Daisy Petal Ideas

Here is a link to a Scout Leader's page on some of the things she did with her Daisy troop to earn their petals.  She has some good ideas...and in Scouts we call this "using our resources wisely" ;)!

http://www.scoutmom.net/agelevel/daisy/petals.htm






graphic from http://www.jw-digiscraps.com/

String Bags - a useful project

Here is another project - this one could be used for the Brownie Try-It "Stitch It Together" or the Junior Badge "Sew Simple" AND it is something that could be useful!

This is from Martha Stewart and the step by step directions can be found here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/easy-beach-bag

Register before October 1st!!!!

Registration Year 2010-2011

Troops or individuals who did not re-register during the spring Early Bird MUST have their registrations to Anne Valade no later than Friday, October 1st. The Girl Scout membership year starts on October 1st and without the paperwork in her hands, girls and adults will not be covered by GSUSA and should not be meeting. If you are in need of registration forms, follow the links below (or to the right on this blog).

Adults should also complete a new CORI - the link is also shown below.

http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/forms/Girl_Registration_Form_2011.pdf
http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/forms/Adult_Registration_2011.pdf
http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/forms/FormCORI.pdf

Floral Foam Prints

Here is another easy craft idea from Family Fun...

This could also be used towards the Brownie Try-It Colors and Shapes. You can find the printable copy here.

Girl Council - Opportunity for Older Girls

Here is an opportunity for the older girls to help shape activities, service projects, and more in North Reading Girl Scouts:


It's a Girl Council - and here is the chance for your voice to be heard. You can find a downloadable/printable copy here.

You can also contact Anne Valade for more information.

Soap Bubble Prints

Here's a fun crafting idea for all ages...Soap Bubble Prints. This one is from Family Fun magazine.

And you can find a printable download here.

This could be used for Brownie Try-it Science Wonders or Colors and Shapes...

Fabric Bead Craft Idea

Here is a craft idea for Brownies and Juniors from Better Homes and Gardens...Fabric Beads. They look cute, easy to make, and might be a nice gift idea for girls to give someone for the holidays. They can also be used as an activity toward the Junior "Jewelry" badge or the Brownie "Art to Wear" Try it (as requirement #4).
You can find the jpg to download and print here.

HELP WANTED

Adult Recognitions Chair

Organizes Service Unit recognitions and GSEM recognitions to be awarded to local volunteers

Approximately 10 hours in late spring

HELP WANTED!!

Founders Award Committee Member

Work with fellow members on the Girl Scout Founders Award/Scholarship

Approximately 15 hours in early spring

If interested, contact Amy Kelly

Minutes of 9/15 Leader's Meeting

North Reading Girl Scout Leaders' Meeting
September 15 , 2010
Town Hall, Selectman's Room

Attendees:
Service Unit (SU) Coordinator: Amy Kelly [71901,73897], SU Secretary: Debbie Nearing [73891], SU Treasurer: Julia Slavin [71872], SU Recording Secretary: Alycia McGoldrick [73904], SU Event Coordinator: Angela Danico [71886], SU Registrar:Anne Valade, SU Cookie Coordinator: Kerstin March [71898], Little School Organizer: Barbara Gravel [71876], Batch School Organizer: Michelle Rosenthal [71896], Sandy Griffin [71900], Kate Mahoney [71868], Mary Lasdin [71871,71893], Kristin Lamont [71884,71880], Melissa Grew [71896], Cindy Russell [73917], Janice Gulbicki [71905], Kerry Lord [71889], Amanda Heffernan [71888], Nancy Vadala [71874], Ruth Kennedy [73899], Sue Kirby [73899], Nancy Quinn [73893]

ASAP!! Items requiring IMMEDIATE attention are preceded by "ASAP!"


Intro/Announcements
Meeting was called to order at 7:38 pm
The Pledge of Allegiance and Girl Scout Promise were recited

Welcome Back
- Volunteer Agreements are due each year. The can be brought to the next Service Team Meeting, Leader's Meeting or drop off or mail to Alycia McGoldrick @ 7 James Millen Road.
-There are a series of new resources available for North Reading Girl Scout Leaders and Families
- The blog... http://www.northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com This is a website where we will post notices, flyers, meeting minutes, etc... Feel free to distribute the website address to your Scout parents so that they can also stay informed
- Recruiting brochure - this is a brochure specific to NORTH READING Girl Scouts
- Field Trip Database - the old database has been updated and is available to read and as a printable file out on the blog
- New Leader Guidebook - a binder has been created with the information that a new leader would need to get started (forms, pointers, etc...) It is intended that this will get passed down each year to the new Daisy Leader
- Mentor Program - as new Daisy Leaders come on board, we'd like to have a mentor assigned to help them get started...stay tuned

Past Events
GS Info Night - 8/31, Library Activity Room
- Several curious folk attended. Received a couple of registrations and one new Daisy Leader!

Fall Encampment 9/11-9/13
- Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Encampment Committee
- Great time, great weather...S'mores, crafts, activities, games
- If you need an extra patch - contact Debbie Nearing
- If anyone has photos of the Flag Retirement Ceremony, please forward to Amy Kelly
- Many photos were taken that could be shared - Debbie will send out an email asking if anyone doesn't want pictures of themselves or their girls posted on a password-protected website
- Canoeing was very popular - remember that Council runs some great canoeing programs

General Info
Senior Center at the First Meeting House on the Common
- Mary Prenney is our contact for the Senior Center
- Seniors really look forward to Meals on Wheels Tray Decorations so we would like each troop to sign up for a week to deliver one set of decorations. Tray decorations are non-food doo-dads that the girls make to brighten the tray (a magnet, a button flower, a bookmark, etc). You should plan on dropping off 40-50 tray decorations the week before or the week of your committed week.
- Meals on Wheels Tray Decoration signups will be available on the blog
- The First Meeting House (the building on the common) will not be available until at least December.

Other Potential Service Projects
- Planting at the newly renovated First Meeting House in the spring
- Fall raking for the elders at the Housing Authority
- Window washing for the elders at the Housing Authority

Pathways
- New way of looking at scouting. All girls can participate in scouts at one or more of the following levels
- Troop
- Camp
- Events
- Series (interest areas where town "clubs" offer programs to the girls, e.g., local running club teaches the girls about running (proper clothing, stretching, techniques, etc...), maybe runs with them. These are several meeting sessions
- Travel
- Virtual

Registration
- Only 2 troops did not re-register
- Registration event will be on 9/26 at Union Congregation Church from 2-3pm
- Flyer for event will be going home in Elementary school backpacks

CORIs
· CORIs are good for 3 years
· Anne can do them for Leaders and Volunteers at the Apple Festival and/or at the
Registration Event

Metal Awards
· There are new requirements for the Metal awards (bronze, silver, gold)
· More info is available on the GSEM website

Events
- Still looking for people/troops to run events. If interested or have an idea - contact Angela Danico.
- Angela is putting together a planning packet to help those who will be running an event.
- Trying to get the Historical Society to run some programs for the scouts

Future Events
Fall Product Sales Training - 9/22, 6:45-8pm at Library Activity Room
- Shauna Wagner has volunteered to be our Fall Product Sales Manager
- Fall Product Sales are candies, nuts, candles (all 15% of sales to the troop), magazines (15% of sales + $1.50 for each mailer completed)
- Need at least 2 troop to participate and at least $200 of product sales
- Recognition patches are very cute!
- No booth sales for Fall Product
- Training for Fall Product Sales - 9/22 6:45-8pm at Library Activity Room

Halloween Costume Party - 10/24, 3-5pm at Moose Lodge
- Flyers are available (attached to email and on the blog) and are due back at the next Leader's meeting
- Please reiterate to your parents that when it is a drop-off event, they are not to stay unless they are a volunteer helping out. Siblings are also not to stay!

Apple Festival - 9/25, 10am-3pm at Putnam House (rain date 9/26)
- NR Girl Scouts will have an info table with info and registration forms
- We still need 5th grade or older girls to help run games. Girls should wear uniforms, vests or pins
- If you can help, please contact Anne Valade
- Anne to check if they could use help on Friday afternoon (last year a passing troop ended up helping to erect the tents!)

Girl Council
- All 6th grade and up North Reading Girl Scouts were invited to be part of the "Girl Council"
- Girls will give input into NRGS
- There is no major commitment, the girls can come as go as they please
- Will spend some time focusing on 2012 - the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting

Teen Escape Camping Weekend - Offered by Council, grades 6-12, 10/15-17, Plymouth
· At Camp Wind-in-the-Pines in Plymouth
· $40 per person (includes meals)
· For more info - www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/forms/OSD-Descriptions-Choice-2010.doc
· Feedback at meeting is that this is mostly attended by middle school girls

Catholic Religious Medals Info Session (for Leaders)
· Offered 9/25 from 8:30-1 at St. Teresa's

Council Updates
- There is a new Troop Activity Form - there is a link to it on the blog (under Forms List)
- There is a new First Report of Incident Form - also available under Forms List on the blog...download a copy and put it in your First Aid Kit
- There are new Meeting Space and Meeting Guidelines - Regular meetings in homes need to fill out new form. Must provide a copy of the Homeowner's Policy or Renter's Insurance
- Remember, 2 adults must be present at a meeting, one of which must be female. The 2 adults cannot be related
- Safety-wise is no more - recycle it! This information is now in Volunteer Essentials (link to it on the blog). There are 2 sections: Safety Information and Safety Activity Checkpoints

Another reminder - the rules for events are for the safety of the girls. If the event is advertised as a drop-off events, parents do not stay. If it is 3rd grade and up, do not bring your 2nd graders. This applies to Leaders as well!

Another reminder - the blog can be found at http://www.northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com
Feedback on the blog is welcomed!

Meeting called to a close at 8:40 pm

Field Trip Database

The first draft of the Field Trip Database has been posted. Please let us know how to make this more useful for you. Please let us know if you have any great trips that we should add! Please send comments about a trip you've taken if you think others could benefit from it and we'll get it added to the database.

Meals on Wheels Tray Decoration Sign-Up

The Sign up page is posted on the blog...don't forget to sign up for a week! The seniors who receive meals really appreciate these small acts of kindness.