Papa Gino's SHARE Fundraiser - June 6th!

Don't forget to give yourself a break from fixing dinner this Thursday June 6th - and help with our SHARE fundraiser at the same time!

Visit the North Reading Papa Gino's from 4-8pm and eat in or take out - BUT DON'T FORGET TO BRING THE ATTACHED FLYER!! (not valid on delivery)

The flyer can be found here.

Older Girl Fly Up Invite - June 20th

Fly up for Brownies and up will be on June 20th from 7-8:30 pm at Union Congregational Church.
This year's theme is Totally 80s - and girls are encouraged to dress in their favorite 80s inspired clothing!

The invitation for the fly up can be found here.

Discount Tickets to A Christmas Story at the Citi Center/Wang

Yes - it is early to be thinging about Christmas...but this looks like a good deal!

The Citi Center for Performing Arts/Wang Theater is offering discounted tickets to Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass for select performances next year.

These could be for families or for a troop outing!

For more information:
http://www.citicenter.org/site/files/GROUPS/CHRISTMASSTORY/scouts_index.html

Leader's Meeting Minutes - 5/21/13

Attendees: SU Coordinator Amy Kelly [73897, 71901], SU Corresponding Secretary Debbie Nearing [73891], SU Recording Secretary: Alycia McGoldrick [73904], SU Cookie Chair : Kerstin March [71898], SU Treasurer: Julia Slavin [71872], Kristin Puliafico [85118], Kate Mahoney [71868], Lisa Coroa-Bockley [85121], Ruth Kennedy [73899], Kristin Lamont [85193, 71880], Patti Harrington [85122, 71876], April {}, Melissa Audier [73894]

Items requiring attention are marked in red
ASAP!! Items requiring IMMEDIATE attention are preceded by "ASAP!" and marked in red

Intro/Announcements
Meeting was called to order at 7:35.  The Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise were recited.

Rosa Maldonado is our new council rep (replacing Sue Asselin).  Her email is rmaldonado@girlscoutseasternmass.org

This is Amy's last meeting as Service Unit Coordinator.  She thanked everyone for supporting her and for making Scouts in North Reading great for the girls.

General Information
The Survey Monkey results showed a couple of important items: Tuesday night tends to be a bad night for everyone (listen up, next year's Coordinator...whoever you are) - and the Monday email and the blog are important sources of information to people.

Open Positions on the Service Team:
Service Unit Coordinator
Registrar - the biggest part of this job is placing girls into troops in the fall.  The rest of the year is pretty quiet. 
Fall Product Coordinator (Ruth is considering this)
Recording Secretary (Ruth stepped up for this!)

Service Team met and created a suggested calendar outline for next year:
Sept: Daisy Discovery Day (registration event)
Oct: Halloween Party (Kristen Lamont's troop will run)
Oct: Trick or Treating at Wingate (Kate Mahoney will get information)
Nov: Veteran's Day
Nov: Father/Daughter Event (bring back Square Dancing?)
Dec: Caroling at Wingate (see Kate above)
Jan: 
Feb: World Thinking Day
March: Roller Skating
March: Food Pantry Month

The Service Team agreed that there needs to be an all-age Encampment next spring.  This should take place at Camp Cedar Hill.  Cedar Hill provides plenty of cabins, a large indoor facility if it rains, and access to the store for the younger girls.

If you are on Facebook and want to follow along with the Leaders and/or join the discussion - ask Amy Kelly to invite you to the group!

Registration Update
Early Bird Registration is still open until the 28th of June.  $25 for girls, $15 for adults.  Remember that to register girls for fall programs, they must be registered scouts!

Planning on holding a Daisy Discovery Day in the fall.  This was our most successful registration event.  Parents bring their daughters and drop them off with older scouts who play games, sing songs, do a craft, etc...all while their moms fill out paperwork and get their questions answered.  We got some leaders out of the last one we did!  Girl Council will help run this.

Town Events

S.H.A.R.E. Fundraiser - Papa Gino's Night - Thursday 6/6, 4-8 pm
Take out or eat in (no delivery).  Anne will be getting the S.H.A.R.E. envelopes to leaders with the Flyers
You must have the flyer for us to receive credit!

End of the Year Leader Meeting/Social Hour - 6/18, 7 pm
There will be an informal End of the Year Leader Meeting/Social Hour at Amy Kelly's on June 18th.  Treasury reports will be accepted at this event.

Fly Up for Daisies - 6/5, 6:30-7:30 pm, Aldersgate Methodist Church
Girl Council is running this

Fly Up for Brownies and Up - 6/20, 7 pm, Union Congregational

Cookie Update
Cookie incentives are in.  
Jillian Wallace was our top seller with 600 boxes.
Sales were down over last year (19.5k vs. 20k boxes) but so is enrollment (268 vs. 312)

Next Leaders Meeting is 6/18, 7 p.m. at Amy Kelly's

Program Aide course for 6-8th grade girls, 6/5/13

"Winchester Cadette troop 77025 is sponsoring a council-run Program Aide course on Wednesday June 5th from 6:30-9 PM.


We have a cap of 30 girls, but would welcome 6-8th grade girls from surrounding towns to join us.  Cost is $9 per girl.  







To reserve a spot, please email troop77025@gmail.com.


Program Aide description from council:

Are you interested in working with your younger Girl Scout sisters? A Program Aide uses her leadership skills to share her interests and experiences with younger girls in a troop, group, camp setting and even council EVENTS! Come join us as we provide you with the tools you need to be an effective Program Aide.

Note: Cadettes will get specific information on the new Cadette Program Aide Award and the additional aspects they'll need to complete back in their own community to fulfill that Award."

Memorial Day Parade Info 2013

Attached please find info for the 2013 Memorial Day parade

Brownie & Junior Cooking Badge Workshops - 5/18/13

The Winchester & Stoneham Seniors are offering two cooking badge workshops on Saturday, May 18.  Both are open to any registered Girl Scout and we would like to see a high attendance, so please pass this on to any appropriate girls in your town.

Brownie Snacks badge: 10.00 AM - noon; $10 includes food & badge
Junior Simple Meals badge: 1.30 - 4.30 PM; $10 includes food & badge

To register, please fill out the appropriate form and return it by Friday, May 10th.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email.

Brownie: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_rP2zhfKvWdOG5JUGJZa0RoN0k/edit?usp=sharing
Junior: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_rP2zhfKvWdcEUxSDZFSklYSHM/edit?usp=sharing

Family Science Day for Daisies and Brownies - 5/11/13, 9-11 a.m.

Ever floated a ping pong ball in mid air, bent water or been a part of an electrical circuit? 

Time for all Daisies and Brownies to try these and many other fun science experiments with the Society of Women Engineers, Sneakers to Beakers, and I Robot!

Sat.,  May 11, 9:00a-11:00p,
Where: Waltham  
Cost: $9 Girl/$2 Adults

For more info contact program@girlscoutseasternmass.org

Hersheypark Camp-O-Ree - 5/31-6/2 OR 6/7-6/9!

Hersheypark Girl Scout Camp-O-ReeMay 31 - June 2 & June 7 - 9, 2013 Girl Scout Camp-O-Ree allows your Girl Scout Troop two fun-filled weekends to participate in this popular package combining the adventure of camping with more than 65 exhilarating rides and attractions. Cabins still available for the second weekend! Three great packages available, but space is limited! View full details and download order forms. For questions or to place an order, call 1-800-242-4236 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) or visit our website.

Brownie and Junior Badge Workshops - 4/13/13 and 5/18/13

The Winchester and Stoneham Senior Girl Scouts are offering a Brownie "Snack Time" and a Junior "Simple Meals" badge workshop with a focus on local foods.  

On April 13: the Brownies will be from 1 - 4 PM and the Juniors from 9 - noon held at the 1st Congregational Church in Winchester.  

On May 18: the Brownies will be from 10 - 1 and the Juniors from 1.30 - 4.30 PM held at the 1st Congregation Church in Stoneham

$10 will cover food, a plant, and the badge.  Girls may either register individually or with their troop.  To register, please send the appropriate form & payment in.

    Brownie flyer: http://bit.ly/Z20Lol

    Junior flyer: http://bit.ly/XkXPcd

April Vacation Week Gymnastics - 4/19

Don't forget about April Vacation Week Gymnastics at Reading Gymnastics Academy!

When: April 19th, 9-10:30 a.m.
Where: 172 Woburn Street, Reading
Cost: $7 per girl
Open to all Daisy and Brownie Scouts

This event is limited to the first 60 girls to sign up - so get your sign ups in!  Don't forget that there is a release/permission form that must be submitted with the registration.

The flyer and release form can be found here.

Scout Day at Plimoth Plantation - March 23rd

2013 Scout Day!
March 23, 2013

from www.plimoth.org

"Mark it on your scout calendars! Whether you’re a Daisy or an Eagle Scout, wear all or part of your uniform and you’ll receive free admission - members of your family will receive half price admission! (Plymouth residents: your scout receives free admission, and family members may choose the Plymouth resident discount OR the Scout Day discount.) 

Admission is good for Plimoth Plantation and the Plimoth Grist Mill at Jenney Pond.

Special scout activities will be available on the pier where Mayflower II is usually docked.

Your troop or pack may also schedule a special hands-on workshop while you are here!

For more information contact us at programservices@plimoth.org, 508-756-1622 ext. 8359."

Check out http://www.plimoth.org/learn/programs-kids-scouts-families/scouts for the complete information

Food Pantry Flyers - 2013

Here are the Food Pantry Flyers to support our efforts to help the Food Pantry for the month of March!

On the Spot Flyer

I Promised a Girl Scout Flyer

Coloring Flyer

Drop off day of all collected items is March 24th.  Watch the Monday Leader's mail for more info!

Simon Says art activity

Came across another potentially fun idea for a meeting at The Artful Parent blog:

http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/2010/07/simon-says-draw.html

Basically, it is Simon Says with drawing - and each girl can express her own creativity!

Nick Jr video on Juliette Gordon Low!

Check out this cute video on Juliette Gordon Low produced by Nick Jr!  This would be a quick video to show Daisies to give them some history on the founder of Girl Scouts!

http://www.nickjr.com/video/index.jhtml?videoid=110955

NJ GS's provide "Journeys in a Box"

Look what Debbie found - a Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey has done a lot of work to help Leaders with the task of planning out Journeys!  Check it out at the address below:

https://www.gsnnj.org/About-Us/GSLE/Girl-Scout-Journeys/Pages/Journeys-in-a-Box.aspx

There are so many great things out on the web!  Thanks Debbie...and thanks GSNNJ for sharing!

Girl Scout Sunday - March 10th

Sunday, March 10th
GS Sunday patches will be distributed at these Churches:
9:00 Mass at St. Theresa’s Church
10:00 Services at Union Congregational Church
8:30 and 10:30 Services at Trinity Evangelical Church

Please wear your GS Vest or Uniform

A group photo will be taken afterward at each church

GS Sabbath is the following Saturday, March 16th.

The flyer can be found here

Leader's Meeting Minutes - 2/12/13

Attendees: SU Treasurer: Julia Slavin [71872], SU Recording Secretary: Alycia McGoldrick [73904], SU Registrar: Anne Valade, Kristin Puliafico [85118], Karen Mericantante [85335], Ruth Kennedy [73899], Kristin Lamont [85193, 71880], Jodi Sponzo [73897]

Items requiring attention are marked in red
ASAP!! Items requiring IMMEDIATE attention are preceded by "ASAP!" and marked in red

Intro/Announcements
Forms for Father/Daughter Sports and Ice Skating were collected.

A request was made that the Troop Directory be attached to a Monday email.

Registration Update
Council updates to the rosters seem to be slow - some girls are not yet appearing in the right troops.  If this is the case, let Anne know.  She can't fix it but can feed it back to Council.

Council tells us that we are ~50 girls short of our registration goal. 
Council is going to try to run a recruitment event - our concern is that if we had those 50 girls registered, we wouldn't have troops to put them in!

Registration fees are going to be going up to $25 per girl - with $15 going to GSUSA and $10 going to GSEM!

Town Events
Father/Daughter Sports Event - Moved to 3/2
Ice Skating Event - February 20th
World Thinking Day - February 22nd

Girl Scout Week - March 10th-16th
Girl Scout Sunday - 3/10
  Looking for volunteers to coordinate with their church (make sure that the clergy knows that it is 3/10 and ask that Scouts be recognized at the very least - varies with sanctuary), and hand out patches.  Churches are: St Teresa's, Union Congregational, Trinity, Martin's Pond, Aldersgate (we will be contacting past volunteers)
  Flyer with details will be posted to the blog.  There will be a collection for NR Food Pantry at St Teresa's that day

Mother/Daughter Daisy Tea - late March/early April

March is Girl Scout Food Pantry month
Tentative date for collection drop off - 3/24
Troop participation was VERY low last year.  The intent is that troops make this a troop activity (service project and learning opportunity).
Flyers will go up on the blog in case troops want to do door to door solicitation of donations.
On collection day, will welcome a handful of additional volunteers to help sort donations - if interested, please contact Julia Slavin at juliaslavin@verizon.net.
Will likely have a collection day (or two) at Stop and Shop where Scouts stand at the doorways requesting and collecting donations.  Will have 1-2 hours slots for troops to sign up to staff.  Details will be in Monday email and posted to the blog.

Vacation Week Gymnastics - 4/19, 9-10:45 a.m.
This will be a single session and space is limited to 65 girls, so sign up early!
Flyer will be distributed in the Monday email and posted to the blog.
Collection will be at March Leader's meeting.

North Reading Garden Club's Arbor Day - 4/26, 6 p.m. at IRP
This event is open to all scouts.  If planning on attending, please email Ruth Kennedy at ruthekennedy@gmail.com so that she can make sure to have adequate supplies.

We will provide a date for an Early Bird Registration event at the March meeting.

The small group discussed ways to make scouts better for the leaders and the girls:
Facebook
Leaders - Have you had success with a troop event, outing, or activity?  Please post it on our Facebook page so that others can benefit from your experience.  If you tied it to a badge or Journey, share that too!

Are you struggling with ideas for a specific topic?  Post your questions on Facebook and take advantage of the collective knowledge of the group.

Do you know of an NR Leader on Facebook who isn't part of the group?  Invite them!

Blog
If you have things that you think would make sense to post to the blog - crafts, outing ideas, badge ideas - please send them along to Amy Kelly at kellys@majekelly.com.  

Next Leaders Meeting is 3/19, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall

Father/Daughter Sports Event Update

The new date is Saturday, March 2nd at the Little School.
With the new date we will be accepting new participants for the Father/Daughter Event.
We need to have all interested sign-up by Sat. the 16th.
The times have not changed for the 2 sessions.
session 1 is 10 - 12 noon and session 2 is 1 -3pm
$15 per couple and $7 each additional girl

The form is here

New participants can drop off info to either mailbox: Cheryl Carr @ 479 Park St. or Janet Grasso @2 Barberry Road

We hope that all that have signed up can still join us for the new date but we understand if there
are some that may have scheduling conflicts. We can refund anyone that signed up and can not join us on March 2nd.
Send request for refund to janet_grasso@hotmail.com and cherylcarr03@gmail.com .

Father/Daughter Sports Event postponed until March 2

Due to the impending snow storm, the Father Daughter Sports Event scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, February 9th, to be held at the Little School has been postponed.  The Event has been rescheduled to March 2, 2013.  More information will be forthcoming from Troop 71888 who is running this Event.  If you have any questions, please contact either Janet Grasso at janet_grasso@hotmail.com or Cheryl Carr at cherylcarr03@gmail.com.