StarburstKicks off the Brownie

100 Years Celebrations!

Beds BuzzSPRING 2014

Ann’s Bit!What a great start to the year. The Starburst spread on pages 3 & 4 includes a picture showing some of the 440 members of Girlguiding Bedfordshire who went to Brownie Starburst, which took place in the first weekend in January. From all that I have seen we had a great time. Thanks to all the leaders who went and took their Brownies.

The next thing Bedfordshire is doing to celebrate the Big Brownie Birthday is the Big Brownie Boogie. All thecommissioners learnt the Dance at Commissioners Day in January, so I hope it is cascading itself down to theBrownie units. The dance is to ‘Boogie Fever’ by The Sylvers (1975) and was featured in ‘Despicable Me’ soshould be familiar to many of the girls. You can access the instructions for the dance at the mailshot page inthe Login area of the Bedfordshire website. All sections can get involved with the Big Brownie Birthday, bydoing the Big Brownie Birthday Challenge -Go to Members' area » What's happening? » Big Brownie Birthday» Big Brownie Birthday resources for you to copy. I hope you all have a great time celebrating, let us haveyour pictures and comments for Beds Buzz and the website.

Best wishes - Ann Crome - County Commissioner

Browniesgo Gliding

WeRemember

12th Dunstable Brownies visit The London Gliding ClubWe all enjoyed a fabulous visit to The London Gliding Club, located near DunstableDowns. The Brownies were very excited to meet three glider pilots who helped themto earn part of their Communicator badge.

First, the Brownies were taught the phonetic alphabet and learnt how it is used inaeroplanes and gliders. Then they were able to use the 2-way radios to communicatewith each other, using real-life situations.

Outside, the girls were fascinated to look closely at a glider… they were even moreexcited to be allowed to sit in the pilot’s seat, with the canopy closed. They learnt howthe winch works, what thermals are and how to use the rudder to make the glider turn.

All the Brownies had a wonderful time and have been trying to encourage their mumsto go to the Girls Go Gliding event which is held every summer. Many thanks to Adrian, Chula and Roger for a great evening.

Janet Rhodes - Brownie Guider

Remembrance DayWe are 1st Wymington Rainbow andBrownies. We handmade poppiesand a cross at a meeting and thentook it to Wymington remembrancecross where we had a two minutesilence before laying our tribute.

We are sad to report the death ofEileen Griffin 1927 - 2014

Eileen made her Guide promise many yearsago and those words were absolutelyfundamental to her – a commitment bywhich she lived her daily life. Eileen was aVice President of Bedfordshire Girlguidingand had been Division Commissioner forSouth Beds. More locally Eileen was aDistrict Commissioner in Woburn Districthelping or starting Rainbow, Brownie andGuide Units, The Woburn District TrefoilGuild and The Woburn District TG BellRingers. In recognition she was awardedthe Girlguiding Good Service brooch lastyear. It was presented to her in the summerand she was completely taken by surprise,in typical fashion Eileen put the badgeback in its little holder and slipped it intoher handbag, not even pinning it on.

Eileen faced her cancer with quietdetermination and a conviction that shewould do everything she could to beat itbut this was not to be. The church was fullfor Eileen’s funeral with many members ofher family, her Guiding family and friendsfrom near and far. Eileen was a loyal andloving wife, and a wonderful mother andgrandmother who was always there offeringlimitless love, wise counsel and steadfastsupport.

Eileen made a difference in many people’slives by simply being who she was, shemade the world a better place, and nowthat she is gone we realise how lucky weare to have known her.

Fun with HatsRecently formed 1st Shillington Rainbowsspent a delightful evening trying on a varietyof hats and don’t they look the part!

Hair, Hats& Beetles...

Charity Headshave17 year old Jeannette (a Senior Section member in Arlesey,Bedfordshire) has undertaken a charity headshave to raisefunds for Keech hospice, here is her story:

“During the summer holidays as part of my National CitizensService I have been fund raising for Keech Hospice Care.  Partof my plan was a sponsored head shave which I undertook onSunday 10th November.  My hair will not go to waste eventhough it is only shoulder length as I will be sending it to acharity called Little Princess Trust which provides wigs forchildren with hair loss.

I plan to continue fund raising for Keech as part of my QueensGuide Award.  If you would like to sponsor my head shave ordonate for Keech, this is the link for my Just Giving page”.

www.justgiving.com/jeannette-margiocchi

Beetle Drive FundraisingMembers of 12th Luton Brownies and Guides held a beetledrive to raise funds to make gifts for the elderly residentsof Mary Brash Court, a sheltered housing complex in theDistrict. With the money raised they produced food hampersof Christmas goodies for the residents.  Asda, Wigmore Lanehelped by donating some additional items. 

On Monday 9th December the 12th Luton Guides andBrownies were joined by 15th Luton Brownies and the 3rdLuton St Marys Rainbows, when the hampers and other giftsmade by our young members were given to the residentsand the girls then gave a short performance of theChristmas Story, then songs and carols for the residents. 

Starburst -

Lets Celebrate!100 Years!

Everything

is the

BEST!

If I gave Starburstmarks out of 10 I'd giveit 1,000!

Can we

do all the

balloon games

at Brownies?

Starburst was the best Brownie

adventure ever - wish we could

celebrate every birthday!

A HUGE THANK YOUto all the staff, organisers and volunteers who made all this possible!

DID YOU SEE ME! I swam round the rapids without holding on that time."

You are going

to have some proper

dinner after

your pudding

aren't y

ou?

Four Brownies getting ready for the party

"5 minute warning"

"Ooh, shall I go in this or change back into that?"

"Well I said you could wear my onesie , I'll wear hers and

she can wear this top."

"1 minute warning."  

"Eeeh, shall I change?" "Yes change.You know what you're like.

We'll get there and you'll go 'I wish I'd worn the other thing."

"No, I'll stay in this."

Starburst -

Lets Celebrate!100

Do we have to go - can

we come backtomorrow?

Most

awesome

pool ever...

Did you

see

THAT?

Everything

is the

BEST!

My

favourite bit

was the

fun fair

...using the LARGE recycling bin

bag for all the sweet papers because the other

was too small...

POST SCRIPTA few days later... discussingBrownie history at our first meeting back -"Does anyone know who started Brownies?""Angela.""Why?????""Because at Starburst all the signs said Girlguiding Angela"...

Hey!

Little Owl can fit

under the secret door

into the sweet shop

- Thats why

she's got her

name....

website: www.bedsguiding.org.uk email: sue.champkins@bedsguiding.org.uk

Beds Buzz - Editor Diane Butler email: diane@collingwood-design.co.uk

Copy deadline for Next Edition - 1st May 2014

Buzzingaround...

Soroptimists ConferenceI attended the Opening Session of 79th SoroptimistInternational Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI)Federation Conference. Twelve hundred membersexperienced the Flags of the Federation ceremony,which were paraded by adult guiders fromGirlguiding North East England to the music, CrownImperial. A Guider from Bedford, a university studentin Newcastle, had the honour of carrying one of theflags. Jenny Tomsett

Wonderful WindowDisplay

Rachel Hayler and Tina Armiger createda wonderful window display in  Tufty'sflorist shop, Luton to advertiseHarverings Fayre. The event was agreat  success and everyone wasthanked for their hard work.

AwardCongratulationsA Bedfordshire Brooch was awardedto Maureen Cloke at the AnnualReview - Apologies to Maureen formissing her well deserved award in the last edition - editor

Carol singers raise fundsBrickhill Rainbows, Brownies and Guides had a great time carol

singing at Tesco to raise money for Diabetes UK

A PromiseImmanuella and Keeley from 1st SandyGuides made their promise in Letchworthon Saturday 14 December 2013, beforegoing to see a private screening of TheNutcracker ballet for Brownies andGuides from East Bedfordshire Division.They found a very appropriate spot tomark the occasion!

ChineseDragons!

First they spent aproductive eveningmaking their Dragonfrom recycled boxesand materials, then,1st Shillington Guidesall performed theirwonderful DragonDance to celebratethe Chinese newyear.