Leader Meeting Minutes 1/8/2015

Present:  Debbie Nearing-73891, Kristin Puliafico-85118, Jane Kelley-85337, Lindsay Felix-78211, Amy Salomon-69175, Joanne Gibson-69175, Melissa Audier-73894, Victoria Labriiola-69176, Amber Driscoll-76211, Kristen Pemberton-69171, Barbara Gravel-69184, Ruth Kennedy-73899, Marnie Littleford-78181, Karen Manzi-76211

Maple Sugaring Event:  on a half day in March.  Audubon Ipswich River Sanctuary.  Details are not completely worked out and will be coming soon. 

March Food Pantry Month:  Lindsay Felix's troop to organize food drive for March.  Various options on how to participate.  Drop off at the NR Food Pantry on Saturday, March 28. Time TBA.  If you can't be there at that time, there will be various locations around NR to drop off food.

Lindsay is putting a video together to be shown on NORCAM that will feature NR Girl Scout troops.  Any troop can submit a short 20-30 second video of their troop asking for donations during GS Food Pantry month.  Please make sure that if you choose to send a video that all the participating girls have a parent signed video/photograph permission form.  Thank you!

Melissa Audier's troop "Making Games"  badge workshop for Brownie troops.  Check the blog for more details.  http://northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com/

Some Community Service Ideas:

McLaughlin House-Home for adults with brain injuries.

Meals on Wheels "tray decorations" - North Reading Senior Center

Visiting a senior center

Birthday Wishes - organize a birthday party for a homeless child https://www.birthdaywishes.org/

Helping Our Troops - care packages for our troops (http://www.masslocalheroes.org/) or contact NR Veteran's Serivces for ideas/needs

Project Linus - making blankets for children in hospitals

MSPCA - collect towels, blankets

Letters to soldiers - contact Susan Magner at NR Veteran's Services

MLK Day Ice Skating at Burbank Arena, 9:30-11:30am (w/ Reading Girl Scouts)

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!

"Door to Door" cookie sales are winding down.  All girl orders must be in SNAP by Jan. 19.  Visit the Girl Scouts of Eastern MA website for details and LOTS of other information. 

http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/cookies/

Girl Scout Cookie Town Delivery

Bedford, MA 

Saturday, Feb. 7th, Time to be announced

Spring 2015 Fly-up - Tentatively in June.  Date and location to be determined.  Fly up is for all girl who are transitioning from one Girl Scout level to another (Daisy to Brownie, Brownie to Junior, etc)

Girl Scout Sunday, March 8, 2015

Any girl who attends services at their church or temple on Sunday (or Saturday) can receive a patch.  NR Girl Scouts is always looking for a person to "lead" the organization of Girl Scouts at various churches.  If you would like to help at your place or worship, please contact Kristin Puliafico.  kscott1104@aol.com

Discussion relative to Troop Banners.  All troops are encouraged to make a banner to be carried during the Memorial Day parade, and used at various ceremonies moving forward such as Fly Up (when girls move from one level of scouting to the next:  Daisy to Brownie, Brownie to Junior, etc).  While it isn't required, it is suggested.  Also, keeping the banners somewhat "generic" is advisable, such as don't say "Brownie Troop" when your girls will eventually become Junior Girl Scouts and probably won't want to carry a banner identifying them as "brownies".   Pinterest has many examples of banners.  Please ask a seasoned troop leader if you are unclear or would like guidelines.

Next Meeting: February 12