MARCH 2018
We’d love to hear what you’re doing with your girls! Send us an email or post on Facebook! Feel free to contact marcomm@gssef.org with comments, pictures or ideas. All of the Linking Leaders issues are archived on the Training page for easy reference.
IN THIS ISSUE SPOTLIGHT
MEMBERSHIP
Hanna Lloyd ...........................................................................................2
Membership Update ...................................................................................7 Girl Scouts Birthday Celebration, Happy 106th Birthday and .........................8 It’s Your Lucky Day!
PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE Girl Scout Star Wars Night and Galactic Sleepover......................................3 Journey in a Day - Registration Opens.......................................................4 Turtle-y Awesome Cookie Sale, Cookie Trunk Organizer Winner and...........5 Cookie Money in Action
CALENDAR March/April.................................................................................................9
ADULT & LEADER HIGHLIGHTS
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GSSEF
CALEN-
DAR
Mark your Calendars!
MEMBERSHIP
ADULT & LEADER HIGHLIGHTS
SPOTLIGHT
PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE
NEW! VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips....................................................................6
Submit Troop or Volunteer News here!
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SPOTLIGHTS
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Hanna Lloyd “A whirl-wind!” is how Hanna describes this year’s cookie season. As the Service Unit Cookie Sale Manager for Indian Treasure, Hanna stated that she is impressed by her Service Unit for rallying together this year and earning the 9 cent bonus reward! Hanna says she is most proud of her Daisies for their stamina while working long hours at cookie booths. Although cookie season is over, Hanna’s troop is not slowing down. They are currently planning a Disney cruise where they will visit two islands in the Bahamas. Her troop has focused a lot of time learning about the Indian River Lagoon so they are excited to go snorkeling on their trip and continue learning about Ocean Animals. We are happy to have you Hanna! Thank you for everything you do for the girls!
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PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE
GIRL SCOUT STAR WARS NIGHT AND GALACTIC SLEEPOVER In a Girl Scout Galaxy – Not very far away, Comes a program like no other. Where everyone can align with the Rebel Forces for a night of baseball, fun, movie magic and a stadium sleepover under the stars! Jump into hyper speed to get your tickets today! The Girl Scout Star Wars Night and Galactic Sleepover is coming to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on April 7th! Join this big night watching the Jupiter Hammerheads vs. Palm Beach Cardinals, with loads of family fun like an on-field kids’ parade, Star Wars costume contests and Star Wars characters throughout the stadium for photos! Troops, families, tag-alongs, droids, Ewoks and Lightsabers welcome! And everyone in our Girl Scout family can add on a Galactic Sleepover on the field that has even MORE surprises! Family camping and Troop camping is offered, with designated areas and security. All sleepover participants get an exclusive Patch included in the price. Price is $10.00 per person for the game only and $18.00 per person for the game plus the on-field Galactic Sleepover. Register Now for: Register Now for:
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PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE
JOURNEY IN A DAY – REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 1ST Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Saturday, April 21, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Camp Nocatee 6009 Flaghole Road Clewiston, FL 33440
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Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Sunday, April 22, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Camp Nocatee 6009 Flaghole Road Clewiston, FL 33440
Explore the It’s Your Planet, Love It! Journey all in one day! Through a series of fun-filled workshops, Daisies learn about the natural world around them and how to keep the earth healthy, while Brownies will learn how to protect the waters of our planet. Juniors will learn about various forms of energy and what it means to be energy efficient. Cadettes will learn all about the air they breathe and how to improve its quality, while Seniors learn about food-how and where it’s grown, processed, distributed and consumed, and why it matters. Ambassadors will learn to identify global environmental issues and create their own vision for change. Girls will then team up to do a take action project about what they learned. Registration begins March 1st at 10:00 a.m. Registration deadline is April 10 or upon reaching program capacity. Only $30 for girls – includes snacks, beverages and program participation patch. Earned It’s Your Planet, Love It! Badges will be available for purchase on site. No tagalongs please. For questions or more information, contact Mica Minor at mminor@gssef.org.
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PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE CONGRATULATIONS ON A TURTLE-Y AWESOME COOKIE SALE Thanks to our awesome Girl Scouts, their supportive parents and our awesome volunteers, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida is on track to have another successful Cookie Sale. We have begun the process of reconciling the 2018 sale and ordering girl rewards. We will share final numbers soon, and will update you when we know the rewards are arriving. Much more than a business run by the numbers, IT’S ALL ABOUT GIRLS!! And it’s about our passion to improve the lives of girls and to teach them those essential life skills that will last a lifetime. Talk to your girls about their experience. Evaluate as a troop what things the girls learned, what they want to change to make next cookie season even better, and celebrate all your achievements! If your troop didn’t reach the goal you set, take a moment to analyze why, and let the girls and parents offer suggestions for next year. This is a learning moment for everyone involved. Together, cookies make so many things possible! As we close this year’s cookie sale we wanted to take a moment and thank the volunteers and parents that helped make this year’s sale a success for every Girl Scout in our Council. Look for additional announcements next month on all the success stories. Thank You!!!
COOKIE TRUNK ORGANIZER WINNERS To encourage troops to finish strong the last weekend of the Cookie Sale, we were giving away the adorable and handy cookie trunk organizers for certain milestones. Congrats to these winners for having the biggest pending order pick-ups at the cookie warehouses: 2/6/18 – U&Me: Troop 50868 2/6/18 – First Class: Troop 10708 2/8/18 – First Class: Troop 10808 2/9/18 – U&Me: Troop 20699 2/9/18 – First Class: Troop 24503 2/10/18 – U&Me: Troop 51003 2/10/18 – First Class: Troop 10759 They are ready for pick up at the GSSEF Administrative Headquarters or can be sent with your Volunteerism Manager to your next Service Unit meeting!! Thank you all for your support – right to the end!
COOKIE MONEY IN ACTION Each year, girls do amazing things with the money they earn from the Cookie Sale Program. For example, they’ve purchased police badges for the canine officers, taken cruises and trips to Savannah, purchased supplies for children’s hospitals and donated to animal welfare agencies. We want people to know that the simple purchase of a box of cookies makes a difference to their community. We want them to know that through Girl Scouts, girls learn how to make the world a better place – one girl, one dollar and one cookie at a time. We want to hear about your cookie money in action. We will use the stories we collect in our marketing and public relations efforts throughout the year. Please send your stories to Melinda Glasco, Director of Marketing and Communications at mglasco@gssef.org.
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ADULT & LEADER HIGHLIGHTS
NEW! VTK: TIPS, TRICKS & SIPS The Volunteer Toolkit (a.k.a. VTK) is a great tool for Troop Leaders. However, like most volunteers, you have 1,000 things to do and getting “into it” just doesn’t fit into your schedule. These new casual get-togethers are for Leaders at all grade-levels to come to our bright, beautiful Palm Beach Retail Store for “VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips.” This is great for meeting other volunteers, networking and getting into the VTK alongside a volunteer super-user! Bring your own tablet or laptop… or simply use one of ours. See the “MyGS” community and VTK tabs in this hands-on get-together. You’ll see how the prepopulated Year Plans align perfectly to the National Badges and Journeys. Saturday afternoon sessions will include a variety of iced tea, sodas with chips, dips and veggies. Evening sessions will include a red and white wine with cheese and fruit – and non-alcoholic beverage options too. All sessions are reserved for adult volunteers only; children are not permitted. Registration for any session is $3.00 per person. All participants will receive a return-and-shop coupon for 15% off your entire future purchase. Saturday, March 3, 2018, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, April 28, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 5, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (Special Cinco de Mayo Theme! Ole!) Saturday, May 19, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. All of the sessions will be held at the GSSEF Palm Beach Retail Store located at 1232 W. Indiantown Road Suite 105 Jupiter, FL 33458 Find these and all of our Adult Learning Options at www.gssef.org. Click on “Activities” and then “Event Calender.”
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MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE Girls 8,439, 77% of our 11,000 goal Adults: 4,288, 82% of our 5,200 goal 12,000
5,000
Service Unit Membership Incentive Updates
10,000
We are approaching our March 15th deadline for our last tier of incentives for our current membership year. All Service Units that achieve 100% of their membership goal by March 15, 2018, will earn a luncheon with our CEO, Lisa Johnson, for up to 6 members of their leadership team AND 10 complimentary ADULT memberships for the 20182019 Girl Scout year.
8,000
4,000
6,000
3,000
GSSEF is incredibly excited to congratulate HIBISCUS SERVICE UNIT on reaching 100% of their membership goal AND have earned every level of membership incentives during this promotion. WAY TO GO!
8,439
4,288
4,000 2,000
2,000 GOAL 11,000
GIRL
MEMBERSHIP 77% OF GOAL
GOAL 5,200
ADULT
MEMBERSHIP 82% OF GOAL
Remember, recruitment is a year-round effort. As each Service Unit reaches their goals, it’s important that we are still recruiting girls into Girl Scouts so that we can continue to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Thank you to each and every one of you that work side by side with us to bring scouting to the lives of so many. Happy recruiting!
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MEMBERSHIP
GIRL SCOUTS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Stop by either the Palm Beach Retail Store or the Pop-Up Shop in Tamarac on Saturday, March 3rd from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and help us celebrate Girl Scouts’ Birthday. Enjoy a cupcake and receive a free Happy Birthday patch with a $5 purchase. *In store only, no phone orders, while supplies last and one per customer. See store for details.
GIRL SCOUT WEEK, HAPPY 106TH BIRTHDAY! Couldn’t make it to the Birthday Celebration? No problem, stop by either the Palm Beach Retail Store or Pop-Up Shop in Tamarac between March 12th and 15th and receive this patch. All you have to do to earn this patch is print this questionnaire to see how well you know Girl Scouts. Bring it into our Retail Store and we will give you the patch. *In store only, no phone orders, while supplies last and one per customer. See store for details
IT’S YOUR LUCKY DAY! Shop on March 17th in either the Palm Beach Retail Store or Pop-Up Shop in Tamarac and receive 17% off your entire purchase! *Not valid on gift cards. Palm Beach Retail Store 1232 West Indiantown Road, Suite 105 Jupiter, FL 33458 561-427-0196
Broward Retail Store 7413 NW 57th Street Tamarac, FL 33319 954-739-7661
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FEBRUARY JANUARY
FEBRUARY
CALENDAR 2018
MARCH S S
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Girl Scout 3 Anniversary event at the Retail Stores VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips NU2U Troop Camping
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10-18 Spring 10 Break – St. Lucie County
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VTK: Tips, Tricks 14 & Sips
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Lucky to be a 17 Girl Scout recruitment event
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24 Spring into Girl Scouts recruitment event
25 26-30 Spring 26
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NU2U Troop Camping
11 Girl Scout
Anniversary
12-16 Spring Break – Martin County
18 19-23 Spring
Break – Palm Beach County
Break – Broward, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties
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APRIL S
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Early Bird Re-Registration Begins
1 Gold Award
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VTK: Tips, Tricks 4 & Sips
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Thin Mint 7 Sprint – Hollywood Star Wars Night & Galactic Sleepover
Thin Mint Sprint – West Palm Beach
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Thin Mint Sprint – Stuart
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15 - 22 National Volunteer Week
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21 - 22 Journey in a Day
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Leader Appreciation Day
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VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips
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Final Reports/ Scrapbooks Due
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