Hi everyone,

Its blog time again, as I write this is on a very wet autumnal day!

During November, there are many events, celebrations, and special days to participate in – offering lots of opportunities to have many activities within your units. Some of these remember others, such as 11 November Remembrance Day or perhaps celebrate other cultures and special days, including Kindness Day 13 November 2022 or Doctor Who day 23 November (if you are a fan of course). The 30 November is St Andrews day too. There is also Children In Need, and once again, Girlguiding are partnering with Children in Need, check out the details Girlguiding and BBC Children in Need | Girlguiding.

Over the past few weeks, I have loved seeing all the Super Rainbows coverage and photos, it’s definitely been super! I also had the opportunity this past month to be out and about, joining commissioners in Lincs South, and then at Duxford Imperial War Museum with 500 Brownies sleeping under the wings in Cambs East! It’s always so good to meet members across the region, from girls and young women, and volunteers too.

With the launch of our Chiefs Challenge ‘Shine Bright’, the time has come to search for a my successor, could it be you? The applications pack is now live, take a look and discover more. Being region chief commissioner, the lead volunteer for the region, continues to be a great honour for me, it’s an adventure! There are many opportunities, needless to say it doesn’t come without its challenges, but also some fantastic rewards! Do check out the pack and think about this role, for yourself or maybe for someone you know. Andrea and I are happy to be contacted for informal conversations, we are not involved in the interview process.

As always, huge thanks to you all for all you do!

Take Care,

Keeping smiling, Tracy

How often do you look at a text as it pings in and wrinkle your forehead in disbelief? Our reactions to others’ choice of words can be strong and as those words encroach upon our private life, it all seems quite public without us realising. How did we get to this place where quotes online encourage us to ‘think before you text’ or ‘open your mind before your mouth’?

Voltaire is quoted as saying ‘everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said’. A reminder that we have a choice about how we say things and what we say. Bringing in the human element to your communications, remembering the person you are speaking with is essential; can you imagine the person who is going to be reading what you write, for example?

To help you could ask yourself these 5 questions, one for each of the letters of THINK: is it true?; is it helpful?; is it inspiring?; is it necessary?; is it kind?

So much of our communication now is instant and includes social media groups and apps, mobile phones, emails, text messages. Looking after each other and living by our Girlguiding values is now more than ever, important. Have you come across the term ‘digital etiquette’? It’s all about conduct in a digital world, making sure you don’t type in anger, pausing before you press ‘send’, and thinking about how it will land with the other person. Manners of respect for the modern era.

What about this book from Lauren Hug with her emphasis on kindness:

https://laurenhug.com/product/digital-kindness-being-human-in-a-hyper-connected-world/

With Self Care Week coming up in November being kind to yourself automatically extends to kindness towards others. One of the ways to do this could be to know when to turn off the phone or laptop and give yourself space, to reflect. That reflection might include how your tone of voice has an impact and how you might bring it more in line with the Girlguiding values of being caring, inclusive, and inspiring.

From what we hear from the girls we look after in Girlguiding mean comments and harassment are one of the real negatives of the online and digital world they are growing up in. Let’s also be the fun, empowering, and challenging part of their lives as we model ways to communicate in a connecting, healthy way. Here’s the link to our 2022 Girls’ Attitude Survey:

https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/girls-making-change/girls-attitudes-survey/

Lots to keep us engaged until next month. See you then for our end-of-year connections blog!

Why not take part in Girlguiding Anglia’s Christmas card competition? The winning entry will be the face of this year’s region Christmas card! The closing date for entries is 14 November 2022.

Competition Information

• The competition is open to all sections
• The card can be designed on any size paper
• The winning design will be made to fit an A5 card size, and will be used as the region’s e-card as well
• There is a printable template available should you wish to use it – you can find it here
• Please name all entries and include your unit name
• Send entries via email to commsteam@girlguiding-anglia.org.uk, or by post to Girlguiding Anglia Region Office, 7 Gt Hautbois Road, Coltishall, Norfolk, NR12 7JN