EXTENDED: AT&T Employee Matching Gift Opportunity - March 31, 2012
As a result of strong employee response, AT&T has extended their special matching gifts initiative. When current AT&T employees make a gift to a local Girl Scout council or to GSUSA between now and March 31, 2012, AT&T will match their gifts dollar for dollar up to $500,000. Employee gifts made to Girl Scouts through the 2012 United Way/Employee Giving Campaign will also be matched. AT&T employees must contribute through the company intranet, AT&T Insider, or tSpace. Search Girl Scouts Centennial for details. Please pass along this information to any AT&T employee you know. Thank you for supporting Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas!
Cookie Updates
Project Troop to Troop
Project Troop to Troop (T2T) offers Girl Scout Troops a chance to send the gift of Girl Scout Cookies by ordering through the Council and allowing our bakery to ship directly to military personnel at home and abroad. During Booth Sales, ask customers to purchase additional packages of cookies for donation to T2T! Also direct customers to www.texascookietime.com/troop2troop where they may donate money in larger amounts by credit card toward the purchase of T2T cookies. Customers have the opportunity to include your Girl Scout troop number so that your troop is credited for the purchase. Troops who collect funds towards at least an average of five (5) packages or more per girl for Project Troop to Troop will earn a cool patch!
Booth Sales
Booth Sales began Friday, February 24th! To help make this year the most fun Cookie Program ever, we're introducing not one, but two super exciting initiatives!
5 for Five: Customers who purchase 5 packages of cookies at a booth sale will be entered to win 5 cases of their favorite flavor of Girl Scout cookie! This is a great way to boost your booth sale and encourage customers to engage in the 5 Skills girls learn through the Cookie Program - Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, & Business Ethics. For every twenty (20) "5 for Five" purchases Girl Scout troops will receive tickets to celebrate the Year of the Girl with GSNETX at the great State Fair of Texas! Enjoy all of the amazing things happening at this once in a lifetime centennial celebration including: an exciting look at Girl Scouts' past 100 years at the Hall of State, an interactive tour with cutting edge technology like you've never seen, a special exhibit featuring Texas Girl Scout Councils, and even... fried Girl Scout Cookies.
Bling your Booth Facebook Contest: Bling your Booth and post a photo to GSNETX's Facebook page! The Girl Scout troop with the most 'likes' will win a $100 gift card to GSNETX stores - in honor of our 100th Anniversary - and each girl will receive a bling prize pack! Be sure to post your Girl Scout troop number with your photo! To post a photo, you must 'like' the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/gsnetx
2012 Cookie Box Creations
Vote for the 2012 Cookie Box Creations People's Choice Award here.
Program Updates
Get Moving! for Girl Scout Juniors - Saturday, March 3, 2012. Cost $5/person at UT-Dallas Campus. Girls will complete activities from the GS Journey Get Moving! For more information or to register, visit www.gsnetx.org/getmoving
COUNCIL- WIDE 100th Anniversary Celebration at Heritage Village on March 31st: 10:00am - 4:00pm.
Come out to get your Ticket through Time stamped as you take part in 100 years of Girl Scout fun!! Deadline to register is March 21st. Tickets are $10 in advance and will include a patch. Decorate a Wagon with your Troop. Older Girls - Volunteer to be a Hostess!
Please visit www.gsnetx.org/celebrationtickets for more information on activities you can be involved in and to purchase tickets today!!!
Texas Instruments STEM patch - Girls will have fun as they explore new careers in STEM and do engaging, hands on activities. Girls who complete the patch and the evaluation form will be eligible for a FREE patch! www.gsnetx.org/tistem
STEM Seal of Approval- Do you know there is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in almost all activities girls do? Girls can earn a FREE "STEM Seal of Approval" patch for completing the documentation for a program they do or by attending a program from one of our GPS Preferred STEM vendors (www.gsnetx.org/gps). For more information, visit www.gsnetx.org/stemseal
Summer Camp - Get ready for summer camp 2012! Summer camp guides will be arriving in your mailbox soon! If you can't wait, go online now to Camp Guide Online! Remember you can begin to register for summer sessions on March 5, 2012 at 9:00am. Sessions are first come, first served, so don't wait to register for your favorite session!
Horses and Me at Camp Whispering Cedars on February 18, 2012 was cancelled due to rain and rescheduled for April 28, 2012 at the same location. This originally full event is now open for additional troops or individual Girl Scouts. To register, please contact Janice Mitchell at jmitchell@gsnetx.org. This day-only program is open to Brownies and Juniors. Brownies will earn the Horses Try-It and Girl Scout Juniors will earn the Horse Fan badge.(Try-Its and badges will be received the day of the program). Cost $10.00 per girl, adults no charge. Session 1 - 10:00am -12:00pm, Session 2 - 1:00pm - 3:00pm.
Project Earth 2012: Forever Green - Reduce Waste! Girls can participate individually or as a Girl Scout troop to design a project to reduce single use water bottle or plastic bag use! Follow these 3 steps to earn your FREE patch:
1. Use your creativity to design a project that will impact your community
2. Take the Forever Green pledge.
3. Register your project
Projects should be completed and submitted by April 15, 2012. For more information, visit www.gsnetx.org/projectearth. For questions, email Julie Deshler at jdeshler@gsnetx.org.
Design Your World - STEM Conference for Girls
Saturday, April 28 - 10:00am - 3:00pm
Juniors - $10/girl
University of Texas at Arlington's College of Engineering
Click here to register.
Upcoming Outdoor Events
Daisy Day at Camp Bette Perot has space available on Saturday March 10, 2012 from 10:00am - 2:00pm. Individual Girl Scouts or Girl Scout troops welcome. This is a fun day for Daisies to see what camp is all about: a flag ceremony, a craft, s'mores over a camp fire, a short hike, as well as a short pony ride. All girls will receive a participation patch. Click here for more details and to register.
Rocky's Spring Camporee
March 30 - April 1, 2012
For Girl Scout Cadettes and older. This will be a fun campout to learn about Dutch Oven cooking, discover the hidden treasures at camp and enjoy spending time with friends. The cost is $35 per girl and $10 per Safety - Wise adult. Girl Scout troops will prepare their own meals. More information is available online at Rocky's Spring Camporee.
Gambill Galore- April 13 - 15, 2012 for Girl Scout Brownies & Juniors. Come enjoy the weekend with your sister Girl Scouts at this charming lakefront camp. Learn songs, create crafts, play games, explore nature and shoot a bow and arrow with friends. For more information see Gambill Galore.
Membership Updates
2012-2013 Early Bird Packets formerly called Spring Re-Registration will be available beginning March 1, 2012. All members will also have the opportunity to re-register using our paper forms. Details about how members can register online will be available when Early Bird Packets are distributed on March 1. Two great ways to register! Contact your Membership Specialist for more details.
March 10, 2012: Area 5: "Green Carpet" Hollywood Night
GSNETX Area 5 proudly presents their 100th Celebration "Hollywood" Green Carpet Event, March 24, 2012 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm at the Pickton Community Center in Pickton, Texas. Join us for numerous crafts, activities, dinner, dancing, and a final toast to 100 years as we celebrate in true Hollywood flair. You will not want to miss the amazing 100th year SWAP and other special treats. For more information, please call Paris Service Center at (903)784-0803.
March 25, 2012: Area 2: 100th Anniversary High Tea Party
Join us to celebrate our 100th birthday! We will have a sit-down afternoon tea with guest speakers including Miss Texas, Kendall Morris, a walk down a "green carpet", etiquette lesson, photo booths and a Girl Scout dance, all at the Midlothian Conference Center on Sunday, March 25, 2012 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Early registration is required for this event and is due on March 9, 2012. Registration cost is $25 per couple. For materials please contact Kristin Wear at kwear@gsnetx.org or (214)946-7075 x106.
May 5, 2012: Area 4&6: Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouts: Honoring the Past and Serving the Future
June 21, 2012: *Please Note New Date: Area 3: Walking in Juliette's Shoes
Click here for more information about upcoming 100th Anniversary events.
Adult Development Updates
Have you set up an eBiz account?
eBiz access makes it easier to register for events, training & camp, update emergency contact & personal information, print your membership card and contribute to our annual Family Partnership Campaign! Visit: www.gsnetx.org/activate. eBiz account activation assistance? Email us at helpdesk@gsnetx.org.
Is your Troop Camp Training Still Current?
With spring weather come spring camping plans. Don't wait until the last minute to make sure that your camping certification is still up to date! Camping certifications are good for 3 years from the time you took the class. Leaders whose certifications are still current can take the Recertification Exam online and cover themselves for the next three years. (Don't wait until the last minute - take the online exam, even if you have several months to go before expiration!) If your certification has lapsed, simply take the in person class again. To find out if your certification is current, check with your SU Adult Recognition Specialist. If you need further assistance finding your expiration date or need a new copy of your certification card send an email to adulteducation@gsnetx.org with the subject heading: "TCT Inquiry".
How do I know if the First Aid/CPR class I'm considering is acceptable?
GSUSA recognizes 4 approved providers. From Volunteer Essentials and the GSNETX Volunteer Policies and Procedures document Risk Management section:
First-Aid/CPR:
Approved providers of First-Aid/CPR training are American Red Cross, National Safety Council, EMP America, and American Heart Association. First-Aid/CPR training that is available entirely online does not satisfy Girl Scouts' requirements. Such courses do not offer enough opportunities to practice and receive feedback on your technique.
Use caution when selecting a First-Aid/CPR class. Many fly by night companies have begun offering "cheaper, faster, online" First-Aid/CPR courses. Avoid these as you do not want to waste your time or your money on a certification that does not meet the standards. The average time for an approved certification course is between 4 to 6 hours. A blended learning class is acceptable if practice sessions and testing sessions for certification purposes are in-person with an instructor. If considering a CPR class from a third party vendor, ask them if their facilitators are certified instructors from the above organizations.
Save the Date - Service Unit Team Training
Position training for newly added members to your Service Unit team is scheduled for the following dates and locations. See eBiz for registration.
- June 2nd in Rockwall
- June 9th in Flower Mound
- June 16th at Southern Sector Service Center
- June 23rd at JoAnn Fogg Service Center
Save the Date - 2012 GSNETX Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation Celebrating 100 Years Dallas Arboretum April 14, 2012 - Registration coming soon! www.gsnetx.org/recogevent
Register Now - Real Outdoor Women at Camp Rocky Point April 27-29, 2012
Click here to register now!
Hispanic Welcome Initiative
Save the Date - Cinco De Mayo Family Fun Camp Day
Sunday, May 6, 2012 - 12:00pm - 4:00pm
More details to come
Bilingual Volunteer Opportunities
Become a bilingual volunteer for GSNETX & support our Hispanic Welcome Initiative - Contact Mara Rodriguez at mrodriguez@gsnetx.org to find out about our exciting bilingual opportunities.
Have you visited our Spanish website? Click here to check it out! |