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Posts | May 20, 2013

NATIONAL NEWS

Girl Scout Membership Re-registration Information
GSUSA Membership Re-registration packets for the Girl Scout membership year that begins October 1, 2013, are now available from your CDM for those troops that prefer to re-register in the Spring or Summer.  Otherwise, troops can expect to get them at an early-mid August service unit organizational meeting.  

Reminder:  The annual GSUSA Registration Fee is increasing to $15/person for the 2013-2014 membership year that starts October 1, 2013.  Up to 14 months of insurance is available who join in August. On-Time Incentive: Re-register/register your Girl Scout troop, meeting the criteria below, by September 30, 2013 and every registered girl member will receive a $4 discount coupon that can be used toward the purchase of a Journey Book, Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, or toward the purchase of a uniform vest, sash, basic uniform insignia, and/or GSUSA awards or earned insignia from one of our Girlz Gear Shops.  Fun patches and other shop merchandise NOT included. Coupons expire December 31, 2013.

Criteria:
- Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie and Junior troops must register a minimum of 10 girls and 2 adults by the deadline.
- Girl Scout Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops must register 100% of the number of girls registered in the troop last year (2011-2012 membership year) and two adults by September 30, 2013.*
Troop leaders will receive the coupons when they turn in their completed registration forms to their service unit’s Registration Checker, Community Development Manager or regional Service Center.
*Troops that had graduating seniors registered during the 2012-2013 year can exclude them from the 100% calculation; however the troop must meet the 5 girl minimum size requirement.

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Girl Scouts Launch BFF “Be a Friend First” Bully-Prevention Program
Girl Scouts of the USA is excited to launch BFF (Be a Friend First), a national bully-prevention initiative for middle school girls. Based on GSUSA’s popular aMAZE! leadership curriculum, the program helps girls to recognize and intervene in bullying situations and lead positive change in their schools and communities. Sadly, statistics show that when a girl is bullied, 85 percent of the time nobody steps in to help her. Click here to find out more information and to see the winners of the Girls Scouts Speak Out! PSA Contest from girls around the country who had a lot to say about bullying.

GSSCMM NEWS

Memorial Day Holiday Monday, May 27, 2013
Next week’s GSSCMM eBlast will be published on TUESDAY, May 28 due to Memorial Day holiday.

Troop Deadlines & Information

Make sure these are on your TO DO LIST by June 15
Each troop is responsible for submitting their Annual Troop Financial Report along with a copy of their most recent bank statement to your Community Development Manager or Girl Scout Service Center by June 15.  All troop leaders and assistant troop leaders must complete the 2013 Leader Survey by June 15.  Please complete and submit the entire survey electronically from the homepage (Quick Links on bottom right side) of our website.  Or, if you prefer, you may fill out the PDF version posted on the Forms Directory of our website and return it to your Community Development Manager or Girl Scout Service Center by June 15.     
http://girlscouts.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7QbjUZ0x9eVy9H7 Please remember:  Submitting these two year end reports is required of all troops.  Troop leaders will not be reappointed and troop start up materials will not be distributed to those who have not completed these annual requirements. The Disbanding Troop Form provides the necessary guidance for those troops that may be disbanding.  It is posted on in the Forms section of our Web site.

Thank You Troop Leaders and Assistant Troop Leaders
We hope that you have enjoyed your Girl Scout involvement this year and are planning to return next year.    As a token of our appreciation, we will again be thanking our returning leaders and co-leaders who meet the following expectations with a special shirt (similar to what we did during Year of the Girl) at the October or November Service Unit meetings.

To be eligible returning troop leaders and assistant troop leaders need to:
- Personally complete and submit the Troop Leader Survey by June 15.
- Complete and submit your troop’s Annual Troop Financial Report, complete with a copy of the most recent bank statement, to our CDM by June 15.  One - - Have provided a satisfactory Girl Scout Leadership Experience for the girls in your troop this year and have completed the required adult learning courses for the position you take on next year within 30 days of starting.
- Be part of a troop that meets the On-Time Registration Incentive criteria by September 30th, 2013.

Thanks for your commitment to girls and providing them with leadership and skill development opportunities that are so important as they discover, connect and take action - and make the world a better place!

Service Unit Encampments

Register for Your Fall Service Unit Encampment
To be included in the first chance drawing for site reservations, requests for September through December must be submitted by between June 1st and June 30th and requests for January through August must be submitted between October 1st and October 31st.   Notification of assignments will be made by July 15th for September through December dates and by November 15th for January through August dates. At any time after these dates, reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis.  The Service Unit Program Facility Reservation Request Form can be found on our website at http://www.gssc-mm.org/program/properties.aspx.  Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the form.  Questions? Please contact Peach Collins or 864-208-2704 or 1-800-849-GIRL ext. 2704.

Volunteer News

Registration deadline is approaching for the American Heart CPR and First Aid Training June session for Spartanburg
The training will be held Tuesday, June 18th   for First Aid and June 25th   for CPR, 6:00-9:00 pm both nights at Camp Mary Elizabeth. Registration deadline is Friday, June 7th.   Cost is $21.00 and includes a participant manual.  Maximum number of participants for each night is 9.  Please contact Jeri Kleckley to register.

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Leader Adult Learning Opportunities
June is a great time to complete Mountains to Midlands 101 and Girl Scouting 101 for new or transitioning volunteers.  These opportunities are scheduled in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Columbia and the specific dates and locations can be found on our council website upcoming events calendar and also in FocalPoint.  Those planning to attend need to register in e-council. 

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Volunteer Recognitions
The deadline of June 1st   is fast approaching to submit a nominee for the President’s Award, Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II. The Recognitions-at-A-Glance chart gives an overview of the GSUSA Adult Awards.   Please visit www.gssc-mm.org, Volunteers, Recognitions for a description of each award and the recognition and award forms. Questions, please contact Jeri Kleckley at or  864-770-1241 or 1-800-849-GIRL.

Program News

Camp WaBak Update
New session of Counselor-in-Training I (CIT I) ADDED!
Counselor-in-Training I (CIT I), June 16-28, Entering grades 9-12
Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors may participate in the Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program. This is a two-week continuous program. During the first week, you will go through training and be assigned to units for evening tuck-ins. For the second week, you will stay in unit as an apprentice counselor. CIT’s will also visit another camp and go on exciting off-camp excursion on the weekend of June 22-23. As a CIT I, you will gain the skills needed to lead campers successfully and become a great role model. You’ll learn how to teach teambuilding skills, help implement camp programs and how to promote courage, confidence, and character in younger campers.
GS: $320, Non GS: $350, Mentoring Award: CIT I

Upcoming Events

Let’s PLAY BALL!
Grab your family and friends for Girl Scout Night with the Greenville Drive.  On Tuesday, June 11th Girl Scouts and their families are invited to be special guests at the Greenville Drive Baseball Game.  Show your Girl Scout spirit as the Drive takes on the Charleston Riverdogs. With plenty of pre-game activities, you’ll surely want to arrive early.  The game starts at 7:05.
Registration ending: May 24, Click here to see event flyer.

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Camp WaBak Family Fun Day
Come meet the 2013 summer staff, see where the girls will be living, and get all your questions answered. The day’s activities will include a tour of camp, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, and a nature hike. Proceeds from this event will go to the Camp WaBak Campership Fund.
Date: June 1
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Cost: $5/person; children under 3/Free; max $20 for families with 4 or more family members
Registration ending: May 24

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Core Troop Camp
Girls and leaders will select some activities before they arrive and a few all-camp activities are planned by the camp staff during the weekend! This is a great opportunity to meet other girls and have fun at Camp WaBak!  Meals and activities such as swimming, canoeing, hiking and arts & crafts are included.
Session A: September 6-8 for Daisies and Brownies
Session B: September 13-15 for Juniors
Location: Camp WaBak, Marietta
Time: Friday 6:30 PM-Sunday 10:00 AM
Cost: $40/girl; $20/adult
Registration ending: August 23

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