Subscriptions : Invoices are live now so please get your subscriptions paid as soon as possible , but definitely before the closing date of 13 th April . Essex West did very well on timings last year , let us lead the way this year .
Training : The County Training team continues to run many brilliant and varied trainings throughout the year . Please make sure you check these out in both the e‐bulletin and on our newly renovated website .
Improving Access to Guiding : We continue to work with the IA2G Team – thank you to all of you who have embraced this project and worked with the Team so far . I ’ m sure Penny , Sarah and Louise will be getting in touch with more of you over the next few months . Website If you haven ’ t yet looked then please check out our newly renovated / improved website : www . girlguidingessexwest . org . uk
Members Day : Please get the date in your diary : 14 th October 2017 A morning of essential and fun trainings and an afternoon of fun and laughter . Please join us .
Dinner Dance : Thank you to everybody that came along to our very first County Dinner Dance and helped to make it the success that it was . What a brilliant evening ! Due to the excellent feedback we had from the event , we have the date of 10 th March 2018 already reserved at Stock Brook Country Club – so please put the date in your diaries and encourage other members of your Divisions to come along and have fun .
CONGRATULATIONS : LAUREL AWARD to Pauline Gillett ‐ It was a pleasure to spring a surprise on Pauline Gillett in order to present her with her Laurel Award . Pauline has held many and varied roles within Girlguiding at Unit , District , Division , County and Region levels and has also carried out a variety tasks for Headquarters . A very well deserved Award . Congratulations Pauline .
Chris Skinner County Commissioner
Brentwood West District Thinking Day Event
On the afternoon of Sunday 19th February 75 girls and Leaders gathered to celebrate World Thinking Day . This was great as every unit in the District was represented .
We had an African themed afternoon with the girls having the opportunity to make a small pot from clay and try to weave a place mat . The older girls were given challenges from Water Aid , which helped them understand the importance of fresh , clean drinking water and how difficult it is for some communities in Africa to obtain it ? All the girls also had the chance to try their hands at African drumming .
The afternoon culminated with re-newal of Promise and placing £ 1.00 coins around an outline map of Africa . These donations will be sent to World Thinking Day Fund .
After the event , when asked what they enjoyed most , some Brownies said “ everything ”; some said “ the drumming ” but one said “ it was nice meeting other people ”. That comment was very encouraging and completely summed up what Guiding is really all about . Sylvia Partridge District Commissioner
Website : www . girlguidingessexwest . org . uk