play!!!

Iraqi Scouting Promise and Law

The Scouting program in Iraq also has a promise and law, much like the Boy Scout oath and laws. As with any translation, it is difficult to truly capture the subtleties of the language, but here we go.


For the Iraqi equivalent of Cub scouts and Brownies, which are translated as Cubs and Flowers, the promise is:

I promise to do my best, including what I must do toward God and my country, and do good every day, and work according to the Cubs (or Flowers) law.

For Cubs and Flowers, the Law is:
1-Cub (Flower) Honest and trustworthy .
2-Cub (Flower) believes in God and is loyal to his country and parents 3-Cub(Flower) Useful
4-Cub (Flower) friendly.
5-Cub (Flower) Thrifty
6-Cub (Flower) Merciful toward animals
7-Cub (Flower) Obedient
8-Cub (Flower) Cheerful
9-Cub (Flower) Clean
10-Cub (Flower) brave

For the older kids, Scouts and Girl Guides, the promise and law are:

Promise for Scouts and Girl Guides
I promise on my honor to do my duty to God and my country, and to help my people in all circumstances and conditions

Law for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides
1 - Scouts (guiding) Reliable
2 - Scouts (guiding) believes in God and loyal to his homeland and his parents
3 - Scouts (guiding) Useful
4 - Scouts (guiding) friendly
5 - Scouts (guiding) polite and respectful
6 - Scouts (guiding) Merciful toward animals
7 - Scouts (guiding) Thrifty
8 - Scouts (guiding) Obedient
9 - Scouts (guiding) cheerful
10 - Scouts (guiding) Clean
11 - Scouts (guiding) brave

For comparison’s sake, the Boy Scouts of America have an Oath and Law:
Oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Law:
A scout is
Trustworthy,
Loyal,
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean and
Reverent

Pine Wood Derby

May 8th was another great day for the Iraqi scouting program!! In conjunction with the Green Zone Council, with the help of many volunteers, the children were able to expierence a Pine Wood Derby! The children carved and decorated thier cars and raced them agianst each other! The cars were outstanding and very creative. Everyone had a great time and the children were all smiles!! We look forward to being able to interact with the children again soon as the weather gets warmer.