Programs Updates
Scholarship Opportunities
We have several scholarship opportunities with deadlines quickly approaching. Mentioning Girl Scouts in your college applications is a great way to get noticed! For more information on scholarships that are available, click here.
Are Badges Going Away?
Earning awards and recognitions has been an integral part of Girl Scouting for nearly a century, and we're not going to change this! After all, it was Juliette Low's progressive - perhaps even revolutionary - idea that girls can be leaders that has always been reflected in our badges and awards. To learn more about the materials that will support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, click here for the What Happens to the Former Recognitions document. (Can be found at the top right of Girl Scout Leadership Experience page)
Help Support Camp Whispering Oaks!
We need your help! Oncor Power Company currently has a proposal to build high transmission power lines through our beloved Camp Whispering Oaks in Aubrey, Texas. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas has filed testimony with the Commissioners at the Public Utility Commission. Please help us by writing a letter to the Texas Public Utility Commission let them know of our concern for the safety and health of our girls. For more information and to find out where to send the letters, by mid-February, 2011, please click here.
GSNETX 100th Anniversary Trips
Come join the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas on an amazing adventure! All trips are either for Girl Scout troops or "She and Me" (Girl Scout and Mother/Grandmother/Aunt/Adult Sister). Girls need to have completed at least one year of GS Juniors, or completed 4th grade, by 2012.
These trips are being coordinated through EF Tours and Smithsonian Student Tours. Tour pricing will be changing slightly after January 1, 2011, so please enroll today to lock in your pricing. More information will be coming soon at www.gsnetx.org/travel. To learn how to enroll in the trips or for any questions please contact Emilie Anderson at 940-243-1314 or eanderson@gsnetx.org.
GS Gold Award Roundtables
We are excited to announce dates for our GS Gold Award Roundtables. These are informal come and go Q&A sessions for girls and adults to learn more about the GS Gold Award process. For more information, click here.
Upcoming dates/locations (all are from 2:00pm-5:00pm)
January 15 - Denton Service Center
February 12 - Southern Sector Service Center
March 12 - JoAnn Fogg Service Center
2010 Warm Hearts Warm Hands
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2010 Warm Hearts, Warm Hands project. This year, we collected 875 kits! This program allows traditional Girl Scout Troops to help their economically-disadvantaged sisters in Community Programs stay warm this winter by preparing Warm Hearts, Warm Hands kits.
The "Warm Clothing Drive" patches are still available for Girl Scouts who participated in this program at any GSNETX shop for $1.25 +tax per patch. You must complete the WHWH documentation form and turn it in to be eligible to purchase this patch.
For photos of girls receiving their WHWH kits, click here.
Visit www.gsnetx.org/takeaction to download the form. For more information, please email Eboni Chopp at echopp@gsnetx.org.
Cookies Updates
Frito Lay Presents: Building Cookie Confidence, Tips for Sweet Selling Success
This event is designed to educate Girl Scout Juniors on selling Girl Scout Cookies. This fun and informational event will be led by Frito-Lay's sales force who will provide 30 GS Juniors with product information and safety tips so they are able to successfully and safely sell GS Cookies. The event will also allow the girls to develop booth sale signs and work on other fun and relevant crafts. Snacks will be provided.
Girls will earn the Cookie Connection Badge. The $5.00 fee for GS Juniors will cover the badge and administrative fees.
Tuesday, January 11
4:30-6:00 p.m.
South Dallas Frito-Lay Distribution Center
9301 Stoneview Dr, Dallas, TX 75237
Maximum Number of Attendees: 30 GS Juniors
For more information please click here.
Family Partnership News
Girl Scouts is the premiere leadership organization for girls. We are girl centric, girl led and build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. With the support of families through our Family Partnership program we will increase the amount of funding we have available to provide amazing leadership opportunities for our girls. Family Partnership provides quality services to nearly 35,000 girls and 16,000 adult members in all of our 32 counties.
Many of us give to organizations that are important in our lives. We are asking that you make Girl Scouts one of your top 3 organizations. Please give a gift to Girl Scouts and make an impact on the future of tomorrow and in the life of a girl. For more information about Family Partnership please contact Lindsay Thompson at 972-349-2438 or lthompson@gsnetx.org.
Membership Updates
Please remember that a girl's registration is not complete until her registration form has been submitted to her local Service Center. It is extremely important that all girls participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program be properly registered in order to be covered by the Girl Scout supplemental insurance. If you have completed registration forms, please submit them to your SU Registrar, Membership Specialist or your local Service Center.
Adult Development Updates
Help Your Outstanding Leaders & Cookie Managers Take a Bow
Show appreciation for the work that our outstanding leaders and Cookie Managers do! This goes a long way to encourage and revitalize their commitment to working with our girls and helps them lead with courage, confidence, and character. The final deadline for nominations for the 2009 - 2010 troop year is March 1, 2011. For more information about the Outstanding Leader Awards click here or for the Outstanding Cookie Manager Award click here.
Save the Date and Let's Celebrate!
The GSNETX Annual Meeting & Volunteer Recognition Reception will be held Saturday, April 16, 2011. We will be celebrating at the Union Station in downtown Dallas, so watch for more information to come about transportation using DART and TRE, as well as home hospitality in order to make this location a real treat for those who want to attend from every corner of the council.
Please contact Pat Sherwood at psherwood@gsnetx.org if you're interested in helping plan for this event. We will make future meetings available by phone conference.
100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts
In 2012, we will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts. We at GSNETX are pleased to announce that we are in the process of creating a 100th Anniversary Plan for the 2012 membership year.
This plan is being spearheaded by Executives in Action, a non-profit professional volunteer organization. The EIA team will be working with you (our volunteers) and our staff to create a plan and supporting budget that demonstrates our excitement and commitment to the next 100 years.
Please let us know if you are interested in participating in the planning for the anniversary. The EIA team is anxious to start hearing from our volunteers as soon as they are ready. We expect to begin contacting volunteers sometime in January. If you would like the EIA team to contact you, click here to enter your current contact information.
Everything You Need to Know about Troop Camping Certification:
Troop Leaders have questions - especially about what training is required to take their troops camping. We've got answers! The newest addition to our Troop Leader FAQ page involves everything related to what classes you will need, how long your certification is valid, the process for recertification, and what courses you need to take before you take your troop tent camping.
POP QUIZ - ACTIVITY APPROVAL FORMS
True or False? - An Activity Approval Form requires a signature from a Service Unit Team Member when your troop plans an overnight, money earning activity, or covers any subject that may be considered sensitive or controversial.
True or False? - An Activity Approval Form is NOT required for every field trip outside of the regular meeting place.
True or False? Allowing at least 4-6 weeks prior to the planned activity gives the Service Unit Team time to look over the plans and sign off that Safety-wise guidelines are being followed.
The answers are True, True, & True! Learn all about the use of this form - and so many more - with our handy Guide to Forms publication!
Adult Education Web Pages Update!
We've taken what you need to know and organized it in a logical, user-friendly format. You'll love the "Search for a Course" function! Take a look:
· Important Information
· What Should I Take?
· Course Catalog
· Search for a Course
· Distance Learning
· First Aid / CPR
Late Spring 2011 - More Distance Learning On The Way
Home study versions of the Grade Level Adventures Series are being developed with a new target date of April 2011. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
