New Troop Leader Newsletter - October 2023

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As you start this new membership year off as a new Girl Scout troop leader, I want to welcome you and thank you for providing a safe space for the girls in your troop to learn new things, have fun experiences, and seek challenges. If you are still in the process of growing your troop, be sure to use the Join My Troop flyer in the New Leader Rallyhood to invite new members to join or reach out to your GSNETX Membership Manager for help with finding new members.

We’re excited to announce that Build-A-Bear Workshops will be coming to the JoAnn Fogg Girl Scout Shop this month, featuring all your favorite Girl Scout bears and accessories! The Girl Scout Shop is now accepting Build-Your-Own Party reservations online. Questions? Email the GSNETX Shop at shop@gsnetx.org.

Save the date for the October New Leader Virtual Meetings on October 24 and 25.

You can find the times for the meetings, the Zoom link, and topics for the meeting in the Volunteer Learning section of the newsletter below. The September New Leader Virtual Meeting focused on training, new leader resources on the web and in your new leader kit, GSNETX support staff, and more. If you were unable to attend, you can find the PowerPoint in the New Leader Academy Facebook group.

We love questions! Connect with the New Leader Engagement Team at newtroop@gsnetx.org.

This Month's Topics    

Membership Volunteer Learning Product Sales Camp

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Programs, Events & Activities Girl Scout Traditions Patches of the Month Mental Health & Wellness Troop Leader Resources

Time to Get Back to Girl Scouts!

The new membership year started on October 1. If you are a second-year troop, do your members need to be renewed? Don’t let your Girl Scout memberships expire, these forever friendships are just getting started!

There’s so much more to explore with your Girl Scout crew. Sign up for another year today and keep the discovery going.

Renew Now

Register New Members Directly Into Your Troop Use the “Invite Friends to Join Your Troop” feature located in your MY GS account on the bottom of the page of the My Troop(s) tab. Your new members will be able to join directly into your troop regardless of whether the troop is listed online.

You can download the Join flyer from the Getting Started section of the New Leader Rallyhood and send to those interested. It includes instructions on how to register for your troop.

Women of Distinction Lucheon Friday, November 3, 2023, at the Hilton Anatole. Join us as we come together in-person on November 3 to celebrate outstanding women, men, and young women leaders of all ages, from high schoolers to grown adults, for their service in the community.

More Information

October New Leader Virtual Meeting Get the latest news and answers to your pressing questions, LIVE! You have two options to attend – Tuesday, October 24 at 7 pm or Wednesday, October 25 at noon. Topics will include opening a troop bank account, troop dues, leader resources, finding a Troop Cookie Manager, and more!

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/98769569379 Meeting ID: 987 6956 9379 Passcode: 222832 Explore More in gsLearn New Training and dates are live for registration. Log into gsLearn, our learning management system, from within your MY GS account. Click on the "Content Library" and view classes and video tutorials.

Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) Challenge The VTK Challenge is designed to give troop leaders a self-paced hands-on keyboard learning experience to better understand, navigate, and utilize the Volunteer Toolkit to its full potential. You can access this training by logging into your MY GS account and clicking on gsLearn.

Bonus: Complete the VTK Challenge and receive a patch created just for troop leaders!

GSLEARN

Rallyhood is an all-in-one platform that builds a more connected community by streamlining communication. You can find this training in gsLearn in mygs.

Rallyhood in MY GS

TR402: Protecting Our Girls This course is REQUIRED for all volunteers every 2 years. You can find this training in gsLearn in your mygs account.

TR402 Training

Does your troop plan on camping?

TR301: GSNETX Camping Certification This is a BLENDED LEARNING course, meaning you take the class by starting online in gsLearn (Part A), and finish by registering for an inperson part of the class that happens at one of our GSNETX Properties where you learn additional skills and do hands on learning (Part B).

Camp Training Part A

Camp Training Part B

TR401: First Aid/AED/CPR Certification This course is conducted by a certified First Aid/CPR/AED instructor whose First Aid course has been reviewed and meets GSUSA course

requirements. Any adult Girl Scout volunteer or parent may participate.

FIRST AID TRAINING

TR101: Meetings 101 Make & Take Our trainers offer tried and tested meeting tools and techniques for managing meetings and girls' behavior.

TR101 Meetings 101

GSNETX Learning Channel on Facebook Check out daily micro-content and pop-up learning events on this Facebook page. Look for these events:  

Follow GSNETX Learning Channel as they follow a troop earning the Simple Meals badge G.O.R.P Rededication/Investiture Ceremony

Learning Channel

2023 Fall Product Program Highlights    

The Fall Product Program is a sale for friends and family only.

It's all online - no booth sales or door to door sales.

There is no pre-ordering of inventory and no money collection.

Girls get to create their own avatar and send emails through their own personalized website for customers to order products.

The Fall Product Program ends October 31, 2023. If your troop is interested in participating in the 2023 Fall Product Program and/or the 2024 Cookie Program, please complete the 2023 -2024 Troop Fall Product + Cookie Program Participation Form.

Fall Product Information

Fall Product Family Guide

Participation Form

Troop Camping and Family Camping Family & Troop Camping is open for September - December. Registration for the January to May Spring Camping season is now open.

For Family Camping, Troop Camp Training is NOT required and First Aid/CPR/AED Certification is NOT required.

For Troop Camping, Troop Camp Training is required and First Aid/CPR/AED certificaton is required.

Weekend Camping

NEW LEADER EXCLUSIVE IN PERSON EVENT! NEW! Program Resource Guide First Year Leader and Girl Scout Day at the STEM Center We hear you! After receiving feedback from our Saturday, October 28, 2023 Girl Scouts andyour volunteers, Girl new friends and check out what You and Girl Scoutthe are GSNETX invited to make troop camping all about!

Don’tminds miss out on this special event where we will Programs Team putistheir creative feature of our favorite Girl Scout traditions together and some created this handy resource guide plus girls will get to go on the low ropes course and participate in a STEM activity designed especially for to help members plan for and navigate our them. council's many events and activities.

Be on the lookout for an invitation to be emailed directly to you with registration and event details by Friday, October 13. Event details will also be posted in New Leader Academy as well as on the calendar in the New Leader Rallyhood.

Visit our website to view the Program Resource Guide.* *New assets coming soon: Stay turned for a Spanish version of this guide, which will also include information on areas volunteers need most support in, including multicultural patches, DEIRJ topics, and community events with badge connection.

Program Resource Guide

Special GSNETX Performances Dallas Children's Theater has set up special performances for GSNETX for Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Saturday, October 14 (D/B/J/C/S/A) Mufaro's Daughters

International Day of the Girl Celebrate International Day of the Girl on October 11, 2023 GSUSA Resources

Workshops & Events Click on each image to see upcoming events sorted by your Girl Scout's program grade level (PGL).

Juliette Gordon Low's birthday or Founder's Day: Every year, Girl Scouts around the world honor the memory of our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, on her birthday, October 31. Some troops choose to celebrate the whole month, while others plan special events on or near the actual day of her birth, which is also known as Founder’s Day. For more ideas on how your troop can celebrate Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday check out the Ways to Celebrate Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday at the link below.

Ways to Celebrate Founder’s Day

GIRL SCOUT TRADITIONS

Juliette Gordon Low's Birthday Bash Take a tour with us through the Sullivan House at Dallas Heritage Village and learn how birthdays were celebrated in the late 19th century. It's still a birthday party after all though, so we'll have cupcakes, a tea party and crafts!

Register

Happy Birthday Juliette Gordon Low Patch Juliette Low imagined a movement where all girls could come together and embrace their unique strengths and passions—and as Girl Scouts has done since, she made that dream a reality.

She strongly believed that everything Girl Scouts do should unlock their full potential and raise their confidence.

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) This patch is designed for Girl Scouts of all levels and their leaders, to celebrate the cultural richness of all people in the U.S. whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Not a free patch. This patch is part of a five-part multicultural community patch.

ENGLISH

ESPAÑOL

New! Nature Cat Explorer Patch Earn a free Nature Cat Explorer patch by completing one activity from each character section: Nature Cat, Daisy, Squeeks, and Hal. Download the Girl Scout Explorer Patch Program Guide and get started on your outdoor adventure (like only Girl Scouts can do).

GS Explorer Patch Program Guide

Mindful Mini-breaks - Take a Breath For you and a young person in your life. Train your mind like a ‘mindfulness muscle’, by focusing and re-focusing your attention on your breath. Bring your concentration back to your breath each time your mind wanders off.

Say:  



Focus on your breath.

Every time you drift off or get lost in thought, simply notice it and then bring your focus back to your breathing.

Each time you get distracted, gently return your attention to your breath. It is okay, it takes practice to use your mindfulness muscle.

Mindfulness to Reduce School Stress!

Back-to-school is always a time met with mixed emotions, especially for the growing numbers of youth that struggle with feelings of anxiety and depression. Mindfulness techniques and strategies are a great addition to any young person’s toolbox.

Consider completing a 5-minute mindfulness practice with a young person in your life using the ReThink Care App. As a GSNETX volunteer, you have FREE access to 250+ science-based mini-courses covering a wide array of topics.

Create an Account

Info Center on Rallyhood This info center is a source for mental health and wellness articles, videos, activities, and info sheets. Resources from local and national experts in mental health and wellness will be added on a rolling basis. Volunteers and Caregivers are encouraged to share these resources broadly with

Troops and Service Units to help reduce mental health stigma and increase awareness.

Connect to Rallyhood and check out the Info Center.

INFO Center

Want to know more?

Contact GSNETX Mental Health and Wellness Manager, Brittany Kelly at bkelly@gsnetx.org.

Do you need a meeting place?

GSNETX service center meeting rooms are available for reservation through our Bookings system. To check the room's availability and acquire building access details, click on the room you want to reserve to view the availability calendar.

Book Your Meeting Room

Are you ready for a fun-filled Girl Scout year? Let's get started! 

Make sure you complete your new leader training and background

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check.

Let us know your troop meeting location, time, and days by submitting the Troop Update form.

Plan a Parent Meeting o Set expectations and guidelines and build a team. o Make sure you collect a Health History Form and a GS Troop Annual Permission Form for each Girl Scout. o Discuss Cookie Program participation. o Share troop finances with your parents. o Discuss a Troop Committee (get more adult volunteers if needed).

Plan your meetings with your co-leader Check out the Troop Year Planner o Use the Volunteer Toolkit located in your mygs account. o Check out gsEvents and the NEW Program Resource Guide. o Keep your Safety Activity Checkpoints, Volunteer Essentials, and Volunteer Policies and Procedures handy when planning activities. o Does an activity need approval? Use the Activity Approval Decision Tree. This flow chart will show you when you do (and when you do not) need to submit a GSNETX Activity Approval Form.

Follow the Bank Account Process to o Open a checking account. o Register your bank account with GSNETX . o

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Adding a New Leader to your troop?

Have you recently added a new volunteer as a co-leader to your troop?

Send your troop number, the name of your new co-leader, his/her email address, and phone number to newtroop@gsnetx.org with the subject heading New Leader/Co-leader for Troop XXXX SUXXX. We will make

sure your new leader gets trained and receives resources and support created especially for first year leaders.

Email

New Leader Rallyhood The New Leader Rallyhood has all the resources you need to get your troop up and running. You will find the new GSUSA Troop Year Plans, ideas for troop meetings, field trips, community service projects and so much more!

Find more resources, guides and more.

New Leader Rallyhood

Have a question? Don't be shy!

Contact us for more information.

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