In This Issue

100th Anniversary

Pre-Order Your Girls Guide to
Girl Scouting 

You've heard about it.  Now you have the opportunity to pre-order your Girls Guide to Girl Scouting and ensure that you receive your copy when they arrive at Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas.  Fill out the pre-order form and  email, fax, mail or drop off the form at a GSNETX Shop and we will reserve your copy.  You will receive a 25% discount off the regular price.  (discount price is good until March 12, 2012)

Not only will you be reserving your copy/copies, but when the books do arrive, you will be sent an invitation to come to an exclusive event at your GSNETX store to pick up your reserved copies!

Click here to get your pre-order in TODAY!

Starter Kits are now available at GSNETX stores. The kit includes the following:
-Wavy Flag Patch

-Council ID Set

-4 Troop Numbers

-Insignia Tab

-Daisy GS Pin

-World Association Pin

-100th Anniversary Pin

-One Journey Book

-A sash,vest or tunic

-Free GS backpack

(While supplies last)  

Watch the website for order forms and instructions. 

Girl Scouts National Convention 

Registration: If you've NOT already registered through GSNETX to attend the 2011 National Convention, please see the information below.  You may now review the classes that will be offered, the agenda for the convention, and all of the exciting events they have planned - AND - you may register directly on their website. Please note, if you have already signed up through GSNETX, you must go through our council to make any changes, add classes, etc.

Proposals: Please check the GSNETX website to view the proposals that will be discussed at the Convention.  So that our National Delegates can go "informed but not instructed," please use the feedback portal to give us your feedback on the proposals.  We encourage you to discuss these at your service unit and leader meetings, as well. 

PROGRAM UPDATES

Begin the celebration for our 100th anniversary by earning the GSNETX 100th anniversary council patch.  To find the requirements for the patch, go to www.gsnetx.org/100patch

Girl Scout destinations Workshops

Girl Scout destinations is your chance to go somewhere new, do something different, and meet people from everywhere you can imagine.  Come learn more about the Girl Scouts destinations program. Workshops are for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. To register for a workshop please fill out an Event Registration form and submit it to the JoAnn Fogg Service Center, Attention: Program Registrar.

Event Dates:  JoAnn Fogg Service Center

September 8, 2011

6-8pm

East Texas Regional Service Center

September 10, 2011

10am-12pm

Denton Service Center

September 15, 2011

6-8pm

Paris Service Center

September 17, 2011

10am-12pm

Southern Sector Service Center

September 22, 2011

6-8pm

Sherman

United Way of Grayson County

713 E. Brockett

Sherman, TX 75091

October 1, 2011

10am-12pm

First Choice Power is helping Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Celebrate 9-10-11

Get ready for 9-10-11! September 10, 2011 is the date when we'll celebrate our commitment to community for another year of service. 9-10-11 is designed to show all Girl Scouts how a small contribution can make a major impact on their local communities. This year, we hope to raise awareness on two important issues - hunger and energy conservation. In addition to the satisfaction of helping others, girls who take part will earn a 9-10-11 badge and the chance to win a troop pizza party. For more information, to request collection bags, or to register the completion of 9-10-11, click here.

Girl Scouts Go Green! 
Who: Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors
What: This event is geared toward It's Your Planet- Love It! and how we can make a difference in our environment by taking action now to conserve, preserve, recycle, and sustain the environment. Girls will get hands on involvement in each station and learn how Frito-Lay and PepsiCo take an active part towards conserving & preserving water, recycling, sustaining our environment and composting. Cost is $15 per participant.
When: September 17 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Where: Frito-Lay, 7701 Legacy Drive, Plano
For information click here.

"Rethink Possible" Technology Fair 

Who: Girl Scout Cadettes
What: Please join us to innovate, create, and learn technologies that break communication barriers.  Would you like to create a webpage, application, social media tool or other technology that will "wow" your friends and family?  This technology fair will include a hands-on learning opportunity to create something using simple objects and tools. Cool prizes will be awarded at this event! 

When: October 10 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Where:  AT&T Headquarters, 208 S. Akard Street, Dallas
For information click here.

Smart Snacking Selections by Frito Lay! 

Who: Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors
What: This event is designed to educate you on the importance of healthy eating choices with lunch item selections and meal preparations at home.  Girls will learn how to read food labels and understand the USDA food pyramid.  Girls will also "shop" for food and create healthy advertisements, and evaluate the nutrition in school lunch menus. $10 per girl.
When: October 20, 2011 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Where: SMART Learning Center, 5294 Beltline Road, Dallas
For information click here.

ADULT DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
New This Year! Course 201: PB & J Workshop (Proficiency Badges & Journeys)
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is comprised of two distinct components: the Journeys, which develop girls' leadership ability through the three leadership keys (discover, connect, and take action), and proficiency badges, which build girls' topic-specific skills. Journey awards provide a 360-degree view of a topic while a proficiency badge zeros in on something specific. Together they complement each other like peanut butter and jelly. This experiential workshop will help you make your own particular flavor of the PB&J sandwich.

Prerequisites: Girl Scouting 101 or Volunteer Orientation & Troop Leadership Basics.

All Fall Troop Leader Training Classes are available for registration now on the GSNETX website under Member & Volunteer Resources  Adult Education  Search for a Course.

Fall Troop Camp Training Dates
Be prepared for Fall & Spring Service Unit Camp Outs by getting your Basic Troop Camp Certification before you need it.  The following classes still have seats available:  

• September: This Basic TCT planning session originates out of SSSC & JAFSC on Mon. 09/12 from 6 to 9pm. The outdoor skills day takes place at Camp Whispering Cedars on Sat. 09/17 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• September: This Basic TCT planning session originates out of CASC & DENSC on Mon. 09/19 from 6pm-9pm. The outdoor skills day takes place at Camp Whispering Oaks on Sat. 09/24 from 9am - 5pm.

• September: This Basic TCT planning session originates out of Rockwall & Sherman on Mon 09/26 from 6pm -9pm. The outdoor skills day takes place at Camp Rocky Point on Sat. 10/01 from 9am - 5pm.

• September: This Advanced TCT planning session originates out of JAFSC, DENSC & SSSC on Mon 09/26 from 6pm-9pm. The planning session for CASC takes place on TUES. 09/27. The outdoor skills day takes place at Camp Rocky Point on Sat. 10/01 from 9am -until Sun. 10/02 at 12pm.

Course 401: Heart Savers First Aid & CPR classes available beginning September 

Be prepared for emergencies, troop travel, and troop camp training requirements by having an adult member of your troop committee become First Aid / CPR certified. Classes are available for online registration now through our Search for a Course page. The cost is $55.  Click here for times and locations. Register now for the September 7 class.

As we transition away from the current handbooks and badge books to the new Guide to Girl Scouting, the bridging requirements are changing. To find the most up to date requirements, visit the national website at http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/bridging_awards/.

While the current requirements found in many of the current handbooks are still ok to use, be careful in your planning so that awards your girls may be earning are still relevant after they have moved up.  If your Girl Scouts are using any GSUSA resources now through Summer 2011 or Fall 2011, click here for recommendations about how to plan ahead and prepare for all the changing resources! Remember, bridging awards are an optional award girls can choose to earn when they move up to the next program grade level.

Want the newest info about the Girl Scout Program?

Visit www.gsnetx.org/newinformation to learn about the following topics; National Proficiency Badge Categories, How the National Girl Scout Program Portfolio Works, Examples of National Proficiency Badges, the Anatomy of a Badge, What's new with Girl Scout Daisies Petals, Awards and Leaves, and The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting.

New Low-Risk Activity Approval Form

New activity approval forms were introduced at Administrative Kickoff on August 6, 2011.  The new Low Risk Activity Approval form can be used immediately and will be on the web site soon under the Events category in the forms section.  The old form will remain on the website and can still be used until the new Medium-High Risk Activity Approval form has been completed and the old form will only become obsolete at that time.  We expect this to happen by November 1, 2011.

Save the Date! 

Harvest Jamboree- Adult Volunteer Retreat 2011
Camp Bette Perot
October 21-23, 2011 

Online Registration Open Now

FUND DEVELOPMENT

Don't forget to mark your calendar for the 2011 North Texas Giving Day on Thursday, September 15 from 7 am - 7 pm. During those hours on that day, every donation of $25 or higher that is made on www.donorbridgetx.org will be matched.

As an added bonus, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas will be eligible for one of the following prizes:

• Largest cumulative donation amount
• Most unique individual donations with an operating budget over $1 million
• The 1,929th donation (Honoring the year the Dallas Foundation was started)
• The 2,011th donation  

To donate online search for "Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas" and click "Donate Now." Your donation will go a long way in helping us provide premium programming for our girls. Plus, every dollar given that day will receive a portion of the $500,000+ in matching funds which make your dollar go further! And, every dollar contributed from your service unit will go towards Family Partnership!

We will receive a list of names and the amount donated so that we can look them up in our system to match everyone with the appropriate Service Unit/GS troop.

COOKIES

NEW!! ONLINE TROOP COOKIE MANAGER TRAINING! 

We are thrilled to offer online Troop Cookie Manager training! For the first time ever, TCMs will have the opportunity to train from the comfort of their own home while reducing their impact on the environment. If your troop has already chosen a Troop Cookie Manager for the 2012 Cookie Program, please ensure that he/she has completed a Volunteer Application and Criminal Background Check at www.gsnetx.org/applynow as an updated volunteer record is required to register and complete the course

NOTE: Online Troop Cookie Manager training is mandatory. You must have your certificate of completion in order to pick-up your troop's program materials, including order cards, from your Service Unit Cookie Coordinator.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATES

Year of the Girl!
This membership year we will begin to celebrate our 100th Anniversary and as a registered Girl Scout you will be invited to attend local and council wide anniversary activities.  

To be "in the know" here are the rules:

·  Re-register before September 21
·  Girl Scout troop leaders should submit their Troop Financial report, per council policy.

·  Girl Scout troops should not meet until everyone is registered.  

Individual and Troop Re-registration Packets were distributed to Service Units in early April.  If you need to re-register, please contact your local Service Unit Team Registrar or your Service Center to get assistance from the Membership Specialist that services the area.