GSSEF Linking Leaders E-Newsletter March 2015

March 2015

Volunteer Spotlight.................................1 Cookie Spotlight ..................................1

Programs at a Glance

Sea Turtles Patch ................................... 2

Volunteer Spotlight Every month, we showcase a volunteer who exemplifies the Girl Scout mission and serves as a role model for other leaders.

Recognition from Senator Marco Rubio ................................................ 2 Cookie Sale Program Comes to a Close ......................................................... 3 Cookie Selling Rewards: Summer Resident Camp ...........3 Bling Your Booth Winner ....... 4 Celebrate Girl Scouts’ 103rd Anniversary ............................ 4

Adult & Leader Highlights Green Grapevine Taking Safety Measures ..... 5

Adult Training .................................. 6-7 Volunteer Weekend Registration is Open! ........ 7-8

Adult Awards Nominations Due March 15 ................................... 8

Correction: In last month’s issue, we inadvertently swapped the Veteran and New Volunteer bios. Annie Broderson is the Veteran Volunteer and Amy Brass is our New Volunteer. We apologize for any confusion.

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Volunteer Weekend Saturday Only Session ......... 8

Adult & Leader Highlights

Cookie Money in Action ...... 3

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onna Circe is one of those volunteers that you can always count on. From Troop Leader to Service Unit leader, she has served in many capacities in Girl Scouting. Jonna loves to spend her time with her two daughters doing Girl Scout activities and has organized some amazing programs at the troop, service unit and area level.

Currently she is the Service Unit Volunteer Manager for Sunny River Service Unit where she has been working closely with her team to engage volunteers and create great events and camporees. We truly appreciate all the support she gives to the volunteers and her dedication to the girls!

Programs at a Glance

Light Up Your Summer .................. 2 Gold and Silver Awards Deadline is Approaching ...... 2

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 are archived in the Volunteer Vault here for easy reference.

Spotlights

Spotlights

Cookie Spotlight

Membership

Membership Update ................ 9

Take The Lead. Be an Early Bird ..................................................... 9

Early Bird Incentives .................10 Add new Girls To Early Bird!

How You Get The Girl .........10

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Chowing down on cookies!

e Eating Brian Shenkman, thre e-time Co oki naro Contest Winner, and Danielle Mo rning Show from the Elvis Duran and the Mo

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Participate in Early Bird Because ......................................................... 9

Submit Troop or Volunteer News here.

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Light Up Your Summer

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Gold and Silver Award Project Deadline is Approaching

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Sea Turtles Patch

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Recognition from Senator Marco Rubio

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s your troop interested in earning their sea turtle patch? Loggerhead Marinelife Center is welcoming all Girl Scout troops of any level to come and experience their unrivaled sea turtle discovery experience! Patch requirements are offered for any age level. Please specify the Girl Scout level when you register, so they can custom-tailor your tour. Each Girl Scout tour lasts for one hour and includes a trip into their Turtle Yard to visit their sea turtle patients. Advanced reservations are required. Activities require a minimum of eight Girl Scouts. Cost is $8 per Girl Scout (chaperones are free, but donations are welcome and greatly appreciated). To register your Girl Scout troop, please contact Hannah Campbell at (561) 627-8280 ext. 105 or hcampbell@marinelife.org.

Adult & Leader Highlights

his is a reminder – if you are working on an approved Gold or Silver Award project, the deadline to complete them is fast approaching. Completed project submissions are due Wednesday, April 1 by 6 p.m. at either the Jupiter or Oakland Park Service Center. Please address your project submissions to the attention of Lammy Askar, Director of Program. Questions? Contact Lammy Askar at aaskar@gssef.org.

Programs at a Glance

ummer is just around the corner and plans for play are underway! Check out the Summer Camp lineup here. Is there a camp that catches your eye that you’d like to volunteer for? Now is your time to shine! We are seeking dedicated adult volunteers and older girls to work alongside our Camp Director to facilitate Summer Camp programs.

Camp sessions will be held on weekends throughout the months of June through August. We're looking for volunteers to assist with day programs as well as overnight weekend camp. Interested?

Contact the Lammy Askar, Director of Program, at aaskar@gssef.org.

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ecently, Troop #21045 was recognized for their Bronze Award by Senator Marco Rubio. Their project included the renovation and beautification of trail signs and common areas of John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Senator Rubio was both delighted and proud to of their achievements and personally sent each girl a congratulatory letter for their leadership and community service.

Way to go Troop #21045!

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Cookie Sale Program Comes to a Close

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Thank You!

Cookie Selling Rewards: Summer Resident Camp

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Share your

story!

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ach 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. Now that the Cookie Sale is over, we want to hear how your plan to put your cookie money in action. We will use the stories 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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Cookie Money in Action

Adult & Leader Highlights

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e are excited to share an extremely robust summer camp program season, beginning this June. However, we realize the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Sale promotional materials were printed before we identified some important issues facing our council's ability to offer week-long resident camp. We apologize for the confusion. This coming summer, GSSEF will not offer weeklong resident camp sessions. Unfortunately, the interest from girls who are willing to register is not enough to balance the expenses that are related to these sessions. It is very difficult for us the let this go but necessary. We want girls to still feel as though they have an exciting (and valuable) Girl Scout program incentive to reward their outstanding cookie-selling-efforts. GSSEF will offer girls at this sales level the following choice, in lieu of the currently stated reward of a week of resident camp: -$300 GSSEF Program Voucher good for one year (through February 28, 2016) *OR* -$300 towards any Summer Camp offered by any Girl Scout council (May – August 2015) We sincerely hope that girls and families will still find this to be a valuable reward.

Programs at a Glance

his year’s theme celebrated the fact that there is truly something AMAZING inside our Girl Scout Cookie Program. Much more than a business run by the numbers, IT’S ALL ABOUT GIRLS! It’s about our passion to improve the lives of girls and to teach them those essential skills that will last a lifetime.

The more you get inside a girl’s world, the more you are inspired by her. Awesome volunteers like you cultivate what’s amazing inside each girl. 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 by a girl and her troop.

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Bling Your Booth Winner

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ongratulations to Troop #10732 from the Pinetree Service Unit! With 1,733 'likes,' they were the winners of our first ever Bling Your Booth contest! Additional kudos go to Troop #10996 and #10203 who each had more than 1,650 'likes.'

0732 Bling Your Bo oth Winner Tro op #1

Programs at a Glance

With over 70 entries, we'd like to thank all of our troops for participating and showing just how creative and bling-tastic Girl Scouts can be.

Adult & Leader Highlights

Bling Your Bo oth Runners-Up

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Celebrate Girl Scouts’ 103rd Anniversary

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elebrate Girl Scouts’ 103rd Anniversary on March 12 with a free gift. Shop at one of our Retail Stores from March 7 - March 12 and spend $60 or more and receive this embroidered carabineer key ring for free.

Offer is valid while supplies last and one per customer.

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Green Grapevine - Taking Safety Measures Dear Green GrapevineI am super-safety conscious. What do I need to do if one of the girls gets hurt at an activity?

Thanks - Ann T. Dote

Have a q uestion se e answ you’d like to ere Gre en G d in the rapevine ?

Email volu nte er@gs sef.org

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3. Once the report is reviewed, if the accident occurred during an approved Girl Scout activity, we will forward the Mutual of Omaha claim form to the claimant.

If you have specific questions regarding the Girl Scout liability insurance, please email volunteer@gssef.org.

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4. Upon receiving your completed Claim Form, the council will validate it in the space provided and send it to the insurance company for processing. Any future correspondence will then be between the claimant and the insurance company.

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2. Depending on the circumstance, you may also want to call the council’s emergency number. This number should only be used in the event of a true emergency when additional assistance is needed to ensure the girl’s safety. The number is (954) 739-0557.

Adult & Leader Highlights

he first thing you should do is get medical attention, if necessary, and ensure the girl’s parent/guardian is notified immediately. You’ll then need to complete a council accident/incident report. The report can be found here. You may want to print a few copies to have on hand at Girl Scout activities.

Every registered Girl Scout and registered adult member is automatically covered under the Girl Scout Activity insurance plan, and the entire premium cost for this protection is borne by Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Non-registered parents, tagalongs (brothers, sisters, friends) and other persons are not covered by basic coverage. It’s important to note, however, that it’s not the intention of this plan to diminish the need for family health insurance or to replace the benefits that may be available under a family medical plan. Rather, it’s the plan’s objective to provide you and the parents/guardians of each girl entrusted to your care the assurance that, should the need arise, financial coverage is available to help pay the medical expenses of accidents that occur during normal, supervised Girl Scout activities.

Girl Scout volunteers need to be aware of the requirement for council approval of events or special activities apart from normal group meetings. Additional coverage is needed if events or activities last more than three days and two nights. It is important to note that should the accident occur at an event or activity for which you have not received council approval, the insurance cannot be applied. If you or one of the girls in your group is injured, simply follow these easy steps: 1. Complete an Accident/Incident report and submit it to council. The report is available 24/7 in the troop section of the Volunteer Vault. You may one to print a few copies to have on hand at all times. You can also click here to access the report and the complete insurance brochure.

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Adult Training Volunteer Essentials Take the first step in your leadership experience by getting informed of the policies and procedures of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. This class is required for all new leaders within 60 days of appointment. An email with login information will be sent prior to class.

March 12 at 7 p.m. - Class Location: Online 12 To register, click here - Cost: FREE but required pre-registration

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March 24 at 7 p.m. - Class Location: Online To register, click here - Cost: FREE but required pre-registration

Troop Travel – Savannah Bound!

Learn all there is to know about that trip to Savannah! Girl involvement, budgeting, travel ideas, tips and tricks. Share your research and find out more from experienced leaders who have done this inspirational journey before you.

March 31 at 6 p.m. - Cost: $3 - To register, click here 31 Location: Oakland Park Service Center, 4701 NW 33rd Ave., Oakland Park, FL 33309

Meet staff members in person and get the answers to your questions. This is an open forum for you to ask those questions, get advice and where to find the most up-to-date information.

March 11 at 6:30 p.m. - Cost: FREE but pre-registration required - To register, click here 11 Location: Starbucks, 4530 Weston Road, Weston, FL 33331

Troop Essentials

March 14 at 1 p.m. - Cost: FREE but pre-registration required - To register, click here Location: Ft. Pierce – For Daisies and Brownies

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March 16 at 6 p.m. - Cost: FREE but pre-registration required - To register, click here Location: Davie – For Daisies and Brownies

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March 17 at 6 p.m. - Cost: FREE but pre-registration required - To register, click here Location: Oakland Park Service Center – For Daisies, Brownies and Juniors

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Troop Essentials 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.

March 4 at 6 p.m. - Cost: FREE but pre-registration required - To register, click here 4 Location: West Palm beach - For All Grade Levels

Adult & Leader Highlights

New Leader Café

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Adult Training Continued Archery An 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, which may also help your own skills. After taking this class, you will be able to treat your troop (or other troops) to an archery experience.

March 14 at 2 p.m. - Cost: $50 - To register, click here 14 Location: Fort Lauderdale Archers, 4590 Peters Rd., Plantation, FL 33312

Spring Troop Camp Training Registration is Open Love camping? Want to go camping with your troop? Then Troop Camp Training is for you!

Registration for our spring sessions is open! For more information, email volunteer@gssef.org.

TCT Basic – March 7 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Cost $20 - To register, click here Location: Camp Welaka, 10205 Girl Scout Way, Tequesta, FL 33469 Completion of Girl Scout Troop Camp Training (TCT) training is required by one adult volunteer in your troop in order for your girls to go camping. Learn fire building, basic cooking, simple knot tying, safety issues and other necessary outdoor skills. This will prepare you to camp at any GSSEF camp property or similar facility. TCT – Basic is a full-day experience. Lunch and supplies are included. Information on what to wear, bring and know before you come will be sent to you prior to the event.

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Check out all the fun our volunteers had at last year’s Volunteer Weekend! Don’t miss out - register today! Details on the next page.

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Volunteer Weekend Registration is Open!

Adult & Leader Highlights

TCT Intermediate – March 7 at 9 a.m. - March 8 at 11 a.m. - Cost $30 To register, click here Location: Camp Welaka, 10205 Girl Scout Way, Tequesta, FL 33469 Visit th Love tent camping? Ready to take your troop’s camping to the next level? calend e Adult Learning ar here fo r all class The Intermediate level training prepares you for tent camping and es. includes outdoor cooking, knot tying and knife skills. Food (lunch, dinner Question s about and breakfast) and supplies are included. Completion of BTC Basic or adult lea rning? test-out approval from council is a pre-requisite. Information on Email volu nte er@gs what to wear, bring and know before you come will be sef.org sent to you prior to the event.

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Volunteer Weekend Registration is Open! Continued

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olunteer Weekend is an opportunity for registered adult volunteers to network with others and learn new skills. We’ll be offering super-fun themed activities, a chance to explore Camp Nocatee, canoeing and archery contests, info sessions and a special workshop on conflict resolution tailored just for Girl Scouts. Camp accommodations, food and T-shirt are provided. Registration is open to registered adult volunteers only. Please register by grade level of your girls. Multi-level troop volunteers may choose their grade level. Specific info with what to bring etc. will be sent via email. Register by April 1.

April 10 at 7 p.m. - April 12 after breakfast and camp clean-up - Cost: $35 Location: Camp Nocatee, 4009 Flaghole Road, Clewiston FL 33440 To register for Daisy level, click here To register for Brownie level, click here To register for Junior level, click here

To register for Cadette level, click here To register for Senior level, click here To register for Ambassador level, click here

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olunteer Weekend - Day Only Session is an opportunity for registered adult volunteers to network with others and learn new skills. We’ll be offering super-fun activities, a chance to explore Camp Nocatee, canoeing and archery contests, info sessions and a special workshop on conflict resolution tailored just for Girl Scouts. Conflict resolution workshop, camp activities, lunch and T-shirt are provided and included in the registration cost. Register by April 1.

April 11 at 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (No overnight camping) - Cost: $25 - To register, click here Location: Camp Nocatee, 4009 Flaghole Road, Clewiston FL 33440

Adult & Leader Highlights

Volunteer Weekend – Saturday Only Session

Adult Awards Nominations Due March 15

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Honor a

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e all know them. Leaders who go above and beyond. Parents who rock as the Troop Product Sale Manager. Volunteers who plan amazing programs and workshops. A community partner that is always there for you and your girls. Now is the time to honor them for their hard work and dedication by nominating them for an award. The time frame for Adult Recognition Award nomination term is for services performed January 1 - December 31, 2014.

Nominations can be made both online and on paper until March 15.

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Membership Update

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6,000

14,000 12,000

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SSEF’s girl membership goal for the 2015 membership year is 10,000 13,120, and the adult membership goal is 5,800. Over 9,358 71% of girls and 4,618 adults have already registered for the 2015 Girl Scout 8,000 Goal year.

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80% of 4,000 Goal 3,000

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Take the Lead. Be an Early Bird

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e are approaching that special time during the spring to re-register girls and adults for the next Girl Scout membership year. Now is the time to prepare your troop roster for the 2016 Early Bird re-registration season!

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Goal 13,120

Goal 5,800

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Some important things to remember for Early Bird.

•Early Bird re-registration will be April 15 – May 31, 2015.

•All individually registered girls and troops must submit their online registration with payment by 11:59 p.m. on May 31 to be considered an Early Bird.

•Troops must re-register 80 percent of their currently registered girls to be eligible for the 2016 Early Bird incentives.

•All Troop Leaders will received an email on April 15 with a “click here” link to the GSSEF membership database, e-Council, to view their roster and complete the re-registration transaction.

•Can’t remember your e-Council login? That’s ok … just email mjoseph@gssef.org, and Mileneda will follow up with you.

•All Troop Leaders will be sent an email by April 10 with re-registration information and what their 80 percent retention number is based on all girls who are registered by April 3, 2015. This will be the total used to determine eligibility for incentives.

Participate in Early Bird Because …

Check out the Early Bird 2015-16 patch!

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•Early Bird re-registration ensures girls a place in the troop and allows you (the Troop Leader) to know how many new girls can be added throughout the year.

Question •Troops may utilize funds from the Troop Treasury to re-register s about m embership Contact girls easily with the money earned together all year long.

Rhonda L ? a ng •For families that do pay for their girl to be re-registered as an Director of Memb Netzel, individual or with her troop, we find there are fewer financial rnetzel@g ership, at ssef.org. burdens in spring than in fall. (i.e. school supplies, uniforms etc.)

•Best of all, there are incentives!

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Questions? Contact Rhonda Netzel at rnetzel@gssef.org. Need your e-Council user ID or password information?

Contact Mileneda Joseph, Council Registrar, at mjoseph@gssef.org.

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Early Bird Incentives We are so excited to introduce the following incentives for participation in this year’s Early Bird.

Troop Leaders commit their time, patience and guidance to girls throughout the year. To say thank you and show our commitment to your continued participation in a leadership position, this year’s incentives include something for you!

Troops participating in Early Bird and re-registering 80 percent of their currently registered girls by April 30 will be eligible for the following incentives: •2015-16 Early Bird Patch (all girls, Troop Leaders and Co-Leaders) •Additional 3-cents per box of cookies sold during the 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Sale •1 – Troop Leader re-registration ($15 value) •1 – Co-Leader re-registration ($15 value)

Troops participating in Early Bird and re-registering 80 percent of their currently registered girls by May 31 will be eligible for the following incentives: •2015-16 Early Bird Patch (all girls, Troop Leaders and Co-Leaders) •Additional 1-cent per box of cookies sold during the 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Sale •1 – Troop Leader re-registration ($15 value) •1 – Co-Leader re-registration ($15 value)

FLASH Incentives New this year! Stay tuned to Linking Leaders, Facebook and other social media for spontaneous FLASH incentives and random drawings throughout the month of May! Prizes will include gift cards, event tickets and GSSEF Retail Store gift cards.

Add New Girls to Early Bird! How You Get The Girl!

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Don’t look at this idea and Shake It Off! For every new girl added to an existing troop during Early Bird, Troop Leaders will be entered to win TWO TICKETS to Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour at American Airlines Arena on October 27, 2015 with chauffeured car service to and from the show. This will be the concert that only exists in your Wildest Dreams!

At GSSEF, we want to fill up the Blank Space in your troop with a new Girl Scout this spring.

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New this year! GSSEF wants troops to add NEW girls during this year’s Early Bird period. It’s simple; Troop Leaders will use this link to register new girls in existing troops between April 15 – May 31, 2015.

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Service Unit Training

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Troop Essentials

TCT Intermediate

TCT Intermediate

Service Unit Training

New Leader Cafe

Girl Scout Anniversary Volunteer Essentials

Troop Essentials

Troop Essentials

Adult Nominee Deadline

Spring Break Begins Palm Beach, Okeechobee and Martin Counties

Troop Essentials

Spring Break Begins Broward County

Volunteer Essentials

Spring Break Troop Travel Begins Indian River Savannah Bound and St. Lucie Counties

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Volunteer Weekend

GSSEF Annual Meeting

Feeding Florida Together Food Drive Begins Gold and Silver Award Reports Due

National Volunteer Week

Camporee Lottery Early Bird Registration Begins

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Feeding Florida Together Food Drive End