Amity Delegates to GS of CT: Nominees needed

Last call for nominations for Delegate & Alternate Delegate to represent the Amity Service Unit to Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Currently we have one nominee for Delegate and looking for a nominee for Alternate Delegate. Delegates can be Girls or Adults, but Girls must be at least 14 years old.
Serving as a Delegate or Alternate is great for someone interested in the governance and future of Girl Scouting. (Some Delegates later go on to serve as Delegates to the National Convention of GSUSA.).

• A Delegate or Alternate must be 14 years of age or older, registered as a Girl Scout, and live or work in the Service Unit area. 
• Delegates or Alternates are required to attend one training session, a fall and spring membership meeting, and the Annual Meeting. 
• Delegates and Alternates should be open minded and good communicators, and be willing to share their knowledge with the Service Unit, as well as talk to volunteers to learn their opinions about governance issues important to Girl Scouts. **The term is one-year (Begins Jan 1). 
• Elections are governed by the Bylaws of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. A copy of the Bylaws can be found in the Resource and Form Library at http://www.GSOFCT.org under Governance. 
• Elections will take place at the next Service Unit meeting on November 12, where delegate nominees are expected to attend.

If you are interested in becoming a delegate or nominating someone, please contact Vicky or Clio directly.

Service Unit Meeting Minutes 9/18/2014

Anyone who came to the meeting on Thursday were greeted by Debbie Siena, our Service Unit QSP Manager, who was clearly ready to DIVE IN to kickoff our Service Unit QSP sales!!

Troops will received 15% of magazine and snack sales as well as $2 for each completed address book (8 addresses).  Everyone in attendance can vouch for the delicious snacks:  chocolate covered pretzels, huge chocolate covered raisins, carmel clusters, to name a few!  

Girls can set up their own websites, personalized with photos, to sell the magazines and snacks.  Please encourage your troop to participate!  A girl MUST be registered and the troop must have a signed Annual Consent Form in order to participate in QSP sales.  

Don't delay!  QSP Sales run October 1 - October 31 and will be delivered in time for the holidays (they all make fantastic holiday gifts for teachers, bus drivers, mailmen, etc.)

• As the meeting began, everyone introduced themselves.  Vicky then reminded us of the big event for Girl Scouts of Connecticut in May is the Fun Fest at the Durham Fairgrounds.  Troops will have the opportunity to show off their service projects.  Go to www.gsofct.org for more information about sharing your projects at the Fun Fest.  We've been assured that parking and food will be much improved from our last experience there for the Jubilee.

• The National Convention is soon.  Our Connecticut delegates have a survey for us to fill out here:   http://www.gsofct.org/content-files/File/Convention2014/National%20Convention%20Proposals%20and%20Discussion%20Topic.pdf

• Training Update:  Fire, Food & Fun is getting retired.  If you want to take your troop to a Camporee, you can take a 5 hour course "Ready Set Go", instead of the overnight Camping Adventures.  You will still need volunteers training in Camping Adventures if you want to go on a troop camping trip.

• Recruiting:  Lawn signs for GS of CT are available.  If you live in a high-traffic area, please consider placing a sign.  The Woodbridge Recruiting Carnival is 9/23 and Orange is having a recruiting event on 9/30.  Bethany still needs a hand with coordinating a recruiting event.

• Registrar Mary Cassidy is happy to report that there are 27 troops, 260 girls and over 100 adults registered as of today!  

• Recognitions were given out for those in attendance who had missed the Volunteer Dinner in June.  Deb Urban received the Distinguished Leader Award, Mary Cassidy a 10 yr Member Award, and Allyson Rogers and Stacey Wyner received 5 year member awards.  (member awards include years registered as both a girl and adult Girl Scout.

• Delegates are needed for 2015.  Clio Nicolakis has nominated Jessica Kenty-Drane.  We are still looking for more nominees for Delegate and Alternate Delegate.

• Upcoming Events:
• Quassy Day Sunday October 5th --- fun GS activities and good food
• Amity Thinking Day - date to be determined
• Camporee June 5-6-7

• The meeting ended with the QSP training and sampling of the yummy QSP snacks!

Dive into QSP to raise money for your troop!

Hello QSP Managers and Troop Leaders!

Debbie, our QSP manager, ready to "dive in" to QSP!

I am thrilled to be the Amity Service Unit QSP Trainer!

We had a teriffic turnout for the QSP Training and just to remind you that the sale begins on October 1st and runs only 30 days, till November 1st.

The Managers and Leaders in attendance last week are ready to DIVE into this years Fundraiser and make a splash into their Troop bank account with valuable Troop Funds!

For those REGISTERED Troops that were unable to send their QSP manager andor a represenative to the training last week, your QSP Packet and GIRL Packets are located at: 890 Greenway Road, Woodbridge.

Each Packet can be identified by your Troop number and has the total number of registered Girls listed. There is enough parent letters, money envelopes and girl packets in the rubbermaid box located on a bench in front of my home by the garage.

You are to distribute the packets to each girl at your next Troop Meeting.

You will find an organized agenda on the inside cover of your blue QSP manual.

Remember to take ONLY the number of Girl Packets that are listed on your QSP Packet out of the box along with your QSP Envelope. The Girl packets have been pre-counted. Anyone who registers additional girls will be allowed to pick up additional packets from me once Mary Cassidy has given me the OK!

For those Troops that have not yet turned in their Registrations and check to Mary Cassidy you have until October 1st to do so. NO Girl Packets will be distributed to any Troops that have not submitted their registrations.

I will make myself available to anyone who needs some time to go over the QSP material. My cell is the best way to reach me. My email is debbie.siena at yahoo.com.

Dive in and have fun!

Debbie Siena, Amity Service Unit QSP Manager

Regional Kick-Offs, what are those?

What is a Kick-Off?  It's when the Girl Scout Council goes crazy with displays and product samples to get us all excited about the new Girl Scout year.  There are 4 kick-offs in Connecticut at the end of August and if it fits into your schedule, try to get there with your co-leader, your older scout or even just by yourself.

Girl Scouts of Connecticut wants you to come to the kick-offs to "get some great ideas, get energized and pick up your troop’s Program Resource Guide.  Kick-Offs are in an Open House format and pre-registration is NOT required.  Arrive and leave at your convenience.   Kick-Offs are open to all adult volunteers, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors.  Girl Scout families are welcome to attend but displays are geared toward generating discussion with adults and older girls."
(Rumor has it, there might be a new product to taste at the Kick-Offs.)

Attend any of these kick-offs:
Tuesday August 19  6-8 pm  West Side Middle School, 483 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury
Thursday August 21  6-8 pm  East Hartford Community Cultural Center, 50 Chapman Place, East Hartford
Saturday August 23   10 am - 12 pm  Griswold Middle School, 211 Slater Avenue, Griswold
Sunday August 24  1:30 - 3:30 pm  Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, 600 Main Street, Bridgeport

Camp Sikorsky - SAVE THE DATE!

Attention:
Girl Scout Leaders for girls 12 and older.
Camp Sikorsky has just confirmed dates for September 19 - 21, 2014.

Registration for this event will be available in the next week or so. Deadline for registration is usually early July and always sells out. So if your interested, let your troop know right away before school gets out.

If you have any questions about it, please call me!
My troop has been there twice and we will be back in September.

Thanks,
Vicky Burford
Amity Service Unit Manager
Girl Scout Leader for Senior Troop 60436

What to expect for Camporee 2014!

Troop 63254 is very excited to host this year’s camporee from June 6th to 8th. This year’s theme is Clue. The Bethany and Woodbridge Cadette Scouts are looking forward to having you participate in mind-boggling puzzles and challenging obstacle courses.

Your campsite information will be given to you at registration, the table near the parking lot.  If you are planning on sleeping over Friday night, please arrive anytime after 6pm and note that the cadettes will be there, but will not provide any planned activities. If you are not joining us on Friday, please plan to come between 8:30-9:15 am. This will allow time for you to register your troop and drop your bags at your campsite. Opening ceremonies will start promptly at 9:30.

If you are staying over night on Saturday, please make sure that your troop is packed and out of your site by 2:00 pm.   Please follow the attached checkout procedures as troop 63254 will not be checking any one out on Sunday.  We have to leave early for a lacrosse jamboree.  Remember all girl scouts leave a place better than they found it.

All troops will be responsible for preparing all meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks). Troop 63254 will provide an ice cream bar on Saturday afternoon.

Please bring refillable water bottles.  Water jugs will be placed at the field for refilling and water is available in the lodges.

Community Service

For our community service project, we are helping the local Woodbridge Animal Shelter. We would much appreciate it if you would donate any toys, food or old clean blankets and towels. One item per troop gets you an all important clue card.  More will be greatly appreciated by our furry friends.

Lastly and most importantly, don’t forget your s’mores supplies!

SATURDAY GENERAL SCHEDULE

8:30-9:15AM Registration and Campsite Preparation Time

9:30-9:50AM Opening Ceremony

10:00-12:00PM Stationed Activities

12:30-2:00PM Lunch and Free Time

2:00-3:30PM Kickball and Capture the Flag Games

3:30-4:00PM Ice Cream Bar Time (get your last Clue Card)

4:00-4:30PM Clue Game Answers (time to position the players)

    & Closing Ceremony

4:30-6:30PM Dinner and Free Time

7:00-9:00PM Campfire

Sample Camper Packing List:

-Sleeping bag or bedroll

-Pillow

-Pajamas

-Flashlight (Optional)

-1 or 2 changes of clothing (Pack long pants in case!)

-Sweatshirt or Jacket

-Toiletries (Soap, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Hairbrush)

-Sneakers or boots

-Rain gear

-Washcloth (Optional)

-Sunscreen and Insect Repellent

-Sit-Upon

-Hat or Bandana

-Re-useable water bottle

Sample Troop Packing List:

-First Aid Kit

-Permission Slips and Registration Info

-Paper Towels, Toilet Paper and Napkins

-Liquid dish soap

-Rags and dishtowels

-Potholders

-Dishwashing buckets

-Cooler and ice

-Cooking Utensils

-Food and Beverages

-Matches and Fire starting kit

-Firewood

-Water bucket

-Tool Kit

-Garbage Bag

Thinking Day Celebration Recounted

The Girl Scouts of the Amity Service Unit celebrated World Thinking Day in March with a tri-town event featuring international food, displays and a variety of performances in the gym of Holy Infant Church in Orange.  Over 200 girls, friends and even Girl Scout lifetime members, Marilyn Welch & Elaine Capecelatro both of Orange, participated in the event which reminds Girl Scouts to think about Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all over the world.  

On this annual day of friendship, advocacy and fundraising for girls around the world (traditionally celebrated 2/22), the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts ("WAGGGS") asks Girl Scouts around the world to focus their Thinking Day themes on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The Amity Service Unit event, organized by Junior Troop 60145 of Orange and Cadette Troop 61099 of Woodbridge, promoted MDG2 (universal primary education), with the theme "education opens doors for all girls and boys".  

The dozen area troops who attended this memorable event brought used book donations to promote education and literacy in the local community. Over 300 books were collected and recently donated the the Literacy Center of Milford to be used for the "Books for Birthday" program.  

Girl Scouts of Connecticut is the largest organization of women and girls in Connecticut, serving over 43,000 girls. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  For more information about joining or volunteering with Girl Scouts in the Amity area, contact GSCTAmitySU@gmail.com or contact Anita Silvestro, Membership & Marketing Director at asilvestro@gsofct.org