It's A Great Great Game (1968)
(By the District Commissioner)
'The aim of the Scout Movement is to encourage the physical, mental and spiritual development of young people so that they may take a constructive place in society.'
'The method of achieving the aim of the Movement is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Law and Promise and guided by adult leadership.'
Dear Reader,
It may be that you are reading this as you wait for the curtain to rise. Maybe you don't know anything about Scouting beyond the fact that you have seen the boys in their distinctive uniforms around the streets of Chester, or elsewhere. I hope that the Show will give you a better appreciation of Scouting than you had previously.
Perhaps you were yourself once a Cub, or a Scout, or even a Scout Leader, but dropped out for some reason and lost touch.
Whether you were or were not a Scout, your services, be you lady or gentleman, could be used in a variety of ways to suit your own inclinations and interests. You can offer yourself for warranted rank ! If you don't wish to commit yourself that far, you can still offer your services to instruct the boys in some pursuit. There are so many badges in our proficiency badge system, that I am pretty sure whatever you particular speciality is, you could im met the boys for some badge or other. If you haven't even the time for that, perhaps you could be a badge examiner, so that you can test boys in the knowledge of any particular subject in which you are proficient.
For ladies the particular place in the Movement is in the Cub Scout Section. Lady Cubmasters are more the rule than the exception.
Scouting in Chester has expanded greatly in the past two decades and you can be sure there is a Scout Group pretty near where you live. I am sure this applies to most areas of town and country. Why not see the officers there and offer YOUR help?
I know you think you wouldn't have a clue as to the first thing to do with the boys! Most of us hadn't when we started - but you soon learn. And what is more you will find tremendous fun and satisfaction as you go along, in playing this Great Game of Scouting - because although it is a Game and everybody enjoys Scouting, somehow or other it manages to turn out boys to be good citizens and to take a constructive place in Society. The recent Chief Scout's Advance Party has reorganised and rejuvenated the Movement and it is now an even more exciting movement to be in.
Perhaps having said all that, you feel that dealing with boys directly is just not your 'cup of tea,' although you think that Scouting is good for them. There is still a job for you to do - serving on a Group Committee; helping that way to organise the finances of the Group so that the Scout Leaders may be saved the time and worry of raising the necessary funds to furnish the headquarters, and to provide the equipment, and so let them get on with their proper job of training the boy.
But I forgot! Maybe you are not a lady or a gentleman at all who is reading this! Perhaps you are a Boy - who so far hasn't gone in for this Great, Great Game. If you have enjoyed what you see tonight you will want to sample some of the other fare of Scouting. Just go along to your nearest Group and join up! You'll never regret it.
Very sincerely yours, W. S. Cooper,