Are you up to date with your training?

Dear Girl Scout Leaders,

 

Are you up to date with your training?

 

There are four Regional Training Days coming up in the next 6 weeks.

Addition courses are being offered at Service Centers too.

 

Below are the Saturday Training Days.

Candlewood, New Fairfield - April 26, 2014 (register by April 19)
Merrie-Wood, Manchester - May 3, 2014 (register by April 26)
Laurel, Lebanon - May 10, 2014 (register by May 3)
Maria Pratt, Torrington - May 31, 2014 (register by May 25)

 

If you would like a ride to the Camp Laurel in Lebanon on May 10, I would welcome some company.

I will be driving up for the First Aid class. Below is a link for that day.

 

http://www.gsofct.org/pdf/calendar/Laurel_Training_Day_7-29-13_DD.pdf

 

Here is a link for other upcoming training opportunities:

 

http://www.gsofct.org/content-files/File/Volunteer/Training/April%20Trainings%203-25-14.pdf

 

Remember: Girl Scout Training is a legitimate troop expense.

 

Find more information on Girl Scout Training on the gsofct.org website.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Thanks,

Vicky Burford

Service Unit Manager

Service Unit Meeting Minutes 4/10/2014

Service Unit Meeting Minutes

Thursday April 10, 2014

1.    Vicky welcomed everyone, especially the newcomers.  19 leaders or leader representatives were present!

YEAR END FINANCIAL REPORTS – Monica Blum, our Service Unit Treasurer, went over the procedures and deadlines for completing the year end Financial and Leader reports.  She emphasized that if you/your troop treasurer is having difficulty, please call her (or Anita) and she will help you through it.  Troop Financial Report, Troop Leader Report, Bank Statement and Disbanding Report (if applicable) are due.  Reports are due to Monica by June 1^st (ABSOLUTE DEADLINE). Troops that were present at the meeting or sent a representative received an information sheet detailing what is due and a copy of their last year's troop financial report if they were an existing troop. Troops that were not present at the ASU meeting Thursday will receive their's in the mail by Monday April 14.   Writeable forms can be obtained online for this year’s submission.  Contact Monica @ MJAcorn@aol.com with any questions.   

·   Writable Financial Report: http://www.gsofct.org/pdf/membership/formLibrary/Writable_Troop_Group_Year-End_Financial_Report_Form_5620_REV_6-12-12.pdf

·   Writable Leader Report:  http://www.gsofct.org/pdf/membership/formLibrary/Writable_TroopGroup_End-of-Year_Leader_Report_Form_5540_9-1-11.pdf

2.    REGISTRATION REMINDERS

·   Early bird info will be coming out soon.  It will be slightly different this year.   Make sure you get your package from Mary Cassidy.  Those girls who Early Bird will not only get their Early Bird patch, bu this year, they will also get a discount of $5 on the fees, so total registration/council service fee will be $25 instead of $30.  Early bird deadline will be determined by Mary, but it will be BEFORE 8/15.  After 8/15, registration increases to $30. 

·   Only TROOP CHECKS should be used for registration.  Neither cash nor personal checks should be submitted.

·   If you have any registration forms now, throw them out.  New forms have different prices and instructions.

3.    QSP SALE UPDATE – Vicky still has some QSP incentives for Troops.  See her after the meeting if you never received them.  Also, Janice is looking for a Chair-in-Training for fall 2014.  If you know if any non-leader volunteers who can take this on, please talk to Vicky.

4.    COOKIE SALE WRAPUP – They have added April cookie booths.  If anyone is interested, talk to Sue Leigh.  Troop proceeds will be $1/box instead of $.75/box.

5.    SECRETARY/RECOGNITIONS UPDATE – Clio reminded everyone how important it is to recognize volunteers.  Please nominate leaders or volunteers for Helping Hands or Leading the Way awards.  Very EASY online portal to nominate someone.  They can be awarded year round but we like to do it at the annual Volunteer Recognition event, being held this year on June 13.  This will be a casual, catered event at Allison Mislow’s house.  Invitees might be asked to bring potluck dessert/drinks.

6.    SERVICE UNIT EVENT CALENDAR

·   CAMPOREE June 6-7-8:  $15/person no matter how long you stay (daytime, 1 night, 2 nights).  Initial reservations needed by Friday April 11.  After April 11, Mary has to give us some camp sites so camping areas will be available on a space-available basis after that.  April 26 is the final deadline but there is some wiggle-room if you need to ADD campers after that.  Early deadlines are needed to order patches and get adequate supplies.  This year’s theme is CLUE.  Payments for Camporee should also be with Troop Checks, not personal.

·   RECOGNITION DINNER:  Friday June 13^th.  Invitation forthcoming

·   ORANGE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: Karen Sims has registered the Orange troops to march but Troops must do their own Troop trip forms and permission slips.

·   BETHANY MEMORIAL DAY PARADE:  Bethany/Woodbridge troops that want to participate must do Troop Trip forms and permission slips.

7.    COUNCIL DELEGATE UPDATE – Clio attended the most recent Membership meeting and summarized some points.  Council plans to have a new mobile Daisy’s Knapsack “council on the go” to service troops and service units statewide, but especially those that are in far off places.  Next annual meeting is Wednesday May 28 6:30-9:30 at the Best Western Plus 201 Washington Avenue in North Haven.  It is truly an inspirational event to see these lifelong Girl Scout volunteers get their awards.  Everyone is encouraged to attend.  Please RSVP to jdavis@gsofct.org if you would like to go.

8.    COUNCIL UPDATE (Anita Silvestro)

·   Girls are needed for the Color Guard, greeters and to model old Girl Scout uniform models at the Annual Meeting on 5/28.  Please contact her asilvestro@gsofct.org  if your daughter is interested.  Color Guard is needed from 6pm-7:30pm and all others from 6:30pm-7:30pm.

·   Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival on July 19 – we’ve been invited by our sister council in Massachusetts. 

·   New Britain Rock Cats annual Girl Scout Sleepover Night on Saturday June 21.  Tickets start at $5.  Troops/families sleep on the field in their own tents after the game.  Contact kzemke@rockcats.com for more info.

Girl Scout Day at Mystic April 24, 2014

Camporee 2014

Come Discover the Secrets of

 

at the 2014 Amity Camporee!

June 6-7-8

Come solve the mystery of Johanna Body

Find out who did it, with what, and where?

Cost will be $15.00 per person attending (scout/adult)

Options:  Camp out Friday and/or Saturday

or Just Come for the Day, Play the Game, and stay for the Campfire

TO GUARANTEE A CAMPSITE 

YOU NEED REGISTER BY APRIL 11^TH:

Complete the attached initial form and return with troop deposit of $75.00 to Monica Blum, ASU Treasurer

Final Payment/headcounts due to Monica

by April 25th

Due to new Council restrictions/requirements, we cannot hold empty campsites past April 11th.  So after April 11th campsite availability is first come first serve.

Troop 63254 NEEDS definite headcounts in order to efficiently plan Camporee.  If you are attending Camporee or if you have any questions or problems, please email Mary at mary@cassidy.com.co.  We would like email addresses to effectively communicate with Camporee Participants prior to the event.

CAMPOREE INITIAL FORM

Troop Number       ____________________      

Level (circle one)       D    B    J    C    S    A

Leader Name              ____________________

Leader Email              ____________________

Leader Phone              ____________________

Enclose a deposit

In the amount of $75.00

Made payable to Amity Service Unit

Due to Monica by:   April 11^th

For planning purposes:  We will be camping     YES or N0

No. of Girls Attending     1 day/1 night ____  1 day/2 nights ____

No. of Adults Attending  1 day/1 night ____  1 day/2 nights ____

Final Payment/headcounts due to Monica

by April 25th

CAMPOREE FINAL PAYMENT FORM

Troop Number       ____________________      

Level (circle one)       D    B    J    C    S    A

Leader Name              ____________________

Leader Email              ____________________

Leader Phone              ____________________

Number of girls, adults, tagalongs attending

____   x $15.00 per person =   ___________

less initial deposit                -       $75.00

Total due                            =   ___________

checks made payable to Amity Service Unit due to Monica by:  April 25th.

Wow! I wish I knew a volunteer like that!

Helping Hand Award

.

Leading the Way

.. Sometimes we hear your stories but often, they just stay within your troop.  Here is your chance to shout out to the world (or really, our Service Unit) about a job well done.

In preparation for our annual Volunteer Recognition event and to also show our appreciation to volunteers or co-leaders who have stepped up and should be applauded by his/her peers, please consider using the very easy (and very quick) online form for a Service Unit recogntion award.  The online form and award criteria are available at this link below.  I was able to fill out the form and submit 3 recognitions in about 3 minutes, so it really is a simple and easy online form.  Recognitions can only be awarded to registered Adult Girl Scout volunteers.  If you are unsure about which award is best, please email me.  

http://www.gsofct.org/pages/VolunteerRecognitions.php 

If you are averse to online forms, come to Thursday's Service Unit meeting and fill out a paper version!