New Volunteer Spotlight....1 Veteran Volunteer Spotlight.......................................................1
Volunteer Spotlight 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.
Programs at a Glance Summer FunShine............................ 2
Health and Wellness Day ................................................................................ 2
Adult & Leader Highlights
Adult Learning Electives . 3 Important Documents for Troop Leaders ............................... 4
Membership Girl Scouts ROAR at Lion Country Safari............................... 5
Introducing Annie Roche Area 2 MDM – Membership ................................... 5
Calendar..................................6-7 Save The Dates! ...................... 7
Veteran Volunteer Spotlight
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dith Kappler is a long-time Girl Scout volunteer who has served in a variety of volunteer positions. She has an array of knowledge and is always willing to share it with others. Currently, she serves as Sandy Beaches’ Registrar, assisting in setting up new troops and actively engaging new leaders. Edie is involved in planning programs for Area 3, assisting with Thinking Day registration and Movie Morning. Edie has consistently contributed to Girl Scouts and is an inspiration to the volunteers around her.
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t’s RED LINE Clearance Time! There are still a few days left to take advantage of big savings! Receive an additional 40 percent off selected in-store merchandise that has a red line on the ticket. The Retail Stores will be closed on Thursday, July 31 for inventory.
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Red Line Clearance at the Retail Stores
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I Can’t Wait to be a Girl Scout! ......................................................... 5
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fter being a supportive parent for Troop #10450, Natalie Johnson volunteered to be their Troop Leader in 2013. Since then, she has created amazing programs and events for the girls to participate in and learn from. She plans everything with great detail, making sure that all programs are girl-led, giving them a wellrounded Girl Scout experience. Natalie has demonstrated the leadership necessary to be a great role model.
Adult & Leader Highlights
Green Grapevine Meeting Place? .......................... 3
New Volunteer Spotlight
Programs at a Glance
Red Line Clearance at the Retail Stores ..............................................1
We’d love to hear about what you’re doing with your girls over the summer! Send us an email or post on Facebook! Feel free to contact Melinda Glasco for comments or ideas at mglasco@gssef.org. All of the issues will be archived in the Volunteer Vault on gssef.org for easy reference.
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer Spotlight
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Summer FunShine
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Saturday September 13 at 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
13 Renaissance Charter School of Coral Springs 6250 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs, FL 33067
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-Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. for Juniors and Cadettes and 12 p.m. for Seniors ONLY. -Juniors & Cadettes - $30 each and includes a “walking breakfast,” lunch, special event patch and three badges. Seniors - $15 each and includes special event patch and two badges. -Juniors earn these badges: Simple Meals, Junior First Aid and Staying Fit. -Cadettes earn these badges: Babysitter, Cadette First Aid and Eating for Beauty. -Seniors earn these badges: Women’s Health and Locavore. -Adult sessions include Stress Management, Fibroid Diagnosis and Treatment and Raising Children in the Age of Electronics. Space is limited to 40 per session, first come first served.
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oin this new and exciting program designed just for Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors, jam-packed with hands-on badge earning that moves girls toward healthier minds, bodies and spirits. Session will be led by Baptist Health South Florida's team of health experts who are dedicated to fun and educational programs – all in our world of Girl Scouting! There’s something for adults, too – free classes, center tours and other surprises! Space is limited so don’t miss out!
Adult & Leader Highlights
Health and Wellness Day
Programs at a Glance
here’s one month left to go to earn your Summer Funshine patch! Girl Scouting doesn’t have to stop just because school is out. Troops can continue Girl Scout activities throughout the summer, even if it’s just once a month. The Summer Funshine program provides an opportunity to do some things your troop didn’t have time or resources to do during the school year and is an excellent opportunity to introduce bridging Girl Scouts to the rest of the girls in the troop. In addition, the program encourages retention of our girl members. To earn the Summer Funshine patch or bar, troops must complete the following: 1. Participate in two activities (one per month) during July and August. Your activities must include: a) A community service project (e.g. food drive, recycling project or beach clean-up) b) A family activity (e.g. year-end picnic) c) A troop choice activity (e.g. a fun day, attend a summer program as a troop, work on a badge or interest project) 2. It is not necessary for every girl to attend each activity, but each girl must participate in at least one activity to be eligible for the patch/bar. Patches and year bars can be purchased at the council retail store. Please keep an eye out for a notification of when the patches are available. A patch and year bar will be available for first time participants. Girls who have already earned the patch will only need the year bar. All applications are due to your MDM-Program by September 30.
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Green Grapevine - Meeting Place? Dear Green GrapevineI’m searching for a troop meeting place. I was notified that the site I place needs a COI from Girl Scouts. What is it and how do I get it? Thanks - Alice Well
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Certificate of Insurance (COI) is often required by outside facilities that host Girl Scout activities, including troop meetings. This certificate confirms to the facility that GSSEF has insurance coverage to protect the facility in the event of a liability or property damage that may arise as a result of the troop or group’s activities. If a Certificate of Insurance is required by the facility, please email volunteer@gssef.org at least 10 business days in advance. In order to expedite the process. Be sure to include: your name (it doesn’t always show up in your email address so please list it), your contact information (email and phone), the name and address of the facility requesting the COI and an email to which the COI should be sent (a copy can be sent to both the facility and you for your records). It is important to note that COI’s are processed Monday through Thursday.
Adult Learning Electives
Troop Essentials Classes
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Troop Essentials Grade Level Training offers grade-level specific information on how to set-up your troop - from deciding when, where and how often to meet and how to’s on managing troop finances, to working with parents and planning engaging troop activities. This class will inform and inspire you in your new role as a Troop Leader. Class Location: West Palm Beach; exact location address will be sent via email prior to the class.
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August 5 - Register here
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ark your calendars for April 10-12 and join us at Camp Nocatee for a weekend of sharing, songs, sisterhood and more s’mores! And it’s all for YOU, our adult volunteers. Additional information will be shared as the event nears!
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Visit the A dult Lear calendar n for all cla ing ss listings . Question s about adult lea rning? Email volu nte er@gs sef.org
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Volunteer Weekend
Submit Troop or Volunteer News here.
Adult & Leader Highlights
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dditional fall classes will be added throughout the month of August. Check the calendar frequently this month for new classes!
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Important Documents for Troop Leaders Volunteer Essentials
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olunteer Essentials is your encyclopedia for Girl Scouting. This document is produced by GSUSA with general information that covers a range of topics. It offers information about: -Girl Scouts as a movement and a tradition -Asks volunteers to assess their skills and competencies -Discusses the Girl Scout Leadership (GSLE) and Journeys, highlights other program offerings -Shares information about healthy development in girls -Instructs volunteers in keeping girls safe -Gives information on taking trips and hosting events -Tells volunteers how to help girls manage group finances, including general details on Girl Scout Cookie sales. The manual is a reference tool. While you may not read it cover to cover, it may answer several questions you encounter. You should save it to your computer or bookmark the page for quick and easy reference in the future. Read it here.
Volunteer Policies and Procedures
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afety Activity Checkpoints provide detailed safety information for a variety of activities. They provide specific information regarding extra chaperones and required certifications, as well as general safety information to keep in mind. You should review these to ensure your girls are kept safe at all times. They are grouped by category, i.e. land sports, water sports, camping and other activities. Within each group, activities are listed alphabetically. Read it here.
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Safety Activity Checkpoints
Adult & Leader Highlights
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s part of our responsibility, GSSEF implements and manages Volunteer Policies and Procedures. Teams of staff and volunteers regularly review the Volunteer Policies and Procedures in order to reflect changes in the State and Federal laws, adapt to the needs of volunteers, mitigate risk and be proactive in our effort to keep members safe. The policies in this document appear in numbered sections 1.0 - 6.0. Many sections have subsections that provide additional, comprehensive information on more complex issues. Procedures appear immediately following the policy to which it pertains. The procedure offers the guidance about "how to" adhere to or execute a policy. Finally, "notes" are provided in order to clarify a policy or a procedure. The GSSEF Board of Directors approved this recent version and its revisions with an effective date of August 1, 2014. It is the responsibility of each volunteer to read and understand the GSSEF Volunteer Policies and Procedures. Volunteers are held responsible for compliance with the policies and procedures so understanding this document is very important. Read it here.
Blue Book of Basic Documents Calendar
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he Blue Book of Basic Documents is produced by GSUSA and contains the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies of GSUSA. This document also includes Credentials, Criteria and Standards for an Effective Girl Scout council and the Congressional Charter of GSUSA. Read it here.
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Girl Scouts ROAR at Lion Country Safari!
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nnouncements have been sent to all Troop Leaders whose girls qualified for the Lion Country Safari Early Bird re-registration reward. Emails included a registration link for the exclusive Lion Country Safari event on October 11, along with detailed information to help you plan the day. The event registration deadline is midnight on September 8. Please be sure to use the link included in your email announcement to register your eligible girls and up to four adults. The adult registration is $10 per ut Lion Questions abo person. This event is exclusively for those girls and ? Country Safari troops that met the reward criteria during the Early Bird Contact re-registration period. l at Rhonda Netze rg rnetzel@gssef.o
I Can’t Wait to be a Girl Scout!
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ew girls, families and adult volunteers will be invited to attend and register for the 2015 Girl Scout year at events scheduled throughout our six-county jurisdiction as the new school year kicks off in August. Our website will be updated regularly with the recruitment events and locations. Check back often and refer interested families to the website for more information. Service unit leaders will be receiving the new recruitment materials at the Area Service Unit trainings scheduled on August 2 and August 9. The area-specific fliers for school distribution will also be available, and we have new T-shirts for Service Unit Volunteer Recruiters! We can’t wait to see you there!
Introducing Annie Roche - Area 2 MDM – Membership
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I can’t wait to be a
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e’re pleased to welcome Annie Roche to the GSSEF team. She joined Demi Clemmons (MDM-Program) and Nicole Kiley (MDM-Volunteerism) on July 21 as the MDMMembership for Area 2. She is an experienced recruiter with a sales background, and we’re really excited by her passion for our mission and desire for engaging new Girl Scouts and Troop Leaders in Palm Beach County. Annie will begin visiting service unit meetings in August so make sure you say hello.
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Save These Dates! Fall Product Sale - October 1-November 15 Girl Scouts Roar – Saturday, October 11 at Lion Country Safari Camp-Tastic! – Saturday, December 6 at Camp Welaka Cookie U – Saturday, January 10 (Venue TBA) Mall Madness – Saturday, February 28 (overnight to March 1 - Venue TBA)
Fall Product Sale
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he Fall Product Sale Program is a great opportunity for your Girl Scout to learn valuable teamwork, goal-setting and confidence building skills. The sale is intended to reach family, friends, teachers and neighbors and will help her troop earn money for program and activities throughout the year. Great program materials and step-by-step guides will be available soon to help you and your Girl Scout as you embark on this fun-filled adventure. Spoiler Alert: There’s a whole new product line we can’t wait to tell you about! It all starts October 1 and runs through November 15.
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Photos from Summer Camp have been posting regularly. Check them out here.