9-11 September 2016 at Sovehuset (Scout and Guide Centre), Holmen, Copenhagen.
On behalf of FOSE–UK Alan Beavis attended this Gathering with Jorgen Rasmussen – European Scout Foundation Chairman, Walter Hofstetter – ESF Treasurer and Juris Ulmanis – FOSE Chair, together with Super Friends from Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Henrik Söderman on behalf of France. FOSE is supported currently in 36 European countries out of 40.
In his welcome, Jorgen highlighted the fact that it is 26 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the start of support for the development of Scouting in Eastern Europe. His aim is for the current membership of 600, Life and Annual Members, to achieve 1,000.
Jorgen highlighted the need for European countries to support Poland’s bid for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree.
Walter advised that the European Scout Foundation (including FOSE contributions) now has €1,000,000 invested and currently earning interest above that of the average pension funds within Switzerland, the interest being distributed through the small Grants Project Fund.
Denmark will host the Friends’ Meeting on 9 September 2017 followed by Iceland on the 8 September 2018.
Following the meeting, at 1800 hours a FOSE Reception was held, attended by Members from the Danish International Scout Council – about 20 – where Jorgen welcomed three Annual Members and one Life Member. We then received a presentation on the progress and development of initially an equivalent of a Car Boot Sale in 1953. It developed into a charitable warehouse/shop business generating funds for the Scout Groups in their island.