(Facebook/Melfort Rangers)

By Angie Rolheiser

Girl Guide cookies

Guiding year canceled; Girl Guide spring cookie sales to continue

Apr 18, 2020 | 9:10 AM

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could be detrimental for Girl Guide units all across the country.

All meetings, trips, and events were canceled back in March as well as the fall mint cookie campaign.

Pasquia Lily District Commissioner Shirley Masse told northeastNOW the spring sandwich cookie campaign will look a bit different this year.

“National Head Office has struck a partnership with Canadian Tire Stores across Canada to sell the cookies,” Masse said.

The Melfort Canadian Tire now has cookies on hand and all funds from the sale of those cookies will go back into the northeast units.

Workplace death

Nipawin company fined for workplace death in 2023

1h ago

Moose killed

Young bull moose shot and left to waste near Crystal Springs

1h ago

MFD recruiting

Melfort Fire Department holding recruitment drive

18h ago

“Girls are supposed to receive the funding for the number of cases that they should have received in March,” Masse said.

The cookie campaign is not just a large source of income for all Girl Guides units but it’s also a great way for the girls to get out into their community, and to get that sense of satisfaction when that case of cookies is empty.

“Turning in those funds for themselves makes them feel important to know they helped raise funds to go to camp, or just to buy weekly program supplies,” Masse said. “This will leave a large void in the girls’ ability to learn these skills.”

Masse echoed that same void will be felt for the new members in the fall who won’t get that opportunity to sell cookies door-to-door or to friends and family.

“Many people look forward to the girls, especially the Sparks and Brownies, coming to their door and selling the cookies,” Masse said. It is so good for the girls for learning to interact with people, selling their product and learning to be safe while doing sales.”

All meetings have been canceled but National has informed leaders that online meetings would be allowed if leaders should choose to take that route.

In a notice to members, Chair of the Board Robyn McDonald, and Chief Executive Officer Jill Zelmanovits wrote:

“With the health and safety of both girl and adult members in mind, at this time we are not able to offer in-person Guiding experiences for girls. As a result, we do not expect to generate the same revenue from either membership fees or cookies in the near term. This has very serious implications which have forced us to make critical decisions to reduce expenses to ensure the long-term sustainability of GGC.”

The cancellation of sleepovers, spring camps, and all provincial and international trips are all very sad components for leaders and the girls with many hours of time by leaders spent on planning camps and trips.

“Girls in Saskatchewan love to camp and I have girls being on the edge of deciding to come back to guiding the following year but after camp, they are so excited about next year,” Masse said. “Some girls would never sleep in a tent, go on a nature walk, or do many of the outdoor skills that they learn at camp.”

Early registration for the upcoming guiding year has been pushed back to June 1.

It is still unclear as to how the upcoming year will look and Masse said that National is watching and evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and on the country to see what will happen for the future.

“One of the Girl Guide laws is “be prepared,” and at these times we must be prepared for what is to come,” Masse said.

The hope is to return to normal for the fall but that remains to be seen at this time according to Masse.

“The way we do things may be different but our aim will be to put the girls first and give them an experience that they would not find somewhere else in our community,” she said.

–

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser