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| February 2009 |
Vol 1, Issue 6 | |
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| Dear Volunteers and Friends of Girl Scouts: |
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Girl Scouting is growing in Southern Arizona. Our membership has increased by 15% this year. Parents and community partners are realizing that the Girl Scout program is an essential element of building girl leaders! With increased membership comes increased costs, need for financial support, and leadership. Girls across the community want to be Girl Scouts!
Through the generous support of several foundations we have been able to bring college women into Girl Scouting to lead troops in areas where we do not have volunteer leadership. However, donor support is decreasing and we are faced with difficult choices in how to best use our resources to meet the needs of girls across our jurisdiction. Furthermore, the costs of maintaining our beautiful program centers are increasing. We are in the final phase of rebuilding at Whispering Pines; however, the fires caused more than structural damages: we are fighting a constant battle of erosion control. The Hacienda and the Resource Center also need continuous care to operate.
Girl Scouts, like everyone in the community, are feeling the effects of the economy. Now more than ever girls need volunteers to help the Movement. Girls need more troop leaders and current troops to expand their membership.
Girl Scouts also need volunteer support to help with the Program Centers. We would like to establish monthly work parties at both the Hacienda and Whispering Pines. If volunteers and community groups can help at the program centers it will help reduce the costs of maintaining the properties.
SGSC would also like you to encourage outside organizations and companies to utilize our program centers for events, overnight experiences and school field trips. Through these efforts we will be able to maintain the fees Girl Scouts pay to utilize the program centers.
The goal of the Board of Directors and staff has always been to make Girl Scouting available to every girl, everywhere and to provide Council program and services for the minimum cost possible. We are continuing on that path, however, it is getting increasingly difficult! Girl Scouts need to expand our community support.
We appreciate your support and involvement with Girl Scouts! Please share the Movement with everyone you know. Please encourage friends and colleagues to become active volunteers. Please help make Girl Scouts sustainable in Southern Arizona. If you have ideas about meeting our financial, property and volunteer needs, please let me know!
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| Quick Links |
See What's New at the Council Shop!
Shop Hours Are Changing
Starting March 2nd Shop Hours will be...
Monday-Thursday:
10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Friday-Saturday:
10:00 am -3:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
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Spotlight on Girl Scouts
Put Your Troop in the Spotlight! Submit your troop's accomplishment (up to 250 words) and one quality JPEG image. E-mail vgalloway@sahuarogsc.org. |
Brownie Troop 924
Troop 924 hit the ground running-27 girls strong-when it began back in August. In September they took City Hall by storm and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the Council Meeting. In November, Fire Station No. 9 came to help the girls earn their safety pin. The girls got to see a real ladder truck! In December the girls earned their Ms. Presidents patch with Council woman Nina Trasoff and invited her to their 3rd Annual PJ & Bear Tea Party. These Brownies ended '08 with a rededication ceremony and Christmas Party bash! Thanks to all our parents and volunteers who make all this possible! 
Girl Scout Leader Crowned Miss Tohono O'odham Nation
On December 20, 2008, Amy Juan (below center) was crowned Miss Tohono O'odham Nation 2008-2009. Her 1st Attendant is Cassie Thomas (below right). Her 2nd Attendant, Stephanie Velasco (below left), is a former Girl Scout. Amy is a Girl Scout Leader for the Toka Program on the Tohono O'odham Nation. These young women's roles as title holders are to be Ambassadors for their tribe, and to be positive role models for young girls. They have many things in store for their communities this year as title-holders, and attended the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama in January. 
Troop 1594 of Casa Grande
For Christmas the girls of Troop 1594 wanted to do something charitable and help out children in need. The girls attended a Noah's Ark Workshop where they stuffed a reindeer and a gingerbread man with 27 stuffed animals to donate to the children of Against Abuse in Casa Grande. Good job girls! 
Daisy Troop 645 Helps the Humane SocietyNot many would expect a small group of young girls to be able to accumulate such a large amount of donations for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, but that's exactly what Daisy Troop 645 did. The Daisies began their donation drive by brainstorming and decided on the Humane Society. "We can always help the animals," said Madison Williams. They invited speakers from the Humane Society to talk to them. "We had to collect stuff so we could have lots for the animals," said Mary Ruiz. The girls decorated donation boxes and delivered them to the Council and Borton and Lineweaver Elementary Schools. In December the troop took a tour of the Humane Society and dropped off more donations than they could carry. The donations help animals in the shelter and foster families. For information on helping the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, visit www.hssaz.org. 
Dream Seekers Service Unit Wins Float Award with the "Girl Scouts Go Green" Theme!The Dream Seekers Service Unit won the title of Most Creative award in the Arizona City Electric Light Parade in December. The service unit has participated in both the Casa Grande and Arizona City Electric Light Parades for a number of years and this was their first award from Arizona City and their second award overall. The float was made of recyclables in an effort to encourage more citizens to "Go Green." There were dozens of light-filled milk jugs and water bottles. On the back and front of the float were light-surrounded cereal and pizza boxes, plastic food containers and any other recyclables the girls could get their hands on. The title of the float was "Girl Scouts, Go Green", and it was posted on one side of the float. The other side stated, "Girl Scouts have always been green."  |
Cookie News
Product/Retail Program Manager: Kristen Hernandez 520-319-3172, 1-800-331-6782, ext. 3172 or e-mail khernandez@sahuarogsc.org Product Program Assistant: Kim Maine 520-319-3148, 1-800-331-6782, ext. 3148 or e-mail kmaine@sahuarogsc.org Cookie Hotline: 520-319-3163 |
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Imagine If...We Could Change the World! Cookies DO Change the World!
Cookie Booth Site Guidelines
- At least two adults must be present at the booth site to supervise at ALL TIMES.
- There should be no more than four girls at a booth site at any one time. Too many girls can lead to play.
- Schedule the girls in shifts from one to two hours. Girls tend to get bored after an hour or two.
- You must provide your own card table, signs, cash box and change.
- Ask people on their way in or out of the business place, not both.
- You must set up your table and stand to the side and away from the front door. Do not block doorway.
- If you have a booth site in the mall, you are asked NOT to walk through the mall and sell. Check with the information desk for your location within the mall.
- Daisies who are siblings of older Girl Scouts are not allowed to be at booth sites.
We work very closely with our sponsored booth sites to maintain positive relationships. Sometimes the business's guidelines are not always followed and in this case we may not be approved to return next year. Girl Scouts who follow the guidelines help to ensure continued booth site locations. Please remember the Girl Scout Law!
If you are assigned a council-sponsored cookie booth and your troop will not be able to attend, please call your Service Unit Cookie Manager so they can make it available to another troop. If you need extra cookie booths, please contact your Service Unit Cookie Manager. All non-council booths must be approved by your Service Unit Cookie Manager.
Cookie Deposits
All troops are required to deposit one half of the monies owed to council for the Cookie Program by Monday, March 2, 2009. The amount is calculated from your initial order. (You may refer to your initial order tab on e-Budde for amounts ordered.) Here is an example:
Total cases ordered 124 x 12 = 1488 total packages
1488 packages x $4.00 per package = $5952.00
$5952.00 ÷ 2 = $2976.00
Deposit this amount into the council account.
Cookie Pick-Up
Tucson pick-up date for cookies will be Saturday, February 14th. ALL cookies must be picked up at one time. Outlying areas' cookies will be delivered February 10th-13th. Your Service Unit Cookie Manager will contact you with the time and location to pick up your cookies.
Money-Earning Activities
Just a reminder to all troops: no other money-earning activities may occur during the cookie program. January 10th through March 18th is a time reserved for troops to focus on the cookie program. The program provides an excellent opportunity for troops to increase their troop funds for a variety of activities. In addition to the per box rate that troops can earn, girls can also earn cookie dough and troops can earn cookie credit. It all adds up!
Troops planning trips or other high-cost activities can apply for an additional money-earning activity to take place after March 18th. Applications should be submitted to Kristen Culliney at Council for approval one month prior to the activity.
Cookie Credit (for troops) and Cookie Dough
(for individual Girl Scouts) will expire on
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 at 3:30 pm. No extensions.
Information for balance on cookie credit/dough may be accessed by calling 319-3145 or 1-800-331-6782, ext. 3145. |
| 2nd Annual SGSC Wellness Fair |
Who: Everyone Welcome
When: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Hacienda Program Center, Casa Catalina
Fee: Free Event, No registration required
Featuring: Yogarrific, Peaceful Spirit Massage, Arizona Poison Control, Tucson Twist Its & many more. Explore a variety of booths with adult and youth information, hands-on wellness activities and giveaways.
ALL NEW THIS YEAR! TEDDY BEAR HEALTH FAIR - SPECIAL HEALTH & WELLNESS ACTIVITES FOR DAISY & BROWNIE GIRL SCOUTS
Who: Daisy and Brownies
When: Saturday, March 21, 2009
Session 1: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Session 2: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Hacienda Program Center, Casa Catalina
Fee: $5.00 per girl (includes patch)
Bring your own Teddy Bear - limited to 25 girls per session. Adults are welcome to visit the Wellness Fair while Girls Discover, Connect and Take Action! |
| 2009 Annual Meeting |
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The Annual Meeting for Sahuaro Girl Scout Council will be held Wednesday, April 22, 2009 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Hacienda Program Center, 3101 N. Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson.
In an effort to reduce costs and streamline the process, the format for the Annual Council meeting has been changed. Only the business portion of the meeting will be conducted, including elections of new officers with delegates voting. Girl and adult recognitions will be celebrated in a separate event on April 18.
At the November board meeting, as another cost savings measure, the SGSC Board of Directors voted to extend the term of delegates for an additional year, so those holding delegate positions in 2008 will also be considered delegates for 2009.
More information will be available closer to the date. If you have any questions, contact Lori Lantz at 319-3144 or 1-800-331-6782, ext. 3144 or llantz@sahuarogsc.org. |
| Travel Opportunity for Adult Girl Scouts |
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¡Hola! You are invited to an information session about an exciting travel opportunity for adults in Sahuaro Girl Scout Council! An all-adult trip is being organized for October 2009 to Our Cabaña...our WAGGGS home in beautiful Cuernavaca Mexico.
If you are thinking of bringing a group or troop down to Mexico for a event but would like to see what it is like for yourself first, or just want to visit Our Cabaña then this is the ideal event for you!
This 5-night event begins in Mexico City and gives you a chance to explore some of the wonderful sights during a 2-day tour of the city. An overnight stay at Ticalli Guide Hostel in Mexico City for the first night will be the perfect place to make new friends and visit with other participants. We then travel to Our Cabaña in Cuernavaca and there you can discover for yourself the beauty of this World Center and everything that you will need to know about planning a trip to Mexico. This event includes a trip to Taxco and a service project.
Prepare yourself before bringing anyone else. Come to explore Mexico and take away any doubts that you may have about this trip of a lifetime to your Girl Scouting home in Mexico. For more information, please call Timalee Nevels at 520-319-3159 or e-mail tnevels@sahuarogsc.org . |
| Namaste! |
| You are invited to Sahuaro Girl Scout Council's next World Center Trip. In the summer of 2010 we will send a group to one of the WAGGGS World Centers. This "Essence of India" trip is an introduction to the diversity and traditions of Indian life. With Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting friends from around the world, experience India's arts, music, cooking, crafts, clothing and more! Visit local people, see rural areas, learn about Indian dance and try yoga as you discover a dynamic and changing society that is one of the world's oldest civilizations. Sangam is located in Pune, India - four hours south of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). Pune and the state of Maharashtra are well known for their political stability and safety, and for their many universities and educational programs.
What: Essence of India
When: June 16-23, 2010 (8 days)
Cost: TBA
Age: Girls must be 15 years old or older at the time of departure
Max participants: 20 people: 3 Adults and 17 Girl Scouts
Application: Your application with three (3) reference forms will be needed.
For more information, call Timalee Nevels at 520-319-3159 or e-mail tnevels@sahuarogsc.org.
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| Looking for Helpers... |
The Jamboree '10 committee needs members! Help us craft this amazing weekend event which will take place in April of 2010. Time commitment is less than you might think. Many hands make fast work! Much of the early planning will be done via e-mail and listserv. For more information, call Timalee Nevels at 520-319-3159 or e-mail tnevels@sahuarogsc.org. |
| Outdoor Training Changes are Afoot! |
| This spring, Sahuaro Girl Scout Council continues to streamline training requirements and make learning opportunities available to you in a variety of learning channels.
We have more classes available to you in an online format so that you can get the information you need to better serve girls at a time that's convenient for you!
As a result of direct feedback from volunteers, a new online course "Indoor Overnight Adventures" will be the training needed to allow you and your girls to participate in an indoor overnight such as a lock in. "Exploring the Outdoors" will no longer be required before you can have an indoor overnight adventure. Extended troop trip training will be available to you in an online module as well for trips of more than two nights within Arizona, or any trip outside of the state or outside of the country.
The structure of outdoor training also changes this spring. An online module will replace Exploring the Outdoors for one-day outdoor outings that do not include outdoor cooking or a fire. Two new online outdoor training modules will combine with a live skill-building session to certify you as a troop camper. This brings the best of both training modes to you-convenience of in-home learning with the networking, bonding and fun of a live training.
A full day of enrichment training workshops returns this spring with the Leadership Summit on March 28th. Sessions will include personal development topics as well as much requested traditional Girl Scout topics and abbreviated basic level trainings to supplement the online versions.
Information on the Web site is coming soon. You can also call Timalee at 520-319-3159 or e-mail tnevels@sahuarogsc.org. |
| Camp Connect |
| We are pleased to present the first Camp Connect for those leaders who want to sharpen their skills. Camp Connect will afford you the opportunity to network with other Leaders and practice all those skills introduced during the previous "Moving Into the Outdoors" trainings. This interactive event will provide the venue to hone: your fire-making skills, meal prep and cooking knowledge, your knot-tying ability, hiking safety awareness, and your Girl Scout sing-along talents!
It will all happen at Whispering Pines Program Center on April 17-19, 2009. Friday evening will be optional (supply your own supper...come for some relaxation and G.S. fellowship). Official fun starts Saturday morning at 8:00 am (7:30-8:00 with continental breakfast) and goes through midday Sunday. Cost - TBA.
For more information, please contact Karen Norgard (Bubbles) buhblz328@yahoo.com (preferable) or 749-3542 or Pam Phillips (Band-aid) at pphillips30@comcast.net or 971-5971. |
| Astronomy Scholarship Available |
There is one more scholarship still available for this year's Teen Astronomy Camp held June 10-16, 2009!
BEGINNING CAMP - (Offered for students 13-14 years old). This camp is for students who have a strong interest in science, astronomy, and engineering. Upon their arrival, students will travel to the Kitt Peak National Observatory about 1.5 hours drive west of Tucson. Once on the Kitt Peak site, they will immediately become real astronomers doing hands-on projects at the various telescopes. The campers control and point the 10, 12, 16, 20, and 36-inch telescopes to many interesting deep-sky objects and analyze them over six nights. Observing projects include astronomical photography, spectroscopy, electronic photometry, CCD imaging, participation in basic physics experiments, computer simulations and developing skills in navigation by the sun, moon and star constellations. On the last night we are arranging for the students use the famous 90-inch Bok telescope.
During daytime hours, astronomy camp becomes science camp and students undertake a variety of hands-on projects in science and engineering. Some examples of projects are measuring solar activity, interacting with professional astronomers on modern research topics, hiking a scale model of our Solar System in the unique environment of the Kitt Peak sky island, playing volleyball, and even eating ice cream from Saturn cooled by liquid nitrogen. There are also other hikes around the area to introduce basic concepts of ecology, geology, and orienteering. The students also get a rare "behind-the-scenes" tour of Kitt Peak National Observatory and the University of Arizona Mirror Lab.
Students sleep in the astronomers' dormitories along with the adult counselors and Director. Responsibility and teamwork are vital parts of the camp experience. Students and adult leaders also work together in teams to prepare meals, clean the facilities, and to compete against other teams in some of the many science projects. Register on-line at www.astronomycamp.org . |
| Leadership Summit |
| You've been asking and we listened! The Leadership Summit will be Saturday, March 28th at the Hacienda. Workshops will include suicide prevention and awareness, songs, Girl Scout history and traditions, orienteering, fire building, professional development and more! Look for a registration form on our Web soon. If you would like to facilitate a workshop, or know someone who would, or if you have questions, please call Timalee Nevels at 520-319-3159 or e-mail tnevels@sahuarogsc.org . | |
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Yours in Girl Scouting,
The Staff at Sahuaro Girl Scout Council
Thank You, Maxwell Aesthetics
for sponsoring this e-mail!
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