Girl Scouts of Woodland Council

serving the girls of central wisconsin

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Smoke Signals

Girl Scouts of Woodland Council's

Volunteer Newsletter

January 2008 - Vol 5, Issue 6

In This Issue

Dates to Remember

Have You Heard?

In January 1913 Elizabeth Purse earned the first Girl Scout proficiency badge, Child Nurse. Badges were embroidered by hand by Girl Scout officials until manufactured badges were able to be produced.

Registration Numbers as of 1/2/08

Great job everyone, and congratulations to the areas that have met their goals!

Quick Links

Girl Scouts of Woodland Council

Amherst Area Girl Scouts

Marshfield Area Girl Scouts

Riverbend Area Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes

GSUSA

Girl Scout Research Institute

GSUSA Core Business Strategy

Do you have a troop or Service Unit Web site? Let us know at communciations@woodgsc.org!

Dear Friend of Girl Scouting,

Happy New Year!

On behalf of the over 3,100 girls we serve together, thank you for being a part of this wonderful organization for another year and we wish you all the best in 2008!

It's Never Too Late to Register for Girl Scouts!

It's not too late to join Girl Scouts! Girl Scouts offers year-round programming with many opportunities for all girls. Girls who join Girl Scouts now can participate in fun, innovative programs and sell QSP! Also, girls who recruit a new girl to a Girl Scout troop can earn a "Bring a Friend" patch and troops who add girls can earn "Daisy's Pearls" prize packages.(Keep reading for more information!)

Your Girl Scout Gear 'Be Prepared' with news you can use

Troop Activity Ideas & Tips:

Troop Meeting Idea: Community Service Projects
Community service has always been an important part of Girl Scouting. Community service is doing something helpful for others without expecting or asking for money or any other reward.

A service project may even go beyond national borders, helping others in another part of the world, or focusing on a special worldwide concern, such as hunger, peace, or the environment. We can be a powerful force for creating change and helping others whether we work as an individual or a part of a larger group.

How Do You Know When You Have a Good Service Project?

It is safe
It helps others or the environment
It accomplishes something that is needed
It involves the people who you are helping as partners in the service
It is something that can be sustained by the community or those organized to do service
It follows the guidelines in GSUSA's Safety-Wise

Great Ideas for Service Projects

Making Things

Making decorations for a party at a nursing home
Making baby boxes for new mothers
Assembling care packages for victims of a disaster
Assembling a mailing for a non-profit agency
Making posters for a special event
Making a toy box for the hospital waiting room
Silk-screening T-shirts for a youth group

Helping the Earth

Planting trees in your neighborhood for Arbor Day
Collecting seeds for a seed bank
Educating others about different ways to conserve energy and water
Taking part in a stream survey
Participating in an Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Stenciling stream protection symbols on street drains
Helping at an environmental fair for the community
Making bird houses or bat houses for a camp or park

Helping Others

Providing child care at a women's conference
Reading to kids at your local library
Volunteering at a community health fair
Helping with registration at a breast cancer walk-a-thon
Showing seniors how to use a computer for e-mail
Shopping for someone who is ill
Serving at a soup kitchen
Helping at the Special Olympics

Fixing Things

Cleaning up a vacant lot and planting flowers
Doing repairs on an elderly person's home
Painting or stenciling garbage cans for a local park
Helping to fix toys for a holiday give-away
Sanding and repainting park tables and benches
Painting and furnishing a room at a women's shelter

Helping Girl Scouts

Representing your council by doing a flag ceremony at a community event
Helping at a United Way event as a Girl Scout
Volunteering at a Girl Scout event
Planning an event for younger girls
Cleaning up a campsite
Planting flowers at the council office
Putting on a special demonstration at a service unit meeting or leader training
Being on a Girl Scout board committee or task group as a girl member

Safety-Wise Spotlight: Troop/Group Sponsorship
The statement on page 29 that "Sponsorship in the form of a cash gift of $250 or more is sent to the council...." has created confusion. It was intended to inform Girl Scout adults that a troop/group leader cannot validate any gift as a charitable deduction. Each Girl Scout council must actively protect its statutory IRS (Internal Revenue Service) eligibility to receive charitable donations, and only councils can provide appropriate acknowledgement to donors as required by the IRS.

Girl Scout leaders should be reminded that any solicitation of businesses, organizations, or individuals must be part of a council's overall fund development plan. The council has to meet its legal obligations to the state in soliciting for donations, to other funders providing support, and under federal statutes for non-profit organizations. By soliciting sponsorships without council approval, Girl Scout groups and individuals place their council in jeopardy by circumventing the council's accountability and authority. The council is encouraged to establish other guidelines or policies on sponsorship to guide leaders through the process.

To clarify the intent of this section, future printings of it will be changed to say:

"Sponsors help the Girl Scout council ensure that all girls in the community have an opportunity to participate in Girl Scouting. Consult your council for information on working with a sponsor. Council staff can give you guidance on the availability of sponsors, recruiting responsibility, and any council policies or practices that must be followed. Community organizations, businesses, or individuals can be sponsors and may provide group meeting places, volunteer time, activity materials, equipment, or financial support for Girl Scout groups.

If your group has a sponsor, your sponsor's contribution can be recognized by sending thank-you cards composed by the girls, inviting the sponsor to a meeting or court of awards, or working together on a service project."

QSP Program Ideas

QSP is a fun and easy way to raise troop funds and promote family literacy.
There is no delivery on the magazines, music, or books. Nuts & chocolate need delivery.
There is no door-to-door selling.Girls only contact family, and if they desire, their relatives and trusted friends.
Troops earn troop funds and girls earn recognitions for participation.

The QSP program can also inspire fun activities to do with your troop:

Use a US map to locate all of the friends and family girls add to their address booklets. Who has a friend or relative that lives the furthest from Wisconsin?
Have a troop meeting that's all about this year's QSP theme! Contact Leah at the Service Center for ideas.
The goal behind the QSP program is to encourage reading and literacy. Make reading a theme for a troop meeting. Each girl could come dressed as her favorite character from a book. You could create a story in a blank book or eat snacks inspired by the girls' favorite books. Try this activity: Start a story. Tell a few lines, then let a girl tell a few lines. Let each girl add a few lines to the story. Your end result will certainly be fun and entertaining!

Finance Reports are Due January 31!
Note this GSWC policy! Every troop must file a Troop Financial Report with GSWC twice per program year.Reports are due by January 31 & June 30, unless an extension has been requested and authorized by the GSWC Executive Director. The finance report is in the forms section of the leader manual (available on the web site, on disk, or on the resource table at your January leader meeting), or you can download it here.Be sure to meet the January 31 deadline.According to the policy, if you do not submit a financial report, GSWC can freeze your troop checking account.

Spring Association Meeting
Mark your calendars! The spring association meeting is Monday, April 14 at 6:00 p.m. at Baptiste Lodge in Camp Sacajawea. Our meeting agenda will include nominations for delegates for the National Convention and votes on the merger, the new articles of incorporation, and the new bylaws. All delegates, alternate delegates, and all adults and girls over 14 interested in Girl Scout policies are welcome! If you are not a voting delegate, but you are interesting in joining this exciting and historic vote, contact your membership specialist or Amy at 715-423-6360 or 800-472-0073 or aschultz@woodgsc.org.

National Delegates
Girl Scouts of Woodland Council is taking applications for the GSUSA National Delegates in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 30 to November 2, 2008.

National Delegates hold positions of honor and importance. Two National Delegates will represent Central Wisconsin at the National Convention in Indianapolis and vote on important issues, including:

Electing a National Board of Directors and National Nominating Committee
Voting on proposals and amendments to the Constitution of GSUSA
Providing input to the National Board of Directors that can be used to determine National policies to guide the direction of the Girl Scout Movement

Note: Travel, hotel, food and registration expenses for the two National Delegates are covered by Girl Scouts of Woodland Council.

To Apply: Applications are available on the resource table at your leader meeting or by calling the Service Center at 715.423.6360 or 800.472.0073. Applications are due to Girl Scouts of Woodland Council (3910 Chestnut Street, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54457) by March 6, 2008.

Bring a Friend Patches
Girls who recruit a new girl to the troop can earn a Bring a Friend patch. This patch program is designed to encourage current Girl Scouts to introduce their friends to Girl Scouting. Any registered girl can earn a Bring a Friend patch for recruiting a new girl into her (or any other) Girl Scout troop. For each additional new girl she recruits, she receives a heart to sew next to her Bring a Friend patch. Girls can earn the Bring a Friend patch between January 1 and March 31 of the program year. (Note: applies only after a troop has registered for the current school year.)

Reminders:
Juliette's Pearls for your troop
Juliette's Pearls is an "add to your troop" challenge. Extend the fun to all girls who want to be Girl Scouts! If you add more girls to your troop you will receive an incredible prize package!

Details:

New patch and new prizes! Even if you participated in Juliette's Pearls last year, there's something new for you.
This program is for new girls that you add to the troop. Girls who are already meeting with your troop do not count.To register for Juliette's Pearls pick up the form at your January leader meeting or download it here.
New girls must be registered Girl Scouts by February 15, 2008.
Your rewards will be available at your March leader meeting.
It's never too late to register for Girl Scouts! Girls can join any day of the year to enjoy the fun and friendships.

Juliette's Pearls Prize Packages:
Add 2 girls: Every girl in the troop gets a patch and lip gloss ring!
Add 4 girls: Every girl gets the above plus a coupon for a McDonald's ice cream cone!
Add 6 girls: Every girl gets the above plus a Girl Scout Week party kit containing cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, GS Week Activity Packet and a string of 'pearls' for each girl!

The story of Juliette's pearls
When Juliette Low first started Girl Scouting in the United States, she paid all the expenses herself. She was not poor, but she wasn't extremely rich. In 1913, Mrs. Low opened a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. for the Girl Scouts. At that time the organization was still very small, but she was determined that it should grow. In 1914, when more money was needed, she sold her pearls to raise money. "Jewels are not important," she said, "but the Girl Scouts are." Juliette sized up the situation, and decided "my Girl Scouts need the money more than I need pearls."

S'more News News from Woodland staff

Woodland Canoe - Where Girls Get Their Gear!

Woodland Canoe Council Store
Special store hours for January & February:

Saturday, January 19: 11:00-1:00pm
In conjunction with Winter Weekend in the Woods
Saturday, February 23: 12:00-1:00pm
In conjunction with Daisy Day

Recall Notice from GSUSA
Heart-Shaped Charm with Globe - UPC Number 11051Girl Scouts' number one priority is the health and safety of girls.We work diligently to ensure the safety of all merchandise we distribute. This includes random lead testing procedures as a complement to the strict testing requirements of our vendors and to assure compliance with safety standards.Girl Scout Merchandise has placed a hold on all shipments of the Heart charm from our distribution facility, taken the product off sale, issued a recall to wholesale and retail customers and will no longer take orders or carry this product.

CONTACT THE GSM CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AT 800.811.9342
A Customer Service Representative will issue you a UPS Call Tag for return, issue credit and answer any questions you may have.

Click here for more store news!

Adult Development and Training
Have you caught someone doing something great? If so, check the resource table at your January Leader Meeting!
If you have any adult development/training questions please contact Rachel Hildebrant at rhildebrant@woodgsc.org or 800.472.0073 ext. 27. Visit the training section of our Web site here.

Communications
Reminders:

Please help us spread the word about all of the great ways that Girl Scouts help their communities by sending details of your troops' service projects to communications@woodgsc.org as soon as possible!The guidelines for our 4th Annual Girl Scout Week Contest have been set. Click here for the form or pick one up at your January Leader Meeting. For our last year as Woodland, let's make 2008's contest the biggest and best yet!Please send your feedback about our e-newsletter to communications@woodgsc.org. We want to make Smoke Signals the newsletter that you can really use!
We continue to have many opportunities for girls and volunteers to become involved in the promotion of Girl Scouting. Please contact Jennifer Preinitz at jpreinitz@woodgsc.org or 800.472.0073 ext. 36, for more information or if you have any Communications questions.

Resource Development
Reminders:

GoodSearch for GSWC: Log on and Support Girl Scouts of Woodland Council! Thanks to our partnership with Goodsearch.com, raising money to help support our leadership-building programs is literally a mouse click away. Log onto www.goodsearch.com - a powerful search engine powered by Yahoo! - and type "Girl Scouts of Woodland Council" into the "I support" box. GSWC will then receive a donation each time you search the Web using GoodSearch. It's that easy! You can also download GoodSearch to your browser's toolbar. Just follow the link on the GoodSearch site.

Program Paths News about upcoming council-sponsored programs & camp

For more information about any of these programs check out the current edition of GS Magazine! Click here to download a copy or contact the Service Center at woodland@woodgsc.org or 800.472.0073 to request one by mail.

Please note that the opening date for all council-sponsored programs in February-May is January 15. Encourage your girls to register early so they don't miss out on their favorites! Programs are held at Camp Sacajawea unless otherwise noted.

K-6 Program Information
Staff contact is Rachel Hildebrant: rhildebrant@woodgsc.org or 800.472.0073, ext. 27

Dreamflight USA has been rescheduled! The new dates are April 26 & 27. Please note all new registrations for this program are on hold until after January 31, 2008. Junior troops who were registered for the December 1 and 2 dates have their time slots being held. A letter has been mailed to all those registered for the program to let them know details about how to sign up for the April dates and/or how to receive a refund.

New Programs Announced!
Stressed!
Wautoma: March 1, 9-11 am; Location TBA
Ripon: March 8, 9-11 am; Location TBA
Marshfield: March 15, 10 am - 12 noon; Christ Lutheran Church
Cost: $4
Deadline to register: Two weeks before each date
Girls feel stress from many different directions: grades at school, athletics, shores at home and more. Come to this program and learn the tips and techniques you need to take yourself from stressed out to relaxed. Girls will learn all about how stress affects them, learn stress reduction and relaxation techniques, and make handmade decorated journals. Girls will also learn about aromatherapy and how it can increase their well-being; the benefits of and the smell of 12 essential oils; and how to make bath salts.

February Brownie Try-It Workshop
February 2 at Camp Sacajawea
Brownie Girl Scouts
Choose one session:
   Session 1: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
   Session 2: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Cost: $8
Deadline to register: February 1
Girls will earn the Girl Scouts Around the World Try -It. This program is being run by Troop 94 from Stevens Point to help them earn funds for their trip to the birthplace of Girl Scouting - Savannah, Georgia! To register, download the form here, complete and return to Lisa Hansen, 2041 Hwy 10 W, Junction City WI 54443. For more information contact her at 342.4108 or manitou5barepaws@dwave.net. Checks should be made payable to Troop 94.

March Brownie Try-It Workshop
March 1 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church on Wilshire Blvd, Stevens Point.
Brownie Girl Scouts
Choose one session:
   Session 1: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
   Session 2: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Cost: $8; each girl should bring a plain white T-shirt to paint
Deadline to register: February 1
Girls will earn the Playing Around the World and Art to Wear Try-Its. This program is being run by Troop 94 from Stevens Point to help them earn funds for their trip to the birthplace of Girl Scouting - Savannah, Georgia! To register, download the form here, complete and return to Lisa Hansen, 2041 Hwy 10 W, Junction City WI 54443. For more information contact her at 342.4108 or manitou5barepaws@dwave.net. Checks should be made payable to Troop 94.

Additional K-6 programs for January & February 2008:

Weekend in the Woods - Winter Edition
January 18 (6 pm) - January 20 (10 am)
This program is full!

Girl Scout Day at Nordic Mountain
February 2
All Girl Scouts, family & friends
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Lift ticket: $17; Ski rental: $10; Snowboard rental: $20; Nordic Mountain snowboard lesson: $10
GSWC snowboard lessons available from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Only $5!
Deadline to register: January 21

Computer Smarts
This program will be held at Mid-State Technical College, Stevens Point
February 23
Junior Girl Scouts
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost $1
Maximum number of participants is 40 so register early!

Daisy Day
February 23
Daisy Girl Scouts
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Cost: $5
Deadline to register: February 8
Daisies and Daisy Leaders! Join us for a special day just for you! We will have so much fun with art during this program! Girls attending the program will make a special craft about themselves to bring home, a pretty necklace and more! We will have fun playing games, singing songs, and making new friends!

Teen Program Information
Staff contact is Cara Dillman: cdillman@woodgsc.org or 800.472.0073, ext. 32

Upcoming GS 11-17 programs for January - February 2008:

Program Advisory Committee
January 12
9:00 am - 12 noon
Cost: FREE!

Disney Information Meeting
January 12
12 - 1:00 pm
Cost: FREE!
Interested in spending Spring break 2009 participating in a Disney Youth Educational Session? Attend this meeting to find out more!

Weekend in the Woods - Winter Edition
January 18 (6:00 pm) - January 20 (10:00 am)
Cost: $22/girl; $15/ adult

Cave Camping
February 9 (8:00 am) - February 10 (12:00 noon)
This program is full!

Criminal Justice Program at MSTC
This program will be held at Mid-State Technical College, Wisconsin Rapids
February 23
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cost $3
Maximum number of participants is 35 so register early!

Special Thanks
Thank you to the following groups/individuals who have volunteered their time/talents/items for council-sponsored programs so far this year: UW-SP Campus Girl Scouts; Troop 94, Troop 333, Troop 4, Troop 137, Troop 316, Troop 357, Troop 24, Cassandra and Rosanna Bogle, Troop 318/358, Troop 363, Jessica Shuma, Troop 207, Troop 83, Bryan Masephol, Stevens Point Goodwill, Wisconsin Rapids Goodwill, Don Simpson, Stevens Point YMCA, Jen Preinitz, Youth Agency Administration students from UW-SP, Meredith Gasper, Becky Jackan, UW-Oshkosh Gymnastics Team, Chad Ratelle, Program Aid Training attendees on November 3. Thank you all!

Camp Sacajawea News
Save the date for our 3rd Annual Camp Rummage & Craft Sale - May 31 and June 1, 2008

Your troop can be involved in these ways:

Have a craft table. Troops will be able to keep their profits, however a $10 donation to camp is requested. (No Daisy troops please) Registrations due May 23.
Work in the kitchen selling food.
Donate rummage sale items: You may start bringing in your donations!

All proceeds will go towards buying new camp supplies.

Please call or email Cara at the Service Center if you're interested in helping out with the craft tables, games, greeters, or kitchen. Thanks in advance for your support!

Camp Sacajawea Gift Certificates
We are excited to announce our new Camp Sacajawea gift certificates! They will work the same as cash and can be applied to 2008 summer camp sessions at Camp Sacajawea! For more information please contact Rachel at the Service Center!

Program Recaps
Look at what we've accomplished at council-sponsored programs so far!

Halloween Bash: Over 350 girls attended this program!
Wired!: participant quotes: We worked together while "giving a speech about electrical engineering." Our favorite thing about being Girl Scouts is "getting to do lots of things we might not try by ourselves." My favorite thing about being a Girl Scout is "exploring, getting to know new people and doing new activities"
Gymnastics Workshop: 100% of participants said that they learned a new skill or tried something new (Discover); 97% said that they met girls from other cities (Connect); 91% said that they worked together to accomplish something (Connect); and 100% said that they would tell their family or friends about what they did or learned (Take Action).

We welcome your feedback and questions. Please keep in touch!

Yours in Girl Scouting,
Girl Scouts of Woodland Council Staff

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Girl Scouts of Woodland Council | 3910 Chestnut Street | Wisconsin Rapids | WI | 54494