County Newsletter May 2009

You can download a PDF version of the County Newsletter (which will include all the contact details, forms and images); click the article title to expand the details, or expand all /collapse all. This edition includes:-

  • From the County Commissioner
    • Dear all
    • Doesn’t it feel good to have some warm days at last and lots of spring flowers to please the senses? All plans for sorting the Guide cupboard have gone due to pleasant post Easter weather – much nicer in the garden. And there are lots of ideas to dip into for the coming term laid out for us. There is the Croydon Rangers’ camp fire challenge, LaSER Walking challenge, LaSER South Africa Kwa Zulu Natal challenge on top of badges to design for the Centenary. That sounds like plenty for the summer term – all we have to do is excite the girls.
    • Last week several of us went to Heloise Collier’s funeral. She had been to an archivist meeting in Edinburgh when she was taken ill. It was a great shock and sadness to those who knew her. Heloise had been in Guiding for 38 years, mainly in Redhill, but had given more years than that. A Guide Guider for about 30 years, a Ranger Guider for nearly 8 years, a Brownie Guider for 4 years, a District Commissioner for 6 years, County Arts Adviser for 7 years and County Archivist since 2003 – I make that more than 60 years of Guiding. Recently she had been very busy sorting out uniforms and photographs to display at the Centenary Launch. Always helpful, always full of ideas, we are grateful for her service to the County and to Guiding in Redhill. We shall miss her.
    • There are many Leaders who have given years of service around the County, often going unnoticed beyond their own District. Many take on other jobs – these are our unsung heros. I fully admit that I have not had time to pay attention to awards in the last couple of years so I have asked Barbara Wing to form an awards advisory group. The Guiding Manual describes the various national awards. We have two awards that the County can give out. There is the Good Service Award for service in the County, but we also have a Surrey Lion for particular service. You will be able to nominate a local candidate, then the Awards group will consider and make a recommendation. Watch out for details from Barbara later this term.
    • There was a recent report that children do not get out in the fresh air very much. They obviously did not ask members of Girlguiiding. Enjoy the out of doors this summer term.
    • Margaret Frosztega - County Commissioner
  • Situations Vacant & Filled
    • The role of County Archivist needs filling. This would suit someone with an interest in Guiding history and time to look after the material stored at Salfords. Please ask around for anyone with any expertise in this area or contact me if you are interested.
    • Heloise was collecting photographs for the Centenary Launch. If anyone would like to take over this role please let me know. One person has already offered some help but a small team may be useful.
    • She was also organising a parade of uniforms – anyone feel able to take that on.
    • Anne-Marie Smith has stood down as Senior Section advisor. Our thanks for all her work over the last couple of years.
    • Lastly – we have appointed Rebecca Childs as County Administrator. She can be contacted by email and is there to help with queries.
    • Margaret
  • From the Editor
    • After looking after the Surrey East Guide newsletter for nearly nine years I am handing over the typewriter to a new editor.
    • Having gone through Brownies, Guides, and Rangers in Redhill and Merstham, I worked for my Queen’s Guide Service Flash by helping with the local Cub Pack. I then went on to help and then lead Cubs and Scouts, both in Redhill and Dorking. I helped with the occasional guide camp and evening when my daughter was in guides and was then invited to edit the newsletter.
    • It has been fun to read about all your adventures and the new programmes and initiatives that have kept Guiding up-to-date.
    • Joan Wigham has offered to take over the newsletter and I wish her all the very best and hours of fun searching the www for just the right pictures to go with your stories - her details are below.
    • Editor (for the last time): Jan Futcher
  • Copy for the County Newsletter
    • The County Newsletter is published at the beginning of February, May, July and October of each year.
    • The deadline for guaranteed inclusion is the 15th of the previous month.
    • Please give a contact name and email and telephone number with every contribution (even if you wish it published anonymously), and mention that it is for the County Newsletter, especially in the email subject.
    • It would be a great help to the Editor if items for the newsletter could be emailed. Written copy has to be retyped which obviously takes time, so if you can help in this way it will be appreciated. Thank you.
  • Recruitment Workshop
    • Project 50k was launched by Headquarters to try to build capacity in Guiding so that the 50,000 girls on waiting lists could be given places. As a County we have been able to bid for funds for specific projects. With Surrey West, we were awarded funds to develop a training for Districts and to deliver that training. On 21 March we gathered at the City of London Freemans’ School at Ashtead, each District sending two people. We worked through thinking of the areas we Guide in, the opportunities we have and our strengths and we developed local plans. We also had an opportunity to look at the Region promotional trailer and some of our local banners which can be borrowed.
    • Hopefully everyone has returned to their District enthused by what is possible and with ideas for local activity. We are quite good at recruiting, but we could do with more Leaders and Helpers. If your District did not attend, have a word with your Division Commissioner or with Cheryl Clark who developed the training package.
    • Thanks to everyone who made the day possible.
    • Margaret
  • LaSER Switch Up has spent all of their money!
    • This is a total of £25,000 over the past three years, which benefited over 500 people! We received 38 applications, and awarded 32 of these to help overcome social and economic barriers in the London and South East Region. The money went towards buying camping equipment, hall renovations, first aid trainings, activities and Unit outings to name a few. Some of the most exciting projects which we helped fund included a Guiding recruitment day in Bognor to help encourage ethnic minorities into Guiding. We also enabled a Guide group in Folkestone to visit Port Lymph Zoo, we wish them a fun filled day out!
    • As the LaSER youth panel we’ve had fun, eaten a lot and gained much more! We would highly recommend the experience to everyone, and we look forward to reviewing the awaiting evaluations from the applications.
    • Thank you to everyone who supported us over the past 3 years, and especially the applicants who made our job worthwhile!
    • Laura Ede
  • Outdoors
    • Pack Holiday and Camp Fees
    • As the better weather draws closer can I please remind all Leaders that when sending in A/A forms can you please remember to enclose Camp and Pack Holiday fees.
    • £1.00 per night with a maximum of £5.00 - no charge for overnights.
    • Unfortunately these fees are necessary as the Outdoor team do not receive any budget from County, and therefore would not be able to run trainings, equipment inspections(zip wires), hall and site assessments etc without these fees. Please do remember the next time you send your A/A form in.
    • The Camp and Pack Holiday Advisors are already very booked up for assessments this summer, if you are thinking of taking your license this year please contact Tracy Lovell – Residential Advisor as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
    • Vacancy
    • We are looking for a new Boating Advisor, preferably someone who enjoys boating - not necessarily someone who has gained a license but someone who would be keen to help others find training courses, or find the necessary information, to help them take a narrow boat up the canals or perhaps even organise a canoeing fun day, if you have an interest in boating please give me a call or email - I would love to hear from you.
    • Shirley Gunner - Outdoor Activity Adviser
  • Queen's Guide Award
    • Very many congratulations to Rachael Abbott of 4th Bookham Guides on gaining her Queen’s Guide Award.
  • County Campfire
    • This now annual event is being held on Monday 29th June at Jordan Heights County Campsite. The cost per person attending, including adults, is £1 - half of which will go to Jordan Heights, with the other half going to The Pond Access Project to help boost the funds to buy bulbs and plants for planting in the autumn.
    • The campfire is split into two sessions. The Brownies will run from 5:30pm-6:30pm, followed by the Guides, Senior Section and Trefoil running from 7:00pm-8:30pm. There will not be a break in either session.
    • Leaders must be responsible for the behaviour of the children in your charge and you may be assigned a job when you arrive.
    • Each person needs to bring a torch, £1 and something to sit on.
    • It is IMPORTANT that you please contact one of us below, to let us know which Units are coming and numbers, so we can organise suitable programmes. We will be able to give you directions and any further information you require. If you have any favourite songs, please let us know.
    • We hope you can come to sing your old favourites and to learn some new songs. Please come and enjoy yourselves in the beautiful surroundings of our County Campsite.
    • Julie Woodland - Janet Rumble - Lorna Smith
  • Centenary Singing
    • Singing around a campfire, or elsewhere, has always been a tradition in Guiding. We shall be singing at the Launch in September and at the County Camp at Foxlease in July 2010, so the best way to prepare the girls in your Unit for the ‘Big Sings’ is to purchase the London Guiders’ Singing Group Double CD, as a number of the songs we may sing will be taken from it.
    • The CD is called ‘Songs through the Century’ which comes complete with an accompanying booklet of words, ideal for listening and learning. It costs £10 plus postage, which is excellent value for money. Cheques to be made payable to ‘LGSG’. Please contact Angela Berkley to find out the cost of postage.
    • At the same time, Brownie Leaders may wish to buy ‘Sing, Brownies Sing’ CD which is a re-issue of a tape made in 1994. Angela can give you details of that as well.
    • When LGSG decided to re-make the Brownie CD, we also decided to ask about reprinting some of the songbooks originally published by The Guide Association and which we all use but are not available anymore. The GGA were happy for us to do this and we decided to reprint ‘Musical Fun with the Brownie Pack’ as a lot of those songs are on the Brownie CD. We also decided to reprint Girl Guide Songbooks 1 and 2 as one volume. We will give you details of prices etc when they are available.
    • Julie Woodland
  • London Guiders' Singing Group
    • The London Guiders’ Singing Group meets once a month at St. Peter’s Church Parish Hall, Upper Belgrave Street, London; about a 10 minute walk from Victoria Station. It is open to anyone who enjoys singing and learning new songs from the various books available. There are a number of us who go from Surrey East, but it would be great if more came along, including some younger members.
    • The dates and times for the remainder of this year are:
    • Saturday 23rd May 10:30 to 16:00 Thursday 16th July 18:30 to 20:30 Saturday 26th September 10:30 to 16:00 50th Anniversary Celebrations Tuesday 13th October 18:30 to 20:30 Saturday 14th November 10:30 to 16:00 Saturday 12th December 10:30 to 16:.00
    • The group is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and the September sing is invitation only. We are going on an outing in June which is why nothing is shown!
    • If you would like to join us at one of the meetings, then please contact either Janet Rumble or myself.
    • Julie Woodland
  • The Pond Access Project
    • Great News! We have just agreed between Heatherley and ourselves that the official opening of the Path to the Pond will be on Saturday 6th June 2009. It is so hot off the press that I cannot give any more information than that - full details will be cascaded down through the weekly notices.
    • We will still be doing some work down there which will include a working party during the Autumn Term to plant native bulbs and plants. I’ve been supplied with a list and I now need to find a nursery or similar that I can buy them from nearer the time, ensuring they are genuine native plants. I’m hoping the Surrey Wildife Trust will be able to help me with that.
    • Julie Woodland
  • Guiding Stories
    • The CHQ Press Team are looking for some Guiding case studies for their media work in the Centenary. They are looking for girls, young women or adult members whose lives have been changed by Guiding and who would be happy to share their experiences with the media. They'd also love to hear about 'Guiding families' where several generations of the same family have been/are involved with Guiding either as girls or adults.
    • If you, or anyone you know, sound as though they might fit these descriptions please email me a brief outline of their story so I can forward it on to the relevant person.
    • Hannah Rainford - County Public Relations Adviser
  • Trefoil Guild
    • We are very pleased that two of our Trefoil Guild members are among those volunteers in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead to be given an award for their ‘Dedication and Commitment to Voluntary Service in the Local Community’. They are Freda Stott, volunteer at the Brambles Respite Care Centre (owned by the Multiple Sclerosis Society) since 1990, and Maggie Chappell, volunteer with the Brownie Guide movement for 30 years. Congratulations and best wishes to them both.
    • We held a Craft Competition at our Annual Review and members produced some excellent entries in the five categories: Photography, Recycling, Greetings Cards, Flower Arrangement and Needlework.
    • Apart from the many varied activities held by each of the 12 Guilds in Surrey East, we have a very active Walking Group. Most walks are held on a Wednesday, and are usually about 5 miles long. The group welcome all members of Girlguiding UK and if you are interested, please ring Carol Humphries and she will send you a programme of walks.
    • Please contact Trefoil Guild County Chairman Jenny Mihalop if you would like details of the Trefoil Guild group in your District – if you are still an active Guider, you can also become an Associate of the Trefoil Guild. Then you won’t miss out on all the fun and activities enjoyed by the Trefoil Guild!
  • Blizzard Banners
    • The County now has two banners which are about 10 X 3 feet depicting happy laughing members of GirlGuiding. Good for publicity at an event. Contact Rebecca Childs if you would like to borrow them.
  • Changes to Duke of Edinburgh Award
    • There have been several changes in the Award and the way it is administered. Most of these do not affect Guiding directly you will be pleased to know. The Service section has now been renamed Volunteering – the partcipants now actually have to put in work hours rather than just attending courses etc. In Guiding this has always been the case, but there is a different registration form on account of this. Hopefully this will be available from the County website, and must be completed before a girl starts work with any unit. It is also essential that any girl over 16 is CRB cleared before she starts working with a unit – the penalty for ignoring this after 9th October 2009 is £5,000!!
    • Any D of E expedition that goes out in the county must be notified to me on an official green form – from D of E – and this will replace all the forms normally used in Guiding. The expedition has to be assessed by a qualified assessor, whose registration number is on the form. Expeditions that do not comply with these regulations, which are in place from this summer, will be invalid and have to be repeated. Ignore this at your peril, as I’m sure the girls won’t want to do the expedition again.
    • For Units that are more involved with running the award, the other two sections – Skills and Physical – remain much the same, and the time for each section also remains unchanged. No participant may start the Award before they are 14 years old, except by express permission from D of E headquarters, and any girl (or boy) working with a unit must be over 14 before they start their service section, even if they are already members of Girlguiding. Sorry this is all regulations, but at least you now have the info. Most girls are able to do the award through their schools, but if you have girls in your unit who are interested in doing the award through Guiding, I will be quite happy to come and enthuse about it, and all the advantages of having it on a CV and encouraging the girls to do it through Girlguiding as it ties in very well with the programme.
    • Jackie Ager - County D of E Adviser
  • Leadership
    • We have arranged the following dates for group meetings and new Leaders are welcome to come to any of these group meetings so that we can give them their Leadership books and show them how easy it is to complete the clauses. If you do not want to come on your own bring someone from your unit with you. We have ladies completing the Leadership in a couple of terms so it is not difficult. Just come along and get our help.
    • Leaders who have their Leadership books should come along and get clauses signed off. We also can suggest activities for some of the clauses.
    • Please remember to log on to the Surrey East website and register for your first aid course if you need one. This helps with planning of trainings.
    • If you cannot make any of the dates below please contact me, we will arrange mentor meetings during the day or another evening.
    • The dates of the next group meetings are as follows, all 19:30-21:00
    • Ashtead - Leatherhead Bookham - 8th June 2009 and 28th Sept 09
    • Downs Heath - 23 April 2009 and 18th June 09
    • Epsom - May 2009 and 14th Sept 09
    • Godstone - 11th June 2009 and 22 Sept 09
    • Reigate - 4th June 2009 and 17th Sept 09
    • Ashtead - 9th April 2009 and 9th July 09
    • Dorking - 20th April 2009 and 22 June 09
    • Denise Kinrade
  • Newly Qualified Leaders since January 2009
    • Congratulations to all our newly qualified leaders, and many thanks to their mentors and the County Leadership Team especially Denise Kinrade for all their help and support.
    • Name, Section (Mentor)
    • Downs Heath - Claire Alvy, Guides (Roo Harmer), Roslyn Jane Wells, Guides (Downs Heath Group), Avril Farley, Brownies (Suzanne Stephens), Rachel West, Brownies (Suzanne Stephens)
    • Epsom - Bethan Yuill, Rainbows (Linda Taylor), Emma Chubb, Rainbows (Epsom Group), Claire Orpin, Guides (Avril Hancock)
    • Godstone - Michelle Wood, Brownies (Tracy Lovell), Dawn Brown, Guides (Godstone Group), Julia Bennett, Oxted District Commissioner (Roo Harmer), Sarah Buxton, Oxted District Commissioner (Roo Harmer)
    • Leatherhead - Roberta Wilson, Brownies (Christine Moss), Jo Tomkings, Brownies (Bookham Group), Nicola Barke, Brownies (Bookham Group)
    • Leith Hill - Kath Webster, Guides (Dorking Group)
    • Reigate - Sally-Anne Penman, Brownies (Denise Kinrade), Judith Bourne, Guides (Rosemarie Belcher), Carol Whybra, Brownies (Rosemarie Belcher), Stephanie Rueff, Brownies (Reigate Group)
    • Roo Harmer - County Leadership Verifier
  • County Website
    • Some of you will have already used the County website, especially if you booked a place on one of our training courses online in the past year or so.
    • But many of our website visitors are not from Surrey East, nor even from this country. In fact we get people from all around the world, including countries where English is not the first language. The most popular search which brings people to our site is 'brownie games', so Denise Kinrade's page of her Unit's favourites gets a global audience. Why not share something that your girls enjoy?
    • As well as being the 'public face' of Girlguiding Surrey East on the internet with ways to join etc, we try to make sure that Leaders can find up to date facts about trainings and events, together with relevant booking forms. This information is centred on the County Diary in the members section; also in this section you'll find guidance and forms specific to Surrey East. Some forms are protected from Google etc so that advisers' personal details, for example, do not appear on the internet - the username to access such pages is guider, password trefoil.
    • For Internet users the website complements the up to date information you can always get from your local Commissioner, and also gives Advisers the opportunity to publish the latest versions of their forms and advice as a resource members can readily get to.
    • Why not pay a visit to the County website and see if there's anything that interests you - and if there isn’t, please let us know. Perhaps you'd like to see details of Trading Depots in the county, or maybe the grid references of campsites etc. Just email me with your ideas and contributions and I'll do the rest.
    • Robin Gould – County Webmaster
  • Want your girls to be more IN4MED about:
    • Eating Disorders - Bullying - Self-esteem - Healthy Eating - Asylum Seekers?
    • Or many other relevant issues in society?
    • Then CALL the IN4MERS!
    • We are trained peer educationists and can run fun and in4mative sessions for your unit to help girls have a better understanding of relevant issues.
    • We can come to your unit meeting for however long you desire, the whole meeting or just 30 minutes or so. Whatever the situation we will come and help in4m your girls!
    • So are your girls: Over 7 years old? - Willing to learn more about a relevant issue in today’s society? - Ready to experience a 4 session?
    • If YES then contact the IN4MERS!
    • Or interested in becoming an In4mer?
    • If you are between 14 and 25 and want to learn new skills or educate your peers than 4 is 4 you!
    • All you have to do is attend a fun filled basic training, and it will count towards your Look Wider and Queen’s Guide Award!
    • If you are interested please contact me on the details above!
    • Laura Ede - County 4 Co-ordinator!
  • Notes from Raspberry Ripple
    • If you do not receive your copy of the Raspberry Ripple notes please inform your District Commissioner.
  • Outdoor Activities for Disabled Young People
    • High Ashurst activity centre at Dorking is running a series of free days for disabled young people. The dates are 23/24 May, 6th and 27th June, 12/13 September and 3/4 October. If anyone would like details please contact the County Commissioner. I will give a copy to Division Commissioners at the next Executive meeting.
  • Media Spokesperson Training
    • There is a LaSER media spokesperson training on 6 June at CHQ in London. Is there anyone who would like to attend this training? I've been on it myself. If you don't want to attend it, can you think of anyone who might? They are particularly looking for Senior Section aged spokespeople. Can you let me know ASAP if you are interested so I can pass your details on to Shirley.
    • Hannah Rainford - County Public Relations Adviser  
  • Are you or your girls creative?
    • Come to help at The Paint a Banner Day to create a 56ft long banner for the Centenary Launch. This is a drop in day for you to help create the 56ft banner for the Launch at Lingfield on September 5th 2009. Drop in for an hour or so between 10am and 4pm on June 14th at Banstead Guide HQ.
    • Parents are invited to bring the girls for an hour of painting. Leaders do not need to attend unless they would like to do some painting. Parents will sign in and out on the day. If you can’t come send your little drawings on a Guiding theme to Roo by June 12th and they will be included.
  • Medieval Magic BP Adventure Weekend

The additional information is protected by an access key as it contains personal data - if you do not have this already, please email the webmaster to request it. Our site search does not include such pages.

Member Zone menu

[celebrate the Girlguiding Centenary with Surrey East]