Program Planning

Program Activities - Dates Known

Original requests and full activity details have been moved to Appendix 2.

JOTA/JOTI 2021 (Friday 15th to Sunday 17th October 2021) - Program

International Program Information from the National Team

The World JOTA JOTI program has been updated for the 2021 event and is available online at https://jotajoti.info.

Activities are presented under the interactive campsite tab where registered members can engage in the activities on offer from the International Program team. Here you will find “Challenge Valley” where you can see all the challenges available for the weekend on the right. You will also be presented with a list of all the activities on offer. As you scroll down you will find the times for sessions scheduled over the weekend. Just note that if you are not logged into the site the time is in UTC. If you are logged in, you will see the UTC time on the left and local time in brackets following to the right.

There are plenty of activities on offer. Also note that the activities are not just for younger scouts. There are several activities on offer for Venturers & Rovers sections. When you drill into an activity it will have a target age recommendation.

Registration:

It is important that everyone participating register for the weekend at https://jotajoti.info There are two ways to register, as an individual or a group. Groups only need to be registered once, the group organiser should register the group. If scouts are participating from home, you would register as an individual. The “Safe from Harm” policy is participants under 13 should always have an appropriate adult with them while participants over 13 should ensure their parent/guardian is fully aware of what they are doing.

For all the JOTA stations please also ensure you register yourself and your station event at https://vkjotijota.com. This is in addition to registering the group at https://jotajoti.info. Supporters of in person JOTA stations are encouraged to register too, even if the site lead has registered.

Note that all virtual Scouting requires Child Safe scouting, specifically ensuring two registered adult members of Scouting are online at any time that youth appear online in a digital communication environment such as Zoom. No adult should be left by themselves with youth members in a Zoom call at any time. If you find yourself in this situation, please transfer Youth members to the waiting room, or shut down the call until another registered adult member is available to assist.

Reporting:

Participation will be measured by the global team, hence the importance of registering even if you are doing local activities. We will be asked to provide photos and stories from the weekend. Brett has requested each Branch to forward a short report post JOTA/JOTI highlighting positive stories from your JOTA/JOTI. These will be captured and delivered through the https://vkjotijota.com site. These will be incorporated into our NSO report. Photos would also be highly appreciated and can be uploaded on your Activity Site page.

Opening Address:

Our Chief Scout and Governor General His Excellency General the Honorable David Hurley has recorded our opening address. This will be broadcast by two methods:

• Premiered on Scouts Australia YouTube channel at 10am AEDT Saturday

• Broadcast on Amateur Radio via the WIA broadcast Team at 1pm local time in each Branch.

• Ruby Mavor our Deputy International Commissioner has kindly volunteered to record the YouTube opening introduction of the Governor General. This will include information on what is happening, registration and staying safe.

The audio introduction for the WIA broadcast has been recorded by Beth VK2BJN & Tim VK2TBN, Scouts at 1st Greystanes in Sydney. They also happen to be Brett's son and daughter.

Below is a link to the audio opening address to broadcast by the WIA. Please do not share as it is embargoed until Saturday. The address will be made publicly available from late Friday evening at https://vkjotijota.com - provided here for your convenience.

• https://vkjotijota.com/opening-address-2021/

The Last Great First:

Many of you will be aware of Dr Gareth First & Dr Richard Stephehson’s planned unsupported crossing of Antarctica. As part of the global program there will be an hour-long interview 10.30am AEDT Saturday 16th. It will feature under “Skills for Life”.

The blurb that has/is being published is:

The Last Great First is one of the most audacious polar expeditions ever undertaken. Former Scouts Dr Gareth Andrews and Dr Richard Stephenson are preparing to embark on a 110 day, 2600km unsupported full coast to coast ski crossing of Antarctica. Join us to hear, and ask questions, about their preparation, journey, and the important scientific research they will be completing on their journey.

Amateur Radio on YouTube:

Brett has been working on producing two YouTube videos to promote:

1. Outdoor Radio (3.45pm AEDT Saturday) – How Scouts can get involved in SOTA & VKFF (Parks on the air)
2. Amateur Radio Badge (1.30pm AEDT Sunday) – How to get your Amateur Radio badge

These are both works in progress. Both will be hosted by youth members. The intention is for these to be live streamed to enable questions at the end, and will be available on the Scouts Australia YouTube channel.

Have a fantastic JOTA/JOTI 2021. Remember to gather as many photos, videos and stories from your Branch activities. I look forward to hearing about all your great JOTA/JOTI weekends.

1st Sandringham Scout Unit (Alexander Donald, Scout) - Monday 8th November

• Lead: Murray
• Assist: Karl, Luke
• Request is for a more STEM-based activity - what is radio? how does radio work?
• Opportunity to run a pilot of the RadioActiv8 activity planned for VicJam. Luke will discuss further with Murray and Karl offline.

1st Sandringham Cub Unit - Thursday 18th November

• Lead: Karl
• Assist: Murray, Kent, Kevin
• Fox hunt and radio activity night
• A park away from the hall is available and a suitable location for a fox hunt
• 14 Cubs

4th Brunswick Cub Unit - Thursday 25th November, 6.30pm

• Lead: Murray
• Assist: Kent, Luke, Neil
• Approx. 40 Cubs
  • Trying to have as many outdoor activities as possible in case of density limits indoors.
• Murray has arranged Michael Barrett (VK3EMB) as an external contact.

Calls for assistance:

• Bryan can provide two additional fox hunting sniffers, but is unavailable to assist on the night.
• Andy will prepare an SSTV activity, train someone, and provide equipment, but is unavailable to assist on the night.
• Looking for additional volunteers to assist.

Note date change to Thursday 25th November.

Boroondara District Cubs STEM Day (Sue Keks) - Sunday 5th December

• Lead: Murray
• Assist: Neil, Kent, Alli
• Frog Hollow Park, Fordham Avenue, Camberwell
• Event is outdoors however there is a hall that could be available depending on other activity bases

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Program Activities - Dates not set

Activities to be followed up have been moved to Appendix 3.

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JOTA/JOTI 2021 (Friday 15th to Sunday 17th October 2021) - Program Planning

Event/Operator Notes

• Treetops' Cohen Shield/JOTA event cancelled
• Mafeking Rover Park not hosting usual Cohen Shield due to restrictions
• Western Vic/Horsham (David Timms)
  • Usual camp not going ahead, David is running an activity at the Horsham Scout Hall
  • JOTI, amateur radio, geocaching, fox hunting
  • Open to all sections
  • Echolink and DMR
• Castlemaine (Juliet Montague)
  • JOTI, amateur radio, electronics kits
  • 4 sessions of 20 Youth Members
• Ben Hamilton
  • Livestreaming on his Group's Facebook group
  • His group's feeling was 'two up' is not required as 'broadcast' with no Youth Member interaction (as opposed to Zoom, etc.). This process was endorsed by Luke as an appropriate Child Safe solution.
• Dan Gutsell
  • Operating from home - satellite, HF
  • Will connect to Phil's Zoom sessions, and interact with his Group during the weekend
• Murray Taylor
  • Will connect to Phil's Zoom sessions when available
• Karl Donald
  • Will connect to Phil's Zoom sessions
• Kent Cochran
  • Will connect to Phil's Zoom sessions

Zoom Sessions

• Philip is intending to provide a radio over Zoom experience. Details are available on VK JOTI-JOTA:
  • https://vkjotijota.com/2021/10/11/vk3say-virtual-amateur-radio-zoom-experience/).
• To attend, participants will email virtual@vkjotijota.com and links will be provided (Philip, Luke, Andy)
• A ring group is being trialed for this activity to provide assistance if participants require: (03) 9112 5884.
• To assist Phil, could those not able to do JOTA please consider nominating a timeslot to assist with supervising
  • An email will be circulated with details and a link to a Doodle poll to indicate availability
• Philip will try operating on HF and move to Echolink, DMR if HF conditions are not conducive. Will be flexible on operation modes.

General Notes

• If you have the energy and opportunity to do so, please channel the 'be there as a contact for Youth Members' attitude to provide a positive JOTA-JOTI experience for them
• Photos of your activities are encouraged - either upload to your Activity Site listing on https://vkjotijota.com or email to info@sresu.asn.au
• Further advice will be provided regarding the taking of screenshots of Zoom sessions
  • Current instruction is that it is not acceptable to take screenshots due to Zoom sessions and thereby details in photos are taking place in peoples houses
• When using Zoom, be sure to switch off one-to-one chat
• An EDM will go out to all VK JOTI-JOTA users later in the week to encourage registration and updating of Activity Site details to make this a useful resource in finding contacts
• Philip called for additional admin assistance for the JOTA JOTI Australia Facebook group. Contact Luke if you are interested.
• Keep child safety in mind across JOTA and JOTI activities. Personal information of youth members is not to be shared.
• NSW planning on running an 80m net from 7pm on Saturday 16th October, details circulated via email and can be found on VK JOTI-JOTA
  • https://vkjotijota.com/2021/10/12/80-metre-net-saturday-16th-october/

Notes on Trusted Partners

• Scouts Australia only work with Trusted Partners for JOTA and JOTI.
• ScoutWired is an active community but is not currently a Trusted Partner with Scouts Australia.
• ScoutLink (https://scoutlink.net) is a Trusted Partner for JOTI with Scouts Australia.

Amateur Events

• None held

Training Courses

• None currently scheduled for 2021

Luke will talk to Philip regarding training at VicJam.

VicJam

To be discussed after SRESU business is concluded.

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Program Support

JOTA/JOTI 2021 (Friday 15th to Sunday 17th October 2021) - Program Support

• Badges

  • Order of 300 badges placed with ScoutShop and received.
  • 328 badges sold to-date. A further order will be placed after JOTA.
  • Prior to the meeting, 8 badge orders had been received and 7 sites had registered on VK JOTI-JOTA
    • Please register your events as Activity Sites and place your badge orders on the VK JOTI-JOTA website https://vkjotijota.com

• Callsigns

  • VK3SBP has been registered exclusively for Bay Park Scout Camp (Frankston District).
  • Echolink: most of the VK3Sxx callsigns are registered for use - please contact Kent to confirm availability details as needed.
  • DMR: some of our callsigns have been allocated RadioID for digital modes for quick access - please contact Kent to confirm callsign RadioID details as needed.
  • Some work will be done offline to clean up the registration of SRESU callsigns as digital assets, to move away from having Scouting callsigns registered to personal profiles.
  • Registration of callsigns to Radio ID's - a challenge to be explored in 2022, specifically how they are registered as Scouting assets with third party entities.

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Program Enrichment

• Returning in November's in-person meeting

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Additional Business

• Kent enquired for assistance on DroidStar capabilities.
• Explore opportunities for first aid training for team members with the newly appointed SL-First Aid, Tim Druce. Luke to follow up.

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Meeting Closed: 8.59pm

Next Meeting: 7.30pm, Tuesday 9th November 2021 at the BATCave, Legana Street, Mt Waverley

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VicJam

Reports:

• Subcommittee meeting was held on Monday 27th September

Subcommittee meetings are being held on the last Monday of the month from 8pm. Next meeting: Monday 25th October 2021, 8pm

VicJam Notes have been moved to the VicJam meeting. Summary reports and key external action items only will be provided in the SRESU meeting agenda and minutes.

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Appendix 1

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Scout Radio & Electronics Service Unit

Finance Report - October Meeting

Prepared Monday 11th October 2021

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Account Balances

Account	Balance on Monday 11th October 2021
Cheque Account	$2,180.75
Savings Account	$7,437.63

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Outstanding Items

• Awaiting payment for ScoutHike invoice ($1,682.50)
• Awaiting payment for SPOT hire invoice, 1st Bannockburn, May 2021 ($50.00)
• Awaiting payment for VK3SCM, Mafeking Amateur Radio Group
• Awaiting payment for VK3RMP, Mafeking Rover Park
• Awaiting payment for 100 JOTA Badges + Postage + VK3SCD (12 Months), Don Ripper (Clive Disher Park) ($263.00)
• Awaiting payment for 3 JOTA Badges + Postage, Peter Robinson ($14.00)

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Cheque Account (013599 268166933)

Date	Description	Debit	Credit	Balance
14 Sep 2021	Opening Balance			$3,881.75
14 Sep 2021	Scouts Victoria Payment for Marine Course Fees for David Bryar	$135.00		$3,801.75
14 Sep 2021	ACMA Bulk Licence Payment	$1,848.00		$1,953.75
14 Sep 2021	ACMA VK3CUB Renewal	$55.00		$1,898.75
15 Sep 2021	David Farrell (1st Castlemaine) 100 JOTA Badges + Postage + VK3SDA (12 Months)		$263.00	$2,161.75
27 Sep 2021	Ted Pitfield (1st Eastern Park) 15 JOTA Badges + Postage		$38.00	$2,199.75
27 Sep 2021	Steven Pemberton (2nd Mornington Sea Scouts) 20 JOTA Badges + Postage + VK3SAT (12 Months)		$103.00	$2,302.75
27 Sep 2021	Steven Munro (Sunraysia District) 30 JOTA Badges + Postage		$68.00	$2,370.75
30 Sep 2021	John Zach (Clifford Park) 10 JOTA Badges + VK3SCP (12 Months)		$75.00	$2,445.75
4 Oct 2021	Erwin Bejsta (1st Baranduda) 50 JOTA Badges, Postage		$ 108.00	$2,553.75
8 Oct 2021	ScoutShop 300 JOTA 2021 Badges	$373.00		$2,180.75
11 Oct 2021	Closing Balance			$2,180.75

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Savings Account (013599 268169069)

Date	Description	Debit	Credit	Balance
14 Sep 2021	Opening Balance			$7,437.33
31 Sep 2021	Interest		$0.30	$7,437.63
11 Oct 2021	Closing Balance			$7,437.63

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Appendix 2

Activities: Details for upcoming activities

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4th Brunswick Cub Unit - Thursday 25th November, 6.30pm

• Lead: Murray
• Assist: Kent, Luke
• Approx. 40 Cubs
  • Trying to have as many outdoor activities as possible in case of density limits indoors.
• Murray has arranged Michael Barrett (VK3EMB) as an external contact.

Calls for assistance:

• 2 extra fox hunting sniffers, if possible
• SSTV (Andy will prepare an activity and equipment but is unavailable on the night)
• Additional volunteers to assist

Activity details:

+ Fox Hunting
+ Amateur Radio Station (with external operator)
+ Slow Scan TV (SSTV)
+ Noughts and Crosses and/or similar phonetics activities (can be run by Cub Leaders)
+ Running around with handhelds

Original request:

Activity night at 4th Brunswick on Thursday 19 August - commencing from 1830.

4th Brunswick have a 40-strong Cub pack ... Brian - I would like to borrow at least two more foxhunt sniffers, and would like to have 2-3 more team members on hand, with activities.

I hope to have 4 off ISM band HT units with me for them to try message passing, but if someone else can provide some indoor activities (andy Image transmission?, anyone phonetic nought/crosses etc? ) to create some rotations.

I might be able to establish an external operator to 'have a chat' with the Cubs on 2m.

1st Sandringham Scout Unit (Alexander Donald, Scout) - Monday 8th November

• Lead: Murray
• Assist: Karl, Luke
• Request is for a more STEM-based activity - what is radio? how does radio work?
• Opportunity to run a pilot of the RadioActiv8 activity planned for VicJam. Luke will discuss further with Murray and Karl offline.

Original request:

Hello My name is Alexander and I have been allocated a night to plan and run for this term for the Scouts. My dad has been learning about radios and the electronics. I am interested the other Scouts learning more about how they work with signals and using them to talk to people in other countries or states because we use mobile phones but dont really know how they work. I am also thinking that we could make a easy radio and play a morse code game. The night my leaders have given me to plan and lead is 23rd of august from 7pm to 9pm Are you able to help me organise this night please Alexander

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1st Sandringham Cub Unit - Thursday 18th November

• Lead: Karl
• Assist: Murray, Kent, Kevin (available if required)
• Fox hunt and radio activity night
• A park away from the hall is available and a suitable location for a fox hunt
• 14 Cubs

Activity details:

+ Brief explanation of radio and fox hunting
+ Fox Hunting wide game

Original request:

Interested in finding out more about activities for Cubs, possibly a fox hunting activity.

Boroondara District Cubs STEM Day (Sue Keks) - Sunday 5th December

• Lead: Murray
• Assist: Neil, Kent, Alli
• Frog Hollow Park, Fordham Avenue, Camberwell
• Event is outdoors however there is a hall that could be available depending on other activity bases

Activity details:

6 to 8 rotational activity bases of around 30 to 45 minutes each.

Possible activities:
+ Fox Hunting
+ Phonetic Alphabet Activities (noughts and crosses, hangman, etc.)
+ Handheld radio message passing
+ Possible amateur radio station/portable rig running too

Original request:

We're having an activity day for the District cubs, very much along the STEM lines, and the cubs have specifically asked for fox hunting! Can I also ask what the electronics kit building would involve - costs, time required, facilities required (eg indoor/ outside under a marquee), whether we could cycle 150 cubs through? Now that I've seen it on the list, I'm curious! (Had been thinking of cubs moving round bases of somewhere around 30-45 mins each) PS that's 1st Balwyn (my home pack) with Murray Taylor in the photo!!

Appendix 3

Activities: Dates not set

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1st Upwey Scout Unit (Tim Allchin)

• Lead: Kevin & family
• Assist: Dan
• Nothing further has been heard from the group regarding a pre-JOTA activity.
• Contact the group again in 2022 to see how we can assist with program delivery.

Original request:

Thanks for all your work! We would like to have a radio night at our hall on Thursday 2nd or 9th September this year. We have had a number of these nights over the years as our introduction to JOTA which we have attended for many years. These nights have generally been a series of rotational activities including fox hunting, radio battleships, mast erection and talking over a short wave radio. We start opening parade at 7.30 but arrive at 6.45-7pm to setup and finish with closing parade at 9.20. There is generally a window of 90 minutes for the rotations.

Moreland Darebin District Joeys Day (Phillip Bailey)

• Lead: Neil
• Assist: Andy, Alli, Luke, Kevin
• The activity date is up in the air pending lockdowns, restrictions, and event size limits.
• Neil will contact them to discuss the idea of running an activity of the size originally requested in 2022.
• No date was discussed due to VicJam planning and commitments. Revisit at the start of 2022.

Previous details (Neil Wilson):

After a brief email introducing myself/ the unit - Phil from 1st Reservoir Joeys indicated that they'd had significant interest in this activity at a district level and would like to run it as a Radio Unit Come and Try day for their district, which has 12 Joey mobs.

Their preference is for it to happen on a Sunday in term 4 preferably a Sunday in the back end of November/ start of December.

I indicated that from our perspective term 4 is likely to be reasonably busy with JOTA, VicJam prep and other activities so we would need to consider it at our next team meeting and get back to him with some potential dates.

From the previous list of activities I'm thinking it would be best set up as a series of bases with patrols rotating between them. From our list, potential activities for this age group could be:

Activity ideas:

 + Using conductive play dough to build simple circuits
 + Playing games such as battleships or hangman with a twist by using the Phonetic Alphabet and learning some simple radio procedures along the way
 + Building a simple skill tester and using it to compete against others
 + Fox hunting - patrols of hounds hunting out hidden radio transmitters using sniffers (specialised radio receivers coupled with a directional antenna to sniff out a signal).
 + Teaching component identification and using circuit building blocks to create simple circuits.
 + Potentially an SSTV activity - trial run for VicJam activity