Welcome to The 2012-13 GS Express – Central edition! This publication is provided for a broad Central Region audience – including Regional & Community volunteers, as well as parents and girls - and often includes short-term and local opportunities. If you would like to let other Central Region or Council-wide Communities know about opportunities you are planning, send the details to your regional Strategic Partners for inclusion in the next edition of GS Express! GS Express DOES NOT replace Volunteer Connection, so continue to watch for Volunteer Connection in your email the 1 st Friday of each month. Not receiving Volunteer Connection? Go to GSNENY.org and enter your email address in the green box on the left margin to sign up for our newsletter. As always we welcome your feedback on this tool. Please email your thoughts to [email protected]. ANNOUNCEMENTS: BUSINESS HOURS Service Center and office hours are as follows: 8:30a-4:30p, Monday to Friday. Our Queensbury Administrative Assistant is available 10a-2p daily to assist with store orders and other transactions. FEEDBACK FORUM! Don’t forget to answer our Feedback Forum questions for this month for a chance to win a gift card. See page 3 for details! PRODUCT SALES REMINDERS/UPDATES Did you know Friday, February 8 th is National Girl Scout Cookie Day? National GS Cookie Day is the day when we all celebrate the GS Cookie program and our delicious products! Watch for exciting news and information on GSNENY’s Facebook page and on the cover of the February Volunteer Connection. Be sure to tell everyone you know! Volunteers: Did your troop reserve cookie booths in eBudde yet? If not, now is the time! And be sure to watch eBudde for news and information about credit card training for troops. This is a very handy tool to have at your booths, don’t miss it! Volume 2, Issue 19 February 6, 2013 THE GS EXPRESS CENTRAL EDITION Announcements: 1 Product Sales Reminders/Updates 1 Adult information & opportunities 1-3, 5-7 Membership Challenges 2 Girl programs & opportunities 2-6, 8-10 Last Call Opportunities 6 Service opportunities 6 Feedback Forum 6 Regional Team Directory & Vacancy List 8
Transcript
Welcome to The 2012-13 GS Express – Central edition! This publication is provided
for a broad Central Region audience – including Regional & Community volunteers, as well as parents and girls - and often includes short-term and local opportunities. If you would like to let other Central Region or Council-wide Communities know about opportunities you are planning, send the details to your regional Strategic Partners for inclusion in the next edition of GS Express!
GS Express DOES NOT replace Volunteer Connection, so continue to watch for Volunteer Connection in your email the 1st Friday of each month. Not receiving Volunteer Connection? Go to GSNENY.org and enter your email address in the green box on the left margin to sign up for our newsletter.
As always we welcome your feedback on this tool. Please email your thoughts to [email protected].
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
BUSINESS HOURS Service Center and office hours are as follows: 8:30a-4:30p, Monday to Friday. Our Queensbury Administrative Assistant is available 10a-2p daily to assist with store orders and other transactions.
FEEDBACK FORUM! Don’t forget to answer our Feedback Forum questions for this month for a chance to win a gift card. See page 3 for details!
PRODUCT SALES REMINDERS/UPDATES Did you know Friday, February 8th is National Girl Scout Cookie Day? National GS Cookie Day is the day when we all celebrate the GS Cookie program and our delicious products! Watch for exciting news and information on GSNENY’s Facebook page and on the cover of the February Volunteer Connection. Be sure to tell everyone you know!
Volunteers: Did your troop reserve cookie booths in eBudde yet? If not, now is the time!
And be sure to watch eBudde for news and information about credit card training for troops. This is a very handy tool to have at your booths, don’t miss it!
Volume 2, Issue 19
February 6, 2013
THE GS EXPRESS
CENTRAL EDITION
Announcements: 1 Product Sales Reminders/Updates 1 Adult information & opportunities 1-3, 5-7 Membership Challenges 2 Girl programs & opportunities 2-6, 8-10 Last Call Opportunities 6 Service opportunities 6 Feedback Forum 6 Regional Team Directory & Vacancy List 8
DO YOU LOVE JOURNEYS? We want to hear about your favorite Journey experiences!
Email [email protected] with your photos and stories. We want to spread the word and share ideas so please tell us what you have tried and
enjoyed TODAY!
The Central Region Team invites you to participate in Membership Challenges for the 2013 Membership Year! There are many ways to welcome new Girl Scout members into our region/communities, and to retain our current membership.
Challenge #1: Express Troop Community Teams can identify an area for an Express Troop. Express Troops are short-term troops (6-8 weeks in duration); resource packets for Daisies, Brownie and Junior level Express Troops are available. The Express Troop must be made up of girls new to Girl Scouting and the troop must have its first meeting between January 1, 2012-March 15, 2013. The Community Girl Recruiter, Community Chair, Troop Leader or the team member who led the Express troop getting started will be entered in a drawing to receive a gift certificate!
Challenge #2: Winter Ball Girls bring a friend and have a chance to wear their winter finest to mix and mingle with their Girl Scout friends and their guests. Older girls run the event. The Winter Ball should occur between January 1, 2012-March 15, 2013. Communities that add a minimum of 8 new girls will be entered into a drawing to receive materials for an ice cream party for the girls and the friends they bring into Girl Scouts, as well as other fun goodies!
Challenge #3: Volunteer Spa Night Communities are encouraged to recruit new adult volunteers into Girl Scouting. Whether it’s new Troop Leaders, or Community Team positions, adults are integral to the success of a girl’s experience in Girl Scouting. Communities can host adult recruitment nights, Bring a Friend events for volunteers, etc. Communities that add a least 8 new adults between January 1-March 31, 2013 will be entered into a drawing to receive materials to have a Community Team Spa Night! The Spa Night will be a great way to celebrate volunteer appreciation month in April!
In order to be considered for prizes/incentives, you must make the Strategic Partnerships – Central Team aware of participation. If you have questions or need further information, please contact your Central
GSNENY Travel Programs are open to all girls! Please check the programs online to see the registration deadlines. Our travel program themes include:
Adventure Art and Culture
Far and Away
Future Focused
Nature Lovers
Science Service
Programs in orange – registration closes soon so register now!
Theme Age Level(s) Name of Program
2013 Dates Price Description
Science Brownie
Junior
ECHO Lake Overnight
5/4 – 5/5
6/8 – 6/9
$45 per girl
$45 per adult
Girls in previous programs have loved the live animal demonstrations, conducting science experiments that they can’t do in school, and sleeping away from home!
Science Brownie
Junior
Boston Museum of Science Overnight
5/18 – 5/19
5/31 – 6/1
6/1 – 6/2
$60 per girl
$60 per adult
Brownie and Junior troops can travel to the BMOS to sleep among the exhibits. The girls visit the planetarium, play with static electricity, and attend a variety of hands-on workshops.
Adventure Junior Amazing GS Race:
NYC 6/28 – 6/30
$485 per girl
$485 per adult
($25 deposit)
Girls will bridge to Cadettes at the Girl Scout National Headquarters in New York on Friday and then will spend part of the weekend exploring the city with an Amazing Race: NYC program.
Science Cadette
Boston Museum of Science Teen
Overnight 3/23 – 3/24
$60 per girl
$60 per adult
Enjoy exciting science demonstrations, interactive experiments, and hands-on workshops throughout the evening. This teen-exclusive date is only for 6th-8th grade GS.
Art and Culture
Cadette Boston: Art Exploration
4/19 – 4/20 $95 per girl
Girls will travel to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts for a day of art viewing and private studio time to create their own piece of art. They will then have free time to tour the city before returning home.
Nature Lovers
Cadette San Diego Animal
Adventure 7/21 – 7/26
$1875 per girl
$1875 per adult
($100 deposit)
Girls will have a backstage pass to one of the biggest zoos in the world – the San Diego zoo. They will then journey to Sea World to explore marine life, before taking San Diego by storm!
Nature Lovers
Adventure
Cadette BREATHE That Sea Breeze: Cape Cod
8/19 – 8/21 $400 per girl Girls will travel to The Cape for three days of biking, swimming, boating, and visiting the National Seashore for environmental programs and time to enjoy the last rays of sunshine.
Science
Cadette
Senior
Ambassador
ECHO Lake Teen Overnight
4/13 – 4/14 $45 per girl
$45 per adult
The ECHO Overnight will include demonstrations, hands- on activities, and games, facilitated by ECHO center staff, focusing on STEM and Environmental Education.
Art and Culture
Far and Away
Senior
Come Together: Sangam, India
2013 6/25 – 7/6
$3500 per girl
$3500 per adult
($250 deposit)
The girls attending the trip will stay at Sangam World Center in Pune and will participate in a culturally-themed program called “Essence of India.” The group will then see the Taj Mahal and explore New Delhi before returning home.
Adventure Senior 25 Dollar
Challenge: NYC 5/3 – 5/4 $80 per girl
Most people think that $25 can't go very far, especially in New York City. However, we know that GSNENY girls can work within a budget to enjoy a day trip to the city with style!
Service
Far and Away
Senior
Ecuador 2014: Culture, Cloud Forests, and
Collaboration
2014 $2500 per girl Online Information Session: March 6, 2013
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/928121840
Future Focused
Senior
Ambassador
It’s Your Future: College 101
2/27, 3/13, 3/27
$20 per girl This series at the Albany Service Center will prepare girls for applications, essays, and everything they (and parents) need to know about college from professionals.
Future Focused
Service
Ambassador
Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge
8/4 – 8/10 $600 per girl
GSNENY will embark on a journey to construct new homes for those in need with Habitat for Humanity's Collegiate Challenge in PA, ME or NJ!
TROOP TRAVEL REPORTS – COLLECTING NOW! Has your troop been on an amazing trip in your community, state or abroad? Would you like to share your experience with other troops and volunteers? We are looking to our volunteers to gather all of your great troop travel experiences! We are building a database full of great tips and information that we can share with volunteers who are looking to travel. If you are interested in sharing your troop, community, or regional travel experience, please take a few minutes to complete the optional survey below. If you have any questions please feel free to contact [email protected] . Survey link: http://girlscouts.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bvzReN6MUjmMjSB
AMERICAN RED CROSS BABYSITTING COURSE Do you have any girls or troops that may be interested in taking the course? Contact Laura Archambault at [email protected] or by phone at (518)456-213
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT NUTRITION! Local supermarkets are offering girls the opportunity to come into the grocery store and learn about healthy eating! For more information please contact: Elicia McMullen – ShopRite of Niskayuna: [email protected]; (518)-491-0050
UPCOMING TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TROOPS Are you a troop leader that is looking for a great end-of-year program for your girls? Have you raised a bunch of cookie money and need to use it? The Travel Pathway will be hosting four different trips for GSNENY troops, friends, and families – any registered Girl Scout (or person that registers as a Girl Scout) can attend! These trips are up-and-coming:
April 6th - Boston Aquarium Day (open to all levels) April 20th – NYC Scavenger Hunt (open to all levels – must have groups of between 5-10 people) May 11th – 12th – Philly Animal Adventure and History Hunt (Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors) June 15th – 16th – Niagara Falls and Zoo Snooze (Brownies and Juniors)
For more information about any of these trips (logistics, prices, specifics), please attend our informational webinar on Tuesday, February 12th at 7:00 pm. Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/560993977
THERE IS A TROOP FOR EVERYONE!! We are proud to launch our new troop models. We realize that there are times the traditional troop does not meet the needs of all girls and volunteers therefore we are piloting new options for everyone interested in the Troop Pathway. The new models include the Shared Leadership Model, the Multi-Level Model and the Express Troops for the Daisy, Brownie and Junior levels.
What is a Shared Leadership troop? The Shared Leadership Troop is used when the leadership team for a Girl Scout troop consists of a large group of adults. Adults create their own Shared leadership structure to meet their needs and the needs of their girls. Maybe you are good at record-keeping or you like to do stuff behind the scenes. Maybe you like the leader role but you need some assistance to pull it off. This model is for you!
What is a Multi-Level troop? A Multi-level Troop is a troop with a combination of Girl Scouts of different grade-levels. We have the tools to help you manage your troop and keep it fun for all the girls at all levels!
What is an Express troop? The Express Troop uses the traditional troop model (which consists of two unrelated adults serving as troop leaders), but instead of the usual 10 month to year round troop commitment the express troop gives the girls the opportunity to explore Girl Scouts in a condensed time period of 6-8 weeks. We are piloting this model for the Daisy, Brownie and Junior level Girl Scouts.
Look for these resources on our website under resources, http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Troop-Model-Overview.pdf
CALL TO COMMUNITY SERVICE LAST CALL! Each year the hospital receives over 5000 handmade Valentine’s Day cards for our Veterans, in celebration of “National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans” week, held February 1st through 15th.
This year we will be decorating 6-8 large billboards with the cards in addition to filling about 100 small gift bags for visitors to use in handing out the cards to our Veterans. I am looking for youth groups and adult leaders that would be interested in coming in one evening or on a Sunday (2/10/13) to sort cards, record donor names, decorate the boards and fill the bags. This is a huge undertaking each year and we could certainly use all the help we can get. If you have any questions please feel free to Contact: James J. Keller Jr.at 518-626-5506, [email protected]
GOLD AWARD REMINDER Girls planning to be recognized at the May 2013 Gold Award Ceremony must submit their Gold Award Final Report by February 27, 2013. This will give the Silver & Gold Committee Members time to review the Final Report and to approve or make recommendations for your revisions. This also allows time for all certificates and letters from officials to be requested for your Awards Packets.
BEHIND THE SCENES: MEADER LITTLE THEATER Did you hear?! We are offering another Behind the Scenes opportunity for Cadettes!
Come explore the theatre at Russell Sage College! Join the Theatre Institute at Sage for workshops in Improvisation, Costume Design, Scenic Design and Musical Theatre. Get a closer look at the creative process as the director, Michael Musial and the cast of The Mystery of Edwin Drood invite you into their rehearsal. Experience the process, and talk with the actors about their work and their lives. Cost of the workshop includes a ticket and backstage tour for The Mystery of Edwin Drood in the Meader Little Theatre at Russell Sage College in April!
Adult tickets to Behind the Scenes do not include ticket to The Mystery of Edwin Drood or the backstage tour. Adult tickets to the performance and backstage tour can be purchased separately.
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2013 Time: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm Location: Russell Sage College Cost: $25.00/girl, $17.00/adult Minimum: 30 girls Maximum: 70 girls Registration Deadline: March 1, 2013
FEEDBACK FORUM *NEW FOR FEBRUARY!*
We want to hear from you! Check this box regularly for new questions and topics.
This month’s question:
On what one topic would you like support from Volunteer Learning?
Send your feedback to:[email protected], stop by our office and drop your answer into our feedback box, call our Feedback Hotline at 1.888.447.6369,
or call your regional SP team. Every month one lucky winner will be selected to win a prize!
(Feedback can be given anonymously; however, anonymous comments cannot be entered into our monthly drawing)
GSUSA has developed these new resources. *all information below is from http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/quickstart/
Girl Scout troops have always been a special part of girls’ lives in kindergarten and elementary school. What makes the experience so fun and exciting? How many times they get together? The number of badges they earn? The number of trips they take or crafts they make?
The answer? None of the above!
Here’s what’s special about troops: They offer girls the power and joy of teaming up, trying new things, creating their own adventures—all while making the world a better place.
Based on 100 years of organizing troops, Girl Scouts of the USA has identified 10 “essential elements” for creating a high-quality and fun-filled experience for girls.
Just click on the Daisy, Brownie, or Junior button below for your online toolkit of resources.
Thank you for volunteering to help girls lead in their daily lives, in their communities, and in the world that opens up before them as they grow!
NATIONAL ADULT AWARDS It’s that time of year again - time for National Adult Awards! Updated information about the GSUSA National Adult Awards is posted on our website and mentioned in Volunteer Connections. We would like to see a great turn out this year since there are many volunteers in our Communities that deserve these awards! Information on each award and how they can be earned, can be found in the separate attachment which was emailed with this week’s GS Express. The deadline to receive award nominations is Friday March 1st. Nominations can be sent to [email protected]. Please help in spreading the word about National Adult Awards, so we can honor the volunteers that make Girl Scouting possible for our girls!
PROGRAM REGISTRATION REMINDER: Please remember that any girl who attends a program in any Pathway (Camp-Outdoor, Series, Event, Troop, Travel or Product Sales) must be registered for that specific program. GSNENY covers all girls who are registered for the program with our insurance policy, and we need the information we request (such as emergency contacts and health forms) for each girl attending. We also plan our programs to be age-appropriate. Substituting another girl who is not registered and/or who is of a different Girl Scout level leads to safety concerns for us on the Council level, and sending girls to programs who are not registered is also a safety and liability concern. Please take the time to register all girls appropriately for programs, and please do not send substitutions for girls who cannot attend. If a registration transfer to another girl is necessary, however, all information must be submitted in writing (email or fax) at least 96 hours before the program starts. Thank you!
Zack Ogden, Warren County Regional Accounting Committee Leader (RACL) The Warren County RACL supports the Community Accounting Coordinators in the Communities of Warren County, providing tools, strategies and resources as well as support with spring Finance reports. If your Warren County CAC needs assistance, please reach out to Zack.
Regional Team Vacancies (volunteer) Regional Chair
Regional Accounting Committee Leader, Saratoga County
Regional Accounting Committee Leader, Washington County
Membership & Community Development Leader
LDM Consultant Manager
LDM Consultant
Girl Mentor Manager
Adult Recruiter Coordinator
New Volunteer Mentor Coordinator
Leadership Experience Coach Manager
These are professional-level volunteer management positions. If you are interested or want to learn more about a position, please contact a member of the Regional Strategic Partnerships Staff.
Staff:
Gina Peattie, Central Regional Manager Gina’s office is located in Halfmoon, though she’s a frequent visitor in Albany as well. In her role as Regional Manager she oversees the work of the Regional Volunteer Committee, in addition to coordinating the work of the other Regional Staff-Members. You can reach Gina at [email protected].
Erin Trombley, Strategic Partner – Membership & Service Delivery Erin is the primary SP contact for Communities in Warren and Washington Counties, including South Glens Falls/Corinth/Hudson Falls/Ft. Edward (Community 301). Erin is located in the Queensbury Service Center and can be reached by email at [email protected].
Sarah Ibrahimi, Strategic Partner – Membership & Service Delivery Sarah is the primary SP contact for Saratoga County including Stillwater/Mechanicville/Schaghticoke (Community 165). Sarah is located in the Halfmoon office and can be reached by email at [email protected].
Membership & Service Delivery Strategic Partners directly and indirectly provide tools and resources to
volunteers to ensure every girl gets the Leadership Experience GSUSA intends for her to have; we work
with volunteers & other staff-members to give Communities the tools they need to support recruitment and
retention goals through excellent program! We will also be visiting our Communities more regularly to
deliver resources and create partnerships. Though we now have a primary SP – MSD for each Community,
all SP team-members are knowledgeable & can assist you.
As we continue to search for Regional Committee volunteers, the Strategic Partnerships team is available to
Community Team-members to provide support on how to use the National Program Portfolio, matching of
independent girls, new girl requests to join, membership reporting, completion of Money-Earning & Travel
paperwork and event/program planning. How can we help you?
