Scouting Mensinghe is doing well. The association has been growing steadily since coronation time, but the current association building in Roden is due for renovation. Poor insulation and a shortage of space include the problems.
“The building has been renovated earlier, but then only the front was tackled. We are building two meters with the plans now,” says board member Reina Bouma. To pay for the renovation, money from the municipality of Noordenveld is also needed.
It seemed that the scouting group could still wait for that money. The total costs of the renovation are estimated at 135,000 euros of which 81,000 euros would be borne from Noordenveld. The plans were on the ‘NU-EVEN-NOT LIST’: A list of multiple plans for which the municipality does not yet have money, but would like to implement.
A majority of the city council decided last July that money should be allocated next year after a motion from Gemeentebelangen. “There are concrete plans and we have been able to see with our own eyes that investments are really needed,” said party leader Richard Veurman about it.
In the meantime, Scouting Mesinghe is bursting at the seams. Today the five -year -old Tessa was welcomed as the 300th member. “We had a large piece of cake for her,” says board member Bouma. “Tessa thought it was exciting, but the other beavers (the youngest scouting members, ed.) Dragged her through. It is fantastic to see that new members are so easily recorded by the rest.”
The latter is good, the scouting expects to grow even further in the future as soon as the new residential area in Roden-Zuid gets off the ground. Board member Bouma: “The scouting terrain is opposite, so we can assume that more members will be added. That can take another ten to fifteen years, but we just have to do something. Now the moment is, I hope that the first kick will go into the ground next year.”
The current growth explains Bouma because the youth stays with the association for longer. “We know how to turn it into a fun, enthusiastic club. Normally the children of 15 flow out, but they are now hanging. I think the youth are looking for where they are connected.”