Guiders Staff Room Part 3

That's rude! I never understand the vanishers. Just say......no one will mind. Sometimes it seems like it's direct correlation to how intitially super enthusiastic they've been too. I try not to get too excited about those newbies now!

I'm a bit gutted about it. More because I'd rather she was just upfront and honest about it. I'm not an ogre!

No, but that's so rude!

I have 6 new ones to enroll some point this term!

I think I've lost my other leader! Not heard anything from her, no reply to emails or texts, other than an email to say she's got family stuff going on, and another a couple of weeks later to say she's looking after her granddaughter in the evenings now. Her youngest left Brownies in July. She's only been to one meeting, and that was under an obligation she'd made last term.

She's not coming back, is she?

Welcome! Sounds great fun.

My last minute to do list is getting smaller, but where on earth have the units glue spreaders gone!?

Can I join you all? I've just started as snowy owl at brownies. I used to run rainbows, then guides for a couple of years but left when dd2 was born. Now dd2 is a brownie and they needed more leaders so my 2 friends and I have joined as a trio (so it's not as much of an issue if one of us can't make it).

I'm having loads of fun! We're doing the science investigator badge and have done an experiment each week so far. We haven't got as far as meeting the DC yet, and I'm sure I'm supposed to do at least some refresher training about how to run things (and first aid, and a dbs check) before we're let loose without brown owl.

You are right, Becles. I have that in my head because I quote it to parents to persuade them to volunteer to help! Also, because my hall opens onto the park, as soon as we step outside I have to have 2 parent helpers.

Sounds a plan then, DrSpouse. Sad in the short term, but hopefully more sustainable in the long term.

Slowly getting used to being the only guide my unit. It's hard work! Tomorrow I begin my licence weekend, exciting, but oh my goodness, it's taken over my life the last 2/3 weeks!

Right, we had a lovely meeting this week with 2 Guides but I've decided it's just not sustainable and is interfering with family life so I'm going to try and gently move my Guides on to other units and turn myself into something like a District Leader for the next 18 months - at which point DD will be 5 and I will probably take over the Rainbows in our meeting place (the current leader is a student and will be leaving around then).

I may need to change time/day but I think we can manage that.

InflagranteDelicto

Ratios - inside your meeting place is 1:12, outside 1:8 and overnight 1:6 for brownies

The only section with mandatory inside meeting ratios are Rainbows. All other sections are suggestions although it is good practice to have at least two adults present. Mandatory ratios come into play for outside events and residentialsee.

Millicent in my old place I ran the unit, with a really strong team - so it was very much a joint effort. Here, the units seem to be struggling to attract girls so the existing units all have low numbers, I've come in to be part of a unit team with another leader who's been completely on her own in the unit for a while. She's younger than me so I don't know if I can wait til she goes ! I guess it is a gradual process

Squirrel I think it just does come gradually I'm afraid. Are you an assistant or LIC? Always harder coming in as an assistant to an established unit. I had to pretty much wait until most of the previous team had gone before phasing out things I didn't want. Like drinks and biscuits taking 20 minutes every flipping week. Bring a water bottle!!

Interesting times for you, Dr Spouse.

It's becoming clear that now her daughter has left our unit, Wise Owl is backing away. A real shame. It'll leave me, a parent who comes to support her daughter, and two YLs. Eeek-need to get a parent rota firmly in place.

Ratios - inside your meeting place is 1:12, outside 1:8 and overnight 1:6 for brownies, so 3 adults for 30 would be ok. Your meetings must get loud at times!

Not been on here for ages! Have moved to a new area and a new unit, and I'm not loving being the new person. How long does it take to settle? I don't remember being the newbie in my old unit but I was there 8 years, so I guess it just comes gradually. I'm trying not to judge but the new county feels rather old fashioned and I just want my old unit back

I am the only leader for 30 Brownies but I have 2 part time unit helpers and a parent rota.
It's not enough and I am closing the unit if we can't get more help. I initially said at Christmas but both the helpers will stay until Eater so I've decided to stay til then to squeeze in one more Brownie holiday.

How many leaders would you want for 30 Brownies? Suggested is 1:8 but there is no mandatory number as long as there are two leaders present that seems to be the minimum guiding expect. (There would be three of us but one leader isn't happy about this, although we could get a parent rota, I struggle with delegation so find it hard to keep asking them to do things).
What are your thoughts?

Oh and if there's another leader with Rainbows, they can take all the girls from their waiting list meaning they will be more solvent (because more subs) and I can subtly persuade them they want to meet in the hall round the corner we've been offered (we actually overlap in timing slightly, in practice, which is annoying/noisy/inflexible for our meeting timing - so I'd like to boot them out... mean I know! I mentioned this before and the Rainbow leader wasn't keen but maybe we should push harder).

My current girls have said they like being a smaller unit (which leads me to suspect they are keeping Guides a secret among their friends).

Yay! Glad there is a new leader coming forward. And don't feel too down about Guides. I know it's hard with a small unit (am a senior section leader as well as Brownies), but you are making an impact on the ones you have (even though it might not feel like it sometimes :-) )

Right! Deus ex machina and all that - apparently there is a new leader willing to do Rainbows!

I am feeling more positive about being less involved in Rainbows admin but I have yet to persuade the Brownie leader! Need to have a chat with her about the whole thing.

(I'm just looking at the FB Guide groups and getting a bit sad at all these people's plans for their large units).