May 2016
Volunteer Spotlight ................1 Great Give ..................................1
Programs at a Glance
Adult & Leader Highlights
Calendar............................14 Submit Troop or Volunteer News here!
Concerned at first, Clara came to the trainings and just like that she secured a brand new Brownie Troop but had immersed herself into Girl Scouting and was so enthralled by all the things the girls can do, that she had set up her troop with uniforms, folders, books and materials all by the first meeting. She had the girls involved in activities and avidly participating in Service Unit events. Brownie Troop 10993 is engaged in the fun and excitement of Girl Scouting thanks to the enthusiasm of Clara. The Royal Palm Service Unit Team knows that they can always count on her for any support that might be needed. Thank you Clara for all your energy!
Save the Date for the Great Give on May 3rd! Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida is participating in the Great Give on May 3rd! Visit our Great Give page to help us reach our goal of raising $5,000 to help girls start their next adventure in Girl Scouts! Great Give Palm Beach & Martin Counties is a 24-hour online giving event led by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach County, United Way of Palm Beach County and United Way of Martin County designed to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits in a single day. This community-wide event celebrates the spirit of giving and the collective effort it takes to strengthen our community by raising critical funds for local nonprofits.
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Membership Update...........10 You Tou-Can be an Early Bird..................................10 Product Sales..........................11 Retail Stores............................12 Data Clean Up........................13
This month we would like to highlight Clara Hoadley. Clara is a first generation leader, who came reluctantly to her position and found her passion in Girl Scouts.
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Membership
Every month, we showcase a volunteer who exemplifies the Girl Scout mission and serves as a role model for other leaders.
Adult & Leader Highlights
Happy Mother’s Day .............5 Green Grapevine- Activity Policies......................................5 Adult Learning.........................6 Volunteer and Troop Essentials..................................6 Archery.......................................6 Bridging to Brownies..............7 Jumping to Juniors.................7 Climbing to Cadettes............7 New Leader Meet & Greet...7 Canoe Training........................8 Outdoor Cooking for Juniors .......................................8 New GSSEF Website Launches May 23....................8 End of Year Troop Reporting..................................9
Volunteer Spotlight
Programs at a Glance
2016 Gold Award Centennial Celebration..............................2 Gold Award Workshop.........2 Girl Scouts and St. Lucie Mets............................................3 Feeding Florida Together Food Drive................................3 News You Can Use.................3 Wet ‘n Wild Slumber Splash Bash..............................4 Summer Funshine .................4
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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2016 Gold Award Centennial Celebration - RSVP Today!
Gold Award Workshop As we ready to celebrate our Gold Award Class of 2016, we are already preparing for fresh, new Gold Award proposals! Have girls interested in pursuing the Gold Award? Here’s an upcoming workshop just for them!
The Gold Award Workshop is for 9 - 12 graders who are registered Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors who are ready to earn The Gold Award. Join our talented Gold Award Advisor, Karyl Bertram, who can explain the process and get you on the “Road to Gold!” Bring your questions, ideas, passion for Take Action and something to take notes with/on. This workshop IS required by GSSEF to submit a Gold Award Project Application. THIS WORKSHOP IS INTENDED FOR GIRLS ONLY. Please make sure to bring a notebook and something to write with! Questions? Please contact Lammy Askar at aaskar@gssef.org
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Please note: If this workshop does not meet your schedule needs, please do not fret. We are working with the Gold Award Advisors to identify additional dates and we thank you for your patience.
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When: Saturday, May 7, 2016, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Where: St. Anastasia Catholic Parish Center, 407 S. 33rd Street, Ft. Pierce, FL 34947 Cost: $1.00/girl Register here TODAY!
Adult & Leader Highlights
To register for the event, click here. Girls currently earning their award, with up to 2 guests, as well as current Gold Award Advisors will have complimentary admission. Tickets are $45. Registration deadline is April 30th.
Programs at a Glance
Join us on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Waterstone Resort and Marina in Boca Raton, as we celebrate the Gold Award Class of 2016 and honor those that have also received the Golden Eagle of Merit, Golden Eaglet, Curved Bar, or First Class Awards. This year marks the 100th Anniversary of this highest award and it would be our pleasure to honor your achievement on May 14th.
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Girl Scouts and St. Lucie Mets—Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Girl Scout price is $20 and includes game ticket, hot dog, chips, soda, camping, movie and breakfast. Click here for all the details.
Feeding Florida Together Food Drive
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Did you know that 1 in 4 children in Florida go to bed hungry and don’t get enough food to live active, healthful lives? As Girl Scouts, we must do our part to decrease these alarming statistics and help feed the hungry in our communities. Local food banks need your help to stock their pantries and prevent hunger even when it is not the holiday season. Join us for our Annual GSSEF Feeding Florida Together Food Drive throughout the month of April, and help us collect non-perishable food items. We encourage you to reach out to your local community to help us in our mission to fill the food pantries during this month! You can place food collection boxes in your local churches, synagogues, schools, daycare centers, small businesses, neighborhoods, troop meeting places, grocery stores, and get your entire community involved! For more details and drop off locations, click here.
Adult & Leader Highlights
Please note: No tagalongs, males or unregistered adults are permitted to camp, but are welcome to join us at the game for just $6 per person which includes only a game ticket (it does not include food or admission back to the stadium following the game). Register here by May 27. Questions? Contact Meredith Slaymaker at 772-812-2516 or mslaymaker@gssef.org
Programs at a Glance
Join Girl Scouts from all over the council in cheering on the St. Lucie Mets in a great baseball game. You’ll enjoy a light dinner and then once the game ends and the crowd clears, watch a movie on the big screen. Then camp in your own tent on one of the practice fields behind the stadium. In the morning enjoy a continental breakfast! Tents may not use stakes in the ground. All camping equipment and personal belongings for the overnight must be stored in vehicles until after the game. Campsite setup begins once the entire stadium is cleared. Additional details will be outlined in the confirmation packet.
News You Can Use—Troop Activities Calendar
Planning a troop activity such as horse-back riding or water sports and need an approved location? Here’s some news you can use! Effective immediately, leaders will have the ability to identify sites of their choosing as long as all Safety Activity Checkpoints and their designated checklists for each activity are met and closely monitored. You will no longer need Council’s ‘Site Approval’, but will still need to continue submitting travel applications. Don’t have the latest copy of Safety Activity Checkpoints? Be sure to access it here.
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Wet ‘n Wild’s Slumber Splash Bash 2016
Summer Funshine
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
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Program Team Contacts
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Patches and year bars can be purchased at the council store. Please keep an eye out for 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 Jodi Potter, Retail Store Manager, by September 30, 2016. You may email forms to jpotter@gssef.org.
Adult & Leader Highlights
Summer Funshine time is just around the corner! Scouting does not have to stop when school is out. Troops can continue Girl Scout activities throughout the summer, even if it’s just once a month. SUMMER FUNSHINE 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 requirements: 1. Participate in three activities (one per month) during June, July, and August.Your activities must include: a) A community service project (i.e. food drive, recycling project, beach clean-up) b) A family activity (i.e. year-end picnic) c) A troop choice activity (i.e. 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.
Programs at a Glance
Don’t miss Slumber Splash Bash 2016, Wet ‘n Wild’s premier Girl Scout exclusive event! No ordinary campout can compare to the nonstop fun of all the rides and attractions giving you thrills and chills by the light of the moon. It’s a splash - and a bash - for the whole troop! Event admission includes exclusive park access including attractions, commemorative patch, all-you-can-eat breakfast, a live DJ and Glow Party themed entertainment. It’s the perfect way to kick off the summer with your Girl Scout troop! Buy your tickets here today! Click here to get started and to find out more about the event.
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Happy Mother’s Day! Don’t forget Mom! Honor your Mom for Mother’s Day and support Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida at the same time! Click here to do your online shopping through AmazonSmile and a portion of your purchases will be donated back to Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. Help support the future leaders (and moms) in our community!
Green Grapevine - ACTIVITY POLICIES 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 ScoutingMoira Portantly
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 their girl may need to bring, or special clothes or equipment she may need.
The Leader should hold onto these documents and keep them safe but accessible throughout the duration of the activity. The Parent/Guardian Permission Form is kept by the Leader and NOT submitted to Council.
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In addition to parental permission, the girl also attests to the Girl Behavioral Agreement where she agrees to take responsibility for her actions, and to uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law when she is participating in Girl Scout activities.
Adult & Leader Highlights
It 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. 58).
The Parent/Guardian Permission Form is one of several important forms you should always have multiple blank copies of, so you’re always prepared. We recommend having a few blank Accident Reports on hand too, since unfortunately accidents do happen. A listing of the Most Commonly Used Forms can be found here.
If you have any questions about Policies or Forms you can always email volunteer@gssef.org and we can help guide you in the right direction.
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The Parent/Guardian Permission Form and Accident Reports can be found in the Troop section here.
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Adult Learning Highlights Take a look at the Spring Adult Training calendar for a listing of all classes available!
Volunteer Essentials Take the first step in your leadership experience by getting informed of the policies and procedures of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. Know the dos and donts of being a Girl Scout volunteer! Volunteer Essentials - Orientation training is a required for all new leaders and must be taken within 60 days. Class Location: Online. An email with login information will be sent prior to the class. Cost: FREE, but pre-registration is required Volunteer Essentials (Online) May 10 at 7:00 p.m. Register here! Volunteer Essentials (Online) May 23 at 7:00 p.m. Register here!
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. Cost: $3.00
Adult & Leader Highlights
Troop Essentials
Troop Essentials: Daisy- Brownie- Junior (South Broward) May 4 at 6:30 p.m. Register here!
You will learn how to set up and operate a safe short-term archery program, how to teach new archers, and how to maintain program equipment. Cost: $50.00
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Archery
Archery (Camp Welaka) May 22 at 9:00 a.m. Register here! Calendar
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Bridging to Brownies Troop Essentials Grade-level training specifically for existing leaders who are transitioning from Daisy to Brownie level. Cost: $3.00 Bridging to Brownies (Ft. Pierce) May 12 at 6:30 p.m. Register here! Bridging to Brownies (Ft. Lauderdale) May 23 at 7:45 p.m. Register here!
Jumping to Juniors Troop Essentials Grade-level training specifically for existing leaders who are transitioning from Brownie to Junior level. Cost: $3.00
Jumping to Juniors (Ft. Lauderdale) May 23 at 7:45 p.m. Register here!
Climbing to Cadettes (and up) Troop Essentials Grade-level training specifically for existing leaders who are transitioning from Junior to Cadette (and up) Cost: $3.00
New Leader Meet and Greet
Membership
Climbing to Cadettes (and up) (Ft. Lauderdale) May 23 at 7:45 p.m. Register here!
Adult & Leader Highlights
Jumping to Juniors (Ft. Pierce) May 12 at 6:30 p.m. Register here!
Send your New Leaders to meet staff members, fill out their paperwork and get answers to some pressing questions! We are here to help get that new troop going. Cost: FREE, but pre-registration is required Calendar
New Leader Meet and Greet (South Broward) May 19 at 6:30 p.m. Register here!
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Canoe Training Interested in taking your troop on local quiet water trips? This course is designed to give you the skills to deal with various flat water boating situations. Focused on safety for canoe leaders and methods of basic water rescue, we will practice a variety of rescue situations as well as demonstrate the equipment necessary to provide a positive and safe experience. Class is open only to GSSEF registered volunteers. Completion of this class will certify you to canoe on Council camp properties and approved flat water canoe trips. Course materials will be mailed to review and study prior to the class. Swim and subject matter tests and skills session will be held at Camp Welaka, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please bring a bagged lunch. Class Location: Camp Welaka, 10205 Girl Scout Way Tequesta, FL 33469. Information on what to wear, bring and know before you come will be sent to you prior to the event. Cost: $50.00 Canoe Training (Camp Welaka) May 7 at 9:00 a.m. Register here!
Come out to the campfire and get some hands-on cooking expertise as you practice three cooking techniques to start with your Junior troops. The menu includes chicken in foil packets, dutch oven cobbler and oranges peel cinnamon rolls! Come hungry! (All ingredients provided) Cost: $8.00
New GSSEF Website Launches May 23
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Outdoor Cooking with Juniors and Up (Camp Telogia) May 1 at 12:00 p.m. Register here!
Adult & Leader Highlights
Outdoor Cooking for Juniors (and up)
Make a note and visit www.gssef.org starting Monday, May 23. That afternoon, we will launch the new GSSEF website. You’ll see lots of familiar faces throughout the site, refreshed content and information and a new, user friendly Events calendar for girl program, adult learning, special events and more. Calendar
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Coming Soon! Troop End of Year Reporting Online end-of-year Troop reporting is almost here! All Troops are required to submit an end-of-year finance and Troop activity report each year by July 31st. The link for online end-of-year reporting will open in early May. In order to be prepared to complete your report, there are a few things you’ll need. Below is a list of things you should have handy: • A saved bank statement; this can either be downloaded and saved from your bank’s website, or scanned and saved to your computer. You will be asked to upload your Troop’s most recent bank statement to complete the report. • A photo of your Troop doing something fun; we want to see you in action! • A calculator; no worries, the math is simple! • About 30 minutes to dedicate to completing the report, maybe less. The WuFoo system does require the report be completed in one sitting, and unfortunately does not allow you to save work and finish later.
When you click submit, your report will be sent via a secure server to Council. The bank account and routing number data is encrypted for your protection. You will receive a confirmation email indicating successful completion of the form, along with a copy of the information you’ve submitted. Join us for a workshop designed to familiarize you with the online form, review the items you’ll need to complete it and answer any questions you may have about the process.
May 25 from 7:00pm-8:00pm Click here to register June 8 from 7:00pm- 8:00pm Click here to register
Membership
Cost: FREE, but registration is required. Class Location: Online Class length: 1 hour.
Adult & Leader Highlights
If there’s anything missing, the system will highlight these fields and prompt you to enter the information before allowing you to submit the form. The form is user friendly and you can’t break it!
July 20 from 7:00pm- 8:00pm Click here to register Calendar
Questions about adult learning? Email volunteer@gssef.org
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Membership Update GSSEF’s girl membership goal for 2016 is 12,500, and the adult membership goal is 5,800. Over 10,243 girls and 5,027 adults have already registered for the 2016 Girl Scout year.
12,000 5,000 10,000
6,000 82% of 4,000
You Tou-Can be an Early Bird! The Early Birds are flying back! Thank you to everyone who has participated in Early Bird Re-registration. So far, over 1,620 girls and 840 adults have re-registered for the 2016-17 membership year.
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Goal 12,500
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As a reminder, Early Bird registration is that special time during the spring when troops are invited to re-register for the next Girl Scout membership year…AND earn awesome incentives for both girls and leaders. Troops may re-register as Early Birds until May 15, 2016. Click here to view the 2016-17 Early Bird Flyer. Below are some tips and reminders to help you prepare for Early Bird re-registration:
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• To be eligible, girls must have been registered and on the troop roster by March 31 • To receive the complimentary leader and co-leader incentives the troop must re-register 80% of the girls on their roster as of March 31 • To receive the 3-cent or 1-cent cookie sale incentive, the troop must re-register 80% of the girls on their roster as of March 31 • Troops are encouraged to re-register the girls using the troop funds earned throughout the year • Financial Assistance may not be requested for Early Bird • Registration is completed online, and troop leaders (01s only) received an email with the registration link on April 1. • Leaders needing their e-Council login information may contact Mileneda Joseph at mjoseph@ gssef.org and as backup, LaSwan Dinson at ldinson@gssef.org
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Product Sales 2016 Cookie Sale Results are Something Truly Worth Sharing As promised, here are the results of our 2016 Cookie Sale Program by the numbers. As you’ll see below, we not only reached, but exceed our goal of 1.5 million boxes of cookies. In doing so, each Service Unit will receive $250! Another stat to highlight is 14 Service Units received a 3-6-9 Bonus which resulted in additional $92,624 in proceeds paid out to troops. 2016
2015
Sales 1,528,619 1,372,457
11.56% increase
Initial Order
20.44% increase
1,065,636
884,784
DOC Orders 5235 3656 43.19% increase Girls Selling
7173
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PGA 213 208 Troops Selling 713 667 Extreme Team Girls 178 Girls
164 Girls
Girls Selling 2016+
22 Girls
26 Girls
Congratulations to all three of these girls, their parents and their troop leaders. What an awesome job!
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3-6-9 Bonus 14 Service Units 11 Service units Top Three Sellers for the 2016 Cookie Sale 1. Amanda Kopelman - 4304 boxes (Atikah Service Unit) 2. Saya Greason - 3318 boxes (Sandy Beaches Service Unit) 3. Kalliopi Kyramarios - 3202 boxes (Leo Service Unit)
Kalliopi, Amanda and Saya
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Share and celebrate all of these successes. EVERYONE together did a remarkable job and with impressive dedication. The true end result is that over 7,100 girls in our Council had a positive and fun experience doing what every Girl Scout likes to do… sell Girl Scout Cookies!
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Cookies for the Military Exceeds Goal Thank you to all of our girls, troops, volunteers and parents for supporting our Cookies for the Military Program again this year with such enthusiasm. GSSEF exceeded their goal of 55,000 boxes by almost 4700 boxes! Our program continues to support and encourage our military personnel while they are stationed overseas, stateside and even our Veterans in hospitals. We are able to do this in partnership with Forgotten Soldiers, Operation Homefront and Soldiers Angels. We are bringing a little taste of home to so many deserving military personnel.
Retail Stores Two Kits to Get Girls Started Basic Starter Kit – we build it for customers Essentials Starter Kit – customers build their own The Basic Starter Kit contains everything a girl needs for a great year in Girl Scouting. We’ve eliminated the guess work and included The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, American Flag Patch, Insignia Tab, World Trefoil Pin and Membership Pin. Girls just select an Official Uniform Item (sash, vest or tunic), Journey Book, Troop Numerals, Council ID Set, FREE BAG and they’re on their way! Membership
The Essentials Starter Kit is for a Girl Scout of any grade level who wants to select what they need for the year. They simply choose items from a list of Official Essentials. When the purchase reaches $50 from one grade level, they’re ready to grab a FREE BAG and begin their adventure!
Bridging Kits Now Available
To help celebrate the occasion, the Retail Store has put together Bridging Kits for each grade level. Click here to check out what’s in the kit and make sure to stop by the Retail Store soon to pick them up for your troop.
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As we approach summer, many Girl Scouts are excited to be bridging to the next grade level. Whether it’s Daisies to Brownies through Seniors to Ambassadors, girls have another year of fun, adventure and friendship awaiting them.
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Data Clean Up and Preparation for the Customer Engagement Initiative (CEI) Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and corrected information in your Troop’s roster! Having accurate contact information for each girl, parent/guardian and adult volunteer in the membership database ensures that important information and program announcements reach you and girls’ families in a timely manner. GSSEF continues our council-wide effort to update and “clean” the data in each membership record in the e-Council database as we prepare our transition to a new membership database and web site platform. As you participate in Early Bird re-registration, now is a perfect time to review everyone’s contact information, including troop grade level. Please double-check your troop roster to ensure that each girl and adult record has the following fields completed with current, correct information: name, address, city, state, zip, county, birthdate, phone number and email address. Now is also a good time to make sure all girls and adults registered into your troop are listed on your troop roster. In addition, please review the meeting location, meeting date and time listed in e-Council for your troop meeting. For safety and compliance purposes, this information must be included in your troop summary. For assistance with any of these data updates, please contact Mileneda Joseph, council registrar, at mjoseph@gssef.org, LaSwan Dinson, troop development coordinator, at ldinson@gssef.org, or Rhonda Netzel, director of membership, at rnetzel@gssef.org.
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