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MARCH 2013 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
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Dear Volunteers,
Do you know what "Go Red for Women" means? When you hear those words you probably think of the fight against heart disease in women.
Do you know what "ToGetHerThere" means? In the future, if Girl Scouts of the U.S.A has anything to say about it, people will think of gender balanced leadership when they hear those words. That's right-an equal number of men and women serving in every kind of leadership position throughout society.
ToGetHerThere is GSUSA's new cause campaign. But wait a minute. Is this new? Wasn't this Juliette Gordon Low's vision, too? We think that promoting the ToGetHerThere cause is a great way to expose enormous numbers of people to Juliette's vision using a 21st century approach. Here are some examples showing that we still have a ways to go if we are going ToGetHerThere. Did you know that:
- Only 1 in 5 girls believes she has the qualities required to be a leader.
- There is not a single woman on the boards or among the CEO's of the top 15 media companies.
- Women account for less than 20% of bachelor's degrees in engineering, computer science and physics.
- Only 17% of U.S. senators, representatives and governors are women.
We think Daisy Low would put her stamp of approval on the ToGetHerThere cause. Don't you? How is the ToGetHerThere cause relevant to the work we all do in the Girl Scouts? Can we connect this vision with what's going on in our local communities? This is a conversation we are going to start at GSHPA's upcoming Regional Governance Meetings and continue at our Annual Meeting in April. We're looking forward to hearing your ideas on how we can use ToGetHerThere to promote and accelerate the work we do with girls here in the Heart of Pennsylvania
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With sincere gratitude for your continuing contributions,
Kate Crowley Jane Ransom
Board Chair President & CEO
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March 10 - 16: Celebrate Girl Scout Week
Girl Scout week is March 10 - 16, 2013 which makes it a great time for you and the girls you work with to show off your Girl Scout pride. There are various ways to generate excitement, such as including the 2013 Girl Scout Sunday insert in local church bulletins on Sunday, March 10, 2013 or wearing your Girl Scout uniforms to school on our official anniversary, March 12, 2013. There are all kinds of ways that both girl and adult members can make our local communities aware that Girl Scouts is alive and well and always looking for new volunteers and girl members. Happy 101st birthday Girl Scouts!
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Don't Miss Million Mile Walk Event on April 21
A million miles seems like a lot. An event to kick-off our council's Healthy Promise commitment to walk a million miles in one year seems kind of crazy, but you definitely don't want to miss out on your chance to be there on Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 2 - 4 p.m. at Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre, PA (Luzerne County). For only $10 per person, registered girl members along with their families and friends (yes, friends and family are invited as long as they accompany a registered girl member) can join hundreds from across our council alongside 2-time Olympic medalist Jessica Mendoza. We will take the monumental pledge to track our activity for one full year in the hopes of accumulating a grand total of one million miles. Spots are filling fast so click here to register.
As a young person, Jessica Mendoza felt many of the pressures girls of today do - the pressure to fit in, look a certain way, act a certain way, etc. Mendoza, now a mother and a wife, found her true self and passion by playing softball - a move that led to a scholarship to Stanford, a starting spot on the USA Olympic gold and silver medal softball team in 2004 and 2008 and a career as an ESPN reporter. Jessica's story will inspire anyone to see how the choices she's made and the support she's received along the way from family and friends have made all the difference.
The Healthy Promise Million Mile Walk will start promptly at 2 p.m., rain or shine. Participants will receive a Healthy Promise patch and a giveaway. Click here to register.
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Receive 20% Off GSHPA Online Store Purchase by Re-Registering Online
Traditionally known as Early Bird re-registration, the spring of every year has often been when current adult and girl members are encouraged to re-register for another year of Girl Scouts by a certain deadline. This spring is no different, with the exception of two details: GSUSA is raising the annual membership fee to $15 beginning with every council's Early Bird re-registration campaign AND GSHPA girl and adult members will be able to renew their memberships online for the very first time. To help balance out the two, we're offering a 20% discount off of any GSHPA online purchase totaling $25 or more to anyone (that's any girl or adult member) who re-registers for the 2013-2014 Girl Scout year using our new online registration process between April 10 and June 30, 2013. That's huge and definitely worth more than $3! Look for more info in your inbox about re-registering online closer to April 10.
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GSHPA Offers Scholarships for High School Seniors
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania offers scholarship awards to girls who are current high school seniors, are currently registered members of GSHPA and are planning to continue their education at an institution of higher education (either college or technical school). Girls and parents who are interested in learning more about the scholarships, their requirements and the application process should click here.
The application deadline is March 29, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.
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aMAZING Weekend Opportunity Returns
Cadettes in grades 6th through 8th are invited to attend aMAZE weekend at Camp Small Valley and earn at least one award associated with the aMAZE Journey. In addition to being well on their way to earning their Silver Award, participants will learn more about themselves and their relationships with others. Plus, they'll get to enjoy tons of fun activities including low ropes and high ropes activities on Camp Small Valley's state of the art adventure challenge course! Participants MUST be a registered girl member of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania (GSHPA) at the Cadette level. This is a girl-only activity. Girls may attend with other members of their troops. GSHPA will provide staff to cover adult/girl ratios. When: Friday, May 17 - Sunday, May 19, 2013 Drop-off: 7 - 9 p.m. on Friday | Pick-up: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sunday
Where: Camp Small Valley
Cost: $75 per Cadette This includes activities, aMAZE Journey Book, aMAZE Journey Award, 4 meals + snack and overnight accommodations.
Click here to register. |
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Save the Date: Summer Camp Info Sessions
As volunteers, parents often turn to you as a resource when deciding whether or not to register their daughters for a week at Summer Camp at Camp Small Valley this year. To help both parents and volunteers gain a better understanding of what we have in store for girls who attend Traditional Camp for girls in grades 2 - 10, Ranch Camp for girls in grades 6 - 10 and Adventure Bound Camp for girls in grades 7 - 12, we're offering a number of free in-person and virtual info sessions throughout March and April. Please check out the list of options below and choose the one that works best with your schedule.
Attend one of our free upcoming Camp Info Nights. All info nights start at 7 p.m. Please click the link next to the date to register.
March 11: Olyphant Area Service Center | Sign-up.
March 13: Harrisburg Area Service Center | Sign-up.
March 19: Montoursville Area Service Center | Sign-up.
March 21: York Area Service Center | Sign-up.
March 25: Harrisburg Area Service Center | Sign-up.
March 27: State College Area Service Center | Sign-up.
April 1: Camp Small Valley, Halifax | Sign-up.
Save the Date: Summer Camp Webinars*
Without having to go anywhere, you can register for your preferred webinar* day and time by clicking on the options below:
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 12 p.m. or 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12 p.m. or 7 p.m.
*Participation in either info session requires access to the internet and a phone or you can simply call in and listen.
Save the Date: Tour Camp Small Valley
Tour Camp Small Valley during our Summer Camp Open House on Saturday, April 27 between 12 - 4 p.m. No pre-registration required.
And when all else fails and none of these dates/times/locations will work, call 1-800-692-7816 or send an email to camp@gshpa.org.
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Wanted: Troop Adventure Camp Volunteers
Troop Adventure Camp (also known as TAC) continues to be one of our most popular outdoor programs. As demand for these programs continues to grow, so too does our need for more TAC volunteers. So what does it take to be a TAC volunteer? Must be a registered adult member with a current criminal background check on file and must be willing to spend a weekend running a variety of outdoor activities at one or more camp locations throughout our council. Interested? Contact Kelly Benasutti, our outdoor program manager, to find out how to get started today.
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Spring Volunteer Training Registration Starts in March
As you plan your spring and summer camping trips and additional outdoor adventures, keep in mind that GSHPA will be offering four weekends of outdoor-themed volunteer training. Trainings include First Aid/CPR*, Outdoor Skills and Camping 101. These are free weekends that are available on a first come, first serve basis. Most of the trainings take place on Saturday. Look for more info to arrive in your inbox later this month. In the meantime, save these dates:
April 5-7, 2013 | Camp Echo Trail, Felton, PA (York County)
April 19-21, 2013 | Camp Small Valley, Halifax, PA (Dauphin County)
June 7-9, 2013 | Camp Golden Pond, Petersburg, PA (Huntingdon County)
June 14-16, 2013 | Camp Louise, Shickshinny, PA (Columbia County)
*First Aid/CPR does require a $25 deposit that is refunded after completion of the course.
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Camping Connection is back in 2013
Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Girl Scout troops or an individually registered girl in 7th-12th grades are invited to participate in this year's Camping Connection (formerly Rainbow Connection) weekend at the South Mountain Fairgrounds in Arendtsville, PA in Adams County on June 14-16, 2013. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of volunteers from multiple Service Units in the South Region, older girls can enjoy an unforgettable weekend of workshops, entertainment, swaps and friendship for only $25. Click here for the full registration packet. Registration opens March 1. For more info, send an email to campingconnection@comcast.net or call Lynn Bixler at 717-630-3150.
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Save the Date!
March 1 - Summer Camp Early Bird Discount Ends
March 2 - Traveling Store at York Office
March 5 - Regional Governance Meeting at Montoursville Office
March 6 - Regional Governance Meeting at Harrisburg Office
March 7 - Regional Governance Meeting at Scranton Office
March 9 - Traveling Store at State College Office
March 10 - Girl Scout Sunday
March 11 - Camp Information Night at Scranton Area Service Center
March 12 - Girl Scout Birthday (101 years old)
March 12 - Regional Governance Meeting at York HACC
March 13 - Regional Governance Meeting at State College Office
March 13 - Camp Information Night at Harrisburg Area Service Center
March 14 - Regional Governance Meeting via Webinar
March 15 - Family Partnership Begins
March 16 - Traveling Store at 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 Scranton Office
March 25 - Camp Information Night at Harrisburg Area Service Center
March 27 - Camp Information Night at State College Area Service Center
March 29 - GSHPA Scholarship Application Deadline
April 1 - Camp Information Night at Camp Small Valley, Halifax
April 2 - Camp Info Webinars
April 5 - 7 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Echo Trail
April 10 - Early Bird Online Re-registration begins
April 11 - Camp Info Webinars
April 19 - 21 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Small Valley
April 21 - Healthy Promise Million Mile Walk Event at Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre
April 27 - GSHPA Annual Meeting
April 27 - Summer Camp Open House at Camp Small Valley
May 17 - 19 - aMAZE weekend for Cadettes at Camp Small Valley
June 7 - 9 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Golden Pond
June 14 - 16 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Louise
June 30 - Early Bird Online Re-registration incentive deadline
August 10 - Annual Volunteer Kick-Off
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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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