Ontario
Guider E-News
Monday,
February 4th, 2008
*Best viewed using Windows Internet Explorer.
Meet the Ontario Operations Advisory Forum
Ontario Guiding Needs You!
Provincial Volunteer Opportunities
Link Adviser
Merchandising Adviser
Program Resources Adviser
Public Relations Adviser
Property Adviser
Other
Member Opportunities
Ontario
Council Elected Member
Provincial Mentoring Champion
Nunavut/Ontario Challenge Coordinator
Camping Resource
Camping Specialty Community
Our Chalet – Summer Volunteers
What’s
New?
New
Centralized Banking System
out Non-Member PRC Applications
Census - Thank you!
Just what is an iMIS number?
Girl Advisory Forum Update
Summer Camps 2008 – Girls Grow with Camping
New
Information ab;Ontario Events Listings for Girls and Guiders – Check it Out!
Family Day – February 18, 2008 – SCHOOL PERMIT UPDATE
Provincial Annual 2008
A “Grow Guiding” Success Story!
Cookies
Mint Cookies Available Until March 2008
Environment
Idle Thoughts
Yellow Fish Road Program
Project Porchlight
Pitch-In Canada
Bag-A-Cork Announcement
International
Guider-Only Independent Travel Forms Update
5 Regions Challenge - Asia-Pacific Region Challenge is here!
Dominica Adopt-a-Unit Project
Thinking Day 2008 - Guide/Scout Week
International Pen Pal Requests
Olympia Challenge
Summer 2008 Sponsored Trips – Who’s Going Where!
Safe Guide Procedures – International Travel
Our Unit Guiders are travelling with girls all over the World. Would you like
to know where?
Lones
Program
SPARKS – Consider
Spring for Sparks Ablaze Meetings
BROWNIES – Brownie Splash 2008
GUIDES - Lady Baden Powell Challenge Booklet Available
SR. BRANCHES – Exciting Changes for Fall 2008
Flat Suki Makes an
Ontario Impact!
Valentines for Vets
Public Relations
Ontario
Guiding Garners $196K in Free Publicity!
Community
Chatter
Trefoil Tidbits
Do You Know Someone Who Isn't Getting the Ontario Guider E-News?
Having Trouble Opening PDF Links?
Ontario
Guider E-News Feedback
Who Does What?
Meet The Ontario Operations Advisory Forum
Deputy Provincial Commissioner – Karen Spykers (Photo)
As the new flatter structure of Ontario Guiding continues to unfold, we thought it was time to share the “purpose” of the Operations Advisory Forum with you. This group of dedicated Guiding volunteers provide Provincial input and insight into Ontario Council's direction and long term decisions.
The Operations Forum is comprised of the following Advisers - Archives, Camping & Outdoors, Communications, Cookies, Environment, International, Learning and Development, Link, Lones, Membership Development, Membership Support, Merchandising, Program Resources, Property, Public Relations, Summer Camp and Trefoil.
Together with the section Managers and Coordinators, these Advisers work hard to develop and deliver effective business plans. The women who currently hold positions in the Operations Forum are unique Guiders, willing to be pioneers to a new way of work and continue to work hard to build new Specialty Communities that address the needs of each section. They would love to have additional support in their various sections from Guiders who are perhaps not Unit Guiders but still looking to be actively involved in Focusing on Girls and Enabling Women in Ontario!
As you read through each Adviser’s “purpose” below, you will see that we are actively recruiting! Links to job descriptions for these positions have been included. If you would like additional information about any of these roles, please contact Ontario Council at 416-926-2351 ext. 2354
As Deputy Provincial Commissioner of Operations for Ontario Council, I am looking forward to expanding on our shared opportunities to make Guiding an even better place to “Focus on Girls and Enable Women” that I know together, we can achieve!
| Archives
Advisers - Joan
Beckley & Joan
Woodland (Photo) The Archives, with its main collection at 14 Birch Avenue, Toronto and smaller collections in various locations around the province, is charged with gathering and preserving the documents and artifacts which record almost a century of Guiding history in Ontario. The collections are used by volunteers, staff, and researchers from outside Guiding. |
| Camping & Outdoor
Adviser – Heather
Murphy (photo) Under this heading, Heather deals with Safe Guide issues as they pertain to Camping and Outdoor Activities. She works in conjunction with the other departments to encourage camping and outdoor activities and develop methods to foster a greater knowledge and understanding of the outdoors. |
| Communications
Adviser – Lisa
Baxter (photo) Working together with other Advisers, Lisa develops and executes communication plans for both internal and external communication. She also performs edit/audit functions with regards to all provincial publications whether in print or on the website including E-News, resource packages and challenges. |
| Environment
Adviser – Jess
Fleury (photo) Jess will work with Guiders across the province to share the great environmental projects our members already take part in. As well, she’ll be developing new environmental initiatives for Ontario Girl Guides. |
| International
Adviser - Denise
Buchel-Rainford (photo) Denise is responsible for selecting the proposed locations for the Ontario Adventure Trips, coordinating special teams for screening and Safe Guide forms assessment, and developing new international themed initiatives for Guiding in Ontario. It is through the International section that the 5 Region Challenges have been and are being developed. International also brought the IMPACT 2007 event to Ontario's Guides as well. Partnerships with outside organizations is a new initiative currently being undertaken by the International section of Ontario Guiding. Through the International Network programs like the Dominica Twinning Challenge, Dominica Toonies for Twinning and the Adopt-A-Unit projects are developed and supported in each of the provinces and territories across the country. |
| Cookie
Adviser – Lynda
Chapple (Photo) To gather collective view of Province and act as spokesperson for the Province on Cookies; to relay information to Ontario Council and Provincial/Deputy Commissioner Ontario: To work in conjunction with national marketing strategies to promote the sale of Girl Guide Cookies. |
| Learning & Development
Adviser – Patti
Carson (Photo) The Learning & Development (L&D) Team works on the delivery and support of educational opportunities for adult members of GGC in Ontario. As you can likely guess, this is a huge undertaking when one considers the size of the province, the number of adult members and the diversity of our learning needs. With this in consideration, L&D has made a decision to focus this year primarily on the delivery of the new National Training and Enrichment for Adult Members (also known as TEAM) program. To learn more about TEAM click here. Learning & Development is looking forward to working and growing with all Guiders in Ontario! To view the TEAM chart, please click here. |
Lones
Adviser – Ginette
Lupton
Membership
Support Adviser – Amanda
Farion (Photo) Merchandising
Adviser - Vacant Program
Resources Adviser – Vacant Currently Ontario
Council is seeking a Provincial Program Adviser and we hope you
wish to make a difference. Click
here to view detailed Job Description.
Click here to apply. Position starts immediately and has a three
year commitment. Training in the position is available from the
current Adviser. Public
Relations Adviser – Vacant Summer
Camp Adviser - Nancy
Novak (Photo) Trefoil
Guild Adviser – Betty
Easton (Photo) |
|
Ontario Guiding Needs You!
In addition to the Provincial Adviser opportunities listed above, there
are several other volunteer roles available for Guiders looking to expand
their horizons. To apply for any of these positions, complete a Provincial
Volunteer Application form. Check these opportunities out …
Ontario Council Elected Members
We are looking for 3 Guiders who enjoy big picture thinking and are keen to
shape Guiding in Ontario. Click
here for more information on becoming an Elected
Member of Ontario Council. The form can also be found under the Provincial
website at: http://www.guidesontario.org/about/volunteer.htm
Provincial Mentoring Champion
Ontario Council is actively seeking a Provincial Mentoring Champion, who
will be responsible for using the Mentoring Activity Report to match
Mentees with Mentors in mentoring partnerships.
Nunavut/Ontario Challenge
International is looking for a Guider who would like to work on a mini-challenge
to familiarize Ontario Members with our new sister Territory and vice-versa.
The Guider should be able to work online and/or by conference call, be
deadline oriented, and have a good understanding of her Province/Territory.
Camping Resource
Camping is looking for an enthusiastic Guider who would like to assist
in the development of a publication on how to do a camp, or Camping 101.
This person should have some background in camping, creativity on camp
themes, be deadline oriented, and electronic savvy.
Camping Specialty Community
Do you have a passion for camping and want to help continue to make it
a focus of Ontario Council?
Do you love to crunch numbers and research information? Are you located
in Toronto with easy access to Ontario Guide House (Yonge & Summerhill)?
The Provincial Camping Adviser is looking for a few enthusiastic adult members that love to work with statistics. This team of dedicated Women will be working to compile information gathered from the C2B and C7B forms that are submitted following events and camping and outdoor activities.
These statistics are necessary in order to provide adequate needs assessment and to spot trends. In this way we can help facilitate any changes in camping and outdoor program opportunities for both the Girls and the Guiders. There will be an emphasis on using a computer program (perhaps Excel) to input data as well as researching the documents in order to accurately reflect the growing trends.
Requirements:
• Available to access the Provincial Office during regular working hours.
• Minimum 1 year commitment to the project with annual reassessment.
• Computer familiarity.
• Attention to detail.
Interested??? Pease contact our Camping & Outdoor Adviser and complete a Provincial Volunteer application form.
An International Opportunity - Our Chalet Needs Summer Volunteers
Volunteering at Our Chalet is great fun... It provides the opportunity
to work closely with other staff from different countries, to meet many
people with different cultures and traditions, to take part in a variety
of sports and recreational activities, to lead groups, to explore Switzerland,
to learn new skills and much, much more! Our Chalet is currently recruiting
summer volunteers. If you are interested, please contact:
| Rachel
Newson, Programme Co-ordinator Our Chalet Hohliebeweg 1 CH-3715 Adelboden Switzerland |
New Centralized Banking System
Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council has put in place a Centralized Banking System that all Units will be moving onto in the next few months. In order to ensure a smooth transition a training module has been created to help Units transfer to this new way of work. Trainings will be conducted via conference call or face to face sessions.
Each Unit & Guild will be required to designate someone as the Unit Treasurer. Once designated, they will be required to undertake this training. A Unit Treasurer can be a Guider within the Unit/Guild or a parent (see Guiding Essentials for requirements). If you are a Unit Treasurer for more than one Unit or Guild, you only have to take the finance training once. Only the Unit Treasurer should reserve a spot at a training to allow all Unit Treasurers the opportunity to take this training.
Your Options:
Conference Calls:
There will be two
types of conference calls offered:
1. access to both the internet and telephone simultaneously is required
2. only a telephone is required and the ability to view PowerPoint presentation
that is sent to you with your confirmation email.
Face to Face:
Face to face trainings are also being organized for individuals who do
not have access to computers to support the conference call method of delivery.
Where to Find Information:
A schedule of dates/times and/or locations of these trainings will be
available on the Ontario website (www.guidesontario.org) under Ontario
Events. Registration is on a first- come, first-serve basis and when registering
it is requested that you provide 3 dates along with your full name, iMIS
number, and Community Number. To register for training once you have reviewed
the dates, please email program.clerk@guidesontario.org.
New Information about Non-Member PRC Applications
Payment for non-Member police records checks are now required in advance. Please ensure that a cheque or money order (payable to Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council) is submitted along with the application forms. The current cost of a PRC is $24.50 + GST. (Total $25.73).
Non-Members also should complete an A.7 Non-Member Form and submit this with the PRC application. http://forms.girlguides.ca/appregrec/A7.pdf
This replaces the billing information form (Police Records Check for Non-Members cover form) which is no longer required.
Applicants will be notified of the result of their check as soon as it has been received, submitted, processed and confirmed to the Membership team. Results are returned to the Membership team within 24 hours of receipt by the screening company.
The updated procedure can be found in the Procedures Manual in Member Zone for Ontario, (UG-MEM-5-6)
A word of thanks to
all of our Unit Guiders who have been working overtime to complete the
paperwork
for their girls and provide all of the information
required to complete Census. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Your commitment is greatly appreciated.
As a registered Guider, you have a personal iMIS number. This is your exclusive ID within the organization of Girl Guides of Canada; assigned in the membership database. When you access MemberZone from the national website www.girlguides.ca, your iMIS number is your “user name” and is required (along with a password) to enter into the secure portal. Your exclusive iMIS ID is important to know, so keep it in a safe place as you will refer to it often. If you don’t know what your iMIS number is, you can find it as follows:
· If you are a Unit Guider – contact your Unit Administrator
· If you are a Trefoil Guild or Link member – contact the Adult Administrative Assistant
· If you are a Member-at-Large – contact the iMIS Coordinator
· Girl members can find out their iMIS number by asking their Unit Guider
OR when
on the MemberZone welcome page click on “Have you forgotten
you User Name (iMIS #)? You will be prompted for your email address and
the ID will be sent to you at the email address listed in iMIS. NOTE: the
email address you provide MUST match the one you have listed in iMIS. If
you have more than one email address and do not know which is in iMIS or
don’t know whether or not it is in your record at all, enter the
one that you wish to use. If it doesn’t match further information
will be requested in order to verify that you are a Member. If you are
not yet registered in iMIS or the details provided do not match the National
Help Desk will notify the Provincial Office to follow up with you.
Girl Advisory Forum Update
The Girl Advisory Forum applications were a great reminder of how well "Girls
grow with Guiding!" The quality of the applications was stunning, and
Ontario Council thanks all who submitted applications. The list has been pared
down to the following successful applicants
| Chloë Begg,
17, a Junior Leader from Ottawa Jazmine Bouwmeester, 14, a Ranger from Whitby Alexandria Breen, 14, a Pathfinder from Orono Brittany Chandler, 17, a Ranger and Trex member from Brantford Samantha Hart, 17, a Trex member from Mississauga Carleigh Milton, 15, a Pathfinder from Toronto Shelley Moffat, 16, a Cadet from Toronto Allison Nicholls, 15, a Ranger from Whitby Paula Sanderson, 16, a Junior Leader from Toronto Samantha Shewring, 15, a Ranger from Sudbury Alexandra Ugge, 15, a Junior Leader from Richmond Hill |
Discussions are already
well underway via e-mail. The girls are meeting for the first time February
1-3, in conjunction with the Provincial Advisers and
the ACLs. This increased involvement of girls in provincial
decision-making is the start of a new era for Ontario. Congratulations
to the eleven trail-blazing
girls above!
Submitted
by – Amy Porteous, Deputy Commissioner – Girl
Forum
Summer Camps
2008 – Girls
Grow with Camping
Information will be available shortly. Please check out our Summer
Camp programs! We are offering
a wide variety of fun and exciting activities based on the Guiding programs
to girls of all ages, both members and non-members, at 10 locations across
the province this summer:
| Camp Adelaide Camp Bryerswood Camp Keewaydin Camp Kiawa Camp Kienuka Camp Waupoos Camp Woolsey Camp Wyoka Doe Lake Camp Polly Lake Camp |
Financial assistance is available for members. Please encourage the girls in your unit to join us at Summer Camp 2008.
Summer camp is not just for girls! Volunteer and staff positions are available. For more information see our website or contact the Summer Camps Manager by e-mail or 1-877-323-4545 Ext. 2359 by phone.
Ontario Events Listings for Girls and Guiders – Check it
Out!
Members of Girl Guides in Ontario are planning many events and activities
throughout the coming year! A calendar has been developed on our website
that features events for girls and women as well as Adult Learning and
Development (training) opportunities. Click
here to access a listing
of Events in Ontario or click
here on how to plan one.
If you have any questions, please contact our Event Coordinator
for girl events at event.coord@guidesontario.org and event.coord2@guidesontario.org for adult events.
Family Day – February 18, 2008 – SCHOOL
PERMIT UPDATE
Please note that due to the new Statutory Holiday – Family Day – all
schools will be closed on Monday, February 18, 2008. Remember that your
school permits for unit meetings will be cancelled on that date.
2008 Provincial Annual
What do all of these have in common?
~ 300 Guiders ~ November 21-23, 2008 ~ Learning ~ Friendship ~
Mark Your Calendars!!! The 2008 Provincial Annual will be held at the Holiday
Inn Select in Toronto. We are ready to inform, involve and inspire you!
All adult members are welcome to apply beginning April 1. Watch the Ontario
website for
further details.
If you are interested in being a presenter and informing, involving and
inspiring our 2008 delegates, please submit the Request
for Presenter form by February 29, 2008.
A “GROW GUIDING” Success
Story!
“…
With Transformation rolling out, a lot of units have seen their numbers
decrease...” states Ontario Guider, Suzanne Anderson of the 506th
Sparks Unit in Toronto. “I took over a Sparks Unit this fall that
had only 2 girls on the returning list and only one phone number.” We
got to work …
We felt that “if we offer it … they will come!” My
daughter Elizabeth (a Pathfinder) and I had been leaders before for a
Sparks group
and loved it. There was no holding our enthusiasm back, so we recruited
another leader, planned our meetings, and hoped for the best.
We designed flyers and hand-delivered them to neighbourhood schools.
A few new Sparks joined our Unit. Still eager to ‘grow” we
dropped by the National office and picked up a stack of lovely Spark
postcards and posters. We stapled a little note inviting girls to join
us and posted the posters in the school where our unit meets. A few more
Sparks joined! Finally we hosted two Bring-A-Friend events including
a Halloween party. A couple of more girls joined our Unit! The 506th
Sparks Unit now has ten girls. We are very happy with the results of
our efforts and have a great group of girls. Check out this photo of
our girls participating in the Sparks Ablaze program! This is what being
a Guider is all about!
Submitted by - Suzanne (Sparkly Bear), Diane
(Star Bear) & Elizabeth
(Rainbow Bear)
Chocolatey Mint Cookies Available Until March 2008
Currently in Ontario we have the following quantities of Chocolatey Mint
Cookies available for Units and Guiders to sell until approximately the
middle of March:
| Toronto - Community
Office - 72 Cases Galt Guide House – 1,300 Cases Ottawa - 184 Cases Oshawa – 1,062 Cases Ontario Guide Office - 201 Cases Kingston – 1,570 Cases Hamilton (in Mississauga) – 1,101 Cases Mississauga – 1,526 Cases London - 193 Cases |
If each unit in Ontario
were to sell two more cases of Mint Cookies, our inventory would be depleted.
While this may not be possible for shipping
reasons and costs, we appreciate any extra help that any
Unit or individual Guider (such as a Member-At-Large, Trefoil Guild member,
etc.) can give to help sell these remaining cookies.
Why do we have so many cookies? We purchased the same number of Mint Cookies
in Fall 2007 as we did in Fall 2006. Under our old structure, the Divisions
and Districts used cookies to raise funds to subsidize Guider registration
fees, camp programs and membership. These programs are still happening
in Ontario and the proceeds from cookie sales are what keep these programs
going!
Units will still continue
to receive the $11.00 per case sold for any additional cookies sold.
If
you are able to drop by one of these locations
and pick up more cookies and successfully sell them – your efforts
will help ALL Ontario girls in Guiding. If you can sell more but cannot
pick them up, please contact our Cookie
Coordinator. We will do our best
to move cookies the Guiding way so that no additional freight costs are
incurred.
Thank you for supporting cookies - the fuel that runs Guiding!
Idle Thoughts
As we endure the freezing cold depths of winter, we can understand why
it might be enticing for parents to sit in warm cars while waiting for
Sparks/Brownies/Guides/Pathfinders to end… but it’s also
easy to see how much exhaust is coming from all those cars idling in
the parking lot! Many municipalities already have bylaws which prohibit
idling, but you can also help out by taking a minute to encourage parents
to turn off their cars and come in while they wait to pick up their girls!
Yellow Fish Road
Kris McNaughton from 1st Ridgetown Guides was kind enough to send in some
great YFR helpful hints which can help make your project a little easier.
Thanks Kris!
Kris’ Hints:
• Your first step should be to contact your municipality to get permission.
Generally they will want the web address and program information before
they agree. Our municipality also wanted us to show proof of insurance
and guarantee the girls would be wearing reflective vests, be accompanied
by adults, and use road cones.
• Ensure the girls wear old clothing NOT their uniform. Despite best intentions
they will be covered in yellow paint by the end of the day.
• Cut down on costs by purchasing yellow paint at a discount store. The
paint just needs to be yellow, so you can usually buy mis-tints at economical
prices.
• Have the leader/adult bring a wagon to pull. The road cones, extra paint
etc. get really heavy.
• Talk to the road crew from your municipality. Ours let us borrow their
road crew vests and cones for the project.
•
Make sure the girls can answer "What shouldn't you dump down drains" and "Where
can you dispose of waste" because they will be asked time and time
again.
Click here to access the Yellow Fish Road website. Click here to download the Yellow Fish Road Program Guide. Did you know that Yellow Fish Road crests are available? If you are participating in Yellow Fish Road, and you would like to purchase crests for your unit, click here.
Project Porchlight
Here is a great environment-conscious project forwarded by Tracy Mathews
from 1st Redbridge Sparks and Brownies. Project Porchlight delivers compact
fluorescent lightbulbs door to door to encourage energy conservation
and increase awareness of the little things an average household can
do to make a difference. It’s a project that’s already available
in many communities across Ontario, and looking to expand. You can sign
up to volunteer or you can request that your community be added if it’s
not already participating. Check out the Project
Porchlight website.
Click on “local campaigns” to see if this project already
exists in your community and to find out if there are any events coming
up in your region!
Pitch-In Canada
For over 40 years many members of Girl Guides of Canada have participated
in this environmental initiative. For more information and to order the
kit, please register on the Pitch-in
Canada website. April 21-27, 2008
is Operation Clean Sweep. Pitch-In Canada offers crests for participation
in their program.
Bag-A-Cork Announcement
Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council believes that the Bag-a-Cork program
is a very significant and worthwhile environmental initiative and appreciates
your participation and support. Recently, Ontario Council made the
difficult decision to withdraw from the program as the logistics of
managing this program were not sustainable. From the inception of this
waste diversion program in February of 2005, members of GGC, Ontario
Council have collected and sorted over 8000kg of natural cork bottle
stoppers and sent them to be recycled into a myriad of cork products.
THANK YOU!
Units participating are encouraged to do so until the end of this Guiding
year (June 30, 2008) or to finish their one year commitment. We would like
to continue operating current collection locations in the province as it
is a popular program with the general public.
At this time new registrations cannot be accepted, however, if you have
a request from another unit that wishes assistance sorting the cork they
collect from an established affiliate you certainly can do so. Have that
Unit request crests from your Unit when you end their term!
Only Units currently registered in the program are eligible to submit an
application for a grant from the C.O.R.K (Creating Opportunities for Resourceful
Kids) fund to fund other environmental projects of their own. The application
deadline is March 1, 2008.
Thank you to all members that have worked so hard to make this unique program
last three years. Your hard work and determination is remarkable.
Our Environment Adviser is looking at opportunities for province-wide service
programs. If you
have suggestions be sure to drop her an e-mail.
International
Guider-Only Independent Travel Forms Update
Clarification has just been received from National that adults planning
Guider-Only independent trips do not need to complete the paperwork process.
Out of courtesy, the trip organizer is asked to notify Provincial Office
via fax or email - attention: International
Co-ordinator - at least 4
weeks prior to the trip - of the trip dates, destinations, participant
list and passport numbers. Just a friendly reminder that Guider-Only
trips cannot fundraise. Happy travels!
5 Regions Challenge - Asia-Pacific Region Challenge is here!
The third challenge in the series is now available on the Ontario
website. Crests are available through the local
Guide stores and the On-line Store. Why not experience the Asia-Pacific Region at your Thinking Day event
or at a regular meeting?
Dominica Adopt-a-Unit Project
Thank you to those communities and units who have already supported the
Adopt-A-Unit project this Guiding year. Packages continue to be sent
out monthly from the designated Community Offices. For an up to date
listing of the items that have been sent, please click
here. If your
Community hasn't had the opportunity to support the project yet, please
see the schedule below to determine when your turn is coming. Remember
to have your items at your Community Office by the 5th of the month designated
to your Community. Thank you so much to the volunteers and staff who
have helped to coordinate the collection, packaging and shipping of the
items to Dominica.
| MONTH | COMMUNITIES |
| February 2008 | 17 18 19 20 33 34 |
| March 2008 | 21 22 23 30 35 |
| April 2008 | 26 27 28 29 36 |
| May 2008 | 6 31 32 37 38 |
| October 2008 | 24 25 33 34 35 36 |
| November 2008 | 26 27 28 29 |
| December 2008 | 6 31 32 37 38 |
| January 2009 | 21 22 23 30 |
| February 2009 | 7 8 9 10 11 12 |
| March 2009 | 13 14 15 16 |
| April 2009 | 17 18 19 20 |
| May 2009 | 1 2 3 4 5 39 |
Thinking Day 2008 - Guide/Scout Week
The theme for 2008 is ‘Think about water’, focusing on water’s
importance to health and on the issues of access to clean water and water
conservation. Visit the World
Thinking Day website for information.
Thinking Day Crests
are now available for sale on-line and in stores for $1.75 each. Thinking
Day and Guide-Scout Week are almost upon us. Materials
and information are posted on the National Website - MemberZone. Send
Thinking Day e-greetings to your Guiding friends with our Thinking
Day e-card!
International Pen Pal Requests
GGC-Ontario Council frequently receives request from Units/troops in
other provinces or countries looking to connect with Units in Ontario,
especially, leading up to Thinking Day. If your Unit is interested in
becoming pen pals with a Unit/Troop in another province or country, you
can view requests on Ontario section within MemberZone by logging on
to MemberZone. Please
keep in mind that these requests are updated as pen pal requests are
received and will be posted for a maximum of 2 months before being removed,
unless instructed that a match has been made.
Please keep in mind, if Guiders choose to have girls in their unit write letters to these units, we advise them to be diligent with the sharing of the girls’ personal information and/or photos. Guiders are also advised to inform the girls’ parents/guardians of the risks and to seek permission before participating in a pen pal exchange. It is preferable that letters from girls are sent by their Guider (under her address) to the Guider in the other country. This will help to maximize safety for our girls.
Olympia Challenge
The Beijing Olympics are approaching. With the Olympics comes the WAGGGS
Olympia Challenge, produced with assistance by the Hong Kong Girl Guide
Association. More information about this challenge can be downloaded from
the WAGGGS website. Stay tuned for more information in upcoming editions
of the Ontario E-News about how to place your order for the Olympia Badges.
Summer 2008 Sponsored Trips – Who’s Going Where!
Congratulations to all of the applicants on a job well done. Ontario's
screening is now complete. The following girls and Guiders that have been
selected to represent Ontario Guiding:
OAT
Ecuador: National
Trip – Mexico: |
Safe Guide
Procedures – International
Travel
The procedures for Safe Guide Level 4, International Travel are currently
being revised and the new procedures will be available on our website
before the end of February. If you are planning an International Independent
Group Trip, please ensure you check our website at the end of the month
so that you are aware of any changes to the procedures.
Our Unit Guiders are travelling with girls all over the World
Would you like to know where?
To help promote International Independent Group Trips and share where our
members are travelling, beginning March 1, 2008, the following information
will be linked from the Ontario Guider E-news once the IT.2 – Intent
to Travel form has been approved:
• Responsible Guider’s name
• Trip Destination/date
• # of girls
• # of adults
• Branches involved
This list will also be posted on Ontario section within MemberZone and can be accessed by logging into MemberZone on the National Website.
If you are a Guider who has planned an International Independent Group Trip in the past, or are currently planning an International group trip and would be interested in mentoring other Guiders wishing to plan their first International Group Trip, please contact the International Coordinator via e-mail. If you are a Guider thinking about planning an International Independent Group Trip and would like some guidance on where to start, the International Coordinator is happy to help! Just a friendly reminder that you cannot fundraise for Guider-Only trips.
Guiders - Do you have girls who want a connection with Guiding but are not interested in or able to participate in weekly meetings? Lones is the answer! Guiders can work with girls from around the world. Most of the work is done by correspondence and internet, and is very rewarding. If you are interested, please contact the Provincial Lone Adviser. Guiders interested in becoming Lone Guiders should send in a Lone Guider application form to the Program Coordinator. Lones – Stay Connected!
SPARKS– Consider
Spring for Sparks Ablaze Meetings
Didn’t have time to do the meetings in November? You can still
do the Sparks Ablaze meetings and just book a visit to your local fire
hall
over the next few months. If you cannot go to the fire hall, see if a firefighter
will come to your meeting. The meetings can be found in Member Zone.
When your girls complete the fun, please fill out this evaluation survey to receive the tattoos.
BROWNIES– Brownie
Splash 2008
We will be offering Brownie Splash to all Brownie Units again this Spring.
Watch out for this information in the next issue of Ontario guider E-News.
Brownie Splash material can be found in Member Zone.
GUIDES -
Lady Baden Powell Challenge Booklet Available
Tamara Van Horne of the Alberta Program Committee, designed a Lady Baden
Powell Challenge booklet last year and it is now available here. As
you know, the Lady BP challenge is not printed in the girls' book (Guides),
only on the cards, so it can be hard for girls to know what the requirements
are and the Lady BP challenge takes a personal commitment to complete.
Although you could photocopy the cards for the girls, this booklet is
much nicer! Enjoy, feel free to share, but please ensure that Tamara
Van Horne's name stays on the booklet as she did a super job and deserves
the recognition.
SR. BRANCHES – Exciting
Changes for Fall 2008
Senior Branches will have a new name – Rangers. Through surveys,
discussion groups and research, a new program has been developed and is
being launched
for older girls, 15 – 17+. Ontario Council will be sending out to
every Ranger Guider a new Ranger program book for the start of the 2008-2009
Guiding year.
For more information about Rangers and their new awards, check out the January issue of National News.
Flat Suki Makes an Ontario Impact!
Canada Post will be kept busy this winter delivering Flat Suki's across
Ontario. Over 1,000 members in 80 units are creating their own special
flat friends to send on a visit to meet a Guiding sister.
Later this winter, pictures of this year's adventures will appear on the Flat Suki Project Facebook page. While waiting to see these pictures, check out the past three years' adventures of Flat Suki.
To access the Facebook “Girl Guides of Canada Ontario Council Flat Suki Project” click here. A login is required by becoming a member before you can access the group.
Thank you to the Flat Suki Project Specialty Committee - Dawn Moore, Cheryl Gemmell, Ruth Lam, Carol Leslie-Pierce, Kris McGee and Lynn Ablard for bringing this fun and adventure to Ontario.
Valentines for Vets
February is a time to exchange loving moments with someone close to you
by giving them a Valentine card. What is more thoughtful than a hand-made
card sent to a Veteran. Click
here to access Veterans Affairs Canada’s
Valentines for Vets webpage. Send your completed Valentine cards to:
| Valentines for
Vets Veterans Affairs Canada Communications Division P.O. Box 7700 Charlottetown, PE C1A 8M9 |
Public Relations
Ontario Guiding Garners $196K in Free Publicity!
Recently, National compiled a list of earned (free) media that Girl Guides
of Canada benefited from in 2007. Nationally, GGC estimated the value
of this media at an astounding $369,198. Of this, over 50% ($196,246)
was generated in the province of Ontario alone. Congratulations and thank
you to all the Members who worked so hard to get these stories to their
local media outlets. And of course, to the girls and Leaders who were
the stories – a huge thank you!
SAFE GUIDE ASSESSORS AND GUIDERS – WORKING TOGETHER
The 2007/08 Guiding Year is bringing a lot of change to Ontario Guiders and we all know that change – while difficult – is often necessary to survival. The transition to the larger Communities of Guiding (COGs) away from the smaller divisional and district organization is perhaps one of the most difficult and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Safe Guide forms received by Guide Assessors across the province.
Many Ontario Guiders
have expressed their reluctance to send in their paperwork to someone
with whom they
don't have a relationship. Somehow,
sending off Safe Guide paperwork to "Province" is different because
somehow “Province” isn’t like the rest of us Guiders.
Wrong. Our Ontario Safe Guide Assessors (SGAs) are just like us – they’re
current Unit Guiders, former camping advisers and even former commissioners
all with relevant experience for the kinds of activities they’ve
been asked to assess.
Many Ontario Guiders have also complained that a Safe Guide Assessor from
Bigcityville couldn’t possibly understand the “environment” of
an activity, event or camp taking place in Punkydoodle Corners. I mean – they’re
at opposite ends of the province right? Wrong. If your paperwork is complete,
it should be able to stand on its own merits. In fact, a Camping Adviser
in BC and a Commissioner in Newfoundland should be able to sign off on
your package because of the completeness and relevance of the information
provided.
For example, there are different risks and risk management strategies for skating on an outdoor rink with a warm-up hut versus a rink on a waterway with no warm-up hut nearby. Relevant information on your OA.5 (Emergency Response Plan) for the waterway rink should specifically include what to do in case of immersion and hypothermia.
Our Ontario Safe Guide Assessors are dedicated women who are there to help you work through the Safe Guide process; but keep in mind - they’re not mind-readers.
As you prepare your next set of Safe Guide forms for submission, here are a few tips to ensure that your package is as complete as possible.
1. Complete the Risk Assessment Checklist (RA.1) and then follow the Safe Guide procedures for the appropriate level.
o Most questions regarding Safe Guide procedures will be answered when you refer the procedures for your specific level. If you have questions about how your activity fits within the Safe Guide requirements, please email safeguide@girlguides.ca
2. Complete all forms in full and with an appropriate amount of detail.
o
Remember to include your community # on the C.2 under “Participants
are from”
o As well, please include first aid qualifications.
3. Please respect the submission timelines to ensure that the SGA has
adequate time to assess and return your paperwork, including time to ask
for clarification if needed.
o C.2a for Level 2 need to be submitted no later than 14 days to your
Unit Administrator
o C.2a and C.7a for Level 3 and 4 activities should be submitted 21 days
before your activity.
4. Save a paper or electronic copy of each set of paperwork. This will make it easier to complete your paperwork the next time to do the same or a similar activity.
Please, help your Safe Guide Assessor help you!
Submitted
by – Lori Prospero, Provincial
Safe Guide Coordinator, GGC, Ontario Council (note this is a volunteer position)
and Liz Lovis, National Camping Adviser
Collaborating Communities Say No To Violence!
In commemoration of the December 6th, 1989 shootings in Montreal, where
14 engineering students were killed because they were female, over 330
Ontario Guiders and girls from Sparks to Senior Branches earned a special "Say
No to Violence" crest this past December. Units learned about violence
against women via such activities as self-defence courses, visits from
the OPP and from speakers who had experienced domestic violence, preparing
toiletry bags for shelters, talking about bullying and gender stereotypes,
distributing white ribbons, buying Christmas presents for girls in shelters,
making anti-violence posters for their schools, and contributing to a
display at an event aimed at raising money with which to provide loans
to women escaping abusive relationships. The challenge was a spectacular
success. Kudos to all the Guiders who helped educate girls about this
pressing social issue.
Click here to see a
photo of a member of a 141st Toronto Pathfinder in front of the Guiding
display
at the YWCA’s December Gala. Click
here to see a photo of the 16th and 18th Burlington Sparks Units taking part
in Karate (self-defence) workshop to earn their crest!
Submitted
by – Amy Porteous, Deputy Commissioner – Girls
Forum
Community 10
Click here to view photos of the 2nd Niagara Brownies visiting with Constable
Abbot in November and participating in a trolley ride for caroling to
the Upper Canada Lodge Seniors Home, with hot chocolate at the Pillar & Post
Inn!
Submitted by – Anne Robinson
Community 25
On May 10, 2008, Community 25 is hosting a Grow Guiding Celebration for
girls of all ages in Napanee, Ontario. To access the registration form
for Sparks & Brownies, click
here. And, to access the registration
form for Guides, Pathfinders and Sr. Branches, click here.
Submitted by - Barb French
Community 27
The 25th Stittsville Brownies completed the Dominica Challenge in the fall.
We did the enrolment ceremony for the first meeting. Click
here to view
a photo of our Brownies wearing the crowns they made as well as the parrots
they made for decorations. We enjoyed a visit from Anita Joseph, the High
Commissioner of Dominica. She told the girls stories as her grandmother
had told her; she taught us a song and game and also brought photos and
some
products made in Dominica to show us. Anita was a Brownie when she was
growing up in Dominica so she was very interested in the challenge.
Submitted by Sandra Allan, Brown owl – 25th
Stittsville Brownies
Community 35
The 1st Kirkland Lake Pathfinders have been busy! Click
here to see photos!
This fall we broke out the new “Daring Book” and had a great time experimenting with Sari wrapping. Our meeting focused on India, home of our World Centre Sangam. We also tried Henna painting, made a hair pick and each girl tried wrapping a Sari.
Keeping with tradition,
the 1st Kirkland Lake Pathfinders entered a float in the Santa Claus
Parade.
This year’s theme was “Lights, Camera,
Action-Your Favorite Christmas Movie”. We chose Charlie Brown's Christmas
complete with Snoopy & Dog House, a Charlie Brown Tree and costumes
for Charlie Brown, Lucy and Santa hats for the others. We didn’t
have a budget to work with so we utilized the generous assistance of Guider
spouses. Cathy's husband provided the transportation and trailer and made
Snoopy's dog house and a 3 foot Snoopy. Debby's husband let us use one
of the bays at his garage to build and store our float overnight. Building
it was half the fun!
Submitted by - Cathy Gray, Guider - 1st Kirkland Lake Pathfinders
Community 36
The first Guide Unit in 30 years opened this fall in Armstrong. It took
a lot of hard work but we did it. Now we would like share with you some
of the fun time that we have had. Click
here for photos of our girls
attending the Santa Claus Parade, participating in a local chilli cook
off contest, and having fun as a Unit. We are very proud of the girls.
They are a great bunch and we are having lots of fun, with more exciting
times to come.
Submitted by - Lesa Ferguson, Guider - 1st Armstrong Guide Unit
Community 17
In my volunteer life I am a Guider with the 509th Guide Unit in Etobicoke.
In my professional life I am the Development Manager at Youth Without Shelter,
an emergency residence and referral agency for homeless youth ages 16 to
24. We have developed an outreach program for Girl Guides of Canada units.
Click
here to view the service opportunities. This past December the Toronto
Star ran a feature article about Youth Without Shelter which highlighted
the service contributions of a Guide unit. Click
here to review the article.
Another unit, the 163rd Guide Unit has adopted Youth Without Shelter as
their service project for the year – and this past Christmas baked
and donated 40 dozen cookies.
Submitted
by - Judy Leroux, Guider – 509th Guide Unit and Development
Manager - Youth Without Shelter
The 1st Ottawa
Trefoil Guild has been busy making comfort cushions for breast cancer patients for
our local hospitals. We recently invited all
of the Guilds in Ottawa to go to “Alight at Night” at Upper
Canada Village. The night is Christmas lights around the village. We had
39 members from 5 local Guilds take part. We had a great time with talk
about doing it again this year.
Submitted by - Cathy Starr, President – 1st
Ottawa Trefoil Guild
The East Gwillimbury
Trefoil Guild in Newmarket has been
active. In November we launched monthly “Guider Gatherings” (see
flyer) at a local
community centre. On the 3rd Monday of every month, all Guiders within
our surrounding communities are invited to come out and enjoy some sisterhood.
There is no agenda, no minutes and no formal structure. We send out monthly
reminders of date, time and place. We’ve only had 2 gatherings to
date, but the response has been wonderful. It’s lovely to see both
new and seasoned ladies stepping out for an evening of friendship and fun!
At our 1st gathering,
the ladies came up with a plan to host a Newmarket-wide Thinking Day event
for girls. The EG Trefoil Guild networked with 3 other
local Trefoil Guilds (Newmarket East, 1st
Meeting Place and Maple Key) in January, and our event was planned with each
Guild preparing a World Centre station for the event. The January Guider
gathering
was used to share the idea with community Guiders, generate enthusiasm
and distribute the necessary Safe Guide paperwork (sample
OA.1).
The
event itself “A Thinking Day Celebration at the World Centres” takes
place in our Guider gathering location during Thinking Week in February.
We are very excited about the event and hope to share pictures with you
in next month’s E-News.
Submitted by - Lisa Baxter – EG Trefoil
Guild Member
Do you know someone that isn’t getting Ontario Guider E-News?
Perhaps she has her filter set too high on her computer and the E-News delivery is blocked. The Ontario Guider E-News is a bulk e-mail and therefore may be landing in the “Junk E-mail” box, so please suggest she check there!
Perhaps we have an
out of date e-mail address for her in iMIS and she can update it as follows:
Unit Guider – contact the Unit Administrator in your Community
Trefoil or Link members – contact adult.admin@guidesontario.org
Member at Large – contact imis.coord@guidesontario.org
You may access the PDF form at http://www.guidesontario.org/forguider/newspublications.htm
Having trouble opening PDF links?
Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF) is a universally accepted format that allows us to capture and view robust information—from any application, on any computer system—and share it with anyone around the world. If you are having trouble opening the PDF files included with E-News, please consider upgrading your version of Adobe Reader for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Ontario Guider E-News Feedback
We hope you enjoyed our fifth edition of Ontario Guider E-News! As it is our intent to produce this publication monthly, we're seeking feedback. Pease tell us what you liked, disliked or would like to see in future issues. Drop our Communications Coordinator an e-mail and share your thoughts. We look forward to hearing from you.
Would you like to feature something in next month's issue of Ontario Guider E-news? If yes, please send your article to our Communications Coordinator no later than Monday, February 18th for consideration.