County Newsletter July 2010

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• From the County Commissioner
  • Dear Everyone
  • Well, here we are at last amid the Centenary Celebrations for Sections. And what fun. The Rainbow day was a delight, a lovely day with bubbly girls enjoying icing cakes, learning to skip, sliding down castles and playing games. Giving out party bags the girls were so polite, and they certainly were very aware of why they were having a party. Then it was off to the wildlife park with the Brownies, nearly 900 of them. The parade of masks was great and what ingenuity Leaders have. The safari ride was most exciting, getting quite close to some animals. Again, lots of fun, and support of conservation of animals.
  • The amount of work that goes into organising one of these big events is tremendous. There is so much more to think about that there is in organising a day for a unit. There is the transport, the health and safety issues, information for all the Leaders, volunteers to find and all those sorts of things besides the activities to organise. It is impossible to keep everyone happy all the time, but the teams are to be congratulated in keeping lots of people happy most of the time. Thank you to all of you who have stood up and volunteered to organise one of these Centenary events. These people have given a lot of their time, their enthusiasm, their ideas and energy to the event. There is fun along the way and more than a few frustrations and worries. But the brilliant end product, a successful day, is worth it all. Thank you ladies; Jacky Stedman with Ali Thoburn, Helen Keeble and Sarah Pusey for the Rainbow Day, and Val Hickmott with Avril Hancock, Janice Posner and Jan Myers for Port Lympne.
  • So, next time you see a plea for help organising, do think about helping. Many hands do help. And please be patient when querying arrangements. Enjoy the pictures and the quotes.
  • My thanks should go too to Shirley Gunner who is standing down from the Outdoor Activities post to be replaced by Tracey Lovell. Shirley has successfully organised us at Scoutabout and helped many of us through outdoor qualifications of various types. Also leaving us will be Jackie Broadhurst after the County 'Now and Then' camp, moving out of Surrey. Jackie has been an excellent lead for the Programme and Training team and has been a tireless organiser of many events. Jackie is replaced by Carole Summers who many will know from her term sorting out the details of trainings. Thanks too to Denise Gould who has been organising First Response courses. We have yet to find a replacement for Denise so any volunteers?
  • Welcome to Joanne Chapman as our Story Gathering expert. Joanne has been trained up by headquarters and is now raring to go to help us capture stories of Guiding. Do contact her if you would like to do something with your unit. A while ago my Guides invited the local Trefoil Guild to join us and the girls had fun finding out about what Guides used to be like.
  • There is still lots of ways to celebrate the Centenary including, for some of us, the 'Now and Then' camp at Foxlease. I hope you have a good summer doing exactly that. Enjoy Guiding.
  • Yours
  • Margaret
• GO
  • Do make sure your Girl information is up to date. Do check your own records and if there is anything amiss, tell your DC (who may be able to correct it) or otherwise Rebecca (admin@girlguidingsurreyeast.org.uk). We have come across a couple of people who have lost some of their service. Thank you.
  • Margaret
• From the Editor
  • The County Newsletter is published at the beginning of February, May, July and October of each year. The deadline for guaranteed inclusion is the 15th of the previous month!
  • Please give a contact name and e-mail and telephone number with every contribution (even if you wish it published anonymously), and mention that it is for the County Newsletter, especially in the e-mail subject.
  • It would be a great help to the Editor if items for the Newsletter could be e-mailed to the Editor or sent as a Word document on a floppy disc. Printed copy can be sent by post to the Editor.
  • Written copy has to be retyped which obviously takes time, so if you can help in this way it will be appreciated. Thank you.
  • Joan Wigham - Editor
• Congratulations to green fingered Brownie Packs !
  • 6th Merstham and 2nd Reigate Brownie Packs entered designs for the recycled container gardens competition at this July's Hampton Court Flower Show and, along with 22 other Packs from around the UK, were chosen to create their gardens. Well Done!. Lots of growing , planting and making is going on to make the designs come to life and hopefully they will be in full flower ready for the first week in July. Look out for them if you go to the show.
  • 6th's design is a suitcase all packed and ready for Pack Holiday and 2nd's is a 100 made of wellies and upside down umbrellas all planted up to look like little ponds featuring the centenary ducks.
  • Roo Harmer
• Oxted District takes over Cadburys World for Centenary Adventure
  • On Saturday 8th May at around 8:00am, 98 very excited Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Leaders set off
    to 'take over' Cadburys World; our District Centenary Adventure had begun! After a tiring three hours on the coach we finally arrived and we all crammed into the reception hall waiting to start our adventure.
  • We began at the Aztec jungle where we learnt about the history of chocolate and then we arrived in Bull Street, a full size replica of the original street where John Cadbury opened his shop in 1824.
  • On the next part of our journey we learnt how chocolate is made, manufactured and packaged. We were shaken, roasted and blasted in a interactive theatre, before we journeyed through the magical Cadabra chocolate wonderland where little cocoa beans get up to allsorts. We then wandered through the packaging plant where chocolate bars rolled down conveyor belts in front of your eyes. The Purple planet was amazing, there were so many different things you could do from seeing yourself being turned into chocolate and cracking open virtual chocolate squares to standing in front of a screen and having virtual chocolate raining on you. Finally to the world’s biggest Cadburys shop, crammed full of Dairy Milk, Flake or Galaxy; take your pick because it’s all in there waiting for you to buy! Cadburys world was brilliant, we were given chocolates to nibble on the way round, and in fact one Leader was heard to say ‘she was all chocolated out’ unlike us girls, we could go on eating chocolate for ever! Thank you for a choctastic centenary day!
  • A Buxton - 2nd Oxted Guides
• Rainbows Fundraise for Save the Children
  • After seeing the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti and the terrible pictures of such distressed children, we decided that we must do something to help, however small. We chose the 'Save the Children' Haiti
    Appeal as the Rainbows themselves are so young, between 5 & 7 years old.
  • We decided on a Bring and Buy Sale as it was very quick to organise and, as we only meet for one hour on a Wednesday, time is very limited. We had a lucky dip, a cake stall, a small table for bring and buy items and also served tea/coffee and biscuits/cakes.
  • The Rainbows and their mums came up trumps. We raised £125.00 in one hour. One mum even bought her own chocolate cake back that she had made for the stall! No mum was allowed to leave until all the cakes had been sold! The Rainbows loved the lucky dip although probably the items have now found their way to the charity shops!
    We presented the cheque to Philippa Holcroft (2nd right) from 'Save the Children' who explained how the money might be spent. The Rainbows were especially concerned that the children of Haiti would have all the things they enjoyed at home, and hoped the money would help.
  • Lynn Collins - Rainbow Leader
  • Editor's note -Latest news from the Save the Children Haiti Appeal is:- "PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (March 24, 2010) - More than two months after the earthquake hit Haiti, Save the Children has reached over 550,000 children and families, delivering lifesaving assistance. With the rainy season coming, providing emergency shelter continues to be a major priority." - 25/03/2010
• Rainbow Party
  • On Saturday 5th June nearly 250 Rainbows, plus Leaders and helpers, descended on the Weald School in Beare Green for a Centenary Rainbow Party. The weather was very hot and sunny so they all started off eating their picnic lunches in the shade, before setting off to enjoy the many activities including two Bouncy Castles, a Skipping Workshop, Dancing, Campfire Singing, Hook a Duck, plus many more. They finished up with a huge Campfire Singsong and then sang Happy Birthday, with the candles on the cake being blown out by three Rainbows who had birthdays on or just before that day. A big thank you to Jacky, Sarah, Helen and Ali, ably assisted by Tessa and Liz, for organising the day, and to all the other helpers. The following are quotes made by the Rainbows themselves about the day.
    • It was fun I liked the skipping
      I loved the bouncy castle
      I had a really fun time on the big slide
      Fun skipping
      I liked the bouncy castle
      Beautifully organised ( 1st Newdigate)
      A fantastic day x 3
      Best thing was the skipping
      Really enjoyable
      I liked all of it
      Sunny and colourful
      I liked the slide best because it was fun and I went really fast, lots and lots of times, so exciting !
      Best day I’ve ever had
      I’m bounced out !
• Skip-Hop
  • Here is the contact information on the skipping workshop.
  • Scott and Lee ran fantastic skipping sessions at the Rainbow Centenary Party, I was really impressed with the skills they taught the girls in such a short time, they were really in tune with them too.
  • You can buy the skipping ropes from them at £4.99 each and they are happy to take big orders.
    There is a bronze, silver and gold badge for skipping and they have all the info on that.
    They would be happy to do a work shop for adults too, so maybe we could fit it into one of our trainings , let the P&T team know if you are interested. Phone 01306 646574 www.skip-hop.co.uk info@skip-hop.co.uk
• Brownie Centenary visit to Part Lympne
  • On Saturday, 19th June, 900+ Brownies plus Leaders set out to celebrate the Centenary by visiting Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. The highlight of the day for everyone was a Safari Truck ride through fields of giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and rhinoceros, to name but a few. They also explored the park on foot to see gorillas, lions, tigers and all sorts of monkeys. Lunch was enjoyed in the beautiful terraced garden and everyone had birthday cake for desert. Ella Cross from 2nd Reigate Brownies received her prize for designing the badge, along with runners up in each age group.
    A big thank you to Val Hickmott, Jan Myers, Janice Posner and Avril Hancock for organising such a wonderful day.
  • Quotes by Brownies:
    • The safari trip was the worse ride but I loved it
    • I liked the zebras - the stripes looked like they were painted on
    • The gorilla threw mud at me (the same gorilla also pulled faces at some Brownies and vice versa I suspect
    • I saw a rhinocerous peeing!
    • I liked the giraffes kissing
  • Quote by Leader: The Brownies are enjoying themselves so much they are not bothering to eat cake!
  • Quote by Zoo Staff: The Brownies are so well behaved. It almost makes you feel broody - well, for 10 minutes.
• Leith Hill Division Standard
  • It was decided to make a Standard for Leith Hill Division in October 2008, in time for the Centenary Launch at Lingfield Racecourse on 5th September 2009. All units were asked for their ideas for the four emblems to represent our area, and it was agreed that we would have the Leith Hill Tower to represent the Division, the Dorking Cockerel to represent Dorking and Leas District, Brockham Bonfire to represent Dorking Downs District and Bricks to represent Dorking Weald District, as there were Brickworks in all of the villages represented by Dorking Weald.
  • A Newdigate Guide prepared drawings for the four emblems. A draft Standard was then prepared on paper and sent to the Heraldry Department at Girlguiding Headquarters for approval. Approval was given on 18th February 2009.
  • The Standard was discussed and volunteers recruited at the Division Weekend in February 2009 and materials subsequently purchased. A meeting was held on 18th March 2009 with these volunteers and patterns and materials handed out. The sewing was taken round to every Unit and every Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Ranger, Young Leader and Adult in the Division did at least one stitch. The Standard was completed in late August 2009. All of the Division are very grateful and say a big ‘Thank You’ to Joan Wigham and her team of helpers for organising the making of the Standard.
  • The Standard was used for the first time in the Parade at the Surrey East Centenary Launch at Lingfield Racecourse on 5th September 2009. It was a great to see all six of the Division Standards together for the first time. The Standards were together again at the Centenary Service at Guildford Cathedral on 22nd November 2009.
  • The Leith Hill Division Standard Dedication Service took place at Foxlease on Saturday 27th February 2010. We were delighted that Margaret Frosztega our County Commissioner was able to join us. We were also joined by a number of previous Leith Hill Division Commissioners; Mary Garman, Joy Huxley, Rosemary Goddard, Shona Hoad, Joan Wigham and Margaret King. The Standard was dedicated by Shona Hoad, who is training to be a Curate.
  • The Service took place during our Division Guiders' training weekend at Foxlease. We now hold this fun weekend annually during a weekend in February/March. This year we took part in a Crystal Maze game on Friday evening. On Saturday we had a couple of training sessions, took part in the outdoor activities of High Ropes, Abseiling or Archery, held our Dedication Service, walked into Lyndhurst for a cream tea, had a chocolate tasting session, and held a photo competition. We all brought in a photo of ourselves as a child/Brownie/Guide and we had to guess who they were. On Sunday we played with our Division equipment (thanks to Sainsbury’s Active Kids), used the computer room, decorated lovely Centenary cup cakes, held a reflections service and finally made the number ‘100’ out of Guiders.
  • The Standard is now a very special item in our Division and we will be proud to use it over the years to come.
  • Chris Hands-Clarke - Leith Hill Division Commissioner
• Thinking Day Service, Sunday 21 February, St Michael's Church, Betchworth
  • As part of the '100 years of Guiding' celebrations, a Thinking Day Service was held at Betchworth Parish Church on Sunday 21st February for Guides, Brownies and Rainbows from Brockham, Buckland, Leigh and North Holmwood. World Thinking Day is celebrated every year by the girls to remember Lord and Lady Baden Powell’s Birthdays and to think about all the units around the World.
  • The service included a presentation by the Guides depicting their history over the last 100 years. The Rainbows sang their song which portrays love for the world and the Brownies read special Thinking Day prayers. The Church was full and included parents and parishioners, some of whom remembered the old uniforms worn by Guides and Brownies. Over the past 100 years the uniforms may have changed but the Guiding motto remains the same.
  • Madeline Rietchel - District Commissioner, Dorking Downs
• Capel Brownies
  • As part of our Adventure 100 Challenge, just after Election Day 2010, Capel Brownies were asked what they would do if they were in charge. Here are their suggestions. This is what matters to 7-10 year old girls in Capel today.
  • If I were in charge
    • Give more people food around the world
      No smoking allowed
      You don’t have to pay for chemotherapy or surgery
      Cut down trees to a maximum of 500 per year in England
      Stop killing animals
      To make things better for the environment grow more plants
      No guns or fighting.
      Kids should be allowed to bring sweets to school!
      You don’t have to ask for planning permission on your own building.
      Keep rubbish in bins
      Don’t kill animals.
      Put prices down in every shop.
      Less people driving
      Make sure everybody has food
      Make sure everybody has a home
      Make sure people who are in need get to hospital
      Make sure everything is safe
      Make sure people who are naughty are kept in jail
      Make sure everyone has clean water
      Make sure everyone has clothes
      Make sure everyone has a good education
      Make sure people drive safely on the roads
      Put more police on the roads
      Stop all wars
      Stop pollution
      Have a Brownie meeting every day
  • George Ede - Brown Owl, Capel Brownies
• Leadership Meetings for new Guiders working on their Leadership Modules
  • We have 207 ladies working on their leadership, so we need you to help us by coming to group meetings to get your leadership books and attending subsequent meetings to get the modules signed off. Guiders/DC's - please come along with your new Leader; you can chat to other Guiders and swap games and ideas while we talk to your new Guider. If you want to organise a group meeting in your area at one of your houses let us know; please avoid mentor dates below and one of us will come along.
  • Please note there is a reprint of the Leadership book February next year, so we need you to get modules signed off and the book completed, as otherwise you may find that some of the modules will need amendments.
  • On the positive side, lots of new Guiders have obtained their warrants since the last newsletter and a big thank you to those Guiders/Mentors who have helped them complete and a big thank you to District Commissioners who have taken the time to remind all their new Guiders of the meeting dates. In most areas you are all being very successful in encouraging Leaders to come to the group meetings.
  • The dates of the next group meetings are as follows: time 7.30 -9.p.m (Reigate 7.35 start)
  • Bookham area (Ashtead/Leatherhed) - Bookham & Effingham Guide Hall, Keswick Road, Bookham KT23 4AJ
    13th September 2010, 22nd November 2010, 7th February 2011
  • Downs Heath Division - Mel Bracey's House
    9th September 2010, 18th November 2010, 13th January 2011
  • Epsom Division - Scout and Guide Hall, Church Road, Epsom KT17 4AB (note change of venue)
    22nd September 2010, 17th November 2010
  • Godstone Division - Jubilee Hall, Whytleafe School, Whyteleafe Hill,
    15th September 2010, 9th November 2010
  • Reigate Division - Guide Hall, Honeycrock Lane, Salford (between Horley & Redhill)
    30th September 2010, 25th November 2010
  • Ashtead - 214 Barnet Wood Lane, Ashtead KT21 2DB
    7th October 2010, 11th November 2010
  • Dorking - Leith Hill Division - Longmead, Highland Road, Beare Green RH5 4RL
    13th September 2010, 25th September 2010
  • Please remember that you can come to any meeting date, it does not have to be your Division
  • Denise Kinrade - County Leadership Co-ordinator
• Newly qualified Leaders
  • Congratulations to all the Leaders who have completed their Leadership Qualification since February 2010.
  • Leatherhead - Katie Lardner ( Rainbows, Jill Popham), Sue Prior (Rainbows, Leatherhead Group), Anita Evans (Rainbows, Sharren Bridges), Louise Wakeman (Rainbows, Ashtead Group), Katie Hallett (Guides, Bookham Group)
  • Leith Hill - Beccy Pini (Guides, Denise Kinrade), Heather Golding (Guides, Dorking Group), Alison Cottreill (Brownies, Margaret King), Diane Howard (Rainbows, Linda Taylor)
  • Godstone - Alice Wilson (Guides, Tracey Lovell), Lisa Hagger (Brownies, Godstone Group)
  • Downs Heath - Chrissie Harwood (District Commissioner How Hills, Rosemarie Belcher), Sue Pollock (Brownies, Beverly Haywood Jones), Melanie Warren (Rainbows, Denise Gould), Michelle Wakelin (Brownies, Mel Bracey), Emily Day (Brownies, Downs Heath Group), Amanda Ellis (Brownies, Downs Heath Group), Emma Hammond (Guides, Mel Bracey)
  • Reigate - Helen Keeble (Rainbows, Reigate Group)
  • The leadership team would like to thank all the Leaders who help mentoring the new Guiders and give up lots of time to share their experience with everyone Working towards their Leadership Qualifications. You all do a great job - Well Done
  • Denise recently went to a LaSER day for leadership and was congratulated on her organisation and efficiency in Surrey East. She does a super job for us all. Thank you Denise.
  • Roo Harmer - County Leadership Assessor
• 100th birthday of Guiding
  • We’re having a party!
  • We want to celebrate 100 years of Guiding with anyone who has been associated with Tattenham Guides and Brownies as far back as we can!
  • Were you a Brownie in 1st, 3rd or 5th Tattenham Brownies or 1st or 3rd Tattenham Guides? Maybe you remember being a Guide at the Methodist Church or a Brownie meeting at the local school. Were you a helper or a badge tester or even a Leader?
  • If you know someone who has had a connection please pass this invitation on to them.Please reply to our invitation and come along with your memories for an evening of entertainment. There will be refreshments and cake as well as a great atmosphere.
  • If you have any memorabilia we will have space for displaying items and sharing them with others.
  • An opportunity to reunite with old friends and to see our present Brownie Pack as they entertain you and act as your hosts for the evening.
  • Friday 15th October 2010 6:00-8:00pm.
  • Please RSVP Mel Bracey 01737 812282.
• Centenary Launch DVD,
  • A DVD of the memorable Launch at Lingfield Park is available at a cost of £5. If you would like one as a keepsake for your Unit or for you personally, please send your request to Maria Young at 6 Woodside Road, Beare Green, Dorking RH5 4RH enclosing a cheque for £5 made out to Girlguiding Surrey East .
  • Maria Young
• County Campfire
  • On Monday 14th June 220 Brownies and Leaders climbed up to Jordan Heights for a County Campfire. The songs were led by Lorna Smith and her helpers and there were lots of new and old songs lots with actions. The Brownies were encouraged to be buffalos, bees, dogs and frogs, and great fun was had by all! Many thanks to Julie Woodland for organising the event. As the event was so popular there will be another Campfire on June 28th for around 100 people. This is the first time that we have had to run two Campfires so that everybody can join in, which shows that the traditional activities are still popular.
  • Roo Harmer - Jordan Heights Committee

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