New Island Commissioner of the Bermuda Girl Guide Association, Ethel Liverpool, has a five-year plan to improve the numbers of one of Bermuda's oldest organisations.

Many of Bermuda's women have been exposed to either the Brownies or Guides - or both as girls growing up. But the association, which was brought to Bermuda in 1919 by Lord and Lady Baden Powell of the United Kingdom who founded the association several years prior, is facing declining interest amongst young girls.

It is something Mrs. Liverpool plans to address as the new Commissioner. A Brownie and Guide herself before rising up the ranks, she has just begun her five-year term, having been installed in at Government House by Mrs. Jennifer Masefield on November 7.

"I wouldn't say I thought much about it (top post), but when the time came around it just happened," said Mrs. Liverpool. She replaced Lynne Cann, who served for almost six years.

"I was a Brownie, Guide, international advisor and equipment secretary."

Mrs. Liverpool explained that Guiding is designed to build confidence and character in girls and get them working in the community and enjoying life in a safe environment. They are also taught survival skills.

In 1969, to mark the local association's 50th anniversary, an international camp was held in Bermuda for the first time, followed by another international camp at Clearwater Beach in 1999 to celebrate 80 years of existence here.

"We had delegates from abroad. the Islands, United States, Norway and plus our girls were involved," explained the Commissioner.

"It was a big undertaking but it went well, with the support of people who volunteered their services."

Young girls can become Rainbows from ages five to seven years, Brownies from seven to 10, Guides between 10 and 13 and then Rangers from 13 to the age of 20. Presently there is only one Rangers group in Bermuda - the First Bermuda Rangers - and the aim of the association is to increase the numbers amongst that age group in particular.

For the Guides there are three districts in Bermuda; Eastern, Central and Western, with eight groups in the east, 12 in the central parishes and six in the western. Attached to each of the groups are two or three Guiders.

"A Guider has to retire at 60 but they can still be active," explained Mrs. Liverpool who was a Brownie and then a Guide at Grace Church.

"Ruth Talbot was my Guide Guider and she is still out there but not as active. I firmly believe we have to keep this going, that's one of my first tasks.

"There is a decline in the Guide age. We have a lot of Rainbows and Brownies but it seems like when they go to the Guide section, which is middle school age, they find all sorts of other things to be involved with and that's where we lose them.

"My whole approach during my commissionership is to find ways of retaining the girls, making it more interesting so that they would want to stay. It's going to be a lot of work."

Added the Commissioner: "The other day somebody asked me what are Brownies, so there are people out there who don't know about us. First and foremost we need to get out there in the community and be more visible."

As Deputy Principal at Gilbert Institute, Mrs. Liverpool is constantly guiding young people.

"I just started my own Brownie Pack at Gilbert and I'm trying to get girls to join, I've got seven so far and soon will send flyers to other schools to see if any of them want to join as well," she stated.

"The Guide programme has changed, it's now called "Go for it and there are more activities and planning on the girls' behalf, so they are setting their own agenda in terms of what they want to do.

"Before, when I used to go to Guides, the Guide leaders had everything planned for us, but now planning takes place with the girls."

The uniforms of both the Brownies and Guides have also gone through radical changes over the years from the brown and blue outfits they used to wear.

Guides still travel overseas with 20 from Bermuda going to international camps in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico in 2000.

"This is a worldwide organisation, millions of people," Mrs. Liverpool revealed.

"In fact I'm involved in an exchange programme now because "Thinking Day" is coming up in February - that's when we celebrate Lord and Lady Baden Powell who were the founders - and every year we march in Hamilton.

"Next week we have Allison Robson from the headquarters in the UK coming here to do some training with the training team and talking to me about the Commissionership. It's more like a support system."

The Guides in Bermuda would not exist without the dedicated service given by the Guiders.

"It's all volunteer and they are with their units every week. faithfully," the Island Commissioner stressed. Myrna Postlethwaite is the Deputy Commissioner.

"She just opened a unit and I also have a unit, and although we are the Island Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner we still have units.

"Once you take on that commitment you have to be there, especially with the Rainbow and Brownies who look forward to coming to Brownies. I did Brownies and Guides when I was a girl and when I came back from school I worked with Vera Mills who was a Guider and I was her assistant.

"Now my daughter, who is 14, is in the Guides. She also did the Brownies and my son is in the Cub Scouts."

As part of their Duke of Edinburgh community service the Rangers will be doing some restoration interior work at the local Girl Guides headquarters this weekend, including painting.

Young leaders Deshae' Sampson Smith, 14, and 17-year-old Ashley Roe are thoroughly enjoying their time with the Rangers.

"At first I started Brownies because all my friends started it," said Ashley.

"With Girl Guides I didn't particularly want to get into it but I'm glad I did. I have met a lot of people through the Girl Guide Association and had the pleasure of going away on an international camp to Scotland. It was an excellent experience and is something I would recommend everybody at least try for.

"The Brownies I went to in St. George's no longer exists and I think I'm the only one who came this far.

"To prove how much I really do like it, I work in St. George's and my job wanted me to work from 11 to 5 on weekends and this (Rangers meeting) starts at 3 and I told my job I would work from 8 to 2, even though I hate waking up in the morning."

Said Deshae': "I'm very glad to have started Brownies, I started when I was seven and moved up to Guides. When I was at Brownies I really enjoyed it and was excited to go every week and couldn't miss it for anything.

"I couldn't wait to be a Girl Guide and then I always wanted to be a Ranger and I hope to continue. Every Saturday I come here and really enjoy it."

Strong friendships have been formed within the Rangers.

"Girls from different districts come and you meet people from all over the Island and get to know people better," said Deshae'.

"I think every girl should do it."

Racquel Emery, a Guider with the Rangers, enjoys giving back, having also started out as a Brownie.

"I was a Ranger myself and this is my fifth year working with the group," she stated.

There are 23 girls in the group and Ms Emery has three assistants working with her.

"This is the largest group I've had so far and it's very challenging because there are a lot of different personalities in the group. I'm just trying to teach everybody how to do things for themselves and be able to manage in the case that there is no-one around to help them.

"Some of them are at the stage where they are still young and don't really appreciate what we're trying to do for them. They come in at 14 and the levels of maturity are different."

Added Ms. Emery: "The group is working towards Duke of Edinburgh awards, most of them are doing the bronze and some are working on silver and one girl has completed everything for her silver award and will receive that in June.

"You have to be 14 years of age to start the awards programme at bronze level and each award has four sections: physical recreation, skill expedition and community service and for bronze you have to do a certain number of hours.

"As you increase to silver and gold the amount of time and effort that you have to put into it goes up. One girl, Lawriette Thomas, just completed all the requirements for her silver award."

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For further information on the Guides phone their headquarters at 292-0675.