Welcome Discussion
Revised July 2014
1. Introduction
W elcome! I am
and my position in Guiding is
.
Congratulations, you have completed the Screening process and you are now a
member of Girl Guides of Canada (GGC). The next step is to discuss the various
placement opportunities there are for you to volunteer within our organization.
As a member of Girl Guides of Canada (GGC) you can look forward to making new
friends, sharing in the Sisterhood of Guiding, and developing new skills.
I will make reference to a number of resources, all of which are available online, and
you will be sent the links for these.
, you have read the document ‘Orientation to Guiding’ and reviewed it as
part of your screening interview. Let’s take a moment to go over some information
specific to how Guiding works in Ontario.
2. The Guiding Structure in Ontario
Note: go over structure of Guiding in Ontario and add contact information to the handout
you provide the member.
In Ontario, our units and Unit Guiders are supported by a Community Guider. Your
Community Guider
can be a good resource person for you as you
begin your Guiding adventure. Think of her as your mentor as you learn and experience
your new role within GGC.
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The Community Guider is appointed by and works with the Administrative Community
Leader (ACL)
. The ACL is supported by her ACL Adviser,
and the Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Administration, Kris
McGee. There are two other Deputy Provincial Commissioners in Ontario, one whose
mandate is Girl Forum (a group of up to 11 youth members, between the ages of 14-17,
who provide input to Ontario Council decisions): Ashley Hughes, and the other looks
after Operations (a group of 10 provincial level volunteers for areas such as Program
Resources, Learning and Development and Cookies): Louise Goegan.
The Provincial Commissioner, Marcia Powers-Dunlop, is the person who holds the most
senior position in Guiding in the Province. The Provincial Commissioner is the leader of
her province and chair of the provincial council. She provides leadership in the design
and implementation of the provincial operational plans that support the strategic plan of
Girl Guides of Canada. In her role on the provincial committee, she has input into
decisions that support the implementation of policies and programs at the national level
of the organization.
Decisions surrounding Guiding in Ontario and Nunavut are made by the elected
members of Ontario Council. Volunteers work with their staff partners to ensure the
smooth functioning of Guiding in Ontario.
The staff member Unit Guiders have most contact with is their Unit Administrator. In
Community
the Unit Administrator is
. Her contact information is
listed on the handout.
Remember there are numerous people who will be happy to help you in any way they
can. Ask as many questions as you need to while learning all about your new role. And
don’t be shy about asking for help.
3. Code of Conduct
All members of Girl Guides of Canada have signed the Code of Conduct. The Code of
Conduct is a clear standard of behavior all members of Girl Guides of Canada are
obligated to follow. All members, non members, parent helpers and staff are held
accountable to the values outlined in this document. W hen you signed your application
form you agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct. Do you have any questions or
comments on the Code of Conduct?
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4. PRC
All Guiders are required to have a Police Records Check (PRC) before being placed in a
unit. Your PRC remains on file for 3 years, at which time you are sent renewal reminders.
It is your responsibility to get your PRC renewed in a timely manner so you can remain
in the unit. Ontario Council pays for Member PRC and PRC renewals.
You are also responsible for ensuring GGC is notified immediately if there are changes
to your Police Record.
Non-Member Volunteers who help in units twice or more in a Guiding year or
attend overnight events or camps must have a signed Non-Member agreement
(A.7) and a valid PRC on file. More information is available in Safe Guide found on
the National web site.
5. Safe Guide
Safe Guide is risk management training that GGC provides to Members in preparation
for planning exciting activities and opportunities for girls. New Members are required to
take Safe Guide training within their first 6 months of joining the organization. Training
is provided locally in face-to-face sessions, conference calls and through e-learning, an
online training method. Look for details on face-to-face and conference call sessions on
the Events Calendar. The e-learning version is available through the Learning Library.
Members can speak to their Community Guider or ACL for help in finding training in their
community.
6. Possible Roles and Responsibilities within the Community
Unit Guider
The Unit Guider has the responsibility for the leadership and management of the unit
and is accountable to the Administrative Community Leader (ACL) for her personal
performance and for meeting the requirements of her appointment. She is supported by
both the ACL and her Community Guider.
The Guider works with the other Guiders in the unit. Guiders form a Leadership Team
where skills are utilized and no one person carries the full workload. A fair distribution of
the work ensures everyone has time to work and play. W orking within the Leadership
Team structure allows Guiders to showcase the positive aspects of sharing, goal
achievement, cooperation, and goodwill.
Unit Guiders work together and with the girls to plan activities and deliver programming
to the unit.
See Appendix I for more detailed information on Unit Guiders if the member is suited for
volunteering in that role.
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Treasurer
The Unit Treasurer looks after the unit books and makes sure money is deposited to
the centralized GGC banking system in a timely fashion, keeps the other Guiders
informed of the unit finances, and ensures the money to cover unit expenses is in the
bank. The Treasurer uses online banking to look after the unit finances.
Finance training is available as conference call or webinar. See the Events Calendar for
details. A Finance Specialty Community is available to assist the Treasurer; contact the
ACL for more information.
Resource Guider
A Resource Guider is an adult of GGC with specialized skills who enjoys working with
girls, but prefers a flexible Guiding commitment. Some examples of these skills are
dance lessons, yoga, scrapbooking, camping and many more. Resource Guiders usually
travel to the unit location to provide their activity or may travel to a camp or event setting.
Trainer
A trainer is an adult member of GGC who has an interest in training other adult
Members. W ith the training skills developed both through Guiding and personal
experiences, trainers aim to equip members with the skills and resources they need to
provide a positive experience for both girls and fellow adult members.
Community Guider
A Community Guider is an adult member of GGC who provides support to Unit Guiders
in implementing the program and in the general management of the unit. As well, they
encourage Guiders to participate in training, and in local and Ontario Guiding events.
7. Developing Leadership in girl/youth Members
Two of the factors that make Guiding unique are our focus on girl engagement and
shared leadership.
W e know girls of all ages can contribute to their unit.
Many girls define a leader not only by the qualities and skills she has, but also by how
she uses those skills to make a difference in the world. Each experience a girl has
allows her to develop or gain skills that can help her to be a leader. Guiders can
support girls’ efforts to lead by mentoring them in the process.
There are many ways that you can encourage leadership development at any age:
W ith the help of their Guiders, Sparks demonstrate leadership when they suggest
activities; list the items they will need for an activity; help their peers; work well with
other Sparks; or when they ask lots of questions and make observations about the
world around them.
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W ith the help of their Guiders, Brownies demonstrate leadership when they suggest
activities; lead simple activities and unit functions; assist with Brownie circle and unit
activities as Circle Leaders; listen to each others’ opinions when making decisions; or
describe ways to make group projects more fun.
Guides demonstrate leadership when they suggest, initiate planning and lead activities;
lead unit functions; assist with patrol and unit activities as Patrol Leaders; apply
strategies for promoting cooperation within the unit; or identify concrete steps needed to
effect desired changes.
Pathfinders and Extra Ops demonstrate leadership when they suggest, plan and lead
activities; lead unit functions; act as role models for younger girls; use positive
communication and relationship-building skills; or begin to address deeper causes of
issues in their communities.
Rangers and Extra Ops demonstrate leadership when they are better able to
independently suggest, plan and lead activities and unit functions; act as role models
for younger girls; act consistently with a considered and self-determined set of values;
set challenging goals for the future; or are able to promote cooperation and effective
team building.
8. Uniform
Girl Guides of Canada is a uniformed organization. Uniforms identify girls, young
women, and adults as Members of our organization and all that it stands for. There are
a variety of uniform options. Each individual woman or girl decides which options best
suit her needs. Uniform components are detailed in the program books and are
available for purchase through the National e-store.
Adult Members are to lead by example and wear their uniform to all Guiding meetings
and events.
9. Training
Training opportunities are available to all members to support them in their roles with
GGC. Training and Enrichment for Adult Members (TEAM) is our nationally developed
training program and these modules are offered through various delivery methods such
as face-to-face sessions, conference calls and online e-learning. To find out what
training opportunities there are within your community, please visit the Ontario website,
Events Calendar. To find out more information on training please go to the FAQs Adult
Training on the Ontario Guiding webpage. Your ACL and Community Guider can
provide information on training available locally.
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10. Cookie sales and Fundraising
Each year members of Girl Guides of Canada participate in two cookie campaigns:
•
•
Chocolatey Mint (September through December)
Classic Chocolate and Vanilla sandwich (March through June)
Every unit has a leader assigned to be Cookie Orderer and she will receive all
cookie related information including how to order cookies for your unit. Cookies
sell for $5 per box or $60 per cases and the unit profit is $12.25 per case.
The proceeds from each campaign are used to create a fun and rewarding experience
for all girls in Guiding. It helps each unit and girl in the following ways:
•
•
•
Allows units and girls to attend various camps and events
Provides funding to support unit activities
Provides the resources to develop unit specific programming
Cookie All Stars is Girl Guides of Canada’s exciting cookie selling rewards initiative,
where girls earn amazing rewards for achieving exceptional cookie sales. Cookie All
Stars encourages girls to reach for the stars! Girls earn fabulous rewards and get
recognized for their efforts while achieving their own individual selling goals, and
collectively raising funds for their unit. More information is available on the National
web site. Encourage your girls to participate and be a ‘Cookie All Star’.
Discussion of Placement:
Take the opportunity to discuss with the individual what type of volunteer position they
would like.
Consider the needs and background of the individual (location, transportation, desired
age group) as well as the needs of your Community when offering placement.
If you are unsure about your final placement decision, tell the individual that you will get
back to her. Consult your ACL Adviser if you have concerns or contact Moira French,
Membership Support Manager for next steps if you don’t have a suitable placement
opportunity.
If you are able to offer the individual a placement, write down the details on the handout
As soon as you have finished meeting, contact your UA by email with the information for
iMIS entry.
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Appendix I: Unit Guider – more details
The Guider’s role
Your role in helping girls develop their leadership skills includes:
•
Taking the time to discover each girl's strengths and skills and providing
opportunities for these to develop will help the girl to increase her self-esteem
and prepare her to take a leadership role.
•
Recognizing girls for their contributions (whether it is recognition during a
meeting or activity or at the end of a longer session) can really help to boost selfesteem.
•
Demonstrating leadership and providing a role model to girls as they develop
their own skills.
•
Using appropriate communication (verbal and non-verbal) during meetings to
reinforce positive role modeling for our girls.
• Team building activities in the unit can really help in developing strong teams
and identifying leadership styles among the girls. Use team building activities
throughout the year.
•
Girl members 15 to 17 are found working in a Leadership capacity in units at all
levels. Junior Leaders are valuable members of the Leadership Team and have
much to contribute. The younger girls are happy to have Junior Leaders as role
models.
•
Your Community Guider can assist you or connect you with experienced Guiders
to assist you with ideas on helping girls develop their leadership skills.
•
Unit Finances: Each unit must maintain a bank account on the Centralized Unit
Banking system in Ontario. All funds collected for any event or activity or any
other payment MUST be deposited into the unit bank account. All members of
the unit leadership team should be aware of the unit financial status and are
equally responsible for controlling spending.
Unit Banking information can be found on the Ontario webpage under FAQs
Centralized Banking for Units
•
P-card (purchase card): The unit P-card is a method of payment that the unit
can use to make purchases. The card is a VISA card connected directly to the
unit funds in the Centralized Banking system. It can only be used where VISA is
accepted (it is not a debit card). All members of the unit are accountable for all
transactions made on the unit P-card. Units are to use the card in a responsible
manner and only for unit expenses.
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Introduction to Program
If the member is being considered to work in a unit, a check list for Girl Programming is
available on the New Guider resource page. Branch specific training about program
content is available for members through e-learning and the Events Calendar.
Typical Girl Guide programming
All great Guiding programs include activities related to:
•
Community service – girls learn how to make a difference in their world
•
Environmental awareness – increases girls’ understanding of environmental
issues and opportunities to make changes
•
Camping and the outdoors – girls learn outdoors skills and about nature
•
W orldwide Guiding – girls have an understanding of their connection to Guiding
around the world
•
Bridging – girls from other branches and units meeting together to share the
sisterhood of Guiding
There are numerous online resources available and the Community Guider can
help connect the Guider with ‘people resources’ in your Community.
Community Service
Community service is one of the keys of the Girl Guide Mission – to make a difference
in the world. Some ideas for service are:
•
•
•
•
Have the girls come up with ideas on how they can become better global citizens
through service. It may be as simple as donating food to a local food bank,
singing for seniors, or donating used books.
Girls can do a litter chase, plant a garden at your meeting place, or create a bird
feeder. Girls can get involved by providing service (not financial support) to a
local charity; for example, by providing snacks, run a coat check or onsite
babysitting.
Community service is an excellent way to build skills and abilities in girls and give
them the opportunity to speak out, take action and provide service.
Engage the girls in determining what community service project the unit will
participate in.
Environmental awareness
Environmental stewardship is a big part of the Guiding tradition. Using or developing
environmental activities can offer the opportunity to learn something new, to provide
environmental service or, for older girls, to teach others. Engage the girls in determining
what environmental awareness activity you will participate in.
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Camping and the outdoors
Camping (residential or in tents) is a great way to get together with your unit. Camping
provides girls with the opportunity to work together in a new environment, take on
leadership roles, learn new skills and gather an appreciation for the outdoors. It’s also
part of what makes Guiding unique as an extra-curricular activity.
If you are not confident in your ability to take your unit camping, your Community
Guider or ACL can help you connect with Guiders who would be happy to have your
unit do a bridging camp with theirs or will come to your unit camp. Guiders who enjoy
camping have valuable skills they would enjoy sharing with you. Girl Guides offers the
Outdoor Activity Leadership training to train Guiders on camp planning and leadership.
Worldwide Guiding
Girl Guides of Canada is part of the W orld Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (W
AGGGS). Canadian Members have 10 million Guiding friends and sisters in 145
countries around the world. This provides opportunities for our Members to build an
understanding and respect for people living in other countries and cultures around the
world. A great way to explore this theme is by focusing on W AGGGS Member countries.
By learning about girls and women around the world, girls can take action in their own
communities and grow into engaged global citizens.
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world celebrate the shared birthdays of our
founders Lord and Lady Baden-Powell on February 22 each year. This special day is
called W orld Thinking Day and is a time for W AGGGS members to reflect upon their
Guiding sisters in other countries and a common theme designated each year by
W AGGGS. Units are encouraged to participate in W orld Thinking Day and Guide-Scout
W eek celebrations by holding special activities and focusing meeting time on other
countries. At the same time, members are encouraged to raise and donate money to the
Canadian W orld Friendship Fund to support Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting around the
world.
Bridging: getting together with other branches
Bridging is the term to describe different branches and units getting together for
meetings, camps or special events. Bridging benefits girls by:
• giving younger girls the joy of being with and learning from older girls
•
giving older girls the opportunity to practice their leadership skills with younger
girls
•
giving girls the opportunity to learn about and look forward to the next branch of
Guiding
Guiders and girls should work together to create different opportunities during the
Guiding year to share in the sisterhood of Guiding.
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The Unit
Girl Guides provides the unique opportunity for girls to be together in a safe space
where they feel:
• respected
• cherished
• included
• free to be themselves, without judgment
Girl development: Understanding the developmental abilities of the girls in your branch
will give you an understanding of what to expect from them. It will help you:
• select appropriate activities
• avoid tasks or situations that frustrate them
• coach them and facilitate their participation in the unit.
Descriptions of developmental levels by age range are available on the National
website.
Programming weekly meetings
Girl Guides is about active learning where girls are involved in the ‘doing’ of learning
with a mix of:
•
Discussion
•
Games
• Physical activity
• Arts and crafts
Discussion and games
The program is brought to life and enriched through active participation. Discussion can
set the background and provide knowledge. Games enhance and illustrate the
discussion. They can involve the arts and physical activity. An easy way to facilitate
discussion is by asking leading questions. These are questions that require more than a
yes or no answer. Starting a question with one of the 5W s (who, what, when, where,
why) as well as “how” is an easy technique for leading a discussion.
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Physical activity
Promoting health and fitness is core to the Girl Guide program. Eating right and
exercising should be core components to each meeting, activity and event with outdoor
activity encouraged when possible.
•
•
As part of your weekly planning, have some sort of physical game or activity.
Try to set aside at least 10 minutes per week to concentrate on health and well
being.
•
This can be in the form of an active game, going for a walk in the neighbourhood,
or having someone come into the unit and talk about nutrition.
The Arts
The arts are both an integral part of the girls’ program and a way to enrich it. Through
the arts, girls explore and express their own creativity, enjoy all their senses, cooperate
with others, practice new skills, teach and help each other.
Music – singing in circles or around the campfire is universal in Guiding. Many songs
can be enhanced with movement. Music is a great way to learn about different cultures.
Dance – improves girls’ fitness, listening skills, coordination and cooperation.
Drama – is a creative and fun way to cover parts of the program. It can often be used to
demonstrate girls’ understanding of abstract concepts (for example, show feelings in
different situations such as reaction when a best friend won’t play with them) or illustrate
technical skills (for example, how to safely light a candle with a match). There are a
number of different ways that drama can be done:
• Role playing – involves either acting out a scene as someone else or acting as
yourself in an unfamiliar situation.
• Puppets – are a fun way to tell stories, focus participants and teach without
participants knowing that they are learning!
• Mime – is a form of acting or storytelling done without speaking.
• Improvisation – is any unscripted work in drama.
Crafts –are an excellent way to reinforce the program components. Find crafts that are
within the girls’ capabilities to do with as little adult help as possible.
The Community Guider can help find Guiders to assist with Arts programming, In
addition, there are online resources and Arts training available for members through the
Events Calendar.
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Appendix of Additional Resources (for the Interviewer)
In preparation for the placement discussion you may wish to review these resources to
learn more detailed information about the subjects covered during the W elcome
Discussion:
Unit Administrator contact list … Click here
ACL contact list … Click here
Staff contact list … Click here
Code of Conduct … Click here
PRC for Members and Potential Members … Click here
Safe Guide … Click here
FAQs Safe Guide … Click here
Events Calendar … Click here
FAQs Adult Training … Click here
TEAM training modules … Click here
Best Practices for Girl Programming … Click here
Cookies … Click here
FAQs Cookies … Click here
Keeping the Books, Guide for Unit Treasurers … Click here
FAQs Centralized Banking for Units … Click here
Junior Leader … Click here
E-Store … Click here
The GGC e-store is the only method available to purchase uniform pieces and GGC
merchandise.
You can use your p-card as payment for online purchases, for your unit. Please
remember to use 100-180 Duncan Mill Rd, Toronto, ON M3B 1Z6 as the billing
address when using your p-card.
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Guiding Essentials … Click here
This is a National document outlining the standards for Guiding in Canada and can be
found in Member Zone on the GGC website
Girl Protection, Module 4 … Click here
Hopefully, you will not ever need to use this resource. This is a 14 page document that
outlines what is to be done if there is a concern a child is in need of protection. The
contents of the document are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Introduction
Child abuse and self-harm
Duty to report child abuse
Recognizing and responding to child abuse
Reporting child abuse
Allegations of misconduct by adults associated with GGC
Corrective action to deal with allegations of adult misconduct
Resources and Links
Appendices
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