Happy Thinking Day … well nearly.
I love Thinking Day. My Brownies have sent videos to America to be played at their event – we are looking forward to their reply.
I am hoping for good weather for the Swanage event. Totally sold out – we’ll need to consider another steam train activity in the future.
Last month we had several Division Commissioners stand down but some new faces are welcome to the table. I look forward to them joining County exec.
At the end of January we had the County Commissioners lunch. In the morning we had a great LGBTQI+ inclusion training and in the afternoon Dr. Anjana Khatwa joined us for a really interesting talk about the geology of Dorset.
I was surprised by the Region President with a silver oak leaf award – gobsmacked doesn’t cover it! Please consider nominating people in your area for awards – our next County awards meeting is April 9th. Anyone interested in joining our awards team please let me know – we would love some new faces. It is one of the best roles – drop your details over to awards@girlguidingdorset.org.uk
Finally at the risk of repeating myself please check your subscription trial invoices and make sure they are correct and please pay on time. I don’t want to have to chase you and you don’t want to be chased. Please let your Commissioner or me know if you have issues.
Enjoy the 22nd – we look forward to the photos.
With Best Wishes,
Lisa
County Commissioner
Hello all it’s Me again (Emma)!
Just dropping a quick note to let you know all the fab things planned this year from the G&R team…
February 18th is our Thinking Day event and I could not have imagined how quickly we were going to fill the spaces.
Sorry to those of you who have missed out this time around.
I really look forward to seeing your photos of the day so please post them and tag @girlguidingdorset #girlguidingdorset.
April 14th we hold our annual Gold event for those who achieved their gold from Jan1st 23 to Dec 31st 23. We are really excited to return to the Dorset Falconry Centre for exciting and informative demonstrations, amazing handling experiences and of course to visit the lovely café on site. The family are so welcoming to us all so we are grateful to be there again this year. If you know of any girls who achieved their award last year please remind them to sign up asap on our website.
May 11th we have a county take over of Dorchester planned. We invite you to take part in our new monopoly challenge with different routes for each section.
Take a leisurely packed lunch along the way and join us when completed to collect your badge and visit the Odeon cinema to watch a movie (movie tbc) in our privately booked screens.
Do sign your units up to this on our website asap so we can ensure we book big enough screens.
June 6th Adult members are invited to join us at Dudsbury to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-day. We shall be lighting the beacon and enjoying fish and chips as per the King’s request.
You can book your space by registering here.
June 8th Units are invited to commemorate D-day 80 at the signals museum in Blandford where they will take part in STEM workshops.
This event is open to Brownies, Guides and Rangers.
Please book your space by visiting our website.
June 7-9th is The Big Help out weekend.
Don’t forget we have an appropriate badge for anyone who ‘helps out’ during the year.
We have removed the clauses for this so it can be given for any occasion whether it’s a parent who has helped out, young member fundraising efforts etc it will be a great addition to your badge box.
Find out how to order one here.
If you choose to run a big help out event please let us know. We love to see what you are doing locally to grow your young members and volunteers.
I’m looking at suitable dates for some adults get togethers. So, keep your eyes peeled on the website or the Dorset Leaders Facebook group for these.
Lastly from me for now – I am looking for some team members. If you are keen to work as a team, have ideas to grow guiding or support the retention of our members please get in touch. We meet virtually generally on a Wednesday every 6-8 weeks depending on what’s going on.
Drop me an email at growth@girlguidingdorset.org.uk if you feel you would like to get involved.
Friends of Guiding Brownsea Island (FOGBI)
Friends of Guiding Brownsea Island (FOGBI) exists to provide support and to stimulate more interest in Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour.
Brownsea Island is the place where Lord Baden Powell held his experimental camp in 1907 which then led to the foundation of Scouting and Guiding.
FOGBI would like to make visits to Brownsea Island more affordable for any Unit in Dorset that would like to visit (either for a day or for a residential) but would have difficulty funding such a visit.
Applications are invited from Units who need help towards the cost of your National Trust Group membership or towards the cost of ferry fares from Poole to the island.
If your Unit or an individual member of your Unit would benefit from a small grant (of around £50) towards the cost of a visit, then please complete and return the application form by post or scanned and emailed.
Please submit further evidence if there are particular financial difficulties that may require additional assistance. All applications are dealt with in confidence.
Please note: A grant cannot be awarded for travel costs to Poole
