Girl Scouts of

Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.

4780 Cattlemen Road

Sarasota, FL 34233

941-921-5358

800-232-4475

www.gsgcf.org

We Wish to Thank Our Following Community Parnters: 

Partner Agency

  411 on Middle School Volunteers Needed 

Again this spring, Barbara Van Essen and Julia Onnie-Hay will be presenting the "411 on Middle School" program to fifth grade girls in their schools during the school day.

This two-hour program covers topics including friendships, conflict resolution, teasing and bullying as well as how to open a combination lock and middle school class schedules.  The program was offered at over 30 schools last year and we hope to reach even more girls in all parts of the council this year.

Volunteers are needed to help in various ways.  Volunteers could lead a program, or a section of the program, or assist by answering questions while girls work in small groups.  These programs can have as many as 75 girls participating at once, so it is really important that we have some volunteers to help.

For more information, or to volunteer, please contact barbarav@gsgcf.org for Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties or juliao@gsgcf.org for Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardy and Highlands Counties.

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Upcoming Program Events

Forever Green 

May 7, 2011 ~ Gulfcoast Event and Conference Center, Sarasota

This is the place to learn about the environment!  Come anytime between 10:00 AM  and 2:00 PM  to check out all these great interactive booths: 

• American Red Cross
• Sarasota County Extension Service
• Southwest Florida Water Management District
• Sarasota Capoeira
• GWIZ
• Sarasota County Sustainability
• Plus live music and many more vendors to come!

 Also new this year will be ongoing workshops throughout the day on; rain barrel making, environmentally friendly cleaners, wetlands walks and tours of our LEED certified building..

This event is open to the community.  If your troop wants a patch for attending this event please email melissam@gsgcf.org with the number of girls who you will have attending.

Forever Green Rain Garden Projects

Is your troop participating in building a garden in the month of April in support of GSUSA's Girl Scout Forever Green project ? If so please remember to log your project on the website at www.girlscouts.org/gsforevergreen.  For  specifics about GSGCF and ways to help with projects please contact melissam@gsgcf.org  or visit our website at www.gsgcf.org for the project guide.

The Shop Scoop...

NEWS FROM THE SERVICE CENTER... 

Welcome Spring!!!

The SCFM Girl Scout Shop will be open Saturday April 16^th from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM  for your shopping convenience. Come in and check out our Super Saturday Clearance items. The THIRD Saturday of each month, we will have select items discounted for ONE DAY ONLY. (Saturday) Don't miss out!!

This April, we will be promoting Earth Day.  Come in and see our new selection of Earth Day T-Shirts, fun patches and accessories like socks, tote bags and water bottles. We will be promoting recycling, saving the planet, endangered species and being organic and eco-friendly.  Hope to see you next month.    

With that in mind, head on over to the Sarasota Shop for some great gift ideas.  We have everything from basic uniform necessities to Easter basket essentials.  We are getting new products in as we prepare for girls to shop using their Shop Points Cards.

We will have new jewelry lines, new items from the GSUSA's Spring Catalog, the latest Precious Moments - Girl Scout figurines, and other assorted fun stuff.  We also have Cookie themed merchandise for sale. 

Did you know April 22, 2011 is Girl Scout Leader's Day?  Girl Scout Leader's Day honors ALL the volunteers who work as leaders and mentors in partnership with girls.  Let your troop leader know you appreciate all their efforts.  Send a thank you note or card;  give them a framed picture of your troop.  Stop by the shop and check out some new leader appreciation patches and other great gift ideas for that "SPECIAL" leader. 

You will also find Super Saturday Clearance items in the Sarasota Shop as well.  Clothing, retiring publications, webkinz, and other fun stuff will be featured on the FIRST Saturday of every month.  We look forward to your next visit to the shop!

ATTENTION LEADERS...

 May is rapidly approaching and with that comes year end award ceremonies.  We encourage you to purchase your awards early.  Some awards have been retired and they are identified with a small colored dot on the peg hook or container.  These items are in limited supply and we will work with you to get the items you need in a timely manner.  However, this may take time.  Thus the reason we are encouraging you to purchase early.

Should we not have the item(s) you need in either shop, we will seek assistance first from GSUSA and then one of the other 112 councils.  If we are unsuccessful, we will partner with GSUSA to see if additional quantities may be purchased from the vendor to cover our needs.  In a few instances, this has already been the case.

We want to make sure girls receive ALL the awards they have earned. 

But to do so, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

 In an effort to order correctly, we are making this offer....

1. EACH Troop Leader who places their year end award order BEFORE Saturday, April 23, 2011 will receive 5% off your year end order.
2. EVERY Troop Leader who places their year end award order BY Saturday, April 23, 2011 will receive entry into a drawing for a Gift Pack worth $50.  One Winner per Shop.  Winner announced in the May edition of Cybernews.

 Product Sales

Cookies!

Congratulations to all our Girl Scouts on an outstanding 2011 Girl Scout Cookie Program!  We are so pleased to announce that we've exceeded the council goal of selling 1 million packages of cookies.  Thank you to all the volunteers, parents, family members, and customers who helped make this Girl Scout Cookie season a success!  Your hard work, energy, and enthusiasm made all the difference.

 Early Bird 

Membership Update: Early Bird Registration

The Early Bird packets have arrived!  It is time to re-register for the 2012 Girl Scout membership year.  New this year ~ Early Bird Registration on-line!

Benefits of reregistering early for the upcoming membership year:

• Uninterrupted membership for girls and adults ~ take advantage of a year round program
• On-line registration ~ go green and save time
• Hassle  free Fall ~ troops and individuals can get a jump start on paper work
• Parents have one less thing to worry about in the Fall
• Free patch ~ all girls reregistering will receive an Early Bird patch

Each troop will receive a packet with pre-printed girl and adult registrations forms (based on those registered in the troop prior to February).  The troop can either provide the forms to the parents to update, and then collect to reregister the troop on-line using the troop management feature on eBiz or each parent can reregister their daughter on-line individually.  Instructions will be provided for all to follow.

Early Bird deadline is June 1, 2011.

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April Region Meetings   

Volunteer Appreciation Reception - April Region Meeting

A volunteer award and appreciation reception will be held in each region to honor all of our outstanding and much appreciated volunteers. Please join us to say thank you for all you do to help shape the lives of the girls affected by your volunteer work. The reception dates, times, and locations are located here for your review.  We hope to see you in April. Please contact Amanda Jacob, director of volunteer management at amandaj@gsgcf.org for questions.

Click here to RSVP

http://aprilvolunteerappreciation.eventbrite.com/

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Big Girls Day At Camp

An adult day at camp! Build a day of adventure and/or spa experience choosing from wall climbing, low ropes challenge course, kayaking or canoeing, hiking, OR massage, yoga, meditation. Snacks, beverages, and a healthy lunch will be included.  Click on image below to view larger version.

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