THE GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION COOK ISLANDS

(GGACI)

LOGO

The badge was developed and adopted in 1968 by a number of strong leaders under the supervision of Naomi Iro, who was an active trainer in those years.

Golden Yellow flower in the centre, a frangipani flower signifying our friendship to one another as Cook Islanders, and towards visitors at many occasions/functions/events or upon arrival by greeting them with fresh garlands to our shores. 15 Triangles represent the 15 beautiful islands in the Cook Islands, the navy blue colour represents the deep blue oceans connecting the islands. The light blue colour signifies the beautiful blue skies above us all. Every member is allowed to wear this on the left sleeve of their white blouse. In the same design as metal, this is worn on the leaders’ left side folded rito hat.

This year 2011, the badge was reviewed by many in aid of the Wales Girl Guiding who requested and sponsored the GGACI as part of their 100th Years of Changing Lives project to any elected Member Organization in how best they can support special projects. The negotiating period started in 2009 and was endorsed by the National Council at their 1st National Council Meeting in 2010 and confirmed the design or new logo by November 2010 after consultations with members in the GGACI and the sponsorship agent.

 

ADDRESS

Takamoa Administration Building, Avarua,Rarotonga, Cook Islands
The Girl Guides Association Cook Islands, P.O Box 670, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

 

OFFICE BEARERS

2010-2012

Elected Positions

• National President – Tokerau Munro
• National Secretary – Mariake Pirake
• National Treasurer – Tepaeru Kokaua Hagai
• National Programme Co-ordinator – Haumata Hosking
• National Commissioner – Ngara Katuke National Trustees on Board – Matangaro Taripo, Nga Manea, Tokerau Munro

 

MEMBERSHIP

In 2009, membership totalled 611. There will be an update on membership this year. GGACI is a strong member in the Asia Pacific Region, who has a membership of 27 countries. There are 6 Pacific Countries in this Region – PNG, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon, Tonga and Cook Islands. GGACI belongs to the World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts, an organisation of more than 145 member organizations with an estimated 10 million girls.

 

HISTORY AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Girl guiding in the Cook Islands is one of the oldest NGO groups in the Cook Islands. It was first established in Takamoa Grounds on the 26th October 1928. Mrs. Tailby introduced the organization to the church members of Avarua while her husband was a lecturer/missionary at the Cook Islands Christian Church Theological College.

In 1928, an application was forwarded to the Dominion Headquarters of the Girl Guides Association of New Zealand by Miss Ayson, daughter of Judge Ayson the Resident Administrator for the Cook Islands, asking for permission to start a Guide Company in Rarotonga. Permission was readily granted and the first Company was formed in Avarua and endorsed by Makea Nui Tinirau Ariki (1928-1940).

Despite isolation and difficulties, Guiding has flourished. It has had its high points and its low but throughout it all the movement has earned the respect and support of the community and Church and has helped in the training of many thousands of girls and women over many years.

In 1928, at the time of registration of the first companies, the Cook Islands Girl Guides Association (CIGGA) was formed and registered as a Province with the New Zealand Girl Guides Association. It remained a Province until early 1980 when it became known as a Branch Association of New Zealand.

In 1992, CIGGA became an associate member of the World Association of Girl Guides & Girls Scouts (WAGGGS) with the help of various Executive members from New Zealand and Australia and with the influence of the Asia Pacific Region Committee.

The elected Executive Committee, under the chairmanship of the first Island Commissioner, Mrs. Constance S. Bralsford, immediately began work and the various members undertook responsibility for the different aspects: – programme, age tests, training of Guiders, equipment and examination work.

At the same time an Advisory Council was formed. Judge Ayson was chairman, a position he held until 1937, but the only other known member was Makea Nui Tinirau Ariki who was a staunch supporter of Guiding until his passing away in 1940.

Since the economic crisis of the Cook Islands in 1996, CIGGA membership has decreased quickly due to families migrating to New Zealand and Australia. For almost 10 years we had experienced lots of difficulties gaining members for the simple reason that people were moving away and also new introduced sports in the islands.

We never gave up holding onto our Guiding movement with a strong spirit to continue. New ideas were introduced to keep the members and our girls continuing their interest in guiding, hence the Duke of Edinburgh Award was introduced and the AP Leadership Award. This was recognized at our 80th Anniversary Annual Camp in October 9th – 17th, 2008. Slowly our number is building up again and we hope to continue this to keep our numbers high and hopefully to become a full member into our WAGGGS by 2014.

CIGGA had a revamp with new positions being named and other positions being demolished due to the low number of members. The organization reviewed its constitution and by-laws, and new initiatives have been developed to suit young women these days. Financial assistance was sought with some funding coming through from the Governments of New Zealand and Germany.

The 100th years of changing lives began in 2010 for 3 years celebration globally. We celebrated differently in the Cook Islands with our sub- theme “ Celebration in Education.” This involved conducting a little birthday commemoration with a cake in selected Primary Schools on Rarotonga every 10th day of each month from January to December 2010.

This year 2011 we will provide once a month a community action service to a partnership NGO on the island to support the theme “Year of Volunteering.” Our sub-theme is called “100 Steps of Growing.”

 

ADMINISTRATION

The administration work for the organization is managed by the National Executive which consists of the President, Secretary, Programme Co-ordinator, Treasurer and the Commissioner. The President is the Chairperson of all National Council Meetings and National Executive Meetings. In her absence the Commissioner conducts the meeting. If both are absent the meeting has the right to elect an Executive person to conduct the meeting. All businesses need the endorsement of the National Council.

 

SECTIONS AND BRANCHES

• Pepe Auro (Golden Butterfly), 3-5 yrs
• Brownie Pack, 6-11 yrs
• Guide Company, 12-15 yrs
• Ranger Unit, 16-19 yrs
• Young leaders, 18 – 35 yrs
• Guiders, 20 yrs +
• Committees, 20 yrs +
• National Executive, 20 yrs +

Supporters are parents of the girls, or any interested person/s in the community or church.

 

MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS

The National Council holds 4 meetings annually as stated in our Constitution – on the 1st Thursday of each month in February, May, August and November. Our constitution was reviewed and registered with the Ministry of Justice on the 21st December 2009. The National Executive holds its monthly meetings in March, April, June, July, September, October on every 1st Thursday. All meetings are conducted in the Rev. John Williams Conference Room, CICC Head Office, Takamoa, Rarotonga. Representatives conduct their own meetings with members to look at the needs in each company on Rarotonga and in the outer islands.

Weekly meetings – it is compulsory for all guide units in the CICC to hold their weekly training program with their members every Monday except during public holidays. Meetings are run from February to November. The Catholic guide units sometimes follow the Monday schedule, or after their Sunday evening service for some.

National Events are as follows:
Opening Combined Church Parade, 2nd Sunday of February
World Thinking Day, February 22nd
ANZAC Day, April 25th
Constitution Day, August 4th
Cook Islands Day, October 15th
Closing Combined Church Parade, 2nd Sunday of November
Other events – Girls Brigade Week, Boys Brigade Week, Funeral Service, NGO Functions, State & Government Events or by invite

Note: national girl guide events are shared among the girl guide companies on Rarotonga to host with the approval of the National Council on their planned and organized program.

Regional Events:
Asia Pacific Region Conference are held every 3 years as elected by the AP for the next venue
Pacific Meeting annually since 2009 as elected by the members for the next venue
Training Workshops are held every 2 years as elected by the AP Committees

International Events:
Commissioners Conference is held every 3 years in conjunction with the World Conference to any elected Member Organization around the world.

 

REPRESENTATION

The guiding movement is a church-based organization which was first established in the Cook Islands Christian Church in Avarua and later branched to other Cook Islands Christian churches on Rarotonga and all the other islands. Guiding also introduced in the Catholic Parishes on Rarotonga and in the outer islands. All guiding units are administered by one National Council body. They also work together with their own churches, either CICC or Catholic.

In the CICC, the organization holds a combined church parade at the beginning and the ending of the year as stated above. However every other month, on the 2nd Sunday it is compulsory for each unit to hold its own church parade in their churches with other uniform organizations like the Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade. In the Catholic parishes, their church parade varies – some hold theirs on the 1st Sunday of each month whilst others have theirs on the last Sunday of each month, together with their brother Scouts.

The National Council has a Patroness, a position which automatically goes to the Queen’s Representative’s wife. This is an honorary position, and there are 4 other such positions:

• National Youth Director in the Cook Islands Christian Church
• National Youth Director in the Cook Islands Catholic Parish
• National Youth Director in the Ministry of Internal Affairs
• The Scout Association President

Appointed positions are as follows:

• Legal Adviser
• Auditor

Representatives from each of the outer islands:

• Aitutaki Island
• Atiu Island
• Mangaia Island
• Mauke Island
• Mitiaro Island
• Penrhyn Island
• Pukapuka Island
• Manihiki Island
• Rakahanga Island
• Palmerston Island
• Nassau Island
• Rarotonga Island, 2 delegates from each of the 7 Guide Companies
• Life Member – one or two members
• Young Leader – one or two members
• Observers – all guide leaders from all companies and other NGO representatives by invite

 

OBJECTS PROMISE LAW & MOTTO 

• To advance education by the special training and instruction of girls of the Cook Islands in the principles of discipline, loyalty, good citizenship and service for others and by the development of their character based on spiritual and moral values according to the principles embodied in the original Promise and Law as laid down by the Founder, Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB, namely:

• To foster a love of country and promote a full sense of citizenship by developing an interest in home craft, health, social service, love of nature and the traditional arts and customs.

• To encourage international goodwill and understanding by establishing friendly contacts with girls in other countries.

• To extend the work of the Association among girls without distinction on the basis of religion, ethnicity or any other circumstance.

• To respect the religious views of all.

• To promote and develop Girl Guiding in the Cook Islands.

• To keep the Association strictly non-political.

• To promote young women in decision-making

PROMISE
I promise on my honour to do my best, to do my duty to God. To serve the Queen and my country and to help other people. To keep the Guides Law.

A Guide is loyal and can be trusted
A Guide is helpful
A Guide is polite and considerate
A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides
A Guide is kind to animals and respects all living things.
A Guide is obedient
A Guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties
A Guide makes good use of her time
A Guide takes care of her own possessions and those of other people
A Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks, says and does

MOTTO
Be prepared

 

FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

The control of the Association is vested in the National Council. The National Council may exercise all the powers vested in the Association, and may delegate such powers to the National Council or other Association body as it thinks fit, and shall exercise general supervision over the affairs of the Association.

The National Council shall:

• Determine and uphold the vision and mission of the Association.
• Articulate Guiding principles and values.
• Serve as an electoral body, holding elections for members of the National Council and National Nominations Committee.
• Confer life membership of the Association.
• Approve changes or amendments to the Constitution and the Promise and Law.
• Convey the views of the membership to the National Council so it can be informed when making policies and setting the strategic direction of the Association.
• Discuss issues affecting girls and young women.
• Ratify the appointment of all National positions, on the recommendation of the National Leaders Committee.
• As a policy influencing body, consider remits which company may put forward following discussion in their company. A remit which is endorsed by the National Leaders Committee will be referred to the National Council for consideration.

 

CONTACTS FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

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ENROLMENT BADGE

 

The Enrolment badge was first introduced by the New Zealand Girl Guides since the administering of the Cook Islands in the 1928 until today. This is still being used from the Guides Section to Rangers Section. The Brownies section has a different look which is the elf person in the centre of the trefoil. The Guides section has a golden colour. The Rangers section has a red colour coated in the centre. The Trainers, Leaders, Committees and Commissioners have different designs to their pins for their achievements.

All new members will receive this Enrolment Badge during a special planned and organized ceremony for the member(s). Today this Enrolment badge has been reviewed by the members and has been supported and sponsored by the Wales Girl Guiding as part of their project. Refer to last column below for details.

 

UNIFORM  

OFFICIAL

• Pepe Auro (Golden Butterfly) - White dress with an Apricot apron
• Brownie Pack – brown Aline skirt, white short sleeve blouse, brown triangle scarf, rau ara hat with brownie white embroidery name on a brown head band
• Guide Company – navy blue skirt, white short sleeve blouse, navy blue triangle scarf, rito hat with girl guide white embroidery name on a navy blue head band
• Ranger Unit - navy blue skirt, white short sleeve blouse, red blue triangle scarf, rito hat with rangers red embroidery name on a navy blue head band
• Young leaders & Guiders - navy blue skirt, white short sleeve blouse, green cross bow tie, rito hat or white dress with the rito hat
• Committees & Supporters – white dress with rito hat

CAMP

Pepe Auro (Golden Butterfly) & Brownie Pack - – brown Aline skirt and Brownie T/shirt
Guide and others – navy blue skirt and girl guide T/shirt

TRAVELLING

Same as with camp above.

 

NEW LOGO

 

1. The 15 stars represents the 15 islands in the Cook Islands
2. The Trefoil leaves represent the 3 parts of the Promise – To God, the Queen & the people and the Guide Law. It is also reminding us the foundation principles of guiding the Promise, Law and the Motto
3. The GG stands for the organization Girl Guides
4. The Star in the centre reminds us to look onwards and upwards to the best things in life
5. The Flower shape represents the national flower of the Cook Islands called Tiare Maori
6. The 7 petals signifies the 6 days that God had created heaven and earth and on the 7th day had a rest called Sunday
7. The golden colour represents the sun shining upon all members in the Cook Islands and it is also represents our Golden Butterfly and Brownies
8. The light blue colour represents the skies uniting us all as guiding sisters in the Cook Islands and our sisterhood relationship with others around the world
9. The green colour coated around the 7 petals and the outer circle represents the beautiful environment that God gave us all and the national colour for the Cook Islands represented by the Leaders wearing green ties
10. The white colour stands for peace, the white uniform we wear and our duty to God