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JANUARY 2012 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Dear Volunteers,

 

Happy New Year! As we push forward into the second century of Girl Scouting there is a lot to look forward to here in the heart of Pennsylvania. Upgrades are underway at camps and our Healthy Promise initiative is unrolling with more than 700 troops participating. In-school Girl Scouting is growing as we forge relationships with school superintendents, principals and school boards across our 30-county footprint.

 

With cookie season upon us, we want to thank you for your efforts in this area which is so important for maintaining and developing a great Girl Scout experience for girls, troops and the council. We are excited to have hosted more than 1,000 girls at our recent Cookie Rallies and Cookie Colleges across central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

 

One house-keeping item we would like to underscore: Service units should please make sure they have elected their delegates and turned in the proper form to our executive office by the end of this month or they will not be eligible for the next round of mini-grants. Having elected delegates is vital to good governance and good communication with the leadership of the council. Please click here for the Delegate Election form.

 

Sincere thanks from both of us for your continuing investment in girls.

Sincerely,

 

 Signature - Kate Crowley                    Signature - Jane Ransom

 

  
Kate Crowley                                      Jane Ransom

 

 Board Chair                                        President & CEO

 
Cookie Program - Ready for Cookies  
2013 Regional Cookie Event Teaches the Business of Cookies

On Saturday, January 5, 2013, over 1169 girls attended GSHPA's regional cookie rally and cookie college events that took place at five different locations throughout our council. Each event focused on providing girls with the tools and self-confidence to be successful participants in the Cookie Program.  

The Cookie Rallies included activities that taught Daisies, Brownies and Juniors about customer service, sales and marketing techniques for the initial order taking and booth sales portion of the program. The Cookie Colleges offered a variety of interactive workshops for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors that focused on goal setting, social media and marketing tactics.

GSHPA extends a special thank you to Dixon University and our event Sponsor Susquehanna Bank.

To view more event photos click here.     
 

GRACE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH IN YORK

 DIXON UNIVERSITY IN HARRISBURG  
SPLIT ROCK RESORT IN LAKE HARMONY


WATSONTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN WATSONTOWN

 
BALD EAGLE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN WINGATE

 

Annual Meeting Proposal Deadline Approaches
  

The Annual Meeting is set for Saturday, April 27, 2013 and if you would like to submit a proposal for consideration at the 2013 Annual Meeting, please click here for a form. The deadline to submit your proposal is January 17, 2013. Proposals can be sent via email to ssprenkle@gshpa.org, or by fax to 717-901-5987 or mail to "Annual Meeting Proposal, Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA, 350 Hale Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17104."

  


Register for Healthy Eating with Chef Jenn Video Chat

Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors who love cooking and want to incorporate a little more of Healthy Promise into some of their favorite mealtimes will not want to miss out on this! Encourage them to register now to attend one or both of our two-part Video Chat series entitled "Healthy Eating with Chef Jenn" from the comfort of their home computers while Chef Jenn Thompson shares her secrets to making everyday meals healthier.  

 

Thompson, owner of ForknSpoon Caf�, rotates menu items to include a healthy selection of gourmet soups, artisan sandwiches, fresh fruit, salads and dinner entrees. Recently, ForknSpoon Caf� was named "2012 Best New Restaurant" by Lancaster County Magazine.   

   

Episode 1 - January 22, 2013* | 7-8 p.m. Click here to register. 

*Don't wait, registration closes on Jan. 16 at 11:59 pm

 

Episode 2 - February 19, 2013 | 7-8 p.m. Click here to register.

 

$6 per person per episode (includes one Healthy Promise participation patch for each video chat)

 

Family Partnership 2013

 

The time for the 2013 Family Partnership Campaign is fast approaching. Remember, this year Service Units will receive 10% of what is raised by their unit and the remaining funds will be used for financial assistance for girls in need. Family Partnership runs from March 15 to May 31, 2013. You can learn more by going by clicking here or by contacting Kimberly Clapper, Development Coordinator at kclapper@gshpa.org or 800.692.7816, ext. 1055. Please note for service units planning a letter campaign please contact Kimberly Clapper by February 1, 2013 so we have time to provide materials.

 


Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) unveiled the United States Mint's designs for a commemorative coin honoring 100 years of Girl Scouting. It will feature three Girl Scouts on the obverse (heads) side and the iconic organization's trefoil logo on the reverse (tails) side.

 

The bills authorizing the United States Mint to mint and issue up to 350,000 of the silver dollar coins passed unanimously in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in October 2009. President Obama signed the legislation on October 29, 2009.

 

100th Anniversary Mini-Grant Financial Reports Due January 31

 

If your service unit received a 100th Anniversary mini-grant, don't forget to submit your financial report to Shelly Sprenkle by January 31, 2013. Not submitting your financial report will automatically make your Service Unit ineligible to receive a Healthy Promise mini-grant for next Fall.

 

Click here to access to the required report

 

Troop/Service Unit Additional Money-Earning Guidelines Clarified

 

Product sales are a great way to earn the funds necessary for girls to travel. If income from the two product sale programs isn't enough, however, girls have some options available to them while keeping in mind that troops, groups and/or service units cannot resell products or services that endorse another company or organization. All additional money-earning activities must be approved prior to participation and should be: 1.) age and skill appropriate, 2.) properly supervised and 3.) decided upon with girl input and planning. Please complete and submit the Troop/Group & Service Unit Money Earning Project form to your Membership Associate a minimum of one month before the start date of the proposed project. Click here to access the required form.

 

In order to be eligible for additional fundraising activities, a troop/group/service unit must:

  • Have a financial report on file for the prior year - unless they are a new troop.
  • Participate in all council-sponsored product sales.
  • Participate in the Family Partnership Campaign (this only currently applies to Service Units).
  • Must follow the GSUSA and Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania fundraising guidelines and policies.

In addition, any troop/group/service wishing to conduct a money-earning activity must comply with the following regulations:

  • The additional money is needed to carry out a specific Girl Scout activity.
  • The troop/group is collecting dues within the suggested/normal amounts.
  • The troop/group has a realistic budget and has planned their income and expenses for the year.
  • The troop/group is in good financial standing with the council.
  • The troop/group follows the GSUSA and Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania money-earning guidelines and policies.
  • Money-earning activities cannot take place during the order-taking or direct sale phases of the council's Girl Scout Cookie Sale program, during the council's Fall Product program, Family Partnership campaign, or during local United Way blackout periods (these timelines vary by United Way).
In This Issue
Cookie Rally/College Events
Annual Meeting Proposal Deadline
Register for Healthy Promise Video Chat
Family Partnership 2013
Feburary 2013: Girl Scouts Centennial Silver Dollar
100th Anniversary Mini-Grant Financial Reports Due
Troop/SU Additional Money-Earning Guidelines Clarified
National Girl Scout Cookie Day: February 8, 2013


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National Girl Scout Cookie Day: February 8, 2013  

 

All across the country, girls and adults will join together to celebrate National Girl Scout Cookie Day on Friday, February 8, 2013. For its inaugural year, Girl Scouts of the USA will use the introduction of National Girl Scout Day to spearhead a national media blitz to remind everyone of just how important and impactful the Girl Scout Cookie Program is on our efforts to help today's girls become tomorrow's leaders. Look for more info about this upcoming media blitz in the coming weeks.

 

Save the Date!
  
January 22 - Healthy Cooking with Chef Jenn Series via Live Video Chat - Part 1 for Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors
  
January 25 - 27- Volunteer-Led Leadership Enrichment Weekend at Camp Echo Trail

February 8 - National Girl Scout Cookie Day

February 19 - Healthy Cooking with Chef Jen Series via Live Video Chat - Part 2 for Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors   
  
March 2 - Traveling Store at the York Office
  
March 5 - Regional Governance Meeting at the Montoursville Office
  
March 6 - Regional Governance Meeting at the Harrisburg Office
  
March 7 - Regional Governance Meeting at the Scranton Office
  
March 9 - Traveling Store at the State College Office
  
March 11 - Camp Information Night at Scranton Area Service Center
  
March 12 - Regional Governance Meeting in York (Location TBD)
  
March 13 - Regional Governance Meeting at the State College Office
  
March 13 - Camp Information Night at Harrisburg Area Service Center
  
March 14 - Regional Governance Meeting via Webinar
  
March 16 - Traveling Store at the Montoursville Office
  
March 19 - Camp Information Night at Montoursville Area Service Center
  
March 21 - Camp Information Night at York Area Service Center
  
March 23 - Traveling Store at the Scranton Office
  
March 25 - Camp Information Night at Harrisburg Area Service Center
  
April 1 - Camp Information Night at Camp Small Valley, Halifax
  
April 13 - Million Mile Walk Challenge
  
April 27 - GSHPA Annual Meeting
  
May 17 - 19 - aMAZE weekend for Cadettes at Camp Small Valley 
2012 - 2013 Delegates

 

Click here for the most up-to-date list of 2012-2013 Service Unit Delegates.

   

Service Unit Delegates serve as the voice of their Service Unit's girl and adult members and can influence council-wide governance decisions by sharing their insights with GSHPA's Board of Directors. Don't see anyone listed for your Service Unit?  Please contact your Membership Associate to see how you can become a Delegate.

 

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Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania | 350 Hale Avenue | Harrisburg, PA 17104
www.gshpa.org | general@gshpa.org | 1.800.692.7816