Girl Guides celebrate their Guiding leaders
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Feb 21/01) - The emphasis for Girl Guides across Canada this year is focused on 2001 being the International Year of the Volunteer.
And, while Guiding is always focused on the youth in its program, this year's theme allows the movement to recognize the volunteers who contribute so much to the Girl Guides of Canada.
Girl Guides Keewatin Area Commissioner Carla Kolysher says some Guiding volunteers put in an hour a week with the program, while others can spend as much as 30 hours a week involved with Guiding.
"The Guiding leader is an important role within the community," says Kolysher.
"Without these women, there would be no program for the girls and we all know how important it is for kids in our community to have positive activities."
Kolysher says girls involved with Guiding build self-esteem and break down barriers and, without the leaders, none of it would be possible.
She says there's a lot more to being a Guiding leader than just showing up one night a week to give the girls something to do.
"These women do a lot of background work.
"They spend a lot of time planning and preparing for the meetings, plus they do a lot of extra activities such as fund-raising, camping, sleep overs, those kinds of things.
"Our leaders also work hard to plan and co-ordinate the various special celebrations that take place from time to time."
One such special celebration is the annual Thinking Day celebration.
Kolysher says this year's event will be held on Feb. 22, with every local branch of the Guides taking part to put on a special thank you for their adult leaders.
"While the girls will be officially thanking their leaders on the 22nd, I'd like to thank our local leaders now on behalf of the community for their dedication and enthusiasm in helping to shape young girls into women."
