Introducing the Delegation

Good Morning to All,

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce each of the members of our delegation.

Myrtle Corkum (Chief Commissioner) - I'm sure you all know (or know of) Myrtle, our Chief. She is excited about leading this talented delegation to Johannesburg in July. Myrtle will be arriving at the World Conference on her own as she will first attend the Commonwealth Chief Commissioner's Conference to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, immediately preceding the World Conference. Myrtle is familiar with the proceedings of a World Conference having attended the last one in Jordan in 2005. She has met may of her counterparts in various parts of the world and is looking forward to introducing you to them in South Africa.

Deborah Del Duca (Chief Executive Officer of GGC) - As our chief staff person, Deborah attends the World Conference to participate equally with other members of the delegation. Deborah has a great deal of international experience in and outside Guiding. She also attended the 32nd. World Conference in Jordan as well as the last 2 Western Hemisphere Conferences. She will be able to support Myrtle and the rest of the delegation in a number of areas, especially governance and procedural related matters. Deborah has been with GGC for 7 years now. Those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting her will be impressed with how well she understands GGC and our particular passion for Guiding.

Chris Burton (Chief Commissioner-Elect) - Chris was the last person to be selected to be part of the delegation to South Africa. On May 31st, at the joint meeting of the Board of Directors and Provincial Committee in Montreal, the election for the next Chief Commissioner was successfully conducted and Chris was elected to serve as Chief Commissioner-Elect for the next year. During this time, she is a full serving board director. She will assume the office of Chief Commissioner at the next annual general meeting which will be held in June 2009 in Halifax.

Enidd Isaac (National International Adviser - NIA) - Enidd has been our NIA for the past 2 years. Although you will quickly hear her Welsh accent, she has lived in Alberta for many years. Enidd participated in the Western Hemisphere Conference in Toronto last summer and is looking forward to expanding her international experience and knowledge during this upcoming 33rd. World Conference. As NIA she is responsible in large part for the initiatives GGC has in partnership with our twinning partner Dominica.

Bryanna Thiel - (Young Adult) - Bryanna (pronounced Bri (as in Brian).. Anna) lives in Vancouver where she is studying Global Resource Systems at UBC. She speaks French and German fluently and is conversant in Spanish. She is sure to be an asset when you communicate with new found friends in Johannesburg. Bryanna is well travelled and knowledgeable with a wide variety of global issues.

Susie Hawkins (Young Adult) - Susie teaches school in Qikiqtarjuaq in Nunavut north of Iqaluit. Susie calls St. John's, NL home and will depart from St. John's when she heads to Johannesburg. Susie speaks French fluently and brings to our delegation a knowledge of life in Canada's north, which will likely add an interesting component to considerations of other Member Organizations, where personal living situations can be challenging.

(Between Bryanna and Susie, I think we have the country well covered - from coast, to coast, to coast.)

One thing we all have in common is a long history with Girl Guides of Canada-Guide du Canada (GGC), a fact that will bring high quality understanding when reflecting the reality of GGC to your discussions.