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 Welcome to the 2007-2008 Program Year!
 

GSEP welcomes you to the 2007-2008 program year and invites you to check out all of our on-line resources for our volunteers.

We know this first full year of our realigned Council will be the best ever! Read on for more information on programs, events, product sales, and more.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the 2007-2008 Program Guide is available online at www.gsep.org in the Events and Programs section, and will soon be sent to each registered Girl Scout family within the next 2 weeks. The Program Guide lists GSEP sponsored events that will serve a large number of girls at each event. There are over 150 events scheduled so far this year.

We know that there are regions of the Council which do not have as many events planned in them as others. The program department is working now to plan additional events for the winter and spring across all nine counties, and will publish a Program Guide Addendum in January to advertise additional events. The Addendum will focus on new programs in currently under-served geographic areas.

The Program Department has also compiled a list of sites, posted on the GSEP website under Events and Programs, called Program Partners. Partners are available for individual Girl Scouts or troops can sign up on their own for various programs, and will be updated each Friday. If a favorite site from a previous year is not on the list, it may be because GSEP has not yet received the required paperwork from the Program Partner, or because they no longer comply with Safety-Wise guidelines.

If you know of an exciting program possibility that could serve 100 or more girls at a time, or a Program Partner who will provide badge programming or a reduced rate for Girl Scouts, please contact Jennifer Allebach at jallebach@gsep.org. The Program Department will be seeking input over the course of the next membership year from girls, volunteers and parents. We want to know how the Program Guide works for you and how we can make it better suit your needs.

It is with your help that we can ensure program opportunities exist in every area of the new council.

Download the Program Guide On-line! 


 "One Smart Cookie" Roadshows
 An informational gathering to learn about the new cookie sale

The "One Smart Cookie" Roadshows are coming! Cookie Roadshows are a fun, interactive way for all Girl Scouts to become familiar with the 2008 Cookie Sale. Girls and adults alike can learn about ABC Cookie Company (our cookie bakery), sample this year's delicious cookies, and see and touch the new girl incentives. Leaders will have a chance to explore the "Cookieworks" website, and learn how our new sale will work. We look forward to seeing you and your troop at a "One Smart Cookie" Roadshow.

This schedule is posted on the GSEP website at www.gsep.org, and will be updated as additional dates are added.

Visit Our Web Site For More Information 


 Service Unit Delegates
 

If your Service Unit has not yet elected delegates for the 2007 - 2008 membership year, please do so immediately. Forward the delegate and alternate delegate names to Rosa Sanchez, at rsanchez@gsep.org, by the end of the month.

E-mail Rosa Sanchez 


 Girl Scout Mural Dedication
 

Mark your calendars! The date for the Girl Scout 95th Anniversary Mural, Where Girls Grow Strong, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 26th at 5:30 pm. The dedication will be held at 1422 Callowhill Street in Philadelphia where the mural is proudly displayed on the Creative Book Manufacturing Co. building owned by the Kopacz Family. If you wish to attend the rededication, please RSVP to Katie Robb at krobb@gsep.org by email, telling her how many girls and how many adults plan to attend.

RSVP Now 


 E-Council Membership and Training Registration System
 

E-Council, GSEP's membership and training registration system, is up and running! Service Unit Managers can now view their Service Unit membership registrations using the password received at the Fall Kick-Off. If you have not yet received instructions on how to access E-Council, or a password, please contact your Membership Manager, or Membership Assistant Marion Barnes at mbarnes@gsep.org.

Trainings are now available for registration online using E-Council. Please click on the E-Council link under our Current Members' page. Then select "training" as the registration type, and then select the training by month. Click on the training and enter the requested information.

Program events will be available for registration on-line by October 1st.

Visit E-Council 


 Upcoming GSEP Programs, Events, and Opportunities
 

The following programs currently have space available for registration. A short description is attached. Please refer to the Program Guide online at www.gsep.org under "Events and Programs" tab for a complete description, including capacity, cost, and address. Please mail, e-mail, or fax your registration to Michelle Durham to register for these events. Due to the large volume of registrations, we cannot accept registrations by phone. Michelle can be reached in the following ways:
Phone: (215) 564-4657, ext. 280
E-mail: mdurham@gsep.org
Fax: (215) 564-6953
Mail: GSEP
P. O. Box 27540
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Attn: Program Registrar

Weekend by the Water
Camp Hidden Falls
Ages: Cadette/Seniors
Date: September 21-23, 2007
Time: 7:00 pm Friday - 11:00 am Sunday
A weekend of water fun with canoing and funyaking on the lake and a hike to the falls.

Junior Horse Lover
Camp Wood Haven
Ages: Junior
Dates: September 21-23 OR October 5-7, 2008
Time: 5:00 pm Friday - 11:00 am Sunday
Spend the weekend earning the Horse Lover Badge, making new friends, and spending a crisp fall weekend at camp.

Ceramics and Clay
Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, PA
Ages: Junior
Date: Sunday, September 23, 2007 OR March 2, 2008
Time: 1:00-4:00 am
Tour an art gallery and working studio and then create clay pots, mugs, and more. Fee includes badge.

Celebrate Dance with Tahya
Fowler Family Southside Center, Bethlehem, PA
Ages: Junior
Dates & Times: September 22, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
September 22, 2:00-3:30 pm
October 13, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
October 13, 2:00-3:30 pm
November 3, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
November 3, 2:00-3:30 pm
Join Tahya for a fun, educational and stimulating dance class to earn the Global Community Badge.

Adventure Aquarium
Camden, New Jersey Waterfront
Ages: All
Dates: October 6, OR October 7, 2007 Time: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Visit the West African River Experience at the Girl Scout Day at the Aquarium.

Egyptian Escapade
University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
Ages: Junior
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2007
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Receive an activity booklet and gain unlimited access to all the museum's galleries for the day to help earn requirements for Celebrating People, Globe-Trotting, or World Neighbors badge.

Bike and Boat
Wildlands Conservancy, Emmaus, PA
Ages: 10 years of age and older
Dates: October 13, 2007 OR May 10, 2008
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
This single day, 5-hour trip includes canoing down the Lehigh River to Bethlehem and bicycling back to Allentown along the canal's tow path.

Tunes and Trails
Camp Hidden Falls
Ages: Cadette, Seniors
Date: October 19-21, 2007
Time: 7:00 pm Friday - 11:00 am Sunday
Hike and sing all over Hidden Falls with an evening campfire where you can sing old favorites and learn some new tunes. Come ready to hit the trails, no matter what the weather.

Dog Mushing
Dutch Springs, Bethlehem, PA
Ages: Cadette, Senior
Date: October 20, 2007
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Learn how sled dogs are trained, what they eat, which dogs are best for each type of mushing, and about the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, and local sled dog races.

Girl Scout Ice Skating Party
Hatfield Ice Rink, Colmar, PA
Ages: All - Families welcome
Date: October 20, 2007
Time: 6:00-8:00PM
Enjoy an evening on the ice at this "Girl Scout Only" event.

Liberty Rocks Weekend
Holiday Inn Express - Mid-town Philadelphia
Ages: All - Families welcome
Date: October 27-28, 2007
Time: 9:00 am Saturday - 12 noon Sunday
Spend a weekend exploring the history of the Philadelphia region, starting at Independence National Historical Park, with a guided tour and an emphasis on our Founding MOTHERS. Cost includes professional tour guides, entrance fees, lodging, Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast.

Pennsylvania Governor's Conference for Women
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Ages: Grades 9-12
Date: Thursday, November 8, 2007
Young Women's Program features speakers and topics that encourage young women to overcome obstacles and maximize their potential. The conference is a great way to begin your Girl Scout Year. Registration is available after September 15, 2007. Visit www.gsep.org and hit the link to the Conference web site.

Project Runway
Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA
Ages: Brownie
Date: Sunday, November 11, 2007
Time: 1:00-3:30PM Craft an exciting mask, fashion a colorful paper mache bracelet, and create an eye-catching button. Fee includes Art-to-Wear Try-It.

Visit our Events & Programs Page 


 Camp and Outdoor Volunteers Needed
 

Are you someone with a love of the outdoors and lots of adventure? Do you have great skills and want to share them with other Girl Scouts?

Make sure to get in on the fun at camp with the Outdoor Program Department by e-mailing your name, email address, phone number and a list of the skills you would be willing to share and teach to aharrity@gsep.org. We would like to contact you to assist at outdoor events, and to be part of a list for troops to access for program assistance during camping weekends.

So when you take a hike, don't go alone! Take us along and show us what you know!

 


 Training News!
 

The GSEP training schedule is updated on the GSEP website each week. Visit http://www.gsep.org/pages/members.html and click on the "current training schedule" link to view a comprehensive, all-council schedule and instructions for registration. Online Registration is available through e-council for all trainings. Schedules are also available through our service centers. Please note that the volunteer application and clearance process does not need to be completed prior to attending training, but should be complete before you meet with your girls.

For questions about training in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties - contact Jill Sober at (610) 791-2411, ext. 1504
For questions about training in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties - contact Devon Miller at (610) 933-7555, ext. 1419

Visit Our Members Page 


 Volunteer Background Clearance Process
 

There are still some questions about the Criminal Background Clearance process.

The Volunteer Policies state:
"GSEP is committed to a safe environment for all of our girl members. Adult volunteers have an impact on the development of girls. The completion of criminal and child abuse background checks is one additional step to ensure their safety. Criminal background checks/child abuse clearances are required for adult volunteers who work directly with girls or troop funds. This includes leaders, co-leaders, assistant leaders, cookie and product sales managers, and adults who accompany girls on overnight trips. Prior to assuming a volunteer assignment, each candidate must complete a background check application and consent form, and submit the required processing fee. Volunteer candidates whose verified record indicates a history of child abuse, violent crime or sexual crime will be denied an assignment. At the discretion of the Council, volunteer candidates may be denied an assignment for drug and/or alcohol related offenses or offenses related to fraud, theft or misappropriation. The response to any other reports will be at the discretion and judgment of Council management.

Volunteer candidates who have completed a criminal background check/child abuse clearance within the preceding twelve months may submit a copy of these certifications with their application. Volunteers will be required to update their volunteer records every three years by submitting a new consent form and processing fee at that time."

The new GSEP procedures stated in the VIP Pages (View and Download them On-line) are designed to comply with this policy. A procedure sheet is attached which explains the policy and procedures completely. This is the most current policy and procedure statement. If you have anything else, please destroy it!

If there are further questions, please contact Lorrie Klaric at lklaric@gsep.org.

 


 Updated GSEP Staff Functional Directory
 

Visit our web site for the most recent staff functional directory and find contacts at GSEP for all your needs.

Download the Staff Directory Here (pdf) 


 Searching for an easy way to support GSEP?
 GSEP Can Earn Money Every Time You Search the Internet

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania can earn a penny every time you search the Internet. How?

GoodSearch.com is a search engine that donates half its revenue, about $.01 per search, to the organizations users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine. It's powered by Yahoo! so you get great results.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and select Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania as the charity you want to support (just type in GSEP in the "who do you goodsearch for" box). Just 1,000 of our volunteers (a fraction!) searching twice a day will raise about $7,300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! Support our girls today and GoodSearch.

Visit GoodSearch 


Don't forget to forward this e-mail to your fellow volunteers by clicking the "Forward" link in the bottom left corner of this page. They can subscribe by entering their e-mails in the "Join Our Mailing List" box in the green left-side panel.

 

GSEP
phone: (215/888) 564-4657
fax: (215) 564-6953