Quick Links | |
|
|
Join Our List | |
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
Last Chance to Take the Forever Green Pledge
Join the millions of Girl Scouts across the country who has committed to improve the environment and protect our national resources. Suggest that leaders send girls an invitation to take the pledge and at their first meeting they could have Girl Scouts discuss how one person can make a difference.
Click the photo below to take the Girl Scouts Forever Green Pledge.
The Anatomy of a Badge, what's new about Girl Scout badges?
With the introduction last fall of the Girls Guide to Girl Scouting the format of the badges are different, gone are the long checklists or requirements. They have been replaced with bright graphics, interesting side bars and tips form history as well as ideas of what to do for more fun.
Each badge has 5 steps and a girl has to earn all five. Each step has three choices to complete. A girl must do a minimum of one but can do all three if they are having fun. Each badge has a journey tie in to help leaders connect the dots. Juliette Gordon Lowe said "A badge is a sign that a girl has developed a skill well enough to teach others", so you will find ideas of how a girl can give service around each badge. It's not mandatory but girls have shared that they have developed leadership skills through this service that has left them with a new understanding and confidence. These badges do take some time but through this process girls and families can see those skills being developed every step of the way.
Back to top
|
|
|
 | August/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 have launched a new website featuring a new activity calendar and other great enhancements - take a peek! 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  . |
|
CEO Corner
Welcome to Membership Year 2012-2013: "This is what a girl can do!"
Those of us involved in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and Girl Scout movement already know what a girl can do. Now, let's shout it to everyone we know. Let's show our communities that we are the organization that girls want and that parents need for their daughters. Enjoy this issue- make the words come to life! Sue
Civic Engagement: Vote in 2012! (by Sue Stewart)
In the recent GSUSA Research Institute Study Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, we learned that one in two adult women has at some point been a member of Girl Scouts. There are 59 million alumnae! What a difference we make in our world.
An important finding to note during this election year is that Girl Scout alumnae are more likely to vote than non-alumnae. 51% of alumnae vs 41% of non-alumnae report that they always vote. Voting behavior is also correlated positively with length of time in Girl Scouting . It is notable that Girl Scout alumnae do not differ from non-alumnae in their party affiliation or political leanings.
What does this mean for adults?
Girls look up to us as positive role models:
- Register to vote now. Know where and how to vote. Absentee balloting is available in Florida, as is early voting. Contact your county Supervisor of Elections.
- Understand the issues you are voting on. Understand the viewpoints of all parties, all candidates and all issues.
- Talk with girls about the importance of civic engagement and their involvement.
- Demonstrate positive attitudes toward voting, elected officials, candidates, and issues. Show girls the many ways in which respectful communication can help them think critically, understand the issues and be able to voice their views, based on their beliefs. Foster a spirit of diversity of opinion and mutual respect.
- VOTE in the November 2012 election.
Utilize the Girls Guide to Girl Scouting and engage Girl Scout Brownies through Girl Scout Ambassadors to earn the Legacy Badge in the Citizen category.
There are opportunities to blend the fun of the Citizen badge with the Journeys.
FOR ADULTS:
http://www.girlscouts.org/program/girlsguide/
http://www.girlscouts.org/program/basics/for_volunteers/insignia/list/
FOR GIRLS:
http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/
http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/home/badgeexplorer/
For additional support and information contact Amy Gainey or call
800-232-4475 x402.
|
|
How is your Service Unit doing gearing up for a great 2012-2013 membership year?
Across the country service units have been helping kick off the new membership year with early bird and on-time registration plans and activities. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida are running behind at only 30% in returning girls re-registered. Deadline for troop leaders to be able to go into troop management (log into online registration first then click online registration site) and register girls in their troops is fast approaching. After September 28, parents will have to go online individually to register their girls. You can help by contacting troops who have not registered (a list of registered troops are available from your Membership Specialist) and give them some support to "get it done". The trend has also been that less than half the girls are returning each year. Volunteers say that the girls are just not interested (we can always improve on troop activities) or found other activities (troops meet on different nights), but most girls in GSGCF do not return because they say their troop just folded. Break the cycle of our Girl Scouts just fading away. Contact our girls in troop troops where leaders have stepped away and invite them to join another troop. Care enough to extend a personal invitation and invest in a girl and family that was so excited to just "be" a Girl Scout a year ago!
|
New Recruiting Tool and updates to Volunteer Orientation are available now!
Check out Recruitment 101 Brochure for volunteers who are assisting with recruitment activities in their service unit or cluster. It includes a big "thank you" as well as ideas for developing a plan and suggestions for making your event more than just a girl and volunteer's first introduction to Girl Scouts, but an experience that inspires parents to say yes to become a Troop Leader. The Orientation books include a printed color copy of our Volunteer Essentials to help new leaders really engage with the resource that can help their Volunteer experience be meaningful and fun.
Back to Top
|
Product Sales
2012 Fall Product Sale Begins September 21st
The 2012 Girl Scout Fall Product Sale is just around the corner, and we're gearing up for our best year ever. The theme for the 2012 Fall Product Sale is "What Can a Girl Do? Get Connected!"
Through the Fall Product Sale, girls are learning great skills, earning troop start-up funds and individual girl rewards, and supporting other girls throughout our council. 100% of the proceeds of the Fall Product Sale support girls in our council.
Our goals for 2012 are to have a 10%
increase in participation and a 5% increase in overall sales. In 2011, we had 353 troops participate in the Fall Product Sale. That's great, but it's still only a fraction of the council's 600+ troops. We have LOTS of growing room for the Fall Product Sale.
The Fall Product Sale is an easy troop money-earning activity, and is simple even for new troops to jump right in. You can help us reach our goals for our best ever Fall Product Sale by encouraging all the troops in your SU to give it a try. More information about the Fall Product Sale can be found on the council website at www.gsgcf.org. If you have questions, please feel free to contact your SU Fall Sale Coordinator or Corinne Wright, Director of Sales, for assistance.
Back to Top |
Girl Learning Opportunties FAQ's on Council Programs Often questions are received from leaders or individually registered girls on how to register for a program, who can attend a program, what are the minimum and maximums on programs for, how many adults can attend a program, and what training is needed to take girls to a program. Please review the following for helpful reminders.
- How do I register for a program and can I bring a friend who is not a Girl Scout? Program events are open to all girls but they will need to register online at www.gsgcf.org first and become a Girl Scout unless it is a family event.
- What are the minimum and maximums on programs for? The minimum on a program states the amount of girls we need to run a program. These are typically set by volunteers or paid collaborators to meet their costs. For example to run a sowing program you need $240 to pay your staff and buy supplies, the person running that program would then set a minimum of 24 girls at $10 a girl to make that program successful. The maximum amount of participants on a program is typically the amount a facility can hold and is not how many girls you need to bring to attend that program. For example the Service Center in Ft. Myers can comfortably take 30 girls and 10 adults, the maximum for this program would be 40.
- How many adults can attend a program? In most cases, only the number of adults recommended by Safety-Wise ratio standards (see page 4) will be permitted to attend the events to allow for maximum attendance by girls. However there are exceptions made for large events where we are sure we will have enough space or if parents bring girls without a troop.
- What training do I need to take my girls to a program? Any event you are attending as a troop, the person taking the girls needs to have had all the required training to travel with girls. Parents however are free to bring their own children outside of a troop setting.
Please contact Amy with additional questions. Back to Top |
Update - Volunteer Application and Screening Requirements
We value all of our volunteers and their commitment they give to girls and the Girl Scout Movement. It is important that we focus on effectively processing and screening volunteers who directly and indirectly work with girls. GSGCF has a policy written to address background screening volunteers. We have updated the guidelines for who is required to complete the volunteer application and screening process in order to be approved for appointment to a volunteer position. The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. Policies, Standards, Guidelines, and Procedures is a helpful resource regarding all of our volunteer policies. Below is a list of volunteer positions that are required to complete a volunteer application and background screening.
Volunteer application/Background required for:
- Pathway leader/co-leader
- Series, Event, and Travel Pathway volunteers
- Overnight chaperones
- Travel chaperones
- Service Team members
- Product Sales team members
- Training facilitators
- Board members
- Volunteers handling finances including troop/group treasurer and cookie manager (not cookie booth volunteers)
- Administrative volunteers
A big question might be:
"so helper parents do not need to have a volunteer application and background screening completed".
Answer - No, the leader and co leader have responsibility to ensure girls safety. A helper parent can be a huge assistance to the troop leader and girls. But, they are not in charge of the troop. The leader and co leader are trained volunteers and assume that responsibility. Our focus is to ensure the above volunteer positions meet the application and screening criteria to be an effective volunteer.
|
| ARTICLE
Volunteer Learning Opportunities | |
New Troop Pathway Training required for new troop leaders this fall. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast is introducing the perfect training to fill the gap from GS101 online and the volunteer orientation. Leaders will experience a few more of the basics. Check out the website for dates. Don't see a date that meets your volunteer's needs? Contact Amanda Jacobs at 239-561-1800 X 406 to help guide Girl Scouts through their Journey and GSLE.
Girl Scout University is a perfect place to enrich your Girl Scout skills and knowledge. Are you in need of some enrichment rejuvenation? Attending GSU is just what you need! Take classes such as "How to use GS curriculum (GGGS and Journeys", and "How to get parents involved". GSU will be held at SCFM on Oct 13 2012, and GECC on Nov 3, 2012. Register Online today!
|
|
Gulfcoast Initiative underway!
With the kickoff of the 2012-2013 membership year service units have been asked to focus on one of the most important needs of new volunteers, Coaches. A Coach provides membership opportunities for girls by establishing and maintaining troops within an assigned area (Cluster). Coaches recruit, support and supervise adult troop volunteers, ensure quality Girl Scout program is provided within their Cluster, and promote Girl Scouting in their community. Coaches are appointed and supervised by the Service Unit Manager for a one year term and are vital to the success of Girl Scouting. Do you believe in Girl Scouting, love to help others achieve success and have been told you're a good mentor? Speak to your Service Unit Manager about this rewarding position today. Training is available.
Back to Top
|
|
Coaches Corner: Troop Organization the first steps to a successful year.
GSGCF is committed to placing all interested girls in a Girl Scout troop. For this reason, Troop Leaders should be open, under the guidance of the Coach to accepting new girls until their troop has reached a size within the guidelines suggested by GSUSA.
Daisy Girl Scouts 5-15 girls
Brownie Girl Scouts 10-25 girls
Junior Girl Scouts 10-30 girls
Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts 5-30 girls
Under the guidance of the Coach, girls are placed in troops at their specific program level. The minimum requirements for a troop are:
- Two trained leaders. One of these leaders must be female and these leaders may not be related or residing in the same household. Men may be volunteers but an unrelated female volunteer must always be present. Men are never allowed to be alone with girls. Volunteer Essentials page 9.
- Hold an assigned troop number.
- Maintain a troop bank account in good standing and provide regular finance reports to GSGCF.
- Consist of a single Program Level unless prior approval is granted by the Coach, Service Unit Manager and Membership Specialist (Exceptions are regularly made for troops at the Cadette, Senior and Ambassador level.)
- Consist of at least 5 girls from more than one family.
|
|
Safety - A Number One Concern
With the introduction of Volunteer Essentials a few years ago we join joined with other councils around the United States to have a consistent Girl Scout experience. With slight differences for council specific information its it's about getting us all on the same page. Safetywise was a former publication of Girl Scouts that has become a chapter in the Volunteer Essentials and there are Safety Activity Checkpoints for almost everything you can think of, online activities to parades and from theme parks to bicycling. Every coach should print out the table of contents to help their troops when planning their first outings.
Back to Top
|
|
The Shop Scoop
Fall Shop Hours Announced
The fall hours have been announced for both shops. Just in time for last minute Cookie Dough and Back to Troop Shoppers. The hours for September are listed below. Click here to visit the shop page on our website and access the entire Fall Schedule.
SEPTEMBER
|
SHOP |
HOURS |
SAT
Date/Hours |
SPECIAL EVENTS |
SPECIAL EVENT HOURS | |
SARASOTA |
TUE 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
THUR 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
FRI 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
9/8
(SPECIAL EVENT) |
Last Day to shop using Cookie Dough |
9/8 - OPEN
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | |
FORT MYERS |
TUE 10a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
THUR 10a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
FRI 9 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. |
9/8
(SPECIAL EVENT)
9/15
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
Last Day to shop using Cookie Dough
|
9/8 - OPEN
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
Just In Time for Back To Troop
As we head back to school, we ensure our children have the tools necessary for a successful school year. We have lists of tools that each class/teacher requires. We drive to and fro to gather everything our children need to succeed. It should be the same for Girl Scouts except without all the driving!!
To be successful, every Girl Scout should have her own TOOLS to success!
These tools consist of:
- Uniform essentials - uniform, council id, flag, troop numbers, insignia tab, and pins.
- National Program Portfolio: A Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting and a Journey Book.
We make it easy to purchase these Tools to success.
- We offer all of the above in a Starter Kit and include a FREE canvas backpack.
- Purchase the Starter Kits from our shop or online store and receive a 15% discount.
- Our online shop may be found here:http://www.gsgcf.org/girl-scout-shops
Have you already purchased the uniform? No worries. We offer a Program Portfolio Pack (3P).
The Program Portfolio Pack includes:
- Journey Book of Choice
- Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting
- FREE tote bag
- Purchase the Program Portfolio Pack and receive a 15% discount. SALE $25.07
We invite you to visit your local Girl Scout Shop. We have EVERYTHING you need to succeed and MORE!!! We hope to see you soon!
Back to Top |
|
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 10,000 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.
|
|
|
