Seeking Girl Board Members

GSEMA invites Girl Scouts ages 14–17 to apply for a position on the GSEMA Board of Directors. Girl Board Members have the unique opportunity to collaborate with local professional leaders, strategize to better support Girl Scouting throughout eastern Massachusetts, and make a difference in their communities. To apply, girls should submit an application and two recommendations by 11:59 PM on January 23, 2020.

Represent GSEMA at the 2020 National Convention

Calling Girl Scouts age 14+ and adults! Apply to serve as a National Council Delegate for GSEMA at GSUSA’s 55th National Council Session and Convention. From October 21–25, 2020, in Orlando, Florida, you can be part of the action by representing GSEMA, meeting delegates from other councils, and casting your vote to help shape the future of Girl Scouting. Learn more about the role and read through the FAQ, then apply by December 5.

Final Call to sign up for the Amazon Robotics Tour on February 26th.

 We have a total of 15 and may open it up to Reading Service Unit.  We are able to have 25 participant, but we want to make sure North Reading girls get first priority to sign up.  Contact Denise Kung or Lisa Coroa-Bockley in the next couple of days if you have Girls who want to register and have not done so yet.

TIME SENSITIVE! Amazon Robotics Tour – February 26th (3:30-5:00 p.m.)

We are very excited to be running this free STEM event for a tour of Amazon Robotics for registered Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 only.  Take a tour of the Amazon Robotics facility and hear about their state-of-the-art robots. Council is equally as excited as this is a FIRST and will be offered in the future to other Service Units! Parents are invited to attend and will be required by Amazon Robotics to sign a non-disclosure agreement. 

Please send this flyer (here )to your girls and their families ASAP.  Girls do not need to participate as a troop.  We will need at least three chaperones to attend, and they must be CORI’d through GSEMA.

If you have any questions, please contact Denise Kung at denise_kung@hotmail.com or Lisa Coroa-Bockley at lisa.coroa-bockley@ge.com. 

Amazon Robotics Tour

Target is Feb or April vacation week – tours are offered Mon-Thurs 9-3pm

Take a tour of the Amazon Robotics facility and hear about their state-of-the-art robots. Tour groups have the opportunity to receive an overview of the facility and how it runs day to day, followed by a visit to the manufacturing floor. You will have an opportunity to take pictures at the end.  All visitors 18+ must sign an NDA to enter the facility. This opportunity is normally open to girls 6^th grade and up, however we will try to ask for an exception to allow 5^th graders.  We need a minimum of 10 to run the tour.

 

 

2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

GSEMA has the opportunity to nominate up to 9 girl members for the 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards (7 middle school and 2 high school aged girls). The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards recognizes outstanding young people from across the United States. It is the largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. Since its creation in 1995, they have recognized more than 125,000 young people who’ve made a difference in their communities.

What recognitions are granted by this award? 
Honorees are granted at 3 levels.
   1. Local Honorees. Chosen by GSEMA. Will receive a certificate and if they qualify will also receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Prudential will review all local honorees and determine if girls move up to state-level judging.
   2. State-Level Honorees. One middle-level and one high school student will be named in each 50 states and the District of Columbia in February 2019. Those selected will receive: $1,000, a Silver Medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C. in May 2019 for gala awards ceremony and other exciting events. Chosen by Prudential.
   3. National Honorees. In Washington, five middle-level and five high school students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of the year by the program’s national selection committee. Those selected will receive: an additional $5,000, a Gold Medallion, a trophy for GSEMA and $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice. Chosen by Prudential.

Who can apply?
An individual student enrolled grades 5-12 as of November 6, 2018.
A legal resident of any U.S. state or Washington, D.C.
A girl who has engaged in a volunteer activity after September 1, 2017.
Any girl member who meets these criteria is encouraged to apply. Previous honorees selected
by GSEMA have been girls who have earned their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award as well as
others. Keep in mind that girls must apply as an individual.

How can girls apply?
See website for specific additions
Complete the application at here.
Applications are due by 11:59pm on November 6.

Cadette Exploration (Maude Eaton)

Did You know girls can participate in Girl Scout programs and activities without being in a troop? There are hundreds of opportunities for girls to meet new friends, practice independence, and make their own adventures. Girls in grades 6-8 will learn more about the many unique opportunities available to them. Drop-off event.

Here are the event details:

Date/Time:  Sunday, October 21, 2018, 4pm-6pm

Location: Camp Maude Eaton (Andover)

Facebook link here.

Spooky Trails Along Dark Trails

Leaders,
This fun event is back! The last time it was run, the girls had a great time!
 
Your troop is invited to create a spooky story, read one from a book, or play one from a disc. Girls are encouraged to make their characters come to life and dress the part.
Each troop is asked to select an area within the Historic District (outdoors) to tell their story. It’s ok if multiple troops select the same location.
Possible locations:
   The steps of the library
   In front of the Damon Tavern
   Near the Barn next to the Putnum House
   The Putnam House and its grounds
   The building on the common
   The gazebo on the common
   On the steps of the Congregational Church
In the event of rain, all stories will be told in the Library Activity Room. This is a troop event and leaders/registered adults are expected to stay with their girls.

Please complete the attached flyer here and return at the October
Leader Meeting. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Information is on the flyer.

Hope to see all of you there!

Nuturing the Grit in Girls – 3rd grade girls and older

Troop 71279 from the Reading Service Unit would like to invite you (parents, troop leaders and girls in 3^rd grade and older) to an excellent and informative presentation on Nurturing Grit in Girls on Monday, June 4^th from 7-8 PM at Camp Rice Moody.

Please see the flyer here for more information.  Register now because space is limited!  Contact information for this event is Carla Nazzaro at cjnazzaro@verizon.net or 781-942-1530.

DRIVING MY FINANCIAL FUTURE

April is Financial Literacy Month and we are proud to announce our collaboration with Toyota Financial Services and Girl Scouts of the USA to offer the Driving My Financial Future program!  Please find information about it  here. Girls in grades 4-12 can learn all about budgeting, owning a business, how to finance their dreams, and more----- all while earning badges and a new patch! Please contact customercare@gsema.org if your troop or service unit has questions about participating in this program.

GIRL POWER ON THE HILL

G.I.R.L.s take over the Massachusetts State House! On April 19, research the bill for hands-free use of mobile phones while driving, and then debate it on the floor of the House of Representatives. Meet the women of the State House at a special luncheon, then tour the State House and find the Sacred Cod! This program only runs biennially, so click here to register by April 5 to be a part of the action!

BOOK SIGNING EVENT

You are invited to a special book signing on Sunday, April 8, from 1-3 PM at Camp Cedar Hill. Jane Healey, author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club, will talk about the inspiring stories of the smart, spirited, enterprising young immigrant women living in Boston's North End at the turn of the 20^th century. Join us to discover how Girl Scouts is connected to the story through Helen Osborne Storrow. Books will be available for purchase, and this event is open to anyone over the age of 14. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend.

GSUSA Raytheon Cadette, Senior, Ambassador STEM Pilot Program

GSEM is excited to announce they have been accepted by GSUSA and Raytheon as a partner council to pilot the new Computer Science Journeys for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors! Neither STEM experience nor access to computers are required to participate.  They sent an invitation email to troop leaders yesterday.  Interested Cadette, Senior, Ambassador, and multi-level troops (grades 6-12) please complete this brief form by January 19.  If chosen, your troop will receive a $100 Amazon gift card to support troop-related program expenses.

Want to participate? Here's how:

• The troop completes six one-and-a-half-hour Journey sessions between February 2 and April 1.
• The troop volunteer completes an information form before the start of the program and a post-program survey.
• Each troop member completes a session tracker after each meeting and a post-program survey.

Congratulations to our Older Girl Troops

• Congratulations to our older girl troops who bridged and flew up to a new level of Girl Scouts last Wednesday evening and congratulations again to our 11 graduating senior Ambassador Girl Scouts who flew up to adults. 
• Congratulations to Amy Kelly and Jodi Sponzo who received the “Soaring through the Ranks” award which is for leading a troop from Daisy to Ambassadors.  This is the first time we have presented this award since it’s inception in 2010. 
• Also, congratulations to Claire Bailey, Jessica Kelly and Ashley DeSousa for completing their take action projects and being presented with their Gold Award pin and certificates by a Council Representative from GSEM
• Congratulations to Jessica Kelly for receiving the 2017 NRGS Founder Award Scholarship. 
• Finally, congratulations to three volunteers who were awarded the Volunteer of Excellence pin for going above and beyond their troop service: Amber O’Driscoll, Jennifer Vant, and Amy Kelly and to Melissa Audier who received the Council Appreciation Pin recently at the annual GSEM awards luncheon.
  
  
•  Found after Fly Up: a bridging patch, a pair of purple sunglasses and a Sports Fun day patch.  You can claim them Wednesday night at our Leader/Encampment meeting

  If you Fly Up to a new level this year, you will need to take the next level Essentials .  Trainings are online all summer into September. You can also find Girl Scout Reference Books including Journeys for each level in the children’s room in the Flint Memorial Library.  These are for reference only and are to be kept in the Library.
  

  
  

Congratulations Graduating Seniors!!

Congratulations to our graduating Senior Ambassador Girl Scouts:

Ariana Romeo, Ashley DeSousa, Brooke Sponzo, Carly Sponzo, Claire Bailey, Emily Humphreys, Jessica Kelly, Joanna Keaton, Julia Kushakji, Kimberly Bockley, and Nicole Shedd. 

 

Also congratulations to our first grade Daisy troops who flew up last week and became Brownies and to the following Volunteer Troop Leaders of less than 2 years who received the GSEM Green and Growing Award Pin at the Daisy Fly Up Ceremony for going above and beyond service at their troop level by helping to coordinate and participate in one of our NRGS Service Unit events: the International World Thinking Day Event, The Caroling Event and the Father Daughter Fun Sports Day Event--

Jessica Blanchette, Kerri Antonuccio, Karianne Bekier, Michelle Gerokoulis, and Denise Kung who also took minutes at the Leader meetings on occasion.