August 2015                                                                                                           www.gsle.org
In This Issue
Council Shop News
Web Store Promotion!

 

Order through our online store and get free standard shipping with $75+ purchase - 6 DAYS ONLY, Wednesday, August 5 to Monday, August 10! Stock up on all your needs for Back to Troop!
Program Pathways
Program Pathways for 2015-2016
Our annual council guide and resource book for girl members, parents, leaders or advisors is now available online, in both PDF and magazine format!


Program Pathways is at the printer and will be mailed to all member households in mid-August!  Be sure to check out our sponsors who help to offset the cost of Program Pathways! 

 

The website calendar is also updated, and we are ready for you to register online for programs through our eBiz registration system.  In eBiz, click on the Activities tab to see programs and trainings!  Items are also directly linked to the online registration in the website calendar event descriptions!

Annual Family Giving Kick-Off
Service Unit Annual Giving Chair Training is Aug. 22

The Annual Family Giving Kick-off/Training is Saturday, August 22, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at GSLE council headquarters in New Orleans. 


The kick-off is recommended for Service Unit Annual Giving Chair, Service Unit Administrator, or a representative from the Service Unit and will teach you how to plan a Service Unit ask event in order to reach your Annual Family Giving Campaign Goal. We will have food, raffles, and roundtable discussions led by volunteers from all regions on ways to reach your Service Unit giving goal.
 

 

Go ahead and register online today!

August Program Orientations
Timber Lake Gliders Kayaking Club Orientation, August 23
Join us at Camp Whispering Pines for an exciting group dedicated solely to kayaking. Girls, grades 6-12, must attend an orientation/ training session before joining the group for an off-camp adventure.  

Wrangler/Spur Orientation, August 29 
Do you love horses? Would you like to share your riding skills and knowledge of horses with younger girls? Then consider joining the Wrangler/Spurs program. Girls, ages 12 and older, will be paired with adult and girl mentors to reach Western horseback riding workshops at Camp Marydale to troops and service units. Wranglers also help out with special weekend events and various horse camps.


Program Orientation is August 29. Click here for more information. Deadline to register is August 14.


Adventure Girls! Orientation, August 30 
Find out what Adventure Girls is all about! Be a part of introducing girls to the wonders and majesty of nature through day and overnight backpacking and outdoor adventures.Girls learn leadership skills as they plan trips and work together to make their trip a success. Click here for more information.

 

Renew your Membership by August 21 and we'll let you in on something B.I.G.!
 


Our Believe in Girls event is B.I.G., really B.I.G.!
 
 Over 40 collaborative organizations with hands-on activities and demonstrations, related to Healthy Living, Financial Literacy, STEM, the Arts and Outdoor Living! 

 

Community Service Project for the American Red Cross!

 

Event is open to troops who register 75% of girls members and adult leadership by August 21. The B.I.G. event is $5 for girls, adults are free. Girls will receive an event patch.

 

A registration form for the BIG event will be emailed, once 2016 member registration has been confirmed. 
Renew your Membership Online! It's Easy! 

Fall Product Program
It's Back to Troop time, so that means it's time to start gearing up for the Girl Scouts Louisiana East Fall Product Program!

 

The Fall Product Program is an integral part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, where girls gain hands on experience with five skills linked to leadership and financial literacy: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics.

 

What's in it for me, my troop and my daughter?


Troops choose to participate in the Fall Product Program because it:

  • Provides valuable funds early in the year to pay for troop activities, community service projects and more. Last year, troops averaged $175 in proceeds, with some troops earning more than $1,500.
  • Grows the confidence, skills and financial competence of their Girl Scouts.
  • Provides valuable experience with the world of e-commerce when girls design and run their own online storefronts.
  • Last but not least, it's FUN! 

The council's Fall Product Sale of nuts, candies, magazine and address booklets begins September 25, with a theme of Reach New Heights!

 

For training dates and additional information on the Fall Program click here!

 

Remember, troops who register on time (by August 21) will receive an additional .02 cents per box in the 2016 Cookie Program, and if your troop participates in the Fall Product Program, you'll receive an additional .01 cents per box, on top of that!
Membership Staff News
Join us in welcoming five staff members!
This summer we said good-bye to some of our membership staff, who are moving on to other adventures, and hello to four membership executives and a new Outreach Director.

Dianne Rose, our outgoing Outreach Director, retired the end of July, following 35 years of dedicated service, and she will be sorely missed!  It was fun surprising her with a "Happy Trails" retirement luncheon!  

 

Trina Butler, who has worked with Dianne for quite a few years, is our new Outreach Director!

NEW membership staff include: Monique ButlerAmanda Crettet, Erin Douget, and Jamese Washington. Welcome, ladies!

August - September Activities

Check out the website calendar to see what program events have been planned. You can even download events to your smart phone or Outlook calendar!



Aug. 8 - ABC's of Babysitting (ages 11 and older), Metairie
Aug. 23 - Timber Lake Gliders Kayaking Club Orientation (grades 6-12), Independence
Aug. 29 - Wrangler/Spur Program Orientation (ages 12 and older), St. Francisville
Aug. 30 - Adventure Girls Orientation (grades 6-12), Covington
Aug. 30 - Program Aide (PA) Training (grades 6-8), Baton Rouge
Aug. 30 - LSU Soccer (ages 5-12), Baton Rouge
Sept. 11-13 - River Runners (grades 6-12), Franklinton
Sept. 19 - Lake Pontchartrain Beach Sweep (grades K-12)
Sept. 19-20 - Me & My Pal Weekend (grades 2-12), Independence
Sept. 20 - Water Investigators (grades 2-3), Covington
Sept. 26 - Girl Scout Day at BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo (grades K-12), Baton Rouge
Sept. 26 - National Hunting & Fishing Day Outdoor Festival & LDWF's Family Fish Fest (grades K-12 and families), Baton Rouge
Sept. 27 - LSU Volleyball (ages 5-12), Baton Rouge
 
Quick Links
Calendar
Online Shop
Adult Learning
Program Pathways
What's New
Cookie Program Save the Dates
Smart Cookie U: Jan. 9, 2016
Pre-Order: Jan. 15 - 31, 2016
Cookie Delivery: Feb. 19 - 26, 2016
Cookie Direct Sale (Booth): Feb. 26 - March 13, 2016 


 


 

Adult Learning Sessions  for August - September
Register for Adult Learning Sessions
It's time to sign up for your adult learning sessions. Course descriptions can be found in the adult learning section and course dates have been added to the website calendar. Online registration is easy, and any training fees are fully reimbursable from troop funds.

Leadership Essentials -  8/8, 8/15, 8/23, 9/19, 9/26 

First Aid/CPR/AED - 8/13, 8/19, 8/20, 8/30, 8/30, 9/1, 9/10, 9/19

Basic Camping
- 8/9, 9/13

ARC Small Craft Safety - 9/20

Girl Scouting 201/301 - 8/15, 8/27, 9/15, 9/24

Annual Family Giving Kick-off - 8/22

Fall Product Service Unit Manager Training - 8/29

Fall Product Troop Training Webinar - 9/1, 9/3, 9/8, 9/10

Fall Product Troop Classroom Training - 9/15, 9/17 

Ways to Help!
Make Girl Scout History Come Alive

Girl Scouts has a marvelous 103-year history that we'd like to pass down to generations of Girl Scouts!  Come help the council's new History Committee bring it alive for the girls! This newly formed group of volunteers met for the first time in June, with the next meeting set for Saturday, August 22, at 1 p.m. at council headquarters in New Orleans.


 

If you have an interest in vintage uniforms, badges, books or just want to share your love of Girl Scouts' exciting history with girls, come join the Committee! For more information please contact Mary Marix a[email protected]

 

Save the Date for 2016 Cookies & Cocktails

Cookies & Cocktails "An Evening in Paris" is scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Generations Hall, and volunteers are needed for an auction committee, a decorating committee, and an overall event committee. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Carrie Thomas at 504-355-5885.