November 2014
New Volunteer Spotlight............1 Veteran Volunteer Spotlight..............................................................1
We’d love to hear what you’re doing with your girls! Send us an email or post on Facebook! Feel free to contact Melinda Glasco with comments, pictures or ideas at mglasco@gssef.org. All of the Linking Leaders issues will be archived in the Volunteer Vault on gssef.org for easy reference.
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer Spotlight
Programs at a Glance
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.
Camp-Tastic! – Registration Open ........................................................................ 2 Mall Madness! February 28 March 1 at Coral Square Mall ............................................................................. 2 Save the Date for Cookie U! Saturday, January 10 ................. 2 Online Cookie Sale Program is Here! .................................................................. 3
Adult & Leader Highlights Green Grapevine Troop Funds? ........................................ 4 We Asked, You Answered, We Listened! - Recognitions ....................................................................................... 4 November Adult Learning Electives ................................................. 5-6 Membership Goal ....................... 7 Early Birds ROARED at Lion Country Safari .................................... 7 Happy Girl Scout Year! ........ 7
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Veteran Volunteer Spotlight
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eggy Leonard is an all-star volunteer! When she’s not creating a fun troop activity or on an action-packed trip with one of her three troops, Peggy is found volunteering her time and energy in other ways to help the Girl Scout movement. Peggy has served in many capacities – at the troop, service unit and area level. This year she has stepped up as the Assistant Service Unit Manager for the Phoenix Service Unit. Phoenix is lucky to have Peggy but so is the entire council! Peggy has played a critical role in teaching Troop Essentials to incoming leaders. She takes extra care of our new volunteers and is always a sister to every Girl Scout.
Membership
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pril Barbarosh is a woman on a mission! She started her volunteer experience earlier this year by stepping up to lead her daughter’s troop in the Sunchariot Service Unit, and her troop has already gained local recognition as community gardeners! When she heard that her service unit had open volunteer positions, April decided to step up even further and take on the role of Service Unit Registrar. And boy has she hit the ground running! April has tremendous focus, professionalism, attention to detail and has single-handedly set out to accomplish finding troop placement for all girls. In her first year as a GSSEF volunteer, she has made a huge impact!
Adult & Leader Highlights
Fall Product Sale Program ... 3
New Volunteer Spotlight
Programs at a Glance
Important Announcement Annual Recognition Ceremony ........................................................ 2
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Important Announcement - Annual Recognition Ceremony
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veryone’s invited! Enjoy classic Girl Scout experiences at Camp-Tastic! This unique, interactive, outdoor event invites families, girls and troops to experience an array of casual, hands-on Camp Welaka - Parking located off-site. activities like archery (must be at least 8 years Air-conditioned busses shuttle between sites. old), canoeing, fire building, SWAPS, flag ceremonies, Only $12. Children under 3 are free! wish boats and so much more! Pack a lunch! Register here
Adult & Leader Highlights
Camp-Tastic! – Registration Open
Programs at a Glance
SSEF prides itself on the dedication and commitment both adults and girls exude towards Girl Scouting, and we strive to recognize the achievements of each. It is because of you that we are able to continue our Girl Scout tradition for over 100 years. In years past, we’ve recognized achievements such as Silver and Gold Award recipients, Adult Volunteer Recognition and outstanding community partners at our Annual Recognition Ceremony. As the number of girl and adult awardees continues to grow, GSSEF is no longer in a position to present an Annual Recognition Ceremony that will appropriately honor and meet the needs of so many deserving recipients. In no way does this decision diminish the extraordinary work of girls earning the highest national awards, or the adults who receive national awards, nor does it change our council’s commitment to recognition. In fact, we are absolutely committed to introducing new ways to share the stories of the girls, projects and adults with more people – as well as discovering more options to offer local recognition opportunities, too. The requirements for completing and earning Gold and Silver will remain the same. The deadline for the Gold and Silver Award Class of 2015 is April 1, 2015. Completed projects must be delivered to either GSSEF Service Center with the Final Report and Project Scrapbook. Projects received on or after April 2 will be included in the Class of 2016.
Mall Madness! February 28 - March 1 at Coral Square Mall
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ame Day! Great Event! Two Locations! Our annual Cookie U has two locations and is open to all Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes. Come for the girl-centric business courses in marketing and finance, share amazing ideas, get inspired and graduate with your degree in Cookie Awesomeness! Earn and receive selected national leaves or badges (depending on grades) and our event patch, too! Stay tuned as the times and locations will be revealed soon.
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Save the Date for Cookie U! Saturday, January 10
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e’ll be celebrating 10 YEARS OF MADNESS! Mark your calendars. Registration opens on Monday, December 1 at 10 a.m. Anyone that registers between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on December 1 only will be entered into drawing to win a gift card for each girl in their troop! VIP admission of $45 includes an exclusive swag bag filled with goodies, patch, official Mall Madness VIP shirt and first admittance into the mall. General admission is $30 and includes a patch.
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Fall Product Sale Program
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ver the years, we have received requests from parents and volunteers to have an online option for cookie sales. During the 2015 Cookie Sale Program, in addition to the already popular and successful door-to-door and booth sales, we are excited to announce girls will be able to sell Girl Scout Cookies through the Digital Cookie Program. GSSEF will begin rolling out information to service units, troops and parents beginning in November at the Service Unit Product Sale training. Parents will begin to receive information for the Digital Cookie Program the first part of December. Troop Leaders – please check with each of your girls’ parents to ensure a correct, valid email address is listed in eCouncil. If anyone chooses not to share their email address, we respect their decision but make sure the parents know they will not receive the information and the instructions to set their Girl Scout up to participate in the 2015 Digital Cookie Sale. If a parent wishes to add an email address to their daughter’s registration, please ask your Service Unit Registrar to enter this in eCouncil for you.
Adult & Leader Highlights
Online Cookie Sale Program is Here!
Programs at a Glance
re you a new troop that has just started meeting and has no funds in your newly opened troop bank account? Participation in the 2014 Fall Product Sale will help give your bank account a boost. Your troop can earn proceeds and rewards all while they learn five important skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. BONUS! If a troop participates in the 2014 Fall Product Sale, they have the opportunity to earn 6 percent more in proceeds for every box of cookies sold during the 2015 Cookie Sale! That means your troop would earn a base proceed price of 69 cents versus the normal 65 cents for EVERY box of cookies sold during the 2015 Cookie Sale. Participation requires the following: •Five or more girls selling •The combined girls in the troop must have sales of at least 100 Nut/Candy items, 10 Magazine subscriptions and five Photo Keepsake items, OR the troop must have total combined sales of any combination of Nut/Candy items, Magazine subscriptions or Photo Keepsake items that are at least $1,000. Take a few minutes to watch this short video here to see how easy it is participate. Visit gssef.org for additional resources and information.
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Green Grapevine - Troop Funds? Dear Green GrapevineCan troop funds be used to pay for volunteer training? Sincerely - Jen Studies
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Have a q ues se e answ tion you’d like to ered in th e Gre en Grapevin e? Email volu nte er@gs sef.org
We Asked, You Answered, We Listened! - Recognitions
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Volunteer News here.
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e want to honor and celebrate volunteer accomplishments in ways that are personal and meaningful to you. Surveys sent after this past Annual Recognition Ceremony gave us insight about the event itself, like who attended, who didn’t and why. You also had a lot to say about the timing and location of the event. Based on your feedback, this year we will not be holding one formal large-scale event. Instead, we have the opportunity to be creative, be personal and be local. We will be sending another survey for the kind of recognition you’d like to see. We hope when you receive the survey you’ll take a few minutes to share your input. While the ceremony is changing, the National Awards remain an important tradition that will continue. Award nominations will be requested early in 2015 and will be reviewed by the Adult Recognition Committee. Once the nomination packets are available, they will be on our website. Stay tuned for more information on the nomination process and deadlines. If you have any ideas for adult recognition, please share them with your Area Volunteerism Team Member. You can also email suggestions and any questions to volunteer@gssef.org. We can’t wait to honor our volunteers in new and exciting ways next spring! Submit Troop or
Adult & Leader Highlights
he short answer to your question is yes. Volunteer Policies and Procedures indicate that, “All money raised or earned, and other assets acquired or received in the name of and for the benefit of Girl Scouting must be authorized by GSSEF and used for the purposes of Girl Scouting,” (Volunteer Policies and Procedures, GSSEF Finances, Section 4.1, p. 8). Some Girl Scout activities, like camping, canoeing, archery or troop travel, require that an adult volunteer with the group be trained or certified in the activity. Depending on the activity you may need an adult volunteer trained in CPR and first aid. Since the troop would be unable to do the activity without a trained/certified adult volunteer, it is permissible to use troop funds to pay for the required training. As always, the troop members and their parents should be aware of and agree to troop funds being used for this purpose, and receipts for training should be kept. The amount spent by the troop on adult training will be recorded on the troop end of year report. The classes may be taken through council or another provider. Adults expecting reimbursement for training from the troop treasury should get the approval of the troop before making any personal expenditures. The Volunteerism team is happy to assist in the interpretation of any our policies. You can email us at volunteer@gssef.org or reach out to your Area Volunteerism Team Member directly: -Jeannie Simeone Volunteerism – Area 1 -Joanna Menard Volunteerism – Area 3 (561) 427-0196 or jsimeone@gssef.org (954) 513-3763 or jmenard@gssef.org -Nicole Kiley Volunteerism – Area 2 -Gabriella Gaita Volunteerism – Area 4 (561) 427-6903 or nkiley@gssef.org (954) 513-3774 or ggaita@gssef.org
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November Adult Training Highlights
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lassic Girl Scout training is on the calendar this month! Be sure to check out all of November’s classes here.
Journey Jumpstart - One of Our Most Popular Classes! et us take you on a journey! We will explain the easy how-to’s for engaging girls on selecting a Journey, setting a timeline, getting started, introducing the “Take Action” element of the process and showing off some of the various Journey activities. Getting into a Journey is a snap when you have the right tools. The class is broken down by grade level and will be offered three times in November! Check out the Adult Training calendar here to find a class near you!
Archery
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n archery certified adult is required for your girls to experience this fantastic sport. You'll learn how to set up and operate a safe, short-term archery program, how to teach new archers, how to maintain program equipment and learn common shooting errors and correction. After this class, you will be able to treat your troop (or other troops) to an archery experience. November 2 at 2 p.m. - Only $5 per adult - Register here Fort Lauderdale Archers, 4590 Peters Rd., Plantation, FL 33312
Songs and Ceremonies
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usic and ceremonies has always played a big part in Girl Scouting. Girls have always enjoyed the fun and fellowship that music and ceremonies can create. Learn Girl Scout songs and ceremonies that will make your next event special for the girls and leaders. November 17 at 7:30 p.m. - Only $3 per adult - Register here
17 School Epstein Center for the Performing Arts, SW 36th St., Davie, FL 33314
Adult & Leader Highlights
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All About SWAPS
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November 3 at 6:30 p.m. - Only $3 per adult - Register here Michael's, 1712 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
The Bronze Award irl Scout Juniors have the ability to achieve the first of the highest Girl Scout Awards. This class will prepare you to assist the girls on their journey through the Bronze Award. We will review requirements, provide resources and also give examples, tips and tricks. November 17 at 6 p.m. - Only $3 per adult - Register here
17 School Epstein Center for the Performing Arts, SW 36th St., Davie, FL 33314
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Visit the A dult Lear calendar ning here for all classe s. Question s about adult lea rning? Email volu nte er@gs sef.org
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n this class you will learn what SWAPS are - Small Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere! Make them, love them, swap them! Great themes, ideas and samples for the crafty and not so crafty volunteer are provided. SWAPS are a tradition at many events. With this class, you and your girls will always be prepared.
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November Adult Training Highlights Continued My Mom’s the Leader
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eing a leader is great and so is spending time with your daughter! We know it is hard to find the balance between the two. This class gives ideas to ensure you and your daughter have a great experience together while you are the role model and leader for the troop.
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November 17 at 8 p.m. - Only $3 per adult - Register here School Epstein Center for the Performing Arts, SW 36th St., Davie, FL 33314
Orienteering
19 October 19 at 7 p.m. - Register here ever be lost again! This class will teach you basic orienteering skills, how to orient yourself in relation to a starting position using a compass and a pace-wheel. You will follow and learn to set up a fun treasure hunt (Orienteering Course) for your next troop outing!
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November 22 at 2 p.m. - Only $8 per adult - Register here
22 Fort Pierce TBD
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ake sure your troop is ready for their next outing by getting first aid/CPR certified. Space is limited to 25 participants.
November 15 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Only $40 per adult - Register here
15 Oakland Park Service Center, 4701 NW 33rd Avenue, Oakland Park, FL 33309 Troop Camp Training - Basic (TCT required by one adult in order to go camping)
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asic 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. Information will be sent to you prior to the event. November 8 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Only $20 - Register here Camp Nocatee, 4009 Flaghole Road, Clewiston, FL 33440
TCT - Intermediate (TCT required by one adult in order to go camping)
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ntermediate Training will introduce tent camping, knife skills, knots and advanced cooking. Completion of TCT Basic or approval from council is a pre-requisite. Food and supplies included.
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Have questions? Join us for one of our New Leader Chats!
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his is an open forum for you to ask questions, get advice and find the most up-to-date information. All new leader chats are free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Visit the Adult Training calendar here for a class that matches your schedule!
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November 8 - November 9 (overnight) from 9 a.m. on Saturday - 10 a.m. on Sunday Camp Nocatee, 4009 Flaghole Road, Clewiston, FL 33440 - Only $30 - Register here
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Adult & Leader Highlights
CPR and First Aid Certification
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14,000
Membership Goal
6,000
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SSEF’s girl membership goal for the new 2014-15 membership 10,000 year is 13,120, and the adult membership goal is 5,800. 4,000 More than 7,100 girls and 3,900 adults already registered for the 8,000 2015 Girl Scout year! We will be working toward a benchmark to 6,000 3,000 register 75 percent of the girl membership by December 31. Each 4,000 service unit registering 75 percent of their girl membership goal by 2,000 December 31 will receive a $75 Publix gift card. Congratulations to 2,000 the following service units who have already surpassed their 75 Goal Goal percent girl recruitment benchmark. 5,800 13,120 •Everglades – Area 3 •New River – Area 4 Girl Adult Membership Membership •Sandy Beaches – Area 3
Early Birds ROARED at Lion Country Safari
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ver 3,100 Girl Scouts in participating Early Bird troops attended the exclusive Girl Scouts ROAR event at Lion Country Safari on October 11. Girls had the opportunity to attend programs, interact with animals, ride camels, feed the giraffes, drive through the safari adventure and have fun with their sister Girl Scouts. Looks like everyone had a great time!
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ou Girl Sc
ROAR!
Happy Girl Scout Year!
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t’s a new Girl Scout Year! Please ensure your own membership registration is current for the 2014-15 year. Please remind other registered adult volunteers in your troop as well, so their membership and volunteer status continue uninterrupted.
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Question s about m embership Contact Rhonda L ? ang Netz Director e l, of Mem rnetzel@g bership, at ssef.org.
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November S
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Archery Class
All About SWAPS Class
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Troop Camp Training
Fall Product Sale Ends CPR Class
Troop Camp Training Bronze Award Songs & Ceremonies My Mom’s The Leader
Orienteering Class
GSSEF Closed for Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving GSSEF Closed for Thanksgiving
December S
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Mall Madness Registration Open Girl Scout Cookie Reservations Begin
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GSSEF Closed for Winter Break
GSSEF Closed for Winter Break
Happy New Years
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GSSEF Closed for GSSEF Closed for Winter Break Winter Break
GSSEF Closed for Winter Break
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