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

YEAR END FINANCIALS & TROOP REPORTS DUE JUNE 1

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). 

Explanation for newer leaders:  each year, every troop must complete a Troop Financial Report and a Troop Leader Report.  These reports go to Monica Blum, our Service Unit Treasurer, and then she must prepare a summary report of the entire service unit and send it to Council.  It's imperative that these reports are finished timely so that Monica can complete the next step.

Monica went over the procedures and deadlines for completing the year end Financial and Leader reports at the April Service Unit meeting.  She emphasized that if you/your troop treasurer is having difficulty, please call her (or Anita) and she will help you through it.  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 should have received their's in the mail by Monday April 14.   Writeable forms can be obtained online for this year’s submission.  Contact Monica: MJAcorn at 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

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATIONS

It's already that time of year!!!  Registration packets are being distributed to our troop leaders by Mary Cassidy, our Service Unit Registrar.

This year's Girl Scout Early Birders not only earn the "early bird" fun patch, but they also get a $5 discount on their Council Service Fee.  

Don't delay.  Early Bird troop registrations are due to Mary by July 11th - so PLEASE get them out to your troops before your last meeting!!

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