Issue: 58May 19, 2011
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Spotlight: 2011 Leadership Conference

Real Girls. Real Power. Real Change. 

On Saturday, April 2, 230 girls participated in the Real Girls Leadership Conference at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. Junior Girl Scouts met in the morning, while Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors attended an afternoon session. Girls arrived individually driven by parents, in troops by carpool with leaders, and by bus from communities where girls participate in funded troops. 

 

GSEP CEO Natalye Paquin welcomed girls to the Conference. The keynote speaker for the afternoon session was the President of Cedar Crest College, Carmen Ambar. President Ambar is nationally known for her record of accomplishment in higher education and, in particular, her commitment to women's education. She spoke about successful women and shared her observations about the habits and behaviors these women have in common. She emphasized that every girl can cultivate these qualities while striving for excellence and success.

 

leadership conference

 

The Real Girls Leadership Conference focused on global issues facing girls in other countries with special focus on education, developing leadership skills, and inspiring others to make a difference. Girls participated in teamwork and communications activities while learning about global education issues facing girls. Afterward, girls reported by texting messages projected to all participants that they were inspired to make a difference in the world. Here are but a few of the girls' comments:

 

(I learned about) how to make a difference for women's rights...

Heard about teachers and famous women who let nothing get in their way...

I would like to start a program at my school to help educate kids in Africa...

I have a voice and I should use it...

I heard about under-educated girls and women...

 

Along with the workshops, older girls, volunteers and staff members presented displays in a Pathways Showcase that exposed girls to different ways to be a Girl Scout. Presentations were given by the Fashion Patrol, Heritage Patrol and Paca Patrol. In addition, a showcase of Justice Journey Take Action Projects, and Gold and Silver Award Projects were presented by older girls in the afternoon. Girls evaluated the day by texting in responses to a survey that magically appeared in the closing PowerPoint presentation in real time. It was the coolest!

 

Take The Lead in the Lehigh Valley

Our Third Regional Fund Raising Event Caps Off a Successful Season 

take the lead lehigh valley

The Lehigh Valley Take The Lead was held on April 27 at the brand new ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The audience was wowed by the backdrop, our fantastic honorees--and of course--our girls! More than $101,000 was raised and over 425 people attended which set a new record for this event in the Lehigh Valley area. Guests enjoyed interacting with our Girl Scouts as they encouraged bids on silent auction items, emceed the entire evening and presented awards to five outstanding women role models including: Beverly Bradley, President of the Cops 'N' Kids Literacy Program; Kathy Matthews, Director, Business and Compliance, PPL; Mary Ellyn Voden, Director, Public Affairs and Staffing, Crayola, LLC; Ilene Wood, Author and Community Volunteer; and Susan Yee, Chief Executive Officer, Active Data Exchange. Pictured above with Girl Scouts who participated in the program are Event Committee Co-Chairs Wendy Body of Alvin H. Butz, Inc. and Gerry Nau of Lafayette Ambassador Bank.

 

Bronze Awards

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania are Making the World a Better Place!

Bronze AwardThe Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive. By achieving these awards girls learn to discover the world around them, connect with others and take action to make the world a better place. Our Girl Scout Juniors have been hard at work earning their Bronze Awards. Pictured left to right, Lily Palmer, Clara Domanska and Erica Bellamy of Girl Scout Troop 98 earned their Bronze Award for collecting stuffed animals to be donated to the Northern Home for Children in Roxborough and to the Stenton Family Manor, a shelter for families. The girls donated at least 20 hours of work to this cause. The Troop will have a ceremony soon to honor their work.

Leader Debbie Kleinfelder and her Junior Troop from the Neshaminy Service Unit in Penndel, PA are working towards their Bronze Awards as well. They have completed service projects such as collecting communion gowns and suits for an inner-city parish, children's books for the Philadelphia Reads program and recycled sneakers for the Nike 'Reuse-A-Shoe' program. For this program, Nike takes the recycled rubber, foam and upper fabric from sneakers, chops it up and creates a new material called Nike Grind. The Nike Grind is then used for projects on track surfaces, interlocking gym flooring tiles, and playground surfacing. One Girl Scout collected 171 pairs of sneakers, including some which were discarded after the New York City Marathon.

 

Upcoming Events

Important Alert for Girl Scout Ambassador Troop Leaders:

2011 Achievement Ceremony is being held on Sunday, June 12, 2011, 1-4pm 

In King of Prussia at the Dolce Valley Forge, the following Girl Scouts will be recognized at this ceremony: Gold Award recipients, Scholarship recipients, and Graduating Seniors. Troop Leaders of Girl Scout Ambassadors should forward the name and full mailing address of any Girl Scouts who are about to graduate from High School to: Joan Hannahoe at jhannahoe@gsep.org so that invitations can be mailed to each girl. Joan can also be reached at 610.791.2411, ext. 1509.

 

Save the Date for F.A.L.L. (Fall Adult Learn and Learn)

September 16-18, 2011 at Camp Laughing Waters in Gilbertsville, PA   

F.A.L.L is a three-day Adult Enhancement Event that focuses on topics that will help a Troop Leader thoughtfully engage girls at all levels. The cost is $50 for the weekend and $30 for Saturday only. This year take advantage of the Early Bird Registration Special: fill out this registration form and send back with half of the registration fee ($25 for weekend and $15 for Saturday only) by June 30, and you will receive all the workshop information one week in advance. You will have one week to select your workshops and submit the rest of payment to us before the information is posted on the GSEP website. 

 

We are currently looking for presenters for F.A.L.L. Please click here for the Request for Presenter Form and come share a skill or talent with other volunteers. If you have questions about the event or becoming a presenter contact Shawnna DiFilippo at sdifilippo@gsep.org or 610.933.7555, ext.1409.

 

Fun Starts Here...For Adults Only!

Spend a fun-filled weekend at camp this August at the 21st Annual Adult Camping Weekend. Join more than 100 women at Tweedale August 19-21 for smoothies by the pool, a silent auction, archery, canoeing, singing and meals prepared by someone else! Registration is only $50. All proceeds benefit the Older Girl Scholarship Fund. Alumnae and new friends are all welcome! Download the registration form for more details. If you would like to donate items for the silent auction or for more information, contact Carla Hickey at chickey@gsep.org.  

 

 

Property News

Property Town Hall Meeting

As you are aware, two years ago, GSEP began the process of assessing our property needs to establish a sustainable model for outdoor programming. The Property Committee has overseen this work. The Committee is comprised of Board members, volunteers, staff and the CEO. The assessment has explored how we can be more effective stewards of our resources in our mission to create girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Working with the experienced property consulting firm, Domokur Architects, we are nearing the completion of the assessment portion of our work.

 

This process has required considerable time and effort to ensure we collect the needs and perceptions of a broad representation of our membership. The Board and the Property Committee have made extensive site visits over the past weeks and months to all the camp properties to review them first-hand. In addition, we have gathered input from camp and facility staff.

 

Our Board is committed to an open process and remains committed to making decisions which are in the best interest of our girl members today and into the future. The assessment process is near completion and the Board is expected to have a final report in June. Please join us June 16, 2011 for a Property Town Hall meeting from 7pm-9pm at Penn View Christian School, 420 Godshall Road, Souderton PA 18964.

 

Picture Place
Baby Bundles and Rope Runners

On April 15, Girl Scouts from the Palisades Service Unit gathered for an evening of fun and friendship at their Annual Rope Runner Derby in Upper Bucks County, PA. The girls had a great time exchanging SWAPS and meeting new friends, looking through all of the creative Rope Runners and voting on their favorites, and excitedly cheering on their fellow Girl Scouts during the suspenseful timed races. A successful Baby Bundles drive was also held at the event where girls and families donated countless items to assist local families in need.

 

Girl Scouts from Springfield Elementary Brownie Troop 258 show off their Rope Runners at the Annual Derby sponsored by the Palisades Service Unit.

 

baby bundles

Troop 7122 of the Colonial Service Unit in Lafayette Hill, PA collected Baby Bundles for the Young Lives Ministry that helps out teen moms. Pictured here are Brooklynn Haasis, Rylynn Trembath, Alyse Caffrey, Gianna Fazio, Ariana Droz, Annalise Horn, Paige Scott and Gabby Pomian as they hold a photo of the mothers and children who were the recipients of their efforts.

 

 

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Share your stories! Send photos and details about your troop programs and activities to communications@gsep.org. We will do our best to include your news in an upcoming issue of E-News, but space limitations prevent us from posting all submissions.

 

E-News Hard Copies: If you know of a Leader or Service Unit Manager who does not have access to a computer and would like to receive eNews, contact Loretta Rudzinski at 866.564.2030, ext. 1049 to arrange for a mailed copy. 

 

Spread the Word! Be sure to forward this e-mail to fellow volunteers, friends and family! Just click the "Forward" link below. Encourage them to subscribe by clicking the "Join Our Mailing List" button above, in the right-side panel.

 

In This Issue
Take The Lead
Girl Scout Awards
Upcoming Events
Property News
Picture Place
Dorney Park
Shopping for a Cause
Discount Tickets
GSEP Retail Shops
eBusiness Demo
New Berks County Service Center
Campsite Rentals on Hold Until July
 
DORNEY PARK WEEKEND
MAY 21-22
Dorney Park salutes Scouting with an Appreciation Weekend May 21-22, 2011. Girl Scouts and their families can enjoy the super-low admission price of only $20.00! There are three ways to get this discount: you must follow this link to purchase a special ticket online using the password "gsep11dorney", download this special coupon flyer and present the coupon when you purchase your tickets at the park entrance, OR wear your Girl Scout sash or vest to Dorney Park on one of these weekends. For every ticket purchased by a girl or family member from our Council, Dorney Park will contribute $1.50 to GSEP. So come to one of these Girl Scout Weekends to show your pride, support our Council and have some fun too!
 
SHOPPING
FOR A CAUSE
If you are looking for a unique store to visit, please consider stopping by Shuze, located at 530 Main Street, Bethlehem. During the month of May, this woman-owned business will donate 10% of purchases made with this coupon to GSEP.

 Support our girls while getting cute new shoes--

what a deal!

 
PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM DISCOUNT TICKET PROGRAM

The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is dedicated to enriching the lives of children by creating learning opportunities through play. The museum was named one of the Top 10 children's museums in the country by Parents Magazine and features 6 different interactive exhibits, a historic Carousel, a 40-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty arm and torch made entirely of toys, daily music and art activities and theater performances in the Please Touch Playhouse. As a member of this program, Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania is now able to buy tickets for the discounted rate of $13.00 each. To receive this discount, visit their web site and enter our Store Name: girl scouts. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jessica Quach at 215.581.3174.

 
GSEP RETAIL SHOPS

All GSEP Retail Shops will be closed on Saturday, May 28 and Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day.

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New Arrivals!

Stop in your favorite Council shop to see the new gift items for Gold, Silver and Bronze awardees! Be sure to get your 100th Anniversary gifts and collectibles.

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Summer Hours:

June 13 - Labor Day

Jane Seltzer Closed; Delaware County Shop open Wednesday 10-5;

 Lehigh Valley, Valley Forge and Shelly Ridge open 

Tuesday and Thursday 10-5  

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Can't Get to One of Our Shops?

Check out our web store! We are frequently adding new merchandise.

Don't forget you can purchase nearly everything online.
If you don't see it online call the Valley Forge Shop at 484-927-2317 to check availability. 

 
COMING SOON: E-BUSINESS ONLINE REGISTRATION

A key element of CES (Council Enterprise System) is eBusiness Online Registration--a web portal that will be accessible through the GSEP web site in August 2011 to give volunteers, parents and other members a single point of entry for member, program, camp, and adult training registration; data input and management; donations, and more! Click here to see a demo

 
NEW BERKS COUNTY SERVICE CENTER

Negotiations are underway for the relocation of the Berks County Service Center, anticipated for this summer. Visitation to the Service Center continues to be on a by-appointment basis. Call 610.791.2411 for scheduling and instructions.

 
CAMPSITE AND PROPERTY RENTALS ON HOLD UNTIL
JULY 1, 2011

Until the results of the Property Assessment have been made public, you will be unable to make campsite and property rental reservations for dates after November 1, 2011. We will update the property reservations page on our web site and allow reservations for November and beyond after

July 1, 2011.