Upcoming Events

UPCOMING EVENTS
Next Leader Meeting in Feb - TBD

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Painting Event November 7

Painting Event - Camp Rice Moody in Reading on Saturday, November 7 - open to all ages of Girl Scouts as well as Non Girl Scouts.  A Reading Service Unit troop 75097 has invited the NR Service Unit.  This is NOT a NRGS Event and troops do not have to attend together.  Girls may go separately.  There are three different time slots which can be found on the flyer here.  Any questions should be directed to Caryn at 339-222-3797 or emailing bobcarhayes@comcast.net.  


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Veterans Day Event

Veterans Day Event, Wednesday, Nov. 11th, ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on the NR town Common.  Girl Scouts of any age level are invited and are asked to arrive at 10:30 a.m. They should wear their vest/sash and stand together as a group for the ceremony. This is not a drop-off event and girls do not need to attend as a troop. Families are welcome to attend.  After the ceremony, there will be refreshments and activities inside the Senior Center. Veterans Affairs welcomes any donations of cookies or snacks for the refreshment table.
Leaders--If you plan on attending with your troop or you have girls who want to go with their family, please email Lisa at krisandlisa@hotmail.com with your headcount no later than November 3rd.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Adult Day at Camp Oct. 31

Who is an Alumna?  If you went to camp, were in a troop, were or are a registered adult, led or helped to lead a troop, in any GSUSA or USAGO dominion, you are an Alumna.   If your SO ever was left lonely because you were off with the troop again, then he/she is an alum!  And we want you to come to camp on October 31st and have your kind of Girl Scout fun (no children allowed! No teenagers to snicker as you sing or negotiate the ropes course!.)  Sing, have tea, smores, climb, hike, chat with museum docents, chat with old friends and new, meet Juliette, see the amazing Great Hall makeover, give service - all of these options are available from 11 - 3 on October 31st!

This event is for all adults (no need to be currently registered).
When: October 31, 11 am – 3 pm
Where: Camp Cedar Hill, 265 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA
All the Details: Online at http://bit.ly/1PWkXEL
Register: Online at http://bit.ly/1WcjkpY
    or
Register: By sending $12, payable to GSEM, along with your personal information and mail to GSEM Alumnae Day at Camp, 95 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116



Thursday, October 15, 2015

Leader Meeting Minutes, 10/14/15


Volunteer Leader Meeting
October 14, 2015
Town Hall Room 10
Start time: 7:41pm

In attendance: Debbie Nearing 73891, Karen Buscemi 86279, Joanna Maguire 78188, Kristin Puliafico 85118, Kim Baker 69176, Dorothy Lehane 76211, Karianne Bekier, Kerri Antonucci, Lisa Ayer, Lisa Coroa-Bockley 85121, Mary Hatton 78181, Mays Hannegraaff 78188, Cindy DeWolfe 85336, Jo Gibson 69175, Amy Solomon 69175, Kristen Pemberton 69171, Jessica Barabani, Christy Damphousse 85122, Jennifer Vant 85337, Ruth Kennedy 73899, Amber O'Driscoll 76211, Lisa Alexander 86279, Jessica Blanchette, Anne Valade, Kerstin March, Amy Kelly 3897-1901, Bridget Easler
 Pledge of Allegiance
Girl Scout Pledge
 Anne Valade introduced herself and Debbie Nearing as Co Service Unit Coordinators. We then went around the room starting with the Service Team and introduced ourselves and stated the level of Girl Scouts we are leading and the school we are at.
Anne Valade: Thank you for coming. Girl Scouting can't run without it's volunteers. Thank you for taking the step to become a leader. The time you spend with your daughter is a great memory and very rewarding.
 Protocol and Announcements: Anne explained the "parking lot". If anyone has any questions please use the paper and pen and tape your question to the parking lot. All questions will be answered at the end of the meeting. Also, the little green bag may be used for questions and suggestions as well. Please sign in on the sign in sheet with your name and troop #. Please review the troop rosters on the table and make any changes.  If any of the brand new leaders are confused as to what is being talked about, please feel free to ask any questions.  Early bird patches are still here for troops 73894 and 66232.  Any questions?
A leader asked if you are going to encampment for the day only with Daisies, would you need training? Debbie Nearing answered "no, you do not".
Lisa Alexander is collecting Halloween forms.
Amy Kelly mentioned that every registered Daisy received the Halloween flyer through email. The new troops are: 1 at the Hood School, 1 at the Little School and 2 at the Batch School. To our new leaders: Rosa from Council is hosting Troop Pathway Orientation. The next one is this Friday at Camp Rice Moody. If we get enough new leaders Rosa may come to North Reading for Troop Pathway training.
New leaders need: Troop Pathway training, date & time  for your meeting, to be registered and cori'd before they will receive a troop #. You then can train for your level of Daisy training. There is no rush.
Anne Valade: To look up training online go to: volunteers, then training. Be sure to go online and take GS 101. The Ultimate Guide lists trainings as well.
 Debbie Nearing: The encampment committee is Lisa Alexandra, Kerstin March, Bridget Easler, Jen Vant and Debbie Nearing. Debbie would like to meet and pick the date and talk about locations. Debbie needs to fax the dates and choice camp to council on November 15th. There is no guarantee we get the camp or weekend we want. Confirmation of encampment date will be known by December. Information on encampment will be put out in January. Typically it is a Friday-Sunday. Come for 1 or 2 nights or the day on Saturday. Debbie will be scheduling a meeting to start encampment plans. Anyone interested in joining the committee, please contact Debbie so you will be included in the meeting date emails.
 There is a winter encampment at Cedar Hill in November for troops that would like to try camping in colder weather. To see who was ready to sleep overnight, Debbie took her troop to the Library Activity Room for an overnight. What are the differences of Camp Runels and Cedar Hill? There is much more space at Cedar Hill and it has more closed in lodging sites than Runels for younger troops who are not comfortable with sleeping in tents.  Runels also has a waterfront.
Ruth Kennedy: Star Gazing in this Monday Oct. 17th and offered to Juniors and up. 11 girls have registered. Hopefully Monday will work if it’s not cloudy. Please watch for an email for Ruth if there is a change of date.
The Fall Product ends Oct. 27th. Please have all data in by the 26th at 10pm or well before. The Fall Product Sale is nuts, candy and magazines. Everything is reasonably priced, it's a quick sale, cash up front and delivered by Thanksgiving. Please give checks to Kerstin and booklets with names by Oct. 30.
Magazine subscriptions are much quicker if ordered online especially if you are giving as a gift. The FP items will be at Ruth's house for pick up.
If you need to add a girl to your sale, email Travis to add a girl to your roster. Ruth has his email address.

Lisa Alexander: This year we are having a drive for household and toiletries (instead of the CCS household mitten tags we did in the past) for the food pantry in the month of December. Family gift tags are still available at the Post Office if you would like to do that as well.
The Girl Scouts have their food drive in March. Last year the Middle School did March as well. Will the Middle School do that again? Could each troop be responsible for a bin at different locations in town?
Other events:  Astronomy, Halloween, Veteran's Day, Caroling on the Common. The Service Unit is asking for volunteers sit on a committee. Let Lisa know if you would like to be part of a committee for an event.
 The Halloween party has at least 95 girls. Can anyone stay to help? Please let Lisa know. Set up is at 12. The party is 1-3 and break down is at 3:00.
Veteran's Day is Nov. 11 and on the town common. The Girl Scouts are welcome and there are refreshments after a quick ceremony. Lisa will send a flyer.
Please make any suggestions for future events on the Big Event Sign up Sheet.
We have right now for planned events: Jan. 18- ice skating with Reading, February (World Thinking Day), March (Food Pantry month), April (Autism Awareness), gymnastics over April vacation, May is the Memorial Day Parade, June we have fly-up and encampment. A mother/daughter event would be nice idea this year. The Autism Awareness in April is not a Girl Scout event and will be run by Lisa Alexander. Lisa will be asking Girl Scouts to volunteer to help at the event.

Finances: How to set up an account and what to spend the girls money on is in Volunteer Essentials under forms and resources, chapter 5. Email Lisa with any questions. You need 2 people to sign up for a bank account and you have to get the necessary paperwork from GSEM to open a troop account.
If you would like to have your own fundraiser, you must participate in the Fall Product and Cookie sale. Lisa suggested a car wash or badge workshop to earn your own troop money.
For new Daisy leaders, all financial info. will be part of your training.
Amy Kelly: All leaders and new leaders receive the Ultimate Guide. The guide has family outings, trainings and troop activities. You may also go just with your daughter to any activity. Over 250 programs for girls in the book and also look online at www.hergirlscouts.org.
New this year, the outdoor programing events - you can sign up anytime, even on the same day of the activity.
Check out Wednesday Webinars on the GSEM website. You cannot log in on an iPad and the next one is in November and called Girl Scout Traditions.
There are nice family discounts for being a member of Girl Scouts. Please look on page 7 in the Ultimate Guide for discounts at some activities.

For cost of events or programs: Split the cost into thirds, 1/3 from the troop, 1/3 from the parents and 1/3 from the girl.
If you are going to do a troop activity, you need to fill out an activity form online. You do not need to fill out the form if you are going to do an activity from the Ultimate Guide or a GSEM program.

Check out our NRGS blog: www.northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com
 Please bring all donated crafts and Girl Scout related items to our next leader meeting for other Leaders to use if you are done with them.
Our meetings will rotate to different days of the week every month.
The next meeting is Thursday November 12 at the Town Hall in room 14.

Adjourned: 9:09pm





Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Upcoming Events offered by GSEM

Here's a list of programs and events being offered by GSEM by level:
Daisy Level
Brownie Level
Junior Level
Cadette Level
Senior and Ambassador Level



Reading GS Daisy Purple Petal Workshop

Reading Girl Scouts had a conflict and had to change their Daisy Purple Petal Workshop – Respect Myself and Others.  The workshop is now October 21 from 3:15 to 4:45 and they still have room available if you have any interested Daisies who need to earn this petal.  For questions, contact Michelle Kramer at michellekramer@verizon.net or 781-789-6774 or check out the flyer  here.


Monday, October 12, 2015

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards - call for entries

This award, given out by GSEM, recognizes children in grades 5 - 12 who have distinguished themselves by making a meaningful difference in their communities by volunteering.  Please visit https://gsemserviceunitcoordinators.shutterfly.com/forum/5/647
for more information.


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

CHANGE IN VENUE!!! for Leader Meeting on October 14

The meeting will now be held in the Town Hall, room 10.  You can park in the back and the far door will be open.