County e-Letter
8 September 2017
WELCOME to the new Wiltshire South County Newsletter. This letter will initially be available on the web site and eventually will be sent to all County Members. The Newsletter is intended to get information direct to leaders and hopefully avoid information being made available too late for action to be taken or bookings to be made. The plan is to make more use of Social Media and full use of the County Web Site and this will only be successful if everyone signs up to using it. The Bustard will continue and will probably be printed once a year with Division Reports and Photographs from events held in various Divisions an also include the County Review.
I hope you have all managed to get away over the Summer break and able to have some family time.
I would like to say thank you to all our Leaders who have held sleep-overs, Guide Camps, Brownie Residentials and International Opportunities during the last twelve months. Without your enthusiasm and care many of our young members would not have been able to enjoy such adventures. Thank you.
I would also like to say thank you to Jenny Sturges and Sue Hiscock who have supported endless outdoor activities and camps within the County, you and all your Division Advisers have supported many leaders to achieve their training modules enabling Camps and Residential licenses which will enable our young members of the future to enjoy new experiences and have fun.
I am pleased to say that each Division accepted my challenge to support transition work in the County by booking either a Division weekend or a day at our County Activity Centre, Berwick when it is hoped that members will be given an opportunity to experience other section activities.
Congratulations go to Janet Thompson who is to receive the Compass Award later this month. Well done to Janet.
On the Website Adele Price has put together a Christmas Card Competition. Please participate with your units. It is hoped to produce a County Christmas Card for 2017 and offer a pack to be put together to enable units to sell to family members. The timescale is tight but I am sure we can achieve this challenge.
Lookout for the Trefoil Challenge – they have a special year next year and have put together a Challenge that all Sections can participate in. Find it on the Trefoil Web site.
I attended a Consultation Day in Bristol exploring the new programme, an interesting day involving Leaders and Girls Brownies and Rainbows on the Saturday and Guides and Senior Section on the Sunday. Our New Programme will be presented in the Summer 2018, we will look to put together a County Launch in Autumn.
Girlguiding Go has now been launched and Safe Space Training is to be made available to the County in February – More news on this later through your Division Commissioners.
Berwick - The Lodge is proving very popular with those who stay there on camps and residentials. If you have not visited lately please do so. Pauline Hodder and her group of helpers spend regular work days at Berwick and I know she would welcome those who have any spare time to join the team. Thank you to Pauline.
International - Please see International Section on website.
Photographs - Please send Photographs that you would wish to appear on the County Website – this is managed by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. our County Webmaster.
County Day is work in progress; the provisional date is 18th May pending on booking confirmation from venue.
Division Pages on the Website are available please read for information and updates belonging to your Divisions.
Elaine Green has kindly agreed to support the management of the Berwick 200 Club. We would like to encourage more of our members to join. Application is on our website. Elaine is Division Commissioner for Sarum and her details are in the Directory.
There are regular dates when the County Newsletter will be available on the Website and these dates appear in County Calendar.
I am looking forward to seeing all members signing up to the County Website. I am aware that there are some of our members may not have computer access and this is currently being considered. If you have any difficulties in joining please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who will be only too happy to assist.
If you have any feedback or comments please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or use the Contact the County form.
Fran Westlake