Guiders Staff Room Part 2

Also our fees are per term not per week - which does make it clear that missing a week does not mean not paying!

And deposits necessary for camps etc before they are booked (everyone is told that if there are problems paying to have a chat with Brown Owl and something can be arranged - but no deposit OR chat/agreement by the deadline then no place on the camp).

As a parent I think that's completely reasonable!

for lucysmam. Hope it all works out for you. The 2 week break sounds like it's come in the nick of time.

It's 6 weeks of missed subs so far (but 13 for one of the girls )

I have been fobbed off again and again. It doesn't help that I don't really know what I am allowed to do which is why I have asked DC for advice.

I look on all of this as extra training though. This will be the last term of such shenanigans!

Do you lose out on cash if they drop out without warning river?

The lack of communication is baffling to me! I know I don't work atm, so have the time to fill in forms or whatever, but surely it's just 'the done thing' to respond to an email, let someone know you'll be late, tell someone you can no longer participate in a proper way! Especially when we have sooooo many methods of communication right at our fingertips these days. I'm feeling very tetchy this evening but that's got to be my biggest complaint about guiding so far.

Imfine, how many weeks no subs? May be harsh but if more than 3 I think I would proper pull them up on it - either pay up, make arrangements to either catch up or write it off, or sorry but the place is not available to them any more, plenty of girls on the waiting list. Unless they are genuinely skint and can't catch it up. Our Brownies have sent a letter just last night explaining that we still pay rent, insurance, activities etc even when girls are absent so alllll subs must be paid.

(N.B. it is not guiding that has super pissed me off but I am glad we're having a two week break, holding my tongue would prove hard in both situations at the moment plus I'm a tad emotional so every little thing is making me teary )

I posted a pic of our girl's birthday cards for the Queen on fb today - one mum's commented that it's better than her Rainbow's homework is presented

Oh rivierliedje how frustrating for you. Has it left you out of pocket?

Still no subs from the non payers. Have emailed DC for advice. I just wish the parents would be honest and say they can't afford it. At least then I could stop feeling like a mug. Apart from that had a really fun night with them tonight.

Some of the parents are doing my head in. We had a camp several seks ago and another one soon and for the second time a guide who wanted to go to camp, who i have consent forms for etc etc has suddenly dropped out three days before the camp! Not having paid. The first one was at least An email from the parent, but no explanation. This time it was just the guide herself saying she wasn't coming, no explanation.

No, no sign of them. No response to any form of contact so I presume the place isn't wanted. Next on the list is one of my dd's friends so will catch her on the school run & get all the forms etc done before we go back.

Did your new one turn up last night lucysmam?

One of my parents is busily promoting our little unit on fb! Walked in the door to my phone pinging away with emails - three enquiries between finishing up tonight and getting in! Must be doing something right

Thanks tokoloshe2015. I might start offering this. I suppose if they do cancel unfairly they were probably going to mess me around with cash anyway.

Have had a letter from the bank...to MY address (woo hoo)...saying I am now officially able to access the accounts

I calculate the yearly amount and then divide by 12 - yes, they can cancel, sadly unless you insist on them signing over granny's diamonds as a guarentee but I think (hope?) that the hassle of cancelling would outweigh the benefit of what is a relatively small amount of money.

Noooo, don't say that! I've already increased us to 13 (if this one shows) due to age and I'm a tad soft...my AL may shoot me!

They'll probably turn up tomorrow night....with a friend as well

Hmmm, contacted a new parent to offer a place via email, text and letter...zero response despite me clearly stating I need to know by tonight...what's the betting they just turn up tomorrow night?!

tokoloshe2015 my friend does a standing order for Beavers. How does it work for you then seeing as Rainbows etc. is term time only? Our subs are £60 per year split over three terms (so £20 per term). Do you set it up for £5 per month? This is a very interesting idea and I think it would appeal to the parents. Can people stop a standing order or does it have to be for the time set out initially? I have fears of people cancelling.

I also liked the baseball bat idea but unfortunately the rounders bat didn't survive the cupboard tidy

Can parents do a monthly standing order? That's how I pay (terrible memory, and like to spread the cost as well, it's a small amount but small amounts add up!). But it wasn't suggested to me, I only did it because that's how I like to do all regular payments - perhaps print a few standing order forms that parents can complete while you stand over them with a baseball bat wait?

Camp meeting tonight

We are going to Magic and Mayhem, I have no information on the activities on offer, and we are going in 4 weeks :(

Lucysmam use it to sew badges on at 20p/50p a go (depending on how much parents hate it

Fingers crossed it will be paid as promised next week Imfine!

Talent show does sound very fun Groovee, I might see if the Rainbows fancy doing something along those lines.

I think we could manage wobbly lines. Dd2 likes to cut the threads for me when I'm sewing but has never actually had a go with the pedal...we'll maybe do some experimenting with her and see how well she listens and manages with it.

Groovee that sounds like so much fun. Brownies seem so grown up to me!

lucysmam go on Pinterest for beginner sewing ideas. I bet your Rainbows would love to just have a try at sewing a wobbly line! My DD likes to press the foot pedal for me as I sew (can be a bit scary for me though!!) I'm thinking promise bunting.

I didn't get any more subs -boo.....but I was brave, firm and smiley!! I suggested weekly subs to one who looked relieved and the other (who usually pays) promised it for next week. Watch this space....

I have pre warned the Brownie leader though as all my non payers are due to be hers in September!

Well, so long as she makes it to the fun nights... That'd drive me a bit nuts I think!

I have a machine of my own but it's very pricey machine & I love it tooooo much to let anyone else near . This one's similar to the John Lewis £50 ones so not hugely expensive or complicated if it breaks down or something goes wrong.

Talent show sounds fun! What sort of acts have you got?

How did you get on Imfine?

I've not long been in from our AGM, been offered a sewing machine...not quite sure what to do with it yet but I said yes. Maybe something to do with the Guides when we open rather than the Rainbows...thinking cap on.

our Rainbow whose mam lost the baby isn't coming back to Rainbows for now. Sounds like she's struggling quite a bit so her mam's asked me to put her back on the waiting list for the moment & let her know when a place is available again.

Good luck Imfine, be FIRM!! but still smiley and nice. Our Brownies had a mum huffing and puffing about having to pay for missed sessions last night even after it'd been explained that we still account for activities for X number of girls even if some don't show!

I'm going to email Brown Owl shortly and see if it'll interrupt her plans for next week if we do Promises with our Rainbows before POG with her new Brownie. I think it's the parents wanting to stay rather than come back early that's thrown me. Usually POG would happen first after LLLL, then promises as we're finishing off.