Changes at provincial level this fall expected to have little effect on Girl Guide units in Tantramar area

Guiding will undergo a transformation at the provincial level this fall but longtime district commissioner for the Tantramar area Audrey Hicks is optimistic those changes won't have an adverse affect on the local Girl Guide units.
"They're simply cutting down on the number of people around the provincial council table," said Hicks.
This reduction will mean, however, that the Tantramarsh division (consisting of Port Elgin, Sackville and Dorchester) will merge this month with the Albert and Westmorland areas to form a new larger division called Tidewater.
Hicks explained that the structure of the New Brunswick council of the Girl Guides of Canada was reviewed by a task force earlier this year, which then came forth with recommendations to reduce the number of administrative-level positions as a cost-saving measure.
"It was felt by the task force there were a lot of people on the administration side of Guiding and the positions were getting more and more difficult to fill."
With parents today having a limited amount of time to give, said Hicks, most are opting to work directly with the girls, as leaders in their own communities, instead of taking on a committee or administrative position.
Subsequently, the task force has developed a proposal - based on membership numbers, geography and population distribution - in which the areas in the province will be reduced from 11 districts down to six.
Hicks said she believes the local Guiding program will fare well under the new, larger district as long as any new changes are relayed to all unit leaders by the provincial-level administrators.
"So it is farewell to Tantramarsh, but leaders will still remain committed, dedicated and give many hours of unselfish service to create programs of all levels with fun, friendship and adventure for girls in our community," said Hicks.
Registration for Girl Guides was held last week and Hicks said she expects another year of exciting, new adventures for girls from ages five to 17.
Going to camp, horseback riding, snowshoeing, craft-making and so much more, that is what one can expect when joining the Girl Guides of Canada.
At a cost of $90 per year (Sept. to June), Guiding is said to be one of the least expensive activities in the area and, as Hicks puts it, "not a great amount" considering Girl Guides is an organization for girls and women that challenges them in their personal development and empowers them to be responsible citizens.
Girls can begin their guiding experience by joining Sparks at the age of five or six; Brownies at the ages of seven and eight; Guides from nine to 12; Pathfinders from 12 to 15; and Rangers from ages 15 to 17.
Although she acknowledges there's been a decrease in the number of kids getting involved in Guiding, Hicks said Port Elgin has continued to maintain a small but very active group while Sackville has been attracting about 50 girls to the program over the last five years. (Dorchester's Guiding unit was forced to shut down several years ago due to a lack of volunteers).
"There are so many activities for kids to be involved in today in the area and parents can maybe only choose one or two due to registration costs."