The Word from Solange

As we link our thoughts with the millions of members of our movement throughout the world on this special day, why not take some time to think about those who first brought Guiding into our own lives, igniting the flame that still burns so strongly in so many wonderful Leaders and through which every girl and young woman has the opportunity to experience all that Guiding can offer.

 I wish you a very Happy Thinking Day.

Charlotte Anderson took this lovely photograph on the SWE trip to Namibia last year. The tree is painted on a wall at a school where the girls were undertaking voluntary work.

February is a month when the true scale of Guiding throughout the world becomes tangible.  When thinking about the millions of members  in other countries I am amazed at how our movement started from just a few girls turning up at Crystal Palace and saying to Lord Baden Powell – “What about us?”.    Living proof that it only takes a few committed people to make a difference.

For Christmas I was given a book called “How The Girl Guides Won The War”. It tells the story of Guiding in the war years both in Britain, where Guides helped with refugees, clearing up after bombing raids and fundraising towards the war effort, as well as how Guiding survived in unimaginable situations such as in prisoner of war camps in China or underground in countries such as Poland.  The author admits in her introduction that she initially intended to write a satire about Brownies and Guides, but that the more she learnt from reading and meeting members and former members, the more she realised that there was an important story to tell.  If you have a chance to read this book I would recommend it as it really brought home to me the enormous role that Guiding has played, and continues to play, in our local communities. 

January creaked into action fairly early for me on the Guiding front.  Suddenly after two quiet weeks the e-mails began and off I went as Christmas became a distant memory.  It was certainly a chilly weekend when I visited Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard for the first Region Roadshow of 2012, but the warmth of the welcome from 140 members, parents and non Guiding friends more than made up for it.  After a light breakfast and a short presentation about our Region, our members and their non Guiding friends were able to explore the Dockyards and evidently had lots of fun!

The following weekend was quite a treat for me.  Girlguiding South West England came to Jersey and it was an opportunity for me to introduce our Region to an invited audience of politicians and community leaders on the Friday evening which generated much interest in what we do.  The following day we hosted two Roadshows for 200 people at Durrell Wildlife Park which was set up by Gerald Durrell 50 years ago.  There was a lovely atmosphere and the chance to catch up with many people I knew and to meet some that I didn’t.  I will let you into a secret – if ever you are in Jersey, the cakes in the café at Durrell Wildlife Park are delicious - as we found out at the end of the day!   If you are planning to come to a Roadshow this year, there are now only a few places available for our visit to the Isle of Wight Zoo and for the midday session at Cornwall’s Crealey Great Adventure Park.  

My next visit was a day trip to London to join other Country and Region Chief Commissioners to find out what is happening nationally and to share our Region’s views.  In March our County and Island Commissioners will have the opportunity to join County Commissioners from all over Girlguiding UK for a Conference in Birmingham.  There will be many exciting items on the programme, including the rollout of the national Brownie Centenary plans. I am sure that you will hear all about it through your local channels.

On the last Friday in January I joined Hampshire North for their County Review.  It was a lovely evening and I was pleased to be invited to present 50 Year Awards to Angela Armstrong and Robbie Hill.  It never ceases to amaze me how many people give so much time unselfishly to Guiding for so many years.  After the evening ended I travelled to Gloucestershire to be present for their Commissioner Conference on the Saturday.  I thoroughly enjoyed the day, meeting Commissioners and finding out what is happening in Gloucestershire.  I was very impressed by the enthusiasm I encountered in both counties; everyone genuinely loving what they do.

I recently said at a Roadshow that we need to stop hiding our light and make sure that everyone knows who we are and what we do.  Reading about the part Guiding played during the war and seeing what Guiding does now made me realise that our core values have changed very little.  We are still a valuable part of the local community, still give opportunities to girls and young women and are still an organisation that is growing in numbers.  Perhaps this Thinking Day will be a chance to make sure that we are visible and recognised for being the largest organisation for girls and young women in the UK, giving our members numerous opportunities to achieve their full potential.