Memorial Day Parade May 30th

It's not too early to start working on your troop banner if you don't already have one!  Check out the flyer here  for more information about the parade and the banner dimensions.  This year's parade is Monday, May 30.  The parade starts promptly at 10 a.m. from the Meeting House on the Common.  If your troop is marching, you should plan on lining up at 9:45.  Individual girls are also welcome to march and join in with other troops sharing their level of scouting! 

We ask that no troop carry and/or hand out latex balloons.  Not only are they dangerous for young children, but in conjunction with a Silver Award done by a Cadette Girl Scout a number of years ago, they are dangerous to wildlife.  Her slogan was “When Balloons Fly, Animals Die”.   Again, we also ask that for safety reasons, the NRGS troops DO NOT throw candy into the crowd.  The parade committee also requests this of each group and organization participating in the parade for safety reasons and although others do not honor their request, we would ask that the Girl Scouts adhere to their policy as part of our Girl Scout Law to respect authority.  

Cookies -N- Canvas! - Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors

NRGS will have a painting event for our Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors at Camp Rice Moody on April 21^st from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. The girls will paint an 8 x 10 picture on canvas and will be guided by a professional artist. Cookies, milk, and water will be provided. The girls will take home their masterpiece and receive a painting fun patch! Please see the flyer here for important information on cost, capacity and RSVPs. Contact Lisa Alexander at krisandlisa@hotmail.com with any additional questions.

Service Project to clean Putnam House (grade 3 and up)

The North Reading Historical Society is looking for girls or a troop to clean the Putnam House in late March or early April.  If you have any girls interested in this service project, please contact Gloria Mastro at 978-664-5608. 

Want to Learn How to Quilt? (grade 6-12)

Maggie Stein is looking for older girls interested in learning to Quilt.  She will teach the girls how to make a square to put together a quilt.  She is hoping to get enough girls involved where they can put a Christmas quilt together to donate at the Apple Festival in September.  If you have any girls who are interested, please contact Maggie directly at mnstein@gmail.com.  This is something that will not happen for a few months and can be a great summer project for the girls! 

Leader Meeting Minutes 3/10/16

In Attendance: Debbie Nearing 73891, Kate Mahoney 71868, Lisa Alexander 86279, Kristin Puliafico 85118, Joanne Gibson 69175, Susan Salvaterra 85121, Melissa Audier 73894, Steph Musgrave 71868, Amy Kelly 71901-73897-62804, Mays Hanegraaff 78188, Dawn , Kerstin March, Jennifer Vant 85337, Anne Valade

Building on the Common, March 10, 2016

Start: 7:40 pm

Anne starts the meeting by asking if anyone had any cookie issues? If you have feedback please get in touch with Kerstin so she can  relate the message to GSEM.

Amy is collecting forms for roller skating. This is on the half day Friday, March 11th 1:30-3:30 in Beverly. Bring a food pantry item.

Kate Mahoney and Steph Musgrave are hosting fly up and will have a short meeting when the leader meeting is over.

How did the World Thinking Event turn out? Lots of positive feedback from leaders and girls. Next year should a leader take her troop to each country to get the full benefit from the offerings at the table? Should there be less countries and have more details for each country? Should the older girls run it? We only had 2 no shows. Overall the event was successful and enjoyed by everyone.

We would like to consider events for older girls. If we want to make money for the town, we can offer something really great the older girls would enjoy. Lisa suggests a paint night age 6 to high school. Maybe for April vacation? This could also be geared toward a badge. Should it be two sessions? one for younger girls and one for the older girls. The company that runs it stay for 2 1/2hours. This could be held at Camp Rice Moody. A nice event for the spring would be a scavenger hunt. And focus on the younger girls for the paint night.

The yearly gymnastic event for April vacation will not be held this year.

We need to confirm all event locations and dates. The Moose was double booked for the WTD event. Thankfully Dave found another location for the baby shower that was booked the hall after Anne booked it for our event.

Jo is thinking about having a separate Daisy fly up on May 15. Could it be run during the week? This only lasts about 1 hour.

Does anyone need Girl Scout Sunday patches?

Encampment is still in the works.

Any questions? Would anyone like to break up into smaller groups by level to talk about events and activities for their troops?

Some fun things: Amy took her troop to Nevins on a self led tour. Great place to bring your troop. Look for their wish list online. Red Sox day is in the activity book, May 22. Some programs in the book you can book last minute. Glow in the dark night or a haunted walk is fun for the older girls. Snow Shoeing is in the activity book and lots of fun.

The Girl Scout store is moving to Camp Maude Eaton. The new building will be the field office. They are selling the property on rt. 114.

How does everyone feel about Journeys? Some people feel journeys are repetitive and a lot of work. Use your own discretion and do what you like.

Possible date for town fly up is June 1 at the International Family Church on Concord Street.

end time: 8:50pm

Fly up meeting begins

 

GSEM Event - Author Night 6/11/16

On Saturday, June 11 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM, the GSEM Waltham shop will host an Author Night with Jen Malone.  Jen will read from her new book The Sleepover and will be available to sign copies of her books.  All attendees will receive a 10% off coupon applicable on any purchases made that evening in the Girl Scout store.  Space is limited so register online at the GSEM website http://www.gsema.org/  ASAP.

Happy Birthday, Girl Scouts!

 

Girl Scout Week begins March 6, and GSEM retail shops will be celebrating March 9 - 12! Each location will have snacks and beverages to turn your shopping experience into a party.

In addition to standard hours, the three GSEM shops will have special hours on Saturday, March 12. The Waltham shop will be open from 9 AM - 5 PM, and the North Andover and Middleboro shops will be open from 10 AM - 2 PM.

Spend at least $25 and receive 10% off your entire order. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer and expires on March 12. 

 

Changes to North Andover and Middleboro GSEM shop hours:

Tuesday, March 8: closed

Tuesday, March 15: open from 2:30 - 4 PM

Thursday, March 17: open from 2:30 - 4 PM

 

 

Zumba Event for Gold Award Project

It's Zumba Time!  

Caitlin Nearing is hosting a Zumba event for her 
Gold Award Project
March 13

 from 1pm to 2pm at Core Synergy

197 Main St. Suite 201

North Reading

This event is especially for girls in grade 6 - 12 but all ages, including adults can attend. 

Any questions please contact Caitlin at  cnearing@student.north-reading.k12.ma.us

The flyer is located here and the liability waiver is located here.   

Dr. Nora Shine to Present "The TALK Workshop: Realistic Strategies to Protect Kids from Sexual Abuse"

On Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00pm the Aldersgate Church (235 Park St. in North Reading) welcomes the community to a workshop presented by Dr. Nora Shine on keeping our kids safe from sexual abuse.  
More information about this workshop can be found here. Please contact  aldersgateumc@gmail.com with any questions about the event.  More information about the TALK and Dr. Shine can be found at drshinethetalk.worpress.com    
   


       

Donate a Can! North Reading Food Pantry March Drive

Hello Girl Scout Troop Leaders!

March is food drive month for the Girl Scouts! Troop 73894 is running it and we need your help! You can get your girls excited to donate and ask them to have their friends, family, and neighbors donate as well. Donate a can! :D

How can YOU contribute to our efforts?

• Girl Scout decorated collection bins will be located at Flint Memorial Library, Ryers, Stop & Shop, Walmart, Batchelder School and Little School.  Please encourage family and friends to drop off items in any of these convenient bins. 

• Sign up for two hour shifts to assist local shoppers at Stop & Shop by distributing food pantry lists at  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e44a9a822a13-food

• Ask friends and families for food pantry items by calling, emailing, visiting and asking door to door.  The “On the Spot” flyer can be found here and the “I Promised a Girl Scout” flyer can be found here.

• Collect food pantry items at your troop meetings throughout the month of March

GIRL SCOUTS CAN DROP OFF ALL COLLECTED ITEMS AT OUR FOOD PANTRY DRIVE

AT THE NR TOWN HALL GYM ON SATURDAY MARCH 26TH FROM 9:30-10:00AM

 (by guest blogger Jogi Emni) 

Leader Meeting Minutes 2/10/2016

Leader Meeting Minutes

February 10, 2016

Town Hall, Room 10

In attendance:  Debbie Nearing 73891, Joanna Maguire 78188, Kate Mahoney 71868, Stephanie Musgrave 71868, Michelle Gerokoulis 62796, Bridget Easler 76212, Karianne Bekier 62803, Cindy DeWolfe 85336, Joanne Gibson 69175, Kerstin March, Amber O’Driscoll 76211, Amy Kelly 73897/71901/62804, Kristen Pemberton 69171, Jenn Vant 85337, Dawn Gonthier 71890, Heidi Cushing-Candelario 62798, Denise Kung 62798, Anne Valade

Meeting start: 7:35 PM

Girl Scout Pledge and Promise

Anne:  Welcome

Kerstin:  Cookie info

·         Kerstin has cookies for swapping

·         Booth sales can take extra on consignment

·         First payment deadline next week on 2/17, 50% for initial cookies

·         Kerstin will be in touch with cookie advisors once she gets clear information from council

·         There are still some booth sale times left

·         Incentives will be in 3^rd week of April

Question:  How can a troop get ahead fund wise in order to offer more low cost or cost free opportunities?

·         Dues (should not be excessive)

·         Have the costs split 50/50 from parents and troop funds

·         Candy – Fall Product Sale Profit

·         Cookie Money (CANNOT solicit for donations at booth sales or put out a tip box)  If a customer has you keep their change or offers you money, that’s okay and is considered a donation, but you CANNOT ask customers for tips or donations for the girls or the troop!

Ideas for ways to use troop funds (REMINDER:  girls should choose how to they want the troop to spend their money)

·         Year end party

·         Can choose to donate money to a non – profit but cannot solicit funds for another non-profit

·         Save funds for larger expense like Great Wolf Lodge, Rocking Horse Ranch, Camping trip

If your troop is having any bank service fees withheld from the troop account, please speak with our town treasurer, Lisa Alexander, ASAP…troops should NOT be paying bank fees!  Citizen’s Bank does not charge bank fees to NRGS troop accounts.

Anne: 

Congratulations to registration team:  Amy, Kristin, Joanne and Ruth for meeting registration goals this year.  KUDOS!

In search of a Batchelder School Coordinator to be at registration events and help Registrar place girls in troops - primarily a Spring/Fall commitment

Anne: 

Upcoming events:

·         Free Kids fun fair and zoo at Shriners Auditorium for Scout Day – tickets were at meeting

·         Scout Night at Disney on Ice 2/19 code:  GSCOUTD20   bit.ly/1PDAWW5 

o   VIP pkg $30, Loge pkg $20

·         World Thinking Day 3/6 flyer on blog

·         Girl Scout Sunday 3/6 flyer on blog, girls should wear uniform and bring non perishable food item – girls attending another House of Worship or service on that day or outside NR can get a patch at March Leader meeting

·         March is food pantry month for girls, information to come.

·         Roller Skating event 1:30 to 3:30 on 3/11/16 - flyer on blog.  Not a drop off, only open for NRGS event that day/time.  Friends and family of NRGS may attend however.

·         Gymnastics event may not happen due to possible scheduling conflict at gym, stay tuned

·         Fly up troops can begin to gather up to 10 photos for slideshow, June event, more information coming

o   8^th grade troops running event are tentatively looking at Wed., June 1^st for Fly Up

§  Jenn Vant will ask Softball Coordinators to move games the night of Fly Up

·         Encampment, tropical luau theme see flyer on blog.  For troops interested in staying overnight training upcoming:

o   Lodge training Cedar Hill Waltham 3/12 from 9-5

o   Tent training Cedar Hill Waltham 4/16-4/17 overnight

o   Visit www.gsema.org  to register

§  When looking for events at GSEM, calendar view can be the easiest to look for events

Anne:  How can leader meetings be most useful?  What support can Service team offer?

o   Help obtaining financial aid for camps, financial aid resources (camp guide pg 59-62, cookie credits)

o   Gearing more events toward older troops

§  Partnering older troop with younger troop

·         Help earn a badge

·         Run events

o   Breaking up into groups by level periodically for leader meetings can be a great way to share ideas, each group having a mentor – Leaders prefer small groups

o   Bringing in leader trainings to town so leaders don’t have to coordinate travel/dates

Debbie:  Do Leaders prefer Quarterly or Bimonthly Leader meetings?

o   Leaders felt bimonthly meetings might be fine as the Monday email has most of what we discuss at the monthly meetings.  Leaders would like to see more round table discussions.

o   Facebook group has been helpful

Anne:  Discuss with your troops, changing promise from I will try to I will wording, send feedback to      Anne or Debbie afterwards.

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM

Minutes taken by Bridget Easler for Kristin Puliafico and Edited by Debbie Nearing as Secretary