Up Now! One More Girl Challenge! Click here for PDF.
http://www.guidesontario.org/forms/one%20more%20girl%20challenge.pdf

December 1, 2008 is World AIDS Day – WAGGGS is encouraging all members of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting to start their World Thinking Day plans on World AIDS Day.

December 1 – All outstanding girl registration forms due to Unit Administrators from Unit Guiders

December 5- Communities 6, 31, 32, 37, 38 to send Dominica Twinning Project items to their Community Offices for shipment to Dominica. For more information click here http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/twinning.htm.

December 8 – Cookie All Star Incentive Program Orders Begin. For more information on the Cookie All Stars Incentive program please visit the website at:
https://memberzone.girlguides.ca/C11/Cookie%20All%20Stars/default.aspx

Girls can begin taking orders for the Spring 2009 Classic Cookies. Order forms have been sent to each girl Member registered in iMIS as of October 31, 2008. Additional forms may be printed from http://www.girlguides.ca/ available on both the MemberZone and GirlZone. It is important that all girls remember that they are representing Girl Guides of Canada as they begin taking their orders. Girls should be using safe-selling practices and wear their uniform. Please remind your girls that they are not to collect any money for the cookies at this time. They should be collecting customer names, addresses and phone numbers as well as the number of boxes requested. These order sheets will be used to place their order for the spring cookies, and should be returned to the girls when their cookies arrive, so they know who they are delivering their cookies to.

December 10 – Units needed to test activities for new cookie program. Please contact program@girlguides.ca if your unit is interested.

December 15– last chance to order Flat Suki crest. For information on the Flat Suki program activity click here; http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/flatsuki.htm

December 31 – Deadline for units and Guilds to be on Centralized Banking. To register for centralized banking, please complete the Initial Unit Banking Set Up Application in the Keeping the Books training Manual that was sent to your treasurer or at http://www.guidesontario.org/forms/FIN%20CB%20001%20-%20INITIAL%20UNIT%20BANKING%20SET%20UP.pdf

January 1, 2009 – Launch of the fourth region of the 5 Region Challenge. The Arab Region, will be available to download from our website: http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/5region.htm. Crest available through the Mississauga or Ottawa store locations or the E-store. It is not too late to complete the other regions.

January 1 – Launch of Ontario/Nunavut Challenge. This challenge was designed to help Ontario Members experience Nunavut culture and lifestyle and Nunavut Members experience Ontario culture and lifestyle. Find the challenge here; http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/challenges.htm

January 5 – Communities 21, 22, 23, 30 to send Dominica Twinning Project items to their Community Offices for shipment to Dominica. For more information click here http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/twinning.htm.

January 9– To accommodate the holiday season, the January issue of ONLine will be released on this date.

January 2009 - Beginning in January, units will be able to borrow heritage uniforms for use at regular meetings and/or special events. A wide variety of Canadian Guiding uniforms will be available. Heritage meetings-in-a box will be available for Brownie or Guide units to borrow.

SAFE GUIDE 2008 – Be Prepared!
The Guiding Motto is to Be Prepared! As a result, if you’ve not reviewed the new Safe Guide either online or on the CD-Rom that was sent out with the Fall 2008 issue of Canadian Guider, please take some time over the holidays to do so.

Did you know that unit activities in the community, cookie sales, horseback riding, ice skating, sledding, sleepovers and tent camping each have an Activity Guide in section 4 starting on page 39? These two to three page Activity Guides provide an excellent overview of the planning process for these favourite events and include a planning checklist as a quick reference. If your activity involves water activities, international travel or home stays you can then refer to the various Planners in section 5 starting on page 55.

Bookmark this site for quick access to Safe Guide 2008 documents and forms: https://memberzone.girlguides.ca/C8/Safe%20Guide/default.aspx

Home Contact Person (HCP):
A HCP is required for all camps, day trips away from the community, canoe/kayak tripping, adventure activities, travel touring and international travel.

Please note that a HCP is not required for a sleepover unless it is outside of your local community. The definition of community is very broad. This could be your city/municipality or even your Region. Guiders should use their judgment to determine if this applies to them.

To review Safe Guide amendments, click here.
(https://memberzone.girlguides.ca/C12/Ontario/Safe%20Guide%20Updates/Safe%20Guide%20
Update%20page%20as%20National%20Update%20-%20September%205,%202008.pdf)

P-365, WA 118? What do these numbers mean?
Each time you submit an activity to the provincial office for review by an Assessor, a tracking number is assigned to your activity forms. When Assessors communicate with each other, the office or Guiders they will reference this tracking number in the subject line of their e-mail message.

Guiders should refer to this tracking number when communicating the following:
• Submitting additional information about their activity to the Assessor
• Submitting Non Member Registration forms (A.7), Police Records Check (PRCs), first aid qualifications, etc.
• Sending information to other units so that they can attend your activity/event.

Green level activities:
For green level activities, you are not required to seek permission or to notify GGC of your plans. Just Plan and Go! While additional parent permission is not required, don’t forget to provide parents with pertinent details of the activity, particularly if it is off-site from your regular meeting place.

Remember all non-Member volunteers must complete a Non-Member Form (A.7) (http://forms.girlguides.ca/appregrec/A7.doc) and submit it to: safeguide@guidesontario.org or fax it to 416-920-1440 attention: Safe Guide. All non-Member volunteers, except for the Home Contact Person, are required to submit a clear PRC that is current within the last six months. Please review the information in the Safe Guide Appendix C (https://memberzone.girlguides.ca/C8/Safe%20Guide/Document%20Library/
8-SG08-Appendices.pdf on pages 98 -100

Guiders are required to use the new Safe Guide forms when submitting Yellow, Red and International activities. The new forms are easy to use and can be downloaded in MS Word format in MemberZone.
(https://memberzone.girlguides.ca/C8/Safe%20Guide/default.aspx

One central process for ALL Safe Guide forms:
All forms for Yellow, Red and International activities should come to an Assessor through the provincial office by emailing safeguide@guidesontario.org or faxing your forms to 416-920-1440 ATTN: Safe Guide.

If you do not have access to email or a fax machine, you may mail your forms to:
Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council
Attention: Safe Guide
14 Birch Ave.
Toronto, ON M4V 1C8

Please allow an additional one week to accommodate for mail delivery.

I haven’t heard anything yet – is it okay to go ahead with my activity?
Please contact safeguide@guidesontario.org or call 1-877-323-4545, ext. 2487 if you do not hear from an Assessor within one week of submitting your forms.

Unit Portion of Girl Membership Fees
Units receive $15 from the annual membership fees for each girl registered with their unit in iMIS. The initial transfers have been completed to the unit’s centralized bank account. Additional transfers will be done every 2 weeks for new girls registered in your unit. If you have any outstanding paperwork for girl registrations, please forward the forms and payment to your Unit Administrator as soon as possible. Only units on centralized banking will have these transfers made to their units.

Complete the Volunteer Application Form:
http://www.guidesontario.org/forms/volunteer_application.pdf

Volunteer Positions:
http://www.guidesontario.org/about/provincialopportunities.htm

FINANCE SPECIALTY COMMUNITIES
Are you a ‘numbers’ person? Do you have good communication skills? Do you enjoy working with adults? We need your expertise for four new specialty communities.
* Finance Support Community – to provide support for Unit Guiders in the use of the centralized banking system and to assist in resolving financial questions and issues that may arise at the Unit level.
* Unit Financial Review Community – if you have accounting/bookkeeping training your assistance is needed to conduct year end Unit reviews
* Finance Extreme Specialty Community – when major problems arise, we need assistance to investigate and resolve the issues.
*Finance Support Independent International Trips – if you have bookkeeping skills and are familiar with travel in Guiding we are looking for individuals to conduct reviews after the trips are complete.

If interested in any or all of these opportunities, contact Rayanne Webster, Provincial Treasurer through executive.coord@guidesontario.org

Why not consider nominating an extra special Guider that you know!
Any Member may nominate a Guider for an award. A new version of the Ontario Awards Booklet is now available on the Ontario portion of MemberZone at: https://memberzone.girlguides.ca/C12/Ontario/default.aspx?Mode=View
Send nominations to:
Membership Support Coordinator, membersupport.coord@guidesontario.org, fax 416-920-1440.
Let’s make sure Guiders know they are appreciated!!

National News Release – Reduced Trans Fat in Classic 2009 Cookies.
National has announced that our Spring Classic 2009 campaign will be the first campaign with our new Reduced Trans Fat cookies. 90% of the trans fats has been removed, while still maintaining the same great taste Canadians love.

Need Extra Cookies?
Mint cookies are still available at the following office locations: Ontario Guide House, Mississauga, Oshawa, Ottawa and Newmarket. Contact Georgina, our Cookie Coordinator, at cookie.coord@guidesontario.org or call 1-877-323-4545 x 2440 and she arrange for you to pick up your cookies from one of these locations.

….it was the most moving event I’ve ever been to…I truly believe one CAN make a difference.
… .I really feel motivated to make a change in my community and involve my girls.

Recently the Provincial Annual weekend involved, informed and inspired over 350 Guiders from across Ontario and Nunavut. The involvement went beyond the delegates to Guiding Members across Ontario as items of donated hats, mitts, socks, scarves, undergarments and other items for shelters formed a small mountain! Thank you to all that donated to the Provincial Annual service project. Over 70 boxes of items are being delivered by your Guiding sisters to 45 emergency shelters for abused women in each and every community of Guiding in Ontario (even 1 in Nunavut!). Generous delegates raised nearly $1400 in donations for items at the Garage Sales that will support Camperships for girls in Ontario.

Here is a sample of an upcoming Adult event!
Crop away your winter blues at “Scrap-a-Palooza”, January 23-25, 2009 at TRHAC Girl Guide camp, New Lowell. Whether you are an avid scrapbooker or a newbie join us for the weekend!

For more details and to look for other events click here: http://www.guidesontario.org/events/ontarioevents_table.htm

CREATE YOUR OWN EXCITING OUTDOOR ADVENTURE…AT YOUR OWN GUIDING CAMPS ACROSS THE PROVINCE!

We are VERY excited to report that many units and groups have been camping at GGC properties they never knew existed before. We challenge each unit to go camping this fall and winter at a GGC property that you have never been to! Looking for a service project? Look for work weekends being scheduled at: http://www.guidesontario.org/camping/camping.htm

Girl Guides of Canada and General Motors of Canada are offering tree planting grants again. Don’t miss your opportunity to receive up to $500 toward a tree-planting project for your unit. Click http://www.girlguides.ca/default1.asp?id=1427 for more information about this project, the toolkit and application forms.

Apply for Financial Assistance for Environmental Service Projects for Units
– up to $250 available!
Your unit could be eligible for up to $250 to fund your great green project. Click on the following link for more information:
http://www.girlguides.ca/default1.asp?id=1427

Use Your Resources Wisely! Use Resource Guiders
Wondering what to do with your girls? Have a Resource Guider come in and teach your unit something new! Here is a sample of program activities available at this time:

Become a Resource Guider and share your skills with others click here: http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/resource_guiders.htm

Get a Free Crest!
There’s just one catch, you need to share one of your program ideas to get it. We’re looking for active living ideas, craft ideas, game ideas and ceremony ideas for ALL branches. Send your idea to program.coord@guidesontario.org to receive a complimentary Bright Ideas patch. Click here to view Bright Ideas already submitted. http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/brightideas.htm

STEM Support
Thinking of doing Science Technology Engineering or Math activities with your girls but nervous about how to approach these topics? Good news, we are starting up some STEM support for you. If you’ve got questions about how to run STEM activities, if you are looking for good resources, or if you are wondering how to explain the science behind the activities in the program book, our STEM experts would be happy to help you! Contact them directly at: STEM@guidesontario.org

Web Resources
www.dosomething.org is an interesting website to check out with your Pathfinders or Rangers. It offers thousands of ideas for ways you can help make the world a better place. Check out hot topics like poverty, animal welfare, the environment and many others. There is a lot of information on the website about the issues and ways you can get yourselves involved.

Looking for craft ideas for older girls? Oh So Crafty is a great blog featuring cool crafts suitable for Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers. Many of the crafts use recycled materials you can find around your home too! Check out http://ohsocrafty.blogspot.com/

The Cybercitizen/Cybercitoyenne Challenge
In the information age, our girls are able to go online and access resources from around the globe but while there are many benefits from technology, there are also risks. The Cybercitizen/Cybercitoyenne Challenge can help girls learn skills and gain awareness they need to navigate technology in a safe way while they explore this resource. This challenge covers topics like safety, marketing, online privacy, and other important topics. Check out http://www.girlguides.ca/default1.asp?id=1459 for the challenge. This link didn’t work.

Rangers: You Lead the Way
There are lots of great resources available online to help Rangers with their new program. There is a transition guide for those Rangers who started in the Senior Branch program and want to finish in the Ranger program. There are tip sheets about soft skills like communications and facilitating a meeting. There are form letters that Rangers can fill in to give to the Guider they are working with in a practice unit. There is even an email link if what you are looking for isn’t there and you want to request a specific resource – or if you have a resource you think other Rangers might want. Check it all out at:
http://www.girlguides.ca/default1.asp?id+1433

PATHFINDERS, RANGERS, LINK, TREX MEMBERS!
Have you thought about participating in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award as part of your Guiding commitment? Most of the Award activities are the same as those undertaken in Guiding with the added bonus of increased recognition upon achievement.
• Duke of Ed enrolment is open to any young person, regardless of background or ability, between the ages of 14 and 25.
• Three levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver and Gold
• Four areas of commitment: community service, adventurous journey, skill development and physical recreation. Added requirement of Residential Project for the Gold level
For further information, please visit www.dukeofed.org or call (416)203-2282 or toll-free 1- 800-929-2853.

Participation in the Award indicates a young person who has the initiative to embark upon a voluntary and rigorous program of activities. Achievement at any level is an indication of a young person who is able to sustain a commitment, overcome personal challenge, has developed time management skills, a well rounded area of interests and a commitment to their community. The Award enhances any application to post secondary education and a significant addition to any resume.

Community Resources
Have you had a chance to look at the updated listing of program activities, events, service projects, and all sorts of great information on the Ontario website? Click here to view: http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/communityresources.htm

Have Fun with Guide History!
Heritage meetings-in-a-box available for Brownie and Guide units to borrow starting January 2009. These boxes include an assortment of games and crafts which relate to the Guide history sections of the program, and were used in Guiding around the time when the grandmothers of today’s girls were Guides and Brownies. There are complete instructions for the Guiders on how to present the activities, and almost all of the materials needed [Units may need to supply basics such as tape, crayons and pencils].

The heritage uniforms and boxes will be available on a cost-recovery basis. To help you decide which ones the girls in your unit would like to model, a list of what we have in stock will be published in the January ONLine. You will be charged a flat rate, intended to cover return shipping costs. It is estimated that the heritage boxes will cost $20 (shipping and replacement of some items that the girls use and keep), and the uniforms will be charged at $10 each or 10 for $70.

Watch the January ONLine for details on how to order these archival materials. Plan a Guide heritage-themed meeting and have some “old-fashioned” fun!

Craft for the Month - Trivia Pursuit - click here to for details.

Flat Suki
The Flat Suki Project is an exchange of "flat" friends (paper dolls) between units from Sparks to Trefoil Guild. Match up of units has begun this year with many excited girls getting ready to meet their new Guiding friends. There is still time to join in the fun and, in fact, there are units waiting for a match.

This is an easy and creative way to bridge with another unit. Together the twinned units decide when they will exchange their Flat Suki's, such as for Thinking Day. The registration form is available from flat.suki@guidesontario.org or on the Ontario website.

Orders are now being taken for the Flat Suki crest until December 15. http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/flatsuki.htm

2009 Thinking Day Postcard Exchange
To learn more about the program or to sign up, please visit www.mythinkingday.com.

World Thinking Day 2009 - The World Thinking Day 2009 website: http://www.worldthinkingday.com/en/home has now been launched. For 2009, the World Thinking Day theme is girls worldwide say “stop the spread of AIDS, malaria and other diseases”. The downloadable activities on the website are divided into three sections:

• HIV and AIDS
• Malaria
• Other diseases (pneumonia, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and measles)

The website also contains fact sheets with information on these diseases and new fundraising ideas to help you raise money on World Thinking Day.
The 2009 theme is linked to the new Global Action Theme of girls worldwide say “together we can change our world.” The theme encourages girls and young women to make a personal commitment to change the world around them and affirms WAGGGS’ commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals. For more information about the new Global Action Theme, go to www.wagggsworld.org.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Bolton of the 1st Aurora Brownies and the winner of the November ONLine "Found It!" contest.
For the December contest, find the mystery link word “award” somewhere within this ONLine document. When you find this hyperlink, click on it and send us an e-mail in the window that opens with the subject: Found It! We will choose one winner randomly for a $25 credit for our Online Guide Store or one of our two Ontario Guide Store locations. Good luck! The December winner will be announced in the January ONLine.

Community Chatter and Trefoil Tidbits will now be featured on the Provincial website rather than ONLine. Each month this will be updated to showcase that month’s “community news.” You can find this on the “News and Publications” section of the Provincial website - http://www.guidesontario.org/formembers/newspublications.htm

Perhaps she has her filter set too high on her computer and the ONLine delivery is blocked. The ONLine is a bulk e-mail and therefore may be landing in the “Junk E-mail” box, so please suggest she check there!

Perhaps we have an 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 Trefoil or Link Members – contact adult.admin@guidesontario.org (416-920-6666 Ext. 2488)
Member at Large – contact imis.coord@guidesontario.org (416-920-6666 Ext. 2431)

You may access the PDF form at http://www.guidesontario.org/forMembers/newspublications.htm

Having trouble opening PDF links?
Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF) is a universally accepted format that allows us to capture and view robust information—from any application, on any computer system—and share it with anyone around the world. If you are having trouble opening the PDF files included with ONLine, please consider upgrading your version of Adobe Reader for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

ONLine Feedback
We hope you enjoyed this edition of ONLine! 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 ONLine? If yes, please send your article to the Communications Coordinator no later than Monday, December 15 for consideration.
Articles received after the deadline date will be saved for publication in the following month’s issue. Thank you for understanding.

 

ONLine December issue 2008             www.guidesontario.org            Toll free: 1-877-323-4545