North Reading Girl Scouts: January 2012

Attendees: Service Unit (SU) Coordinator: Amy Kelly [73897, 71901], SU Secretary: Debbie Nearing [73891], SU Treasurer: Julia Slavin [71872], SU Recording Secretary: Alycia McGoldrick [73904], Little School Coordinator Barbara Gravel [71876], SU Cookie Coordinator: Kerstin March [71898], SU Registrar Anne Valade, Kristin Lamont [85193], Amanda Heffernan [71888], Denise Forcellese [73901], Sue Kirby [73899], Kristin Puliafico [85118], Susanne Rech [85336], Mary Lasdin [71871, 71893], Jodi Sponzo [73897], Barbara Duff [71902], Janice Gulbicki [71905], Kym Fischer [85337]

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 7:38 pm
The Pledge of Allegiance and Girl Scout Promise were recited.
Council Updates
New and updated program information can be found at http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/
including updated information on the 100th Anniversary Camperee.

As we receive information about other towns' offerings, we will pass them along (via the blog and Monday Leader email) if they are relevant (and reasonably close).

Council is looking for Volunteer Recognition Nominations. Please encourage leaders, co-leaders, parents, etc...to let us know if there are volunteers that are making a difference and going above and beyond for the girls. We want them to be thanked!

Town Update
2011-12 Troop Directory will be going out on Monday via the Monday Leader email. This will provide contact information for all troops in town.

The Cultural Council awarded NRGS a grant for a Juliette Lowe program. With this grant, Kate Carney will be coming to NR, dressed and acting as Juliette Lowe and talk to the girls about scouting. Date is TBD.

The Founder's Award letters are going out, inviting High School Senior Girl Scouts to apply. The Founder's Award is a scholarship for a graduating Senior who is going on to pursue higher education. The girl who receives this award "exemplifies" the principles of scouting through her service to NRGS and the community.

NRGS 100 year anniversary t-shirt design contest
At the older girl encampment in the fall, some girls submitted designs for a 100 year anniversary t-shirt. We are planning on choosing one this spring. If anyone wants to submit a design (or another design) for consideration - it needs to be email or dropped with Anne Valade at annevalade@comcast.net by the February Leader's Meeting (2/15). Keep in mind that we would like to limit the printing to 3 colors (max). Girls can recommend the color of the shirt and the colors of the inks.

Registration Update
On-line registration information is almost up-to-date.
If you know of a girl who want to join YOUR troop and you're willing to take them, that's fine BUT she cannot attend meetings or outings with your troop until she is registered. This is for liability insurance reasons.

S.H.A.R.E. (Support Her Activities, Recources, and Experiences) Family Partnership Campaign
To help support S.H.A.R.E. this spring, we are planning on hosting a Scout Art Show. Troops or grisl can submit anything they want to display (painting, photography, jewelry, cake decorating, sculpture, etc...) The S.H.A.R.E. envelopes (full or empty) will be the entry ticket to the show. If parents don't attend the show, we'd still like to get the envelopes returned.
Goal: before April vacation

Cookie Info
Remember, after you enter all of your cookies, the Create Round Up button will round up your order to full cases automatically. You no longer need to create a Round Up girl to figure all of this out.
Cookie money will be due 3/9.
Cookie orders can continue to be taken but must be fulfilled through the Cookie Cupboard. The Cookie Cupboard will stay open through 3/9.
Don't forget that the is a super cute 85 box tote-bag incentive for the girls!
Booth sale list is posted on the blog and being updated as needed.
Kerstin has banners that can be used at your booth sales.
When you go onto the database to reserve your booth sale cookies, you should make sure to enter all info about your booth sale because it will then show up in the booth sale listings posted by GSEM.
Cookies will be delivered to the town on 2/10. Kerstin is looking for volunteers to help out on delivery day.
FYI: the new 100th Anniversary cookie, Savannah Smiles, is not available through our council's baker.
Any questions - contact Kerstin March march.family@verizon.net .

Future Events
Friends and Family Ice Skating will be at Burbank Arena on 2/22 (Feb vacation week) from 12:30-2:30 pm. Cost is $5 per person (Scouts get a patch) and $3 for rentals. See flyer for more information.
Deadline for sign-ups will the at the next Leader's meeting on 2/15.

Snowtubing at Amesbury Sports Park - it turns out aht arranging for a big group didn't get any better discount. The cost is $24 for a Thursday night. We're going to designate Thursday 2/2 as a "Meet & Slide" to be arranged on your own. If going as a troop, each troop will need to fill out its own activity form.
Check out the website for more info http://www.amesburysportspark.net/ - including a note about $2 off of admission if you bring a Food Pantry item.

Girl Scout Sunday is 3/11
We hoping that the folk who handled each house of worship last time, will handle them again:
St Teresa's - Sue Kirby, Janice Sarno to shadow
Union Congregational - Kate Mahoney
Aldersgate Methodist - Jan Wise (?)
Trinity - Sandy Griffin (?)

March is Girl Scout Food Pantry Month - Flyers to support the effort will be available at the next meeting.

100th Birthday Karaoke Party for all levels will be held on March 10th at the M.S. Cafetorium from 6:30-8:30. There will be competitions by level. Troops or groups will be asked to sign up for singing ahead of time. There will also be a cake decorating competition with awards by level (and this will serve as snack). The flyer will be available before the next meeting and will go out in the Monday email and be put up on the blog. (If anyone has Karaoke CDs to lean, email the titles to Amanda Heffernan).

Pat's Peak Scout Ski Deal - March 3rd and 4th are Scout Weekend for Friends and Family. $38 for 3-10pm lift ticket, rentals, and 5-10pm tubing. See flyer for more details.
Please keep in mind that equipment rental will be first come, first served - so try to arrive early so that you don't end up without equipment!

Denise Forcellese is going to look into a Coco Key event for one of the Elementary 1/2 days.

NR Bring Back the 4th is looking for trrops that want to set up a booth (game, craft, selling something) during the event. This can be used as a troop fundraiser OR a service project. The troop can participate for one or both days. This would need to be approved through Council.

Save these dates:
4/1 - Fairy House Event for Daisies and Brownies at Camp Maude Eaton
4/28-4/29 - Younger Girl Encampment at Camp in Waltham for K-5. K-1 will be day campers, 2-5 can stay overnight. We are looking for volunteers to help plan this event. Remember, to have your troop stay overnight, you need to be or be with a Leader who is Troop Camp Certified. Check out GSEM's website for training availability.
TBD - Fly up

Hot Topic of the Evening: We have had some parents provide feedback that Scouts is too expensive for them. We need to keep in mind that we can't always tell what people's financial situation is. Some of our Scouts may be from Food Pantry families and we'd never know. What are people doing, finance-wise?
- small weekly dues to spread out the expenses
- sharing costs between the troops and parents (don't always make the parent pay the whole amount)
- asking girls to kick in for big expenses from their own money (unfortunately, if they earn this by doing chores - it is the parents paying anyway.
- in the past, GS training has recommended that big expenses be shared 1/3 parents, 1/3 girl, 1/3 troop savings
- can ask for parents to donate supplies, rather than provide $5 for supplies. People can then sign up for something that they think they can afford
- when saving for big trips, keep in mind that not all girls will end up going or even still be members of the troop. Some of that earned money should be used now to pay for things. Maybe a 50/50 split of money towards the trip, money for troop expenses. Also keep in mind that not all girls are going to earn the same amount
- having the troop cover expenses is hard for new troops, but after you become established it gets easier
- if you know of a family that really can't afford something, come to the Service Team - there may be ways for NRGS to help
- also, don't forget to track your income and expenses...it'll make it easier to fill out the Finance Report at the end of the year!

North Reading Girl Scouts

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

100th Anniversary Camporee! 6/1-6/3/2012! This is the big one!

100th Birthday Party Karaoke Night - 3/10

Friends and Family Ice Skating - 2/22

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Scout Weekend at Pat's Peak

Leader Meeting Minutes - 1/17/12