GSEM Outdoor Training Dates for Camping

Spring dates for Outdoor Basics for lodging and tenting:

Cooking (formerly Lodge) and Outdoor Basics: Camping (formerly Tent) trainings are now available for registration.  These WILL fill up fast.  Get your camp training now in time for Encampment.  Without being camp trained, you will not be allowed to cook on an open fire or indoors on a stove.  Council WILL NOT run any other trainings before May 31^st.

• 4/6 at Camp Runels from 9am to 3pm - Outdoor Lodge Basics: Cooking only
• 5/11 at Camp Wind-in-the-Pines from 9am to 3pm – Lodge only
• 4/27 from 4 p.m. to 4/28 at 10 a.m. at Camp Favorite in Brewster, Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham, and Camp Maude Eaton in Andover – Outdoor Tent Basics: Cooking followed by Outdoor Basics: Camping (includes overnight)
• 5/11 from 4 p.m. to 5/12 at 10 a.m. at Camp Wind-in-the-Pines in Plymouth (overnight for tent training)

Girl Scout Cookies – Update from Jo

Sunday, February 24^th was the last day that you could place an order with the cookie cupboard.  The cupboards are closed. If you are just looking for a package of cookies here or there, let Jo know because there are still troops in town who have cookie inventory that they would like to offload. Jo has sent an email regarding recognition orders and allocating cookies to each of the girls so that they receive their rewards. This next step will need to be completed by early March. We're almost there! 

Thank you Leaders and troop Cookie Managers for making this a successful cookie season!

Thank you from Bonnie!!!

Eighteen months ago, NRGS was asked to send holiday cards to Florida to cheer up a relative of a Girl Scout family here in town. At the time, Bonnie had a brain tumor, and it was not hopeful, and we wanted to brighten her Christmas.  She was so grateful for all of the Christmas cards she received from NRGS.  It meant so much to her during her cancer treatments and brightened her spirits.  This past week, the family wrote to me (we have been in touch for 18 months) and told me they have great news and she wanted me to spread the good news to the NRGS and thank those families and troops who sent cards to Florida to cheer up Bonnie.  She is now past the 2 year survival rate and not only that, she is off chemo meds as there is no sign of any tumor and she is among only 2% of survivors with this type of tumor!  They credit this to being a miracle and to prayers and good thoughts from everyone including the Girl Scouts…please know we made a difference in Bonnie’s life with a simple card!  Thank you and please pass on to your girls! 

Final Call to sign up for the Amazon Robotics Tour on February 26th.

 We have a total of 15 and may open it up to Reading Service Unit.  We are able to have 25 participant, but we want to make sure North Reading girls get first priority to sign up.  Contact Denise Kung or Lisa Coroa-Bockley in the next couple of days if you have Girls who want to register and have not done so yet.

TIME SENSITIVE! Amazon Robotics Tour – February 26th (3:30-5:00 p.m.)

We are very excited to be running this free STEM event for a tour of Amazon Robotics for registered Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 only.  Take a tour of the Amazon Robotics facility and hear about their state-of-the-art robots. Council is equally as excited as this is a FIRST and will be offered in the future to other Service Units! Parents are invited to attend and will be required by Amazon Robotics to sign a non-disclosure agreement. 

Please send this flyer (here )to your girls and their families ASAP.  Girls do not need to participate as a troop.  We will need at least three chaperones to attend, and they must be CORI’d through GSEMA.

If you have any questions, please contact Denise Kung at denise_kung@hotmail.com or Lisa Coroa-Bockley at lisa.coroa-bockley@ge.com. 

Get ready for....the NRGS Powder Puff Derby in April!!

Get ready, set, go!  We now have our first Derby Race for all levels of North Reading Girl Scouts where girls will be able to design, build and showcase their racing and design skills for the big race!  The race is being held at the Union Congregational Church Hall on Saturday, April 6^th from 5 to 7 p.m.  Registration forms and fees need to be returned no later than March 30^th.  See the attached flyer and registration form (2 pages here).  Complete instructions and rules will be coming out separately.  

 

World Thinking Day - Feb 22

On February 22 of each year, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 150 countries celebrate World Thinking Day (that’s one big celebration!). World Thinking Day is a way to celebrate with girls all over the world by doing the same activities. The 2019 World Thinking Day theme is “Leadership.”  In 2019, learn the different ways to be a leader and develop the power to bring the change you want to see in the world.  Check out this website for some great troop ideas (link here). Then honor your girls with the WAGGGs pin for their vest. 

Danvers SU Event: Cadette Book Artist Badge

Cost per girl for the Cadette workshop is $19 and includes the 1.5 hour workshop, and a personalized/signed copy of Jen Malone's Young Adult Books. (She will have a selection to choose from at event).

Time: 6:30-8pm

Date: February 8^th
Location: Maple Street Church Social Hall (Enter through the back on Charter Street and go down stairs straight to Social Hall.)

There is a minimum amount of participants for this event to run so please make sure you RSVP as soon as possible.

We invited local author, Jen Malone to work with our scouts on the Book Artist Badge.  We will most likely have about 15 girls but we wanted to let you know in case you know of any Juliettes or other cadettes in area that might like to join us.  Ideally we would like a leader or CORI'd/registered adult to stay with girls if we do not know them but that is open for discussion.  If you need any other info feel free to call/text Andrea Sears at  781-479-6438

Girl Scout Sunday - THIS WEEKEND and NEXT

Girl Scout Sunday is being celebrated this weekend, Sunday, March 10^th and next Saturday, March 16^th for the Sabbath.  Any girl who attends a House of Worship this weekend or a temple on Saturday, March 16^th will receive a participation patch.  Patches will be handed out at the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Theresa’s, and the 10 a.m. Service at the UCC, and the 10:30 Service at the Aldersgate.  A photo will be taken of all the girls participating after the celebration so please let your girls know to stay for the photo.  Also, please bring a non-perishable food pantry item to Church for our NRGS food pantry drive.  Girls should wear their vests, sashes, pins, etc., and should attend St. Theresa’s 15 minutes early for designated seating in the front of the Church.  Patches will be available at the Leader meeting for girls attending another House of Worship or another time this weekend.

Girl Scout Food Pantry Collection

March is the month for North Reading Girl Scouts to collect donations for the North Reading Food Pantry.  Amber O’Driscoll has volunteered again this year to coordinate and run this food drive and service project.  More information will be forthcoming very soon.   The drop off date will be determined. 

Girl Scout Cookie Direct Debit

The next direct debit for cookies is on Feb 11th. It will be 50% of the balance due as of Feb 6th.  Check that your troop account has enough funds for this transaction.

Reading Service Unit Event – Annual Funtastic Event!!

Saturday, February 2 – 10^th Anniversary

Girl Scouts – Kindergarten through Grade 5

Camp Rice Moody – Reading  12:30-2:00 or 2:30-4:00

$12 per girl and a fun patch for each girl participating

Liquid Starch Slime, Valentine Yarn Monsters, Stained Glass Hearts, Love Bugs, Bath Salts, Friendship Bracelets, 

Face Painting, Sports and Games and More!

Last year one of the two sessions sold out so they are asking you to sign up as early as possible.

Deadline: January 24^th

 ^{(flyer attached here.  )}

NRGS Lego Building Event - It's almost here!!

This is an event sure to be fun for all, but you need to move quickly as the deadline to sign up is February 4^th.  The volunteers worked hard coordinating this event for February in such short notice.  We are hoping it becomes an annual event for the NR Girl Scouts.  The event is Sunday, February 10^th, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and the cost is $5.00.

If you have girls who want to attend, please tell them to complete the attached registration form and either return it to you for submission or submit it to Lisa Ayer or Denise Kung at the addresses they provided on the attached flyer together with their $5.00 payment to cover the cost of the patches and the prizes.   

If you have girls attending and are holding on to the registration forms, please email Denise or Lisa to let them know you have girls wanting to participate. If we do not get enough participation, we will try to rebook it for a later date.

Flyer is here. 

 

Disney on Ice Girl Scout Special!! February 2019

Mickey’s Search Party – Girl Scouts SAVE!   

Girls receive a commemorative patch!

Dates:  

Feb 15,16 @ 7 p.m.

Feb 18,21 @ 3 p.m.

Feb 22 @ 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Feb 23 @ 7 p.m.

Contact: www.gsema.org for tickets

  (flyer attached here)

 

Visit from Adventure Coding Academy

This Chelmsford-based business offers programs in a variety of areas, including robotics, 3D modeling and printing, game design, web and app design. They will be offering badge programs such as Designing Robots and Programming Robots starting this spring, for multiple scouting levels. Adventure Coding Academy hosted a table at our January Leader Meeting.Check them out!!

 

 

GSEMA Town Hall for Service Unit Volunteers

When:  Monday, February 4, 2019, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: North Reading Flint Memorial Library Activity Room

What:  Join GSEMA senior leadership and membership team members at a town hall meeting for an opportunity to connect with fellow service unit volunteers and share your thoughts on the state of the Council.  

RSVP here:  https://form.jotform.com/GirlScoutsEMass/winter2019townhall

 

We hope volunteers/Leaders will be able to join us for our SU’s first town hall meeting!

Amazon Robotics Tour

Target is Feb or April vacation week – tours are offered Mon-Thurs 9-3pm

Take a tour of the Amazon Robotics facility and hear about their state-of-the-art robots. Tour groups have the opportunity to receive an overview of the facility and how it runs day to day, followed by a visit to the manufacturing floor. You will have an opportunity to take pictures at the end.  All visitors 18+ must sign an NDA to enter the facility. This opportunity is normally open to girls 6^th grade and up, however we will try to ask for an exception to allow 5^th graders.  We need a minimum of 10 to run the tour.

 

 

Volunteer Awards and Recognitions

It is time to submit VOLUNTEER RECOGNITIONS for the 2019 Volunteer Recognitions event. If you know volunteers or Leaders whom you feel are amazing and should be recognized at the Council Level, please complete the form in jotform by clicking on the Volunteer Recognitions link, no later than February 15, 2019.  Volunteers will be notified in March and will attend the Awards and Recognitions Luncheon provided by GSEM.

You may also submit a nomination for a North Reading Service Unit Level Award by emailing your written nomination to Debbie Nearing at bcednearing@comcast.net.  The Service Team will vote on the SU Awards.

Nomination form is here.

From GSEM - Important Change to GSEM’s Driver Insurance Coverage

With regard to insurance, we wanted to let you know about an important change to our driver insurance coverage. While we think the impact will be minimal, changes to GSUSA and GSEMA’s insurance policies effective fall 2018 have required us to update the current driver coverage procedures. Drivers must now have more than 5 years of driving experience in addition to the already established guidelines that require every driver be an approved volunteer, over 21 years old, have a good driving record, valid license, and registered/insured vehicles. Volunteer Essentials and the Girl Scout Activity Form have been updated with this additional “5 years of experience” language. 

 

Leader Meeting Minutes 1/9/19

Minutes of the Leader Meeting

Tuesday, January 9, 2019

LAR – 7:30 p.m.

In attendance:

Debbie Nearing, Denise Kung, Lisa Ayer, Kristin Pemberton, Jo Gibson, Rebecca Lowe, Cindy DeWolfe, Amber O'Driscoll, Anne Valade, Amy Kelly  and special guests - Adventure Code Academy - Vasha and Arvind, Proprietors

Meeting Start Time: 7:40 pm

Salute and Pledge to the Flag and Promise – Debbie

Flag held by Verity and Vivian Modeen

Opening Meeting:

●      Robotics and Coding Academy Presentation by Adventure Code Academy

-They offer project-based activities and a  variety of activities within one setting.

-They offer after school programs from 4-7 and a drop in one hour session. -They charge tuition on a monthly basis

-They offer camps during breaks and summer. Camps can be one day long.

-Workshops- they offer badges for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors- flexibility    in scheduling and pricing, it's a 2.5 hrs workshop and they can accommodate up to 25 girls

-They are located at 3 Summer St. Chelmsford, MA 01824

- www.aca.boston   (978)703-6370

●      Quick update for Cookie Sales – Jo

            -no update

●      Pinewood Derby Event – Lisa Ayer

-Pinewood Derby - Boy scouts will loan their track and help us set up the  event

-March or April event - at UCC possible dates March 23rd, April 6th

-Kits sold at the boy scout store in Woburn for $5 or Michael’s for $15

-At Tewksbury Home Depot on Feb 9th and March 9th from 10-3 you bring your kit in and they have designs for ideas or you can bring your own designs to create your car. They  will help you airbrush your car.

-More information coming as to whether we will purchase cars or the girls and what the event charge fee will be as well as the date of the event--new possible date is April 13th

●      Lego Challenge – Denise/Lisa

-possible Winter event- date TBD

-uncertain as to whether a small fee will be charged

-we will use the Library Activity room and the legos used for Lego Club

●      Amazon Robotics Tours - Denise

            -Amazon Robotics offers tours for groups of 10+, 6th grade and older

           -Denise will be coordinating a tour for our Service Unit - TBA

●      Encampment Committee Meeting

○   Wed. Jan. 23^rd 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, Room 10

●      World Thinking Day – Feb. 22^nd – Theme is Leadership – Debbie

○   Celebrating ways in which Girl Scouts and sister Girl Guides become leaders and develop the power to bring changes they want to see in the world.

○   Looking for Committee volunteers to plan International Event in 2020

●      GS Food Pantry in March

○   Amber O’Driscoll will coordinate.

○   At the end of March we will gather donations and sort them at Town Hall - date of drop off TBA

●      GS Sunday – March 10^th , GS Sabbath - March 9th

○   Volunteers for Houses of Worship

■      St. Theresa’s-Rebecca Lowe, UCC-Kristin Pemberton, and Aldersgate Church-Pastor Rachel Fisher

■      Flyer to come out soon

■      Rebecca to contact St. T’s for information for bulletin

●      Fly Up for the Spring for 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 8^th, 10^th, 12^th grades

○   Grade 8 troops to run the event

■      Lisa Coroa-Bockley and Lisa Alexander - 8th grade troops

Next Leader Meeting: Wed., February 13^th at 7:30 p.m. at the LAR

Meeting End Time: 8:58 pm

Minutes taken by Rebecca Lowe and Edited by Debbie Nearing

           

Pinewood Derby Workshop at Home Depot

A few members of the NR Service Unit are looking to put together an event for a Pinewood Powder Puff Derby for Girl Scouts!  If your troop is interested in participating, let us hear from you so we know how much interest there is if we run an event.  Lisa Ayer will be reaching out directly to Home Depot to gather information. Stay tuned...

 

Encampment Date

Encampment will be held at Camp Runels in Pelham, NH starting on Friday, May 31^st at 4 p.m. and ending on Sunday, June 2^nd at 10 a.m.  We know this date may not ideal for some, but given that Camp Runels wasn’t available Father’s Day weekend and Camp Maude Eaton cabins were not available Father’s Day weekend or the weekend of the 8^th, we had no choice but to choose Camp Runels for either this weekend or the weekend of the 8^th which was our first choice.  We will put together a flyer after the new year and the Committee will start with planning the theme and activities.  There will be canoeing, swimming, archery, and hopefully high and/or low ropes!  Start talking to your girls about whether they would like to attend overnight or for the day. 

 

Girl Scout Cookie Season

If your troop is interested in going into the lottery for a COBS, please make sure your Cookie Coordinator reviews page 23 of the cookie book.  Jo sent out an email directly to the troop Cookie Coordinators too.  There are instructions and an online contact form they need to fill out. Fill it out early to avoid the last minute backlog that often occurs.  Last year, most troops who applied in North Reading received several dates for a Council Organized Booth Sale at a Mall so make sure you look into this.

The January 13th deadline is for February COBS

You enter the lottery in ABCsmartcookies

**New cookie coordinators: FYI, these are the booths that are organized by Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts council (rather than our local town booth sales that we have recently set up). They are held at malls, MBTA stations and various other miscellaneous places.**

If your troop is Daisy or Brownie level, they cannot do the MBTA COBS. They are eligible for mall (and other miscellaneous) COBS. I would recommend extra supervision. 

 

Financing the Fun Training in LEAD Online

We wanted to pass on some helpful information regarding funding troop field trips especially larger ones like the Museum of Science overnight, Rocking Horse Ranch, and other travel experiences.  Kim Lambert who is our support specialist from Council wanted us to pass on to you that Council does not offer financial aid for events that are happening within your troop.  The girls should be funding their own trip through product sales goals with fall products and cookies.  There is a training on LEAD online called “Financing the Fun” and we suggest you watch this video and then set some goals with your girls and then earn the money you need to finance their experiences.  Kim is of the opinion from personal knowledge being a troop leader that if the girls earn the money, it will make their experience much more memorable.  Some of these girls may not be able to experience some of these fun trips or activities if not involved in Girl Scouting and earning money through product sales goals.