Made It!

[smallhobbit]

We've had our final Brownie meeting of the term and of our academic year.  Hooray!  Hopefully this will also be our final ever zoom meeting, but no-one's holding their breath.

Flamingo had prepared a fun quiz for them, which they enjoyed, and they all learnt that my favourite fruit is raspberries - no-one guessed that!

Then Doodles presented four Brownie Bronze awards and two Silver awards.  This is done by 'magic', whereby Doodles passes a certificate into her screen and a parent slides an envelope in front of the Brownie, who opens it to find their certificate and badge.  It seems a bit trite, but they all really enjoy the presentation and smile broadly, which shows how much difference even a small personal touch can make.

We go back in September, when things should be easier and we know what we can do.  Hopefully!  Doodles was thinking we should reduce our numbers from 24 to 18, on the basis that if we have to revert to zoom next winter this will be easier.  It also makes spacing a bit simpler.  We talked it over and I suggested we say we'll trial this until half term (at the end of October) by which time things should be a little clearer.  We won't get rid of any of the girls (although there's one we'd all very willingly lose), but not fill spaces.  The other point we shall make is that at least half the pack has joined since the beginning of the first lockdown and has no experience of how we run a face-to-face meeting, so it would help to get them settled first.

I've applied for another grant to help with our annual subs because otherwise we are going to have financial difficulties.

Lastly, here's my Brownie bag with all my badges finally sewn on:

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Well done finishing the year! Hope things are easier in September. Lots of nice badges!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. We're hoping, but not convinced!

The badges are great - I'm pleased with how my bag is filling up!

[margaret_r]

Your Brownie bag is looking good! I hope it's not necessary for zoom meetings to happen in the winter but at least you will be prepared.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, we want to be ready for whatever happens.

[st_aurafina]

Oh, your bag looks so good!!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It was very satisfying to sew all the badges on!

[rusty_armour]

Congratulations on completing the year! :-D Here's hoping that you'll be able to hold face-to-face meetings in September. I guess it's going to be strange for those Brownies who have only ever had meetings through Zoom, though obviously it will be a better experience if they can actually interact with other girls in person. I hope you'll be able to get that grant you plan to apply for.

I love the idea behind the awards ceremony. I'm sure that both the parents and the girls appreciate that personal touch.

I'm really impressed by all of those badges that you've earned! Congratulations on that accomplishment as well! :-D

[smallhobbit]

I think we're all going to find it quite strange in September, but a definite improvement.

[moth2fic]

I hope there's clarification before too long, though at the rate things are going I suspect we're in for more lockdowns.

[smallhobbit]

Yes - what we're told in the next couple of weeks may well have changed by September, and going on through the next few months, unfortunately.

[corvidology]

Congrats on winding up such a difficult year!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much!

[adafrog]

Brownie bag looks neat.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much.

[luthienberen]

Congratulations on finishing the year! May Sept be easier for the Brownies :-) Fantastic bag re:badges x

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Theoretically it should be easier - what will actually be the case is another matter. I'm glad you like the bag :)

[debriswoman]

Well done in getting to the end of a challenging term:-)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much!