THIS LITTLE BROWNIE

(tune: This Old Man)

This little brownie she plays one,

With a smile her work is done.

With a knick, knack, paddy whack

Mark it on her card

This little brownie tries so hard.

Two: Secret good turns she will do.

Three: Lends a hand so willingly.

Four: Sews on badges more and more.

Five: Never last one to arrive.

Six: With a new girl she will mix.

Seven: Prays to God high in heaven.

Eight: Learns to skip and stand up straight.

Nine: She her Promise badge will shine.

Ten: Will do her best again and again.

Actions:

Knick – slap left thigh with right hand.

Knack – slap right thigh with left hand.

Paddy – slap right elbow with left hand.

Whack – slap left elbow with right hand.

Mark it – slap left thigh with left hand.

On the – slap right thigh with right hand.

Card – clap hands together.

This little brownie tries so hard – pat your right hand neighbour on the shoulder.

And when desperation rains…

Remembered by Brooke.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Oh my god but the toilets, I remember those holes in the ground…… YUK!!!!!! and then when you started rationing out the toilet paper because we were gonna run out lol, oh its classic, I

still to this day use way to

o much toilet paper….. hehe my bad!

Image via Wikipedia

Wanted: the arts of etiquette and conversation.

Image via Wikipedia

At a Gipp’s Guide meeting the topic of conversation ranged from what to do next meeting, different ideas for making pin wheels, learning and using more etiquette both at home and in Guide Meetings.  With or without Guests. Sounded strange to me as I had not consciously realised that there was a recognised need for social conversation practice along with etiquette.  In fact the Gipp’s Guide who initially made the comment went further and suggested that she include this learning approach in the Olave Baden Powell Award syllabus for herself. The long forgotten arts of etiquette and conversation that Lord Robert and Lady Olave Baden-Powell used were going to be resurrected.

Once one of the visitors was evicted [ the child and baby stayed] the Pin Wheels that they had been making was consumed by the guests and the Gipp’s Guides.

Lend a Hand

Image by StarrGazr via Flickr

Lending a hand was the Motto for Brownie Guides. This being so we got the Brownies to trace around their own hand and then think of at least five things [ one per finger] that they could do to help some one over the  next week.

Gumnut Brownies learned to Care and Share, Brownie Guides were lending a Hand, Girl Guides Motto was to Be Prepared.  Ranger guides had the same Motto but their Guide Promise was extended in order that they take their Promise out into the Wider Community.  As you can see the Lend a Hand motto was preparing the Brownie Guides to join in with bigger and better service concepts and thus participate more in service planning that lead into positive  actions.

Jump Rope for Heart 2010.

Image by duane.schoon via Flickr

Ever thought of holding a Skipping  or Jump Rope get together.  Did you know that there are World and Region skipping competitions?

Well! We are combining a skipping activity that raises funds for the Heart research with an overnight stay.  Not sure whose going to have the most fun though.  The start time is 10 am Thursday July 2010. Originally intended for the Jump Rope to occur with Heart week but time wise this was not going to occur. For now the Jump Rope For Heart is not on the Region Agenda.  How ever the Gipps Guides have involved the Hazelwood and Churchill Guide District.

The finnish time is 12 oo  [noon] then lunch should be served.  Parents and Friends are invited to this activity which will be held at the Hazelwood South Hall.  In case of rain at this time of year the Hall is big enough for participants and spectators.  The Hazelwood South Hall’s  floor is wooden so there is plenty of bounce.

A gold coin donation is expected and will be going to ally lunch costs of feeding the participants and the others.  NOTE :  This money is separate to the overnight stay costs.

Previously the Gipp’s Guides have organised a Bounce-a-thon and various members have also assisted the Youth members with their skipping challenges. Are they up to scratch with the Double Dutch Challenge?  Will you be there to watch, turn the ropes or help with other things? What about just keeping the ropes tidy?

Jump-Rope-For-Heart was suggested as a service to an organisation during 2009.  The Jump-Rope-for-Heart Subcommittee is being organised through the Gipp’s Guides. Other members may join the subcommittee though.

Manners and mannerisms

The not having or having different manners and etiquette habits causes confusion in any meeting and eating place.  This is not to say that any one method is better than the next.  What follows are the norms that are taught through the Hazelwood and Churchill Guide District.  That was everyone will come to understand what is to be expected and begin to adapt to those standards expected when at meetings, in public or representing the District of Region to International events. Also when everyone in the District has the same way of doing some things [traditions] then moving from one unit to another, or from the Youth into the Gipp’s Guides, even as a parent into the District Team or Leadership barriers of being unsure of what to do in a given situation are easily forged.

With this in mind let me share with you some of the things we do.

As a Hostess

• Meet and great the Guests and visitors.
• Ask the visitors to sign the guest book/ visitors book [ names needed for a variety of reasons – emergency assembles and re-invitations to other events being two].  Note all there sign in and out for Occupational Health and Safety reasons.
• Where possible have a bit of information on the Guests  / Visitors background interests, work, service. As a small question with reguard to easing them into a welcoming group environment.
• Do not pri or be nosy.
• Listen, ask a small question, be patient with other person when they are answering you query.
• Introduce one person to another with similar interests. Wait there for a small space of time and may be offer a conversation starter… [Name of person 1] ‘how are the lettuces growing this year’.  Person 2 who grows rabbits may be very interested in persons 1 lettuces but is it not better to introduce lettuce growing conversation to another lettuce grower? NOTE Person 1 raising rabbits may not be happy talking to [person 2 whose dog or ferret eats rabbits!  If this is the case start their conversation of with how well the roses smell this year.
• It is considered bad form to have a guest inindated with people
• Stear away from closed subjects i.e. wanting to know personal things about what ever.
• When your guest is plesently conversing with another person move onto another guest or person who is not in conversation.
• The Hostesses role is welcome, greet and keep the conversations going.  So the Hostess will be on the look out for people standing back and not for some reason participating.  There may be a very good reason for non participation.  The reason may be as simple as needing to know where the bathroom / toilet is or they have a spider phobia and theres a spider on the wall.
• After the event or when the guest must leave the Hostess is there at the door thanking the Guest / visitors for coming.  Gently reminding them that the next time we meet they are welcome to come again to.
• Before the week is out after the activity /event the Hostess has made sure that special Guests have been posted a personal  thank you letter.
• All sub-committee members and general visitors receive a acknowledgement of their attendance and help.

Meeting and Greeting:

• We use the Left Hand of Friendship for shaking hands with people.  The Left Handshake is common the World over for people who are currently or have been in either the Boy Scout or the W.A.G.G.G.S. [World Organisation of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts] Organisations .
• We offer a smile to the recipient of our greeting.
• In most of Australia people glance into the other persons eyes upon greeting and communicating with them.  This shows trust and respect.  Looking too long though is considered intrusive while  looking away is taken as bad manners.

Circular Discussions

• When in the circle of conversation [ Brownie Guides called this the Pow Wow circle] conversation flows to the Left.
• Unless other wise indicated by the Leader of the conversation everyone ways for the speaking turn. Thus, upthrust hands waving urgently in the air and pained expressions on the face tend to be ignored [toilet needs exempt].
• If there is nothing you want to say… or you cannot immediately remember what is was, you are given time [five counts by the Leader] to sort thoughts and begin to voice your suggestion or opinion.
• The wasting of time and other mucking around that draws attention to one person [herself] is counted out  and everyone moves onto what the next Guide has to express.
• Once the circle of conversational input is complete the it is up to the Leader to either left the conversation go around again or ask individuals in a random order.
• Random order lefts the Guides have only one more say on the topic.

At the Table

• The Leader then sums up the topic of conversation for all the Guides to hear.
• When preparing to eat the food is placed on the table with the left hand.
• Grace is ‘said’ before the food is touched.
• Grace may be said/ sung / acted for all by the Leader or the Leader may allocate someone else the responsiblity.
• The Grace said will not offend anyone of other cultures who is sitting at the table.
• Should you not want to participate in the Grace you may observe silently, or to bow one’s head.
• No one begins eating until the Leader in Charge  / hostess if away from meeting  is seated and has taken the first bite.
• Items on the table get passed to the left which is why there is more than one butter dish, jug of water,salt and pepper or tomato sauce container.
• At the table empty plates / cups/cutlery  are gathers up from a Guides right side.
• When sitting arrangement have people sitting on the ground / floor then when the Guide is  finished with the plates the plates / cup / cutlery is placed from our right around our back and onto the Ground.  This allows for ease of removal by the meal waitresses.

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Ada lovelace

For finding out information on women in Science and technology  for the link.  Have a go and inform us what you want to do with the day.

Catergories not included so far maybe

What do I get out of this?

Everything we do as a person is knowledge gained that can be used towards something else. These are called stepping stones or gaining of life skills.

Some things we set out to do (our goals) are directly put towards badges.  Other things in the weekly program you helped organise may still go towards badges but we may not be sure where they fit in.  Talk to others around you (include the leaders as they may just know something too!!!) and find out where others have used these challenges. Activities, events and Service things are often being planned from the District and above level too. getting involved in these events again widens your views on what can and is achieved.

Show your badge books to your friends and family they may have ideas too.  Your friends might even want to be invited to do something with you too.

Every time the challenges are used or done they take on more dimensions.  We develop what we do.  First by learning from someone else, making mistakes, redoing the challenge, improving on how things work, having the skill to use the equipment in a ‘funner’ way… or on why the thing did not work out.

Oranising ourselves, team members, the public and even our families and friends. Knowing what to take, the jobs and activities that go into making this an event to remember (and want to remember!)  Talking and communicating with each other is a good skill to always improve on. Having a voice (advacacy) as well as using the governance skills gained where you and your friends can represent yourselves as individuals, or as a group/ team.

Working through the evaluations, then the pre-programing for the next time the challenge is run is a built on experience. Knowing how the thing is meant to work, the program and then what actually does happen to make it work.

Next level of gaining the skill is doing the job as a full member of the team or by yourself.  This greatly depends on what the challenge is, the job is.  Once you have the hang of this then your next challenge is to show someone else how and what to do.  Let them have the fun of just doing something, being part of the team, making the mistakes, correcting them too, including  them in the next adventure.

Gaining a skill, then showing others how to do this skill, learning another skill and repeating the basic process  is part of skill gathering and may be even ‘maturing’ – not necessarily getting older either. Do we ever stop learning.  I hope not. But as we progress in  Guides there are different ways of  wearing badges.

Lapel badges not often seen

In the beginning of anyone’s Guiding experiences the gaining of badges may happen quickly.  Then they get a little harder.  There is going to be gaps to fill in now on different badge requirements.  So now you set out to fill in these gaps either by yourself, with family, friends, peers, other Guides (at Guides or not).

When badges are presented please remember that some Guides may have taken a long time to actually finish off a few which seem to be be given out at the same time.  This is just how things happen.  The impression is false if one thinks that someone is a ‘better’ Guide, or better at Guides than someone else because of the badges on a sash or a shirt.  This is not the case.  Take into consideration how many years has that person been in Guides, is her family involved, does she include other activities into her Guiding awards?  Does she choose not to wear her badges on her sash?  Was there a problem where the sash or shirt was destroyed (accident, fire) or lost (when moving, or put down on a train, at a camp?)   Simply is she not interested in awards, unable to afford the sash or badges?  Or is she busy finalizing a handful of others but has not finished them yet? May be she just wants to do one at a time and do that one well.

Encouraged to be written by Clear Vision

Governance makes camp planning fun

Camping is fun.

Often when the proposal of going to camp comes up the newer in experience Guides groan.  What ever their age, or experience, most people have been to camps where they have little in put, they are kept out of much of the planning. However the preordained activities are great, they have a ball, the relatives or school mates all try to outdo each other.  But from these experiences what have they learned? What skills have they worked towards and gained? Are the rewards what the person really was striving for?  or was the experience ” …just like any another activity!….Boring!!!”

Right from the first suggestion of a camp Guides of all ages in the Hazelwood and Churchill Units have much in put – after all it’s their camp.  Therefore the  Guides are shown how to organise a plan of action, decide on their theme, the menus, activities and the pre-camp activities are included into the normal program. Some of the things that are on the to learn or add practice list are standard requirement that the Leaders have a need to know the Guides understand how to do and when to use. These activities  may consist of focusing on different types of cooking rules, learning how to clean inside things, choosing a sleeping bag to purchase or borrow, erect and strike tents, care for the tents, bush walk, tie knots for commando and skills training activities, make tracking activities, read maps, make bed rolls secure, camp gadgets, camp site planning, camp program, flag pole, Campfire, Guides Own, entrance, cooking facilities, water gathering methods…..

Often the decisions are influenced by those with greater camping skills.  Experienced leaders mentoring the newer Guides, Parents, helpers and Leaders.

Governance is very much the Guides method of management choice.  Each camp then has very have made very clear goals and Guides lines to be planned around.  Depending on the experience and age of the Guides going on camp the steps taken are worked out in a way which is both a challenge and achievable. How the Guides will go about getting help as they work towards gaining what they have set out to do is different ,but the same , on each camp.  Some may use the experience for the Look Wide Badges, others towards their Peak Achievement Awards.  There are other things that they may work towards as well.

If the theme is an international camp they may include that years Jota / Joti as either a pre or post activity.  The camp may have a morse code night activity or two. Or there may be a State or Region sleep over.

On the “Other People” camp each Guide chose a country to look into. The Units Patrols were asked to choose a Guide Region.  [Western Hemisphere, Asia Pacific, European, African, Arab Nations, Russian, the Americana’s]  Some looked at their heritage for a county, others chose a country from school subjects. Patrols then put their interest forward as to which country they would work with.

The Patrols then chose the menus from various recipes supplied, activities and games from different countries represented, the decorations were posters that the Guides created about ‘their’ country.

Other camps the focus may be on outside camping under canvas.  Is the camp site to be in a controlled bush setting [ with toilets provided? or as an expedition?  What shelter and equipment do they need to learn and experience before they go on camp.  Whose transporting everything?

When organising of the camp whose doing what job? How many patrols? Where is the money to pay for the camp coming from? Is it Unit restricted? Age restricted ? Open to all.?  What about the Big jamborees?  The Region Camps?

The biggest hurdle the Guides face is a panic attack.  Will they look stupid?  Do they know anything?  Initially a panic attach on exactly what do they have to learn.  When they realise they have done so much each time they have come to Guides that are cross credited as training the Guides are initially “surprised”.  Then excited and smiling.  fear of the unknown starts to be removed.  New Challenges step to the front. That is why, from the start, Guide camps are learning stepping-stones and challenges made into fun.

Writing encouraged by http://www.clear-vision.com.au