Girl Scouts of Woodland Council

• Troop Committee Chair:  Heads up the Troop Committee, delegates tasks, keeps in frequent contact with the leaders and other Troop Committee members.
• Telephone Chair:  Contacts troop members and/or parents when necessary (reminders, change of plans, etc.)
• Transportation Chair:  Recruits and coordinates drivers and chaperones for trips.
• Cookie/QSP Manager:  Supervises product sales programs - can be two separate positions.
• Troop Treasurer:  Manages the troop's finances. Keeps thorough, accurate financial records and submits required paperwork.
• Program Helpers:  Help at meetings, work directly with the girls and share their skills, plan and implement programs, etc.

• You can still hold a Parent Meeting. It's the perfect time for leaders to give important information to parents, for new families to get acquainted, and for returning families to get reconnected to Girl Scouts.
  
• Use the Parent Volunteer Checklist that is in the Girl Registration Packet (you can also download it here.) Have each parent fill it out and plan your meetings to include everyone who indicated that they would help out.
• Instead of just setting Troop Committee sign-up sheets on a table and hoping that parents sign up, make a point of talking to all parents about the Troop Committee. Inform them of the philosophy, what a Troop Committee is and why it's important to their daughter's troop.
• Try listing the positions out loud and asking for volunteers right then. Sometimes being in a group setting encourages people to volunteer.
  
• If you still have open positions, try a one-on-one approach - "Hi, Mrs. Jones, the troop could really use a treasurer. Because you're a CPA I immediately thought of you...")
• Suggest dividing the duties of a position among a team of volunteer parents.
• Ask parents if they have any friends who are looking for volunteer opportunities.

Troop Activity Ideas:

Troop Meeting Idea: Make thank-you gifts for people who help your troop

• Large bare tree branch (see photo)
• Tacky glue
• Construction paper (fall leaf colors)
• Scissors
• Deep flower pot filled with small stones or sand
• Clothes pins
• Markers

GSWC Patch Programs and Program Boxes          

In a pinch or not sure what to do at your next troop meeting? Grab a patch program with topics that include:

• Breast Cancer Awareness - The goal of this program is to help Juniors and GS 11-17 learn about protecting themselves from this deadly disease.
• On Belay! - Focuses on rock climbing, making healthy choices and nutrition.
• Internet Safety - All Girl Scouts can learn how to stay safe and why it's so important to protect themselves while online.
• Don't Laugh at Me! - Girls of all ages can learn to help create a caring, compassionate and cooperative environment in your troop and community.
• Food Guide Pyramid - For Brownies, Juniors & GS 11-17. The goal of this program is to help girls learn how to make healthy food choices.

Each patch program packet includes activity directions and troops can purchase a patch for each girl who completes the requirements. Patch program packets are available at your leader meetings or you may download them here.

Program boxes are another quick way to deliver quality troop programming. Two brand new boxes for Juniors are now available- "Math Whiz" and "Making it Matter." Other topics include Girl Scouting, environmental education, sports, science, healthy relationships and more. View the complete list here and use the Equipment Request Form to check out any of the available program boxes.

Reminders:

Cookie Program Dates to Remember:

• Complete your pre-printed deposit slip and take money to the M&I Bank nearest you.
• Ask for two receipts!
• Remember to keep your troop's profit from the cash you collect.
• Endorse all checks to Girl Scouts of Woodland Council.

• Send one copy of all deposit receipts (keep one copy for your troop's records).
• Complete the bottom portion of the Troop Order Form (T-4). Send in the #4 copy and keep #5 for your records.
• Send in your evaluation and any collection problems.

Woodland Canoe Council Store    
Special store hours for November and December:

• Saturday, Nov. 3: 11:30am-1:30pm
  In conjunction with Wired!
• Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2:  11:00am-1:00pm
  Both days in conjunction with DreamFlight USA

Click here for more store news!

Adult Development and Training
Come cheer on our exceptional volunteers at GSWC's Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner on November 11. If you nominated someone or are a nominee, please plan on attending so we can say thank you! If you have any 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
Girl Scouts of all ages are committed to serving others in their communities - whether it's Daisies planting flowers for a troop sponsor, Brownies planning and leading an activity with residents at the local nursing home, Juniors 'adopting' the local animal shelter (collecting food and supplies, cleaning cages, etc.) or GS 11-17 planning and implementing an annual community clean up day. 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 next issue of Pathways, our newsletter for GSWC families, will be an e-newsletter and will be sent by January 1, 2008. Please encourage your troop families to submit their email addresses to the Service Center so they don't miss this great resource!

• Reminders:
  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 new 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.

• Reminders:                                                                                                             
  

You should have received your 2007-2008 School-Year edition of GS Magazine, our brochure of council-sponsored programs. If you haven't or need an additional copy, 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 October-January was September 17. 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

Discover, Connect, Take Action packets
After attending a K-6 program this year you'll receive a Discover, Connect, Take Action Packet to show you how the program met the three focuses as well as how you and the girls can take action in your families and communities!

Upcoming K-6 programs for November & December 2007: