• (for older girls ) PGS:GSNNJ accepting girl applications to the convention in Texas!
• PGS: Cookie news & files (Feb 2011)
• PGS: 3 Girl Scout Sunday services in Parsippany, March 6th
• PGS: Girl Scout Week Activity Sheet
• Come Tuesday, Happy Girl Scout Week!

== February 2011 Agenda

• Holli & her Gold – crochet squares!
• Troop 1130 girls talk about their Silver
• Pop Pull Tab collection – troop 29
• Visitor from local nursing home: Girl Scout Linda C.

• CookieDiva@partroygs.org Booth sales March 5-27 (Cindy or I need a “troop trip”/TGAA form for EVERY booth sale. Blank form online.) Schedule cookie pickups & booth sales ONLINE & tell Michele. Please keep costumes moving if you use them! All Sales thru 3/27 count toward recognitions
• NEW: Backordered fall incentives in. Need apprentice Fall Sales Manager to become “Head Nut” in 2013.

• NEW: 3/19 GSCSNJ’s Leadership Conf (high school girls)
• WTD Japan patch – “in the mail” – Karen L will let us know as soon as she has them!
• Not too early to set dates for year-end Court of Awards, esp. if they are for an entire school. Please tell Cindy the names of all Bronze & Silver Awardees so we’ll know for the Fall Ceremony!
• Flags/bridge/colorguard sashes – Need storage & a coordinator. (Not to early to reserve for May, or other events. Contact: Mary L. )
• NEW: PGS rep. at Women of Distinction: ______ & _________ The Venetian, on Thursday May 12th 2011 Women of Achievement Honorees: Evangeline Gomez, Esq. Counsel to the Firm, Fahy Choi LLC. ; Julie Kampf, President and CEO, JBK Associates; Patricia Milley, Board President, Newark Family Resource Network; Deborah Zastocki, DNP, RN; President and CEO, Chilton Hospital

• 3 Girl Scout Sunday Events Me & My Guy Bowling: GS Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Feb. 27, Sold OUT!
• NEW: 3/6 GS Sunday – 3 events! (see flyer)
• NEW: GS Week activity sheet, # & $ due back to Robin by 3/25 (earlier is great!)
• 3/8 mtg.is a “mommy & me” event – hope the mayor will proclaim GS Week
• NEW: 3/11, Troops 1809 & 1773 host final 1/2 day workshops for this year. "Jammin' Through the Years" March 11th, 2011, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, $/girl, location: tbd. (Flyer avail)
• 5/6-8: Spring encampment: Back to Traditional Camping. Be home by noon on Mother’s Day.
• Please start your (online) overnight orientation &/or water watcher training – avoid the spring rush!
• FYI: Robin colored membership discs at SU meetings. Buy up to 8 for $.07 each (24 minimum at council shop.) Buy single stars at council.) Bring in extras from the bottom of your troop box.
• (emailed) Google DOODLE deadline March 2
• NEW: 4/16-17 Revolutionary weekend: drop by Livingston-Benedict House in Parsippany
• NEW: 4/29: Montville troop: 80s party for all levels: - & non-GS girlfriends (see flyer)

• NEW: GSLI applications expected out this month - for girls who will be 13 & over by Nov 10. The “2011 National Girl Scout Leadership Institute (GSLI): Leadership and Innovation…the Next 100 Years” is Nov. 10-13 in Texas for > 1,200 girls from across the nation, an integrated track within the National Convention.
• GSNNJ Travel Group - Once upon a Princess Ball – GS Daisies & Brownies (emailed)
• NEW: GSNNJ closed: Monday, February 21, 2011; Wednesday, March 23, 2011
• GSNNJ's Annual Meeting/Adult Recognition Event: Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Come see the outstanding leaders/volunteers of GSNNJ & PGS recognized. PGS has 5-7 voting rep. but all are welcome to attend. at The Skylands, 792 Route 10 West, Randolph, NJ, beginning at 6:30 pm. Please register at www.gsnnj.org
• NEW: See Cindy for GSNNJ 50/50 Raffle Tickets: GSNNJ will sell $5.00 chances towards our 50/50 cash raffle. First prize winner will receive 30% of the pool, and the second prize winner will receive 20%. Winner need not be present.
• NEW: “troop trip”/TGAA forms must have signatures on them – not typed name(s).

• NEW: “handbook replacement” The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting sd/ be available in August! one book available for each program level – GS Daisy through Ambassador. One for each girl & a sufficient leader resource.
• From April 2011 – June 2011, volunteers should… 1. NOT purchase Badge and Handbooks. 2. Finish up earned awards that girls have started working on. Be advised: awards will only be available in limited quantities. 3. Eagerly guide girls toward one of three available Journeys. 4. Consult updated discontinued list
• Summer 2011, volunteers should… 1. Purchase the NEW Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, available August 2011. 2. Eagerly guide girls toward one of three available Journeys. 3. Explore council patch programs.
• NEW: Some “to be retired” awards are already sold out at GSUSA. GSNNJ might still have them on their shelves, call them. If you are really interested, call other councils – or email their service centers, many have their addresses on their council websites.

• NEW: Bank fees for “new” Soverign business accounts
• Non-GS insurance: order with NEW “Plan 2 form” 2 weeks before event. Multiple dates on 1 form, e.g. all court of awards for a school – when the total is still < $5. Send to council with your check.
• NEW: "If an event is snowed out or must be cancelled at the last minute due to extenuating circumstances and you have already submitted a Plan 2 insurance form and payment, call Eileen Schnatter, 973-927-7722 x19 within 24 hours of the cancellation of the event and provide the new date. If she is not in, contact Lissette Tufaro at 973-927-7722, ltufaro@gsnnj.org. If the insurance company receives notification within the 24 hour time frame, you will not be required to pay for insurance a second time. If notification is not received within 24 hours, you will be required to submit an additional check.”
  This is the policy of the insurance company, not GSNNJ.
• Reminders: Sell >= 1 thing in Fall & Cookie Sales per troop to do a money earner in the next year!
• Overdue: Fin reports for 2009-2010 w/ last bank stmt. Anything (except a GSNNJ LINK program or a “regular meeting”) needs a TGAA to SUM in advance, (all workshops, money earners & booth sales) Training Reminders: (read your recent email AND)
  • Please get age level training if you have not yet (especially leaders for kindergarteners, 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade!).
  • Overnight Orientation – please make sure one adult per troop gets this before mid-April so we will be set at the encampment. New multiple- choice format for self-study course. Please recycle any previous copies & use the new from www.gsnnj.org in the Leaders Corner --> Training
  
  Signups: PGS committees, troops to do flag ceremonies/openings for PGS meetings; could your girl share a neat craft, way to teach knots, a song she/they love, or … ? Fall Recognition Ceremony Comm.
  PGS meetings: (back at main library) Tues. 3/8, Thurs. 4/14, Tues. 5/10 & Thurs. 6/9 (main lib.
  
  e-mail since January meeting
  I did promise more emails - but with better titles and more on topic. I did not expect this many in a month!
  • PGS: Training News
  • PGS: 2/17 mtg notice - see you there!
  • PGS: Girl Scouts doodle for $$? (google contest)
  • PGS: Travel Group hosts: Once Upon a Princess Ball!! in Mt Lakes 5/14 (for GS Daises & Brownies)
  • PGS: 4 for Older Girls from GSNNJ (to only OG leaders)
  • PGS: Brownie GS Around the World Wkshop from GSNNJ for April 3 (to GS Brownies leaders only)
  • PGS: Know any Outstanding GS Volunteers?
  • PGS: no new bank news
  • PGS: late Jan updates
  • PGS: Use debit card! / New banking rule
  • PGS: field trip ideas
  • PGS: Tax return time is coming
  • PGS: online resources: patches, mazes & coloring pages
  • PGS: Anyone up for "Jeans for Teens"? (to OG leaders only)
  • PGS: and flyers from Jan. PGS meeting
  • PGS: Cookie news
  • PGS: Just in case...color dance ((to troops in elementary schools - snow date: 2/4)

  == January 2011 Agenda

  Community Service:
  Simple options include: coupon clipping, cards for servicefolk, and "for a smile" coloring.
  High schoolers needed to help with a charity 5K race - details to follow.
  Service (does your troop have anything new for us? ) All flyers need GSNNJ approval before going out – even for food drives. You can send them through Robin). Review:
  • (PGS) Reuse GS uniforms & handbooks
  • (Audrey going for Gold) Sports equipment collection continues through March
  • (troop 207) still collecting coupons & cancelled stamps. (bring to SU mtgs for Mary L.)
  Product Sales
  Cookie sale start Saturday, 1/8. TGAAs required for all booth sales.
  Cookie Diva Michele D Initial Order Taking Period: January 8 – 30, $4/box. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is more than a money earner – it can fuel dreams, help with goals, provide a hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial program. Cookie delivery to town: ___; Money due to SU: ____; Booth sales March 5-27 (need a TGAA). All Sales through March 27 will all count to recognitions.
  PGS & troop plans/ideas When asked what the girls should do, Juliette responded "What do the girls WANT to do?"
  • Please start your (online) overnight orientation &/or water watcher training – avoid the spring rush!
  • GS Cadettes: You can get additional support from: Mary F & Michele D
  • Would your troop host a SU roller-skating event (money earned to fund troop printing!)? host a spring mother/daughter event? Want to “Brooklawn Night” replacement team – 2 sessions around Feb 1, 2, 3?
  • Discussion: Centennial Plans? ! NJ GS can walk across GW bridge! (What’s the best bridge in town for those of us who are not going so far? What do your girls want to do?)
  • Exchange Postcards for World Thinking Day with up to 5 other countries & GSUSA troops with www.mythinkingday.com (must be mailed to reach by 2/22 – so decide & start soon!)
  • Treasurer Report coming (hi Lisa!)
  PGS Events
  • Reminders: Color Dance (full) : Jan 7th; OG Winter Camping: January 21-23 (cabin assignments start on 1/3, RSVPS overdue!)
  • NEW: Me & My Guy Bowling: GS Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Feb. 27, (flyer to follow)
  • NEW: GS Week patch chosen, requirements coming, $.80/each
  • 2/17,meeting – moved to PHHS library (updated after meeting)
  • NEW: 3/8 mtg.is a “mommy & me” event – hope the mayor will proclaim GS Week. Looking for a troop to do the opening flag ceremony.
  • (
  • Spring encampment dates: May 6-8; topic tbd; early payment may get your troop tent/cabin preference. Have them mark their calendars now.
  • NEW: Peace Pole – relocation ceremony
  • NEW:FYI: Robin has the colored discs for membership stars at SU meetings. Buy up to 8 for $.07 each – instead of having to buy the minimum of 24 at the council shop. (The stars are sold one by one at council.) If you have extras at the bottom of your troop box, bring them in for others to use.
  GSNNJ News:
  • NEW: Retention period for forms.
  • Store: Riverdale office closed for renovation. Redeem your Troop Rebates by January 31, 2011.
  • NEW: Women of achievement donation (by SU) – vote?
  • GSNNJ <=9 delegates at the GSUSA 2011 Nat’l Convention; applications due 1/3/11. GSNNJ Member Forum(s) not yet re-re-scheduled. Awaiting more info on Nov. 2011 GSUSA Leadership Institute (in Houston) for GS >=14 years old. Probably Nov.7-9 with the option of attending the convention
  • Fall 2011 Volunteer Connections- Planning a day of networking, education, personal growth for volunteers
  • GSNNJ's Annual Meeting/Adult Recognition Event: Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Come see the outstanding leaders/volunteers of GSNNJ & PGS recognized. PGS will have 5-7 voting delegates/representative there, but more are welcome to attend.
  • NEW: Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Leader, “Rookie of the Year” and Outstanding Service Team Member nominations due: Feb. 7. (You can coordinate through Robin or send in directly.)
  GSUSA News
  • New Girl Scout Journeys “It’s your Story Tell It”: Sd/ be in shops. In this newest journey girls will hear, share & create stories, while gaining confidence and seeing that they can make a difference as leaders in their own lives and in the world. The girl books are $7.00 and the “How to Guide” Journey Book sets for leaders are $15.00. Titles: for GS Daisy –5 Flowers, 4 Stories, 3 Cheers for Animals; Brownie – A World of Girls; Junior – aMUSE; Cadette – Media; Senior – Mission: Sisterhood!; Ambassador – BLISS Live It!
    • Revised badge books in 2010. The list of discontinued badges & awards can be earned through 2012, but they have stopped making more physical awards – so if you want to be sure you have them, think ahead
    • Centennial kick-off: November 2011 during convention in Texas!
    • GS Global Action Patch $1.25/each: GS Daisies to Ambassadors learn about the 8 UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which aim to reduce extreme poverty by 2015 & address other critical world issues. Join a worldwide effort to address issues that affect girls & women. Req’ments: www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/global/global_action_patch
    • World Thinking Day: 2/22: GSUSA/WAGGGS theme for World Thinking Day 2011: girls worldwide say "empowering girls will change our world." GSUSA WTD patch $1 each, requirements: www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/global/world_thinking_day/ . WAGGGS’ focus countries represent the 5 WAGGGS regions: Bolivia (Western Hemisphere), Cyprus (Europe), Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa), Nepal (Asia/Pacific), Yemen(Arab Region).
  WAGGGS News
  PGS started with the WAGGGS theme of “Plant” on “Centennial Day” 2010. (April 10th, the 100th day of year). The theme for 2011 is “Grow”, and in 2012: “Share”.
  Paperwork
  Paperwork (GS year runs 1 October 2010 – 30 Sept)
  • NEW: GS Logo – Robin has some templates with the new logo. Ask her for them if you are doing a flyer. All flyers need council approval before distribution, you can go through Robin if you want. Please try to give 2 weeks so there is no rush.
    • Non-GS insurance: Mutual of Omaha has instituted some minor changes to their procedures for ordering additional insurance (Plan 2, Plan 3 PI). All requests must be made using the new form 2 weeks prior to the event. The new form is currently on the GSNNJ Web site and available at our Service Centers. Checks will now be made payable to “GSNNJ”. Multple dates can be on one form – say all the court of awards for one school – as long as the total # covered is under 44 people days.
    • Registration – Deliver forms to Cindy Warner AND roster printed from computer. Girls must be registered before they can attend meetings/events in October (or beyond). Unregistered girls can not sell GS stuff, nor register for GSNNJ events
    • Reminders: Overdue: Financial reports for (1 October 2009-2010) to SUM – with copy of latest bank statement. Due: new (annual) volunteer agreements for 2010-11 accepted by SUMs. Anything (except a GSNNJ LINK program or a “regular meeting”) needs a TGAA to an SUM – in advance. This includes money earners & booth sales.
    • Training Reminders: Please get your age level training (especially leaders for kindergarteners, 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade!). Consider http://girlscoutcprfa.webs.com/ to help with CPR & First Aid reminders.

  == November 2010 Draft Agenda

  Not yet posted

  email since last meeting included:

  • Nov meeting reminder (not yet sent!!!)
  • PGS: Starting the year: Where is everything?
  • PGS-2010-11 Survey 1: What do you want?
  • PGS: Workshops for adults & GS over 14 (in Somerset, 10/16)
  • PGS: Member Forums in October
  • PGS: Fall Sale Info
  • PGS: #1 Fall Product Sale Tip of the week #1
  • PGS: GS Events (Oct & Nov. 2010)
  • PGS: #2 Fall Product Sale Tip of the week #2
  • PGS: Workshop Info
  • PGS: GSNNJ Member Forums postponed (10/14)
  No October meeting. Please email us with any questions or issues - Cindy & Robin
  Next meeting Thursday, 11/11 -- bring any uniforms or handbooks to be re-used.
  

  == September 2010 Draft Notes

  Community Service:
  GS Ambassador Zoe runs "EMT Appreciation Day" on 9/16. rsvp to her. flyer emailed.
  (does your troop have anything for us? - love to see girls!)
  Collecting at SU meetings - or take to the troop leader involved:
  • coupons, canceled stamps - Mary L, Troop #
  • pink Yoplait lids
    
  • Sports equipment for a Gold project - call Audrey to arrange pickup/drop-off. Do not bring cleats & mitts & hockey sticks to the meeting please! Collecting through March 2010.
  
  Product Sales:
  Pick up order forms for nuts, candy & magazines & learn the dates. (PGS Head Nut returns ) Mary L Thank you Mary! All GS levels can sell. Must be registered for 2010-11. Get material at SU meeting or email Mary with troop #, # of girls & contact name & email/phone, so she can put out materials for your troop - in her GS bin at her house. Theme: “Design Your Future…Construct a Plan”.
  Dates: Girl Order Taking Period - October 2 - 29, 2010.
  • Troop Fall Product Sale Manager to enter orders by girl into the Nut.e system before midnight, November 1, 2010. All magazine paperwork must be returned to Mary Levoyer by November 3rd! (System expected to be slower Oct 30-Nov 1.) As ever, enter early if possible.
  • Paper for magazines to Mary by 3 Nov.
  • Nuts/candy to town: one of November 15 – 20.
  • Troop checks for payment to Product Sale Manager (Mary) no later than December 2nd, drop in SU mtg.
  (From August meeting: Be a Reader booklet “Design Your Future”. “Career Path Across America” Address Adventure activity poster.) Thanks for your cooperation in meeting the dates.
  Paperwork
  • Registration – Deliver forms to Cindy Warner (Who’s the incoming Registrar?) AND roster printed from computer. Girls must be registered before they can attend meetings/events in October (or beyond). Unregistered girls can not sell GS stuff, nor register for GSNNJ events.
    • Year-end details:
    • Overdue: Financial reports for (1 October 2009-2010) overdue to SUM
    • Due: new (annual) volunteer agreements for 2010-11 accepted by SUMs
    • Due: Names for all Bronze & Silver Awardees to Robin – to be listed in Fall Ceremony Program. All GS invited to the Recognition ceremony.
  • Reminder: Anything (except a GSNNJ LINK program or a “regular meeting”) needs a TGAA to an SUM – in advance. This includes money earners & booth sales.
  • Training Reminders: please get your age level training. Consider using http://girlscoutcprfa.webs.com to help with CPR & First Aid reminders.
  • NEW GS Logo – Robin hopes to get official get copies & use guidelines before October. “Girl Scouts is a magnetic irresistible place that is an essential part of girl culture and of being a girl today”. Please try to give her 2 weeks to approve flyers so there is no rush.
  
  Events:
  • Oct. 3: Fall Recognition Ceremony: All invited!
  • EMT Appreciation Day - same day as "Open Doors" for older GS at Rickabear - girls can do both.
  • Badges for Thinking Day - country not yet selected! They really work to keep award prices down.
  • Juliette Low's 150th birthday (10/31) -- 150 SWAP party? should we assemble 150 birthday cake kits for the food bank? 150 cupcakes?
    What would Daisy do? Common games included: blind man’s bluff, tag, bubble blowing, biographical nonsense (madlibs), nine-men’s morris, tic-tac-toe, and solitaire. She enjoyed creating paper dolls, painting, sculpting, drawing and writing, starring in plays. She wore beautiful gowns with bustles in the back, carried a fan and a parasol.
  GSNNJ News
  
  • Still times to create/run a station for Eco-Trek &/or Goblin Gala.
  • 2 new trainings: Adapting GS Program for girls with Special Needs and “Twilight”:Texting & Teen Relationships.
  • GSNNJ Member Forum: Tell them what you think for all/any GS 14 years old & up. To be scheduled this fall. (They are collecting info to present at Nat’l Council in Nov. 2011.)
  • Opening Doors for C/S/A: Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Lake Rickabear
  • Eco-Trek: Oct. 2 Anyone want to set up a PGS walk around the lake team? It’s only 1.2 miles!
  • Gobin Gala: Oct. 23-24
  • MOGISCA being sold – There are still some programs there in September. It did not make financial sense to kept 2 camps so close together so they kept the larger Glen Spey where GSNNJ also runs summer camps.
  • Destination applications due to Leela Kingman < lkingman@gsnnj.org> by Friday, November 12. National list of opportunities online. Expect the list to keep changing as new events are added!
  GSUSA:
  • Centennial kick-off: November 2011. Local GS got permission for NJ GS to walk across GW bridge! What’s the best bridge in town for those of us who are not going so far? Or are not so big on crowds?
  • October 31, 2010 – Juliette Low’s 150th birthday. (Halloween Sunday)
  WAGGGS News:
  • We started with the WAGGSG theme of “Plant” last year.
  • Centennial Day (April 10, 100th day of year): in 2011: Grow, and in 2012: Celebrate

  email since last meeting included:

  • COLLECTIONs: PGS: mtg reminder: Tuesday 9/7, 7pm
  • PGS: mtg reminder: Tuesday 9/7, 7pm
  • PGS: Thoughts for volunteers with troops in elementary school
  
  

  == August 2010 Partial Notes

  At the "drop-by" meeting troops picked up: new GSNNJ LINK, 2010-11 Parsippany Girl Scout calendar, "hold the date" for EMT Appreciation day, "Be A Reader" poster & pre-sales material. and dropped off: troop finance reports (although earlier would be better!), annual leader agreements, TGAAs for up coming trips, etc.
  If you missed it, go to Cindy's garage & check your troop's folder.
  There were displays on:
  • Badges for Thinking Day (money to be due soon, country not yet selected),
  • PGS events of the year,
  • Collection Ideas,
  • GS Religious Awards,
  • requests from Homeless Solutions,
  • new WAGGGS badges your girls can earn, and
  • Product Sales.
  
  Fall Product Sales: Order period starts 2 October
  Theme: Design Your Future…Construct a Plan. Girls must be registered to sell. Girls registered with Cindy as GS before 1 August will be able to earn an extra patch during Fall Sales.

  Coming: to be inserted: notes distributed, including notice of MOGISCA sale.

  email between June & August meetings included:

  • PGS: mtg reminder, Tues 8/24 7pm!
  • (for older girls only:) PGS: potential scholarship
  • PGS: Come out for Aug. 18th Blood drive & Marrow Info
  • PGS: Hold the date: "leader meetings" 2010-11
  • PGS: Summer 2010
  • PGS: New GS logo, Journey, new GSUSA ads, reading challenge
  • PGS: Peek at Fall
  • yarn collection
  • PGS: Paid internship (for troops entering 11th & 12th grades)
  • PGS: New bridging awards/early bird reminder
  • PGS: collections (help go for the Gold!) (to all & Alumnea)
  • (pending, not yet) June mtg minutes (will be for all troops)

  == June 2010 Notes

  Visitors: Girls working toward their Gold! Please pass the word on to your girls & their families about these events - love to help these girls as they go for their gold.

  MORE Gold Award events:

  • Monday , June 7, Meghan gets 10% of sales from Gourmet Cafe (Baldwin Road, across from Smith Field) - please mention GS while you're there. So in if your out for lunch/snack/dinner that day. (flyer on website too) 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5 - 8pm (she's still collecting for Costa Rico -- & she may be hosting another girl for her "coming of age!)
  • $4 PAWS for Pasta dinner on Tuesday, June 15, 5pm -- Missy's making meatballs & will talk about animal awareness - not just pets. pre-register please! (flyer on website too)
  • June 12 car wash, Parsippany High School (9am - 3pm), $5 (flyer on website too) Same day as Red Event at the High School so there will be things for kids to do there too!
  • Lisa is collecting (decent) shoes for "Soles for souls" - through mid-July. Call & she'll pick them up. Single shoes accepted too. (flyer to follow)
  • Audrey is collecting sports equipment through September - got any old cleats, no longer used bats, skates, etc. in the garage. Call & she'll pick it up! (flyer to follow)
  The GS year goes to September 30 - but early registration has started. Please do it online & please get the roster to Cindy by/before August 1st. Questions? email her Cindy Warner - Registrar

  Adult Recognition: GSNNJ recognized 6 of our volunteers as "outstanding leaders" and 6 as "outstanding volunteers" and 2 as "rookie of the year".

  Hope your school year's ending well. (We always want TGAAs if it's not in the LINK or a regular meeting.) Please add doing the Year-end financial reports, with bank statements to you lists. Next SU meeting: August - but we're still here for questions.

  Anyone have fall events to be announced? To run a station at Eco-Trek or Goblin Gala (both a t the closest camp in council!) you may want to meet over the summer.

  Still room on the Silver/Bronze committee for that PGS fall event. Date to be announced.

  email between the May and June meetings included:

  • PGS: expected: June Meeting reminder
  • PGS: overdue: May meeting minutes!
  • May 21: New bridging awards/early bird reminder / See you June 3rd?
  • May 19: PGS: GS events - esp. Gold!
  • May 16: PGS: "PGS: Memorial Day Parade" or "Mem. Day Parade RSVPs due"
  • May 7: PGS: Cookie Incentives are In

  == May 2010 Meeting Notes

  Website: (recently updated “Encampment” and “Songbook”)

  Adult Volunteers Needed: troops for fall &/or spring encampments, Service Unit Manager, PR person, Nominating comm., Comm/org’ers for Fall recognition, Centennial Celebration, recording secretary?

  Opening: Sang "Yes She Can"- probably the girls' favorite song from the encampment. There were encampment songbooks at the meeting for all leaders. Lyrics now also online on the new PGS Song page. Grade Level Tips

  Girls/visitors:

  • Gold Projects: Krista (May 8 car wash – raindate= xx),
  • Melissa (Animal Workshop)
  • Thank you Krista & Missy! (I think we saw Meghan stop by too)
  • Collecting: canceled stamps, coupons, “party favors & decorations”, modest quinceanera dresses
  • Lissette from GSNNJ – with volunteer position descriptions – You can make any position your own. It does not need to be done the same way each year. Fell free to call her with questions or if you are interested & want to talk.
  Product Sales – red xx revised
  • Cookie Incentives are IN wacth for an email from Michele for best times to pick them up. (to be picked up from Michele’s).
  • She is still sorting the 18 boxes – but would love the Mother’s Day present of having them out of her house.
  • Online voting for next year’s cookie recognitions coming. We’ll let you dates.
  • Fall candy/nut theme: “Design Your Future…Construct a Plan”.
  • If you reg. as an early bird there is an extra patch to be earned.
  Early Bird Registration & online details – Cindy W (RED: updated since meeting)
  • Please have everyone register online.
  • For “early bird” registration deadline: everything to Cindy by (or before) 1 August.
  • Pre-printed forms are at Cindy’s if you did not pick them up at the meeting – or there are forms online that you can print out. Cindy needs the white AND yellow copies.
  • No more membership cards but you (or the parents!) can print them online.
  GS Annual meeting – Same date/place as the Adult Recognition. Reps will. vote to approve GSNNJ financial & by-laws changes expected. We have 6 representatives this year Year-end details:
  • Do review the year with your girls – what worked & didn’t & why. What do you want from the SU or GSNNJ? Any & all feedback welcome, w/ a bit of tenderness, we volunteer too.
  • Schedule rooms; Reserve flags/bridges needed for Year-end Court of Awards (w/ Mary L.)
  • NOT ON AGENDA: Volunteers running school-wide bridging events received "bridging" or "thank you" patches. www.snappy logos has some adorable inexpensive bridging patches.
  • 2010-11 Service Team: anyone up to handling just TGAAs? Publicity? Love to announce in June.
  Paperwork
  • RED addition from meeting:) If your troop is not continuing next year, or you need another leader, please let us know asap. If your troop is merging, please let us know also.
  • Financial reports due to SUM June 2010
  • (RED revised from meeting:) Anything but a “regular meeting” (or a GSNNJ LINK event!) needs a TGAA. Really! Get to Mary Ann or Robin (note correction from meeting! Thanks to Stephanie’s careful reading!)
  • (annual) volunteer agreements for 2010-11 accepted
  • Every first aid kit needs: non-latex gloves, GSNNJ accident/incident form, GSNNJ contact phone #s (& most should have a sanitary pad. Few girls plan ahead for their very 1st period)
  • Robin needs to know of any troop or school that has a website url name (www.___) & a password to pass to council - GSNNJ needs to know all GS websites (not Yahoo/Google groups).
  Community Service
  • Money earner at Five Below all month – take your coupon for the GS Gold to get a share.
  • For council to help us with an in-town day camp for young GS, we’d need to find a place & a couple of older girls to help out! It may be getting late already…
  • Reminder: OK to collect $ for Haiti thru 1 Sept (details from GSNNJ already emailed) RED revision: yes, you still need a money earner form, etc.
  Training Reminders:
  • Next New Leader Orientation(NLO) expected in August – for any new co-leaders coming in, or those interested in GS Daisies in the fall. Contact Sue Steinberg. Thank you Sue!
  • Leaders/co- of 1st, 3rd or 5th graders need GSNNJ training for the next GS level.
  • (Consider Bronze, Silver or Gold Award training too). Revision – summer dates available
  Travel Group Money earner: car magnets (address now on their flyer!) Events (updated since meeting’s copy) Red xx addition: Attendance at workshops has been down – wonder if it is since badges, and IPs are not longer required. Troops are less interested in running an encampment since it probably can not count as a Silver Award project. (Mary Ann to confirm with council)
  • 5/1 – May Day craft drop-in for 1st, 2nd & 3rd graders (boys & girls!) at main library
  • 5/22 & 29 – Animal Awareness Workshop (pre-register) at main Parsippany library
  • 5/25 Parsippany Scout Government Day for OG (& Boy Scouts) usually leave school a bit early & get bused over. Grades: 6th & up
  • 5/31 Parsippany Mem. Day Parade: Any troops can march, contact Mary F. (see flyer)
  • (not discussed at meeting:) What do we want for the Centennial? (3/10&4/12, 2011, Nov. 2011, 3/10 & 4/12/2012…)
  • Reminder: NJ “Destination” (200 girls from NJ, 50 from GSNNJ) Through the Looking Glass: The Media & The Mirror-What do you see? July 23 - 25, 2010 in Lakewood. Details? lkingman@gsnnj.org
  • addition xx red – Florida org. collecting hair (human hair, dog hair, wool) for mats to soak oil & help protect our shoreline & environment. Flyer available.
  Next meeting: Thursday, June 6th, starts 6:45mingle, 7pm-meet
  Expect “drop-by” in August to get a calendar & LINK.
  Handouts: 2010-11 registration forms & instr., Mem. Day parade flyer, Songbook, Annual finance forms, annual leader/co-leader renewal,

  == April 2010 Draft Meeting Agenda

  Lots of flyers on the piano. To be added to the website.

  Encampment meeting started at 7:30 - attendees should also have gotten the packet electronically on 4/15 or 4/16.

  Adult Volunteers Needed: Service Unit Managers/Apprentice, Committee/org’ers for Fall recognition, Centennial Celebration, Maize Maze…

  Girls/visitors: - Gold Award Projects: Meghan, Rachel, Krista

  Product Sales

  • Cookie Summary – Michele D
  Business
  • Annual Meeting (May 12) reps – We have 6 this year – register online – thanks!
  • Year-end details: Schedule rooms; Reserve flags/bridge with Mary Levoyer as needed for Year-end Court of Awards; Financial reports due to SUM June 2010; new (annual) volunteer agreements for 2010-11 accepted; Blank girl/adult registration forms expected at May SU meeting. Need new SUMs
  • Paperwork Reminders:
    • We need a TGAA for every event that is not a "regular meeting". You want to be insured & the kids safe.
    • GSNNJ needs to know all GS websites (but not Yahoo or Google groups). Give Robin url name (www.___) & a password to pass to council.
  • Community Service
    • TC/TOs – are you continuing next year?
    • NEW: For council to help us with an in-town day camp for young GS, we’d need to find a place & a couple of older girls to help out!
  • Training Reminders
    • Online at GSNNJ for: Water Watcher & Overnight Orientation
    • You can register your CPR & FA exp. dates at http://girlscoutcprfa.webs .com to get reminders!
  • Money Earner: Car magnets from travel group (flyer)
  • Handouts: Patches for GS Week, Princess Party, “early bird” reg., volleyball check,
  • Events
    • April 10th – Celebration Day - WAGGGS 100th anniversary & GSUSA’s 100th Anniv (3/12/12).
    • April 17-18: Day in the Life of the Livingstons: 1780 – (flyer), Free, Livingston-Benedict House, 25 Old Parsippany Road, Parsippany. (part of Morris County Rev. Times Weekend)
    • April 22 – Leader Appreciation Day – Thank You!
    • NEW: April 22 – - (GS) Travel for Tea 4/22 to a real castle in Paterson! (flyer attached) ($24/person. 4:00 PM. Can attend as a troop or as mom and me.)
    • April 22 - Women of Distinciton - SU donated tehatre tickets this year to GSNNK's largest fundraising event for the year.
    • Thursday, April 22, 2010 - Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day – Mostly for ages 8 -18. Can visit: www.daughtersandsonstowork.org GSUSA usually has patch for this annual event. Mary Ann’s office has an opportunity for OG who want to help out that day (involves skipping school) service or ldrship hours – their guest are expect to be pre-teens.
    • PGS Bee-U-tify Encampment: FULL at 223 – Adult attendees meeting tonight 7:30 PM – Leader Packets will be sent later tonight via email!
    • FYI: (Parsippany celebrates) Earth Day – lots of events around Morris County – some free (TGAAs please!)
    • NEW: FREE Melinda Carrol GS song webinars online, register ASAP with links: (2 sessions)
    • Friday, 4/30 10:30, (Parsippany) Arbor day celebration (free seedlings)
    • May 1 – library program – by one of our troops
    • 5/25 Parsippany Scout Government Day – (flyer avail) Co-ed program middle & high school) Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts, Lave school early & get bused to town hall!
    • Mem. Day Parade: Any troops can march, contact Mary F. who is organizing this year.
    • NJ “Destination” Through the Looking Glass: Ldership Conference for Girls. The Media & The Mirror-What do you see? July 23 - 25 in Lakewood. Details? lkingman@gsnnj.org
    • Interested in Venturers (coe-ed Boy Scouts for teens)? There may be a Parsippany crew starting.

    Thinking about Year-end eval?

    Next meetings: Monday, May 3rd (expect 2010-11 Reg. forms), & Thursday, June 3rd, 6:45/7 – 8:45/9

    Visit www.partroygs.org for latest information on activities
    

    == March 2010 Agenda

    Thanks to everyone for coming out - the girls, volunteers, our mayor, the press!

    opening: Flag ceremony
    Mayoral Proclamation of GS Week
    Product Sale Update
    Upcoming GS workshops
    Looking for suggestions for how our girls want to celebrate GS's 100th birthday in 2 years.

    == February 2010 Agenda

    opening: Candlelight WTD ceremony (We did not sing "This Little Scouting Light" (lyrics: "This little Scouting light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. [Repeat x2] Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.")
    
    Presentation of Blue Star Awards to troop 2185.
    
    Product Sale News: Last chance to pick up Fall Product Incentives.
    Cookie News
    • Money for initial orders due to Michele no later than 3/14
    • final $ due: 3/31 for later orders & booth sales.
    • 2 days of pickup – Tuesday 2/23 for younger girls, and Thursday 2/25 for older girls
    • New! Council- Wide Booth Sale Opportunities!
    • Let us know about all troop booth sales – we have a set of cookie costumes in town. .
    Meeting Highlights:
    • 2 SUM openings for 2010 - 2012. Openings also for PR person &/or recording secretary. (Volunteer & we'll pay half of your 3/6 event fee!)
    • April 23-25 Encampment registration Open: Bee-U-tiful! Older girls can still sign up to create or run a station. $54/person, same as last year. Friday dinner on either brown bag, stop enroute to camp, or if you have a camp-certified leader cook over a fire when you get to Mogisca. Still room for an older girl troop to run something. Let Mary Ann or Robin know.
    • World Thinking Day: Feb.22 - Karen got the world "Badges for Thinking Day" Troops who earned badges from Australia should have them now - or contact Karen. We don't know what country will be selected next year but expect to commit in September or October again if your troop is interested. (Thank you Karen!)
    • March 7 - GS Sunday celebration - for GS of any/all denomination/religion at St Chris this year. time to follow
    • GS turns 98: March 12, 2010. Suggestions to get your girls more involved in the week & a chance to earn a patch $1 or $1.25 GS Week activity sheet. If you want to also order a patch, contact Robin.
    • If your troop is doing something for World Thinking Day and want to buy a WAGGGS WTD badge, contact Robin.
    • GS Centenial Celebrations start: April 10. This year's theme is "plant".
    • GSNNJ camp flyers out. Horse camp & those teen weeks traditionally fill up fastest.
    • New SU events: bowling in March coming, GS Sunday at St. Chris this year, volleyball in March, patch for GS Week!
    • Long new event list - including new dates for LINK events
    • Visitor & SLide presentation: Mary Ann Lewis from GSNNJ: on Camping & Outdoor Programs
    POST-Meeting Update:
    • March 28 - PGS He/She Bowling for Daisies/Brownies/Juniors - flyer coming
    • March 15 - OG "Me & My Guy" Volleyball - flyer out

    == January 2010 prelim Notes

    Visitors: (thank you!)
    Max to show LMK
    Judy Ginty & Janice Fowler from GSNNJ - to explain training and forms & answer questions
    Robin also showed us a bit of this website.
    New business?
    Cookie Sales Updates - lots of dates coming, ebudde passwords being worked on. Cookie pickup Feb 23, 24 & 25. We need volunteers to help sort & hand out cookies before anything can be scheduled. Next new "troop cookie manager training" on 1/13. "Renewal training" coming but notr scheduled. Contact Michele to make sure you are on her list for training.
    World Thinking Day (2/22) News
    Last minute Winter Camping Info - canceled. Possible Feb/March date
    Flyers should all be on this website - check the calendar.

    == December 2009 Notes

    Flyers online if you missed the December meeting.
    Product Sales All Fall Sales incentives are in. If you find an error, let Mary L. know right away.
    Cookies: Please encourage your troop parents to decide on a troop cookie manager. They need to be a register GS and return the signed "manager" form to Michele D. so before your troop can get into the cookie system.
    Michele is planning 2 trainings - one for "brand new" troop cookie managers & one for "old hands". The systems are all different than last year -- and even than 2 years ago when we used the same cookie baker. If you are interested in training, please let Michele know. (One may be on 1/5.)
    

    == November 2009 draft minutes

    Girl presenters: anyone this month?
    Collections: Yoplait lids. Are we done with Coats & boots & yarn?
    Product Sales: Delivery date confirmation: 11/18. Money due to SU 1 December
    Cookie Workshop in January for younger girls.
    Community Events:
    Caroling in December
    Speakers: TGAA/COI info - Lissette from GSNNJ; maybe some music - Lisa?; Cookie Forms;
    Registration News?
    MEETING MINUTES can never replace all that goes on at a meeting & do not reflect every question asked & answered. We understand that not everyone can make every meeting, but do try to send a co-leader or rep. from your troop. Flyers will be attached to a separate email - or check the website.
    There is more than just minutes in this email - but not all the questions/issues that we touched on at the meeting. You may want to skim & see what is relevant to you -- and check the EVENTS list - lots of new & fun events planned!. GSNNJ LINK programs with openings are listed at the very bottom.
    (New leaders - if Paramus does not have your "Volunteer Application" you will not be receiving the flyers saying where girls will be meeting. Please download & mail in the form which can be found at: >http://www.gsnnj.org/FORMS/Application%20for%20Volunteer%20Position%20in%20GS.pdf from page >http://www.gsnnj.org/forms.html
    REMINDER December Meeting is a "drop-in" - TUESDAY, December 1st at Michele Darling's house, assume it'll take 15-20 minutes. ONLY between 10:30 - 4 or 6:30 - 8 (530 Allentown Road, corner of Allentown and Sterling/Stirling, phone 560-1606) Please bring your troop check for any Fall Product Sales, Cookie Manager Form, see what's going on & pick up Cookie info for the sale starting in January.
    NEW: GSUSA is doing a survey for Safety-Wise and is asking the question, "What activity checkpoints do your volunteers use most?" If you reply to me , I can combine our answers & get them into GSUSA.
    Minutes:
    Presentation on paperwork by Lissette from council: You can have 2 regular meetings listed on your troop paperwork (to change or add go thru our registrar Cindy). For anything else you need to submit a TGAA to Mary Ann or Robin to be approved/signed. Seems we should be seeing more TGAAs – or more troops should be “going out”!
    If the trip is to someplace not in the LINK, and not a school or government building, please check for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) on the gsnnj.org list. When? Almost always. For example, if you are going to Rita’s for an ice cream, you don’t need to check, but if you are going for a tour of the kitchen, you would need to make sure they have a COI. If you are not sure, ask Robin or Lissette ((973) 927-7722 ext.38)
    “First aiders” are only needed when you are more than 15 minutes from a hospital, ambulance, open medical facility… so most hikes or overnights need one, but not too many other trips. A GS first aider must have valid First Aid & CPR certification on file with GSNNJ. To see who in your troop is a valid “first aider”, contact Robin or Lissette with their names. (The training files do not have troop numbers with the names…yet.)
    We do encourage car pooling and use of mass transit for GS – but drivers should be approved by council – using the Volunteer Agreement form (unless they were approved under MAGSC). To find out who has submitted the form, can work with girls &/or can drive, send their names to Lissette (ltufaro@gsnnj.org) so that she can check. 11 new troops this year! and a number of new GS from 2nd – 9th grades! Welcome New Leaders!
    COLLECTIONS:
    Pink Yoplait lids - $ for cancer - to Robin's porch or the 12/1 meeting - flyer ready
    coupons (up to 5 months old) - military families overseas can still use them! - flyer ready canceled stamps (with postmarks please) - shared flyer with above note: no coat or boot drive planned for this year
    
    Thank you Mary F. – for Knollwood recruitment night!
    Thank you – Carole Z. for our 2nd annual Maze maize!
    
    EVENTS:
    • Cookie training for any/all "Cookie troop managers" - expected in December (awaiting info)
    • (All levels) 11/27 - Montville troop Ice Skating Click for flyer.
    • 11/28 - Boonton’s Sat after Thanksgiving Holiday parade. too late for this year but “think floats” for next year.
    • (OG) 12/1 - Servipalooza - $3 + - flyer ready
    • (all) 12/5 - Montville troop Chocolate Challenge - flyer ready
    • (all) 12/14 - PGS troop Crazy Hat Roller Skating, 1:30 – 3:30 - flyer ready
    • (all) 12/Sunday - PGS Caroling - ?5pm – 7pm? in December (flyer coming)
    • (D/B/J) 12/12 - Princess Party – flyer ready
    • (grades 7 - 12) 1/9 - Montville troop bowling – flyer ready
    • (D/B/J) 1/8: - Color Dance: Blue $ + can of food - flyer ready
    • (all) 1/9 - Cookie Sales begin (on your honor)
    • (D, B, J, Cad) 1/10 - Montville troop Scrapbooking Workshop – flyer ready
    • (C/S/A) 1/8-9 - PGS Older girl winter camping, Jockey Hollow (flyer coming)
    • (D,B,J) 1/16 - PGS Cookie Workshop in January for younger girls (flyer coming)
    • (vol) Sat. 3/6 - “Volunteers Connect” Event, Parsippany, 9:00am to 4:30pm
    • Girls - give us your opinions on Parsippany/PGS clothes... we're doing a re-design to have a flyer ready in August, for delivery before the 2010 holiday season.
    GGNNJ Gingerbread Wonderland is full! – You can still go with your own troop at a “public time”, just fill in your TGAA. GSNNJ hopes to offer the GS only time again next year! PRODUCT SALES:
    • 11/18 - Candy/Nut pickup was yesterday. Thank you for helping make it work.
    • Your "cookie mom" ("troop cookie manager") needs to sign this year's Cookie Manager Form (including an email) to be able to access training. Do you know who it will be this year? We recommend you get your form in on or before 12/1 - so they can start.
    • 2010 Cookie Program Dates: Back to "Little Brownie Baker", $4/box.
    • Girl Order Taking Period - January 9 - 31, 2010 (no money earners can be held during this time)
    • This year's cookies: Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Samoas, Thin Mints Trefoils, Lemon Chalet Cremes (delicious sandwich cookies, with a zesty lemon crème filling, to honor our “Our Chalet” in Switzerland), Dulce de Leche (Latin inspired caramel chip cookies) and Thank U Berry Munch (with gratitude and premium cranberries, sweetened with creamy white fudge chips).
    • Cookie Delivery - est. February 23, 2010 through March 6, 2010
    • Booth Sale Dates - March 6, 2010 through March 28, 2010 (You can start to reserve spots now.)
    • COMING: online training should be available to volunteers 24/7! You'll be able to log on to www.littlebrownie.com & click on the “Cookie VIP eTraining” link, then “request access” and fill out the required information for login information to be emailed to you. (You will need to have filled in your Cookie Manager form to Michele D. first.)
    • Girls can continue to take orders after January 31st. Girls will earn recognitions, and troops will earn proceeds on every box sold through March 28th! Recognitions should be shipped in mid-May.
    
    GSNNJ – Remember to submit rebates for Sept/Oct Journey & uniform purchase. Girls must be registered before troop meetings, go on trips or participate in product sales. Don’t hold up your whole troop reg. for a few girls. New Leaders – Take NLO with Sue before your “basics” class from GSNNJ. Two GSNNJ Arts and Talent Showcase and Career Expos in 2009 - Both programs at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne. The showcase, open to all registered GSNNJ Girl Scouts will be during Girl Scout Week, March 13. Come celebrate 98 years of Girl Scouting. Career Expo, open to girls in grades 7 – 12 will be April 21. Details to come in December/Jan.
    Girl Scout News: Still time to join the WTD postcard exchange. Set a date for your school's WTD celebration. (5th graders expect to be invited to Intervale) Maybe even set a date for your schools’ year-end Court of Awards
    I am loving the “Road Map For Your Year” (with Journeys!) > http://www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/maps/
    Learning to Lead – Empower Girls By Connecting Them GLobally – On 10/29, Girl Scouts of the USA, CARE, Seventeen Magazine and The Documentary Group kicked off a new partnership “The Power of Girls, to “connect girls worldwide and mobilize them around important global issues, including the critical role that girls’ education and leadership plays in addressing poverty. In true Girl Scout style, The Power of Girls puts girls at the heart of a conversation about the most important issues of our time. Along with all this was the launch of The Power of Girls Pledge that urges American girls to learn about issues affecting girls worldwide, share their findings with friends, and take action. Take the pledge now! Sign up here: http://www.girlscouts.org/thepowerofgirls/
    Justine R.E.A.L. Girl Contest – GSUSA has a new editorial partnership with Justine magazine, so Justine’g got a contest open only to Girl Scouts (ages 13 – 19). Girl Scouts everywhere are encouraged to tell the world how they are "Remarkable, Energetic, Aspirational Leaders" and working to make the world a better place in their local communities and beyond. by entering the Justine R.E.A.L. Girl Contest where the prize is a feature in the magazine. The winner will be featured in a Justine article & win a trip to their offices in Memphis, Tennessee, for a professional photo shoot. Submissions accepted until mid-January 2010. For more information & contest rules, check out Justine Magazine! Good luck...http://justinemagazine.com/girl_scouts_real_girl.htm
    In December of 2009, the Girl Scout Research Institute will release Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens and Tweens Today. The study examines the ethical beliefs and values of young people today and how those have changed as compared to a landmark Girl Scout study on the same issue conducted in 1989. Special implications for Girls and Girl Scouting. ((The findings of Good Intentions also corroborate the results of more recent Girl Scout. Research Institute research reports, especially Change It Up! (2008), a detailed study of girls’ attitudes toward leadership. That study showed very clearly that young people are serious about their lives and their society, and that girls in particular have a strong desire to play a major role in building our country’s future. It is also an imperfectly realized desire. In the United States today, women still constitute a very small minority among the top ranks of political, business, and academic leadership. For nearly 100 years the Girl Scouts has operated on the principle that girls, given the opportunity, can be whatever they want to be in this world. Our mission is to help create that opportunity by finding and nurturing the leader in every Girl Scout, and by working - both on our own and in concert with a broad community of like-minded organizations - to create a world that is readier for female leadership. Good Intentions tells us that girls are on the right path: our job is to help them move forward.))
    The 2010 Learning and Development Conference will take place Friday, July 30th, through Sunday, August 1st, 2010, at the Edith Macy Conference Center. GSUSA has had a 90% rebate on lodging for some of these conferences.
    Open PGS volunteer positions:
    • adults: 3rd SUM, next year we need 2 new SUMs, TC/TO, committee members
    • “hours for girls”: run a SU opening ceremony (any age);
    • for older girls – help us learn how to teach a song or craft or clapping game
    
    SU meetings: To help us keep girls at the start of the meeting, tell is when they’re coming. Dates: (Tuesday, Dec. 1 "drop in" 10:30am - 4pm, 6:30 - 8pm, at Michele D’s), Thursday at the main library: Jan. 7, Feb. 11, March 11, April 15, May 6, & June 3.
    Other items of interest:
    Discover, connect, take action “"Share the Season" Holiday Patch Program 2009” from GS of West Central FL. Orders must be in by 12/7. http://www.gswcf.org/files/df1b4a4d-d5c5-4bca-b.pdf
    Girl Scouts of CT ’s Invasive Plant Patch program fits in with learning about invasives in our area.
    GS of Colorado has posted 6 meeting plans for GS Daisy, Brownies & Juniors - Easy to follow plans for leaders planning their first meetings – to follow as is, pick and choose pieces, use them as a guideline to see others might plan. Pdf files one line (Sept. 2009) www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/content.home/iPageContentCategoryID/365
    Girl Scouts of Central Indiana ( http://www.girlscoutsindiana.org/quirks/quirksindex.htm ) has an online magazine for Girls in grades 6-12 called QUIRKz, written by girls, for girls. It features articles to read followed by activities for the girls to complete to fulfill one or more requirements in the Journeys books.
    November 2009 Scientific American has an article on high rise farming for GS Seniors doing Sow What and on getting all our energy from wind, water and solar for GS Cadettes doing Breathe or GS Juniors doing their Journey. Another leader suggested looking at the http://www.good.is/ website.
    Join thousands of others in gathering valuable environmental and climate change information from across the country. Project BudBurst engages the public in making careful observations of the phenophases such as first leafing, first flower, and first fruit ripening of a diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses in their local area. Download the Steps to Start your Project BudBurst investigations! www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/
    Youth Service America is currently accepting applications for State Farm® Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants to support service-learning projects that culminate on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, 2010. School and community educators across the United States and Canada (select provinces) can apply for up to $1,000 in funding for youth-led projects. Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy integrating meaningful community service with academic study and reflective practice to enrich learning, build civic engagement, and strengthen communities. State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning grant applicants are encouraged to develop projects that launch on Martin Luther King Day of Service, January 18, 2010, and culminate on the weekend of GYSD, April 23-25, 2010. For the State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant application, please visit, www.YSA.org/awards
    Do you know a talented young girl? Check this out... Calling all rappers and singers with skills - you could open for Queen Latifah on her national tour. Create a one minute original video performance that showcases your talent and tell us how you Ignite Your Persona. You could be handpicked by Queen to be the opening act at an upcoming tour date and earn the opportunity to be featured in a Cover Girl ad. Open to all females 13 and older who are legal residents of the US (excluding Maine). Contest ends 11/07/09. Official Rules: http://www.covergirl.com/persona/Rules.htm
    Details of “pledge” mentioned above:
    Empower Girls by Connecting Them Globally (subset of this is above in agenda)
    Learning To Lead – On 10/29/2009 Girl Scouts of the USA, CARE, Seventeen Magazine and The Documentary Group kicked off a ground-breaking partnership, called The Power of Girls, to “connect girls worldwide and mobilize them around important global issues, including the critical role that girls’ education and leadership plays in addressing poverty. In true Girl Scout style, The Power of Girls puts girls at the heart of a conversation about the most important issues of our time.
    Along with all this was the launch of The Power of Girls Pledge that urges American girls to learn about issues affecting girls worldwide, share their findings with friends, and take action – supported by Seventeen Magazine.
    Take the Pledge, right away!
    It's hard to believe but most of the 800 million girls around the world are treated differently from boys. In some parts of the world, simply being born a girl means being kept from going to school and told to just do chores and raise a family.
    Yet, did you know, that the more education a girl gets, the more likely she is to have a healthy family, a solid income to invest back into her community, and a vision for her future? When a girl thrives, so do whole communities. Pretty amazing, right?
    Empowering girls today is a global issue. There are girls everywhere in the world, including the United States, who aren't treated fairly. We have the power to change this and it starts with YOU!
    Take the pledge to learn more about issues girls face today and spread the word. You will be joining a powerful grassroots movement that's changing the lives of girls everywhere!
    Take the pledge now! Sign up here: http://www.girlscouts.org/thepowerofgirls/
    I pledge to do at least one of the action items listed below. 1.. I will take 10 minutes to learn more about the issues girls face around the world 2.. I will share at least one of the e-cards below 3.. I will post my Pledge on Facebook 4.. I will Tweet about my Pledge 5.. I will I.M. at least 10 of my friends about my Pledge 6.. I will friend my Senator or Representative on Facebook and send them a message about The Power of Girls! 7.. I will print out the Pledge and post it on my locker or in my diary 8.. I will make my next school project about helping girls 9.. I will make sure my BFF pledges in the next 10 days! 10.. I will share what I have learned with all of my friends
    “ © 2009 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. All Rights Reserved.
    http://www.care.org/getinvolved/advocacy/pdfs/agenda2008/sp_girlslead.pdf?s_src=ShortURL&s_subsrc=GirlScout
    Thank you!
    SU meetings: To help us keep girls at the start of the meeting, let us know when they are coming to present. Dates: (Tuesday, Dec. 1 "drop in" 10:30am - 4pm, 6:30 - 8pm), (presentations encouraged at:) January 7, February 11, March 11, April 15, May 6, and June 3. (Downstairs at the main Parsippany library except December.)
    OPENINGS in GSNNJ programs:
    (D/B) Winter Birding: Looking for a great activity to do with Girl Scout Daisies or Brownies in the winter? Come to Jockey Hollow Camp and enjoy learning about some of the common winter birds in our area. Examine stuffed birds, discuss the bird’s characteristics and listen to bird calls. Learn how to use binoculars and take them along as we go birding! Each girl will make her own bird feeder to take home to enjoy the winter birds in her own backyard! Award Helper: Girl Scout Brownie Watching Wildlife; EcoExplorer Try-it Location: Jockey Hollow Mendham, NJ Date: Sat, Feb. 20 or Feb. 27, 2010, Sun., Feb. 21 or Feb. 28, 2010 Time: Sat. 10 a.m.-noon or 12:30-2:30 p.m. or 3-5 p.m. Sun. 12:30-2:30 p.m. or 3-5 p.m. Grade: K-3 Fee: $7 per person Min: 12 girls Max: 30 girls. Opening: Nov. 16, 2009
    Warm Winter’s Night for Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors - page 49 and 79 of the Link. Where else can you work toward the completion of the Dog Mushing Award? This fun, overnight activity is January 15 – 16 at Lake Rickabear and yes, you will sleep indoors.
    Snow Jam for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors – pages 110 and 136 of the Link. Skiing or snowtubing, the choice is up to the girls. Join Girl Scouts from around NJ for this two night program at Lake Rickabear. Crushing Online- Cadette Girl Scouts are invited to this new and timely program stressing internet safety and the pitfalls of finding dates and romance via the internet. Pre-teens and teens will have the opportunity to speak frankly about their fears and learn how to use social network sites in a responsible and careful way. An interactive DVD and role-playing are part of the program design. Dates include: Saturday, April 5, 11 – 1 or 2 – 4 at the Randolph Service Center. Fee is just $8 per girl. More information about this program is available in our Link or by contacting Leela Kingman at (201) 967-8100 ext. 241or lkingman@gsnnj.org
    S.W.A.P.S. Stop- There are still openings for this upcoming program celebrating the fun Girl Scout tradition of S.W.A.P.S.! Junior Girl Scouts can participate at either our Lake Rickabear site on Saturday, Dec. 5 or Jockey Hollow on Saturday, March 20. Times for both dates are noon -2:30 or 4 to 6:30. Cost is just $10 per person and includes a pizza party and materials. For more details contact Laurie Howell at (201) 967-8100 ext. 250 or lhowell@gsnnj.org
    Girl Scout News: Still time to join the WTD postcard exchange. Set a date for your school's celebration.

    == September 2009 Meeting Notes

    Guests: Cara talked about making CPR & FA renewals easier to remember with her website to help leaders keep tracking of their certification renewal dates (a Journey “take charge” project).
    - - Troop # on their Silver project.
    Collections/Community Service:
    - Reminder: pink Yoplait label collection to start – may be in stores soon
    - Expect October collection for “one warm coat” and boots (2 different troops)
    - Troop 105 is still collecting yarn - to knit scarves for foster children
    Open volunteer positions:
    • adults: 3rd SUM, next year we need 2 new SUMs, TC/TO, committee members
    • “hours for girls”: run a SU opening ceremony (any age);
    • for older girls – help us learn how to teach a song or craft or clapping game
    Product Sales: Candy/Nut/QSP paperwork handed out. Scouts honor to start & stop ordering on time. Fall Product Sales ordering period 3 - 25 October 2009. Nut & Candy prices vary. (Initial Cookie Ordering Period: January 9-30, 2010 ) Get Fall Sale order forms for your troop from Mary L. Her contact info is on the roster - or contact a school rep or a SUM if you need help finding her.
    Community Events:
    • (all levels) 9/26 - Orders due to Karen for "Badges for World Thinking Day"
    • October 11: Honor our Silver & Bronze Awardees. Let this short ceremony inspire your girls? or rededicate yourself to GS. All GS invited. Flyer to follow.
    • Please get GSUSA registration forms in to Cindy ASAP. The new year starts on 1 October.
    • (GS Brownies) 10/12 - Colors & Shapes Try-It WorkshopClick for flyer.
    • (all levels) 10/11 ceremony for all Girl Scouts: Honor our Bronze & Silver Awardees
    • (GS Cadettes) 10/30 Maize Maze Trip (Thank you Carol Z!) Click for flyer. ”first impressions” is the start of the Amaze Journey
    • (GS Juniors) 11/14 - Tellabration 2009 Badge Workshop for GS Juniors. Click for flyer.
    PAPERWORK: If you have not, please:
    - get your registrations in to Cindy - your girls can't meet after 1 October without it!
    - drop off troop finance reports for 2008-09 (with estimated Sept. costs & a bank stmt), and
    - sign your annual volunteer agreement (for 2009-10).
    
    • Badges for WTD: Australia. Payment due to Karen L on Saturday, 26th
    • Sparta Fish Fry – maybe an idea for a Parsippany troop? Click for flyer.
    • (GS Brownies) October 25 – Halloween Crafts at the Montville Senior House. Click for flyer. (*)
    • November 27 (Thanksgiving Friday) 1 – 2pm -- Ice Skating. GS will have the rink to ourselves. Arrive as early as 12:30pm to get your skates on. Click for flyer.(*)
    • Money earners for Montville’s GS troop #1868's (visiting WAGGGS World Centres in London & Switzerland in 2011). Email Montville’s Caren with any questions.
    • Advance notice: January 8 - Parsippany - Color Dance date for “younger girls” (details to follow – need money-earner & flyer approval first)
    Always:
    - bring your questions,
    - let us know if you've moved or change your email/phone so we can update the roster,
    - let us know any plans you have that we could all share, GSNNJ News:
    
    • Please use the new TGAA - not last year's.
    • rebate sale through end October (end Nov. for kindergarteners)
    • new Volunteer Essentials booklet (online) – required rules! Parts of SafetyWise are in here (see also the new SafetyWise updates from GSUSA)
    • Please help us find & welcome leaders for GS Daisies!
    • 9/30: Last day for Silver & Gold Award applications to get into council for this GS Year. Silver Award paperwork can be submitted by girls who just entered 10th grade. Girls can submit Gold Award paperwork in the year they graduated from high school. Paperwork for completing Bronze in this GS year must be in to leaders by this day.
    • Reminders: Eco-Trek & Goblin Gala – at nearby Lake Rickabear
    • November 13: 2010 Destinations Applications (at studio2b.org) due to Leela Kingman, GSNNJ, Paramus
    GSUSA News:
    • New Journey (for all levels),
    • New Bronze/Silver/Gold requirements (starting 2010);
    • 2nd Journey out (see display board – heard that leader & girl books are better coordinated)
    • new Bronze/Silver/Gold requirements (here but not yet required, old ones can still be used)
    • replacement requirements for GS Juniors (for no longer avail resources) were emailed to GS Junior troops, or ask RObin
    • New SafetyWise updates, especially on Product Sales including “411” 2 page overview & SW details
    • Support the Girl Scouts Commemorative Coin Act: We've Reached Our Goal of 290 in the House. We Still Need Your Support in the Senate.
    WAGGGS: WAGGGS newsleter posted online
    Next SU meeting dates: November 12, (Tuesday, December 1: 10:30 – 4; 6:30-8:30), January 7, February 11, March 11, April 15, May 6, and June 3. (Thursday evenings, downstairs at the main Parsippany library except December.)
    

    == August 2009 draft Notes

    No agenda - we had GSNNJ LINKs and the PGS "Year at a Glance" Calendar, some cookie incentives (still) and flyers to hand out -- and we accepted registration, leader annual agreements, troop finance forms & any questions.
    PGS Programs: For all levels:
    • Badges for World Thinking Day: Australia (flyers emailed 8/29)
    • GSNNJ LINK Program (and training) guide (arrange with Mary Ann for her to leave your troop's copy on her porch - they are only placed out on your request.)
    • PGS Year At A Glance (one page, in your LINK)
    For 1st - 3rd graders:
    
    • Colors & Shapes Try-It Workshop - October 12, 2009 (flyer attached & on website)
    • 9/11 Girls Night Out at Lake Rickabear, GS Brownies & Juniors
    • 9/12 Me & My VIP, at Lake Rickabear, September, GS Daisies, Brownies & Juniors
    
    For GS Juniors (4th & 5th graders):
    For Older Girls:
    
    Product Sales News GSNNJ Links are up for Fall Product Sales - including pictures of the Candy/Nuts that we will be selling. We know that Readers Digest has, or is considering, filing for bankruptcy but there still will be QSP sales.
    >http://www.gsnnj.org/fall_sales2009/index.html
    We expect to have the materials for the girls by/at our 24 September meeting. Girls are on their honor not to sell outside the ordering dates.
    • Fall ordering period: October 3 - 25
    • Money in to troops: date tbd
    • troop checks to Service Unit: shortly after Thanksgiving.
    • Cookie Ordering Period: January 9-30
    SU meeting dates: September 24 , November 12, (December date & location TBD), January 7, February 11, March 11, April 15, May 6, and June 3. (Downstairs at the main Parsippany library except December.)
    
    == Ongoing News ==

    We have girls collecting:

    • "Girl Scouts Give" donations for "summer pack" foster care packs,

    and leaders thinking about:

    • "outgrown" but still current! GS handbooks & badge books for other GS in our community. (although you may want to keep one to plan workshops for younger girls.)
    • an "exchange" for khaki pants.

    Please let your girls know. Collection/donations are accepted at Service Unit Meetings.

    • TGAAs needed for all non-regular meetings, and overnights and "high risk" activities, all 2 weeks before the event.

    == Got time? SU positions open:

    • Assistant Service Unit Manager, Nominating Committee, Recording Secretary,
    • Coordinators for: Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony, Camping Committee, Recognition Committee, and Parsippany Scout Government Day.
    • Let us know if we need a Newsletter editor: Last year we did some generic newsletter to help troops get information out. Samples included: generic January 2009 "PGS Family News" Word doc or start from the October 2008 "PGS Family News". March 2008 or February 2008 generic newsletter as a base. For leaders to add their own title & meeting dates, and adjust it for your girls.

    Or, your own ideas!

    Bank accounts: Please let us know before your troop disbands, splits or merges. All accounts should be "GSNNJ" with the new correct tax id. If you open a new bank account, be sure to follow the current (November 2007) regulations to set it up. The 1st step is to ask Judy Ginty (jginty@gsnnj.org) at Council for a letter that the bank needs. Give Judy the names of all signers on the account: leader, co-leader and Mary Ann.

    == June 2009 draft Notes

    If you missed the June SU meeting:

    • Cookie Incentive Pickup : If you missed the SU meeting, you can pick up at Michele's on:
      • June 9th 9am-12 noon
      • June 17th 3:30-5pm
      Her address is on the roster.
    • Online membership registration starts ...soon. Please get a debit card for your troop if you do not have one. You can drop paper forms at our registrar Cindy's already Watch your email for details. Expect some summer "data entry" meetings, dates not yet set. Her address is on the roster online. Blank forms and troop envelopes are in a large green bucket outside her lower front door (to the left of her garage doors).
    • Please get your leader agreement & financial forms to us.
    • We're working on next year's plans this summer. Want to join a committee? Have something for the calendar?

    Product Sales - Please pick up cookie incentives. Please send a co-leader or parent to pick up yours if you can not make it.
    Community Service
    Troop xx Silver Award Project - collecting backpacks & gift cards for teens at JBWC now through the end of July.
    Troop 105 Bronze Award Project - collecting yarn now & winter boots in the fall to help foster kids stay warm
    October: Expect Coat Drive & collection of pink Yoplait yogurt lids
    Parsippany Girl Scouts Events/News
    Adult Recognition/Appreciation : Thank you for all you do!
    GSNNJ News
    Reminder: Girls in 4th, 5th and 6th grades in 2008-09 will be permitted to work on their Bronze Award until September 30 of 7th grade. Girls in 6th, 7th and 8th grades in 2008-09 will be permitted to work on their Silver Award until September 30 of their Sophomore year. They must have their completed final report with log of hours submitted by that date.
    We expect a new GSNNJ LINK Program Guide in August - online too!
    
    GSUSA News

    • New "Volunteer Essentials" and "Troop Module" documents are out from GSUSA. GSNNJ will probably be adding more council-specific information to these documents before they release a GSNNJ version.
    • Awards: The documents above include statements that a Journey will be required for Bronze, Silver & Gold Awards (2 for Gold), but new requirements are not out yet. It might be that the Journey(s) are the only prerequisites for the award project. The requirements are expected out this spring/summer. There will be a transition period through at least 30 September 2010.
    • Journeys: "It's Your Planet - Love it" Journey (on the environment) is out in some places, but not yet in the GSNNJ or GSUSA online shops. "It's Your Story - Tell It" Journey (on self-esteem) should be out in December 2010.
    • NEW (post-meeting): New council ID / troop # for Daisy uniforms in council shops in July.

    
    
    July planning meetings tbd - which committee interests you? Parades? Camping? Government Day?
    Next meeting: August, September, November, (drive by in )December?, January, February, March, April, May, June.
    
    You're A Grand Ole Flag (or "You're A Grand Old Flag")
    Music and lyrics by George M. Cohan (hear tune at http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/grandold.htm )
    Simple Version:
    You're a grand old flag, You're a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave.
    You're the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave.
    
    Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue, Where there's never a boast or brag.
    Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
    
    Girl Scout Law Song (tune: Home on the Range)
    
    I will do-o my best to be honest and fair, friendly and hel-lpful,
    considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and resp’sible for what I say and do.
    
    Respect myself and others, respect authority,
    use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
    
    She Wears a "G"
    She wears a G for generosity. She wears an I for interest, too.
    She wears an R for real sportsmanship. She wears and L for loyalty, for loyalty!
    She wears an S for her sincerity. She wears a C for courtesy.
    She wears an O-U-T for outdoor life, outdoor life.
    And that Girl Scout is Me!
    
    Thunderation (Usually sung 3 three times, progressively louder each time. It is sung though and not shouted.)
    Thunder thunderation We are Girl Scouts across the nation
    When we work with determination We create a real SENSATION.
    
    Alt: We are the Girl Scout Association
    Alt: green sensation
    
    Especially good for closings: Make New Friends (often sung as a round)
    Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.
    A circle is round, it has no end. That's how long, I will be your friend.
    Taps
    Day is done, gone the sun,
    From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
    All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
    

    == May 2009 Month's News - draft

    opening: sang a few versions of Taps, with "Indian Taps" hand motions (words on our Ceremonies page) Correction: Hands go up on "from the lakes, from the hills, from the sky"
    Product Sales: post-meeting update - we hope but can not guarantee that cookie incentives will be at June SU meeting
    Annual Registration:

    • $12/year for the GS year starting 1 October. Online reg. avail
    • Reg. packets are at Cindy's house, if it was not picked up at the meeting. If you need extra forms let her know.
    • The default is online registration by one person per troop - it's still a pilot so we recommend having one person do it for the troop & not each parent/family.
    • Cindy needs the receipt if you reg online **or** the traditional forms if you do it that way. Deliver to the bin by her garage.
    • Early registration through xx August. Online reg should be available on June 1
    • Fin. aid for any girl & for leaders. Fin aid reg must be done on paper forms still.

    Community News:
    We have lots of girls who want to be GS but do not have troops - we'll get the ages/levels sent out.
    We have troops that need help - can your girls run a meeting? do a meeting a month? come in & teach songs? camping prep? take them on a hike? cook with them?
    Community Events:
    May 15 - Colors & Shapes try-it
    May 28 - 2 events for "older girls"
    - Scout Gov't Day "Battle of the Budget" - 2 - 6pm, apply to Mary Ann, we're looking for busing from schools to town hall
    - Career Fair xx - xy in Parsippany, RSVP
    GSNNJ
    You can still register (online) for Adult Recog/Annual Meeting on May 20th in Randolph
    Eco-Trek – Oct 3 – does your troop want to run a station?
    Goblin Gala – Oct 24 & 25 - does your troop want to run a station?
    GSUSA:
    (sent pre-meeting) GS Pathways survey: Want GSUSA to hear your voice? Complete their 15-20 minute online survey about pathways. (I found it helped me understand better GSUSA thoughts on how girls & adults will/might "participate" in GS. This new vocabulary, I mean approach(?), is planned by Fall 2010.) >http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=967249
    Looking for feedback on LEADER magazine
    WAGGGS:
    Vote on topics for upcoming forums

    == April 2009 Agenda

    Encampment meeting 7:30.

    Service Projects Troop 001 collecting for 11th hour animal rescue
    

    Product/Booth Sales: All transfers MUST be done on or before the 12th (Easter). Saturday, April 11th is the last day for booth sales or any sales. If you want to "order down" a recognition (get a recognition from a lower level), contact Michele D. sooner.

    • enter all transfers no later than Easter, ALL sales end Sat. 3/11,
    • and can start again after a week... if you pre-reg by 3/15. Camp Cookie Splash Package: girls can earn one day at camp by selling an average of 12 additional boxes between April 17th and May 3rd. Details at end of this month's GSNNJ section.

    Community Events Annual Registration news: expect forms in May & a new online option

    • May 1: Troop xx hosts a "Twilight" viewing for OG. $12 Click to see flyer.
    • NEW May 15: Troop 1251’s Senses Workshop for GS Daisies & 2nd grade GS Brownies. Flyer to follow.
    • NEW May 14: Spring Fling crafts & games night for GS Daisies & GS Brownies. Click for flyer.
    • May 15-16: PGS GIRLS NITE OUT "one night away" (camp nearby) for GS Daisies & GS Brownies. Click for flyer

    Reserve the bridge or our flags for your year-end Court of Awards with Mary L. ( Girls are working on the design for our new SU flag!)
    Coordinators needed for: bowling, OG volleyball, Mem. Day parade, Flag Day ceremony, Knollwood, Northvail & Rockaway Meadow schools
    Nominations open for: SU Treasurer and co-SUM

    GSUSA : Leading Together in Challenging Times - One Movement, One Mission, One Voice.

    • April 22: Girl Scout Leaders Day
    • New edition of SafetyWise expected before summer. All the updates are now in one place at: >http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7BB2C288EF-98D5-45E6-81FC-D5ABEC6AEFCD%7D/SAFETY-WISE%20UPDATES%2003-09.PDF
    • New Journey (It's Your World - Change It) coming in April.
    • New requirements for Bronze, Silver & Gold Awards expected this spring, adding a Journey requirement. You will be able to choose between the current req & the new ones for a while.
    • For GS Ambassadors - You can earn the Bridge to Ambassadors award retroactively. Requirements available in April and insignia in May (it should not take much time to earn).

    GSNNJ News:

    • 
      Prudential internships - for high school jr or seniors
    • April 7 - Online reg for annual meeting & adult Recognition Dinner opens
    • April 22 - Women of Achievement, 30th Anniversary – at The Venetian in Garfield, tickets $150, 6pm on
    • May 1 - 29 in GSNNJ shops - For each "It's Your World - Change It" (new journey) bought in May, get a 10% discount on 1 set of bridging merchandise( vests or sashes, American flags, council ID sets, troop numbers, membership pins, stars and discs, wings, bridges and certificates.)
    • May - July : Early bird registration - from our May SU meeting and until August 7, 2009 . Please encourage this! Cindy W has the details.
    • May 20 - Annual Meeting & Adult Recog - reception, no dinner, Skylands, Route 10 in Randolph. See Mary Ann if interested in being a delegate
    • May 27, 6:30 to 9:30 PM - Career Fair, Passaic County Technical Institute, 45 Reinhardt Road in Wayne. Career seminars to the girls and start-your-own-business workshops for the adult women. The cost is $8 for Girl Scouts and adults and $18 for non-registered girls (includes GS registration). Silver Award helped.
    • Sat, June 6 - Girl Scout Day with Sussex Skyhawks baseball team $16 package includes game ticket, Girl Scout patch for free future games, parade, dinner & more. (family event)
    • Sunday, June 7 - Girl Scout Day with the WNBA at Madison Square Garden. $33 per person including hotdog, chips, soda, patch and Coach bus transportation. Girls can use court before the game for drills & skills. (family event)
    • Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 AM to 3 PM - EcoTrek at Lake Rickabear - think about making or running a station or just attending with your troop
    • Nov 3 - 8 (NJEA convention) - Birthplace Bound: Again!- Savannah GA is calling our name! Open to girls in grades 6 and up, the cost is $585.00 per person including train, hotel, all breakfasts and dinners and fantastic activities.

    “Camp Cookie” The Ultimate Summer Splash Package—GSNNJ is proud to present this exciting and fun filled extended Cookie Program for all troops, groups and individually registered girls. This is a great opportunity for girls to reach their goals, and for troops to earn additional troop proceeds! The Ultimate Summer Splash Package: Troops and/or individually registered girls that qualify will enjoy 1 day at Jockey Hollow; one of GSNNJ's fabulous outdoor properties located in Mendham, NJ. The day's activities will include: swimming (lifeguard included), games, pizza party, and lots of fun! Girls will also have the opportunity to preview the recognitions for the 2010 Cookie Program and vote for their favorites! All girls will receive a special participation patch. Qualifying participants will be posted on our website in the "Camp Cookie" honor roll. The specific dates and times will depend on the amount of girls participating. Transportation is not included. The "Camp Cookie" Rules: Pre-register by April 15th. Sell an average of 12 additional packages per girl between April 17th and May 3rd. Run a Booth Sale or take orders for cookies. Troops will earn the same Troop Proceeds on these cookies as they did for the initial sale. Payment is due by May 8th. No returns or exchanges will be accepted.

    GSUSA News: Leading Together in Challenging Times - One Movement, One Mission, One Voice.

    • New edition of SafetyWise expected before summer.
    • For GS Ambassadors - You can earn the Bridge to Ambassadors award retroactively. Requirements available in April and insignia in May (it should not take much time to earn). (note: new req. mailed out after meeting!)

    == March 2009 Revised Agenda

    Girl Scout Week – Happy 97th Anniversary GSUSA!

    Thank you Mayor Luther for stopping by to proclaim Girl Scout Week in Parsippany. (proclamation to be online soon. NJ Governor's proclamation can be seen at http://gsnnj.org/docs/Girl_Scout_Week_Proclamation.pdf)

    Opening: Song: She Wears a "G" for GenerosityClick & go to the bottom of the new page to hear it
    She wears a "G" for Generosity
    She wears an "I" for interest, too
    She wears an "R" for real-life sportsmanship
    She wears an "L" for loyalty
    
    She wears an "S" for her sincerity
    She wears a "C" for courtesy
    She wears an "O-U-T" for outdoor life, outdoor life
    And that Girl Scout is me!

    Service Projects

    • Juliette Low Birthplace Travelship Fund Collection (for the council in Savannah, GA to help interested troops from the USA visit) - $37 collected at meeting Birthplace Travelship Fund: How about donations the way some troops suggest girls make theirs for JLWFF? a coin for each year as a Girl Scout, grade, inch of height or pound... You decide which and what coin (pennies? dimes?).
    • Troop 1001 – 11th Hour Animal Shelter donations for Bronze Award Project.
    • Teens for Jean report?

    PRODUCT (& booth) SALES - Cookies are still being accepted for “Blue Star Moms” to deliver for us to servicefolk overseas, we have 58 boxes so far and hope to see more from booth sales. Please keep the cookie costumes moving & to the right troops. If you did not sign up for the costumes yet, you still may be able to.

    PGS COMMUNITY NEWS

    MOGISCA Encampment – GIRLS GO GREEN - Lori still has spots – Registration closes this week Required Pre-encampment meeting April 2nd for adults attending encampment Girl and adult health histories required. Please do GSNJN’s online overnight orientation

    • Please email Robin or Mary Ann names of Bronze, Silver & Gold award candidates.
    • GSNNJ's Plan 2 insurance form is now online at gsnnj.org & partroygs.org
    • We’d love more photos for the website: www.partroygs.org
    • Sweetheart Bowling was a huge success – Thank You Lori & Sue. We're working on a date for another Sweetheart Bowling on another date
    • March 14 - M/D Tea is set for Saturday – Lori or Sue (GSNNJ will have camping presentation there)
    • Morris County Parks Commission 2009 Badge & IP workshops - flyers emailed from Robin
    • March 15 - GS Sunday Celebration – Sunday at St Patricks 9am mass - flyer online
    • March 15 & 29, 6pm - Travel Group, Mt Lakes library (downstairs room on the left). RSVP to Robin
    • March 21 - Service Unit Flag suggestions to Mary L
    • March 21 - Wave The Flag workshop - for 1st grade Daisies and all GS Brownies- flyer online
    • April 2 - Pre-encampment meeting for Adults at Library Halsey Road 7:30 PM
    • April 17 - 19 “Girls Go Green” encampment – flyer online
    • April 19 - save the date - "Senses" workshop
    • May 14 – save the date – Troop 1837’s “Spring Fling” fun workshop for GS Daises & Brownies
    • May 15 -Girls Night Out – Troop xx running Younger Girl “Girls Nite Out” Camp-over at Jockey Hollow
    • Positions open: Memorial Day Parade organizer, co-SUM, …

    GSNNJ:

    • Denville dance & 2 Hopatcong workshop flyers - flyers emailed from Robin, not on GSNNJ.org
    • Prudential Internship – Paid internship for GS entering 11th or 12 grades - online
    • 3/20 – extended deadline for Adult Recognition deadline. (nomination forms online)
    • Summer Camp Flyers – Sign ups open. Horse camp always fills up the fastest! Also some need volunteer help and limited hiring positions open
    • Neverending Story(5/3), Devils tickets(3/20), New Night Court dates – Robin has flyers
      • The Neverending Story at Growing Stage Theatre for GS Daisies, Brownies & Juniors, Sunday May 5.
      • Rockin' Robotics overnight for GS Cadettes, June 12 - 13, Lake Rickabear
      • Spring/Summer Dates for "night Court" for GS Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors (award helped for Law & Order IP award)
      • Family Camping Dates at Camp Glen Spey, Labor Day Weekend, Sept 4-7, 2009
    • Family Camping dates at Camp Glen Spey – Labor Day Weekend (Sept.3-7, 2009, Robin has flyer)
    • May 20 – Adult Recognition & Annual Meeting – required for 7 Parsippany delegates. Register at gsnnj.org by 5/1, registration does not seem open yet.
    • June 6 – GS Night Skyhawks baseball, Sussex County
    • June 7 GS Day at WNBA at Madison Square Garden
    • (forgot to mention at meeting...) New (un-registered) Girl Scout event for k-3rd in Parsip. 3/25
    • (forgot to mention at meeting...) Sale on selected items March 5 - 13 & receive a GS Week fun patch

    Thank you to Lissette for visiting.

    GSUSA:

    Today show: In celebrating the 97th anniversary of Girl Scouting, expect some NJ Girl Scouts on 3/13 between 8:15-845am on NBC.

    Girl Scouts is a magnetic irresistible place that is an essential part of girl culture and of being a girl today.

    == February 2009 Meeting Minutes

    Circulated FA/CPR, years of membership, and GS training records

    PRODUCT SALES: Sign up for cookie pickup at the firehouse... We need volunteers to help during pickup on 2/23, 24 & 25. (2/23 & 24 - pick-up for Daisies, Brownies & Juniors; 2/25 for GS Cadettes & up.)

    OPENING - Sang GS Law (tune "Home on the range") & info on WTD

    Guest speakers: Troop 207 on their Wave the Flag workshop and one Cadette on GS's efforts with Microsoft: LMK and Letmeknow websites.

    What do you think the Parsippany Girl Scout flag should look like? Please help GS Junior troop 207 with their Bronze Award by submitting your ideas. The y will be developing & purchasing a flag for PGS ceremonies. Deadline for entries 3/21.

    Collection reminders: Jeans for Teens, troop 739 wants to collect at least 100 pairs!

    Reminder to leaders: we like girls to come & talk about Silver & Gold Awards, tell us about their workshops (instead of the leaders)

    Product Sales: For booth sale help, contact Melinda (or Michele or Eileen).

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    • SU finance report & donation to women of ach. event
    • insurance/forms: other news from GSNNJ?...
    • reminder: roster is online for anyone who needs it. (If they want a printed copy, maybe we can get GSNNJ to print it?)
    • Encampment - we need more people to get online "overnight orientation" training & make sure their FA/CPR is up to date.
    • Qs on grants, contests, etc? We hope to get mroe onlein.
    • mention GSNNJ summer camp?

    Community Events:

    • Feb. 22, World Thinking Day. What does it mean to be part of a movement? Did you know there are xx millions of Girl Guides/Girl Scouts around the world? and over 1,400 Girl Scouts in Parsippany?
    • Feb. 26, Career Fair for GS Juniors & up, Flyer online.
    • Sunday, March 1, 3 - 5 pm: Parsippany GS Sweetheart Bowling. For GS Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and GS Cadettes to bring their dad or favorite uncle or that special male adult presence in their life. $10/person. Flyer online
    • We hope the town will proclaim GS Week - don't know if there will be a photo op. Contact Mary Ann if you want to know for sure.
    • Saturday, 3/8: Girl Scout Sabbath starts GS Week.
    • 3/12: Girl Scouts Birthday. Think about a display at your school or library or ?
    • 3/15: Next travel group meeting
    • coming: "Older Girl" Volleyball, $xx, Cadettes and up with their father, favorite uncle or other special male adult presence in their life.
    • Saturday, 3/14, 9:30 - 11:30 am: PGS "Mother"/Daughter Tea. $9/person. Girls with their mom, favorite aunt or special female adult presence in their life. For all levels, GS Daisies - GS Ambassadors. Flyer online.
    • Sunday, 3/15: Girl Scout Sunday Services around town.
    • coming: 3/21 Flag Etiquette Workshop for 1st - 3rd grade Girl Scouts (by troop 207)
    • April 17-19: Community Encampment, Girls GO Green. $54/person. flyer online. PLease get your online overnight orientation training done. Girl and Adult Health histories are required for overnights & high risk activities.
    • April 19: "Senses" Workshop - hold the date.
    • coming: May 15: Just one night camping for "younger" Girl Scouts.

    Denville troop 2079 hosts an Art to Wear Workshop for GS Broniwe or GS Juniors - March 27, $11/girl. For details contact tinawhitehead@msn.com or call 973-989-8552.

    GSNNJ - Sports Weekend coming in June ... Baseball June 6 & WNBA June 7th. Hold the dates or get more details from naboumoussa@gsnnj.org or lkirschner@gsnnj.org.

    == January 2009 Meeting Notes

    It’s long… there are lots of upcoming events!
    Thank you Troops 891 & 657 for your fall collections.

    • GS Law: Please review this with your girls. Let’s be able to have it part of a flag ceremony at the April Encampment without embarrassment. (or want to sing it? Robin recommends “Home on the Range” as the tune.)
    • >Remember to tell your girls about Girl Scout Religious Awards – so they have the option of earning them with their family or religious leaders. Most religions have awards for all levels. Lots of information on www.praypub.org. Earned religious awards can be worn on their GS uniform. Girls are encouraged and helped through the Girl Scout program to become better members of their own religious groups; however, all religious instruction is the responsibility of parents and religious leaders. These award programs share GS values: service to the community, intergenerational relationships, friend-making skills, and positive self-esteem. Sometimes earned awards are presented during Girl Scout Week.

    Product Sales - Michele, Cookie Diva. Assistants: Melinda & Eileen (thank you!)

    • Girl Order Taking Period: January 10 to February 1, 2009 (Super Bowl Sunday). We are working with Blue Star Moms again this year to get any boxes sold for the troops delivered. Note: no money earners can be held during this period. Girls in their vests make more sales.
    • Orders must be in the computer no later than February 5th. (Earlier would be better. Last year the system crashed on the last day of entry). Troops need to order by case – but can transfer to other troops. You do not need to specify the type of cookies for Blue Star moms.
    • Cookie Delivery: February 23 - 25, 2009
    • March 6 – Money due to troop cookie coordinator
    • March 9 – Money due to Cookie Diva
    • Booth Sale Dates: March 7 to April 11, 2009. Troops can do up to 2 booth sales.

    Dates are also on http://partroygs.org/Product_sales.html#SaleDates Check that page for details & expect to see some email from Michele or Eileen with any changes.

    Service Projects:

    • Troop 739 is running a “Teens for Jeans” collection, late Jan to 2/23.
    • More Service Project Ideas online at http://partroygs.org/Service_Projects.html .

    Community Events

    • 1/9: Color Dance: PURPLE (reminder)
    • 1/9-11: Older Girl Winter Campout (reminder for those registered, it's full)
    • Saturday, 1/10: Cookie Sales begin. Only registered girls and troops can sell.
    • 1/18, 6 - 8pm: Travel Group meeting (for Older Girls). Send over interested GS 6th grade and up. If you're not sure, send names to Robin anyway for the TGAA. Flyer online. The girls can decide what the plan is - more shorter trips, earning travel-related IPs, playing travel games, ...
    • 1/21, 6:30: Cookie Diva offers training at her house. Are you new to selling cookies, got a new “cookie coordinator” for your troop who could use some personal support? RSVP to Michele so you’ll get a chair… and maybe a snack.
    • 2/12 – SU meeting – and “leader” craft exchange
    • February tbd: PGS "Father"/ Older Girl Volleyball. Flyer to follow.
    • February 6: GirlSport Try-It workshop
    • Make your plans: February 22: World Thinking Day
    • February 26: GS Career Fair for 6th grade & up
    • Hold the date: February 28: Parsippany GS Bowling. May be for the girls to bring their dad or favorite uncle or that special adult presence in their life. Flyer to follow
    • Hold the date: March 14: PGS Mother/Daughter Tea. Girls can bring their mom or favorite aunt or that special adult presence in their life. Flyer to follow.
    • Hold the date: March 21: Flag Etiquette Workshop for 1st - 3rd graders,
    • Girls Go Green SU Encampment: April 17-19, hosted by troops 1809 & 1773 for all levels. (Leaders of kindergarten Daisies can come with their daughters for a “Mommy & Me” experience.) Click for flyer.
    • Winter: PGS "Father"/Older Girl Volleyball.. Flyer to follow.
    • Save the Date: May 15: "just one night" camping for Daisies & Brownies in May to follow with details.
    • Fall 2009: Cadettes aMAZE Maize Maze

    GSNNJ News:

    • First Aid: GSNNJ plans to run an evening First Aid course in Parsippany. Date still tbd. Should be on GSNNJ website by Monday 1/12. (They do have evening FA courses in Morris Plains on Tues, 1/27 and in Riverdale on 2/19. details at: http://www.gsnnj.org/training_cpr.html )
    • January 10: Cookie Sales orders begin. (1/10 deadline to register for FREE admission to 1/15 FDU Women’s basketball game in Hackensack)
    • January 12: GSNNJ summer camp brochures available online. GS camp is usually the least expensive camp option in the area. Our closest camp is Lake Rickabear in Kinnelon. There are buses from Parsippany to Jockey Hollow Camp. (Last year both also had horse programs.)
    • February 2: mail-in reg. for summer camp begins; walk-in reg. on 2/17
    • January 19: Girls Scout ice skating in Woodbridge, $10 per GS. Flyer on website.
    • Wednesday, April 22: GSNNJ fund-raiser Women of Achievement, 30th Anniversary Event, The Venetian in Garfield, tickets $150 and $250.
    • You can do some GS training at home: “Overnight orientation” (Prerequisite for Troop Camper Certification) www.gsnnj.org/docs/Overnight%20Trips%20Self-Study.doc and “Water Watchers” www.gsnnj.org/training_water_watcher.html are online at GSNNJ.org. (You’ll need to use your SafetyWise book too.)

    GSUSA News:

    • World Thinking Day 2/22
    • Leader magazine (GSLeader@spotonmedia.com) is looking for ideas (but not whole manuscripts unless they agree first):
    • Thoughts about the personal challenges of being a mentor for the new "Leader to Leader" column
    • Uncomfortable but important questions faced by Girl Scouts to explore in the new "Hard Questions" column
    • Girl Scout alumnae with unusual jobs or interesting careers

    SU Volunteer Opportunities:

    • GS Sunday/Sabbath is coming: Mary F is our main SU coordinator. She has GS volunteers for a few churches but perhaps not your place of worship.
    • 3/8-3/15: GS Week. Who’s interested in promoting it? We used to always have a display at the library.
    • Public Relations: Help leaders get press releases out. Maybe write some for SU events?

    == December 2008 "Drive-by"

    Mostly Product Sales information: Drop off a troop check for any Fall Sales & troop "cookie mom" info and pick up cookie material. You have time to look things over and hand them out to your girls in the new year. This month they may want to start thinking about their sale goals: why are they raising money this year?, what do they want to do as a troop?, are they "going places"?

    • Cookie Sale ordering period begins January 10 and runs through February 1.
    • Cookie delivery expected February 23, 24, 25th.
    • Michele needs all "cookie coordinator" information (Troop #, Cookie mom’s name, e-mail, and home phone number).
    • Your troop should have a “My Cookie Biz” folders from a previous SU meeting - or look in your folder.
    • Kindergarten and 1st grade Daisies can participate in cookie program.
    • New this year! Cadettes may chose to earn higher proceeds and forgo recognitions.

    Community Events:

    • Tell your Older Girls about the Travel Group starting.
    • Do we have a volunteer to manage a uniform and khaki pants exchange?
    • Are leaders interested in a craft supply exchange for the January meeting?
    • Winter OG camping full.
    • (all levels) Color Dance registrations still open.
    • Look for a Cookie Try-It/Badge Workshop for Daisies, Brownies & Juniors in January. (flyer to follow)
    • "Wave the Flag" Try-it Workshop for 1st - 3rd grade GS expected in March. (flyer to follow)
    • Spring "Mother"/Daughter "brunch" may be "bagels & a project" in March or April
    • "Father"/daughter bowling & volleyball events being planned for spring

    Troops/schools may want to line up dates & locations for WTD events, especially if participating troops will be asked to create country displays. (When my 5th grade troop hosted a WTD event for our elementary school, we also invited a few 5th grade troops from other schools, just another chance to get to see them before middle school.)

    We have a number of troops starting later than usual this year and there are dozens of girls in town who are interested in Girl Scouts but without a troop. Please help us to encourage more parents to volunteer and lead a troop. If you have room in your troop for a few more girls, let us know, a few schools have only 2 or 3 girls in a grade interested.

    GSNNJ:

    • If you got a rebate credit for buying Journeys this fall, remember to use it at a council shop this month.
    • Rumor: GSNNJ is considering a leader's retreat or leader's event this year. That's all I know so far.
    • Any questions you had for Pam Greenfeder (such as bank account issues) should now be addressed to Judy Ginty, our new Regional Director in Randolph (JGinty@gsnnj.org).

    == November 18 Minutes

    We missed many of you this month and saw some leaders for the first time.
    We love hearing from girls starting their Silver or Gold projects. Let us know.
    Next meeting 12/4, noon – 2pm & 4 – 7pm: Product Sales: Troop checks due on 12/4 at the "drive-by" meeting when you pick up your cookie materials. Cookie Sales begin on January 10th - no sooner. Collection: Thank you Troop 692 for your food pantry collection - what cold days you picked!
    A Junior troops asked if any "older girl" troops had extra badge books or handbooks to pass on. Many troops keep one of each so they can plan workshops for younger girls but perhaps not everyone wants to hold on to theirs. I bet we could find home for "outgrown" Brownie & Daisy books too. You can bring hand-me-downs by on 12/4.
    Community Events:
    o NEW: GSNNJ scheduling evening CPR training in Parsippany Monday, December 1st. To register (by 11/24?) www.http://gsnnj.org/training_cpr.html Remember one person needs both certifications to be a first aider. Most CPR certifications expire in one year. We're working on an evening First Aid class in Parsippany in January.
    o NEW: Friday, 12/5 Parsippany Recruitment Night at Eastlake Gym: Know interested girls that are not in a troop? Send over their parents & let's see who can lead. (flyer attached)
    o 12/7 or 14 and 1/18: PGS Travel Group for older girls. (Sunday afternoon/early evening meetings to start. Details to follow. Good for individual girls interested in GS travel, 6th grade & up)
    o January 8, 6:45 Service Unit Meeting, "the Hills"
    o January 9, 7 - 9 pm: Color Dance. RSVPs due 12/21 . (Flyer on website)
    o 1/9-11, Older Girl Winter Campout: January. (Flyer on website)
    o February 12, 6:45, Service Unit Meeting, main Parsippany Library, Halsey Road
    o NEW: SU Encampment for all levels: April 17-19, hosted by troops 1809 & 1773. Details & flyer to follow.
    Thank Yous - Thank you all for volunteering (and the paperwork)!
    Thank you:
    o Sue for New Leader Orientation & all the TC/TOs!
    o 68 troops for participating in Fall Product Sales. $48,000 sold including $6K for our troops.
    o Lori & Susan for the Servipoolza.
    o Lisa for starting the Cadettes off on their Maze journey, and for planning one for next year!
    GSNNJ News
    o 12/14: Basketball at Madison Square Garden, $10/seat Flyer on website
    o January 10: Cookie Sales orders begin
    o January 19: Girls Scout ice skating in Woodbridge, $10 per GS. Flyer on website.
    GSUSA
    o 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 11th & 12th graders: GSUSA expects to release new bridging requirements in February, including "bridge to Ambassador" requirements that can be earned by 11th & 12th grade GS who are already Ambassadors.
    o New GSUSA requirements for earning the Bronze, Silver & Gold Award are expected "this spring". Journeys are expected to be part of the new requirements in some way. Please don't worry - there has always been a period when one can earn the old or new requirements, we just don't know how long it will be. My personal recommendation is if your girls are eligible, have them do something (anything) of the pre-requisites so that they will have started earning their next Award using the current requirements - to ensure that they will have a choice.
    o The Journey to be released in 2009 will be "It's Your Planet - Love It!" (environmental issues). The 3rd Journey to be released will be on self-esteem but has not yet been titled.
    o Next National Conventions: November 10-13, 2011 in Houston, TX. In 2014, it will be in Salt Lake City, UT.
    If you are looking for "back of the vest" Patch Programs - something girls will not have seen in their books, we've just added a few to: >http://partroygs.org/Age_Level_Tips.html#PatchProg
    o World Thinking Day: February 22: The GSUSA 2009 World Thinking Day survey results are in. The countries that will be featured were voted on by almost 2000 girls. Africa—Kenya, Arab Region—Jordan, Asia Pacific—Fiji, Europe—Ireland, Western Hemisphere—Costa Rica. Country Resources but not the 2009 WTD Resource Guide now available at: www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/global/world_thinking_day/
    Advocacy
    o In celebration of 100 years of Girl Scouting, should the U.S. Mint issue a Girl Scout Commemorative Coin? If you think so, contact your Members of Congress to encourage them to pass "The Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act."
    o Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement and Deduction: SUPPORT THE GIVE ACT. Current law allows charities to reimburse volunteers, on a nontaxable basis only, up to the charitable mileage rate of 14 cents per mile. Think it should be closer to the 2$.27 we can get for medical mileage? Consider writing your Senators and Representative to urge immediate action by Congress to enact H.R. 6854, the Fair Deal for Volunteers Act of 2008/S. 3532, the Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2008 (GIVE Act).
    Service Project Idea: Mail to the Military or their Families - Robin has a list of address that can be used. It will be going on the website but is not there yet. need it sooner? email me.

    == DRAFT November 18 DRAFT Agenda

    NEW events:

    • 12/5 Montville Craft & Game night for Daisies, Brownies & Juniors. (Click to see flyer.)
    • 11/22: Oliver in Sparta, $15/adult, $12/girl. (Click to see flyer.)
    • 12/14: Basketball at Madison Square Garden, $10/seat (Click to see flyer.)
    • 1/19: Girls Scout ice skating in Woodbridge, $10 per GS (Click to see flyer.)

    
    Hopefully the spring encampment date for April.
    maybe some follow-up discussion on National Convention?

    == DRAFT October 23rd Agenda/Notes

    to be expanded.

    Girls are collecting: soup kitchen (to year-end), at SU mtgs: holiday packages (until 10/29), and (NEW) Yoplait Lids (to year-end)

    Community Events:

    • NEW: Troop 1861 & 1809's Puppets, Plays Try-It Workshop, December 8. (Click to see flyer.)
    • GS Cadettes - Thursday 11/6 Maize Maze to Lisa M. (RSVPs due 10/29).
    • Older Girl Winter Campout: January, Cindy W., ((Flyer attached?))
    • Girls who will be at least 11 years old by the time of the event: To apply for most Destinations, GSNNJ needs to applications by November 13th (Send to the Paramus service center).

    October Guest speaker: National Convention representative: Charisse Taylor (GSNNJ Chief Program Officer)- Let's tell her what Girl Scouts here want before she votes at the National Convention where GSUSA strategy will be set for the next 3 years. For example, who should control when national registration can be raised? The official text of current proposals can be found online using links below.

    Simon Evening of Giving - each council shop has $10 tickets on sale to Rockaway Mall's special shopping event, Sunday November 23, 6:30 - 10 pm. GSNNJ receives $7 and $3 goes to the Simon Youth Foundation. On 11/23, only shoppers with tickets will be allowed entry and they receive significant discounts from retails throughout the mall.

    Guests: Lissette Tufaro (GSNNJ Membership Development) about our family recruitment night 10/28.

    Training: Water Watcher Self Study now online; If you are within 15 minutes of a hospital, don’t need "first aider" on your field trips; Send around Girl Scout, First Aid & CPR training records. Please check that your dates are current.

    Please hand in any completed Fall Product Orders. They are due by the 28th.

    GSUSA: World Thinking Day 2009 update: their materials will focus on: Costa Rica, Fiji, Ireland, Jordan, and Kenya; WTD 2009 theme: girls worldwide say “we can stop the spread of AIDS, malaria and other diseases.”

    "First aiders" only needed for trips more than 15 minutes away from a hospital, EMT, ambulance, or free-standing emergency room. Two signatures required on troop checks over $250.

    51st National Council/National Convention Proposals

    Proposal 1: Consisted of six changes to the Constitution. Voting members on 10/31 ejected removing the word "local" as a descriptor of councils. "Consent Agenda" - in changes called "editorial", it proposes removing "local" where-ever it is in the constitution, perhaps especially to change "local council(s)" to council(s). Section 5 & 6 withdrawn on 10/31. Click here to review Proposal 1.

    Proposal 2: National Council Size, Formula & Special Session - includes recommending fewer representatives to make the council meeting smaller. (The number of councils has been reduced from over 300 to about 110, so each council will still have a voice.) Click here to review Proposal 2. Proposal 2 had three parts. Each relating to the National Council.

    • Voting members passed the part of the proposal governing how special sessions can be called. A special session can be called by the majority of the members of the National Board (16) OR 20% of the membership of the National Council and the members of the National Council represent 25% of chartered councils.
    • Voting members slightly changed the proposal with two delegates for every council and a delegate for the first 3,500 and an additional delegate for every additional 3,500 members. This would adjust the National Council number to not exceed 1,500. The estimate of the new National Council delegate based on current councils and membership would be 952. The proposal passed.

    Proposal 3: Click here to review Proposal 3. For an increase in the membership dues. The National Council voted on 11/1 to raise annual dues to $12 beginning October 1, 2009 for the 2010 membership year.

    Proposal 4: "Ballot Requirement" (but also proposes giving the National Board the right to raise dues when they feel it is necessary, without going to the National Council/National Convention.) Click here to review Proposal 4. Seeks/Sought to remove language related to requirements for a ballot vote. No news?

    Proposal 5 Centers/Centered on broadening the role of the National Nominating Committee, which would strengthen the National Board, and other changes to align GSUSA with best practices in the not-for-profit sector. Click here to review Proposal 5 (PDF 53KB). is in two parts and seeks to remove barriers to creating more flexible membership options in the future. (so there can be more membership options than "just" for one year or "lifetime".) Click here to review Proposal 6 (PDF 27KB). No news?

    Proposal 6 Sought to create membership other than annual or lifetime. Proposal withdrawn from the National Council agenda on 10/31.

    Nominating Committee's Proposed Slate: The original proposed slate did not meet constitutional requirements. Members from Oklahoma and California were added to the slate.

    Some Girl Scouts have thought about this year's proposals and are presenting their view on You Tube. Others paid researchers to produce a white paper (which I think GSNNJ also supported). The You Tube videos may be the fastest way to learn their concerns.

    • National Council Session Coming Attractions, posted 10/30/2008, 10:38 minutes
    • If... we have the courage we want for our girls (posted 20 October),
    • No Frills (posted 9 October),
    • (Almost) Authentic Dialogue - text message practice, (video posted October 2),
    • Math is Everywhere (September 30),
    • Delicate Delegate Dilemmas (video posted 9/7/08),
    • Read All About It (9/7/08),
    • Who are the Girl Scouts? (8/25), and
    • Time for BOLD Leaders (video posted August 25, 2008).

    == September Meetings' Notes

    Paper for you:

    • Sept. 4: GSNNJ 2008-2009 LINK program and training guide (1 per troop). Watch those "registration opens" dates.
    • Sept. 4: PGS "year at a glance" schedule (1 per troop).
    • SU Recognition ceremony flyer: October 5th, 2pm - bring your troop out to see what some of the Older Girls have done.
    • via email: Coat Drive Flyer.
    • Cadette News: Maize Maze Trip for all Parsippany Cadettes. Lisa's doing a TGAA. Flyer to follow.
    • Winter camping for GS Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors. Jan 9-10, 2009. $40.00 per person includes 4 meals and snacks and fun. Flyer handed out at meeting. Contact Cindy for details.
    • Earn South Korean Girl Scouts awards through "Badges for Thinking Day". Karen is coordinating a Service Unit order.
    • planned for 9/25: QSP/Candy/Nut sales materials. Orders October 4 - 26.

    Paper for us:

    • (annual) Leader Agreement
    • Troop finance reports for 1 October 2007 - 30 September 2008 overdue but still accepted. Please attach a copy of your latest bank statement.
    • TTGA - We need them in 2 weeks in advance, for anything besides your "regular" troop meeting times & places.
    • Girl and adult registrations always accepted - but before mid-September makes our lives, and Cindy's, much easier.

      Cindy is our registrar - her address is on the roster. Blank forms and any remaining troop envelopes are at Cindy's in a large green bucket outside her lower front door (to the left of her garage doors).

      Many of the pre-printed registration forms seem to have been incorrectly updated – especially grades on the girl forms and position codes on the adult forms. We apologize for the inconvenience.

      When registering for 2008-2009 Girl Scout Year:

      1. Please check the grade on all the girl forms. Cross out the incorrect grade and clearly print the grade number the girl will be entering in the fall of 2008.
      2. Please check the birthdates on all the girl forms.
      3. Please fill in the new report codes and registration areas on all forms. COUNCIL CODE = 140
         REPORT CODE = 483
         REGISTRATION AREA = 201
      4. If you are using a new form, please fill in the troop number in the full format that council’s computers expect. All of our troop numbers on the forms should be 5 digits long and start with 8. For example, troop “2062” would be entered as “82062”, troop “161” as “80161”, and troop 26 as “80026”.
      Thank you for your patience and understanding as all the membership information comes together for the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey.

    == June Agenda

    Watch Emails and Have a Great Summer!
    Service Unit Celebration of our Award winning girls, June 22. rescheduled for October 5 If your troop has earned Bronze, Silver or Gold please contact Mary Ann with names of girls for recognition.Click for flyer.
    Reminder reserve Community Flags & Bridge with Mary L ( levoyer@yahoo.com )
    Product News Michele D. still has a few incentives, please contact her to get them. Please call her ASAP. Picking up does take a few minutes to get it right. “Older girl” troops still get patches & participation certificates, even if they chose "no recognitions". Thanks goes to Melinda, Eileen, their daughters, and Michele’s daughter for sorting. Woohoo! Melinda and Eileen will be "cookies assistants" for next year. Thank you ladies!
    Registration Update Cindy's our registrar, contact her using the roster. You may continue to meet and do activities with girls currently registered through September 30. Your girls may not sell any product, attend a meeting, or register for a fall event on or after 1 October until they re-register. Cindy has financial aid forms, or they are online GSNNJ forms or open the pdf file.
    New Service Opportunities:

    • Coke & Pepsi codes can be saved for military overseas. Some leaders have earned over 11 DVDs and personal players by collecting and entering codes and having them sent out. Both Coke and Pepsi are currently running promotions to get people to buy their products. Codes can be found inside the caps of bottles (20 oz, 2 liter, etc), inside the cardboard boxes that hold cans and sometimes on the plastic wrappers for cases. For Coke products, the participating products have "mycokerewards" on them, and Pepsi products have "pepsistuff" on them. So, collect codes and pass them to leaders that do this elsewhere, or if you have a way to get things directly to members of the military, start one of your own – and let the rest of Parsippany know! Learn more at My Coke Rewards and Pepsi Stuff home.
      Coke product codes are either 12 or 15 characters long, combinations of letters and numbers - Pepsi products are 10 characters long. There is no difference between zeros and Os and it is always a V, not a U.
    • “pop tabs” can be collected for Ronald McDonald Houses (they recycle the aluminum). 3 of the 4 RMH in NJ participate in the PopTab program: Camden, Long Branch & New Brunswick. For more detail, see their ways to help.
    • GSUSA News – Environmental challenge: cancel catalogs you don’t want & save some trees. Some troops have turned this into a service project, canceling catalogs for others
      Catalogue Canceling Challenge Want to save trees, water, energy, and our climate? GSUSA invites Girl Scouts to take action with The Catalog Canceling Challenge and cancel as many unwanted catalogs as they can in thirty days. The Damage: Each year 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American consumers. 95% of them are unwanted. 53 million trees (enough to forest 2,000 Central Parks) are used making these catalogs. The 7.2 billion pounds of paper requires 38 trillion BTUs to produce (enough energy to power 1.2 million homes a year). Catalog production uses 53 billion gallons of water (81,000 Olympic sized swimming pools) and creates 10.4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (equivalent to the emissions of 2 million cars), contributing to global warming and climate change. Stopping the Damage: The Catalog Canceling Challenge was developed by a 4th Grade class at The Park School in Brookline, MA. Now students all around the country are canceling as many unwanted catalog mailings as they can. Girls from Troop 315 (Iron River, Michigan) have also joined the Challenge and saved one and half trees by canceling 150 catalogs in two hours. Girl Scouts can help the environment and work towards earning awards. For more information on how to get started, click.

    PGS Community Happenings
    We need “troop trips” TTGA for all non-meeting events, and expect some this summer, especially for those bridging to Juniors. There’s a GS box on Robin’s porch & Mary Ann's porch. Hay rides and overnights need 6 weeks, please get them in on time! Can fax to Mary Ann at 201-583-7413.

    • June 7 - Junior Drawing and Painting Workshop - expecting a success!
    • NEW: Honoring Our Girls: June 22, 2 - 4pm See Flyer
    • 2008-09 SU meeting dates announced via email by July 15th
    • NEW: Badges for World Thinking Day – Join others in Parsippany in earning Girl Scout or Girl Guide Awards from another WAGGGS country! Over 80 Parsippany GS earned South Africa Girl Guide Awards this year. October commitment expected for next year. Next year’s country has not yet been selected – but it won’t be Singapore, Ireland, or South Africa. Commitment is usually expected in October so the right number of patches/bars/awards can be ordered.
    • NEW: Got girls interested in a Parsippany “travel group”? Please contact Robin. What a GS Travel group? It’s been years since Parsippany had a travel group. I see it as a supplement to the “older girl” program for those interested in longer trips and travel. Our Cabaña? Savannah? Beyond? Interested? Think you have a girl who might be? Have them contact Robin via email. Traveling Girl Scouts in some GS Councils hold monthly meetings, conduct money earning activities, have fun with sister Girl Scouts and participate in numerous community service projects.
      (Want to see if there is room for you in the “Extended Trip training” on Monday? Call council and see. It’s at Riverdale & closer than you think!)
    • NEW: Thinking Day Postcard Exchange – exchange postcards with Girl Scouts in the USA and Girl Scouts/Girl Guides from around the world. “Thinking Day postcards” has been around over 10 years and Girl Scouts in Parsippany have been in the group for at least the last 2 years. You can sign up in August - January, decide on your own exchanges including up to 5 international ones, and then have your girls design their own card – just mail it so that it reaches its destination by early February. Some troops really make a big display of them for the World Thinking Day events. World Thinking Day postcard exchange resumes in August. (run by GS leaders, not a council or GSUSA) See details at www.mythinkingday.com.
    • Su-wide Fall Coat Drive - details in the fall, but tent. planned for October. Thanks Lori & Susan
    • M/Daughter and F/Daughter activities for 2008-2009 Scouting year details to come

    GSNNJ Events & News
    Extended trip, Strive for Silver and Service Unit Manager training all available this month!
    6/14 My & My Guy – day at Lake Rickabear, $15/person
    6/24 Wicked bus trip, 1:30 – 11:30, $95/person
    Birthplace Bound, Savannah – Nov. 4 – 9, 2008, $550, 7th graders & up (registration begins July 1). Flyer to follow
    10/10-12 –or- 10/17-19 - Wings Over Chincoteagu, $240
    Run a station - or attend - October's Goblin Gala at Lake Rickabear. Mary ann suggested a multi-troop group of interested girls try creating a station? Contact her if interested.
    GSUSA News
    

    • Expect to see a National Convention delegate at our Sept. or Oct. Meeting to hear our views on the proposals – raising dues, allowing dues to be changed with a delegate vote, and being a GS for an event instead of a year.
      
    • New destinations and getaways: for the fall (like “Engineering Your Future”, Nov. 7th, Baltimore, $30). Traditionally, applications need to go out from GSNNJ to hosting councils by Halloween for summer events.
      
    • At least 3 GS teams (2 from GSNNJ, each with at least one Parsippany GS) were in the East Coast Sally Ride Toy Challenge
      

    Leader Recognition & Awards GSNNJ awarded volunteers in our service unit: 2 Appreciations Pins!, 3 Outstanding Service Team members, 2 Outstanding Volunteers, 8 Outstanding Leaders, 26 5-years of membership, 25 10-years of membership, 11 15 years of membership and two 20 years of membership. We are awarding 3 Outstanding Parent Awards, 10 5-years of service, 28 10-years of service, and one 15-years of service. Certificates available if you would not appreciate a pin. If you got an award that does not seem right, or if you did not get what you expected, please contact Robin. Many awards went "home" with TC/TOs so please give them a few days to reach you! Awards not collected tonight will be given in the fall.
    Refreshments
    Journey advance copies: Those with clean hands can peek at the new Journeys books for Brownies & Cadettes. Copies can be signed out of the service centers for a week's review. Sign out a copy for week’s review from any service center.
    Some "Thinking out loud" ideas shared at the meeting:

    • don't forget to pick up your code from council if you are eligible for 1 free Six Flags ticket for July.
    • Please use GSNNJ forms (and no old MAGSC forms) - for "troop trips"/TTGAs and annual finance reports, and everything. Let us know if you can't find a form.
    • GS Leader Magazine: Did you know the GS Leader magazine is now online? Did you notice that it now has ads? Click to see.
    • Summer Idea: GS Olympia Badge Did you know that there were WAGGGS badges based on the Olympics? I think the Guides or Scouts were the first to do this, but this year there are some for China. Click for more. Do the activities with your troop (or run a workshop!) and download and print our own certificates, or buy the patch, for about $1 each. (40 pence, but check the exchange rate & think about postage…) They ran out of the free cloth copies already. To purchase Olympia Badges, visit the WAGGGS shop in the UK.
    • Girl Scouts on YouTube:
      Junior Girl Scouts Click for YouTube video.
      Girl Scout Recruitment Video Click for YouTube video.
      The New Leadership Experience Click for YouTube video.
    • New "Linking Girls to the Land" video out. Through an in-kind collaboration with the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal natural resource agencies, an 11 minute promotional video was produced in 2002. Click to see their video.
      The Linking Girls to the Land video/DVD is designed to increase the awareness of, and motivate participation of Girl Scout councils and federal natural resource agency personnel in the Linking Girls to the Land program. This video/DVD demonstrates some of the benefits and forms that partnerships between Girl Scout councils and federal natural resource agencies can take. It also illustrates the importance of Girl Scouts and multi-agency partnerships that provide conservation and environmental related leadership development opportunities for girls from more diverse and underrepresented audiences. For more information on Linking Girls to the Land activities refer to the website http://www.epa.gov/linkinggirls/ or contact linkinggirls@girlscouts.org or call 212-852-8076.

    == May Draft Minutes

    opening: Girl Scout Law (tune: Home on the Range)Girl Scout Law (tune: Home on the Range)
    I will do-o my best
    to be honest and fair,
    friendly and hel-lpful,
    considerate and caring,
    courageous and strong,
    and resp’sible for what I say and do.
    
    [and to] respect myself and others,
    respect authority,
    use resources wisely,
    make the world a better place,
    and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
    
    No new Gold or Silver Award projects requesting community help.
    Bronze – Greta from troop 2062 told us about her Bronze Award project, and that there are free eBooks available at Project Gutenberg (including an old GS phamphlet from when Juliette Low was president!)
    Watch for Service Unit Celebration of our Award winning girls! For girls & leaders: June 22, 2 pm, Mount Tabor
    Service Unit seeking:

    • 1,000 Woman Hike Coordinator – last call!
    • Assistant Cookie Manager(s), Assistant SUM, TC/TO for Northvail and Rockaway Meadow

    Memorial Day Parade Coordinator - Lisa M (contact lisajomo@optonline.net )
    Community Flags & Bridge: contact Mary L to reserve ( levoyer@yahoo.com ) We do not have an American flag, but one can be reserved from council offices.
    
    Product Sales – Michele D. Recognitions should be in mid-May. She will send out an email blast to her cookie mom email list after they arrive on May 16th/19th to pick them up for your year-end ceremonies. (I think she might also like to have her Dining Room back.)
    GSNNJ Information:
    Leadership Journeys - You & your troop can reserve new Journey books with council by May 30 using this form. They should be in the shop in August but are not committed to buying them. $7 for a girl book & $15 for a set of 1 girl book & 1 facilitator book. There is one journey coming out now "It's Your World- Change It" with different books at each level: Daisies - Ambassadors. A different journey will be out next year. Journeys are starting as supplemental material but are expected to merge with the program. (Perhaps similar to the way that "Studio 2B" components have become part of the Silver Award?
    What happened to TTAs? TGAA - A Troop-Group Activity Approval Form is required for any non-meeting activity. The new form is availabel on GSNNJ.org under Forms. Submit 2 copies to a SUM 2 weeks beforehand - or 6 weeks for overnight or other "high risk" activities. You can FAX to Mary Ann (if you use a cover sheet & email her so she can pick it up) from the work FAX at 201- 583-7413, or Robin can sign these too!
    Certificates of Insurance - If you need one, contact Eileen Schnatter at GSNNJ (call or eschnatter@gsnnj.org )
    Volunteer Development - Council is looking for trainers & has "train the trainers" sessions coming in June. If you are interested, talk to Mary Ann or Robin , or email Lissette at council.
    Summer Camp - openings at GSNNJ camps for day & sleep away. (Do you realize how close Lake Rickabear is?)
    Council Flyers - on summer programs. Flyer in your folder & to be added to our website Calendar.
    Early Registration - Cindy Warner. Due June 2nd. Your troop can meet and do activities with girls currently registered only through September 30. Financial aid forms at http://www.gsnnj.org/FORMS & http://www.gsnnj.org/FORMS/Girl%20-Adult%20Financial%20Assistance.pdf or from Cindy.
    
    Service Opportunities
    New: Service Projects: Suggested by GSNNJ staff: Notes in a yolk (www.FreeportFlagLadies.com) You can send handwritten notes that will reach our military members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    Troy Hills Nursing home is looking for girls to help them with a Fashion Photo Shoot for the residents 5/11- 17 during nursing home week. For details call Dina Guglielmo at 973-887-8080.
    Goblin Gala - Leadership Opportunity running Halloween themed Stations 10/25 or 10/26 at Lake Rickabear in Kinnelon, NJ
    Reminders: Drop-off USA Flags for retirement (5/22, 23)
    Council reminders (flyer at partroygs.org)– recycling ink cartridges for your troop or the council;
    Opportunity for girls in grades 9 – 12 interested in working on a council e-newsletter for girls.
    Collections: Books for Alyssa’s Gold & Summer Care Packs for Foster Care Children – Flyers on website
    PGS Community Happenings
    Parsippany Scout Government Day May 8, 2008 – 9 girls participated! expected to become an annual event.
    PGS Community Encampment at MOGISCA – Spring 2008 was a big success. Troop 1809 & 1773 are doing Spring 2009! Currently no plans for a Fall 2008 encampment - anyone?
    5/15 - Gold Award scrapbooking workshop for Daisies, Brownies & Juniors;
    5/17 - Eco-Action Junior Badge Workshop
    5/18 - Morning Movie Madness troop Fundraiser
    June 7 - Junior Drawing and Painting Workshop
    Any troop or leaders interested in running a fall encampment?
    Mary Ann is looking into a SU overnight event at Jockey Hollow in those new cabins. If you go to Jockey Hollow, allow for a few minutes at when you check in to be trained on using the no-smell composting toilets.
    Camp Hoover planned for 1st weekend in Jan. gr 6th & up.
    NEW: May 31 - Try-it/badge/IPA workshop - Rockaway Mall Scavenger Hunt. Randolph troop 233 fundraiser, $10/girl. No email contact. This sold out in December & the troops that went really enjoyed it.
    
    GSNNJ Council Happenings:
    Adult Recognition Dinner – status: at least 29 going to dinner, at least 15 nominations from Parsippany! Please contact Cindy asap if you have not confirmed your seat.
    5/31 1000 Woman Hike at Jockey Hollow
    5/31 Super Science Fun Day at Lake Rickabear, $26/girl
    6/14 My & My Guy – day at Lake Rickabear, $15/person (diff. than overnight/weekend of same name)
    6/24 Wicked bus trip, 1:30 – 11:30, $95/person
    7/7 to 7/11 "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" camp for grades 2 - 3 - flyer in folder. Presume at Lake Rickabear.
    Summer Day Camp Trips for families - flyer in folder - to join website Calendar (soon?)
    10/10-12 –or- 10/17-19 - Wings Over Chincoteagu, $240
    10/25 and/or 10/26 - Golblin Gala at Lake Rickabear - flyer in folder
    Subscribe to GSNNJ Newsletter at gsnnj.org or view them online! and hear about council events and openings earlier!
    SafetyWise update: New adult:girl ratios eff. 1 Oct. 2008 http://www.gsnnj.org/docs/Safety-Wise_Update.pdf
    GSUSA News – Maxine from Mount Tabor will be at the Girl Scout Leadership Institute, "Girl Scouts Can Lead Anywhere: Live Healthy, Lead Healthy." National Convention Oct. ‘08: 6 proposed proposals include: moving authority to change dues from the convention to the "board", removing words “local” and “regional”, offering GS memberships of lengths besides 1 year & a lifetime, raising dues to $12 as of 1 October 2009. Delegates are instructed but not ordered/bound.
    Working with Six Flags: Those over 18 who volunteer at least 6 hours at selected GS councils including GSNNJ, between April & June, can get a voucher to turn into one free Six Flags ticket to use in July. From starting the process myself, it looks like:

    1. register online at www.sixflags.com/gsfriends (giving your name, address, email & phone number),
    2. print out their page to use to document your 6 or more hours of volunteer work during April–June 2008, (SU leader meetings can be worth 2 hours – Robin will sign),
    3. take it to a GSNNJ council shop & they should provide you with a Six Flags ticket voucher, and then
    4. redeem it online at sixflags.com/girlscouts to receive your FREE ticket, valid during the month of July. GS Alumnae News: Girl Scouts all over the nation are planning an annual Community Action Project focused on the environment. (If you are registered as an alumna, there is a survey on possible projects to take before May 31st).
       NJ News (Resources for Scouts): The New Jersey Governor's office is conducting a poll as to whether the NJ State Parks (and historic sites) should be closed. To participate, call *609 292 6000* for the Governor's Office. When I called, they were keeping a tally but did not ask for any identifying information. (Of course, state your own view, but one example would be: 1-609-292-6000, “Hello” “Are you still taking a poll on NJ State Parks?” "Please don't close the Parks.")
       Next Meeting Date – All at Main Library Halsey Road – 6/5 (party?) Next school year’s meetings expected to remain on Thursdays. Next Scouting year starts October 1, 2008.
       Service Projects

       Suggested by GSNNJ staff: Notes in a yolk (www.FreeportFlagLadies.com) You can send handwritten notes that will reach our military members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

       G. volunteered with Distributed Proofreaders for Project Gutenberg to provide more eBooks to the world for her Bronze Award project.

       NJ News (Resources for Scouts)

       The New Jersey Governor's office is conducting a poll as to whether the NJ State Parks (and historic sites) should be closed. To participate, call *609 292 6000* for the Governor's Office. When I called, they were keeping a tally but did not ask for any identifying information. (Of course, state your own view, but one example would be: 1-609-292-6000, “Hello” “Are you still taking a poll on NJ State Parks?” "Please don't close the Parks.")

       GS Alumnae News

       Girl Scouts all over the nation are planning an annual Community Action Project focused on the environment. (If you are registered as an alumna, there is a survey on possible projects to take before May 31st).

       GSNNJ & GSUSA News

       Working with Six Flags: Those over 18 who volunteer at least 6 hours at selected GS councils including GSNNJ, between April & June, can get a voucher to turn into one free Six Flags ticket to use in July.

       One version (from starting the process myself - not from the official GSNNJ flyer)

       1. register online at visit www.sixflags.com/gsfriends (giving 6 flags a name, address, email & phone number),
       2. print out a page,
       3. complete six hours or more of volunteer work during April–June 2008, remember to get your page signed (SU leader meetings can be worth 2 hours),
       4. take it to a GSNNJ council shop & they should provide you with a Six Flags ticket voucher, and then
       5. redeem it online at sixflags.com/girlscouts to receive your FREE ticket, valid during the month of July.

       == April (4/16/08) Draft Agenda

       • A "Silent" Ceremony was available in the back of the room.
       • Reminder: Leader Appreciation Day 4/22
       • Cookies - Michele D.
       • Gold Award Projects – Congratulations to Troop 183 who had 7 girls earn their Gold Award
         Silver Award Projects - Eco-Action Workshop 5/17 at Volunteers Park – Open to 3rd, 4th and 5th grades
         Congratulations to Troop 1624 who had 5 girls earn their Silver Award
         Watch for Service Unit Celebration of these milestones!
       • Pam Greenfeder & Lissette T. of GSNNJ - Grade level changes. Journeys, Ambassadors & New grade levels will be effective 10/1/2008. New Transforming Leadership book coming for Leaders. Uniform moving casual.
       • Anyone interested in becoming a Council Trainer, see me for more info.
       • TO/TC training also 4/17, call Council if interested.
       • 1,000 Woman Hike Coordinator needed – there’s a meeting about it 4/17, 6 pm if you’re interested
       • Cindy W. – Early Registration Packets and process
       • Service Opportunities: New: Drop-off USA Flags for retirement (5/22, 23)
         Reminders: making learn-to-care-for-babies dolls for Our Cabana, directions to be posted on website.
         (Council flyer at partroygs.org)– recycling ink cartridges for your troop or the council;
         Opportunity for girls in grades 9 – 12 interested in working on a council e-newsletter for girls.
         Summer Care Packages for Foster Care Children – Flyer on website
       • Adult Recognition Dinner, May 14th at the Villa see Cindy Warner tonight - we have 20 seats reserved.
       • Memorial Day Parade Coordinator - Lisa M (contact at )
       • Community Flags & Bridge contact Mary L to reserve ( at )
       • PGS Community Happenings: Registration open for 5/15 Gold Award scrapbooking workshop for Daisies, Brownies & Juniors; 5/17 Eco-Action Junior Badge Workshop; 5/18 Morning Movie Madness troop Fundraiser; 5/x Parsippany Government Day; and June 7, Junior Drawing and Painting Workshop.
       • GSNNJ Council Happenings:
         programs are being canceled due to low enrollments, consider trying again (for events like:4/27 Soccer day with Redbulls, Mary Poppins on Broadway, Philly zoo overnight, ...?) ! Careers Night for May & June cancelled. 1,000 Woman Hike kick-off reception 4/17.
       • GSNNJ News
         Annual meeting 4/15, national convention delegates approved. New grade levels and journeys discussed. One "older girl" received her Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
       • GSUSA News
         National Convention has 6 proposals for us to discuss & give feedback to delegates. More detail in future meetings: The proposals include: moving authority to change dues from the convention to the "board", offering GS memberships of lengths besides 1 year & a lifetime, raising dues as of 1 October 2009.

       == March (3/6/08) Meeting Minutes

       We missed you, but what did you miss not coming? Learning the "Johnny Appleseed Grace", a lively discussion on the new grade levels that start this fall, and dark chocolate M&Ms... Your TC/TO should have what was in your folder: 2 emergency cards, and 2 flyers (xx and GSNNJ Marketing Updates). However, there were lots of other handouts for various age levels available at the meeting.
        
       PGS WEBSITEAll notices and calendar happenings are on the site. Thank you Eileen & Robin. If you know a leader who has not stopped by, invite them to look too.
       Our Janet P. has a new email - check the roster. Please let Robin know if you change your address, telephone, email or cell phone number. You may want Janet's email contact her about TTA/TGAA forms!
       COOKIES – pick up underway – THANK YOU FOR BEING ON TIME! – Please read all Michele's emails and make sure your "cookie mom" is on her email list too. If you ordered additional individual boxes of cookies from the Cookie Cupboard, they are ready for pickup from council - you may want to take your checkbook and pay for them at pickup to save yourself a second trip. Booth sales, council ads, booth incentives, order taking allowed, credit for sales through 4/27. Contact Melinda for cookie costume loan for booth sales. Place call and make sure Michele is home before dropping off cookies for the Blue Star Moms. Paperwork is due to her no later than 3/24 for initial sales orders and no later than 4/27 for booth sales. PLEASE do not contact Michele on Easter 3/23, she is taking that day off from cookies. Blue Star cookies leave her house on 3/xx and 4/27.

       Remember Girl Scout Week : March 9 – 15

       Council Representatives Nominations – One more position open for someone 18 or over who can come eat desserts with us 4/15 and vote on the issues. More spots available for girls 14 & up.
       Gold Award Projects - Alyssa's collecting new and gently used children's books to build a library for St. Clare's Hospital. She's also looking for troops to help her create dedication labels for the books Invite her to your troop's meeting and she'll bring the materials! Expect a Brownie workshop on scrapbooking to help her finance the project. Flyer's coming to the site soon.
       Silver Award Projects - Eco-Action Workshop 5/17 at Volunteers Park – Open to 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. Flyer expected soon.

       Service Opportunities

       • New: making learn-to-care-for-babies dolls for Our Cabana, directions to be posted on website.
       • Interested leaders or troops please volunteer to make a generic newsletter for our service unit leaders to use as a base for what they send to their troops. Leaders, please use and modify the February and March versions avaiable from the top of this page to serve your own troops.
       • Council reminders (flyer at partroygs.org)– recycling ink cartridges for your troop or the council;
       • - opportunity for girls in grades 9 – 12 interested in working on a council e-newsletter for girls.

       NUT Sale Recognitions – Have now all been handed out. Thank you Mary L!

       Existing Bank Accounts – Name change to “GSNNJ” should be done for all accounts. If you need additional paperwork signed, see Mary Ann.

       Adult Recognitions – Information available in a pdf file from GSNNJ.org. For more detail or help with the forms, contact Robin. Nominations due to council (update: location Paramus Service Center, by 4/4). Some award nominations need more than 1 recommendation or a service unit endorsement, so please give do not wait to the last minute.
       The Service Unit is also accepting nominations for Outstanding Parent awards. They can not be leaders or co-leaders in your troop. Due to Robin by 4/15.

       Community Flags -Mary will be storing the Service Unit flags and "bridge". Contact her to borrow them. (Remember 3rd, 5th, 8th,9th, 10th & 11th graders can(revised 3,21/08, to can, not will)all be in new levels by the fall!) We do not have a USA flag, but many meeting places already have one. You can also borrow USA and Parsippany flags from the town.

       PGS Community Happenings

       • Parsippany Scout Government Day May 2008 – for Grades 9 through 12 – Details to come in April
       • 3/9, GS Sunday at St. Peter’s – 8:45 a.m.: Girl Scouts of all faiths are invited to join St. Peter's celebration of Girl Scout Sunday. If you're attending and can help with refreshments, that would be wonderful too.Click here for flyer and contact information.
       • 3/14 at PHS – GS in USA badge night - Brownies & Juniors – registration closed. Troop 1837 thanks you all for supporting their previous workshop: Food & Fun. Over $400 of food was raised for the food bank!
       • Color Dance turnout was very good - even with the threat of snow. Everyone had a fine time & another food pantry was happy to receive those donations. Thank you!
       • 3/16 Mother/Daughter Spirit Cruise – Response was great! We get our own boat. Expect this event to be repeated every 3 - 5 years.
       • 4/25-27 PGS Community Encampment at MOGISCA – Troop 1830 Silver Award. Registration closing. The Service Unit mis-priced the event, and we need to ask each attendee for an additional $7 bringing the total to $52 per weekend. If the additional money is a problem for anyone, please contact Mary Ann, otherwise please get the last checks and forms in please.

       GSNNJ Council Happenings

       • 3/22 (Montville) & 3/29 (in Parsippany) Brownie Try-Its: Friend are Fun or People of the World – Deadline 3/15 – Click here for flyer.
       • 3/29 (Hackettstown) & 4/25(Paramus) – Pretty in Pink Daisy Workshop, Make World Better Place petal, $5/girl. Council is already accepting registrations.
       • 4/3 –Women of Achievement - Council Fundraiser, silent auction, dinner, etc. for Adults. For more see gsnnj.org
       • 4/4 – Adult Recognitions due to council (more detail above & at gsnnj.org online)
       • 4/4-6 or 5/16-18 - Woodland Wonders and Wandering, Camp Glen Spey, weekend for girls K - 3 and their female adult partner. Click here for flyer or see GSNNJ's LINK Program Guide page 16.
       • 4/13 & 27 – opening for Mary Poppins on Broadway, $123. See LINK for details. March dates full.
       • 4/15 – Annual Meeting - 7 adults represent Parsippany – guests 14 and older can also attend. Since it is a national convention year, there might not be a fall meeting.
       • 4/18-20, 9/26-28 – Girls & Gals Adventure (was "Mom & Me camping", at Mogisca, see LINK page 21)
       • 5/10-11, 9/12-14 – Girls & Guys Campout (formerly called "Father/Daughter", at Mogisca, see LINK page 24)
       • 6/1 – GS event at Medieval Times, Lyndhurst, 3 – 7pm, postmark reg. by 4/17. Click here for flyer.
       Other Happenings in our Council: 4/4 or 4/5 Sweetheart Dance run by a Denville Cadette Troop. Parsippany girls who attended it last year had a good time. Sweetheart Dance on April 4th & 5th. Registration due 3/21. Click here for flyer.
    5. 4/5 Puppet performance – April 15th Hopatcong Puppet Workshop for Brownies, 12 - 13pm. $10/girl, $4/adult.

  GSNNJ NEWS

  • 2 emergency contact cards per troop (after you call 9-1-1). Suggested use – in first aid kits. You should probably add a GSNNJ Accident-incident report form too, just in case. May you never need either.
  • Looking for professional women for GSNNJ Careers Nights for 4th – 12th graders, for any or all of the 5 weekday dates, 6 - 9pm. Click here for flyer.
  • Training reminder. You can register online. Please arrive on time & only when/where you have registered.
  • Council will pay for Gold award pin, Silver award patch & Bronze Award patch – earned since 10/1/2007. The Award forms to be filled in are available at gsnnj.org/forms.html. The Gold Award pin should be pciked up from council with teh certificate. The Silver Award Patch should be mailed from council. Leaders or girls can pick up the Bronze Award pin from any council shop - when they hand in the award form.
  • www.partroygs and www.gsnnj.org websites are up and running – If something you use on an old site is not on the new, speak up! TTA is now a “Troop-Group Activity Approval Form”, remember to attach a roster for day trips. Old guidelines, like “6 weeks for high-risk” still apply. Forms for Gold, Bronze and Silver also available online.
  • National Convention - representatives selected, 21 adults & 7 girls, names to be announced this month & accepted at the 4/15 annual meeting. National convention delegates will be voting on 3 main proposals (details to follow); unveiling new branding image;
  • GSNNJ is in GSUSA Pilot programs for – new membership system, national strategic learning cycle to include more volunteers on short term teams. Contact Cindy if you have questions or concerns about the new self-registration (online) system. She will be attending training on that for our SU.
  • Bank accounts – 2 signatures will be required on all troop checks starting soon. You do not need new checks to do this, but you may want to have two signature lines on the next set you order.
  • You can sign up online for the GSNNJ e-mail list online (You are not on it if you did not get volunteer newsletter Vol. 1 #2 via email on 2/25. It contained information on new and open programs, and pictures of new GSNNJ and Girl Scout Week patches.).

  GSUSA NEWS

  Grade level changes. Journeys, Ambassadors & New grade levels will be effective 10/1/2008. REVISION (3/21/2008): It seems that troops have until 2010 to finish transitioning to these grade levels.
  Poster discussed in meeting: New Grade Levels for Girl Scouts
  As of 1 October 2008, new (rev. 3/21/2008) Girl Scout grade levels will be:

  Grades...	Level Name
  K-1	Girl Scout Daisy
  2-3	Girl Scout Brownie
  4-5	Girl Scout Junior
  6-8	Girl Scout Cadette
  9-10	Girl Scout Senior
  11-12	Girl Scout Ambassador

  Try-its, badges and IPAs remain. New "Journey" materials will be added to every level to supplement the existing program. (Perhaps the whole council will work on the same Journey theme such as “Make the World a Better Place”.) GSNNJ council will start to get training in new supplemental materials in May. New program materials will not be available from National "for a while".
  No changes are expected in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award programs. Girls in 6th - 8th grade (or 11 - 14 years old) can work on their Silver, and those 14 - 18 years old or 10th-12th grade on their Gold. (Note: there was an error in previous sentence in March SU meeting handout.)

  		(rev 3/21/08)	2008-2009
  Current grade(2007-2008)	Current level	Change	Recommended level
  K	Daisy		Daisy
  1st & 2nd grade	Brownies		Brownies
  3rd grade	Brownies	*	Juniors
  4th	Juniors		Juniors
  5th	Juniors	*	Cadettes
  6th	Juniors	*	Cadettes
  7th	Cadettes		Cadettes
  8th	Cadettes	*	Seniors
  9th	Cadettes	*	Seniors
  10th & 11th	Seniors	*	Ambassadors

  Next SU Meeting Dates – All at Main Library, Halsey Road – Wednesday 4/2 and Thursday 6/5
  Encampment meeting for adults attending will also be the evening of 4/2.

  == February (2/7/08) Meeting Minutes

  What did you miss not coming? A ceremony -- and dark chocolate M&Ms... (ask someone why!)

  GSNNJ Program Dept Update – Lissette Tufaro MDA ltufaro@gsnnj.org and Lorena Kirschner MDA Lkirschner@gsnnj.org from council will be with us.

  MY CABANA, WAGGGS World Center – presentation by Our Cabana Board of Directors member, Brenda.

  PGS WEBSITE – Let us know what else you need!

  COOKIE Orders Due 2/8 – Michele

  Feb. 22 – World Thinking Day - WAGGGS and GSUSA theme for World Thinking Day is “Water” and 3 subthemes are access to clean water, drink water for health and conserve water for the world. www.girlscouts.org and www.worldthinkingday.org

  Council Representatives Nominations due to SUM by 2/18. 2/20 addition- application deadline extended to 2/28. Contact Mary Ann if interested. FYI all National Delegate Nominations were due 2/4 to Paramus.

  Service Opportunities

  • Homeless Solutions Second Wed of each month contact Brenda
  • Troop1671 – collect supplies for puppets and stuffed animals for their Silver Award. Click here for flyer.
  PGS Community Happenings
  • 2/29 Friday – Tie-Dye Dance at PHHS - All levels – Troop 1621 – Registration deadline 2/16. Click here for flyer.
  • 2/6 at RMS – Food & Fun badge night – CLOSED
  • 2/9 Troop 2230 Spaghetti Dinner at Rainbow Lakes Club House – THIS WEEKEND – FLYER in folders & online.
  • 3/9 GS Sunday at St. Peter’s – Click here for flyer and contact information.
  • 3/14 at PHS – GS in USA badge night - Brownies & Juniors – Registration deadline 2/16. Click here for flyer.
  • 3/16 Mother/Daughter Spirit Cruise – contact Lori – Deadline 2/15 – Click here for flyer.
  • 3/22 Brownie Try-Its Friends are Fun or People of the World – Deadline 3/15 – Click here for flyer.
  • 4/5 Brownie & Daisy Dancercize Try-It Workshop - Deadline 3/22 - Click here for flyer.
  • PGS Community Encampment at MOGISCA – 4/25 to 4/27 – Troop 1830 Silver Award. Click here for flyer.
  • We’re looking for an organizer for the Service Unit 1000 Woman Hike team. The hike is May 31st, at Jockey Hollow. Let Mary Ann know if you’re interested. Click here for flyer.
  GSNNJ Council Happenings
  • Super Science Fun Day in Parsippany – OPENINGS FOR SATURDAY 2/9 – Check LINK for details or CALL LORENA (Silver Workshop for Leaders during event too)
  • New “The LINK” in folders – Program and Training session details. Click here for (new, 2008) LINK.
  • Daisy GS In Full Bloom – Gr 1. Typo: The phone number given for Randolph is really their FAX.
  • 4/3 Women of Achievement - Adults. Click here for flyer.
  • Recycling flyer EMAIL
  • Astronutz Mission Space Overnight for Grades 5-8. Click here for flyer.
  • Service & Leadership Opportunities for Girls & Adults. Click here for flyer.
  • Sally Ride Science Chapter FLYER – OPENINGS applications due 2/25
  • GSNNJ & Centenary College R.E.A.C.H. IPA Day – Gr 7-12 – Click here for flyer.
  • Liberty Science GS Sleepover – Gr 1 – 8 Click here for flyer.
  • Lake Ricakbear, Camp Glen Spey & Jockey Hollow Employment Opportunities for older girls 15+
  • Camp Express – All ages bus tour of GSNNJ camps – Click here for flyer.
  • Jockey Hollow Equestrian Programs 2008 - Click here for flyer.
  • Leaders FYI - FLYER
  • www.gsnnj.org website up and running – If something you use on old site and not on new speak up!
  • New Council Forms on GSNNJ website. Let them know if a favorite is missing. They are updating the Troop Trip Application form. Until it is ready, use the previous MAGSC TTA form.
  • Looking to implement Monthly E-newsletter to girls – 9th Graders & up interested in writing let (PGS) Mary Ann know
  • Council update: Program registrations will be confirmed within 3 weeks of the event via email. Training registration confirmations will be 1 week prior to date via email.
  • Rockaway Troop's Mall Scavenger Hunt - Registration closed.
  Next Meeting Date – All at Main Library Halsey Road – 3/6, 4/2, 6/5