Ontario
Guider E-News
Monday, January
7th, 2008
Happy New Year!
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out of date e-mail address for her in iMIS and she can update it as follows: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
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Member at Large – contact imis.coord@guidesontario.org
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What's New?
Marnie's Message
What Are Volunteers?
Task Group Member Opportunities – We Need You!
Cookies
Spring 2008 Classic Cookie Campaign - New Online Ordering Now Open!
Program
Brownie Tracking Form
Environment
Greening Our Everyday Guiding Experience
Yellow Fish Road Program
Think About Water! Resources for Guiders
International
Dominica Fund Raising
Planning an Independent Trip?
World Thinking Day 2008 - February 22, 2008
Community Chatter
Ontario
Guider E-News Feedback Request
What's New?
Our
brand new website! We've been working hard over the past few months to
create a fresh new Provincial website that is user friendly, easy to use,
relevant and up-to-date. Please take a few moments to familiarize yourself
with it. If you have any suggestions, please email them to the Communications
Coordinator at communications.coord@guidesontario.org.
Reminder! Members-at-Large – Reminder
to return your membership renewal information to Ontario Guide House
immediately so that it will meet the January census cutoff.
Happy
New Year to All! Here are just a few of the projects and activities
that are underway provincially – |
Thank you to the Guiders who have submitted articles and photos for the
Community Chatter section of e-news. Your enthusiasm is catching! Whether
a Unit Guider, an ACL, a Trainer, a Trefoil Guild or Link Member, a Council
member, a Member-at-Large, or a staff member, it is up to all of us working
together to create the kind of movement that will best help our girls to
grow. Best wishes as we embark on a new year together!
What are Volunteers?
Valuable is the work you do.
Outstanding is how you always come through.
Loyal, sincere and full of good cheer,
Untiring in your efforts throughout the year.
Notable are the contributions you make.
Trustworthy in every project you take.
Eager to reach your every goal.
Effective in the way you fulfill your role.
Ready with a smile like a shining star,
Special and wonderful—that’s what you are.
Submitted by – Joanne Henderson
Property Manager, Ontario Council
Task Group Member Opportunities – We
Need You!
Task
Group Members and a Task Group Chair are currently being sought for the
following Program Resources events, programs and activities. These
task groups will work collaboratively with provincial staff and volunteers
to develop, implement and evaluate the following 2008 projects. To view
full listing, please click
here.
Camping Online Resource Task Group
Program Resources is looking for a volunteer to act as a Task Group
Chair to oversee the development and promotion of a new "Camping
Online Resource". The Chair will work in conjunction with the Task Group
Members to create a user friendly resource to assist Guiders in holding
a safe and fun camping and outdoor experience. The Chair will ensure
a regular updating of materials to reflect the seasons, and changes in
regulations. Term 1 year: 2008
Task Group Members are also being sought to research and explore new methods of enhancing the camping and outdoor experiences through different publications and resources, assist with promoting the new online resource, participate in producing the new resource and keeping it updated, (not limited to), with relevant new and old techniques, skills enhancement and activities. Networking with the different departments as necessary in order to ensure high level of content and knowledge. Task Group members will actively seek out information to enhance the Online Resource to keep it current.
Nunavut/Ontario Sisterhood Challenge Coming Soon!
This challenge encourages members to get to know our Guiding Sisters and
where they live. Two parts of the challenge will be created - one for
Ontario members to complete to get to know Nunavut and the second for
Nunavut members to complete to get to know Ontario. Challenge outline
and content for all branch levels will be part of this challenge. Task
group members and Chair will determine the content and format for this
project.
If you would like to apply for any of the above Task Group Member or Chair opportunities, please complete the Volunteer Application Form.
Cookies
Spring 2008 Classic Cookie Campaign - New Online Ordering Now Open!
By now all units should have received and reviewed a copy of How to place
your unit’s Spring 2008 Classic Cookie order in 5 easy steps. This
document is available through your Unit Administrator or by visiting
the cookie
section under Ontario’s Member Zone. It is extremely
important that each unit guider review this document before placing their
spring 2008 Classic Campaign Order.
Ontario’s new online ordering website opens to all units will close January 23rd at 4:30pm. Please note that the National website is not to be used when ordering cookies. Please contact Georgina Turnbull, Cookie Coordinator should you have any questions or concerns.
Brownie Tracking Form
This form was developed by BC Guider Debbie Osborne. Use this Brownie
Tracking Form to track completed program areas.
Greening Our Everyday Guiding Experience
Happy
New Year everyone! While many people are making resolutions to improve
themselves this year,
let’s think about a few simple
things we can do to green our everyday guiding experience.
Here are a few little things to get you started:
* If there’s no recycling bin at your meeting spot, bring along a
bag and take your recyclables home with you at the end of your meeting
*Ask girls to bring their own re-usable mug or plate if you’re serving
snack at your meeting
*Take inventory of your unit’s craft supplies and try to use what
you’ve already got! It’s so easy to run out to the dollar store
each time we want to do a craft, but many units have a reserve of craft
supplies that sit in storage for years. Put those supplies to good use
by designing crafts that work with what you already own. Turn old candles
into wax for buddy burners, donate unused yarn to a Trefoil Guild or unit
that is knitting for charity, and let the girls use the leftover bits and
pieces to make craft kits for kids in your local hospital.
* If you’ve got craft supplies you’re never going to use, arrange
a supply swap with other nearby units to unload what you’re not using
and get some stuff you need.
* Instead of having parents meet you across town for a field trip, meet
locally and take public transit to get there
For those of you who are already doing these things, spread the word! We
can really support the messages in the guiding program by showing our girls
the little things they can do to make a difference at every meeting. If
you’d like to share some simple things you’re doing to keep
your unit green, email them to environment.adviser@guidesonotario.org
Yellow Fish Road
Looking
for a water-related service project for the spring? Consider taking part
in Trout Unlimited
Canada’s Yellow Fish Road.
This project involves learning about protecting storm drains and how
what goes in them affects
local bodies of water. Units use stencils to paint yellow fish near storm
drains and distribute door hangers to explain that the yellow fish are
there to remind them that anything that flows down the storm drain ends
up polluting local water bodies. This is an educational and fun project
that units of all ages can enjoy. For more information, take a look at
the Yellow Fish
Road website.
Look for more information about Yellow Fish Road as well as some tips to
make this project easy and successful for your unit in next month’s
newsletter! If you’ve participated in Yellow Fish Road and would
like to share some tips with other guiders about what you did to make
this project successful, please email them to environment.adviser@guidesonatio.org
Think About Water! Resources for Guiders
This
year’s thinking day theme is WATER! Let’s think about
the role water plays in our lives and also look at the challenges some
of our sisters in guiding around the globe face. This is a great opportunity
to focus on the Going Outside Keeper, Key to the Living World, Water badge,
or Our Environment Module. Let’s reflect on the role water plays
in our lives and think about what we can do to protect this precious resource.
Looking for more ways to work this theme into your program? The Thinking Day website provided by WAGGGS has program ideas focused on providing access to clean water, the health benefits of water and water conservation. The ideas line up very nicely with our Canadian Guiding program requirements and can really get the girls thinking! Check it out!
The Safe Drinking Water Foundation has some environmental education programs that might interest you and your unit. There are materials and resources from Operation Water Drop, which is a program offered to schools across Canada. The information and lesson plans available are geared at a gr. 4 – 8 and 9-12 level. There are free lesson plans available online. There are also water quality kits (available for a fee) which allow the girls to test the safety of their drinking water, and then compare their findings to Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. Visit the Safewater website.
Dominica Fund Raising
I wish to send a great big thank you to all who contributed to the Dominica
Fund Raising effort by Members of the former Northern Area. Some of you
contributed through purchases at our “Garage
Sale” in June at the Area Dinner and some contributed through a
donation at the Celebrate Camp.
We were able to raise a total of $1,816.98. This money was sent to the Ontario Council and they in turn will send Carolyn Gray a cheque so that a purchase of camping equipment can be made and sent to the Girl Guides in the Dominica by the Girls and Guiders of Northern Area.
Just imagine the fun these girls will have enjoying camping events as
we do. Congratulations for a great job!
Submitted by - Kay Dubie
Planning an Independent Trip?
There are many units or groups across the province planning an independent
international trip for an upcoming summer. With these adventures quickly approaching,
Guiders and girls are anticipating wonderful experiences. In order to help
trip Guiders have the amazing experience with their girls, it is necessary
to remind you to please follow the timelines laid out in the IT.1 (International
Group Trip Planning Timeline). IT.2 (Intent to Travel) forms and the necessary
attachments are required to be submitted to the Program Administrative Assistant
at least 1 year prior to the trip taking place. Then, 5 to 6 months prior to
the trip taking place, the IT.3 (International Group Trip Application Form)
and the necessary attachments are required to be submitted to the Program Administrative
Assistant. Meeting these timelines is essential if the International Safe Guide
Assessors are to have sufficient time to review your trip paperwork.
Trip paperwork that
is received late may not be assessed in time to provide final approval for
the trip to take place. Please do adhere to the required timelines so that
the trip will be enjoyed by all.
Happy travels!
World Thinking Day 2008 - February 22, 2008
The theme for World Thinking Day 2008 is Water. Are you looking for an activity to help your unit or Community to celebrate World Thinking Day? Why not check out the WAGGGS Thinking Day website or try the Water for Life Challenge posted on the Newfoundland Council - Girl Guides of Canada website. Their crests are available to order by using the form at the bottom of the challenge page. Their website also has a list of appropriately themed songs and other water themed activities available too.
Have your unit collect
their loonies and toonies for the CWFF and Dominica Twinning Project
as part of Thinking Day activities this year. Send your
donations in to
Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council,
14 Birch Avenue
Toronto, ON
M4V 1C8
Attention:
Accounts Receivable Clerk
See Proceedures Manual for full details, page UG-PRO-5
Community Chatter
Community 2
Click here to see photos of our local Santa Parade.
Check out our special Camp
Peco Dah Quah Cookbook! Cookbooks can be ordered
by contacting Jayne Burritt .
Submitted by: Shirley Newman, UA 2
The Chatham Girl Guides
float won 1st Prize in the Non-Commercial Category of the Chatham Sertoma
Santa Claus Parade in December. Thanks again to Province for the monies
to help with decorations and hope next year we can count on your support
again. Guiding was very visible in Chatham with our float theme "Girl
Guides Light up Girls Lives".
Submitted
by: Cathy Reaume, Chatham Girl Guides
Once again a group
of dedicated Guiders teamed up to build the annual Girl Guide float for
the Sarnia Kinsmen Santa Claus parade. Bill McKnight, former Brownie-dad,
generously provides flat bed, truck, driver and heated garage for construction
and tear down of our float. Quite simply, without his support, there
would be no float. It's a night time event so each float is required
to display a minimum of 10,000 lights. Not a problem for our eager Guiding
team and their "bright" ideas. Each year our planning team
develops the parade theme and manages to showcase Guiding. This year's
theme was Christmas Around the World and it was easily translated to "Guiding
Around the World". Safety and comfort are important so we anchor
benches for maximum seating and tack weld the lighting framework to the
deck so it's a smooth, worry-free ride for our girls. Custom CD's provide
the theme music (stereo system protected in a pup tent) and all cords
are out of harm's way. The Sparks and Brownies all cozy and bundled up
in blankets on the float are adorable and the crowd loves them. The confident
and smiling Guides, Pathfinders, Trex and Adults parade our flags and
banners and greet the crowd with an energetic, "Merry Christmas!" and
children and adults respond back with gusto. It's a great way to kick-start
the Christmas Spirit for everyone. Once the parade route is completed,
the participants are herded into the warmth of a local high school cafeteria
for hot chocolate and fresh donuts, served up by the Kinsmen who sponsor
the parade. Once all the floats have been judged, the winners names are
announced and trophies given out. This is the first year in the last
five that we haven't won either Best Youth or Overall Best Float award
so we can't complain! For me, this is Guiding Alive and Well in my home
town and I'm counting down the days until we can do it all again in 2008.
Submitted by: Marian Kelch, 1st Camlachie Pathfinders
Community 12
Click
here to see photos of the 1st Stoney Creek Sparks visit to the fire
station. The girls loved the challenge.
Submitted by: Mary Devereaux, 1st Stoney Creek Contact Guider
Community 13
Seven girls - Hayley Allen, Kate Crans, Carly McHugh, Karthryne Forbes, Lauren Miles, Natasha Seifred and Christine Shermet . . . all received their Canada Cord this past Fall at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Burlington. Click here to view photos from the event.
The guest speaker was Hilary Matte Brown, a professor in the Faculty of Education at Brock University. She teaches Foundational Methods of teaching and learning to elementary and secondary pre-service teachers. Following Hilary, the girls each wrote a piece on what Guiding means to them. Then they were presented with their Cords and the certificates from our MP Mike Wallace as well as their Canada Cord Certificates. They also each received red and white roses.
Cam Jackson,
Mayor of the City of Burlington, arrived shortly after and spoke about
his experiences as a cub, a scout, a venturer and a Scout leader. He
then presented the girls with a certificate from the Mayor's office and
the Ontario pin. Since the ceremony, we have also received and distributed
certificates from Dalton McGuinty and Stephen Harper.
Submitted
by : Catherine Allen, 32nd Burlington Pathfinders & 1st Burlington
Rangers
Community 23
A Canada Cord ceremony was held in Oshawa on Nov. 4th at Kingsview United
Church. Amy Porteous was our special guest from Province and brought
us greetings from Province. She also had her picture taken with each girl
that was receiving her cord certificate and spoon. We had over 80 girls
in attendance and our special guest speaker was Lisa Sharko, who gave
us an inspiring look into what Guiding has done for her over the years.
We would like to take this opportunity to extend special thanks to the
Silver and Trefoil Guild members that spent many hours in the preparation
of a very successful Canada Cord ceremony for Communities 21,22,23 and
30 as well as a few girls from surrounding communities.
Submitted by: Melanie Le Blanc, ACL 23
Community 26
Click here to see a photo of Ottawa-Orleans MP Royal Galipeau with girl
members from Community 29. They are planting a tree in the community of
Blackburn-Hamlet, in honour of Maple Leaf Day.
Submitted by: Lisa Gillis, UA 26
Community 27
After getting off to
a bit of a panicky start, the “Fairies in a
Magical Winter Forest” float that the 32nd West Carleton Brownies
submitted for the 2007 Santa Claus Parade won FIRST place!!! Although a
simple but pretty float, the Brownies had their singing voices on and were
belting out “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” for the judges.
In combination with the decorations and the Brownies spirit, EVERYONE loved
the horses. The hay wagon, hay and the horses were brought and driven by
Allan and Eileen Childs from Carp. Their daughter and her employers also
brought two riding horses all dressed up with red Christmas bows and included
red painted hoofs. The riders were dressed up as Elves and rode behind
the wagon. Click
here to see photos taken by Dominique Gravill.
Community 34
Click
here to see a photo of our local Pathfinder unit that appeared
in the local newspaper in thanks of our community effort of preparing
ornaments for the Tree of Remembrance.
Community 36
Units are in full swing and bursting with girls, guiders and activity. Taking part in the many Santa Claus Parades, service projects and just having fun. In the new year there will be a First Aid and CPR course in Thunder Bay for all interested members to attend. Time, date and place to be announced. We are looking forward to more training opportunities in our community.
We are very excited
to announce that we have our first ever Trex unit. The girls and their
leaders will be travelling to two world centres in
August of 2009 and visiting other countries in Europe along their way.
They are all working very hard towards their goal and are planning future
events.
In Community 36 we have a very special group of leaders that live in
a remote town called Armstrong. These four very dedicated leaders went
above and beyond the call of volunteers and went out to the residents
and promoted guiding. We are very proud to say that we have an excited
group of girls involved. They also have gone out to the community
to have the girls sponsored to purchase uniforms, books and supplies
for their girls. These ladies are what guiding and volunteering in our
organization is all about. Thanks for all of your very hard work and
dedication.
Submitted by: Yvonne DeBruyne, ACL 36
The rural “KAM”Units helped
design and organize a float in this year’s Santa Claus parade
and won 1st place for their “Camping Theme”. Sponsored by
the Rotary club of Thunder Bay in the division of Best Community Organizations.
Thanks to all who participated.
Submitted
by: Arlene Green, 1st Slate River Pathfinder Leader
Community 39
Our community which
is in London has been very active. In August we had a “meet and greet” night
which was very well attended. At this time we asked the Guiders how often
they wished
to get together as a community
and what sort of things they would like to do. Several said every two months
or so to get together and also many wanted a Pot Luck Supper and Information
Night. As a result on December 5 we had such an event. It also was well
attended (especially for this busy time of the year) and everyone seemed
to have a great time, if all the smiling faces and laughter are an indication.
The food was awesome; Guiders organized themselves to work the kitchen
and set up and decorate. We had an informal gathering time with light refreshments
as well as a get acquainted activity. Membership pins were presented to
those present, starting with a 50 year pin and finishing with 1 year pins.
The Guiders received handouts with information as well as a community directory.
As ACL I have a team of Guiders helping me with a variety of tasks and
these were introduced and also the contact Guider in our community to help
them with Learning and Development, Camping, Arts and International and
Communications. Several Guiders mentioned they wanted to know what was
happening in other units in our community so we have the Communications
specialty with a coordinator who will receive information and share in
the form of a newsletter for the community. Wishing everyone best wishes
in 2008!
Submitted by: Janette Newcombe ACL #39
Ontario Guider E-News Feedback
We hope you enjoyed our third 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, January 21st for consideration.