Reading Girl Scout's Ice Skating event

The Reading Girl Scouts are hosting an Ice Skating Event on Monday, January 19th at the Burbank Ice Arena.  Please find the link to their flyer here.

Audubon Society's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary has scouting programs year round.  Check out their Scouting Maple Sugar Program here or their Scouting flyer with different programs here.

 

Pats Peak Scout Weekend

SCOUT PROGRAMS AT PATS PEAK

Add some WINTER FUN to your calendar!

Day Trips & Overnight Campouts

SKIING / SNOWBOARDING / SNOWTUBING

ANNUAL SCOUT WEEKEND

March 7 & 8, 2015

Pizza Meal, Participation Patches & Merit Badge Classes!

JOIN THE FUN!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Leader Meeting Minutes 11/13/14

North Reading Girl Scouts

Leader Meeting Minutes 11-13-14

Moose Lodge Hall – New Round Table Format

In attendance: Kristin Puliafico, SUC and 85118; Debbie Nearing, Corresponding Secretary & 73891; Anne Valade, Treasurer; Melissa Audier, Blog Manager & 73894; Barbara Gravel, Registrar & 69184; Amber O’Driscoll, 76211; Kate Mahoney, 71868; Stephanie Musgrave, 71868; Lisa Coroa-Bockley, 85121; Lisa Alexander, 86279; Kim Baker, 69176; Lindsay Felix, 76211; Kristen Pemberton, 69171; Cindy DeWolfe, 85336; Bridget Easler, 76212; Joanna Maguire, 78188; Marcy Nelson, 76213; Amy Salomon, 69175; Mays Hanegraaff 78188; Theresa Craig, 85336; Andrea Bauer, 85337; Patti Harrington, 85122; Reverend Rachel Fisher, Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Leader Meeting called to order: 7:33 p.m.

Kristin Puliafico, NRGS Service Unit Coordinator

Opened the Leader meeting and welcomed our Guest Speaker, Reverend Rachel Fisher from the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in North Reading

Reverend Rachel Fisher, Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Rev. Rachel Fisher shared with the group regarding two items relevant to the Aldersgate Church (235 Park St), where she has been the Pastor for twelve years. 

·         The first item was to state the church’s missional identity as a place to house outside community-building groups, such as the Scouts, for little or no cost.  The church itself met for the first 3 years of its existence at the Little School until the church building was erected.  Because of this, the church always wishes to return the same favor and welcome to the community. 

·         Secondly, she shared that within the past year an adult child of a long-standing church family has returned home after completing incarceration, classified as a Level 3 Sex Offender.  The church has wrestled deeply with how to extend the grace of God to this individual and his family while keeping the community safe.  To that end, the church has drawn up an extensive and thorough Behavioral Covenant by which this individual must abide in order to participate.  He has been easy to work with and compliant on every detail, knowing that this is one of the only groups which has welcomed him.  The church is confident that, due to this heightened awareness, it is much safer than it was a year ago - even with this new member in its midst.  Church leaders are mindful of the many outside groups that meet in the church, and will work diligently to assure good communication about the safety of the building and grounds when there are meetings with children present.

The overall intention of Rev. Fisher’s visit was to build a bridge for open communication on this difficult subject – regarding Scouts or as it relates to the community generally – and to reiterate the offer to house any group that may need safe, affordable meeting space.  She can be reached at 978-790-6492 or aldersgateumc@gmail.com 

Pledge of Allegiance

Girl Scout Promise

Investiture/Rededication Ceremony – About 11 new Leaders were in attendance at the meeting and received their Girl Scout Pin after Leaders participated in a “Because I said Yes” Ceremony to dedicate and rededicate themselves to Girl Scouting. 

Introduction of NRGS Service Team Members

Members of the Service Team addressed themselves to the Leaders –

·         Kristin Puliafico as Service Unit Coordinator (runs the meetings and oversees all of North Reading Girl Scouts including the Service Team),

·         Debbie Nearing as Corresponding Secretary (sends out emails and flyers and sends out correspondence to Leaders and parents),

·         Melissa Audier as Blog Manager (manages the blog and posts information and flyers to our blog at www.northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com) ,

·         Barbara Gravel as Registrar (handles registration and places new girls into troops), and

·         Anne Valade as Orientation Facilitator (handles training the leaders and answers questions about managing the troop) and as Treasurer (handles all the money coming in and out of NRGS). 

Service Team members missing from the meeting were:

·         Ruth Kennedy as Recording Secretary (takes the minutes of Leader and Service Team meetings),

·         Kerstin March as Fall Products and Cookie Manager for NRGS (handles the fall product sale and everything to do with the cookie season)!!!

*Reminders from the NRGS Service Team*

·         The Service Team directory is on the blog which will give you contact information for each of the members on the Service Team.  You also should have a troop directory that was sent out via email which shows all the troops and the leaders’ contact information.

·         ALL LEADERS must sign a Volunteer Agreement.  This can be found on the GSEM website.

·         Every troop needs to have an 01 Leader and an 02 assistant Leader. 

• Every troop needs one trained Volunteer and at least one additional registered adult at each meeting or event.

·         Every troop needs to have at least 2 trained Leaders.  Council states at least 1 but if that trained leader cannot attend an event with the troop, then the girls cannot attend.

·         Leaders must take Girl Scouting 101 (online), Orientation training either through Anne Valade or Council (GSEM) and Essentials training for the level they are working with.  Some Essentials level trainings are online.

·         There are trainings available on the GSEM website for First Aid & CPR and Camping

• Each registered adult volunteer must be CORI’ed through GSEM if spending any time with the girls in the troop

Business

Cookies – In Kerstin’s absence, Kristin Puliafico talked about the upcoming cookie sale.  Cookie selling kits have been handed out at the Cookie Advisor trainings and the cookie sale begins on December 12^th.  Contact Kerstin if you did not get your cookie kit.  Kerstin will be in touch with the Cookie Advisors about signing up for booth sales.   You can get more detailed information about cookies from your cookie advisor.  Girls can go door to door with actual boxes of cookies.  Remember that an adult must accompany every Girl Scout who sells door to door.  Cookie delivery is February 3^rd but we do not have a time, just that the pick-up will be at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH!  Contact is Kerstin at march.family@verizon.net.

Caroling on the Common – December 14 from 3:00 to 4:30, Anne Valade talked about this event being a “girl” event with enough adults for each troop to attend for safety guidelines.  There will be a half hour of singing, a short walk from the Common to the Congregational Church for cocoa and cookies, and a Service Project for girls to make holiday cards to give to the Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels.  Girl should bring a flashlight. Registration forms and flyer can be found on the NRGS blog and can be turned in at the December 4^th Social or dropped off to Anne.  Melissa Lally will be emailing song books to each troop in advance so troops can learn the carols.  Contact is Anne at annevalade@comcast.net. 

Registration Information – Barbara talked about a Recruitment Night for second graders coming up.  No date is set yet.  We are looking to recruit 2^nd grade Leaders as well as we have 4 girls with no troop as the existing troops are large enough.  If a parent approaches you to join your existing troop, remember we have a chain of command to follow and they must contact Barbara Gravel to register.  To be considered a “Troop”, there must be a minimum of 5 girls registered to that troop.  It’s never too late to register!  Contact is Barbara at barbgravel@msn.com. 

Mitten Tags for CCS – Debbie Nearing handed out mitten tags and bags for toiletry/household type family items.  The information for the date to be returned is on the back of the mitten tag and there was an instruction sheet also supplied as well as a reusable holiday bag to fill for your “adopted” family.  These items are NOT to be wrapped and the mitten tag should be secured on the bag prior to drop off to identify the family. 

We still have 8 mittens that need a home.  If you did not attend the meeting and would like a mitten, please contact Debbie ASAP.  If you have a mitten and would like another or are a family and would like a mitten, we would be glad to give you another.  We don’t want to let down CCS so we are hopeful we can fill all 35 of these bags!  Contact is Debbie at bcednearing@comcast.net.

Leader’s Holiday Social – December 4^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Ginger Gourmet.  The NR Service Unit will fund the appetizers and Leaders are responsible for their drinks.  An evite was sent out; please respond by 11/27.  Caroling on the Common registration forms will be collected at this meeting.  Adults only!!!  Contact is Kristin Puliafico at 978-664-3259 or kscott1104@aol.com. 

Journey Moment – A Journey moment is an activity or game from one of the Journey books that you can use at a troop meeting or any other time you have Leaders or girls.  We did a journey moment where we tossed a ball to random Leaders in a circle.  When you had the ball, you said your name and the level of scouting you had, and what was your goal for this year.  It was a lot of fun!

Round Table Discussions

We had a table for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, and one for Cadettes and up where Leaders talked about anything they wanted to know.  Questions were answered and information was shared by level.  This was a lot of fun.

For the upcoming Meetings

We are working on putting reference books for all levels in the NR Library – more to come on this

Look for more information coming soon on Mystery Workshops

We will be bringing back monthly Leader meetings as opposed to every other month!!!

More Open Forum Round Table discussions

Door Prizes were drawn and free troop information and donated supplies were available for Leaders to take.  

Thanks to Kristin Puliafico for her wonderfully baked frosted trefoil sugar cookies!

Meeting adjourned:  9:15 p.m.

Minutes taken and Submitted by Debbie Nearing, Corresponding Secretary

in the absence of Ruth Kennedy, Recording Secretary

Caroling on the Common!

Sunday, December 14, from 3 to 4:30 join other Girl Scouts for caroling, refreshments and making holiday cards for recipients of Meals on Wheels.
See flyer here for details and the permission slip, due to your leader by December 4th.

Gold Award Development Day (Boston)

Please join us for an exciting afternoon in Boston centered around helping you develop skills that will be necessary for both achieving your Gold Award and for future success! You will be working with women at State Street Bank, in various degrees of their careers, on topics such as: networking, presentation skills, project management, and the all-important; how to dress for success. Lunch will be provided. Please note, this is not Gold Award Orientation, but a day to hone your skills around project leadership. This is a girl only event. Adult chaperones will be provided.

Date:	Dec 07, 2014
Time:	12:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Program Level:	Senior, Ambassador
Grades:	9, 10, 11, 12
Category:	Awards
Location:	State Street Bank Boston, MA
Fee:	$15.00 (girl), $0.00 (adult)

Pre-registration required.  www.hergirlscouts.org/program

The GSEM Stem Conference is announced!

Saturday March 15th
9:00 - 5:00
Sheraton Hotel in Framingham
Open to member and non-member girls in grades 6 - 12!
$45 members
$70 non-members
Register today at these links:

Seniors/Ambassadors:  http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/search.html?textfield=stem&agelevel=Any%20Age&category=Any%20Category&zip=Enter%20Zip%20for%20Nearby%20Locations&date_st_month=&date_st_year=&id=13817

Cadettes: http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/search.html?textfield=stem&agelevel=Any%20Age&category=Any%20Category&zip=Enter%20Zip%20for%20Nearby%20Locations&date_st_month=&date_st_year=&id=13361

There is a world of possibility open to girls who study Science Technology, Engineering or Math! Without chemists, there would be no clean water or medicine. Without physicists, no astronomers! Right now, women only hold 24% of the STEM-related jobs in the United States, but that can change! If you are in grades 6-12, we want to know: What STEM career excites you? At the 3rd Annual STEM Conference and Expo, you can choose a workshop track based on your interests, and spend the day learning and exploring through hands-on activities. Our dynamic workshop presenters, who are leaders in their STEM fields, are excited to share their knowledge with you! So, if you are interested in learning more about a specific topic, join us! Track choices may include: Chemistry, Physics and Human-Computer Interaction. During the Expo, you will network with people from Massachusetts businesses and universities with a STEM focus. It is a fun, lively atmosphere where you will observe live demonstrations and participate in experiments. Bring your enthusiasm and be ready to imagine yourself changing the world through STEM! Special patch included. This is a drop-off event. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack will be provided. Open to non-member girls in grades 6-12. Non-members will need to register by emailing program@girlscoutseasternmass.org. Non-member price $70

Caroling on the Common Sunday, December 14th

Save the date for Girl Scout Caroling on the Common! Sunday, December 14th at 3:00. Cocoa, cookies and caroling.....what could be more fun!! Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way!

Pumpkin Carvers Needed!

We were asked to spread the word for the 2014 Haunted Playground...

"Pumpkin Carvers Needed!

 Fall officially starts tomorrow and you know what that means! It's time for the 20th Annual Martins Pond Haunted Playground! We need Pumpkin Carver Volunteers for the Annual Haunted Playground to be held on Saturday Oct. 18th from 5:30 - 9pm! Let me know if you are interested and what your name, address, and how many pumpkins you want to carve and I’ll drop off the pumpkins a week before the event at your doorstep. If you have any brownies, scouts, pixies, or hobgoblin troops that wish to carve, please let me know how many will be carving and if you need them by any special date (Please try to carve close to the date of 10/18th if possible ). I’ll give you some additional information as I get the responses.
There will be awards given out for best carvings for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (really nice trophies!). The event will be judged right before the haunted playground gets started by Pumpkin Pete himself! Then on Sunday, you can pick up your pumpkin anytime before Noon at the park and proudly display it in front of your haunt...I mean home.

Scariest Regards,

Pumpkin Pete!"

Pumpkin Pete can be contacted atpeterbrayton@verizon.net

Please remember that if your Girl Scout is helping for a service project she cannot enter the contest.

New GSEM Regional Leader Meetings

Join the GSEM at their new Regional Leader Meetings.  This is a way for different towns in a region to interact and share ideas.  The first meeting will take place at Camp Rice Moody on 10/8/14 from 7-8:30.

Fall Product Sale starts Friday!

The sale last for one month.  If you have any questions, please contact Kerstin March here or Ruth Kennedy here.

North Reading Registration Event 9/24/14

The North Reading Girl Scouts will be hosting a registration event at the Library Activity Room on 9/24/14 from 6:30 to 8:30.  Come find out about Girl Scouts and sign your daughter up for a fun year of scouting.  Any questions, please contact Barbara Gravel here.

Leader Meeting Minutes 9/11/14

North Reading Girl Scouts

Leader Meeting Minutes 9-11-14

Moose Lodge Hall – New Round Table Format

In attendance: Kristin Puliafico, SUC and 85118; Debbie Nearing, Corresponding Secretary & 73891; Anne Valade, Treasurer; Melissa Audier, Blog Manager & 73894; Kerstin March, Service Team Member and Cookie & Fall Product Manager; Sarah Stetson, 76213; Lynne Alley, 85336; Kate Mahoney, 71868; Stephanie Musgrave, 71868; Bridget Easler, 76212; Mary Hatton, 78181; Christy Damphousse, 85122; Rosa Maldonado, GSEM Representative for North Reading Service Unit

Meeting called to order: 7:35 pm

Pledge of Allegiance

Girl Scout Promise

Kristin Puliafico, NRGS Service Unit Coordinator

Opened the meeting and welcomed a Representative, Debbie, from the Moose Lodge who asked to speak for a few minutes about the 2015 International Moose Youth Awareness Program being held April 30-May 4, 2015 in Orlando, Florida.  HS Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply and each year the Moose recommends two high school students to attend the Program.  More information can be found by contacting the North Reading Moose and asking for Debbie Cacciapuoti. 

In Barbara Gravel’s absence, Kristin, announced that there will be a New Girl Registration Event on Wednesday, September 24^th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm to be held at the Library Activity Room.  We are in need of older girls to attend who can run a few activities or do a craft with the younger girls coming in to sign up with their parent.  If you have girls who need community service hours and are in grades 5-12, please contact Kristin Puliafico at kscott1104@aol.com.   

There are about 5 or 6 troops who have volunteers stepping down this year, leaving the troop without a Leader. We are planning a Transition (troop formation) Meeting for all parents of the girls in these troops, and letters will be coming in the mail directly to each family affected.  More information will be forthcoming very soon.  The tentative date for this meeting is October 6^th. 

Reminded Leaders that they should have their troops or girls re-registered online by September 30^th to be able to participate in the new scouting year which starts October 1^st.   

Rosa Maldonado, our Service Unit Representative from GSEM

Explained that there have been many changes once again at Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts by restructuring the Membership Department.  Basically, Troop Pathway Specialists are now Recruitment Specialists, Recruitment Specialists are mobile (laptops and cell phones for all!) and Recruitment Specialists have been assigned Service Units.  The 5 former areas were realigned in July to form 15 regions.  We are Region 9 and our region includes North Reading, Reading, Andover, North Andover, Lynnfield, Peabody, Danvers, Lawrence, and Methuen.  They are hoping by reorganizing staff to support adjacent Service Units, they anticipate the ability for more sharing of resources between volunteers.  They will be introducing three regional meetings per year, with the first regional meeting on October 8^th at Camp Rice Moody in Reading, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. for volunteers to get the training and support they need.  They suggest you register online for this meeting and carpool if able.

GSEM is also looking for adults and girls age 14 to 18 to become Regional Delegates.  There is an application online at the GSEM website, www.girlscoutseasternmass.org. 

Also spoke briefly about GSEM’s newly appointed CEO, Pat Parcellin and her qualifications. 

Kristin Puliafico, SUC

Handed out an Events Calendar for the new Girl Scout year 2014-2015 for events and meetings we hope to hold.  Of course, the events will only run if we have enough participation and volunteer adults to help us run them! 

Our first event is being held on Saturday, October 18^th and it’s a Girl’s Bowling Event.  The flyer is on the blog and the sign up deadline for this event is October 10^th. Contact person is Lisa Coroa-Bockley and her contact information is on the flyer.

The NRGS Service Unit has also decided that we will try choosing a few events from the program guide to offer to NRGS to attend as a group.  Of course, there will be limits to how many can attend so watch the NRGS blog at www.northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com. 

There will not be a Halloween Party this year as the troop who has been running it for many years, was not able to do so this year.  However, there are a lot of Halloween type field trips and programs being run by GSEM if you look in the Ultimate Program Guide mailed out a few weeks ago to every family with a registered Girl Scout.  Remember, individual girls can sign up for these programs and workshops; it does not have to be a “troop” event!

Speaking of Ultimate Program Guides, check out page 8 in the Guide to see all the membership benefits and discounts you can receive for different field trips, events, etc., when you register with your Girl Scout membership!  There are a few FREE events being run by GSEM as well, check out page 46, Gifts to Give; page 49 Greater Plymouth Food Distribution Center, and page 50, Holiday Cookies and Cards, which are FREE community service projects! 

Don’t forget to check out the Amazing Race Event being held in Salem this year on November 8^th.  These events fill up quickly so register early. 

Anne Valade, Treasurer

Spoke about new Leader orientation.  If anyone has a new adult volunteer who needs to be trained, please contact Anne at annevalade@comcast.net.  She will be putting together dates as to when she will be holding Orientation training.

Anne and Rosa also spoke about some tips and rules for Leaders to remember:

• Leaders need new level essentials training when they bridge to a new level of Girl Scouting
• Every troop needs at least two registered adult volunteers at each meeting or event
• Troops must have one adult trained in First Aid/CPR
• Each registered adult volunteer must be CORI’ed through GSEM if spending any time with the girls in the troop
• Troops must have one adult trained in lodge or basic camping to camp
• Every field trip or event away from your regular meeting place needs a troop activity form submitted to GSEM.  If the event is not a “dangerous” type event, you will be approved right online when you submit the form.

Debbie Nearing, Corresponding Secretary

Talked about the changes coming to the Monday emails.  Since we have a wonderful blog and blog manager, Melissa Audier, we decided to have Leaders check the blog weekly instead of sending out a weekly Monday email with the same information posted on the blog.  Emails to Leaders will be sent on an as needed basis.  The NRGS blog will be updated regularly with any upcoming and important information. 

Debbie mentioned the possibility of another Encampment in the near future since the June Encampment went so well with the younger girls, mostly who participated this year!  Leaders who attended thought it went well and girls enjoyed it.

Items that were discussed for future meetings:

• Badge workshops for levels or even town wide
• Troop level meetings were recommended by a Leader
• Kerstin and Anne would like to run a small troop camping event to give Leaders who never camped a taste of Girl Scout camping
• An updated troop directory will be sent to Leaders as soon as we have new troops formed

After updating the Leaders, we had a round table discussion with the Leaders in attendance at which time Leaders were able to ask any questions they had pertaining to their individual troop needs as well as issues of concern and how they could handle them.  This was a really informative discussion and Leaders seemed to enjoy the topics.  These open forums will be continuing at our future Leader meetings.  They will not be included in the minutes!!!

Kerstin March, Cookie & Fall Product Manager

Spoke about the Fall Product Fundraising Sale and handed out the kits to troops wanting to participate.  The Fall Products Sale goes from September 26 to October 26 this year.  NRGS will again be asking for troops or individuals to donate cans of peanuts to the Food Pantry to include in the Thanksgiving baskets!  If you would like to participate in the sale, please contact Kerstin at march.family@verizon.net.   We enjoyed lots of yummy samples of the fall products before ending our meeting.

The next Leader meeting is Thursday, November 13^th at the Moose Hall at 7:30 pm.  An investiture/rededication ceremony will be held at this meeting for all new and current Leaders and hopefully the CCS Gift Bag tags will be ready for distribution to troops!  We may even have donated troop supplies from troops who are moving on.

We hope to see you at the October 8^th Regional Meeting in Reading.  J

Meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm.

Minutes taken and Submitted by Debbie Nearing, Corresponding Secretary

in the absence of Ruth Kennedy, Recording Secretary