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Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council joins our sister councils and Girl Scouts in service as we honor Martin Luther King Jr. and participate in the National Day of Service

 

 

The nation will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 21, and since it became a national holiday, the Girl Scouts have honored Dr. King's legacy by engaging in a wide variety of community service projects, from serving food at homeless shelters to painting murals at community centers.The theme of this year's national holiday is "Make It a Day On, Not a Day Off," and Girls Scouts across the country will certainly be responding to that call.  

 

Share the news at service unit meetings with discussions on our commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, our Girl Scout Slogan "Do a Good Turn Daily", and our desire to help girls Make the World a Better Place. Encourage Leaders to brainstorm ideas with the girls for a day of service in their own communities. 

 

Visit MLKday.gov for more information and some ideas.

 

 

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We Wish to Thank Our Following Community Partners: 

 

 

Publix 

 

United Way

Partner Agency 

 

 

Girl Scouts of

Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.

4780 Cattlemen Road

Sarasota, FL 34233

941-921-5358

800-232-4475

 

www.gsgcf.org 

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ToGetHerThereDecember/2012
Dear Service Unit Leadership Volunteers.
 
Welcome to TEAM TALK (formerly Cybernews) - the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida's online newsletter keeping administrative volunteers informed of all the great things being done by and for Girl Scouts.
 
Go Green!  While there may be some sections of this email you need to email or share, save paper and avoid printing.  Have you checked out our website lately, we made enhancements and we are featuring a new activity calendar and other great features - take a peek!
Don't forget to stay in touch via social media - fan or like us at Like us on Facebook.
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SAVE THE DATE

January 12, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

 

 
cookiesleepoverPlease Share This Exciting Opportunity

With Troops in Your Service Unit

 

To kick off the 2013 Cookie Program, Little Brownie Bakers is hosting the 1st ever National Girl Scout Cookie Sleepover. The sleepover is a great opportunity for new and old troops to get excited about the Girl Scout Cookie Program and see the new Cookie boxes in 3D!

 

The National Girl Scout Cookie Sleepover is a 60-minute virtual event that will feature inspiring stories of girls doing a World of Good, powerful sales tips and fun games to help girls have the best Cookie Sale ever. Girls can log in on their own, in groups, or even as a Service Unit.

 

Check out www.littlebrownie.com for complete details on the event as well as lots of quick, easy and fun sleepover-themed ideas!

 

Who's ready for a pajama party?!? 

 

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nicholePlease Welcome Our Manager of

Volunteer Learning Services Staff Member

 

Nicole King joins the GSGCF family and her office will reside in the council headquarters in Sarasota. Nicole relocated to the Sarasota area from St. Augustine. Prior to joining staff at Girl Scouts of Gateway Florida, Inc. as a membership specialist in 2008, Nicole served as an adult volunteer trainer, coach, leader, and service unit manager. Nicole is a recipient of Appreciation Pin, Outstanding Leader Award, and Outstanding Volunteer Award. Nicole can be reached at 941-921-5358 ext. 318 or nicolek@gsgcf.org. Nicole will be reaching out over the next several weeks introducing herself via email and service unit meetings requesting feedback from what your volunteers need regarding training and volunteer enrichment. Please make her feel welcomed in her new role and please be patient as she gets settled in.

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recruitingfacilitatorsRecruiting Volunteer Training Facilitators 

 

What does a facilitator/trainer look like? Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is looking for individuals who have a strong dedication to enriching the lives of other adults through the sharing of knowledge and experiences. These individuals should be self starters, passionate about Girl Scouts, our council and our program, eager to promote positive influence at the service unit and council level, and have great communication skills. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an adult facilitator, please contact Nicole King, Manager of Volunteer Learning Services; 941-921-5358 ext. 318, or nicolek@gsgcf.org

 

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volunteersurveyVolunteer Learning

and Enrichment Opportunities

 

Looking for more information to help Leaders with troop meetings and outings? There are new adult learning opportunities under development and your input is needed! A brief survey for all service units is on its way to you. Please take a few minutes at your December service unit meeting to complete the survey and return as soon as possible. This survey will be beneficial to ensure that adequate courses and workshops are scheduled and added in your area. Please remind all of your troop leaders, new and experienced, to take the Troop Pathways training. Dates and locations are currently being added on an as needed basis. 

 

Do you have Questions?  Contact Nicole King, Manager of Volunteer Learning Services at 941-921-5358 ext. 318, or nicolek@gsgcf.org.  Also, don't forget to check www.gsgcf.org regularly for the most current information from the Adult Learning department.  

 

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CoachesCOACHES CORNER

Help New Leaders Use Girl Led to Engage Girls

 

New leaders are often looking for advice from you. For many new leaders Girl Scout volunteering is the first time they have been in charge of a large group of girls with many different personalities and behaviors. Sharing with them that it's normal and to be expected is good, but whenever you can share ideas it helps new leaders feel like they have some tools for success. We know that new leaders will have challenges with those girls that are the fidgety ones, the spinning ones, the sleepy ones, etc. Print off this pointer sheet or better yet save a tree and direct them to Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida website for ideas on how to engage girls and deal with a variety of personalities.

 

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GSvoices

Support is needed from everyone to get our girls signed up for our annual outcomes survey.  It's important and there are prizes and cool patches involved!  Read below for more information.  Make announcements at service unit meetings (maybe even have some shout outs at meeting) when an entire troop gets their girls signed up. 

 

It's Your Story - Tell It!

 

In a national study, 78% of middle-school aged Girl Scouts reported that because of what they have learned in Girl Scouts, they are better team members. This is great news and something our council is proud to report, because U.S. businesses consistently rate teamwork as one the most valuable skills they are looking for in employees.  In Girl Scouting this is one of the important skills girls develop while learning, playing, and working together with other girls and adult volunteers.   

 

To learn how girls in our area benefit from Girl Scouts, our council is committed to surveying as many of our Girl Scouts as possible. Girls can register anytime using this link: www.girlscoutvoices.org.  Girls only need to register one time.  Please share at Service Unit Leader Meetings with troop leaders to encourage their girls to register, and to complete any future surveys emailed to them.  The company that GSUSA uses for surveys insures the responses are anonymous, so girls can be open and candid in their answers.  We are able to see which girls completed the survey but the data comes to us compiled so we don't know who shared what. This honest feedback will help GSUSA and GSGCF continue to improve program and volunteer resources as well as to provide data volunteers can use to increase the impact they have on girl's lives.  Plus, girls who complete their Spring Troop

 Survey (to be emailed to most girls in March) will receive GSGCF's new "My Voice Counts!"  patch, and be entered into a drawing for prizes (more details to come). Troops who have 100% survey participation can also win prizes, like a free weekend at camp.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Lori Tomlinson, Manager of Grants and Outcomes, at outcomes@gsgcf.org, or 941-921-5358 ext. 310.

 

 

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shopscoopPlease Share These Shop
Specials and News With Volunteers
 
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Council Girl Scout Shops will be closed for the Holidays

 

December 22, 2012 - January 2, 2013

 

Please note - Our online shop will remain open however,orders placed after
December 22nd will NOT be processed until we reopen on January 3rd.

 

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Beginning November 15th, we will be offering a Free Gift with Purchase!
  • Spend $45 - $99.99 and receive an adorable plush pup, retail value $6.25.
  • Spend $100 or more and receive a large plush bear, retail value $18!

Shop early . . .  Offer good while quantities last!

 

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Select 100th Anniversary and Year of the Girl items

on sale for 25% - 60%

Stock up NOW on great Girl Scout gifts!

 

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LIMITED TIME ONLY: SAVE 33% on

Adult Guide Journey Book sets.

Regularly $15, now ON SALE for $10.

Sale ends 12/31/12.

 

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30% off Select Plush Items
 

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Starter Kits are still available!

Get everything you need to start your Girl Scout off right! Kits include all uniform essentials as well as a Journey book and Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting. Girls also receive a bag with the purchase of a starter kit. (Tote bags available while supplies last).


 
Girl Scouting builds girls of Courage, Confidence and Character who make the world a better place.  Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves over 10,000 girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. 

For more information about the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.