Guiders Staff Room Part 3

[Groovee]

Reconvening over here ladies.

Lol I think so.

I started adding the skill builders on go 😩 I think once they are on it will be much easier but the initial data input is soul destroying.

Still got the promise dates to work out.

Hi! Never realised there was a Guider's thread on here

I do Rainbows and Guides (and also sometimes help with Brownie stuff as that goes on at the same time and place as Rainbows). We are about to open a Rangers unit to run alongside Guides too as a few of our girls are slightly outgrowing Guides and there are no other local SS/Rangers groups. Waiting for DC to do new unit grant application so fingers crossed for that. It would be great to hear from anyone else involved in Rangers/SS.

I think I have just about got my head round the new programme. Other than the more limited variety of interest badges for Brownies and Guides, I'm quite enthusiastic. Perhaps they will add more interest badges in the future. I like the idea of Skills Builders running right through all the sections (not so sure about practicality) and also the theme awards. Agree with a PP that there should be a bit of choice of clauses within badges too.

Also I think there should be some way for girls to do interest badges during meetings as in my units (and many others I'm sure) there is a huge disparity between the supportiveness of parents. I will have to think about how to support these girls especially.

On our first meeting back we didn't touch the new programme with Guides - lots of admin-y stuff to do like juggling patrols around and then a helper ran a long er than expected game. I think I dive into it properly next week with some taster UMAs and then give them a chance to look at the different interest badges etc.

At Rainbows we are starting with the Know Myself theme. They each chose which Skills Builder (all starting at stage 1) and which interest badge they want to do and they will work in two small groups. We will start on the SBs next week I think along with a UMA maybe.

Oops that turned out a bit long

Hello, Rainbow guider here. I didn’t know about this thread until it was linked to on the subs and new programme thread.
Can anyone here point me in the right direction for finding the policy for accepting girls onto the waiting list? I'm going out of my mind on the GG website trying to find information on the rules of including or excluding requests to join. I know how to do it all on GO but need clarification on an official policy if rejecting girls from the waiting list is permitted for any reason other than “we are full”?
I’m not rejecting anyone btw, I’m just trying to understand if another local unit it allowed to (based on address).
Thanks

Welcome! Each unit can set its own policy as long as fairly consistently applied - what's your question?

I'm Brownies and do Brownies from outside the District / outside the neighbouring District, Rainbows, length of time on the waiting list (as long as over 7 when I'm looking at a start date.) Occasionally though I will go for a younger / older girl on the waiting list who's not been on for long to have an age balance.

We don't accept district transfers unless both leaders agree there's a good reason. We have very pushy and sneaky parents who used to start at one unit and then demand a transfer to the Brownie or Guide unit with a massive list.

Thanks for your reply Becles. It’s a somewhat complicated issue and I'm keen to try and avoid upset between fellow Guiders but also of my own Rainbows and their parents.

I lead a Rainbows unit in a rural village and don’t have any policy regarding accepting girls onto my units waiting list, first come first served until I'm full. The Brownie and Guide packs however have a very long running policy of only accepting girls onto the waiting list if they live in the Parish. They will accept girls if they have spaces but this rarely happens as they are popular units. A previous Guider who helped out at my unit said this sort of policy was not allowed.
It’s not really been a problem until this year where for some reason I have a number of Rainbows who live outside the Parish who all want to move up to the village Brownies unit with the friends they’ve made who do live in the Parish.
I'm anticipating potential upset (and cross parents) and just want to get some clarity from GGUK re waiting list policies. Website is not being very forthcoming!

Oh gosh, that all sounds very messy. In our district we have a different problem. Since the next town's rainbows (over the county border) closed, one of our rainbow units is getting applications from all over - 30mins drive away type all over. Rainbow leader has been told she's not allowed to prioritise girls from the village. So maybe contact county for clarification?

Welcome, BTW

Brownie holiday this weekend. So not prepared. And to top it all, I mixed up two open orders on my online shop account, and ended up with 12 bottles of milk to my home address last weekend. Oops!

@ScribblyGum Do Brownies and Guides have closed units / mutually beneficial relationship with the Church in exchange for better rent?

If not then the DC needs to discuss at the District meeting so that you all have a plan for your girls. Rainbows don't have priority for me when the Rainbow leader ignores multiple emails asking for an idea of numbers coming up (almost every term) and then flex when places already offered.

Thanks Inflagrante and Becles for your replies. I seem to recall this being discussed at a District meeting years ago. I was new to Guiding and didn’t really understand what was being debated so didn’t get involved but do remember it all got a bit heated with cross faces. This was back in the day of paper waiting lists and so I used the same policy (Parish only) as Brownies and Guides. Since everything went on line and it’s quite transparent which units have spaces available or are full I can’t see how it’s fair and equitable not to take girls who want to join but live outside the area if their closest units are full.

No there is no agreement with the church re rent and places.

Frustrating that I can’t find a document in the policies section on the website. Concerned that if I involve the DC it will potentially affect relationship with Brownie and Guide leaders.

@ScribblyGum DC is there to support you but also ensure good guiding is happening on the ground. Ask for this to be an early agenda item at the next district meeting and essential frame as: what is the district plan for the progression of this group of girls / girls from this unit.

You are part of a wider team and either a new brownie unit needs to open (trots off to the magical volunteer cupboard) or all the sections hash out a compromise.

I'm not saying it's easy but it needs to be a DC and a district problem to sort.

Thanks Beckles. I spoke to my DC today and she's going to raise it at the next district meeting.

Tried our first skills builder yesterday. First mistake says doing it as a unit. The card said 30mins...it took nearer an hour. My lot were particularly lively last night!

Brownie holiday is stressing me out, my QM has had to travel for work this week, and I've ended up in charge of the food shopping. Anyone willing to check my order for quantities?

Pm me your order if you like. And tell me how many girls.

That would be great, thank you. This is why I've always always had a QM. It's not my strength!

I'd also say PM me as well Inflgrante but I'm truly rubbish with catering stuff!! Hope you get it sorted, sounds like my worst nightmare....

How do I find PMs on the mobile app????

@Heratnumber7 you can only do it on desktop.

Ah, sorry. I don't have a pc I can use.
Can you post the list on here?

It is possible. At the top of the page, as highlighted. I think I'm fine. Anything missing, the shop is only 2 miles away. Refusing to stress at this point!

I've got a really inexperienced team, and so an doing more than I would expect to. Plus I know they have a lot on with uni /placements, it's more reassuring just to do it myself. But I'm shattered!

If you have a phone or tablet use the mobile site then. But the app is useless for a lot of things, while great for a lot.

I don't have an inbox

You'll need to use the google or however you access the internet on your phone and log in on the mobile website.The App doesn't support pm.

Easier if the shopping list were just posted on here. It's hardly secret.

It wasn't that it was a secret! More because I didn't have a list as such, only a menu & then the email from asda with the list of what I'd bought.

Anyway, it's not too bad. Forgot jam & honey, and the red cabbage for experiments. Having a great time

I know that the trans policy hasn't been discussed here on this thread, but there was something on the radio this morning and I've had a girl pulled out of my Brownies this afternoon . Last week we had new programme training and I came home and had a little weep on realising that the programme I've been following for the last 10 years was pitched at what is now considered level 4/5: ie I'll be dumbing down everything we have ever done and all the girls who have already been with me for a couple of years will now be doing simpler versions of what we used to do. For example: last year we make bird boxes, this year we'll be hammering nails into fruit because making bird boxes is two levels higher than our level cap. Oh, and my hard return button isn't working so this won't have paragraphs. #irritatedguider