January 2016
Volunteer Spotlight ................1
Programs at a Glance
Brownie SWAPS Across the Country......................................3
Adult & Leader Highlights
Volunteer Spotlight
Every month, we showcase a volunteer who exemplifies the Girl Scout mission and serves as a role model for other leaders.
As we close one year and look forward to another great year of Girl Scouting we want to celebrate YOU.
Adult Learning.........................5 Troop Camp Training............5 Save the Date: Volunteer Weekend.........................................5 Presidents Volunteer Service Award.........................................6 2016 Adult Recognition Nominations............................6
Because of you she makes a Promise and keeps it.
Membership
Calendar.............................9
Because of you The Girl Scout Volunteer.
Thank you for all that YOU do. We hope you and your family have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season and look forward to a bright, new year!
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Submit Troop or Volunteer News here!
Because of you she goes into the world and changes it.
Membership
Membership Update............7 GSSEF’s Growing Membership............................7 Are You Ready for Cookie Season?........... .............................8 Bling Your Booth....................8 Retail Store Clearance.........8 Winter Bounce Back Promotion...............................8
Because of you she learns a Law and lives it.
Adult & Leader Highlights
Green Grapevine-Troop Treasury....................................4
Programs at a Glance
#CookieBoss...........................2 Cookie Entrepreneur............2 Mall Madness Registration Now OPEN................................3
We’d love to hear what you’re doing with your girls! Send us an email or post on Facebook! Feel free to contact Rachel Goossens with comments, pictures or ideas at rgoossens@gssef.org. All of the Linking Leaders issues are archived in the Volunteer Vault here for easy reference.
Spotlights
Spotlight
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#CookieBoss: Daisies, Brownies, Juniors
The program registration will close Monday, January 4, 2016 or immediately upon reaching program capacity, whichever occurs first. Be sure to have a healthy breakfast and protein packed lunch as you enjoy your day filled with all things Cookie Business! Questions? Contact Meredith Slaymaker mslaymaker@gssef.org or Catalina Cano ccano@gssef.org.
Cookie Entrepreneur: Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors
The program registration will close Monday, January 4, 2016 or immediately upon reaching program capacity, whichever occurs first. Be sure to have a healthy breakfast and protein packed lunch as you enjoy your day filled with all things Cookie Business! Questions? Contact Lammy Askar at aaskar@ gssef.org
Calendar
Who: Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors Date and Time: January 9, 2016 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. Location: Imagine Schools Chancellor Campus, 3333 High Ridge Rd., Boynton Beach Cost: $28/girl (includes supplies, badge, patch and snacks) Register Now!
Membership
Registration is now open! GSSEF and the America Business Women’s Association (AWBA) of Coral Springs invite you to spend a day learning all about how to be a Cookie Entrepreneur! Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on, interactive workshops with some of the top female leaders in the community. In these sessions, girls will earn full components to national badges in their respective levels: Cadettes: Business Plan Seniors: My Portfolio (some pre-work will be required) Ambassadors: P & L
Adult & Leader Highlights
Who: Daisies, Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts Date and Time: January 9, 2016 from 12:030-4:30 p.m. Location: Imagine Schools Chancellor Campus, 3333 High Ridge Rd., Boynton Beach Cost: $28/girl (includes supplies, patch and snacks) Register Now!
Programs at a Glance
Registration is now open! Be the Boss! During #CookieBoss you’ll discover how the Girl Scout Cookie Program can connect you to all the skills you’ll need in the future. Girls will participate in hands-on, interactive learning activities to sharpen their skills and knowledge in financial literacy, product information, marketing and sales strategy, safety, customer service and much more. Girls will also develop unique marketing materials for their cookie booth and cookie website. Parents and Leaders are invited to an exclusive cookie chat with our very own Chief Strategy Officer, Lisa Johnson, to learn how to maximize the Girl Scout Cookie program for your own #Cookie Boss! Don’t forget to stop by our pop-up retail store while you’re there…we’ll have all your favorite Girl Scout merchandise.
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Mall Madness Registration is OPEN!
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Calling all night owls!! Register for Mall Madness 2016 is now open. Come out and party all night with your Girl Scout sisters as we take over Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs! Our night of madness includes stores for shopping, a food court for fuel, and a DJ with dancing tunes, just to name a few. Click here for all the details.
GIVE ME THE DETAILS!
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Brownie SWAPS Across the Country GSSEF was recently invited to participate in a super SWAPS exchange with Brownies across the country. A representative from Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey will be collecting SWAPS from Brownies and distributing to participating Councils.
Program Team Contacts
Membership
Here’s what you have to do: Contact Lisa Ulm at anulfu@verizon.net and let her know you want to participate. From there, she will contact you with all the details of where to send your SWAPS. Your SWAPS should be unique to South Florida and GSSEF, so now is time to personalize your part of Council!
Adult & Leader Highlights
Questions? Contact Meredith Slaymaker mslaymaker@gssef.org or Catalina Cano ccano@gssef.org.
Programs at a Glance
When: Saturday, February 27 at 10 p.m. to Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 5 a.m. Where: Coral Square Mall, located at 9469 W. Atlantic Blvd., Coral Springs, FL 33071. Cost: $30 per person for General Admission which includes a patch. Who can party: Registered Girl Scouts of all age levels and their registered female Troop Leader or parent/guardian. All participants, including female adults, MUST hold a current GSSEF membership. No Tagalongs Register Here!
Lammy Askar, Director of Program, aaskar@gssef.org Meredith Slaymaker, Regional Program Manager, mslaymaker@gssef.org Catalina Cano, Regional Program Manager, ccano@gssef.org Diana Mills, Program Registrar, dmills@gssef.org Calendar
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Green Grapevine - TROOP TREASURY Dear Green GrapevineI want to explain the troop treasury to the parents in my troop. I’d like to sum up how it operates, who maintains it and what role they have. Any tips? ThanksIvana Samoa This a great question, especially at this time of year! We’d explain it this way… Troop funds are generated to help support program activities planned by girls. These funds may be obtained through troop dues, council‐sponsored product programs, special money‐earning projects or troop sponsorship. All funds are maintained in the Troop Treasury; Troop leaders and account signers are the guardians of money belonging to the troop and are charged with safeguarding all monies collected in the name of Girl Scouts. The balance of the Troop Treasury should be known by the girls in the Troop. Knowing what they have in the bank helps them plan events and activities, and helps them set the achievable goals.
Here are some tips for keeping Troop financial records as transparent as possible:
Additional guidance on our Council’s financial policies and procedures can be found here. If you have specific questions about the Troop Treasury, you can email volunteer@ gssef.org.
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Good recordkeeping is especially important at cookie time! Be sure to get signatures for any cookies given to girls or parents and be sure to make deposits promptly and in advance of any scheduled ACH withdrawals. If you have any issues, please let Council know. We will work with you to resolve any issues you may encounter.
Membership
• Monies are to be used only by the troop for troop activities • Issue receipts for Troop Treasury transactions • Keep all deposit slips and receipts • Blank checks should not be signed in advance • Record checks and debit card transactions carefully • Deposit money promptly • Keep detailed records of income and expenses – records must be open to girls and parents • Balance bank statements promptly • Keep parents and girls informed about the troop’s treasury • Do not “borrow” troop money for any reason • Complete and submit your Troop End of Year Report (due July 31st each year)
Adult & Leader Highlights
Parents/guardians also have a right to know what happens to troop money. Leaders should establish a system (newsletter, financial report, regular parents’ meeting) to keep parents informed about how troop money is being used. Troop financial records should be open for parental, or Council, inspection at all times. Leaders should also provide the parents with a copy of the End of Year Troop report which recaps the activities and accomplishments, along with the Troop’s financial information.
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Adult Learning Highlights The Spring Adult training calendar will be uploaded to eCouncil on January 1st. Be sure to check back for a listing of classes available.
Save the date for Troop Camp Training! Love camping? Want to go with your troop? Then Troop Camp Training (TCT) is for you! Completion of TCT is required by one adult volunteer in your troop in order for your girls to go camping.
TCT - Basic
Basic Training will certify you to camp with your girls at any GSSEF camp property or similar facility. Fire building, basic cooking, safety issues and other necessary outdoor skills will be the focus. Lunch and supplies are included. Save the date for our next class! • Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Camp Nocatee in Clewiston • Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Camp Telogia in Parkland Intermediate Training will introduce tent camping, knife skills and knots and advanced cooking techniques. Completion of BTC Basic or an approval from council is a prerequisite. Food and supplies are included. Save the date for our next class! • February 20, 2016 at Camp Nocatee in Clewiston Questions about adult learning? Email volunteer@gssef.org.
Save the Date for Volunteer Weekend
Registration is already open. Click here to reserve your spot!
Make new friends! Get ideas for your next troop event! Be inspired! Join us at Volunteer Weekend for some roaring fun!
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Let us pamper you Friday night and all day Saturday so that on Sunday, after breakfast, you will leave refreshed, relaxed, cheered and...ready for more troop activities! The weekend is open to all registered volunteers so bring your cookie mom, your nut mom, your co-leaders and all your parent volunteers -- come one, come all to this glamorous event!! $55 includes food, T-shirt, lodging, materials, crafts and all the fun you will have!
Membership
Where will you be on Friday March 11, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.? The correct answer is “checking in at Volunteer Weeekend at Camp Nocatee, of course! We will ALL be there for a weekend full of fun, games, friendship, crafts, team building and pampering because the theme this year is (drum roll…) GLAMPING!
Adult & Leader Highlights
TCT - Intermediate
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Presidents Volunteer Service Award - Earn your Award for 2015 GSSEF offers the opportunity for our members to earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award. This prestigious national award is given by the President of the United States and honors our members who have demonstrated a commitment to volunteer service. Adults, girls and troops can earn this award. GSSEF serves as a certifying organization for the award and the window is now open to submit your hours. Please click here to receive instructions on how to submit your volunteer hours for 2015. You only have until February 1, 2016 to submit your hours, so don’t delay! If you have any questions, please contact Maritsa Benoit at 954-513-3769 or mbenoit@gssef.org.
2016 Adult Recognition Award Nominations are Coming Up
Adult & Leader Highlights
Girl Scout volunteers are valuable assets and deserve to have their time and talents recognized! The Adult Recognition Award Nominations are designed to recognize outstanding accomplishments that go above and beyond what is expected of our volunteers. The significance and impact they make cannot simply be measured in years of service, but in the impact on the young women whose lives are enriched by the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The nomination link will be live in January so get your reference letters ready and submit your nominations by March 15, 2016.
Membership Calendar
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Membership Update
12,000 5,000
GSSEF’s girl membership goal for 2016 is 12,500, and the adult membership goal is 5,800. Over 9,302 girls and 4,454 adults have already registered for the 2016 Girl Scout year.
10,000 4,000
8,000 6,000 74% of 4,000
Goal
Goal
2,000
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GSSEF’s Growing Membership!
3,000 82% of
Goal 12,500
Goal 5,800
GSSEF Membership continues to grow. As of Girl Adult December 14, the total number of registered Membership Membership girls is 9,302. This represents 74% of the annual girl registration goal of 12,500 girls. In addition, there are 4,454 adults registered representing 82% of the annual adult registration goal of 5,400 adults. Congratulations and Thank You to the following Service Unit teams who have registered between 75% and 100% of their annual girl membership goal.
Recruitment events continue to be scheduled in all Service Units. To help at a recruitment event or host an event to add more girls to your troop, please contact your membership recruitment manager.
Membership
• Magnolia – 103% of Goal • Blazing Star – 95% of Goal • Luna – 91% of Goal • Hibiscus – 87% of Goal • Royal Palm – 86% of Goal • Everglades – 86% of Goal • Atikah – 80% of Goal • Sandy Beaches – 80% of Goal • Phoenix – 76% of Goal • Tri-Star – 75% of Goal
Calendar
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Product Sales Are You Ready for Cookie Season?
The 2016 Cookie Sale Program runs from January 21 to February 14, 2016. Hopefully all of you had the chance to attend your Service Unit’s cookie sale training and learn important information and dates about the sale, see the rewards for this year and taste some of the delicious cookies. We’ve got some awesome girl rewards this year that we know the girls will love! Why? Because they helped us pick them! There is something for everyone including new levels and Cookies for the Military rewards too. Check them out here! You’ve had your training and seen the rewards. Now all you need are the cookies. Little Brownie Baker has assured us that they are ready for all the cookies our girls are going to sell this year. Click here to see how they are getting prepared.
Plain is Boring. Bling. Your. Booth.
Want the busiest booth on the block? Wouldn’t that be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G? All you have to do is grab that big imagination, get creative and enter the GSSEF Bling Your Booth contest. The winners gets a pizza party for the whole troop. Photos can be submitted starting on January 21st through our GSSEF app. Click here for all the details on what you need to do and how to enter. Questions? Contact Denise Fiorelli at dfiorelli@gssef. org or (561) 427-0180.
Retail Stores Clearance, Clearance, Clearance!
January is clearance month at the GSSEF Retail Stores. Stop by after the new year and see what treasure and bargains you might find. Membership
Winter Bounce Back Promotion
Just in time for our January Clearance event, spend $75 or more in one purchase in store from January 4 to January 28 or online from January 1 to January 25 and receive a $10 coupon to spend on a $25 or more purchase from February 1 to February 15*. See store or website for any exclusions or restrictions.
shop anytime at www.girlscoutshop.com
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*NOTE: The $10 coupons given out at stores can only be used at the store that issues the coupon. $10 coupon codes that are sent to customers who shop online can only be redeemed online at www.girlscoutshop.com. Customers cannot use in-store coupons online and online coupon codes cannot be used at the GSSEF council stores. Redemption of $10 coupon online will be February 1-15, but the instore coupon redemption will be extended to February 20.
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Cookie Eating Contest at the South Florida Fair
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World Thinking Day
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Emerald Awards
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Meeting Mall Madness
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Mall Madness
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