Volunteer News Girl Scout Council of Vermont Newsletter for Council Volunteers August/September 2007 Dear Council Volunteer, Fall is here, and that means it's time for another great year of mentoring girls! We know working with girls is a privilege and, at times, a big challenge. We are so thankful for all you're about to do for and with them. Each time you help them plan an adventure, each time they learn a new skill from you or find something meaningful to do for others, or welcome a new girl in, they are developing their "Courage, Confidence, and Character" thanks to you! All your hard work will pay off in their lives...what a difference you'll make!! All of us can look forward to an exciting year as we begin to form a new Girl Scout council with our sisters in the Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council. What that means for you and girls is expanded program and training opportunities. Programs offered by both the Girl Scout Council of Vermont and the Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council will be open to all girls in both councils. Look for your 2007-2008 Program and Training Calendar for lists of programs from which to choose. There are great options there! And, to help you fund your early year adventures, our QSP Sale is being expanded to include nuts and candies that are unbelievably good! Be sure your girls are registered as early as possible to be able to participate in this wonderful sales program and take advantage of all the fall adventures being offered. Again, thank you for all you are doing for the girls of Vermont. The staff is really looking forward to working with you through this most exciting year! Sincerely, Sharon Baade Council CEO Corrections! Oops...sometimes, as hard as we try, mistakes happen. We apologize for any inconvenience our errors might have caused. Please note the following: * In the Adult Conference Brochure - We forgot to list the fee for "Surviving a Train Wreck," CPR and First Aid Training. There is an additional charge of $35 on top of your regular conference registration to take this training. * In the 2007-2008 Program and Training Calendar - There is some conflicting information in our calendar about our ECHO Badge/Try-It days. The listing on our Programs at a Glance page is CORRECT. On January 27, girls will earn either the Watching Wildlife Try-It or Wildlife Badge. On March 2, girls will earn the Earth & Sky Try-It or Rocks Rock Badge. Please Note These Changes QSP - a Great Way to Fund Start-up Troop Activities and Supply Needs! In Vermont, the QSP Family Magazine Subscription sale (renewals, too!) has become a fall tradition. Don't forget that this year the sale has been expanded to include a delightful selec-tion of nuts and candies from Ashdon Farms. Orders for nuts and candy will be delivered beginning Nov. 13. Just in time for the holidays! Come learn all about QSP and Ashdon Farms, the easy-to-use web ordering system AND the new troop proceeds plan! Trainings will be offered to troop leaders via Vermont Interactive Television at eight locations on Monday, September 10 and Thursday, September 13. An additional training will be held at the Essex Service Center on Tuesday, September 11. QSP is a vital source of revenue for the Girl Scout Council of Vermont allowing us to provide leader training in your area and professional staff to support your needs, as well as to cover other rising costs of operation. Troops benefit because QSP is a great source of income in the fall as you begin planning troop trips and activities. Plus, girls receive great, high-quality awards based on their sales. Talk with your troop today. Set a troop goal. Encourage girls to set individual goals. AND, register early so you can be sure every girl has the opportunity to participate. Questions? Contact Marilyn DeTizio, Director of Shop and Sales, at 800/639-3055, x111 or e-mail mdetizio@girlscoutsvt.org. There's Still Plenty of Time to Register for Adult Conference 2007! Our Annual Adult Conference will be held September 7 - 9, 2007 at Camp Wapanacki in Hardwick, Vermont. This year's theme is "Riding the Train to Girl Scout Glory" - a celebration of our Vermont Girl Scout heritage, including: * A trip to Wilder, VT - the site of the first Vermont Girl Scout troop * A Vermont Girl Scout time-line, highlighting famous women from our Girl Scout past and present * Great Mega-trainings and engaging workshops * Fun, friends, and frivolity from beginning to end! You'll have plenty of time to connect with volunteers, like yourself, who are building girls of courage, confidence, and character! Plus, the Trading Post (a.k.a. the Girl Scout Shop on Wheels) will be open, offering a variety of items to start your year off right! Treat yourself to a weekend just for YOU! You can view the brochure and print the registration form on-line at: http://www.girlscoutsvt.org/leaders.php OR contact Paulette Petelle at 800/769-7451 or e-mail ppetelle@girlscoutsvt.org. New Program Age Levels In the fall of 2008 (in one year), new age levels will be introduced as the Leadership Development program of the Girl Scouts of the USA unfolds. That means this year's Daisy Girl Scouts will be Daisies for two years. AND, both 5th and 6th grade Juniors will begin in their last year of Junior Girl Scouts this fall. And all girls can look forward to enriched program that will be contemporary and fun! The new grade-level groups will be: Grades K-1 Daisy Grades 2-3 Brownie Grades 4-5 Junior Grades 6-8 Cadette Grades 9-10 Senior Grades 11-12 Girl Scout Ambassador Research found that girls learn best and have the most fun when they are with the right developmental/social grouping. Girls and their leaders/mentors are encouraged to carefully review program offerings for these age groups and plan for trips and bridging accordingly. New Registration Procedures for Boston and Montshire Camp-Ins! As we combine with the Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council for these joint offerings, the GSCV will be processing ALL registrations for Boston Museum AND Swift Water will be processing ALL registrations for the Montshire. Registration for Boston Museum will open Dec. 3 and all forms and deposits should be mailed to the GSCV, 79 Allen Martin Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Please direct questions to our Essex Office, 800/639-3055. GSCV Troops and Juliettes MUST register for Montshire Museum through Swift Water. PAYMENT IN FULL is required at the time of registration. If you will be paying in full with a credit card, you may register on-line at www.swgirlscouts.org. If you plan to pay by check and/or use Cookie Credits, you must register by mail. Send forms and payment to the Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council, P.O. Box 10832, Bedford, NH 03110-0832. Joint Program Offerings The Girl Scout Council of Vermont and the Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council are collaborating on programs THIS year as we move toward our future as one Council. The GSCV will coordinate the Boston Museum of Science Camp In for both Councils and Swift Water will coordinate the Montshire Museum Camp In for both Councils. We have a NEW Council-to-Council Pen Pal Network premiering this fall, and an all new "get to know you" patch will be offered in 2008. Girls ages 11-17 will also have the opportunity to participate in many joint Council offerings such as "Greasy Girls" (car care), "Teens Make A Difference" (service-learning trip to a community in need) and Poacher 2008 (Cadette Level Jamboree in England). In addition to all the GREAT programs offered by the GSCV, Vermont Girl Scouts are invited to take part in the wealth of programs offered by Swift Water council. Our 2007-2008 Calendar of Programs and Trainings contains an easy to read "Programs at a Glance" for both Councils. Complete descriptions can by found on each Council's website. New Registration Procedures And, now that you've found your activities, here is how to register! We have modified our Event Registration Form so that any Vermont troop or Juliette Girl Scout, when signing up for an event here in Vermont or in New Hampshire, can use one form. Vermont Cookie Credits may be used for events in both Councils. When registering for any program held in or coordinated by Swift Water, payment in full is required at the time of registration. Complete registration instructions for each Council may be found on each Council's website: Vermont www.girlscoutsvt.org Swift Water www.swgirlscouts.org