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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 Partners:
Partner Agency
Click on the photo below for information on our various girl and adult learning opportunites.
Click the photo below to take the Girl Scouts Forever Green Pledge.
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Video Links
 | What did you do today? 2012
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 | May/2012 | |
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  . |
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CEO Corner
Girl Scouting is possible because of volunteers who give their time and talent as mentors, coaches, and advisors through a variety of flexible opportunities and pathways. During April volunteers are traditionally recognized during National Volunteer Week, as the month draws to a close, I wish to take this one last opportunity to express our sincere appreciation.
The positive impact of volunteers is never more evident than on May 20. On this day, we will have much to celebrate at the Young Women of Distinction & Girl Recognition Ceremony. Girl Scouts from across the council will be honored during this annual event held at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda. Recognitions include the Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, graduating Senior Girl Scouts, and the top Girl Scout cookie sales. Please plan to join us for this inspiring celebration.
As we continue to celebrate 2012: The Year of the Girl, consider "100 Wonderful Ways to Celebrate the 100th" (click here) and participate in our 100th Anniversary Signature Program Forever Green (click here). All girls are excited about the one of a kind Forever Green patch to support reducing plastic waste.
Regards,
Sue
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NEW Summer Environmental Leadership Experience
at Camp Honi Hanta
We are launching a new and exciting summer environmental leadership experience at Camp Honi Hanta this summer.
Look for a special edition of Cybernews in the coming days highlighting the summer happenings at Camp Honi Honta.
We will also have updates posted to our website at www.gsgcf.org and on our Facebook page.
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Young Women of Distinction - May 20, 2012
Girl Recognition Ceremony
Celebrating the Year of the Girl! Mark your calendars for May 20, the Young Women of Distinction Luncheon and Girl Recognition Ceremony is open to all Girl Scouts recognizing the highest achievers in Gold, Silver, Bronze, and cookie sales. Please join us as we celebrate these monumental achievements in the lives of our Girl Scouts.
Girl Scouting is 100 years of building girls of courage, confidence, and character through giving back to others in our communities, locally and globally. This year at the ceremony we have the opportunity to do just that. Troop #89 from Charlotte County will be collecting the following items to donate to the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition:
Bicycle parts
Helmets
Socks
Shoes
Baby wipes
Diapers
Coloring books...
If you wish to participate, please bring one or more of the items listed above with you to the ceremony. Let's show our friends in Charlotte County that girls and their families are "making the world a better place."
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ann-Marie Mathews, Pathways Specialist, at annmariem@gsgcf.org
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Shooting Beauty
Collaborative Community Board Opportunity
Socialization is an enormous barrier for children with disabilities to overcome and Girl Scouts has been selected to be on the forefront to break that barrier in our community. We are creating a collaborative community board and invite volunteers and/or girls (6th - 12th grade) to partner with us in an upcoming event - "Shooting Beauty." This awesome event is focused on inclusion, and paves the way for children in our community to embrace people of all abilities as we redefine the true definition of "beauty."
About the event:
Shooting Beauty [by Girl Scouts (6th grade - 12th grade) and Community Members] - The event is tentatively scheduled for fall 2012 in Sarasota (Date TBD)
Shooting Beauty Mission: Shooting Beauty empowers individuals to embrace and celebrate their differences, inspiring personal confidence in their ability to lead and interact with others. www.shootingbeauty.org
Shooting Beauty and Girl Scout Event
- Screening of the independent film, Shooting Beauty
- An afternoon of activities to encourage girls to redefine society's vision of "beauty"
- Engage the community
- Meet and greet with the producer, Courtney Bent
- Girls will interact in an inclusive environment and gain confidence and speak out for others, leading the way for our community
Please join us for our first open discussion forum, scheduled for Thursday, May 31 at 3:30 pm at Girl Scout HQ (4780 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota).
We need your input and support to make this a fabulous event for all. Please respond to Ann-Marie Mathews at annmariem@gsgcf.org if you are able to attend the first meeting or would like to know more and become involved.
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ARTICLE
Early Bird Registration is Underway! | | |
2013 membership renewal
Give the gift of girl scouting, by renewing their membership!
Don't miss out on the benefits and incentives available for early membership renewal. Click here for more details.
Deadline to qualify for early bird membership is June 1, 2012.
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Diocese of Venice Scouting News
The following are items highlighted in a recent newsletter of the Venice Diocese regarding scouting updates.
- For girls (Girl Scouts, American Heritage Girls, and Campfire Girls) interested in the Marion Medal; and Boy Scouts, the Ad Altari Dei, the NET retreat being held on April 28, 2012, meets the retreat requirements for those awards. The registration price for the one day retreat is $ 15.00 (note that we just recently were able to determine that) and covers the cost of lunch and retreat materials. You may send your registration material to James C Fetterman, Scouting Coordinator, Diocese of Venice in Florida, 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, Fl.
- The Bishops Awards Presentation and Scout Mass will be held at Ephipany Cathedral, Venice on May 20, 2012 at the 11:00 Mass. All level of religious awards will be presented to Catholic scouts by the Bishop. Because of scheduling issues, the actual awards and emblems will be presented at the Reception following the mass. Youth who have earned their organization's highest award (Eagle Scout, Venturing's Silver Award, and Girl Scouting Gold Award) who are practicing Catholics, are invited to be recognized by the Bishop at this Mass and reception. Please send an email to fetterman@dioceseofvenice.org indicating the number in your unit who will be attending. We need this information in order to have adequate food and refreshments...please include in the count the little ones coming with their parents. This is the first regularly planned activity with Bishop Dewane and EACH unit is asked to send a contingent of scout leaders and scouts to this. For the first time in several years, the St George Award will be presented.
Jim Fetterman, Scouting Coordinator
Diocese of Venice in Florida
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Product Sales 
It's Cookie Dough time! Your Cookie Dough card is your ticket to adventure! All girls who sold 50 packages or more during the 2012 Girl Scout Cookie Program have earned Cookie Dough. Cards were mailed directly to the home of each Girl Scout in late April and early May. Cookie Dough can be used for shopping in the GSGCF Girl Scout shops, 2013 Girl Scout registration, day camp fees, girl leadership opportunities and summer environmental opportunities. Juniors and older can even "bank" their Cookie Dough to be saved for approved uses in a future year.
Don't delay, though... Cookie Dough cards expire on September 7, 2012. Any Cookie Dough that has not been spent or banked at that time will be lost.
If you have questions about Cookie Dough or need more information, please contact Shannon Allison at shannona@gsgcf.org.
1st Annual Bling My Booth Contest Winners
Thank you to all of our troops who participated in the 1st Annual Bling My Booth contest! We received outstanding submissions from all over the council. Everyone did an outstanding job! Below are the winners of this year's contest. Congratulations to all of our troops who entered the contest and did such an outstanding job on "blinging" their Cookie booths!
Troop 669 - Overall Winner
Troop 208 - Crazy for Cookies
Troop 812 - Girl Scout Spirit & 100th Anniversary
Troop 427 - Glitz & Glamour
Troop 376 - Goal Getter
Thanks to all that participated.
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Camp 5th Avenue  | | Camp 5th Avenue |
Summer Camp Is Quickly Approaching!
Summer camp is a fabulous way for girls to make new friends, develop confidence and character and make lasting memories!
Camp 5th Avenue in Collier features six weeks of theme-focused day camp during the summer of 2012. Each week will feature organized program and educational activities that relate to the theme.
This camp will be a perfect place for girls to discover new things, share about themselves, and connect too many new friends. Of course girls can bring friends with them whether they are active in Girl Scouting or not. Girl Scout day camp allows you to place your girls in a camp you can trust.
Click here to download the camp activity book and learn more about exciting summer planned for girls. View a video from last year's camp by clicking the link in the left hand column of this newsletter.
Remember to register early for all sessions of camp, as camp will fill quickly. Don't forget - you can use cookie dough to pay for summer camp! For more information contact Amy Gainey. Back to Top |
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Big Girls Day At Camp
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Big Girls Day at Camp on April 21st. The weather cooperated allowing a day full of fun, relaxation and an opportunity to make new friends. A photo album of the day is available on the GSGCF Facebook page by clicking here.
A special thank you to our partners and sponsors for making this day possible - Florida Blue, FPL, Publix Super Markets Charities, SRQ Media Group, Phyllis Siskel, Carolyn Griffin, Camp Crafts by Anny Barker Schefler, Bodies in Motion Massage, Fleet Feet Sports
Health Source of Manatee East, Kangen® Water by Dr. Dawn Thomas, Kappa Delta Sorority, Mary Kay by June McElclowney, Yoga by Gabriel Sanders, and Sarasota Mindfulness Institute.
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The Shop Scoop
SHOP SPECIALS:
STARTER KITS 2012
Are you a new Girl Scout or are you bridging up to the next grade-level? We have a "Starter Kit" that will offer your uniform, insignia, Journey book and Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for one price. Our prices are 15% less than GSUSA's prices. Anyone purchasing a "Starter Kit" will receive a canvas backpack in your choice of pink or green absolutely FREE. These backpacks (if sold) would retail for $12. Bags available while supplies last.
NEW LEADER IN A BAG 2012
We are offering a special for all new leaders. You will receive a Journey - Leader's Guide, Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting, adult insignia tab, WAGG's, membership and NEW grade-level volunteer pins for $39. Regular price of all these items: $48.75. All items will come in a FREE tote bag. Bags available while supplies last.
JUST ANNOUNCED: JUNIOR SALES SPECIALIST PROGRAM DATES
Have you seen girls' working in our council's Girl Scout Shops?
They may be ringing the register, checking in freight, assisting customers
on the sales floor or setting up merchandise displays. They may be
answering the phone or processing online orders.
If this sounds interesting to you then check out the program on ebiz under the month of June.
Junior Sales Specialists will not only learn about the above mentioned areas,
they will learn about the job application, interview and selection process.
All things that are good to know when you head out to look for a summer job.
All girls will participate in an actual job interview with staff
and spend individual time with Sue Stewart, CEO.
Currently, there are two weeks set aside for the program.
June 5, 7, 8 & 9 - SARASOTA
June 12, 14, & 16 - FORT MYERS
There are only a set number of spots for the program; so if you're interested, sign up early. The program is active on ebiz from now until 5/29/12 or earlier should it fill prior to the closing date. Should the program fill, we will offer another program in August.
We hope to see you there!
Upcoming Shop Events:
Is your "Cookie Dough" card burning a hole in your pocket? Want to shop but just can't get to one of our shops during normal business hours or you live too far from either of our shops?
Well if you answered YES to any of the above questions, here's some GREAT news. The GSGCF Girl Scout Shop will be visiting the Collier and Sebring Girl Scout Houses in June.
Also in June, we will open our shops the evening of June 13th for your shopping convenience. We will have refreshments, activities, FUN and goodie bags for ALL girls attending the evening shop event.
JUNE 2012
June 2nd 10a-2p Traveling Shop - Collier Girl Scout House
June 13th 6p-9p Sunset Shop Event - BOTH Shops
June 23rd 10a-2p Traveling Shop - Sebring Girl Scout House
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Girl Scout Night at Bradenton Marauders
Join other Girl Scouts and their families on June 9, 2012 at
McKechnie Field for Girl Scout Night! We encourage all Girl
Scouts to wear their Girl Scout shirts & vests and show your pride
for scouting!! The Marauders will celebrate Health & Fitness and
have a spectacular POSTGAME FIREWORKS show!
Tickets are $5 and gates open at 5:30 PM. For additional information, download an event flyer here, or contact Stacy Morgan at 941-747-3031 ext. 4365 or stacy.morgan@pirates.com.
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Forever Green 2012
100th Anniversary Take Action Projects
Honoring our Past and Celebrating our Future
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF)
and
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)
Supported by the Jesse Ball DuPont Fund and GSGCF
2012 is the Year of the Girl and time for all Girl Scouts to take action to make our world a better place!
Girl Scouts Forever Green (GSFG), our 100th Anniversary National Take Action Project, is a global effort to improve the environment and protect natural resources. We invite you to lead your troop, family, school, and community in three month-long Take Action projects in March, April and May 2012, and during the summer of 2012. Take the online pledge today to make a yearlong commitment to environmental efforts.
All girls, families, volunteers and community members are invited to join our action project to reduce plastic waste.
Learn about the effects of waste on our environment, and discover ways to reduce plastic waste. Use reusable bottles and bags and recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles.
Click here to learn more about how you can make a difference, sign up to take the pledge, and earn a special one of a kind, one time only GSGCF Forever Green Patch.
Please email all questions or comments to: forevergreen2012@gsgcf.org.
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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.
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