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INTRODUCTION
It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!
It's time for cookie deliveries and booth sales! Thanks to all the parents and volunteers who spend so much time every year participating in this phenomenal program. The incredible benefits of this sale for the girls would not be possible without YOU. Thanks to you, girls are learning to set goals, make decisions, manage inventory, practice public speaking, market a product, and solve problems as a troop.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the premier financial literacy program for girls in the world. It’s because of your support and dedication that the girls in our region have the opportunity to participate in it. The cookie program funds the programs that the troops do, service unit activities, and all Council provided services for girls and leaders.
I can't thank you enough for all your work and dedication to making the cookie sale a success. I wish you and your girls a wonderful cookie sale.
Sincerely,
Ann Meredith, CEO
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
We have changed our shop hours for the winter and spring. These hours begin on Monday, February 18th and will remain until summer hours begin on June 29th. The new hours are as follows:
Shelly Ridge
- Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10AM to 6PM
- Wed: 10AM to 8PM
- Every Saturday: 10AM to 3PM
Lehigh Valley
- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 9AM to 6 PM
- Tues: 9AM to 8PM
- Every Saturday: 10AM to 3PM
Springfield, Seltzer and Valley Forge
- Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10AM to 6PM
- Wed: 10AM to 8PM
- Second Saturday of the month: 10AM to 3PM
And don’t forget our February shop special – 10% off all fun patches!
Have you heard the news? Girl Scouts have had major press exposure in announcing our Cookie Sales, our mission and values, and our outreach initiatives. Here are a few of the headlines we’ve made:
- KYW CBS: A Girl Scout exclusive aired on CBS highlighting the need and relevance of Girl Scouting – Thursday, January 24. http://cbs3.com/video/?id=51534@kyw.dayport.com
- WCAU NBC: The 9AM, 12 Noon, and 6PM news teams aired clips from Cardinal O’Hara High School and announced February is cookie month; Sunday, January 27.
- WPHL WB: The 10PM news team aired clips from a Springfield delivery and announced February is cookie month; Sunday, January 27.
- WPVI ABC: The 6AM news team announced February is cookie month. Sunday; January 27.
- WHYY 90.1 FM: Ann Meredith interviewed with Brenda Jorett at 11:00 AM; Monday, January 28.
- WCAU NBC: The 6AM news team announced that cookie sales will run through the month of February. The 11AM news team shared their favorite cookies and announced Cookies From Home; Monday, January 28.
- WEEU 830 AM: Carla Hickey was interviewed on the morning show at 9:05 AM; Wednesday, January 30.
- WURD 900 AM: Gari Brindle was interviewed on the Eleanor Dezzi show at 12:15 PM; Wednesday, January 30.
- Lehigh Valley Live: “On your mark, get set, eat cookies!” was published; Thursday, January 31. http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/01/on_your_mark_get_set_eat_cooki.html
- WXTF FOX 29: Gari Brindle and Girl Scouts Samantha Scott, Naomi Adams, and Megan Katz appeared on Good Day Philadelphia; Friday, February 1.
- CN8: Ann Meredith and Girl Scouts Caitlin Oeste, Allison Robertson, Taira Wright, Breanna James and Dominique Ettiene appeared on CN8 Your Morning; Friday, February 1.
- KYW News Radio: Ann Meredith spoke about our new cookie locater; Friday, February 1.
- 6ABC: Shots from the Girl Scout Cookie Cake Contest in Philadelphia ran on the afternoon news; Friday, February 1.
- WFMZ Channel 69: Shots from the Girl Scout Cookie Cake Contest in Reading ran on the evening news; Saturday, February 2.
- Philadelphia Inquirer: “Girl Scout cookie? Check the web” appeared in the Inquirer; Saturday, February 2, 2008. http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080202_Girl_Scout_cookie__Check_the_Web.html
- Philadelphia Daily News: “More than just cookies” ran in the Yo Features section of the Daily News; Monday, February 4. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20080204_More_than_just_cookies.html
- Q102: Ann Meredith and Girl Scout Brandy Spencer announced cookie month and the cookie locator; Monday, February 4, 2008.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Girl Scout Day at St. Joe's Women's Basketball
When: Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 12 Noon
Where: the Fieldhouse on St. Joseph's campus in Philadelphia
Fee: Free for girls in uniform
Details: On Sunday February 24 the Hawks will take on George Washington at 12 Noon. The game will take place at the Fieldhouse on the St. Joe's campus, and all scouts in uniform will be admitted to the game FREE. It is sure to be an exciting afternoon of basketball with tons of contests, prizes, and give-aways. Tickets for family members and friends can be purchased at the door on game day.
Indian Creek Foundation Presents Les Stroud
When: Friday, March 14, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Where: Calvary Church in Souderton
Fee: Students $15; Adults $35
Details: Meet Les Stroud, host of Survivorman. This event is hosted by Indian Creek Foundation. For more information or to register call 267-203-1500 or visit www.indcreek.org.
Scout Day at the Brandywine Zoo
When: March 16th from 12:30 to 4:00 PM
Where: Brandywine Zoo
Fee: $8.00 per person, including leaders and chaperones
Details: Fee covers entrance, games, crafts, activities and a Brandywine Zoo Patch. All Scouts are invited, including Boy Scouts. Space is limited. To register please contact the Brandywine Zoo at 302- 571-7850, ext. 209 or visit them online at www.brandywine zoo.org.
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COOKIE CORNER
Girl Scout Cookie Locator
Have you heard the news reports on our new cookie locator system? It has been promoted on several radio shows in the past couple of days. It is also promoted on billboards and Stroehmann’s bread delivery trucks throughout our region. The Cookie Locator has really taken off!
The Cookie Locator will increase traffic to cookie booth locations and increase the cookie sales for the girls, so it is very important that these cookie booths are staffed during the times that are advertised on the Cookie Locator. If we inadvertently mislead customers by promoting cookie booths that have been cancelled or rescheduled, or by ending promoted booth locations early and/or starting late, the store will receive complaints. This could lead to stores refusing to have Girl Scouts return next year for cookie booth site. It is CRITICAL that troops sell at the cookie booth time and location they have signed up for.
If a troop has to cancel their booth sale for any reason and cannot find a sister troop to take its place, it is important to do the following:
- Call your Service Unit Cookie Manager to see if she/he knows of a troop to take your place.
- If you cannot reach the SUCM or if they are unable to find a replacement troop, please call Barb Bankert at 215-546-2030, ext. 1026 immediately, and she will try to find a troop to fill your time slot. She checks her voice mail messages 3 times a day on weekends, and up to 8:00 at night on weekdays.
The more time that you can give Barb and the Product Sales staff to find replacement girls, the better chance we will have of ensuring that the cookie booth is filled.
Please join the excitement about the Cookie Locator. Go to our website and check it out! www.gsep.org
Cookie Booths
Please check the cookie booth listing on our website if you want another booth sale time. The booth listing is updated at the end of each day, and troops can easily see what is available. Please email cbooths@gsep.org for additional booth requests.
And remember, since we are driving customers to our council sponsored AND service unit booth locations through the Cookie Locator on our website, it is critical that troops show up on time for the booth sale time slots.
Service Unit Cookie Managers
Please stay in touch with your Service Unit Cookie Manager (SUCM) to let her/him know how your cookie sale is going, if you think you might have taken too many cookies, and to alert her/him of any problems you might be having. Also, let your SUCM know about your successes as well. Your SUCM will also have additional forms and other assistance for you.
Cookie Pick-Up Stations
Always remember if you need additional cookies you can get them at any number of Cookie Pick Up Stations throughout the council. A list of the Pick-Up Station locations and times is listed by county on our website at http://www.gsep.org/pages/fallproducts.html
If you need additional cookies and need to go to one of the Pick-Up Stations throughout the sale, you will need to bring a Troop Cookie Transaction Receipt (T-8 Form) with you. This form is necessary when you go to pick up additional cookies from the warehouses and trucks.
Additional T-8 forms can be obtained from your Service Unit Cookie Manager, and all council shops. If a Leader or Troop Cookie Manager goes to a shop for the T-8 form, they will be required to record their name and troop number. SUCM’s will receive a list of any T-8 forms given to their volunteers. The T-8 forms will not be issued to parents or any other volunteers in the troop - only Leaders and Troop Cookie Managers.
Girl Scout Promise and Law
As we embark on the direct sale portion of the Cookie Sale, this is a good time to reflect on the Girl Scout Promise and Law. The promise and law can help guide behavior of the girls when they get tired or cold at a cookie booth. It can remind girls and adults to be Considerate and Caring, and Honest and Fair when dealing with one another at the end of a long day, and can simply remind us all of what it means to be a Girl Scout.
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BEST PHOTO
SGT Aaron Coombs shares his favorite Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies with two Iraqi children. Be sure to have girls sell and collect cookies for the Cookies From Home project, our troops really enjoy it.
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PROGRAM CORNER
The following is a list of upcoming programs that still have registration room available.
Passport to Global Tolerance
When: Saturday, February 9, 2008
Where: Cedar Crest College in Allentown
Girl Scout Diva Day
When: Saturday, February 16, 2008
Where: Kutztown University
Rocks Rock and Earth Connections
When: Monday, February 18, 2008
Where: The Wagner Free Institute of Science
Women From History: Alive & In Person
When: Saturday, February 23, 2008
Where: Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church
Trees for the 21st Century
When: Saturday, February 23, 2008
Where: Valley Forge Program Center
Spark the Wave: Igniting Teen Volunteers
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008 and Saturday March 8, 2008
Where: Valley Forge Service Center
Make Believe Players
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008
Where: Shelly Ridge Service Center
Holocaust Awareness Museum
When: Sunday, March 2, 2008
Where: JCC Klein Branch
Maple Sugaring by Tyler Arboretum
When: Sunday, March 2, 2008
Where: Tyler Arboretum
Chamounix Mansion invites GSEP to the
Philadelphia Flower Show
When: March 2 - March 9, 2008
Where: Chamounix Mansion in Philadelphia
BAM!!
When: Wednesdays, March 5, 12, and 19, 2008
Where: Young Chef's Academy
College 101
When: Friday, March 7, 2008
Where: Camp Tohikanee
Deep Sleep
When: Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, 2008
Where: New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium
Junior Program Day at Cabela's
When: Saturday, March 8, 2008
Wher : Cabellas Outfitters
Cotillion at Cliveden
When: Saturday, March 8, 2008
Where: Cliveden
Pennsylvania Ballet - Coppelia
When: Saturday, March 8, 2008
Where: Academy of Music Ballroom
It's Important to Me
When: Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, 2008
Where: National Liberty Museum
Past Times-Old Fashioned Fun
When: Saturday, March 8, 2008
Where: Lehigh Valley Heritage Center
The Piano Lesson
When: Friday, March 14, 2008
Where: Arden Children's Theater
The Trail of Freedom
When: Saturday, March 15, 2008
Where: Freedoms Foundation
Peace Projects
When: Saturday, March 22, 2008
Where: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Sky's the Limit
When: Friday, March 28, 2008
Where: Reading Public Museum
Planetarium
Get a Job!
When: Saturday, March 29, 2008
Where: ITT Technical Institute
Philadelphia KIXX: Girl Scout Night
When: Saturday, March 29, 2008
Where: Wachovia Spectrum
Start your Engines
When: Saturday, March 29, 2008
Where: Brown Daub Buick Pontiac Cadillac
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MISSION MANTRA
“Only shooting stars break the mold.”
- Smashmouth
I thoroughly believe in the following quote that I've borrowed from the group Smashmouth since I first heard it. We can all go along and do the same thing, but to achieve more for those around us and ourselves the extra steps make the difference.
Marni Jarman
Co-Leader for Junior Troop 2807, Richland Service Unit
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ADULT DEVELOPMENT CORNER
POT OF GOLD 2008 - "The Pot is Golder at GSEP"
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania presents its premiere Adult Leadership/Enhancement Day at Montgomery County Community College.
All adult volunteers are welcome to gather in a fun, dynamic learning environment. Whether you're a brand new leader or an experienced volunteer, we have something for you. Become a better leader, learn a new skill, and develop professional expertise. Network with your Girl Scout friends, old and new. There will be over 80 workshop opportunities. (Note: Lunch order information will be available on the website next week)
For information about workshops and registration, click here: http://www.gsep.org/pages/adult_training.html
Adult Recognition: Check out the GSEP Adult Awards and Recognitions information on the adult training page of our website – available the first week of February. The site will include a chart of awards, process guidelines, and all forms. The deadline for submission of forms for Council level awards is March 1, 2008. Contact Lorrie Klaric at lklaric@gsep.org or 888-564-2030 ext. 1025 for additional information.
Volunteer Learning Opportunities:
NEW: The GSEP Adult Education Guide is available for download from the Adult Training Page of our website. This is your go-to source of information about all learning opportunities at GSEP. Copies will be available in our service centers soon.
Outdoor Training is coming this April. We plan to offer courses every weekend in April at a variety of GSEP locations. A complete Adult Education Guide will be available on our website with further explanation of all courses. We are pleased to offer flexible outdoor learning options to you by providing courses that suit your needs. Our courses are designed to take together with friends or alone based on your level of interest. The new GSEP training includes a self study packet (Outdoor 101) that serves as the “prerequisite” for any additional course. Prep sessions or pre-camp training sessions will no longer be required. Our education series consists of the following components:
- Outdoor 101 – Home Study – this is the pre-requisite for all other components of GSEP outdoor education. It will be available soon, but you may pre-order by contacting Teresa at tvanarsdale@gsep.org or by calling 888-564-4657 ext. 1021.
- Outdoor 102 – Outdoor Cooking and Fires – this is a hands-on course where you’ll experience the demonstration of various types of cooking methods and fire building. This course is required for any outdoor cooking or fire building at any site, including GSEP properties. Note: You will not be qualified for outdoor camping with this course.
- Outdoor 103 – Outdoor Camping – Outdoor camping is an overnight experience at camp, held at a GSEP property. This course is required for any overnight camping at any GSEP property (indoor or outdoor facilities) and in any other outdoor facilities (tents, A-frames, rustic cabins, etc.) Note: You will not be qualified for any fire building or outdoor cooking with this course.
Bringing training to you: We want to help make your learning options as convenient as possible. If you have a group of at least five participants that need a specific training, please contact us at training@gsep.org or Teresa at 888-564-4657 ext. 1021 and we will work with you to try to secure a volunteer trainer at a mutually convenient time.
Thinking of becoming a learning facilitator / trainer? We need you! Contact Lorrie Klaric, Adult Development Director, at lklaric@gsep.org. We’re working with GSUSA to make the process of becoming a learning facilitator much easier. This will help us offer the number of learning opportunities we need to have available for all of our volunteers.
Training Schedule: The GSEP training schedule is updated on the GSEP website each week. Visit http://www.gsep.org/pages/adult_training.html. To access our schedule of learning opportunities with registration instructions, click on the "Training Information" link. Online Registration is available through E-Council for all trainings. Printed schedules are also available through our Service Centers.
*Questions about training? Contact us at training@gsep.org
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CONTACT US
Hard Copies
If you know of a Leader or Service Unit Manager who does not receive GS News because she/he does not have access to a computer, please have them contact us for a mailed copy of the GS News. Please call or email Loretta Rudzinski at (215) 564-2030, ext. 1049 or lrudzinski@gsep.org.
Headquarters
Shelly Ridge Service Center
330 Manor Road
Miquon, PA 19444
Tel. (888/215) 564-4657
Fax. (215) 564-6953
Mailing address:
PO Box 27540
Philadelphia, PA 19118
