It was a Saturday evening at BC Guide House, and the delegates at the PR "Communicating Guiding" workshop were getting hungry! The dinner was worth waiting for, however, for once we were allowed into the room quite a sight met our eyes!

Chequered tablecloths were spread on the tables and picnics were packed in coolers for us, complete with cold chicken, potato salad and ants! (Plastic ones, thank goodness!)

A mysterious piece of paper was face down on each table, and we had instructions not to peek. The mystery was solved later that evening when the PR committee made an impressive entrance blowing their horns and marching in a grand parade.

A Birthday Parade! This was the PR committee's way of introducing us to the exciting 95th Birthday on Parade. The pieces of paper were overturned - on our table was a selection from the Birthday on Parade Celebration Challenge. We were assigned item #94 "Write a song or a poem about our 95th Birthday of Guiding in BC."

Within minutes, the 6 of us had created a 95th Birthday Song using elements of history, sisterhood, "Grow Guiding" imagery, and our own enthusiasm!

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you "Guiding's Alive!" by Joan Kaun, Maureen Rennie, Shona Moody, Pat Wildeman, Dallys Wildeman and Shelagh Walsh.

"Guiding's Alive!" was performed and recorded by the 6 composers at the event (thanks to Shona's digital voice recorder!). Once learned, the author suggests that the song be sung at a faster tempo!

Audio File of Guiding's Alive! (mp3 - 2.5mb)

Words and Music (pdf)

Click on images for bigger pictures.

By Shelagh Walsh, Provincial Arts Adviser