Guiders' staff room - tea, wine, chat and optional dancing around the toadstool

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

Thought it might be nice to have a place to swap ideas and experiences. Shall we do introductions first?

My name's MadBad and I've been a Brownie guider for about 5 years.

Maid - how do you chase up?
We use Facebook, texts and email, so it's not too much bother. There are always some parents who don't pay til almost the end of term though, but we don't really mind.

I chase up by email, text or face to face, but I've still got one who hasn't paid this term at all. Perhaps I need to learn not to mind, although that feels wrong.

I send a bill out at the end of term, with a named envelope to return the payment in. Subs must be received in the first three weeks of term or a late payment charge of £5 is added. Since we introduced this system we only ever have a couple of parents who "forget" to pay on time, and very rare for them to pay late the following term. I also have my unit helper sitting by the door to take payment so parents find it harder to sneak in and out!!

I do have a couple of parents across my two units who can't afford to pay in one go, so pay weekly (and obviously don't get the late payment charge added).

So what do we as Leaders think of the new Promise then?

No, I'm an ex Brown Owl and I still forget to pay Scouts, gym, music teacher, school trips etc.

I simply don't carry a cheque book any more, everything goes on credit cards.

Also with older DDs you tend to drop and run, you really need the guider to grab you at the end of the meeting.

Yes, not taking credit cards is probably a disadvantage in this context.

But what do you think of the revamped Promise, Startail? (I'm asking here because the starter of the other thread didn't seem keen to hear from Guiders).

I'm not sure how many 7 year olds would understand the phrase "be true to myself and to my beliefs", or even have much scope for that at that age.

"Mum - it's against my beliefs to eat cabbage, I wouldn't be being true to myself"
"Shut up and eat your greens!"
(Am a Snowy Owl)

I'm non plused about the promise but am happy it's more inclusive to girls we may not have had at brownies.

That's pretty much how I feel, Groovee. We talked about it at this week's meeting, as we have several about to make their Promise so we looked at the difference between old and new versions.

Can I ask about tents? We're looking for a mess tent capable of seating about 24 people at a push for a meal/craft in the rain. Are there any lightweight options out there? I have been looking at the Easycamp Boston 600 - we could cook on gas in the canopy area if torrential rain means I can't be outside, and have the Guides use the side entrance to the main area to keep them out of the way. Without putting the inner tent up (we wouldn't need the bedrooms) would that space be big enough?

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I've looked at the Blackwells Bungalow/mess tents, but they seem so heavy by comparison.

Blacks, not Blackwells! Having thought about it, I could cook on gas in my canvas QM tent at a push - that is a huge ridge tent. We could invest in a dining/cook shelter, but £300 for something I'll only use in extremis seems expensive

I know nothing about mess tents. I guess you've looked at the small ads in Guiding magazine?

Yes, I had a look there today. It all seems to be the heavy type. I was hoping that I may be able to find someone who perhaps dual purposes their own family tent, or something, who could tell me how they get on. We've decided to borrow another unit's mess tent for this summer. We're going to Anglia '13, so I plan to be really nosy there and see what everyone else is using

Hi Jenny, I'll also be at Anglia 13

We use an old push up gazebo with no sides to cook under- cheaper than a fire shelter!
Something like this should do it:

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6511524.htm

We also have a mess tent, but I forget its proper name because we always call it something else ... But it's a bit like this:

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-georgia-5p-family-tent-p261538

(Expensive though!)

Ps- if this outs me at camp, do me a favour and don't say you saw me on MN!!

I'll be discreet, Picturepuncture .

I would like to seek you out though, to look at your tent. How many people can sit in it if it is needed as a wet weather shelter. We don't need masses of space - I'm happy to do without chairs, just Guides sitting on the floor with food/a craft on their laps. I think I'm going to have to bring a long tape measure and a notepad with me!

At the moment I am considering a Gelert Meridian 10, with a side porch for wet weather entrance. It is big - 7mx4m - so should have the space we need I think, and is half the price and a fraction of the weight of a traditional canvas mess tent.

That looks good. I forget how many our mess is 'supposed' to sleep, although we don't actually sleep anyone in there (well we did in may when the wind put paid to one of our other tents but it isn't our intention)!

We're a friendly bunch and we'll talk to anyone about tents at camp

Ours most recently seated 16 girls on the floor to eat in a horshoe, with 5 leaders on stools more than comfortably, you'd easily get more in if you needed to ifyswim! (And we had activity equipment stored at the back etc..)

I think that I'm going to measure the mess tent we plan to borrow for Anglia '13 and calculate the floor space. The number of girls we're taking this time is as big a group as we're ever likely to take in one go, so we should get an idea from that.

Oooh ooooh.... finally after a year, we may have a new volunteer coming to help. Arranging to meet with her. This would enable us to increase numbers so very hopeful that this works out.

That's exciting Groovee, hope it goes well!

Bumping this thread for the (almost) start of term. What's everybody got planned?

(Skips in under the rainbow, leadership training qual book tucked under arm, bags spilling over with 'stuff' and enthusiasm.)

Wonder what I've let myself in for. As I told my mentor, I've only attended 3 rainbow meetings and that was after I was volunteered to run the pack.

You're doing a fine thing, Sokmonsta!

I do enjoy it. Have to keep a notebook with me at all times as I keep coming across so many things that the girls would love.

New volunteer is really good. My assistant is having time off as she needs surgery.

But we've done 3 badges this term and starting a few weeks of Christmas craft after the October holiday.

Hello. We've been getting started with the Brownie Birthday Badge, had the girls voting what they want to do.

Has anyone joined the new official GG forum? I did but it's a bit tumbleweedy as yet. Still can't get Guiders.co.uk to work