On time registration for the 2013-2014 membership year deadline is October 1
| A shout out and thank you to all the troops that participated in the pre-registration campaign "Early Bird" this year, or making their membership commitment for the new Girl Scout year in advance! Service Unit Managers and coaches can ask their Membership Specialist for a report of who those troops were. Early Bird patches have been distributed.
For your troops that were not ready in the spring, now is the time to encourage them to renew. The new Girl Scout membership year officially starts on October 1, 2013. We would love to celebrate the health of Girl Scouts Gulfcoast Florida and our service units by showing how much girls love their experience by their return in membership. Service units are asked to reach out to all troops not yet registered from the 2012-2013 year to complete their troop's renewals no later than October 1. Remember Girls can chose to be individual members if they choose to not participate on a troop level.
Reminder: How wonderful that we have new troops getting organized and new volunteers getting everything ready to use troop management DAY ONE (October 1) of the new membership year. With the new members not showing up until the system rollover, please remind those leaders who may need troop information before that time to reach out - any member of our staff will be happy to assist them. |
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Graduating
Girl Scouts
Special Lifetime Membership Opportunity
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Show your commitment to the largest voluntary organization for girls and women in the world through your lifetime membership purchase.
Graduating Girl Scouts have a marvelous opportunity to purchase their lifetime membership at a reduced price. The fee for lifetime membership for graduating Girl Scouts, if purchased no later than September 13, 2013, is $156.00. After the deadline the lifetime membership fee will be $375.00. If interested, please submit an adult membership registration form, which can be downloaded at www.gsgcf.org, along with payment to 4780 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34233. One may request the use of their banked cookie dollars towards payment and to do so must submit the Cookie Dough Redemption Form as well, found on our website.
For assistance, please contact Bonita at bonitah@gsgcf.org or
941-921-5358 ext.321.
Don't delay....deadline is September 13.
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Sneak Peek Of Upcoming Programs
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Please encourage troops to visit the activity finder on the council's website to see an up-to-date listing of activities and events available for them to participate in. They will be able to see details and descriptions to help girls choose activities of interest to them. A few council-sponsored programs to highlight: It's My Camp! and Boo at the Zoo - both of these family events are great for girls not yet placed in a troop and will help those girls keep the excitement as new troops are formed.
Visit www.gsgcf.org to learn more and see the complete listing.
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Kudos To All Service Unit Team Members!
| A huge thank you to past team members who helped pave the way for success and thank you to all returning and new team members for your dedication and commitment towards the health of Girl Scouting in your local communities! It is proven that the success of our movement lies on the strength of our volunteer core, the foundation of all local service unit teams. We thank you for embracing your roles at this leadership level and lending you talents and passion towards your individual team's success, which impacts the overall achievements of the council.
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We Wish to Thank Our Following Community Partners:
Partner Agency
Girl Scouts of
Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.
4780 Cattlemen Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
941-921-5358
800-232-4475
www.gsgcf.org
BACK TO TOP
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September, 2013
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Dear Service Unit Leadership Volunteers,
Welcome to TEAM TALK - the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. online newsletter keeping administrative volunteers informed of all the great things being done by and for Girl Scouts. Administrative volunteers are asked to send out emails, present at upcoming meetings, etc. sharing or reinforcing the information contained in this online newsletter to appropriate volunteers.
Go Green! While there may be some sections of this email you need to email or share, save paper and avoid printing.
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2013 Fall Product Sale
Begins September 20th!
The 2013 Girl Scout Fall Product Sale is just around the corner, and we're gearing up for our best year ever. The theme for the 2013 Fall Product Sale is "What Can a Girl Do? Be Your Best You!" Through the Fall Product Sale, girls are learning great skills, earning troop start-up funds and individual girl rewards, and supporting other girls throughout our council. 100% of the proceeds of the Fall Product Sale support girls in our council.
Our goals for 2013 are to have a 10% increase in participation and a 5% increase in overall sales. In 2012, we had 301 troops participate in the Fall Product Sale. That's great, but it's still only a fraction of the council's 600+ troops. We have LOTS of growing room for the Fall Product Sale. The Fall Product Sale is an easy troop money-earning activity, and is simple even for new troops to jump right in. You can help us reach our goals for our best ever Fall Product Sale by encouraging all the troops in your SU to give it a try. More information about the Fall Product Sale can be found on the council website at www.gsgcf.org. If you have questions, please feel free to contact your SU Fall Sale Coordinator or Corinne Wright, Director of Sales, for assistance.
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Gearing Up For Great Sales!
The 2014 Cookie Program will be here before you know it. New and returning troops can start preparing for their best-ever Cookie Program now by following a few simple tips. Did you know you can help troops gear up for great sales now? Share these easy activities with troops to help them get started! And don't forget... the Fall Product Sale is great practice for the Cookie Program!
- Set Goals. The first step to Cookie Success is to set Group Goals. Troops can start working now to decide what girls want to work toward this year in Girl Scouting. Encourage troops to set a "fun and learning" goal as well as a "helping others" goal. Little Brownie has lots of goal-setting activities to help troops through the goal-setting process too. Click here to check them out! Older Girl Scouts may also be ready to start building a budget for their goals, too. The Goal Action Planner can help.
- Get Linked to Cookie Resources. Little Brownie's volunteer blog has timely information to help volunteers prepare for an awesome 2014 Cookie Program. Encourage Troop Cookie Managers to get signed up at www.littlebrownie.com.
- Save the Date. As troops start planning for the new year, remind them to mark their calendars with these important dates:
- Your SU Cookie Rally date
- SU Troop Cookie Manager Training
- January 10, 2014 - Cookie Sales begin
- January 11, 2014 - National Girl Scout Cookie Sleepover virtual event www.littlebrownie.com
- January 28, 2014 - Deadline for troops to place initial Cookie orders
- February 15, 2014 - Council-wide Cookie pick-up. Booth sales begin at 5:00 pm.
- March 16, 2014 - Girl Scout Cookie sale ends
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SAVE THE DATE!
2014 Cookie Kickoff & Training!
| Who: | Training is mandatory for all Service Unit Cookie Coordinators, and strongly recommended for Cookie Booth Coordinators. Product Sales Task Group members, Service Unit Managers and other members of the Service Team are invited as well.
| | When: | November 9, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
| | Where: | Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.
Gulfcoast Event & Conference Center
4740 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota
| | What: | Learn what's new for the upcoming 2014 Girl Scout Cookie Program, including the transition to $4 cookies and how troops can earn more than ever before! Get all the details, get excited, and get ready to spread the word! Through the Cookie Program, Girl Scouts are doing a World of Good. I'll show you how!
| | RSVP: | Please let us know you'll be there! RSVP to Alicia Rance at aliciar@gsgcf.org or 800-232-4475 ext. 315 by October 25th.
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Since 1912 Girl Scout troops has been the most valuable way girls experience new friends, new adventures and new skills. What makes the experience so fun, exciting and memorable? Is it the number of times they get together, the number of badges they earn, the number of trips they take?
The answer is: None of the above!
So what is so special about being a member of a troop? Troops offer girls the power and joy of teaming up, trying new things, creating their own adventures-all while feeling like they are important and making a difference in their world.
Based on 100 years of organizing troops, Girl Scouts of the USA has identified 10 "essential elements" for creating a high-quality and fun-filled experience for girls.
Please find some fun ways to share these links and the fun with purpose with your leaders.
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New Volunteer Application Web Page
Be sure to visit our newly designed Volunteer Today application web page. The new design offers a quick Four Step process that allows the new volunteer to be in their newly appointed position within days.
| STEP ONE | Complete application | | STEP TWO | Complete background screening | | STEP THREE | Sign up for membership | | STEP FOUR | Complete Girl Scout 101 Training |
Please refer your friends and neighbors to this page. We need all types of volunteers but especially those troop leaders. We have girls eagerly waiting to join troops to begin their Girl Led experience. They can't do it without a volunteer's help. |
YOUR Volunteer Resources!
The Volunteer Resource section on the GSGCF web site is for you. We are always working to best meet your needs. Many of the forms will transform into fill-in format in the next few months. Please be sure to offer your suggestions for materials to add and express opinions on the formatting and ease of use. We value your opinions, so please share. jerriv@gsgcf.org.
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Linking Leadership to Academic Success: The Girl Scout Difference
Did you know that the GSLE outcomes "resourceful problem solving" and "challenge seeking" significantly contribute to academic success and with girl's own perceptions that Girl Scouting impacts their leadership? (GSUSA Girl Scout Research Institute study). Here are some "Action Items" that the service unit can suggest to troops:
Get girls engaged in intentional programming that supports the GSLE outcomes. Girls who have opportunities to work together in meaningful ways and take on leadership roles in Girl Scouting demonstrate greater problem-solving and challenge-seeking leadership skills, and by applying these skills, they achieve greater academic success.
- Encourage troops to adapt and use Leadership Journey activities to address local needs and circumstances. Journeys offer content and activities that are intentionally tied to girls' specific outcome achievement.
- Ensure girls are actively engaged in planning the Girl Scout activities and projects they work on (e.g., Take Action projects, community service projects, field trips, etc.)
- Identify girls who are not the challenge seekers (girls who tend to "avoid doing things that are hard for me") and design programming especially for them. For example, group them together and help them support one another in completing difficult tasks.
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Leadership Journey Activities that Promote
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RESOURCEFUL PROBLEM SOLVING
"Who Will Do What?"
(p.77, How to Guide Girl Scout Juniors on Agent of Change)
"Tips for Creating a Storyline"
(p.61, How to Guide Girl Scout Juniors Through aMUSE)
"Slicing into the Big Media Pie"
(p.54, How to Guide Girl Scout Cadettes on Media)
| CHALLENGE SEEKING
"Animals, Energy, and Movement" (p.45, How to Guide Girl Scout Juniors Through GET MOVING)
"Showtime!" (p.77, How to Guide Girl Scout Juniors Through aMUSE)
"Becoming 'View' Finders" p.33, How to Guide Girl Scout Cadettes on Media) |
You can always check out the outcome grids in all of the adult guides for even more connections!
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Investing in Girls
The Family Partnership Campaign
You know the impact that being a Girl Scout can have on a girl, you have watched your daughter, her friends and girls from your area grow in so many positive ways. Each year we ask our leaders to share with Girl Scout families and friends the opportunity to financially invest in their daughter, and all Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. Tax free donations provide free or low cost training for adults, keep program and camp fees lower than national averages, ensure our camps are clean and in good repair, provide financial assistance to families in need and other critical services.
Our girls can't wait to..... do so much, and we need funding that supports experiences and dreams. Those who know first- hand the sense of belonging, the leadership skills and the confidence their daughters are experiencing are not invited to contribute to our Family Partnership Campaign either because leaders do not understand its importance or are not able to explain.
How can you, our Service Unit Leadership Team's help ensure GSGCF is always able to provide the things our girls need? 1. Ensure every family is asked. The strength that comes with our own Girl Scout family providing financial support is more than money, it shows they value the organization, believe in our mission, and appreciate their daughter's Leadership Experience. 2. Identify volunteers to be the Service Unit FPC Coordinator. In partnership with fund development staff they will help leaders figure out the right 5 minutes to make the ask and provide the resources. We need volunteers who are passionate about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, can speak to small groups, and can help adults make "the ask" that invests in girl's future experiences. Send your questions or names to Kate O'Brien at kateo@gsgcf.org or 239-940-7989.
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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.
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