Appreciation Dinner... Luau Party... SU Meeting

Some important info from Heidi:

Hello Lakes SU Volunteers!



I just wanted to remind you that the Leader Appreciation Dinner for the service unit is on Thursday evening, August 7. The details have been confirmed:

John’s Italian Restaurant
Route 590 in Hamlin
7 PM

$20/person (you may pay for leader and assistant leaders’ dinners from troop funds)

There will be a few entrée choices available for to choose when we arrive.

Any adult that helps with your troop may attend, so be sure to tell your Fall Product Sale Chairperson, your cookie mom/dad, or any other troop helpers!



Also: there will be a Luau Party on August 20 that will be open to all Lakes SU Girl Scouts and their families. It will be at the Outdoor Sports Complex at The Hideout in Lake Ariel from 4-7 PM. The cost will be $3 per girl and $5 per adult. More information will be provided at the SU meeting.



The SU Halloween Party is scheduled for October 18 at Wallenpaupack High School. More details will follow when they are confirmed.



Thanks to Linda Fitzpatrick and Donna Smith for planning these great events for the service unit! I’ll see you at the Leader Appreciation Dinner on Thursday!



Reminder: the first SU meeting is Thursday, August 14 at 7 PM, Hamlin Library. Fall Product Sale Training is scheduled for this meeting. Julie Metschulat has graciously volunteered to be the SU Fall Product Chairperson. Thanks so much for helping out, it is greatly appreciated!

FIRST SERVICE UNIT MEETING OF NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

Believe it or not... we are already talking about the fall. Our first Service Unit meeting of the new school year will be held on August 14, 2008 at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the community room of the Hamlin Library... looking forward to catching up so come early! We hope to start on time!

Fall Product Sales

Please note that Fall Product Sale Training will occur at our first SU meeting, August 14, 2008, 7pm at Hamlin Library. At least one person needs to come from each troop if your troop would like to participate in the sale. This person could be a mom or dad of one of the girls in your troop if the troop leader is not able to attend. Ideally, the Troop Leader(s) as well as the troop’s Fall Product Sale Chairperson should attend if possible. The meeting will begin promptly at the time listed, so please arrive early enough to sign in and get settled prior to that time. Please bring your troop’s 08-09 registrations to this meeting if you did not participate in Spring Registration, as all girls that are participating in the sale need to be registered before your troop starts selling. Thank you

Important Info Update

From Heidi via email:

I want to make sure that you are aware of the toll-free number to call GSHPA. I have had it listed in my email messages under my name for several months, so it is not new, but I wanted to ensure that you knew about it. You can be connected with staff in any of our offices by calling 1-800-692-7816. When the operator answers, ask for the person you would like to speak with or request their extension. Please update your records with this number, as the toll-free numbers for the legacy councils are being disconnected soon (Scranton Pocono Council’s was 1-877-582-2100). Thanks!

Fall Kickoff!
Each service unit is able to send up to 5 SU Team volunteers to the GSHPA Kickoff on Saturday, August 16. If SU Team Members are not able to attend and other SU volunteers would like to attend, they are welcome. The new GS Leadership Experience will be reviewed, including the new Journeys for each age level (which are now available for purchase in the council shops or from the online shop at www.gshpa.org). It is a fun day for volunteers, with lots of information, food, and time to meet other Team Members from around the council. If your SU is represented by at least one volunteer, the SU will receive a set of the Journey books as an incentive! If you are interested in going, please email me to let me know. I have the information on who is attending for each SU. Each person needs to register online at www.gshpa.org before Monday, August 4 at 5 PM. After that time, any spaces that are not being used by the SU will be pooled (if the SU is sending less than 5 volunteers). There will be a lottery for these spaces, because in many service units, there are more than 5 people from the SU Team who would like to attend. Please send me the names of any interested volunteers (if your SU already has 5 attending) before 4:30 PM on August 4 so I can make sure they are included in the lottery.

Important Lakes SU Information!

Hi Lakes SU Volunteers!

I am happy to announce that Patti Duncan has accepted the position of Lakes SU Manager. I know she will be a great resource and helpful in coordinating new events for the area. She is available for any questions you may have, and you can always contact your age-level consultant or me if needed. Thanks, Patti for all you have done for the Lakes team. We appreciate you accepting the appointment for this important leadership role!

The SU is in need of a volunteer to coordinate the Fall Product Sale so it runs smoothly. There is a training for this person to learn about this year’s sale on Tuesday, July 22 at Elm Park United Methodist Church in Scranton (1 block from the Scranton Service Center). Registration begins at 6 PM, dinner is at 6:30 PM, and the training will follow. The SU Fall Product Sale Chairperson will present the information to the troop leaders and troop Fall Product Sale chairperson(s) at the first Lakes SU meeting of the 2008-2009 year. This meeting has been confirmed for Thursday, August 14 at the Community Library of Lake & Salem Twps. in Hamlin at 7 PM. All troops need to have an adult at the meeting to receive the information about the Fall Product Sale (which is scheduled to start during the last week of August). If you or a parent of one of the girls in your troop may be able to volunteer for the position of FPS Chairperson, please let me know ASAP so I can answer any questions they may have and to register the person for the training if they are interested in helping out. Two people could work as co-chairs with specific responsibilities if a couple of you want to partner up for the position.

See you at the SU meeting in August, and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Heidi

Volunteers Needed!

An email fowarded by Heidi...

“Explore New Worlds Girl Scout Technology Camp at Johnson College” is looking for a few (2-3) volunteers 16 or older to help with the camp. The camp is July 14-18 and hours are from 9-3 with a hot lunch served. You will be responsible for directing the girls to the stations and playing games and general responsibilities associated with the program aide or leader in training positions. You can use these hours towards your Gold Award or community service bars. If you are interested and available please call Marie Allison at 570.702.8924 before July 10. Thanks for your continued support of Girl Scouting and commitment to bring “New Worlds” to our girls!”

Older Girl Trip Summer 2010

Click HERE to view a flyer about plans for "Older Girl Trips" for summer 2010!

American Girl Contest

An email came around about a contest for girls ages 6-12. The contest involves writing a story and the prize is a trip to NYC and a shopping spree at American Girl. Unfortunately, the specifics did NOT come through in the email. I am adding the contact information so that you can contact the person in charge and find out more! Deadline to submit is July 24th!
Cindy Deremer
Program Manager Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
1600 Mount Zion Road P.O. Box 20159
York, PA 17402 717-757-3561 or 1-800-692-7816 ext. 1233
cderemer@gshpa.org

News From Council

An email sent by council reports:
Jeannette Archer-Simons, CEO Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, has resigned from her position. An interim CEO, Shirley Valentine-Attoh, is coming from GSUSA and is ready to work with us starting Tuesday, July 1. Shirley has been an interim CEO for a number of years through the GSUSA program and her experience includes working within the first 100 days of a merged council and serving as interim CEO for a council as it went into merger as well. She also spent time as the interim CEO for the former Penn's Woods Council about 15 years ago. Shirley will work closely with the board and management team to ensure continued focus in providing great programs and opportunities for girls. Our contact list has been updated on the gshpa.org Web page. Thank you for the work you do building girls of courage, confidence and character! Sincerely, Board of GSHPA

Baseball Night At Penn State

An email from Council:

Please share the attached flyer with troops and families and friends. What a great family event. And tickets are only $5!
Register and purchase tickets online at our website: http://www.gshpa.org/.
Katy Kathryn Lynch Membership Development Director
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania 350 Hale Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17105
717-233-1656 X1252 OR 800-692-7816 X1252 Fax: 717-234-5097 http://www.gshpa.org/

Help Wanted!

An email from council:

Looking for a Summer to Remember...Work at Camp!

We are looking for qualified applicants (American Red Cross Level 2
Certification or higher) to fill the positions of Camp Nurse / Healthcare
Supervisor at Camp Archbald, Camp Small Valley, and Camp Furnace Hills during
resident camp this summer. This is a great opportunity to make a difference
in a young girl's life while living and working in one of Girl Scouts in the
Heart of Pennsylvania's 12 camps.

Additionally, we are seeking a qualified Riding Director for Camp Furnace
Hills.

These are great opportunities for graduated seniors, college students,
teachers, or those who are just looking to spend a week away from home.

To join the dynamic outdoor program team, please contact one of the following
individuals by email; Rachel Miletto -
rmiletto@gshpa.org, Suzanne Moore -
smoore@gshpa.org, or Joyce Barber -
jbarber@gshpa.org, or phone 800-692-7816, extension
1404.

See you at camp!


Stephanie Titzel
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
350 Hale Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17105
www.gshpa.org
717.233.1656 x1025
800.692.7816 x1025

SU Event Cancelled

From Heidi via email:
Hello Lakes and Pocono Service Unit volunteers,

Unfortunately, the Water & Boat Safety, PFD, and Fishing Equipment Instruction
event that was planned for this Saturday, June 7 at the PPL Learning Center in
Hawley has been cancelled. There were not enough responses to hold the event.
Sorry about that.

Thanks to Michelle Talbot of Lakes Service Unit for organizing the event. It
sounded like a lot of fun, and maybe it could be rescheduled for sometime in
the future.

Heidi

Cookie Sale Incentive Update

From Heidi via email:

From: Amanda Amspacher
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 9:21 AM
Cc: Product Sales Staff; Membership Development Staff
Subject: 2008 Cookie Sale- Incentive Update

Hi All,

First and foremost THANK YOU for all the time, energy and effort you have put
into our product sales for this membership year. We greatly appreciate all the
hard work!

Unfortunately, we have ended this membership year with huge challenges with
incentives. It is important to us, as a council, that girls get their earned
incentives in a timely manner. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case with this
year's sale. And we realize this caused heartache for all of you... as well as
many girls. We (along with Little Brownie) apologize to all of you for having
to deal with these issues.

The good news is incentives are now scheduled to arrive! All incentives got to
Little Brownie last week and were sent out for delivery via FedEx Home Delivery
on Thursday and Friday with an estimated 2-3 day delivery time. As you know,
we generally have these shipped to the service units and from there they go to
the troops for delivery. In hopes of getting the awards to girls faster, the
incentives were shipped directly to the troops. We hope that this allows girls
to get them quickly.

Again, my sincere apologies. We will be working to rectify this situation so
we don't experience anything like this moving forward. If you have any
questions, please don't hesitate to give me a call.

Stephanie Titzel
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
350 Hale Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17105
www.gshpa.org
717.233.1656 x1025
800.692.7816 x1025

Lakes SU Leader Apprecaition Dinner Postponed!

From an email from Heidi:
The Plan of Work for the current year listed the Leader Appreciation Dinner for June 5, but it will not be held on that date. The dinner is in the process of being planned by Linda Fitzpatrick and Donna Smith, and the date will be August 7. You will receive more information when the date, time, and place is confirmed.

Lakes SU Needs QSP Chair!

From an email from Heidi:
The SU is in need of a Fall Product Sale Chair. Leann Hartill is not able to be the chairperson for the coming year, but she will assist the new chairperson as much as she can. Please let me know ASAP if you or any of the parents of girls in your troop might be interested in the position. The FPS Chair will have training on July 22 in Scranton at Elm Park United Methodist Church (between Jefferson Ave., Madison Ave., and Linden St.). It is important that someone takes the position and has the training at that time so the sale can run smoothly in Lakes SU. That person will explain the sale at the August SU meeting on August 14, as the sale will be starting the last week of August (each troop can decide which 2-3 week period they would like to run their sale) and run until mid-October.

My Guy and Me Dance

Congrats and Thank yous go out to Linda Fitzpatrick and Donna Smith for the "My Guy and Me Dinner Dance" held on May 18th. The girls and their "dates" had a great time. The room was beautiful and the food was great. The DJ kept the girls on the dance floor. They were even able to get the guys up there a few times! Great job!

FInance Reports!

Finance Reports are due by July 31, 2008. The form is in the Volunteer Resource Guide or online. Make sure to include a copy of your latest bank statement with the report.

Early Bird Registration!

Time to get those registrations in! The deadline is June 14, but it would be great to receive them ASAP. Send completed forms to Heidi at the Scranton Service Center. NO CASH, PLEASE! Checks are payable to GSHPA, it may be a troop check (especially if you receive cast from a parent!) If you did not receive a preprinted from for some individuals in your troop, please email Heidi!

May 15, 2008 Service Unit Meeting

The May Service Unit was held at the North Primary Cafeteria and started at 7pm. After the GS Promise Patti Duncan gave a report from the Annual Meeting and Celebration. The event was held on May 3rd at Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Patti served as a delegate for our service unit and attended the business meeting. The meeting lasted about an hour. At the meeting there were a lot of reports about the activities of the council committees and realignment commitees. New members to the board and "Board Development Committee" were elected. Delegates to the National GSUSA meeting were also elected. There are a few issues that will come up at the National meeting in October that we will need to discuss in the fall. After the meeting the Celebration was a huge success. There were tons of boothes and fun stuff for the kids to do. Without a doubt, the big hit of the day was the Powder Puff Derby. Our own Heidi and the rest of the membership staff from the Scranton office organized the event and it was great! One of the best parts was to see all of the dads who attended with the girls to participate in the event. Dads everywhere! Carrying pine cars painted pink and covered with glitter and so proud! So cool!

There was also an awesome puppet show and a lot of fun outside stuff to do. EVERYONE should go next year!

Next, Patti and Rita gave an update on the cookie sale. There are a few incentives that are on back order due to problems with things made in China. All other incentives are in and are being distributed.

Heidi reminded everyone that no form is needed for day trips. Just call or email Heidi to give her the details.

Heidi thanked Linda Fitzpatrick and Donna Smith on a very successful Mother/Daughter tea. She reminded everyone that the "Me and My Guy" dinner dance is coming up on May 18th. Contact Linda if you have any questions.

Two upcoming events are the WB/SCR Pioneers game and the SCR/WB Yankees game. See the council website for information and to register. Those attending the Yankees game should line up at 6:15pm for the Scout Parade.

Heidi is still taking nominations for Outstanding Leader and Outstanding Vounteer awards.

Camp registration is open. Several people took camp booklets to help spread them "around town"

Contact Heather Evan, Volunteer Development Manger (570)-501-2604 ext. 1415 for any questions about training. Her email is hevan@gshpa.org You can register for training online.

Heidi and Linda Jones reminded everyone to add their emails to your safe list so that email messages do not bounce or go to junk mail. Please update them if your email changes. Both Heidi's and Linda's emails are listed under "Contacts" on the right of the blog.

Next, we worked on the plan of work for next year. We planned four service unit events. A "Songs and Smores" event for November 1st; a "Day of Science" for late January; a "Powder Puff Derby" for March and a "Rally Day" for May. There will be LOTS of things to plan and organize. Hopefully everyone will find SOMETHING to get involved in.

Next meeting: August 14, 2008 at the Salem Libray, Hamlin 7Pm

Enjoy your summer!