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In This Issue
Quick Links
  

 100th Anniversary Kickoff!

 

Girl Leadership Opportunities Book 

 

Membership News 

 

Transforming Leaders

 

Fall Product Sale

 

Family Support Plan

 

Kickoff Presentations

 

Journey Led

 

Make a 100th Anniversary Banner

 

Girl's Choir

 

Flag Ceremonies

 

Creative Spirit Event

 

About Girl Scouts

Join Our List

Join Our Mailing List

 

 Girl Scouts of

Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.

4780 Cattlemen Road

Sarasota, FL 34233

941-921-5358

800-232-4475

 

www.gsgcf.org

 

 

 

Find us on Facebook 

 

 

We Wish to Thank Our Following Community Parnters: 

 

 

Publix 

 

United Way

Partner Agency 

 

 

 

 

 

 A portion of the proceeds from the following event benefit GSGCF.  

 

Creative Spirit Banner 

 

 

 

BackIssue: # 13Septmber/2011
Dear Girl Scout Families and Friends,

Welcome to Cybernews - the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida's online newsletter keeping you informed of all the great things being done by and for Girl Scouts. 

Go Green!  Please share this newsletter as a great resource for other volunteers, parents and families to get involved this year. We will be updating our website frequently, along with the girl program book and adult learning calendars.  If you would like to receive this newsletter, click the Join Our List button on the left.
Don't forget to stay in touch via social media - fan or like us at Find us on Facebook.

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CEO Corner

Sue Stewart, CEO

 

From The CEO:

 

Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations: Priceless

 

Each year at this time, we are asked to develop various marketing and press pieces for distribution at recruitment events and school open houses and in the media. While these pieces can assist in our efforts to reach out to attract girls and adult volunteers to join the Girl Scout Movement, the real return lies in each of us- to inspire others through our positive personal relationships and networks.

 

Relationships, personal and professional, are the key to successful year round recruitment, retention and recognition in Girl Scouting.

 

Positive relationships: Girls and adults can share their personal Girl Scout experience with their friends, neighbors, businesses and community groups. Girls can create personal calling/business cards to give to friends and invite them to a troop meeting. Girls can carry their calling cards with their personal copy of GSGCF GLO book and share the many exciting Pathways to participation.

 

Positive image: Girls and adults can participate in community service and take action projects in a variety of ways. Lead a flag ceremony, march in a 11/11/11 Veterans Day Parade, create a float for holiday events. Share pride in membership by wearing official uniform pieces and insignia. Volunteer with girls and parents where girls choose. Tell others what you do. Present a talk on Girl Scouting's 100th anniversary to various community groups, at senior centers, PTO's and parent clubs. Capture names and emails of businesses and alumnae so that your friends can be a part of our next 100 years.

 

Positive messaging: All girls can and should participate in Girl Scouting today. We are one of many choices parents much make when deciding how to balance family life today. We are unique and let families know why. Our values are strong, over 100 years in the making, and we provide experiences girls need, delivered in ways they want.

 

In GSGCF, a girl belongs to a sisterhood of friends dedicated to fun, discovery, exploration and taking action in her world.

 

In schools:Does your school utilize electronic media? Can Girl Scouts share a morning message about their experiences? Can girls wear their uniforms and present a flag ceremony? Can we post a GSGCF YouTube video on the school or district website?

 

As an adult volunteer, do you speak proudly of what you give and get back by being a volunteer? Can you inspire other adults to give of their time, talents and treasures by participating in a flexible Girl Scout Pathway? (event, series, travel, environmental leadership, troop and virtual). Do you welcome all parents at an attractive, well wo-manned recruitment table or booth? Is your "elevator" speech what parents need to know about us?

 

We have over 10,000 incredible Girl Scouts leading the way in each of our communities. We have over 3,000 adult volunteers coaching, mentoring and joining as leaders behind the leaders. Imagine if each girl invited one new girl to participate and each adult recruited one new volunteer. Now, more than ever, make it the "Year of the Girl", Girl Scouts 2012.

  

Dont forget - share girl and adult stories of personal recruitment successes to inspire others, on the GSGCF Facebook Page.

  

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Sue

 

 

PS - I just donated $25 to support a Girl Scout Community Troop. Can you match my gift and inspire your friends to match yours? Introduce your friends and business contacts to us via Gulf Coast Gives. When we exceed our goal, we will post new projects and have a year-round presence! https://www.gulfcoastgives.org/projects/345.


 

 

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100th Anniversary Kick-Off! 

100th Anniversary

 

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2011~2012 Girl Leadership & Volunteer Opportunities

 

Check Out the GLO Book
The Girl Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities book (GLO book) has been mailed and is available on-line for your review.  Please take a few minutes to review the many fun and exciting opportunities available.  Remember a girl can participate in a variety of ways ~ through a troop, or on their own by trying an event, attending a series, exploring through travel and/or taking part in environmental leadership.  Once a selection has been made, register on-line and get ready to join the fun of Girl Scouting 2012:  The Year of the Girl!

  

 

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Membership Updates

 

 

Fall Recruitment Campaign:

  

Thank you to everyone who has helped with this Fall's back to school recruitment efforts! Many meet the teacher, open house, and troop building night presentations have been scheduled thus far and we could not have done it without YOU!

 

A new feature of the fall recruitment campaign is the implementation of the Girl Scout Hotline. Extension 315 has been dedicated to requests for Girl Scout troop placement and information. The hotline is monitored Tuesday thru Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm with the option to leave messages all other times. The aim of the hotline is to place girls quickly - hopefully providing them with a troop leader's name and phone number when they call or a volunteer application to begin the process of a new troop. There are already 45 Girl Scout troops in the database who are stepping up and being a sister to every Girl Scout by welcoming new members into their troop. A special thanks to those dedicated Girl Scout volunteers.

 

Yet there are still 100 girls on the list awaiting placement. Your help with the hotline is vital to its success. If you have openings in your troop, please contact Debbie McDowell-Tate via phone at 941.921.5358, ext. 303 or e-mail at [email protected] to be added to the database. Please provide the following information about the troop: Grade level, city of meeting place, service unit, time and day of meeting, place of meeting, leader's full name with phone and e-mail contacts and the number of girls your troop can take. When a girl is referred, her parent will be provided with the troop leader's name and phone number and an e-mail will be sent to the troop leader with the girl's contact information.

 

To continue on our recruitment momentum and excitement, in the coming months we will update you as to the number of new troops formed during the Fall recruitment. What a great way to see how Everyone's dedication and passion for the Girl Scout movement translates into new members and new troops.

 

Remember that it only takes a simply "ask". Go ahead, ask another adult to join us in delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

  

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Transforming Leadership - Outcomes of The Girl Scout Leadership Experience

  

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience represents a leap forward in how Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character. By achieving the intended 15 outcomes, girls will be prepared to be leaders who make the world a better place.

 

How do we know that we are delivering on the promise of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience? How do we know if the Girl Scouts we serve are achieving the 15 outcomes? GSUSA has worked to develop a national measurement system that measures each outcomes specific result thru surveys customized by grade level. In August, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. launched the GSUSA outcomes survey. An e-mail with the survey link was sent to every Girl Scout with an e-mail address on file. There were a number of bounce backs due to verification software. To ensure you receive all e-mail communication from Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, please make us a safe or approved sender in your e-mail system.

 

It is imperative that the surveys are completed to provide us a clear picture of outcome achievement to guide the future direction of pathway planning and volunteer learning opportunities. If your family received a survey or surveys, please encourage and assist your Girl Scout(s) in its completion. The surveys vary by length depending on the grade level and may take up to an hour for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors to complete. Please don't let the length dissuade you or your Girl Scout as the information gained is very valuable and worth the time commitment. Girl Scout Daisy and Brownie surveys are much shorter, designed to be fun and are voice guided.

 

Thanks in advance for your support in this important effort. If you are a leader with access to computers at your meeting space, consider completing the survey as a meeting activity - we can provide the appropriate grade level link(s) for this purpose. If your family did not receive a survey via e-mail, contact Debbie McDowell-Tate, [email protected] or 941.921.5358, ext. 303 to receive the e-mail link or a paper copy.

 

The final opportunity to make Girl Scout voices heard will be at the Kick-Off on Saturday, September 24, 2011. The GECC computer lab will be outcomes central allowing girls to log on and complete the survey that day.

 

 

 

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FallProdgreen bar with trefoils shortFall 2011 Fall Product Sale

 

 2011 logo

The 2011 Girl Scout Fall Product Sale is right around the corner! 

 This is the perfect way to kick off a new Girl Scout year and help your troop earn early start-up funds.  The theme for the 2011 Fall Product Sale is "Investing in Today = Success for Tomorrow," and it features fun activities for girls of all ages focused on building business skills.  During the Fall Product Sale, troops sell magazine subscriptions, nuts and chocolates to friends and families.  Troops earn start-up funds while girls earn great recognitions and patches.  Best of all, participating in the Fall Product Sale is easy!  Just contact your Service Unit Fall Sale Coordinator to ask how your troop can get started today!

 

The Fall Product Sale begins September 23, 2011.  Sales end October 20, 2011.  Need more information?  Contact Corinne Wright, Director of Product Sales at [email protected]. 

  

  

Magazine

Online Magazine Program 

The Online Magazine Program is back this year by popular demand!  The Online Magazine Program is part of the Fall Product Sale that allows customers to purchase magazine subscriptions and renewals online with a credit card.  Girls can get started today by clicking here to log in to the QSP Online Program.  New for 2011, customers can even purchase digital subscriptions to read on the e-readers and tablets.  Troops earn 10% back on all magazines ordered through the QSP Online Program. 

 

Want to learn more about how your troop can get started in the Fall Product Sale?  Contact your Service Unit Fall Sale Coordinator for more information, or contact Corinne Wright at [email protected].

 

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 gcgivesFamily Support Plan

  

 

Help Reach Our Goal with Family Support Plan!

Family Support Plan (FSP) is a key way for families to support their girl's troop experience, to help you the leader do more with your troop, and to support the Girl Scout mission. Help us exceed last year's participation by encouraging parents throughout the year to give what they can. Talk about FSP at key times and more than once, for instance: at registration time, at family gatherings, or at troop or Service Unit events like bridging events. Think about what fun activities you can do with this added family support. Remember, the incentives to give benefit all!

 

PARENTS RECEIVE:

  • Recognition in annual report
  • A patch for their daughter when making a $25 or higher tax deductible donations.
  • A "Shout-Out Ad" for their Girl Scout in the Girl Award Ceremony Program with donations of $100 or more.

 

TROOPS RECEIVE:

A portion of all donations go directly back to the troop. These funds can be used as funds for troops to do activities and buy much needed supplies during the year.

 

  • 25% for donations through FSP troop packet, mailings, and registration forms
  • 25% of contributions from company match $ for $
  • 50% of contributions from company volunteer hours matching program

 

When 50% of troops within a Service Unit participate, the Service Units qualifies to receive benefits as well. For more information, please contact Melissa Burtless, CDO at 941-921-5358, ext. 307 or by email at [email protected].

 

Packets are on their way! Please make FSP a part of your planning and thank you in advance for helping us reach our goal in 2012!

 

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible as provided by law, less any goods and services received. 100% of the donation remains within our council jurisdiction.

 

GIRL SCOUTS OF GULFCOAST FLORIDA HAS COMPLIED WITH THE FLORIDA SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, REGISTRATION #CH-183. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. 

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Service Unit Kick-off Presentations ~ 2011
    

Girls, volunteers, and staff gathered at the Gulfcoast Event and Conference Center, GECC, Saturday, July 23rd to kick off the 2011-2012 Year of the Girl! If you attended you were a part of some of the most energetic and enthusiastic Girl Scouts. Both volunteers and staff said "this was one of the best kick-off's they've attended in years. Activities included a crazy hat competition, unveiling the Girls Guide to Girl Scouting, getting a sneak peak at the new GSGCF GLO, Girl Scout Leadership Opportunities book, diving into Journey's and understanding how girls and volunteers can help grow membership for the Girl Scout Movement to thrive. If you were not able to attend please take a few minutes to view the morning session presentations by clicking here and scrolling down the page to Service Unit Kick-off Presentations 2011.  

 

  

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Journey Led

 

It's not just what girls do, but how they are engaged that creates a high-quality leadership experience for Girl Scouts. All GS Journey activities are designed to use the three processes found in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). These processes make Girl Scouting unique from school and other extra curricular activities, in a girl only environment. When used together in your troop meetings, these processes - Girl Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning - ensure the quality and promote the fun and friendship that are the foundation to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.    

 

Each adult guide, for each Journey, comes jam-packed with everything you need to help you plan and implement the Journey into your troop meetings. However, a great way to integrate Girl Lead through the Journeys in your troop meetings is to invite girls to customize their journey!

 

With your girls in a circle, and before really opening up and reading the Journey they agreed upon together, ask them what the journey means to them. Maybe this will ignite a discussion that helps to chart the course of the group for the year. Probe to find out what the girls are most interested in accomplishing and enjoying over the year. This is your chance to lead the girls into taking ownership over their Journey, the meetings, and their Take Action project.

 

  • Can they organize and plan a trip to find out more about the topic?
  •  Are there events at the service units or Council programming that tie into their interests? If not maybe they can create or start one under the basis of their Take Action project.
  •  Can the girls find an expert in the field to invite to their meetings?
  •  Which badges can the group work on to deepen their skills in this particular area?

 Now step back and watch the girls develop leadership skills and qualities, under your guidance and support. You are building girls of courage, confidence, and character who are not only making our communities a better place but also our world!

 

Resource: It's Your Journey-Customize It. GSUSA 2009

 

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banner100green bar with trefoils short100th Anniversary Banners Are Needed!

 

Attention All Service Units

In celebration of the Girl Scouts' 100th Anniversary and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida's 50th Anniversary, we are seeking 25 Service Units to participate in creating simple banners that Council can display at community events in 2012.

 
Pam Kayser

Pam Kayser (pictured above) has come up with an easy to follow template, costing under $20 per project. The sample banner Pamela started (pictured below) is of a tree with each branch having leaves representing troops with troop members' names signed buy the girls on each leaves.

 

 

Each Service Unit banner needs to creatively represent your region/area or signify the 100th/50th anniversaries, as well as include a message from the girls. To indicate you are participating or for more information, please contact Melissa Burtless, CDO at 941-921-5358, Ext. 307 or by email at [email protected]. The deadline for all projects to be completed is Friday, January 27, 2012.

 

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Girl's Choir Forming in Manatee

A girl's choir for the GSGCF Northern Region (Manatee County) is being formed to perform at the GSGCF's Annual Meeting on 1/28/12. Girls from all levels are asked to begin signing up.  It is $15 to join & cover the cost of supplies. There will be a meeting on 10/1/11 at Honi Honta from 5 to 7 pm for parents & girls. At that time you must be a registered girl scout. Contact Laura at [email protected] or click here for more info. 
 

 

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 Flag Ceremonies
 

A group of Girl Scout Alumnae from Sarasota, known as the S'Mores, have provided flag ceremony workshops to troops in Sarasota since the spring.  If you are a Sarasota troop who would like to take advantage of this opportunity or if you are from outside the area and are willing to travel to Sarasota, contact Mary Ellen Felker at (941)929-7368 to arrange a workshop.

 

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Creative Spirit Event

 

Creative 


All programs sponsored by the council have specific program outcomes so you can be sure that your Girl Scout gets the full Girl Scout Leadership Experience every time she participates. Because no girl is the same, customizing the Girl Scout experience and letting the girl choose how she participates in Girl Scouts gives her control over her Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Each program and activity she participates in will encourage her and help her gain confidence in her skills and ability to be the girl she wants to be.   
Girl Scouting builds girls of Courage, Confidence and Character who make the world a better place.  Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves over 10,500 girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. 

For more information about the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.