Reindeer and Rainbows, Brownies and Bells

Where do you find all of the above plus Santa and sugarcanes? Father Christmas at Pettypool weekend has it all! Amazingly I have found time to write in the middle of one of the busiest events of the year. It's Saturday evening, the smell of turkey is wafting around as dinner is cooked for those staying over, a full Christmas spread (well what else could we possibly have??) A glass of wine is heading my way and the magic of Christmas is starting to take effect! The end of a whirlwind term is in sight; we've had Sparkle, County Day, INTOPS, Cracker of Crafts, planning for centenary adventures and GO! to name but a few of the things I've been involved with since the beginning of this term. I am looking forward to some family time, our youngest son is home from New York with Erica, who is so excited about her first Christmas in England. It is making us really think about what makes it special so she can experience 'a bit of old England'.

I hope Christmas is special for all of you in Cheshire Forest, and you are able to enjoy time with your families. When you wish each other Happy New Year it will be 2010, a new decade, a new centenary for Guiding and a whole world of oportunities to make it 'special' for all members of the county. Merry Christmas and a really Happy Centenary Year!

The SPARKLE Effect

Wow, what a launch! After all the planning, agonising and sheer hard work SPARKLE was one amazing day for Cheshire Forest. Some of my abiding memories will be the streams of people walking across the Roodee from the Grosvenor bridge, seeing a bandanna worn as 'dress', presenting Queen's Guide badges and certificates in the Champagne Bar, watching the faces of Rainbows mesmerised by the fire-eater and the blue plastic hats that proved they were glamorous and ... waterproof!

The next few days were spent sorting craft materials, making up dozens of sets of scissors to re-sell, trying to fold bunting neatly to store for future use and writing lots of 'Thank You's'. Now it's back to business as usual, the diary filling up with meetings, trainings and visits. BUT.... it's not quite as usual because now we are IN the Centenary year and it's time to get out there and enjoy it!

11 Days and Counting

Are you watching the countdown to the launch of the Centenary celebrations on the website?? It reminds me of the countdowns before the Millennium, which was anticipated with equal excitement, a date that was talked about for so long beforehand you wondered if it would ever arrive. Our team of dedicated leaders are working hard to put the last details of SPARKLE in place, registration packs stand ready, final information for participants is being sent out and everyone is practising the SPARKLE song (we hope!!) My trip to New York, one of the busiest cities in the world, was an oasis of calm compared to Guiding in Cheshire Forest during this summer.

We have already 'launched' into GO! the new online Guiding database, so in between the SPARKLE preparations I have been exploring, trying out everything GO! has to offer to streamline our administration. Today I was able to appoint a new Commissioner by clicking a few links, no forms, no trip to the post and no delays.....it's great. If you havn't been exploring yet I definitely recommend it, you can listen to, and learn, the SPARKLE song at the same time.

See you in the Centenary Year!!

Time For a Break??

Well, did I say May was mad? June and July have proved to be even busier, looking back it all seems a bit of a blur, or maybe a kaleidescope would be a better term. A mixture of events that have made up Guiding in Cheshire Forest during the summer term, each a separate shape and colour merging together to make a bright, colourful whole. Yellow for Brownie Day in bright sunshine at Pettypool, green for volunteers' tee-shirts at Race For Life in Chester, blue for leaders being presented with Long Service awards at the Celebration evening, silver for presenting a Queen's Guide award and six Baden-Powell Challenge awards, white for the array of marquees at the Cheshire Show, red for American Independance day Rainbow style and brown for the mud at Try Camping and Carol Thorley Trophy weekend. These events interspersed with purple for 'serious' meetings like Guiding development, executives and finance, exciting pink for planning centenary adventures and SPARKLE and servicable navy for day to day e-mails, letters and phone calls. An ever changing picture and never too sure what is going to appear next! So now it's time for a break, to take stock and prepare for the biggest kaleidescope of them all - the Centenary of Guiding.

Mad May

Well so much for my target of a Blog a fortnight! May has been a crazy, busy month with most weekends spent away from home. The first was taken by our holiday in Portugal, closely followed by the County weekend at Broneirion. This was an action packed two days with over 40 members of Cheshire Forest learning how to Grow Guiding led by 3 great Trainers from Leicestershire. Fun, friendship and too much food all set in beautiful surroundings! The following weekend Mike and I were in Swansea to attend Girlguiding UK's Annual Event, which profiled acheivements throughout the year in the form of a TV news programme. It was good to meet up with friends from around the UK and to browse the stands promoting current initiatives.

In between these weekends away came a Pettypool management meeting, a County executive, a meeting about funding, another Training 4 U and the Forest News mailing. Time at home was not wasted either, sending out invitations to our forthcoming Celebration evening, sorting Long Service awards and answering e-mails. This half term week has meant fewer Guiding commitments so I have been able to catch up with ironing and housework, which have proved to be light relief after mad May!

A Day Without Rain

Question? What does one do on a Saturday evening at home when there is a Speedway Grand Prix on Sky? Answer, talk to your friends! It is three weeks since my last blog and my target is one every two weeks (anyone remember targets and challenges in the Guide programme?) so I am a bit behind. However, since then I have submitted a Charity Commission Report (aided and abetted by our Chair of Finance, Nicky, and Treasurer, John), visited Norton Priory to plan a Rainbow Princess party, had a very nice lunch with our County President and Vice Presidents, met with my Commissioner mentor (food was involved again), attended the Guiding Development meeting and helped lead a session at another Training 4 U evening. Today was the Region Executive in Preston and this time I was accompanied by Enya. Tomorrow I'll be packing my bag, no it hasn't all got too much for me, we are off to Portugal for a spot of R & R on Monday!

Just a small reminder before I go - SPARKLE!! There are six days left to get your applications in for possibly the greatest day Cheshire Forest has ever organised. You and your girls really need to be there or forever regret what you missed. If that group of girls who went to Crystal Palace in 1909 had thought 'it's too soon after the holidays' or 'I can't commit myself that far ahead' or 'there'll be plenty of other opportunities' then the Girl Guide Association would not exist and you would be watching Speedway Grand Prix instead of reading this. We cannot promise 'A Day Without Rain' like Enya but we can promise a day to remember. (And while on the subject of songs don't forget the competition!!!)

The First 100 Days

Many of the news channels have been plotting Barack Obama's first 100 days as President. It has made me think about my first 100 days as County Commissioner. The actual date is 10 April, but as we shall be heading off to the Wye Valley for Easter, I shall use it as my title today! I have been asked numerous times if I am enjoying the role and, being strictly honest, I cannot say I have enjoyed every challenge that has come my way, but there have been many moments of enjoyment.

Over the last three weeks these have included sitting in the sun at Pettypool chatting to girls attending the Guide and Senior Section camp permit training, meeting a group of enthusiastic leaders at Training 4 U, sharing a social evening with leaders and Trefoil Guild members from Chester Grosvenor Division, visiting an excellent PLAN 'Because I am a Girl' exhibition in Tarporley and eating a bacon and egg butty, in a field, with Jill Hodgson, Sheila Randall and team, who were running a check point for the Cheshire Hike. This afternoon will bring another 'moment of enjoyment' when I present the trophies to the successful teams from Cheshire Forest.

By its very nature Guiding cannot always be fun, it reflects life in all its aspects, but the moments of enjoyment far outweigh the more challenging moments, so roll on the next 100 days!

Changing The World

So how was your Thinking Day? It was a Thinking Weekend for me. On Saturday I joined our County Trefoil Guilds for their lunch and service in Middlewich. The theme of the service was 'How We can Help Change the World' and included talks by two Senior Section members about their forthcoming International visits. Amber to Russia on a GOLD project and Beth to spend her gap year teaching in a remote part of Guyana. Both were very impressive young women. Sunday afternoon saw Mike and I heading for the opposite side of the county to Runcorn Division's Thinking Day service. Once again the theme was 'Changing the World - How Everyone Can Help' (probably this year's number one choice of theme!) All sections took part and once again there were some very impressive girls and young women. I continued to learn how to Change the World on Monday evening when I visited Norley Guides for a very interesting presentation on PLAN. A County Executive meeting and Saughall Brownie's 50th Birthday party meant February ended on a high note.

March has brought the first hints of Spring, with daffodils showing their faces at Pettypool and signs of buds on the trees. The latest Forest News should be dropping on your doormat with the promise of fun to be had during the coming year. From 'It Takes 2' in Tarporley to 'SPARKLE' in Chester there are a wealth of exciting activities for all our members, so don't miss the opportunity to change your Guiding world!



Saughall Brownies 50th Party

It's Time to GO!

The place to be last weekend was Pettypool Lodge, where we found out more about Streamline and the GO! database.

Designed to make life for all leaders and Commissioners much less ruled by forms, giving them more time to spend on Guiding activities. Did you know 2009 was the last paper census, did you know you will be able to update your own records, did you know the GO! database will ensure security for all our personal information? If you can answer 'Yes' to these questions you must have been there, if not don't worry, more information will be available via Forest News, the County website and Guiding magazine. Many thanks to Janet Grant and her team for running such an informative weekend, with lots of cake and coffee to fuel the little grey cells.

In contrast to last week I spent two evenings with new Commissioners, who had said 'yes', going through their training programme. I think I need to find a way to bottle their enthusiasm to support the leaders and girls in their areas, it is definitely good for the Guiding soul.

Speaking of which, this weekend is the time of year that touches the heart of everyone involved with Guiding. Thinking Day embodies three essences of Guiding; International, Heritage and the Promise. Wherever and however you celebrate have a wonderful Thinking Day. I'll let you know how I marked the occasion next time.

Catching Up

We have been back from our trip to USA for a week and I'm still catching up with everything that has been happening in Cheshire Forest whilst I was away...what a busy county you are!

On Thursday it was the meeting about the Centenary Launch party on 6 September. What an exciting day that is going to be with everything from clowns to cake and masks to magicians. Don't miss your chance to 'be there' at the biggest party Cheshire Forest has ever seen! Saturday brought the Region Executive so that was a trip up the M6 to Preston in the company of Dire Straits to see Sue Lomas chair her first meeting (were a couple of her new initiatives tried and tested in Cheshire Forest?? You bet they were!)

No meetings for three days so it was manning the phone and the e-mails to find two new District Commissioners, a new adviser and a Commissioner mentor, as well as continuing the 'catch up'. No 'yes' but some 'thinking about it'. Now I'm thinking about food so I need to catch up with my dinner.

Meetings, Meetings and more Meetings!

The last two weeks have certainly flown by punctuated by several meetings. Last Sunday was my first County Executive in charge.

It was a good one to start with as it was more of a social occasion, when everyone with a County appointment are invited for lunch at Pettypool. It was also the occasion when we said thank you and farewell to Sue Lomas as she leaves Cheshire Forest for North West England. Cynthia Gent, our President, had organised her gifts, one of which was a beautiful Centenary vase depicting Olave Baden-Powell. You can see it illustrated in the Centenary gift catalogue.

I have also attended a meeting about funding for the Pettypool development and the Guiding Development meeting. This latter one is the launch pad for all the exciting activities and trainings offered throughout the year for girls and adults in Cheshire Forest.

Another evening was spent putting together a mailing of the new County Directory, plus information about forthcoming events, for all units. Thanks to the ladies of Mid Trefoil Guild for their help, we hope you all find the information useful! Mike and I leave for two weeks in the USA this weekend, just in time for the Inauguration of their new President. Now there's someone with lots of meetings to look forward to!

New Year, New Challenge

Happy New Year to everyone in Cheshire Forest!

The first challenge for 2009, in my new role as County Commissioner, is learning how to write a blog. I have been assured it is very simple (a bit like the assurances I have been given when being asked to take on a new role in Guiding).

Today Mike and I went to Pettypool to help with the tree planting, which is happening every Saturday and Sunday morning during January (and during February, supply of trees permitting) It was good fun planting holly bushes to create a hedge along Cockpit Lane and then some varieties destined to be much bigger trees in Olave field. We have marked which ones we planted so we can go visit them during the year to encourage growth. (I have it on the highest authority that a few kind words work wonders!)

Many thanks to Sheila Evans for organising these sessions and for the short course in tree planting. Having treated ourselves to Sunday lunch on the way home I now plan to put my feet up and wonder what the next challenge will be. Jean