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Spotlight
The Paca Patrol takes the stage with some furry partners
Alpaca farmer Kit Hower knows a thing or two about pedigrees. For almost 10 years, the owner of Blankstone Farm in Lehigh County has been breeding an award-winning herd of the gentle and quiet alpaca, which are native to the Andes Mountains in Peru and have become somewhat popular in the U.S. as pets--but more so for their sumptuous coats that produce one of the world's softest and most versatile natural wools. 'Heritage in the land, pedigrees in the pasture' is what Kit proclaims on her website, along with the promise of her "own brand of Southern hospitality in Pennsylvania."
Kit is at the heart of the Paca Patrol--an Interest Club created by GSEP Scouts in 2004 that is dedicated to their personal study of alpacas and educating others about the beautiful, passive breed. At Blankstone Farm's recent Autumn Alpacafest, WFMZ-TV captured 12 Girl Scout Cadettes from the Paca Patrol as they presented "Top Hats and Alpaca Tails," a not-too-tricky dance routine set to music. Members of the Paca Patrol have learned the basics of raising and caring for alpacas, the tax advantages of breeding them, and the sheer fun and enjoyment of being around the animals. |
Announcements
Trefoil Society invites awardees to 'reconnect'--November 7
Past recipients of Adult Awards--from National or any Girl Scout Council--are invited to An Afternoon of Reconnection, hosted by the Trefoil Society on Saturday, November 7 from 11am-2:30pm at the Valley Forge Service Center. Enjoy silent and live auctions and presentations by current Scouts. Uniforms are optional, but former Trefoil members are asked to wear their pins. Cost: $16 per person. To donate auction items, contact Mary Ann Morley at chachisfo@aol.com or 215.288.8691. If you are a past award recipient and did not receive a mailed invitation, contact Kelly Strause at kstrause@gsep.org or 610.791.2411, ext. 1513.
Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors: Take the Lead!
Hone your public speaking skills, earn leadership development hours and explore career opportunities. Play a role in Take the Lead--GSEP's largest and premier event to honor women of courage, confidence and character whose leadership makes the world a better place. Submit your application by November 20 to become an Emcee, Award Presenter or Host for one of three events in March and April. Contact Kelly Strause at kstrause@gsep.org or 610.791.2411, ext. 1513.
Earn leadership hours!
Plan the Emerging Leaders Conference--beginning Nov. 5 Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes: Help plan the Emerging Leaders Conference. Committee members must attend three Thursday-evening planning meetings--November 5, December 10 and January 14, from 6:30-7:30pm at the Lehigh Valley Service Center--and the Conference on January 30. Contact Melanie Doll at mdoll@gsep.org with your name, age, troop number and why you want to participate.
Future engineers! Get in Gear©--November 14
Watch competition robots in action and meet the girls who built them when the award-winning FIRST Robotics Team #341 / Miss Daisy hosts Girls in Gear© 2009 on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9-11:30am at Wissahickon High School (Ambler, Montgomery County). Receive a special event patch and stay for an afternoon of robotic competition. HURRY! Registration limited to 75. All ages welcome. Cost: $3 per girl, free for adults. See the flyer and email girls.in.gear@gmail.com to register.
Scout events in Philadelphia
Run the show at National Constitution Center Scout Day--November 7
Earn credits toward patches and Try-its while you learn about U.S. citizenship and community leadership. Cost: $14 per girl, $12 per adult. Free troop leader admission for every 10 Scouts! Visit the website or contact Francesca Reynolds at freynolds@constitutioncenter.org.
November is Scout Month with Ride the Ducks
Roll on the road and down the river, enjoy a scavenger hunt and get a free patch. Discounted rates available for groups of 20 or more; "Create a Group Weekend" helps smaller groups save money. Contact Danielle at 215.351.9989, or
see the flyer.
Check out Wachovia Complex's 2009-10 line-up of Scout Events
Scout Excursions continue at the Wachovia Complex, including Disney on Ice, Sixers, Temple University and Harlem Globetrotters basketball, and much more!
View the flyer or contact Reta Feldman at 215.952.7316 or rfeldman@comcast-spectacor.com. 5th-grade Girls: Get creative!
Why are you glad that America is a Nation of Immigrants? A creative writing contest sponsored in part by the American Immigration Law Foundation wants to know. Write an essay or a poem, or document an interview with friends or relatives who immigrated to the U.S. Entries are judged on theme, presentation, creativity and message. All participants will receive certificates, and prizes will be awarded to winning entries. Learn more at the contest website. Deadlines for Gold and Silver Award projects Additional deadlines are available for girls pursuing their Gold or Silver Awards according to either old or new guidelines:
- Current 12th graders must conduct their interviews with the Gold Award Committee no later than April 30, 2010.
- Current 9th graders must submit their Silver Award project proposals by May 1, 2010.
Contact Joan Hannahoe at jhannahoe@gsep.org or 610.791.2411, ext. 1509.
How are we doing? Tell us!
Take the Survey!
Your feedback is important and helps us do a better job of serving you and our girls! Take a few moments to complete our survey Customer Service:
How are we doing? Join the Club!
At a volunteer's suggestion, GSEP is forming a Volunteer Customer Service Advisory Council of 10-12 diverse volunteers who will meet throughout the year (in-person or via conference call) to discuss procedures and issues, and to gather perspective. To participate, e-mail your name, contact information, location, and an overview of your GSEP role(s) to Mary Novak at mnovak@gsep.org or 610.791.2411, ext. 1530 as soon as possible.
Art of Rhythm & Dance with Tahya
Discover how rhythm and movement from traditional folklore has influenced women's culture, and has been handed down across generations. For information about this instructional and participatory program, visit the website or call Tahya at 610.776.7045.
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Program Corner
Get your science on, beginning November 14 & 15
Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors! Earn Try-Its and Badges, then explore the The Academy of Natural Sciences. Workshops are Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15, from 10:15am-12:15pm or 1:30-3:30pm. Cost: $15 per girl (includes $8 workshop fee and $7 admission); $7 per adult. Free admission for members!
Watching Wildlife & Animals Try-It for Girl Scout Brownies Learn about wild and domestic animals and how they communicate with a scavenger hunt and a live animal show.
Oil Up Badge for Girl Scout Juniors Learn how rescuers clean and treat animals caught in oil spills. Explore alternative energy, and wear old clothes!
Badge Programs at National Liberty Museum
There's no better place to earn a Scouting badge than the National Liberty Museum (321 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia). Minimum of 10 and maximum of 100 girls for all programs. Fees include museum visit. Cost: $8 per girl; $5 per adult. All programs held on Saturdays from 1-2:30 pm. For additional badge opportunities and to request alternative dates, call 215.925.2800, ext. 140 or visit the website.
Citizens Near and Far for Girl Scout Brownies
Saturday, November 21
Model Citizen for Girl Scout Juniors
Saturday, March 6
Peaceful Solutions to Conflict for Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes
Saturday, March 13
Lady from Savannah--November 21
Girl Scout Brownies: Get to know Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low through games, songs, crafts, and more at Cedar Crest College (Allentown, Lehigh County) on Saturday, November 21 from 9-11:30am or 1-3:30pm. Bring personal care items for women, which will be used to assemble gift bags for local donation. Fee includes Her Story Try-It. Cost: $10 per girl; $3 per adult. Register on E Council, or contact Linda Delenick at ldelenick@gsep.org or 215.564.2030, ext. 1102.
Winter Camp at Camp Mosey Wood--December 27-30
Summer resident campers! Join your camp leaders at Winter Camp at Camp Mosey Wood. Stay in heated cabins and share meals in the dining hall. Tie-dye a t-shirt and enjoy games, songs, campfires, and winter activities including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating (weather-permitting). Cost: $100 per girl. Register through E Council or contact Jodi Saul at jsaul@gsep.org or 610.791.2411, ext 1518. |
Adult Development Corner
Adult Recognition Program calls for nominations and volunteers
The Adult Recognition Program gives all GSEP members a chance to nominate volunteers at any level. All background materials for the 2010 Program are posted on the Adult Education page, including a complete category manual with four new awards, and nomination forms in PDF and Word formats. All Service Units are encouraged to submit nominations.
Volunteers are also needed for two committees:
- The Selection Committee promotes the Recognition Process throughout the Council, and confidentially reviews and selects awardees. Committee meets Tuesday, March 9 from 6-9pm at the Lehigh Valley Service Center.
- The Event Committee works with Adult Development and Special Event personnel to plan and execute the Adult Recognition event. Meeting dates will be announced.
Committee candidates will be interviewed by Adult Development staff and, committee members receive free admission to the event. Contact Devon Miller atdmiller@gsep.org or 610.933.7555, ext. 1419.
Look for weekly training sessions that are closer to home!
With the new Program Year underway, workshops are being scheduled each week throughout the Council, including Step 2-Volunteer Essentials and Step 3-Leadership Essentials. GSEP is committed to schedule sessions within a 45-minute drive of volunteers' homes or workplaces. If you cannot find training sessions within that travel-time from your area, please contact us. Be sure to check the 2009-10 Training Calendar regularly. With the availability of these additional workshops, the "Trainings to You" program will be discontinued. Contact Jennifer Allebach at jallebach@gsep.org.
Save the Date! Pot of Gold--March 6
Mark your calendars now for this annual enhancement day of workshops and ideas to engage your troops. Pot of Gold will be held at the Spring-Ford School District's 9th-grade Center (Royersford, Montgomery County) from 8am to 5pm. Watch for more information soon.
Volunteers needed!
- Planners for the Pot of Gold Event Committee
- Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops to sell breakfast, lunch, and beverages that day
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Picture Place
As a community service project, Scouts from the Lin-Mar-Chi Service Unit #502 helped spruce up the Living Memorial Gardens for the Delaware County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, in preparation for its 13th annual vigil during the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims on September 25.
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GSEP IN THE NEWS
Inaugural Advisory Council breakfast welcomes GSRI's Michael ConnMichael Conn, Ph.D., Vice President, Research for the Girl Scout Research Institute gave an overview of girls' changing perspectives on leadership. Reading Mayor Thomas McMahon, County Commissioner Peter Barnhardt and State Senator Michael O'Pake joined nearly 50 attendees at the Berks County Community Foundation. The GSEP Berks County Advisory Council's inaugural Breakfast Roundtable drew media coverage from WFMZ-TV 69 and the Reading Eagle. Scouts who've
earned their Gold
At 14, Vanessa Segaline (Lehigh County) used a collection box and a handmade sign in a public library to create the Animal Food Bank of Lehigh Valley. Five years and 5,000 food packages later, it's headquartered at Northampton Community College. Other girls who earned their awards include Stephanie Forbes (Chester County) who produced a documentary for an early-learning facility, and Bayly Kern (Delaware County) who organized a clothes closet at her church. More Scout shorts ...
Scouts from Nazareth (Northampton County) and Brownie Troop #21237 (Bucks County) sure know how to scare crows
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| COOKIE
Two chances to
kick your cookie sales into high gear!
November 7 and 8
Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors: Attend "Tough Cookies: Breaking into the World of Business" at West Chester University on Saturday, Nov. 7, or Lehigh University on Sunday, Nov. 8. Both events run from 1-4pm. Register on E Council. Contact Kristen Hughes at khughes@gsep.org or 610.933.7555, ext. 1449.
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WHAT'S IN STORE
Special Saturday
Retail Shop hours
Don't forget! For your convenience, all GSEP retail shops will be open for Saturday shopping in October. Call your closest retailer for store hours. As part of next month's Trefoil Society luncheon celebration, GSEP's Valley Forge Shop will be open from 10am-3pm on Saturday, November 7. Click here for the full schedule of Retail Shop hours, and remember... shop online, anytime!
Think Globally,
Shop Locally!
Girl Scouts merchandise is available through GSUSA, 3rd-party retailers, and GSEP Council shops. But when you shop through GSEP, either online or at one of our five regional stores, you directly support our Council. All proceeds are invested in our programs, activities and the dreams of our girls.
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Edited by: Betsy Taube | Design and Layout: Jenny Kontos
GS News Hard Copies:
If you know of a Leader or Service Unit Manager who does not receive GS News because s/he does not have access to a computer, please have them contact us for a mailed copy. Call or email Loretta Rudzinski at 866.564.2030, ext. 1049.
Don't forget to forward this e-mail to your fellow volunteers by clicking the "Forward" link in the bottom left corner of this page. They can subscribe by entering their e-mails in the "Join Our Mailing List" box in the lavender right-side panel.
Shelly Ridge Service Center | 330 Manor Road, Miquon, PA 19444 | Tel. 888.564.4657 | Fax 215.564.6953
Mailing address | PO Box 27540 | Philadelphia, PA 19118 |
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