Calling all guiding leaders - role of a brownie pack leader

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

Just conducting a straw poll on what responsibilities a pack leader (not young leader) definitely should (and should not) have.

1. Working with older Brownies
2. Showing new brownies around
3. Leading 'time filler' games/activities/pow wow etc.
4. Taking part in the activities the brownies are doing as tho she is a Brownie.
5. Taking the register
6. Leading and planning a meeting
7. Attending termly planning meetings
8. Taking cash and reply slips from parents
9. Attending pack holiday, trips etc.

Just looking for opinions...

With the disclaimer that my Pack Leader is my DD (so may be allowed different responsibilties) from your list.

1. Yes, especially Brownies GFI
2. No, Brownie Buddy does that
3. Yes, games in particular
4. She works alongside the Brownies (particularly any who needs a bit of support with the activity) but she doesn't "do" the activity IYSWIM
5. No, I'm a bit of a control freak with record keeping
6. Not at this stage
7. Only because they are held at my house and she lives there!
8. No (see also point 5). I wouldn't want girls involved in anything money related.
9. Yes, this would also be the case if she wasn't my DD.

When I was a Pack Leader 10 years ago

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes, but sort of helping at the same time, i.e. I'd make the craft but also be making sure the Brownies were okay and helping them where needed
5. No
6. Not entire meetings, although I'd help make suggestions
7. They didn't happen, but I'd make suggestions
8. No
9. Definitely

and also...

10. Making the half-time squash

We don't have a pack leader but I would say

1. Yes
2. No brownie buddy and sixer
3. Yes
4. Yes and helping
5. Definately no - if there was a fire, this is what the fireman woud use, must be accurate
6. No but would be pleased to listen to any suggestions
7. No - YL upwards
8. No leaders only
9. Yes

BrownOwlsShinyToadstool :) did you dd become pack leader when she left brownies or did you give it a while first?

I know they are supposed to wait a year, but it's a bit harder when it's your own children that will prob still have to come to meetings?!

This is my dilemma at the moment. DD is likely to leave Brownies one week and start as PL the next, simply because of the lack of other options.

I see her role as helping and supporting the Brownies, but in a slightly different way to a sixer or buddy, but not taking the register or handling cash and reply slips from parents which are difficult enough to get hold of, as it is.

Oh and definitely not attending planning meetings, as these are held in a wine bar.

Best to leave at least a year between Brownies and a PL role, otherwise the Brownies just see her as a bigger Brownie and not part of the leadership team at all. I can understand that it might be tricky if she's your DD, but the Brownies do need to see their Pack Leader as a LEADER, not just One of Them.

1. Working with older Brownies - yes
2. Showing new brownies around Not really - should be a Buddy or Sixer/Seconder
3. Leading 'time filler' games/activities/pow wow etc. yes
4. Taking part in the activities the brownies are doing as tho she is a Brownie. No - helping the younger / less able Brownies to do the activity
5. Taking the register - could be, but an adult must check it
6. Leading and planning a meeting Not as a PL. One activity maybe, Leading a whole meeting is a YL role, rather than PL
7. Attending termly planning meetings not really
8. Taking cash and reply slips from parents no - parents will want to give cash to an adult
9. Attending pack holiday, trips etc. YES - that's the reward for working the rest of the time!

I'm an Owl with an 11 yo DD. I have been very clear to her that she has to wait her turn before becoming our PL.

I know it's best, EcoLady, but I don't have any choice in the matter. DD either becomes PL or I lose a unit helper (which I can't afford to do) as my partner, who's also UH, will have to be at home with her. I agree that this may create some challenges that have to be managed.

I don't, though, recognise this idea of waiting one's turn to be PL. In the decade I've been running the pack, this will be the first time that anyone has shown any interest in being a PL!

Will she be joining Guides? If she is wearing her Guide uniform and has clear jobs that make her role clear, that will help.

Our local Guides & Senior S fight over who gets to be PL/YL - they are all encouraged to do DoE awards at school so need the volunteering time :-)

It's fab having the whole family involved. I can't get DH into uniform at all, but it's great at events like Thinking/Founder's Day, St George's Day or Remembrance Sunday when I'm in uniform with DD and DS too.

Oh yes. Some of her pals are already in Guides and she is itching to go.

It is fab having the whole family involved, although I worry a bit that my DD has a slightly different experience of Brownies because her parents are there and so she doesn't get that off-radar time that her friends do.

Maud I did make DD wait a year before becoming our PL (or Brownie Helper as we're supposed to call them now) but I had that choice. In your situation I would have had her along straightaway. Like EcoLady says you can make clear distinctions from the outset - or rather you could get the Brownies to do that in pow-wow to get them into the mindset that she isn't simply a big Brownie.

Yes, that's pretty much my plan.

By the way, someone's posted again on the Guiders' toadstool thread, so do please drop in there whenever you feel like some general Guiding chat.