Dear Friend and Member

We have had a particularly busy 2011 and this culminated on 19th December with the Outward Bound Monaco Annual Awards Ceremony at the Club des Residents Etrangers a Monaco, perhaps better known to most of us as the CREM.

 
We were honoured to welcome HSH Prince Albert II who very kindly agreed to take time out of his very busy schedule to join us to celebrate the achievements of a special group of  27 young persons who completed the OB courses during 2011 and to present their Certificates. Very many congratulations to them all.

 
It doesn’t seem 8 years since HSH Prince Albert and HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York decided it would be a good idea to set up a Monaco version of the Outward Bound UK charity aboard Sir Donald Gosling’s yacht Leander. In those years we have come a long way with young persons now having the opportunity to attend courses both in the UK and on the Cote d’Azur. At present, it is the Monaco courses which are taking up most of my own and the committee’s time as we plan to enhance our offering so we can provide full 3 week courses in this area in the not too distant future.

 
We could not have achieved all this without the unfailing commitment of His Serene Highness, as not only does he give up time to present certificates and to meet the young people and their parents on evenings like that at the CREM, but he is heavily involved in our other activities including for example, planting trees in the mountains, and giving generous support  to our fund raising events both here and in the UK.  On behalf of all those involved in OB Monaco I gave him our grateful thanks.

Fund raising is clearly a key element in the activities of any charity and if you are not a member, or have not renewed for 2012, we have attached a membership form to be completed and returned to Vanessa Ilsley.

One fund raising event held this year was a charity evening to coincide with the Fete de la Musique in June. This was organized by Howard Walker and Tony Beaumont  at Le Cabanon in Cap d’Ail and Tony and Howard took the opportunity to present His Serene Highness with a cheque for Euros 20,000  in favour of Outward Bound Monaco. We are immensely grateful for this donation.

It finally remains for me to wish you, and your respective families, a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Kind Regards

Rob

Rob Rutter

Outward Bound Monaco sent 35 students split in 4 groups and 2 locations, Ullswater in the English Lake District and Aberdovey in Wales.

Before the summer courses started Nick Dawson, the course director from Outward Bound Aberdovey, visited Monaco to meet all our participants . We have done this for few years now and it has been very positive for the students to talk about their commitment to finish the course.

In General both OB centers have been particular helpful this year. All course duty instructors have been regularly in touch with myself to report on the well being of our Students. We have sent a lot of young people this year and we can be happy with the result.

I must say this year our young people had a great time, I keep on receiving thank you e-mails, some examples are below;

"Dear Diane ,

I would like to take this chance to thank you .

I had the best time of my life on the outward bound course . Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be part of this year's outward bound,

I would love to be part of next years team , if you would have me !! 

thank's again

Lia"

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"Dear Diane ..

She had a ball and hasn't stopped talking about it

the stories change everytime with excitment.....

I hope u are back on your feet...!! 

Thank you and the team ! 

Best Regards

Louis"

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