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

Brownie leader here. Trying to get subs is like pulling teeth but they have all managed to stump up camp deposit. Tonight I have the unpleasant task of drafting an email to tell them that their camp deposits will be put towards subs unless they pay up.
It's the admin, the chasing which gets me down. The girls are amazing! We're doing mission spectacular at the moment so campfires and marshmallows on Thursday.

Yes bombay. It's the chasing. You feel like a nag. I have texted the two missing girls from my unit to ask if they plan to return. No response yet! I have a letter format from my DC that I will have printed out ready and if I get no shows/no subs next week then I will post them on the way home (and email too - a double whammy). No response to the letter will mean I give the places away. It is so sad though as all the girls are lovely.

I've had pretty much the whole week 'off' apart from a few bits of admin and re-organising the pen pots in a moment of extreme boredom yesterday!

No Rainbows for two weeks but I am making up leader numbers on a trip with the Brownies tomorrow evening so they have a 1-1 for their Brownie who ideally needs one (it won't be me). Looking forward to it!

I do have a small shopping/to do list to crack on with over half term and need to sort a lift to a couple of Guide units which I had forgotten about & some forms for grants to fill out (local council funding - can't apply for sports equipment but I figured I can apply for enough for a decent 1st aid kit, not sure there's much else we need).

I've been given a load of out of date bandages/gauze pads by one of the mums at school who works in a dental practise. I presume with the number of them that they came from her work. No idea what to do with them yet...boxed them up for now out of the way while I have a think and a look on Pinterest later on.

today's frustration is parents who do not read the instructions on how to open a consent form to be able to view the details, when I've included the necessary information for doing it on a smartphone or tablet. Including the very vital download the free Adobe app.

This is from a parent who is going to be a leader with a new unit in town!

I've had all my subs, both missing ones with an apology. Can't knock our parents, not only do most pay in the first couple of weeks (termly subs) but we now have many many volunteers! None who would do more that turn up and help, but I'm not going to knock that, every pair of hands helps run the night more smoothly.

Left night was Dutch night, I'm gutted I forgot to take pics. The girls loved the first activity so much we ran out of time! First activity was paint Delft style paper plates. You can imagine the contrast, some "post-modernist" swirly messes, and some intricate designs. They loved it. And we got a massive compliment from one parent helper- back in Dec her daughter wanted to leave, she was bored and not enjoying brownies. Now mum says Flossie loves coming. So pleased, she's a lovely girl.

Last week we did outdoor cooking, only marshmallows, and only on disposable bbqs because we're limited where we are. One parent helper was horrified that I was going to let them loose toasting them themselves! What that parent doesn't know is I've chatted up the village scout group leader, and can use their site next time- real fire, how exciting!

Sounds fab.

I need to find my ID for tonight as they are PVG us all tonight.

Ooh real fire sounds fun! A Beavers leader who works in the office at my girls' school has said she'll come and do us an indoor 'campfire' at some point. Just need her to have a free Tuesday to come and do it!

Ha, InFlagrante I had a few similar parental reactions - I let my Rainbows cook their own hotdog sausage and banana on a disposable BBQ when we did the BBB challenge. Under LOTS of supervision! They were so proud of themselves when we were finished.

Must look at running it again soon, actually - bit late for this term as we're all planned already, maybe early next term though...

I know, we're so dreadful, taking such risks! Dp discovered with his beavers, that if one cooks the marshmallow, then another splats them between chocolate digestive biscuits before the first pulls the stick out... Less mess, and strangely more! He's also learnt (on Beaver leader training) to start a fire with a 9v battery, some wire wool and cotton wool. I so want to try that!

Have you seen the thread re Rainbows in AIBU?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2645473-to-complain-that-DD-had-an-Empire-Day-theme-at-Rainbows

Saw and replied Becles.

I don't often venture into AIBU.

Saw, and avoided. Reading some left me with the same feeling I have with my kids pointless arguments.

I have been paid some subs - woohoo!!!! My stern letter worked ha ha. Not ALL of the subs I'm owed but one down, three to go.

Yay! One is better than none!

I finally handed over my LQ file today (mentor double booked last time & it was easy enough for me to re-arrange rather than her student since I was going to town anyway).

She's invited me out to visit their Guide unit too after half term.

Getting a bit worried about my waiting list -most of the girls won't get a place until they're 6 but not keen to increase size without extra pairs of helping hands so going to implement a parent rota after the summer hols...when I figure out how to put it to existing parents. Telling new ones isn't a problem - I'll just stick 'we run a weekly parent rota' on my emails & tell them which week and if it's a problem to let me know so we can maybe switch about a bit.

Congratulations on handing over your file!

I don't have a parent rota where I allocate days but I do have a sign up sheet. Obviously this means that some parents never help but I do get the same core group splitting it between them. On our termly newsletter I state that we need help but I understand that for some parents it's impossible (even my DH can't come for DD1 as he has DD2 to look after). However, I make it clear that if no one signs up then the meeting is likely to be cancelled.

I did this, not because of girls on the waiting list, but because I had no consistent adult helper. Thankfully I have a fab group now.

One of my regular helper mums is going to sign up as a unit helper from this.

Obviously your long waiting list puts a different spin on it but I just wanted you to know that having the same helpers (who have chosen to sign up) means I have had useful and friendly people to help.

I don't remember if it was this thread or 'real life' where a leader allocates the dates to parents and tells the parents it's up to them to swap if the date doesn't suit.

Congratulations lucy
I had my certificate rewarded to me at campfire last weekend in front of almost 200 scouts and guides and assorted leaders. Was very embarrasing and Nice at the same time.
Next week I'm going to have my going away with book signed off for ly camp permit, so that should be alright. And then there the queen's guide book to sign off (and still a fair amount to do!)

Can I have a whine?

Taking my girls to sleepover at Magic and mayhem in 2 weeks

Only a couple of girls have been away with brownies before and none of the other leaders. I will be 20 weeks pg.

Food is "festival style" sleeping in big top with no loos, and there is no where to sit and no camp beds allowed.

I really, really don't want to go, but I'm going to have to aren't I?

Ask them for the risk assessment for your condition Are you going to Blacklands?

Yes, Becles we are.

20 week scan 2 days before we go and none of the brownies know about bsby

Never been to Magic and mayhem but I have found that very often things get brought that aren't allowed to similar events

I did Strategy with Guides last year and were told no shelters for eating etc (central catering), sleeping tents only.... We and many other groups ignored this rule, which was a good thing since the weather was horrendous until Sunday afternoon. This year they are allowing them but charging a small extra fee for the space they take up.

I reckon many leaders will bring a camp chair even if not technically allowed. You might be on your own with the camp bed but you have a good reason. Not sure how you feel about explaining it to any busy bodies tho...

Albus, if you can get someone to cover you then do if you feel it's too much..otherwise:

Food is "festival style" sleeping in big top with no loos, and there is no where to sit and no camp beds allowed.

Festival style food means there will be choices which is a good thing.
There must be loos..it's the law!
Take a shooting stick/camp chair with you that you can carry easily or one of those haversacks that's a chair too. There is definitely a Leaders' lounge for you to have a sit down while the girls are doing instructor led activities.

Presumably the leaders aren't sharing sleeping accommodation with the girls? In which case, please your case with any guiders who will be affected as you inflate your comfy airbed. I have shared accomms with people with bad backs/joint issues before who have needed a higher bed than the tone on the kit list and no-one minded.

Sadly very little chance anyone could go in my stead.

I asked about risk assessment, they wont be doing one, just wouldnt recommend any activity with a harness given on a recent trip to Disneyland I wasnt allowed to go on things suitable for newborn babies I think they could be a bit more comprehensive.

Will take a camp chair, if the brownies ask, will just say a bad back. They are generally fairly self absorbed anyway in the way of small children. It is as you say other leaders who are more likely to be a pain about it.

2 weeks time it will be done!

It's our Brownies got Talent night. My panic is rising and wish I could just hide but we're doing a promise ceremony too!

Enjoying half term week by doing lots of guiding admin.