37th World Scout Conferenece, Hammammet, Tunisia

The 37th World Scout Conference held in early September in Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia was attended by nearly 1,200 participants from 122 countries.

The Conference was officially opened by the Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi on behalf of the country's President His Excellency M. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The Conference is the general assembly of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and is composed of the leaders of national Scout organizations.

New Members

The Conference voted to accept three national Scout organizations as new members: Beslidhja Skaut Albania, the National Scout Association of Guinea, and the Scout Association of Malawi. This brings WOSM membership to 155 countries. The Conference also welcomed the Scouts of Namibia to its first conference since becoming a full member recently. Progress reports were made about the 38th World Scout Conference which will be in Korea in 2008, and the 21st World Scout Jamboree will be in the United Kingdom in 2007.

Future World Events

Sweden was chosen by the Conference to host the World Scout Jamboree in 2011. Australia, Japan, and Singapore also made invitations to host the event.

Brazil was chosen by the Conference to host the World Scout Conference and Youth Forum in 2011. Australia and Hong Kong also made invitations to host the event.

Elections

Six people were elected to six-year terms on the World Scout Committee from a field of 15 candidates: Mrs. Thérèse Bermingham, Ireland; Mr. Mario Diaz Martinez, Spain; Mr. Georges El Ghorayeb, Lebanon; Mr. Steve Fossett, U.S.A*; Mr. Nkwenkwe Nkomo, South Africa; Mr. Gualtiero Zanolini, Italy*; (*Mr. Fossett and Mr. Zanolini completed 3-year terms, and were elected to six-year terms).

The World Scout Committee elected the following officers: Chairman: Mr. Herman C.S. Hui, Hong Kong; Vice-Chairman: Mrs. Thérèse Bermingham, Ireland; Vice-Chairman: Mr. Philippe Da Costa, France. Continuing their mandates on the World Committee are Mr. Mohd. Habibul Alam (Bangladesh), Mr. Philippe Da Costa (France), Mr. John Gemmill (Canada), Mr. Herman Hui (Hong Kong), Mrs. Ana Elisa Piubello (Argentina), Mr. Mohamed Ben Ali Triki (Tunisia), Mr. Arnaud Girardin (Treasurer), Dr. Eduardo Missoni (Secretary General, WOSM).

Retiring World Scout Committee members are: Dr. (Mrs.) Marie-Louise Correa (Senegal), Mr. Ferran Guimaraes (Spain), Mr. Walter Hofstetter (Switzerland), and Mr. Toby Takemichi Suzuki (Japan).

Awards

The Bronze Wolf, the only award of the World Scout Committee, was presented to Mohamed Afilal (Morocco), Richard Burdick (USA), Saiful Islam Khan (Bangladesh), Christos Lygeros (Greece), Yapo Leonard Offoumou (Côte d'Ivoire), Anthony Thng Bock Boh (Singapore), Jack Sinclair (Canada), Costas Tsantilis (Greece), and Gerald Voros (USA).

The Strategy for Scouting was the focus throughout the Conference. Progress on each of the seven priorities was reported, with many countries presenting examples of their success. Delegates traveled to the historic Roman coliseum in El Jem to meet in small groups to discuss aspects of the Strategy. Preparations for the Centenary of Scouting in 2007 were widely discussed and reported. Most countries declared their "gifts for peace" projects which will be undertaken for the Centenary. The first Youth for Development Prizes were awarded to teams of young people who have run innovative projects in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals in the fields of environment, development or peace.: Peace: Burundi - Scouting and peace promotion Environment: Bahrain - Creativity in Environment Culture Development: Ireland - Mantay: Mothers, Murals & Mosaics.