CHALLENGES
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New connections, new responsibilities and new expectations meant there were a lot of firsts for me to deal with all at the same time. —Cassey Fallis
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New District Commissioner
Kim Rhuland, Nova Scotia
The first thing I learned early on in my new role as a District Commissioner (DC) was that this job can easily take over your life if you let it. Think about how much time just being a Unit Guider can take – and how much Guiding paraphernalia can cover your dining room table. Then multiply that by 100! So, I created some ground rules for myself, set specific times during my week for responding to non-emergency emails, and bought a pretty notebook with dividers to keep myself organized. (Isn’t it weird how the right notebook can make you feel that you can tackle just about anything?) I also gave myself a single goal for my first year – knowing that a lot of my time would be spent learning the DC role, but still wanting to end the year feeling as though I accomplished something. For me that goal was to make sure the Unit Guiders in our district are recognized for all they do. We ended the year with 10 peer-nominated awards, so I feel pretty good about that. Year one? Check!
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Ranger to Guider and Link Member
Cassey Fallis, Alberta I counted on Guiding as my primary outlet for support and stability while I was going through major changes in my life. Not only had I transitioned out of high school a year early to pursue university, I also started a new job and was expected to fulfill high expectations and responsibilities as a newly-independent young adult. As a Ranger, I was a member of the Alberta Council Youth Forum for two years. There were changes and transitions there, too, as we gained six new Youth Forum members, making the Youth Forum seem new in its own way. Now, as an 18-year-old adult member of Guiding, I have been encouraged by my district to take on the role as a Contact Guider and to continue attending district meetings to
CANADIAN GUIDER | FALL 2018