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

Minutes - 10/10/13 Service Unit Meeting

• The meeting began with an activity inspiration from our Membership & Marketing Manager, Anita Silvestro.  She made an easy salsa recipe that is quick and satisfying.  Only need bowl, can of salsa, can of corn and a can of kidney beans and served with multi-grain tortilla chips.   It was enjoyed by all and a great treat to serve at Girl Scout meetings.
• VOLUNTEER AGREEMENTS - Leaders were reminded to sign Volunteer Agreements annually and submit them to Vicky, our Service Unit Manager.  All your volunteers should sign them.
• RECRUITMENT UPDATES: Orange and Bethany had their recruiting events.  Orange has identified a few moms willing to tackle the Kindergarten Daisy troop as an evening troop.  Bethany organizer Alice reported that there was some Kindergarten interest, but they are still trying to identify leaders.  A new Recruiter/Organizer is needed for 2014 for Orange and Woodbridge.
• AMITY GIRL SCOUTS WEBSITE: Clio reminded everyone that activity information and ideas for troop badge work is available on www.amitygirlscouts.blogspot.com.  Since everyone seemed concerned about the terminology "blog", Clio will promote it as a "website" in the future.  She's eager for any additional information including troop activity sessions, useful links, etc.  Also - she has added a page the Service Unit "Treasure Chest", which is essentially a list of items that troops can borrow from the Service Unit or other troops -- for their own troop events, including camping.  Check the website for that current list and email GSCTamitySU@gmail.com if you have additional items to share.
• SUBSCRIBE TO CHANGES IN WEBSITE:  if you want to know when something new is added to the Amity Website, without having to check it, go to the website home page and put your email into "follow by email" box on the right side and you will get an email every time there is a new posting.
• SERVICE UNIT EVENT CALENDAR:  committed dates are entered on the calendar, also on the Amity Girl Scouts website.  We still need organizers for the following events: Sup & Sing & Girl Scout Sabbath.  Man in Your Life will be "Bowling with the Boys", hopefully on Saturday January 25th.  Debbie U. will be planning that and Debbie S., former SU Manager, will help her with the Event paperwork.  Thinking Day is March 2 & Camporee is June 6-8.  Girl Scout Sabbath should be around March 12.  Please let Vicky B. know if anyone is willing to host it.  We'd love to go to a synagogue this year.
• OPEN SERVICE UNIT POSITIONS:  There are still open positions for Treasurer, Organizer/Recruiters, Events Coordinator and Orientation Volunteer.  Anita is trying to keep Orientations for her entire district on a set calendar so that new volunteers can go to whichever orientation training is most convenient, whether it is in Amity, West Haven or wherever.  That way, Amity will have to do it only once or twice a year.  Vicky will set a date for one orientation this fall.
• FINANCIAL UPDATE:  Budget is not yet finalized.  A few troops disbanded.  4 new troops have already set up bank accounts and 3-6 more troops are expected soon.
• COUNCIL UPDATE - BIG SING & SWAP: Anita Silvestro updated us on the Big Sing & Swap to be held in February 2014.  It's a big rally to be held for all of Connecticut at the Quinnipiac Arena and features celebrity Country singer, THERESA, who sang at the GSUSA National Convention.  3000 Girl Scouts are expected.  Girls who are 4th grade and older can participate in a special chorus with Theresa, but they must attend an orientation this fall/winter and a rehearsal the week before the rally.  More information is available at www.gsofct.org
• COUNCIL UPDATE - COMMUNITIES:  www.gsofct.org now has online forums to ask questions and get advice from your peer leaders.  Sign in and check it out.
• COUNCIL UPDATE - COOKIE RALLLIES: January 4th at nearby malls.  Girls who participate will earn a cookie mall patch.
• COUNCIL UPDATE - FIRESIDE CHATS: 11/3 at Katoya and 11/16 at An-Se-Ox.  These are wonderful events to introduce campsites to your troops and their families.  Check out the Connie the Catepillar - a series of patches that your younger scouts will enjoy earning by visiting all the camps in the Council.
• SMART LIVING CENTER FAMILY FUN DAY:  Anita will have a Girl Scout booth there at the Smart Living Center in Orange and volunteer help is needed.  One hour shifts from 11am - 2pm.
• FREE MEETING SPACE: Anita has reminded us that all the Girl Scout camps are available for FREE from Sunday afternoons to Friday afternoons.  Your troop or service unit can host meetings or events there for free.  Don't forget Weston has a new lodge - which is beautiful - which a loft space upstairs for sleeping.
• TRAINING MOMENT:  Vicky went over filling out the Registration Forms.  Troop Registrars should fill out the bottom section: MMM=302, RPT CODE=601 and Troop #. On the Membership Summary Report, the REG AREA=003.  The volunteer name listed as "filling out the form" should be your "O1" Leader ALWAYS. ALSO BE SURE TO PUT THE FULL NAME, ADDRESS and TIME/DAYS FOR THE MEETINGS AS THIS IS WHAT ENSURES PROPER INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TROOP.  All forms should be submitted to our Registrar IN DUPLICATE (and keep copies for your troop records also).   This special training moment will be summarized into a 'cheat sheet' and be distributed to all!
• SERVICE PROJECTS: please send blurbs and photos to Anita with any service projects info for your troops.  This is important so that Girl Scout supporters can see what awesome projects are going on around the state.  Submit same blurbs to the local papers and on PATCH.com.  Also, a reminder that Goodwill needs clothes.  Have your troops coordinate clothing drives and mark your bags with your troop numbers.
• REGIONAL TRAINING DAYS: Upcoming 10/19 at Pattagansett, 10/26 at Aspetuck or Yankee Trails.  Sign up at www.gsofct.org.
• SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS: Daisy Knapsack receipts from October 1, 2013 - June 3, 2014.  For each $250 spent, you will receive a $5 credit towards a future purchase.

What's QSP???

QSP = Quick Simple Profitable 

QSP is the fall fundraiser for Girl Scouts.  
It's a great opportunity for the girls to raise money for their troop and Council (and thereby reduce the amount of dues to collect).  QSP has candy & nut products and magazine sales.  Girls learn goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Our QSP Manager is Janice Wivagg and she did a brief training at our 9/23 Service Unit Meeting.  Below is an overview:

• A Girl must be registered to receive her QSP packet.

• QSP sales begin October 1 and ends November 1

• QSP sales must be entered into nut-E (accessed via www.gsofct.org) and paperwork submitted by Nov. 8.  Don't wait until the last minute because the system will get slow.  

• Payments to Council should be done online through the Webster Bank online payment link on gsofct.org   Don't wait until November 8 because it takes a few days to get the payment confirmation, which needs to be submitted with paperwork to Janice by November 8.

• Product pickup date will be December 9 (in time for holiday & teacher gifts).

Several ways to earn money and badges for the troop:

• Fill out an address booklet with 8 distinct addresses.  Troop will receive $2.00 for each completed address booklet.  
• Sell magazines subscriptions - orders can be taken by catalog or you can supply a link to your friends/relatives. Digital magazine subscriptions are also available. Troops earn 15% of total sales.
• Sell nut & candy products - orders can be taken by catalog or you can supply a link to your friends/relatives.  All nut/candy products are delivered to the troop - there are no shipping options.  Troops earn 15% of total sales.
• Girls and families can send out online links through the Magazine/Net Online portal.  Girls must sign internet safety pledge.  Girls earn a badge for sending out at least 12 emails through this online system.
• Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors can elect an additional 2% proceeds in place of recognitions.  They will still receive all patches. 

Using Nut-E - there is a refresher webiner on 10/30 at 7 pm.  

**Troop QSP Managers should set up their troops on Nut-E by October 1 (or before you distribute QSP packets to your troop).

Important note:  your troop has to participate in QSP (in any way) in order to be able to host an Election Day booth sale in November.

A note from Janice:

There are many troops for which I still have not received QSP manager info.  If you are one of these troops, please complete the attached form and email back to me, or just provide me with the information on the form. I wouldn't want your product manager to be unable to access the Nut-e system so the sooner I get the information, the better.
Also, there are many of you for which I do not have registration information, which means that our registrar has not received your troop registrations. Please remember that the QSP troop fundraiser begins Oct. 1 and ends Nov. 1. It is a short sale and you don't want to miss out on this start-up fundraising opportunity for your troop.
 Thank you for your cooperation.Any questions, please contact Janice.  If you don't have her email, email GSCTAmitySU@gmail.com and your email will be forwarded to Janice!