Linking Leaders e-newsletter April 2014

April 2014

Volunteer Spotlight New Volunteer Spotlight....1 Veteran Volunteer Spotlight.......................................................1

Welcome to the first issue of Linking Leaders, a new e-newsletter just for the leaders of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. This monthly e-communication will feature a lot of information that is specific to the important role you play as leaders and mentors to the girls in our Council.

Volunteer Spotlight

In This Issue

Nat’l Volunteer Week..............1 GSSEF Program Calendar Supplement............................................ 2

Feeding Florida Together Food Drive........................................... 2 We Have A Story To Tell Journey in a Day!....................... 2

Summer Camp............................... 2

Adult & Leader Highlights BTC now TCT (Troop Camp Training)................................ 3

Meet Your Service Unit Volunteer Manager............... 4 Green Grapevine Permission Slip?............................... 4

Early Bird & Membership 2014-15 Early Bird Re-registration................................. 5

2014-15 GSSEF Girl & Adult Membership Fees.. 5

Calendar........................................ 6

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usan Mejia has been a leader for two years. This year she stepped up to the Royal Palm Registrar position and is making fire happen at the last Troop Camp Training! She actively welcomes and mentors newer leaders and helps forms troops within the Royal Palm Service Unit. Her enthusiasm is contagious!

Veteran Volunteer Spotlight

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r. Iris Payan is an experienced leader since 2002. Her energy and interest in getting more STEM activities to the girls is always a source of inspiration. She now volunteers as an Area 4 Facilitator and Registrar for the Pinetree Service Unit. You may have met her as our in-house Science-guru extraordinaire at the latest Camp-Tastic Solar Energy adventure!

National Volunteer Week

Have a volunte er yo u ational Volunteer Week is April 6 -12, and would like to recognize ? we want to say a big THANK YOU to you, Email: our Girl Scout Leaders, for all that you do for girls vo lun te er@gssef.org throughout our Council. Your positive energy, attitude and spirit is appreciated throughout the year. Check your inbox for special messages throughout that week.

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Calendar

Early Bird Re-registration Reminders................................................ 5

New Volunteer Spotlight

Early Bird & Membership

Adult Learning Electives... 3

Every month, we are showcasing a new and a veteran volunteer who exemplifies the Girl Scout mission and serves as a role model for other leaders.

Adult & Leader Highlights

Planning a Trip to Savannah?........................................... 2

Volunteer Spotlight

Programs at a Glance

Programs at a Glance

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GSSEF Program Calendar Supplement

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Feeding Florida Together Food Drive

We Have A Story To Tell—Journey in a Day!

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Planning a Trip to Savannah and Need Some Resources?

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Summer Camp the Girl Scout Way!

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heck out all the great programs we’re offering at camp, click here. Make sure you let your girls and parents know this will be a summer to remember!

2014

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida

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isiting the Girl Scout Birthplace is an incredible journey for our girls, but sometimes we’re not sure where to start. Not anymore! GSSEF has created partnerships with several travel services in the Savannah area. They can help with everything from transportation to hotel accommodations to special discounts available for Girl Scouts! Contact Stacy Sturgis at 912-7215171 or Stacy.Sturgis@hilton.com to plan your Savannah tour. Need help with your itinerary?

Contact Linda Mitchell with Classic South East Tours at 1-888-267-8224 or linda@classictours.com.

Early Bird & Membership

oin us on May 3 at Camp Nocatee to explore “It’s Your Story, Tell It!” Journey all in one day! This Journey series gives girls the opportunity to tell their stories through a range of creative approaches. It’s designed to strengthen a girl’s sense of herself and boost her capacity to seek and meet challenges in the world. Each Girl Scout will participate in age appropriate workshops to complete their grade-level leadership awards. Spritz on some sunscreen, plan a picnic lunch and pack up for a fun-filled, self-discovery day! To register, visit eCouncil.

Adult & Leader Highlights

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id you know that 949,910 South Floridians struggle with hunger? By joining together, we can help combat hunger! Join us throughout the month of April for our Council-wide community service project to collect food donations for agencies in need. It’s never too late to start collecting canned goods. Click here for the flyer and all the details.

Programs at a Glance

his tool was requested by volunteers in order to make finding the perfect Girl Scout program easier to do! No matter how long you have been volunteering, we have designed this to be a helpful supplement to the Online Program Calendar – complete with Have questio simple-to-follow online registration instructions, too. ns about a Pr ogram? Con •Now, parents and volunteers can scroll through four your Area Mission tact D e liv e ry Manager: •Area 1: Me months of upcoming programs and read the full redith Slayma ker mslaymaker@ program description prior to referencing it on the g ss ef .o rg •Area 2: Dem eCouncil Registration system – and before i Clemmons d cl e m m o ns@gssef.org completing registration with a debit or credit card. •A reas 3 & 4: K elli Lunsford •Look for updates! As we move through our Girl klunsford@gss ef.org or Cata Scout year together, we will post refreshed lina Cano ccano@gssef.o rg supplements, so you can look ahead and keep on planning with your girls! We are scheduling three annual issues of the supplements for: (1) Jan. – May, (2) June – Aug., and (3) Sept. – Dec. •Check out the GSSEF Program Calendar Supplement for more information, click here.

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Not the Same ol’ S’mores! BTC now TCT (Troop Camp Training)

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ove camping? Want to go camping with your Troop? Then Troop Camp Training is for you! Basic Troop Camp Training (BTC) is now Troop Camp Training (TCT). TCT has three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. Completion of TCT is required by one adult volunteer in your Troop in order to go camping. Basic and Intermediate TCT classes are offered this month (see below).

Basic TCT - Saturday, April 12 at 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Become certified to camp! Focus on fire building, basic cooking, safety issues and outdoor skills.

Location: Camp Welaka, 10205 Girl Scout Way, Tequesta, FL 33469 12 Cost: $25 per adult - Food (lunch) and supplies included Information on what to know before will be sent to you prior to the event. To register, click here.

Intermediate TCT - Saturday, April 12 at 9 a.m. – Sunday, April 13 at 10 a.m.

To expand your skills, this will introduce tent camping, knife skills, knots and advanced cooking techniques. Completion of BTC Basic or test-out approval from Council is a pre-requisite.

Location: Camp Welaka,10205 Girl Scout Way, Tequesta, FL 33469 13 Cost: $30 per adult - Food (lunch, dinner and breakfast) and supplies included Information on what to know before will be sent to you prior to the event. To register, click here.

Working through Girl Conflict (Online) - Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m.

With groups of girls, conflict can occur. You will find times when getting girls to agree can be an impossible task. Learn some tips and tricks to resolve those group conflicts.

11 Cost: $3 per adult - To register, click here. Email with login information will be sent prior.

Outdoor Cooking for CSA Leader - Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m.

Bronze Award Workshop - Saturday, April 12 at 4 p.m.

Learn about how you can help your girls achieve the Bronze Award, the beginning to earning Gold!

Location: Crispers, 5810 South University Drive #121, Davie, FL 33328 12 Cost: $3 per adult - To register, click here.

Girl Scouts and Social Media (Online) - Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Visit the Adult Le

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ning Learn the how to’s, do's and don'ts of social media when using it for Girl Scouts. calendar for all class listin gs.

Cost: $3 per adult - To register, click here.

Questions abou 29 Email with login information will be sent prior. t adult learning?

Email volunte er@ gssef.org

Calendar

End of Year Troop Reports (in-person or online) - Monday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m.

NEW Join us for a staff-led class to review the new online End of Year reporting requirements for troops.

Bring your lap-top to join us in-person or join us via online!

Location: Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 21 Cost: Free (pre-registration is required) - To register, click here.

Early Bird & Membership

Learn to cook a turkey in a trash can! Gain some specialty cooking techniques for your CSA campers. BTC or TCT- Basic certification is required of all participants.

Location: Tree Tops Park, 3900 SW 100th Ave., Davie, FL 33328* *$1.50 park admission per person 12 Cost: $10 per adult - To register, click here.

Adult & Leader Highlights

Adult Learning Electives

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What are Service Unit Volunteer Managers (SUVM) ?

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he Service Unit Volunteer Manager (SUVM) recruits, supports and leads a team of volunteers who deliver a quality Girl Scout experience for the adults and girls in a geographic area. The SUVM leads the Service Unit with a clear vision that is consistent with the Girl Scout mission and the policies and procedures of GSSEF and GSUSA. The SUVM’s are appointed by the MDM-Volunteerism and work closely with the Council staff to improve the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. They do this by providing new or more programming ideas for girls, by reaching out through you to the volunteers and leaders in your Service Unit, as well as through the recruitment efforts that you help implement and support. The SUVM, like other SU leadership positions, are appointed for a one-year renewable term.

Service Unit Leadership Teams often define their own style and For more inform ation on this manner of work. The SUVM ensures the team’s talents complement Leadership Volu nte er role, one another, that work is delegated appropriately and team or if you are un sure who members can be their best and shine. They can offer advice, help, your SUVM is, e diffuse Troop conflict and answer a lot of questions you may have mail: volunte er@gssef as a leader. They are a great resource and happy to help. .org

Dear Green GrapevineI am a Leader, and I was told I need to have my girls get a signed permission slip for each activity we do, outside of our weekly Troop meetings. Is this true, and if so, why?

Yours in Scouting, Maye B. Able

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This incredible ceremony honors our top adult volunteers with the Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks and Thanks II, and girls who earn the Silver and Gold Awards.

Location: Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 Cost: $5 per adult - To register, click here.

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Calendar

Annual Recognition Ceremony - Friday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Early Bird & Membership

t may seem like a lot of work, but Girl Scout Safety guidelines indicate, “When an activity takes place that is outside the normal time and place, advise each parent/guardian of the details of the activity and obtain permission for girls to participate” (Volunteer Essentials Manual, p. 46).

Completing and signing a permission slip for each activity outside of the usual Troop meeting provides an exchange of important information between the parents and the Troop leader. The leader is provided the most current emergency contact information, which today, with busy families can vary from day-to-day. Parents receive pertinent details about where their child will be, with whom and for how long. They also get information about any additional money, Have questions special clothes or equipment she may need. In addition to parental permission, al nt re a p g tin et g the girl also attests to the Girl Behavioral Agreement where she agrees to take about permission or responsibility for her actions and to uphold the Girl Scout promise and Law il: a Em s? m ra g ro when she is participating in Girl Scout activities. The Leader has these about p rg program@gssef.o documents and keeps them safe but accessible throughout the duration of the activity. Click here for the Permission Form.

Adult & Leader Highlights

Green Grapevine - Permission Slip?

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2014-15 Early Bird Re-registration Open April 15 – May 31

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arly Bird Re-registration is an opportunity for currently registered girls and adults to re-register for 2014-15 Girl Scout year which begins October 1, 2014 and earn awesome incentives!

The theme for this year is “Roaring Into Girl Scouts.” This theme captures both Katy Perry’s song and an exclusive event at Lion Country Safari. Early Bird troops can receive the following: •Entry to an EXCLUSIVE program event at Lion Country Safari. The first 2,500 girls who re-register as an Early Bird will receive a ticket (value $35) to this event on October 11 at Lion Country Safari.* •Every girl who participates in Early Bird will receive a chance to win three floor seats to the July 2 Katy Perry concert, along with limousine transportation to and from the show! These seats will allow one girl to bring a friend and a chaperone. Winner will be notified by June 2.

•Troops who participate in Early Bird will receive additional proceeds on EVERY BOX SOLD during the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Sale. Register between April 15-30 and receive 3 additional cents per box. Register in the month of May and receive 1 additional cent per box. * •Every Early Bird girl participant will receive the 2014-2015 Early Bird Patch. *Must meet Early Bird Re-registration requirements.

Early Bird Re-registration Reminders

2014-15 GSSEF Girl and Adult Membership Fees

Calendar

•The GSSEF girl membership fee for 2014-2015, beginning with the launch of Early Bird, is $30.

This includes the $15 membership fee that goes directly to Girl Scouts of the USA and the $15 Council Service Fee, which will stay with the Council.

•The GSSEF adult membership fee for 2014-2015 is $15. This $15 membership fee goes directly to Girl Scouts of the USA. •All 2014-2015 membership fees will take effect during Early Bird registration beginning April 15, 2014. ? •No girl will be denied access to Girl Scouts because of an inability to pay ird B y rl Ea ut o b Questions a the cost of membership. GSSEF will continue to make financial assistance Contact available to families that qualify, beginning October 1, 2014 for the 2014 etzel Rhonda Lang N 2015 membership year. .org at rnetzel@gssef

Early Bird & Membership

•All individually registered girls and troops must submit their online re-registration with payment by 11:59 p.m. on May 31 to be considered an Early Bird.

•Troops must re-register 80 percent of their currently registered girls to be eligible for the Lion Country Safari, 3-cent and 1-cent 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Sale incentives.

•All Troop Leaders will receive an email on April 15 with a link to the GSSEF membership database, e-Council, to view their roster and Can’t remembe r your complete the re-registration transaction. e-Council login?

That’s ok!

•The Council Service Fee (CSF) will be included for each girl re-registration (click here for more information about CSF).

Just email: •Click here for the step-by-step instruction guide to access e-Council volunte er@gssef .org to complete your Early Bird Re-registration.

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April S

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Gold & Silver Award Projects Due Food Drive Starts Basic TCT Bronze Workshop Working Through Outdoor Cooking Girl Conflict Nat’l Volunteer Wk Ends Elective

Nat’l Volunteer Wk Starts Intermediate TCT Thin Mint Sprint Palm Sunday

Easter

End of Year Troop Report Elective

Early Bird Begins Passover

Good Friday

Earth Day

Annual Recognition Ceremony

GS and Social Media Online Elective

Food Drive Ends

May S

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S We Have a Story to Tell Program

Cinco De Mayo

Gems of STEM Luncheon

Armed Forces Day

Mother’s Day

Calendar

GSSEF Closed for Memorial Day

Early Bird Ends