GUIDE NOTES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21312, 3 November 1934, Page 7

GUIDE NOTES

[Bt THE PROVINCIAL SECRETAItT.J The following guides passed the test for the needlewoman's badge: S. Scott, Colombo Street Company; M. Taverner, Burwood Company; J. Luck, K Collins, and E. Webb, Merivale Company; O. Jones and D. Williamson, Richmond-Avonside Company. B. Deavoll and A. Cogle, Heathcote Company, have gained their thrift badge. K. Bliss, M. Thompson, B. Deavoll, G. Woods, C. Woods, P. Cogle, and A. Cogle have passed the examination for (he writer's badge. They all belong to the Heathcote Company. The examination for the swimmer's badge will be held this morning at 9 o'clock at the Tepid Baths. Those who cannot, attend must do so on Thursday, November 8, at 6 p.m. All guides have to pay entry fee to the baths. Concerts A concert will be given by the Cashmere Pack at St. Augustine's Hall on Saturday, November 17, at 7.30 p.m. All in uniform 6d, out of uniform Is. The concert to be given by the South-east Christchurch district will be held at the Colombo Street Baptist Hall on Saturday, December 8, commencing at 7.30 p.m. Admission for guides 6d, out of uniform Is. It is hoped that everyone who can will come, as an excellent programme will be given by the different companies of this district. The Oxford Terrace Brownie Pack held its first birthday party on Saturday, October 20, when a very happy afternoon was spent. One brownie was enrolled and service stars were presented. A lovely birthday tea was prepared for the brownies by their new acting brown owl, Miss Hiddlestone. The rest of the afternoon was spent in playing games, and all the brownies thoroughly enjoyed their first birthday party. The St. Chad's Company (captain, Mrs Manhart) held its first social on Monday, October 29. During the evening the colours were presented to the company by the. captain. Items, including recitations, songs, dances, and a play given by the guides, were greatly enjoyed by all. After supper a camp fire was made and camp songs were sung by the guides. The even- ■ ins closed with vesper and taps. During race week the guide office will be closed on Friday and SaturI day, November 9 and 10. f Leadership Every guider, looking back on her company's chequered career, must have felt that no matter how efficient the teaching and organisation, the company stands or falls by the quality of its leadership. For leadership is the vitalising force in patrol system, and that again is the heart of all; good guiding. Good organisers we have in i>lentjs ihsy am invaluably but the.

gift of leadership is rare. For although a leader must of necessity be an organiser, not every organiser is a leader. The organiser directs, and gives those under her the sensation of toeing put: the leader has but to make a suggestion and her followers are suddenly aware that this is the one thing they are longing to do, and only wonder why they haven't thought of it before. Perhaps it is that the born organiser sees her work as a marvellously constructed machine into which everyone must be fitted (and what queer shapes some of us are by the time she has done with us). The leader values each one for her own qualities, knows her limitations and her possibilities, and makes a place in which her gifts, however slight, may be of use. No matter in what walk of life you meet him (or her), the true leader is less concerned with the meth<jd than the man. Is not the power by which the real leader brings out all the best in those beneath her, her unbounded confidence in them She knows the capacity of each and expects (and gets) the best every time. She does not let her individuality absorb other people's, but allows room for growth, not demanding one pattern, but welcoming every fresh development as an added strength to the group. She would stake everything on her trust in those under her, and they know it. Some are bom leaders, some achieve leadership, and some have leadership thrust upon them, and the guider is constantly faced with the problem of making leaders of the "thrust-upons." It comes as a shock when a hitherto hardworking though retiring guide is elected a leader and instantly becomes inert, absent-minded at court of honour, and careless of her patrol. Yet it may be that having no natural gift of leadership, nor confidence in herself, she is taking refuge in an appearance of indifference. She knows she cannot lead, she is afraid to admit it even to herself, and would rather appear "not to wish" than "not to be able." She will never gain confidence from the position thrust upon her, and it can only come from the consciousness of work well done. If the guider can provide her with opportunities of doing for the company the things that she does well, the would-be leader will find that even she has something to give, confidence will come, and with it courage-for it is only through what we give to a community that we earn our status in it. But it is a fallacy to suppose as one sometimes hears it suggested that "everyone should have a turn of being leader." The leader must have something bigger than herself to give away. Besides it would be a poor world in which all were leaders, and from the little world of the company the guide or ranger must carry away the discovery that the leader's job is not the only one that matters; work as valuable is done in other ways: that leadership is not a prize to be coveted for what it can bring, but one of many ways of giv- j ing—humbling immeuea ia jti op-J

portunities of service,. (Extract from «Guideß'")