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Greetings!
 We can't wait to share all the fun of the BIG Day on September 22 with the entire community. We'll have celebrity concerts, a huge parade and over 100 hands-on activities for girls and boys. It will be a day to remember forever. One of the most exciting exhibits is SmashZone, which features interactive tennis games for kids 10 and under. Boys and girls will have tons of fun playing tennis on the four kid-sized tennis courts. The courts will feature games, such as Rally Courts and a Target Challenge. It's a wonderful opportunity for kids to get a racquet in their hand and have a great time. Along with the courts, there will be a trailer with a Tennis Magazine green screen cover shoot, a Nintendo gaming lounge and other great activities. If your kids love video games, they'll love the hands-on demonstrations of Mario Tennis Open, a new Nintendo game! It's a great way to get your kids moving and having fun at the BIG Day. And this is just one of the exhibits. Be on the lookout for more information about the other exhibits your family can enjoy. Remember to register as a VIP for the BIG Day so you can be entered in a drawing for a chance to meet a Disney star. Visit our website for all the details. Best Wishes, 
Donna K. Martin
CEO, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri |
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The BIG Day
 Sept. 22, 2012
The BIG Day will be the biggest event in St. Louis this fall and everyone in the community is invited. Our celebrity concert will feature Allstar Weekend, one of the hottest boy bands on the charts. Be the first to hear their new single live! Ryan Beatty, whom Ryan Seacrest touted as the next Justin Bieber, will also perform. In July, we will be announcing our third celebrity entertainer, so be on the lookout! There will also be a Disney star at the event, who will be announced in a month. Be one of the lucky VIPs to win a personal meet and greet with this great Disney entertainer.
The day begins with a parade and will culminate with over one thousand girls participating in a flash mob and a FamFest at Soldiers Memorial Park with over 100 exhibitors providing fun activities for the whole family. A celebrity concert tops off The BIG Day, making this the event you won't want to miss. BIG attractions to the FamFest include the USTA SmashZone, a Disney BIG Hangout area, foam dancing, the BIG Wheel, inflatables and more. The deadline to register as a VIP has been extended until August 15, so visit our website to find out more about becoming a VIP and even more details about the event. Remember, registering as a VIP will enter you in a drawing to be one of 300 people to get a personal meet and greet with a Disney star. Also, find out about volunteering and transportation.
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The BIG Day is Looking for BIG Things
 Work is in progress to ensure that the BIG Day is a great day for all. We are recruiting marching bands, food vendors, local entertainment groups for the performance stages and vendors who would like to provide an interactive program booth. We want to have activities to include all family members to make this a fun day for all.
Who better than our members to ask for suggestions? If any of you have any suggestions please contact Sarah Moran, 314.592.2387, with your suggestion and contact information so we can make a connection with them. |
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BIG Day Service Project
 Your 100% cotton used blue jeans can become a quilt, providing comfort to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been injured while serving. Donated blue jeans will be cut into 6-inch squares. Participants at the BIG Day will be invited to write messages on the squares, which will be sent to Operation Quiet Comfort to be made into quilts. Find out more information.
Help prepare for the service project by attending a jean cutting party! Jean cutting work sessions for adults and Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts will be held on July 30, August 13 and August 29 at the St. Louis Service Center.
Please bring your rotary cutter, cutting mat and sharp scissors if you have them. If not, we will supply them for your use.
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The BIG Day Parade
 Sept. 22, 2012
As part of our BIG Day, we're having our own parade. This is our opportunity to tell the Girl Scout story to our community through a parade and afternoon activities.
Make sure your Neighborhood is featured in the parade and assist in telling our story. We want to show our community the unity we have as an organization to celebrate our landmark 100th Anniversary and demonstrate what we give to our community.
In order to feature both Neighborhoods and troops, we wil have a flag brigade. We want to ensure that all of our members participate in The BIG Day first and foremost since it will be a wonderful family day. We want 20,000 Girl Scout members and their families downtown in green shirts. It will be a great way for the entire family to celebrate our anniversary.
We also want our troops and Neighborhoods to celebrate in their own way as part of our grass roots approach to the celebration. The flag brigade is a part of that initiative. Here's how you can get involved:
- Your Neighborhood can participate by purchasing a 100th Anniversary flag at the shop at a discounted price
- Each troop that holds their own 100th Anniversary celebration can then make a streamer to hang on the flag with their troop number and name of the celebration on the streamer, which will be attached to the flag
- Your Neighborhood will then designate two representatives (you might consider holding a contest to select people or you can choose them) to carry your flag in the flag brigade in the parade to represent your Neighborhood
- This unit will be prominently featured in our parade
- You can maintain these flags and proudly display them at future Neighborhood meetings
This is a fun and rewarding way to encourage troops to plan their own centennial year celebration. We hope to see many flags and streamers being carried down Market Street.
For planning purposes, please email Mary Ann Owens, mowens@girlscoutsem.org, and confirm that your Neighborhood will be participating in this exciting initiative. |
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Floats Wanted for the BIG Day Parade
 Represent your District or Neighborhood with a float in our Girl Scout parade. Floats for the parade will be selected by an unbiased committee. Selection will be made by August 15 to allow time to assemble and build the floats. To be considered, you must submit a drawing or COMPLETE written description of your float. These can be submitted to mowens@girlscoutsem.org or mail by August 1 to: Mary Ann Owens Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 2300 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146 Float requirements: - All floats must adhere to Safety Activity Checkpoint regulations - Floats must be constructed on a flat bed with rails (a pick up truck does not qualify as a float) - Floats must follow a theme that reflects the Girl Scout mission and program elements - Floats need to be decorated appropriately to reflect the quality of the parade - Floats that feature entertainment of some type will be given higher consideration - Floats may have girls with appropriate adult supervision on them Applications are currently being accepted. |
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Be an Official 100th Anniversary Parade Participant
 As part of our BIG Day on September 22, we'll be parading through downtown St. Louis and we want YOU to be part of the Century of Promise parade.
We're looking for 10 very special groups of Girl Scouts to join the parade as official participants. Your group should have a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 50 Girl Scouts and offer a special performance or clever theme that demonstrates one of the key elements of Girl Scouting. Show us your pride in camping, STEM, being green, a Journey or any other element of Scouting. You might do something with grocery carts to celebrate April Showers or make costumes out of recyclable materials. Come up with a dynamite idea so your group can be featured.
Send us a 2-5 minute video, pictures or a plan showing us your idea. Be creative. You have until August 1 to submit your idea to Nicole Dalton, ndalton@girlscoutsem.org.
We'll select five groups of Girl Scouts by August 15 to be featured in the parade. We can't wait to see your parade ideas. |
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Flash Mob Lessons
 GSEM will be offering you a special chance to learn the flash mob dance for the BIG Day. These will be offered at the Girl Scout Service Center on the following dates at 6:30 pm:
July 31 August 22
This is your chance to learn or practice this fun dance so you can participate on the BIG Day. Lessons are not mandatory for participation; just sign up to be a VIP. The instructional video for the dance will also be available on our website and YouTube after May 15, so you can have your own lessons. Just remember, this is about having fun and celebrating our 100th; dance skills are not important.
We will also be offering lessons in the northern, southern and western areas of our Council. Stay tuned for those dates and locations.
There is limited space in our facility, so you must RSVP to attend the lessons. RSVP to Kathy Adrian, kadrian@girlscoutsem.org. Please include the number of girls who will be attending. We will notify you by email if you are NOT able to attend due to space. If you do not receive an email, plan on attending. |
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"Let's Talk"
Here's your chance to have a great dialogue with the CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Donna Martin. The "Let's Talk" sessions will happen in several areas of our Council jurisdiction. Donna will be there to answer your questions and visit with you about the great things happening during our Centennial celebration. Please submit questions to Mary Ann Owens, mowens@girlscoutsem.org, at least 5 days before the session. This allows us to gather our information and give the best answers to your question. All sessions will begin at 6:30 pm: October 23 - United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall - 300 E. Washington St., Kirksville, MO 62501 October 24 - Park United Methodist Church - 2335 Palmyra Road, Hannibal, MO 63401 November 1 - Mineral Area College North College Center - 5270 Flat River Road, Park Hills, MO 63601 November 28 - Girl Scout Service Center - 2300 Ball Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146 |
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Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards
 For current information check out the GSEM Award web Pages: You'll find FAQs, definitions of take action projects, girl and adult award guidelines and award related forms.
Contact: Cindy Stocker, Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Award Staff Advisor, 314.592.2360, BSGawards@girlscoutsem.org |
Girl Scout Shop
The St. Louis GS Shop began summer hours on June 11. Be sure to visit this summer as new merchandise from GSUSA will be arriving all summer. During the month of July, get a free gift with purchase. Limit one per day per customer.
Now available for a limited time, Nestle Crunch candy bars. The flavors, inspired by favorite Girl Scout cookies, are Thin Mints, Caramel and Coconut and Peanut Butter Cream.
Planning on attending the BIG Day on September 22? Be one of the first to get a BIG Day tote bag available now for $6. The official BIG Day patch is now available to purchase for $1.50 each.
June 2012 marks the close of the GSUSA Program and Merchandise transition period. Retired GS Brownie Try-its, Junior badges, Interest Project patches and all retired awards will not be available to purchase after June 30, 2012. St. Louis GS Shop Summer Hours June 11-August 24 Monday-Wednesday and Friday - 9 am-4:30 pm; Thursday 9 am-6:30 pm Select Saturday Hours - Open 10 am-2 pm September 8 & 15, October 13, November 10, December 8 |
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ALL AGES
 Back to School Splash
Come splash into the new school year with your Girl Scout troop at one of the private swim parties. Girls in the troops are welcome to bring non-Girl Scout friends.
Please register all friends with the troop's swim party application. Fee includes admission, snack and patch. No refunds. Confirmations will be sent two weeks prior to swim party date. Registration forms can be found on pp. 45-46 of A Girl Scout Summer. |
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Grades 6-12
 Older Girl Roundtable
August 30, 6:30-9 pm @ St. Louis Service Center
Submit: Individual Program Application by August 25
The Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Task Force has planned an exciting roundtable event for Girl Scout Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Leaders/Advisors and girl members. Opportunities await you to interact wtih other girl members, leaders and advisors, find out about programs for older girls and share what's happening in your District. Invite other Leaders/Advisors and older Girl Scouts that may also benefit.
Contact Mary Beth Jäger, 314.592.2334, mjager@girlscoutsem.org for more information. |
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 NO MORE Bullying Event
August 4, 11:30 am-1:30 pm @ iceZONE, St. Louis Mills Mall
St. Louis Mills needs volunteers for this event. Volunteers will hand out giveaways, watch the pledge wall and serve as ushers. Volunteers need to arrive by 11 am.
If interested in volunteering, contact Michelle Johnson, 314.592.2344, mjohnson@girlscoutsem.org by July 20. |
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November Volunteer Enrichment Weekend
Come join us for this fun opportunity to kick back, celebrate your Girl Scout history and rejuvenate for the wonderful experiences to come. Workshops ranging from underwater basket weaving to learning about The Wisdom of Dr. Suess will be available. There will also be plenty of time to spend with your silver and gold Girl Scout friends, sharing memories, laughing lots and not doing kapers. Event information and registration will be posted on our website, so keep watching. Don't forget to check out Scouting for Girl Scouts for opportunities to earn Volunteer Bucks. Up to $65 in Volunteer Bucks can be applied to the event. When you participate in an event during which you are earning Volunteer Bucks, make sure you check in and out with your shift captain so he/she can record the hours you are serving. |
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Participate in GSEM's First Webinar
This summer, we are piloting our first webinar to facilitate Job Orientation for Troop Recruiters and Troop Coordinators. Find out more information and register here. |
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Bound for Girl Scout Camp?
Thinking about going to a Girl Scout camp and don't know what to expect? Check out "What's at a GSEM Camp," an online course that will introduce you to the units and facilities you will find at Camps Cedarledge, Fiddlecreek and Tuckaho. Learn what a tree house unit looks like, what an "ET" is and where you can find Conestoga wagons and giant turtles.
Find "What's at a GSEM Camp" and other camping preparation courses here.
Bonus: If you decide to take a Troop Camp course and have taken one or more of the online courses, you will already have met some of the prerequisites for your Troop Camp course. |
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Have You Saved a Life Today?
Each year, the American Red Cross teaches lifesaving skills to over 700 GSEM volunteers. Creating a safe environment for nearly 58,000 girls annually is only possible through the help of people like you.
We need volunteers to take the American Red Cross Instructor training as soon as possible to ensure that there are enough trainers to certify our Leaders as Level I or Level II First Aiders. Help make a difference in people's lives by teaching First Aid and CPR/AED to Girl Scout Leaders.
Click here for more information and dates the training will take place.
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ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MISSOURI
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 GSEM is a proud United Way member and is supported by the following United Way Agencies: United Way of Greater St. Louis, United Way of the Mark Twain Area, United Way of Adair County/Northeast Missouri, United Way of St. Francois County, Franklin County Area United Way.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is committed to building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. www.girlscoutsem.org
800.727.GIRL[4475] |
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