Extraordinary Rovers, One Year On....

Extraordinary Rovers = Extraordinary Crews (ERC) provided a unique opportunity for Rovers to quantify what an Extraordinary Rover and Crew can be, it provided a great aspirational objective/goal for all members. Since the conference the Next Step team (NST) of keen Rovers and Advisers took on the role of quantifying steps needed to help rovers become extraordinary. We have done many things since this conference, some highly visible and some background work. We have also held back some items for the National Rover Program Review due to start later this year. Some of the things we have done include:

• We're improving our links with Venturers by ensuring that we have information available about Rovers at all major Venturer events. We're updating the VicRovers.com find a crew page and are putting in place a system to call all venturers who have turned 18, to ensure that they've found the right rover crew for them.
• We're also updating our image with new photos of Rovers being Rovers and creating Rover posters and Merchandise to be distributed at future events.
• More photos from Crews are always welcome.
• It was recognised at ERC that many components of having an extraordinary experience relate to Crew life and that Rovers need help at the crew level. The NST took this theme and developed some guidelines for Region Rover Councils and Crews that would increase the level of support provided to Crews by the RRC and also a list of the qualities and activities that lead to an extraordinary Crew. It is hoped over time this will raise the minimum quality the Rover experience provides to all future members. This plan is now with Rovers to implement, the hard work is ahead.
• Better promotion of training, highlighting where to find fact sheets on training. Regions contacting Rovers who are ready for the next step of training.
• More focus on contacting individuals who are eligible for training rather than promoting to a group of Rovers.
• Trialling the National Introduction to Rovers course online to commence in the next few weeks.
• Each Rover Adviser now has access to the Extranet and their Crew details.
• The find a crew feature on the web page has been enhanced and updated
• Each Rover Crew now gets a copy of the Info Book each year.

There are also a number of things that we have started but are not ready for implementation and these include:

• A selection process to assist Crews in choosing the right person as an RA, this will be workshopped at the RA Seminar in May and then possibly referred to the National Rover Review.
• The Webpage is being upgraded. This is a slow process as we are looking at all aspects of the pages, we would hope to see some results in the next six months.
• A letter has been developed for Venturers who are 17.5 years old; this letter will provide five Crews in their local area for them to choose from. We are just waiting for the extranet team to finalise their processes.
• We are planning on scanning all Branch Minutes and then loading them on the web page, scintillating reading but a good resource and source for history. This will be done over the next twelve months
• The “I want to be Rover” initiative is set to come back; we are currently sourcing some more woggles.
• A survey is being produced to explore bullying and harassment in Rovers, something that was highlighted in the pre conference survey
• Rover Crews are being placed on Extranet and members will be linked to their Crews. Rover Advisers will then have access to all Crew members via extranet.

There are also some issues that we are referring to the National Rover Review to look at, these include:

• Rover promotion to all sections
• Rover Image
• Developing a structure that assists not impedes
• Managing Alcohol in Rovering
• Clear definition of the roles of Groups and Districts with Rovers, look at formalising the relationship.
• Clear guidance on BP Scout Award
• Create a link badge between Rovers and Leadership roles

We have come a long way in twelve months, whilst you may not see the results straight away there has been a lot of work going on in the background. All this and still providing quality Rovering to our members. The Branch Rover Council Office Bearers and Region Chairs will be discussing the next step at our Planning Weekend on March 27th – 28th 2010. If you have any further suggestions please pass them on to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will ensure they are tabled at this conference.

Craig Whan
Branch Commissioner – Rovers
Victorian Branch Rover Council

Extraordinary Rovers Report

The final report has been completed for Extraordinary Rovers, this report contains the full results of the day help on 21st March 2009 along with copies of the results obtained from the surveys that were conducted in the weeks before the event.

Download Extraordinary Rovers Report

Where to from here?

The Next Step team has been formed of which any Rover is welcome to join. This team is the steering group of how we will move forward into the future with the findings from Extraordinary Rovers. The idea is to gain experience and knowledge from Rovers far and wide to implement strategies to address the findings indicated in the report.

Anyone is welcome at the Next Step team, you don't need to come from a committee background or a region council background. In fact, it is encouraged for members who have not been interested in those roles get onto the team. The team is there to help solve the issues raised within Rovers, if we don't get the feedback and how we can resolve the problems, we cannot move forward.

How do I get involved?

Simply turn up to a Next Step team meeting, they are held on the first Monday of each month at the Victorian Rover Centre, Highland Avenue, Clayton. Chris Young (Asst Branch Commissioner for Development) is the best person to contact for more information, he can be contacted via email. Please see the Asst Branch Commissioner for Development Contact Page

What do we need to do at Region Level?

At a region level, discussion topics will be distributed from the Next Step team. These will be distributed via the BRC Minutes, Region Executives are requested to bring these topics up at their Region Council meetings for discussion. This feedback then needs to be provided back to the Next Step team. This will help develop the processes into the future.

What do I need to do at Crew Level?

As feedback comes from your region, you'll need to take the discussion topics from the region back to your crew to talk about them. If you then provide the feedback to your region you can then ensure your voice is heard from crews. You may even want to speak to younger members in your crew and ask them to participate in the Next Step team.