Amity Service Unit Camporee 2017

GS Troop 61099 Anti-Bullying Website

GS Troop 61099 created this website to complete their requirements for their Journey award.  Check it out!

http://weneedtohelp.wixsite.com/antibullyingproject

Take Action Project: Anti-bullying website

Check out this video created by Cadette Troop 61099 of Woodbridge!  You did a great job girls!

http://weneedtohelp.wix.com/antibullyingproject

GS of CT Membership Meeting notes

Holly Nardini, our Service Unit Delegate, represented our Service Unit at a recent Membership meeting and shared these notes about the strategic planning process.

Hi all,

At our last Service Unit meeting I promised I would share information about the April GS Membership Meeting.

Attached are the slides. I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

At our next meeting, we can take a few minutes to discuss the questions that will be discussed at the Annual Meeting; I will be attending as the Amity SU delegate.

Thanks,

 

-Holly

At the next Service Unit meeting, we will be discussing the following:

 

1. How would you communicate to a parent /guardian of a prospective new Girl Scout the value of Girl Scouting?

2.How would you convince a Millennial parent to be a volunteer for the Girl Scout organization?

3.How must technology be integrated into how we present programming to girls today and in the future?

4.How can the Girl Scout program address a girl’s desire to take risks in a positive way?

5.Looking at the Girl Scout brand, what are the challenges that Girl Scout Movement faces in the community? What are some solutions to address those challenges?

6.How does Girl Scouts of Connecticut prepare for the future to assure we meet the needs of our parents and girls in our fast- paced, ever-changing world?

 

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on these important topics that will guide the future of our organization.

Volunteer Training Opportunities

Get the training you need to work with girls in the outdoors! Regional Training Days are happening in April and May! Registration is now open! Trainings include Out and About (At all four locations) Ready? Set? Go! (At all four locations) Camping Adventures Challenge (Only at Candlewood and Laurel) Advance Outdoor Cooking Workshop (Only at Merrie-Wood and An-Se-Ox) Pick your date & location April 30 Camp Candlewood in New Fairfield Camp Merrie-Wood in Manchester May 7 Camp Laurel in Lebanon Camp An-Se-Ox in Oxford Learn more and register! These trainings fill fast! Important Notes These trainings are designed for leaders and troop volunteers who work with girls. Training is a troop/group expense and may be taken from your troop treasury. Questions? Contact adultdev@gsofct.org.    See other training opportunities!

4/23 Girl Scout Tour with Kappa Delta - "Senses" Badge

First Aid Fun with Kappa Delta - Tues Feb 16

Girl Scout Sunday - March 6

Please join the Amity Service Unit for Girl Scout Sunday!  Girl Scouts Sunday kicks off Girl Scout week, when we commemorate the Girl Scouts’ Birthday (when Juliette Gordon Low formed the first Girl Scout troop Savannah, Georgia).

Join us for an opportunity to be together with other Girl Scouts of all ages, learn about a faith and be recognized as Girl Scouts at a local church.

Sunday March 6

10:30 am

Christ Episcopal Church

526 Amity Rd

Bethany

Girls and their families are invited together to this event.   Girls should wear their uniforms. Everyone will be invited to the Parish House after the service for refreshments and participating Girl Scouts will receive a patch from the Service Unit.

Please RSVP to Allyson Rogers by March 1, (allyson8@gmx.com) so that she can make sure there is enough food!

More info and directions:

 www.christchurchbethany.org 

 (north on Route 63 to Bethany.  The church is on the right hand side at the blinking light).

Sincerely,
Allyson Rogers

allyson8@gmx.com

Spend an Afternoon at Long Wharf Theater

Having Your Say

Love theater? Spend your Saturday afternoon at Long Wharf Theatre. Go behind the scenes as they produce Having Our Say, based of the lives of the Delany Sisters’ first 100 Years. Create and share your own oral history before attending a production of Having Our Say. Discuss the show and ask questions of Long Wharf staff following the performance. Join us for this special event designed just for Girl Scouts!

Saturday February 27 from 11:15 am to 5:00 pm

Cost per girl is $25 which also includes pizza lunch and a patch. Each troop will receive 1 free adult ticket and/or 1 free adult ticket per 10 girls in a troop registered. Additional adults can attend for $25. Space is limited! For booking, contact Jennifer Carroll at jcarroll@longwharf.org or 203-772-8202. Please book by Thursday, February 25.

Girl Scout Night with Yale Women's Basketball March 4, 2016

Culture Day at Hill Regional Career High School on Friday February 5 from 6-8 pm

Help support these older Girl Scouts on Friday Feb 5th from 6-8 pm!

Girls and Women in Sport Day at SCSU Sat Feb 6

Southern Connecticut State University Athletic Dept sponsors a great day for girls in sports.  Follow this link for more info and registration  information!

http://www.southernctowls.com/news/2015/12/10/WXC_1210153714.aspx?path=gen

Amity Service Unit Celebrates Thinking Day!

Thinking Day is an international Girl Scout and Girl Guide celebration of the birthdays of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell and the start of scouting.  This year the theme is “Connect” – with friends, the community, and your passions.  Troops also donate items for a service project. For background information you can learn more at www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/global/world-thinking-day.html

The Amity Service Unit will celebrate Thinking Day, as we have in the past, as follows:

• Sunday February 21, 2016

• Set up at 1:30, Program runs from 2-4PM, clean up till 4:30PM

• Holy Infant Church School Gymnasium, 456 Orange Center Rd, Orange, CT 06477

• Troops may just set up a table to display information about a country or they may also present a short program (5-10 minutes).

• Cost is $2.00 per girl in your troop so patches may be purchased for all.  Parents and tagalongs are free.

• Contact person:  Nina Ruckes,  nruckes@optimum.net

If you intend to participate, please email Nina with the following information by February 13:

• Leader name, address and e-mail

• Number of girls in the troop (so we can buy patches for everyone), expected number who will participate on Sunday

• Top 3 choices for the country you wish to represent

• Will you do a presentation?

• Please mail a check for $2/girl in your troop so patches can be purchased (payable to GS of CT) to Nna Ruckes (email her for address)

 

Check List for Thinking Day 

1. Table cloth (a 6’ table and 2 chairs will be provided)

2. Foamboard or Cardboard display with information about your country such as flag, map, helpful phrases, picture of Girl Guides

3. Food or beverage and serving utensils/napkins/paper plates

4. SWAPs (optional)-Something wonderful affectionately pinned!

5. Presentation (optional) -some ideas are a dance, recitation of the Pledge from your country, video (please supply all equipment), recite facts about your country, song, etc.

6. Basket for Silent Auction, worth about $25.00.  Money collected from this will go to the Service Unit to support other programs

7. Donations for Kenyan Health Care Initiatives:  

• Children’s books of all kinds for all ages – must be unmarked and in good condition. Not text books

• Simple puzzles and games for kids of different ages (new or in excellent condition)- Bananagrams word games, memory games, basic games, cards, marbles, flash cards, checkers, chess , etc.

• Sports equipment and supplies – soccer balls, equipment for baseball, volleyball, basketball, badminton.

Once you get your chosen country, you may want to  visit www.patchfun.com to see if they have a patch for your country.  They would be a very cute addition to your Thinking Day patch.

Time to Register for Girl Scouts!

It's that time of year!  Our Girl Scout year begins October 1.  Troops are getting back into the swing of things.  Calling all girls from Kindergarten through 12th grade and all volunteers over 18 yrs old!

For general information about Girl Scouts in Connecticut, go to www.gsofct.org

For more information about Amity Girl Scouts, email our Service Unit

 GSCTAmitySU@gmail.com

Amity Girl Scouts Take Action! Sow What?

Here is a video created by Amity Girl Scout Troop 60436 as their Take Action Project for the Sow What Journey.  It tells us about Massaro Farm's food donation program for the area community.  Take a look.  The girls did a great job!

For information about Massaro Farm, go to www.massarofarm.org

Family Fun Day - Amity Girl Scouts are invited!

November 12, 2014 Service Unit Meeting Minutes

1. Welcome and intro by Vicky, our Service Unit Manager
2. Recruiting is in full swing -- all three towns have new Daisy troops and leaders are being trained!
3. Registration Update: Early Bird badges are ready and being distributed.  A friendly reminder from Mary that you need to send her DUPLICATES of all registration forms and Dues Summary forms.
4. Secretary Update - trying to build a Service Unit parent email list.  Will try to get list from council.
5. Council Delegate Elections:  Jessica Kenty-Drane and Nina Ruckes were elected as Delegates and Alternate Delegates to GS of CT.  Congratulations!
6. Service Unit Event Calendar:
1. March 8, 2015: Thinking Day celebration (A. Mislow/Troop 60145, Chair)
2. June 5-7, 2015: Camporee at An-Se-Ox (K. Kravetz/Troop 61099, Chair)
3. Man in Your Life event (C. O'Conner, Chair) ** per GS of CT regulations, this event needs to be called "Special Person in Your Life" event.  Can't be gender specific anymore.  Discussed different ideas and scheduling.
4. Camporee 2016: needs to be reserved by March.  Need new troop to chair.
7. Cookie Training: update from Susan Leigh.  Begins 1/2/15.  40th Birthday for Samoas.  Everyone needs training even if already a Cookie Manager/Mom because of new Digital Cookie sales - a first for GSUSA and GSofCT.  2 new flavors: Rah Rah Raison and Toffee Tastic.  Training dates to come via email.  All girls must be registered to sell cookies.  Resolve registration disputes with Mary Cassidy, Registrar.
8. Service Unit Job Opportunities:  We need a Treasurer & Registrar.  Ideas for recruiting for these SU positions?  It doesn't have to be a current leader or even a GS mom.  Just someone who wants to volunteer time!
9. Council News: Anita Silvestro.  
1. Cookie Rallies for girls and families on January 10 at malls throughout the state.  Closest one is Meriden Mall.  Older girls are needed to help man the booths.  
2. Cookie Recognitions will be awarded at Fun Fest in May at Durham Fairgrounds.  
3. Register your troops for Fun Fest - it is a huge Girl Scout festival for scouts and families.  Only $20 now.  Prices go up soon. 
4. Community Partner Awards:  make sure you are recognizing the partners who are hosting your meetings (Schools) and cookie booths.  
5. Girls need to go online to GS of CT and vote on outdoor badges (result of GS USA National Convention initiative)
6. Bring A Friend events:  Thinking Day or other Service Unit or troop events.  Talk to Anita for badges to award the girls if they bring a friend who joins Girl Scouts.
10. Training Moment: Go to www.GSofCT.org and look at training area.  Regional Training Day sin April and May (5/2 at An-Se-Ox).  Make sure your leaders are current!  Laurel is going to Girlz Rule training on 1/31/15 - program that helps with conflict resolution.  Talk to her if interested in going.
11. QSP Update: A big WAHOO from Debbie Siena.  The Amity Service Unit DOVE IN to QSP sales.  18 troops participated and did an awesome job.
12. Next 3 meetings: December 10, January 14, February 11

Bring Your Troop, Bring Your Friends and Join us for Amity Girl Scouts' Thinking Day 2015

Thinking Day 2015

2015 Thinking Day Theme: 

“We Can Create Peace through Partnerships”

Hosted by Cadette Troop 60145 and Junior Troop 60858

 

Sunday March 8, 2015

2:30pm – 4:30pm

*Set up at 2:00 pm

Holy Infant Gym * 450 Racebrook Road * Orange

New this year: 
Amity Girl Scouts Chorus
Join our Girl Scout Chorus for a performance of “We Are the World” at the conclusion of the Thinking Day presentations.   The Chorus will be led by Suzanne Vick of RVP Studios. Come join the fun!   Mandatory rehearsals for Chorus:  Sundays, February 22nd and March 1st
at Orange Congregational Church, From 3 – 4:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary, 205 Meetinghouse Lane, Orange.  Please RSVP to Allison at amislow at metlife.com with any Troops or individual Girl Scouts who would like to participate! 

This Year's Service Project:  Amity Girl Scouts Support ReRun Shoes

In keeping with the theme and to do something to help developing countries, we ask all the Girl Scouts in the service unit collect gently used shoes, to bring to Thinking Day. Even if your troop can't come, we hope you can join in on this Service Unit service project. Rerun shoes collects gently used shoes, sneakers, sport sandals, women's flats, and cleats (no flip flops, heels, Crocs, boots) to help the less fortunate in African countries.  Rerun promotes sustainable development-by helping the micro-entrepreneurs in poor African nations and keeping good reusable shoes out of landfills.  In addition, Rerun employs people with disabilities here in the US to prepare the shoes for shipment to Africa.

Election Day/Week Cookie Booths

Girl Scout Cookies - Yum Yum!  Election Day Booth Sales take place this week.  If you are having a craving, or want to support your local Girl Scout troop, go here:
http://www.gsofct.org/general/booth-locations.php  
to see where you can pick up your favorite flavors!  We said goodbye to Dulce de Leche and Thank You Berry Much but we welcome a new cookie:  Rah Rah Raisin!

SU Meeting Minutes 10/15/14

1. Service Unit Manager Vicky Burford welcomed everyone, especially our newest leaders Laura & Becky!!
2. For Recognitions, Clio overlooked Lori Blair, who should have received a 5 yr Volunteer & 5 Yr. Membership pin and will receive it hopefully by the November meeting.  She also congratulated Monica Blum, SU Treasurer, for her 20 yr. pin!
3. QSP Sales - we are half way through.  There is still time to "dive in".   Any questions, call Debbie Siena our QSP Manager for the SU.
4. Vicky was also pleased to report, on behalf of our SU Cookie Manager, that we have 6 Election Day booths (which can take place anytime during Election Day week).  Spread the word and check Cookie Booth times at:  http://www.gsofct.org/general/booth-locations.php
5. Vicky updated us on recruiting efforts.  Woodbridge has a new Kindergarten troop, Bethany is having a parent meeting soon and Orange recruiting is underway.
6. Online registration is rolling out.  All leaders are asked to do the webinar training. 
7. There are "job" opportunities in the Service Unit.  A new Treasurer is needed as well as a Registrar.  Please think about volunteers or potential volunteers who can fill these spots.
8. Upcoming Service Unit events:  Thinking Day Feb/March 2015 (Allison Mislow/Troop 60145, Camporee June 5-7, 2015 (Karen Kravetz, Troop 61099), Man in Your Life event (TBD) (Connie O'Connor Troop 60537), Sup & Sing (spring, chair needed).
9. Council Delegate update:  Jessica Kenty-Drane has accepted the nomination for SU Delegate.  We still need an alternate delegate.  Elections will be at the next meeting, Wednesday November 12.
10. Council News:  Anita reported that our Council Delegates are on their way to the National Convention in Utah.  Save the date for the Fun Fest in May 2015.  Pre-register your troops now for lowest price.
11. Training Moment: Ready? Set? Go! now replaces Fire, Food & Fun.  Upcoming Regional Training Days enable you to get Out & About  & Ready? Set? Go! in one day.