Media Selection Weekend

I spent a fantastic weekend up in Leeds this month with 80 odd Senior Section and 15 Managers!

It was the Senior Section Media Selection weekend where we were looking for 40 Seniors to be part of the Media Team at the Centenary Camp next year.

Girls came from all over the UK to face a weekend of exciting challenges.

The girls worked in groups to undertake a number of different tasks based around PR.

A highlight was the Saturday night entertainment where each group produced a sketch based on a well known fairy tale.

On the Sunday we had a 'speed chatting' session, where each girl had 90 seconds to speak to each manager and find out more about the different roles within the PR Team.

Fortunately, we had an amazing catering team who made sure that we were all fed and watered.

I have never met such an amazing, enthusiastic group of young women and it's going to be a tough job to select only 40 for the team. Everyone left having learned new skills and making lots of new friends.

Good luck everyone!

Centenary Camp Newsletter

The PR team have been working on a pre-camp newsletter.

We've been working hard on putting together our first newsletter "The Buzz". It will be published monthly and available to download on the Centenary Camp website. Keep an eye out for Issue 1, which will be out in May!


Sneak Preview

A day in Leeds

Had a fab day up near Leeds last weekend, with around 50 Directors/Managers from the various camp teams. It was nice to finally put names to faces.

We were welcomed by Hilary, the camp Chief and Liz Burnely, the Chief Guide and then it was off to Harewood House for a walk around the grounds.

Each of the teams split off to go and explore the site and to see where 10,000 people would be camping in less than 18months! It’s an amazing location.

Then it was back to Bramhope Scout Centre for lunch before our PR team meeting. We spent most of the afternoon discussing the Media Team Selection weekend in June and everyone added to their to-do lists.

Everyone left buzzing and everything seems a little more real now!

Bookings are open in less than 24hours for the Camp! Hoping lots of groups are applying from Cheshire Forest...


On location with the Chief Guide



View of Harewood House from the campsite

Training at CHQ

Was an early start this morning.

Had to be on the 6.45am train to Euston, but have to say I'm very impressed with the super fast service to London now (only 2hours)!

Met with my assistant Manager Kat for breakfast (food is always an important item on the agenda!) then it was off to CHQ for a quick dash around the Guide Shop before our training.

Today we met with the Web Content Manager for training on the CMS (Content Management System) which drives the Centenary Camp website. Basically, we learned how to add content - text, images, video etc

It was a great day and now we're ready to get cracking!

Ticking along nicely.

Things are ticking along nicely.

I'm happy to say that I now have an Assistant Manager, Kat (welcome to the team!). It's going to be great to have someone else to bounce ideas off!

At the moment we're working on getting some more content up on the Centenary Camp Website by liaising with the other teams; activities, sub-camps, merchandise etc.

Also, trying to promote the Senior Section Media Team as much as possible by circulating newsletters and fliers.

Our next meeting is in April, when we're meeting up with the other Camp Directors and Managers for a day in Leeds. I also need to go down to CHQ again for training using the Content Management System for the Centenary Website, so we will be able to update it ouselves.

All for now!

Now Recruiting for Senior Section!

If you know of any Senior Section members aged 16-25 years who may be interested in joining the PR Team at the GGUK Centenary Camp in 2010, please pass on this flyer!


click to enlarge

A Great weekend

What a great weekend, came home buzzing!!

It was the first time all the PR Managers had met ‘officially’. We stayed at a Guide Holiday house in Harrogate and people travelled from all over the UK; London, Glasgow, Norwich, Manchester, Berkshire and Lyn even flew in from Spain for the weekend!

Jill, our Admin and Archivist Manager (who lives in Harrogate) sent her husband to the station to collect those arriving by train. He was instructed to wave a ‘Ways to Celebrate Catalogue’ so that people would be able to recognise him!

Amongst other things, we talked about each of the teams in more detail and ironed out what things each Manger and team would be responsible for at the camp.

One of the most challenging things was planning the SS Media Team selection weekend. We’re potentially looking at organising a weekend for 100 Senior Section to attend in June. Working out the logistics of sleeping and feeding that many people, never mind organising activities, was quite a challenge!

We discussed so many things over the weekend it was mind-blowing, but in a good way.

Due to everyone’s hectic schedules, we’ve had to schedule several lunch-time phone conferences over the next few months. Phone conferences are a good way for us all to keep up to date with what’s happening and it’s the cheapest way for us all to communicate.

One thing that struck me is what a really great professional team we have. Everyone is highly experienced in their area of expertise and really passionate about guiding!

We’re all looking forward to meeting up with the other Camp Managers for a weekend in April and hoping that we get lots of applications from people wanting to join the media team!

Off to Harrogate

This weekend I’m off to Harrogate to meet up with all the PR Managers. We have lots to discuss.

For starters:

• Departmental Responsibilities & Technical needs of all departments
• A possible Celebrity Camper!
• Senior Section Media Training - Residential Weekends
• Our PR plan & PR timeline

Let you know how it goes!

Senior Section Media Team Update

We will be looking for around 50 Senior Section members aged 16-25 years to join the PR team. They will be the eyes and ears of the camp, reporting, photographing, and videoing events daily!

If you know any Senior Section members with an interest in PR, applications will be open until April 30th 2009 and a selection weekend will take place on June 26-28,2009.

The main areas are Pr & Visitors/Press Escort, Website, Newspaper, Radio, Archives, Photography, Public Screens, Radio & TV.














Applicants will be asked to submit some supporting evidence with their application, such as a podcast, webpage, presentation or photograph.

Lack of technical skills or experience should not stop anyone from applying, as basic training will be provided in a number of areas.

Mostly, we’re looking for team players who are out-going, passionate about PR and guiding, well motivated and willing to embrace the large scale camp experience!

There will be 3-4 residential training weekends starting in summer/autumn 2009.

The cost for the camp will be £160 per person.

An Application pack is now available to download from the the Official Girlguiding UK Centenary Website.

Homework

Over Christmas all the PR Managers were given ‘Centenary Camp Homework’!! (I still haven’t found time to do mine).

Here’s what I have to do:

1. Write a list of the technical requirements for computers, laptops, screens, etc, with all software info and detailed spec about each machine you'd like.

2. Write a few paragraphs about Your Vision - how you see your department working and what you'd like to have achieved with your team by the end of camp.

Not too hard, ey?















Oh and by the way.. the Girlguiding UK Centenary Website is now LIVE!

So what does my role actually involve?

In the run-up to the camp
Thankfully most of the hard work is being done by CHQ, as they are keeping control of the design and development of the website.

As a PR team, we have a big say in what content is featured on the website. We’ll be liaising with other departments such as sub-camps, retail and activities to find out their requirements. We’ll also be contributing news, resources, photos and videos of preparations in the run-up to the camp.

We're also going to be training up around 50 Senior Section members for the Senior Section Media Team. They will be the eyes and ears of the camp, working across the following areas: Pr & Visitors/Press Escort, Website, Newspaper, Radio, Archives, Photography, Public Screens, Radio & TV.

At the camp
This is where the hard work will really start! We’re going to be updating the website daily with photos, videos, podcasts, news stories etc. It will act as a vital link between the camp and the ‘outside world’, allowing friends and family to keep up to date with what’s happening.

I still can’t get my head round how we’re going to setup an internet connection from the middle of a field!! Thankfully, the I.T & Communications Manager is in charge of that small issue!

At the camp, my team will need to work closely with the rest of the PR team to collect and prepare content for the web on a daily basis.

After the camp
After the camp, our work still isn’t done! We’ll need to continue adding content - creating an archive showcasing a week of fantastic memories.