Thursday, July 31, 2008

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.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

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

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

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