Guiders Staff Room Part 2

[Groovee]

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extracurricularr_activities/715087-Guiders-39-staff-room-tea-wine-chat-and-optional-dancing

Part one above, new thread for when required x

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.

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

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 :(

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?

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

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?!

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

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!

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.

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

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

Did your new one turn up last night lucysmam?

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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!

We need to open at least 2 new units in the district to cope with demand but have 3 running on empty at the moment. How on earth can we find more helpers? Forget leaders we need adults. Even as helpers.

Has anyone tried something we've missed as join us is empty at the moment.

We're doing recruitment at a local fair in 2 weeks time.

What are you looking to have on display?

I know our division has official stuff (posters/leaflets/signs) available for stalls at school fairs. Maybe you could ask if yours has similar Becles?

We have a good resource centre at HQ for county so will have the displays with guiders chatting to adults, and running quizzes and a bear comp. we desperately need helpers to take over existing units.

We have a good resource centre at HQ for county so will have the displays with guiders chatting to adults, and running quizzes and a bear comp. we desperately need helpers to take over existing units.

Good luck Groovee, desperately hoping we can find someone to take over my unit when I go on Mat Leave.

Locked myself out the house this morning and ended up at one of my brownies houses for breakfast, she's a neighbour. Wonder how that story will sound once among all the other girls tonight