February | 2008 | Girls CAN!

Inspired by Alexander Calder’s “Circus”, “Il Circo di Urbano”(Urbano’s Circus) is where art meets theatre. You will be amazed and entertained by these trash-constructed puppets as they perform their death defying and suspenseful acts. The show features Ivan the Iron-Clad Stomach, Clyde the Fearless Clown, and Boris the Elastic Acrobat. The Town Crier said, “The audience was soon cheering as these cleverly constructed puppets performed!”
$5, or give of yourself! Bring us a poem or a work of art. Refreshments served.

Paper Kite Press Studio & Gallery
443 Main Street
Kingston, PA 18704
http://www.wordpainting.com

Posted by popi (who loves you)

Filed in Events, Of interest

Leave a Comment »

Community Advisory Network in action!

February 5, 2008

Thanks to the Girl’s Can Advisory Network, Sister Miriam Stadulis, director of the McGlynn Learning Center of Boulevard Homes in downtown Wilkes-Barre has received assistance in re-establishing a GS Troop at the Learning Center.

Posted by popi (who loves you)

Filed in Advisors, Of interest

Leave a Comment »

Girl Scout news

February 5, 2008

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania

State College Service Center relocation

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania have moved from

164 Rolling Ridge Drive in State College.

Our new location is 1040-1 Benner Pike in State College.

You can reach State College staff by calling the local number listed.

Staff will not have interoffice connections or voice mail until February 10th.

Volunteers can look forward visiting the new improved accommodations:

· More spacious offices to confer with staff

· A conference room to hold meetings and trainings

· Better organized storage causing less clutter

· Better visibility from the street to find the office

Our new address:

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania

1040-1 Benner Pike

State College, PA 16801

Our local telephone remains:
814-231-4077

Our fax number:
814-231-4083

After February 10th you will be able to reach State College through our GSHPA toll free number 1-800-692-7816.

Partner Think Tanks Help Develop Feedback

Earlier this year, GSHPA invited a sampling of volunteers, board members, facilitators, service team members, leaders, lifetime members, and older girls to gather feedback about the new direction of GSHPA. We thank everyone who was able to attend these regional meetings and for all of your input on the council.

Building off a survey completed by fall 2008 Delegates, the sampling of our partners highlighted five areas concerning the council’s goals. Those areas are: Image and Communication, Leadership, Membership, Program, and Resource Management. Work groups are now being formed to develop plans on how to move forward with each of these areas. Your help is needed! If you would like to be a part of one of those work groups, please contact the Regional Director in your area.

The Partner Think Tanks were a first step in shaping how GSHPA operates and with everyone working together, we can make Girl Scouts the premier organization for girls in central and northeastern Pennsylvania and help girls become the leaders of tomorrow.

How Do You Want to Receive News from GSHPA?

One of the issues discussed in the Think Tanks was about this newsletter and how you receive it. Do you prefer email? Or maybe you like to get a hard copy of this newsletter right in your mailbox? We want to communicate in the easiest and most convenient way for you. Service unit managers will be conducting a survey within their service units about newsletter delivery. If you would like to get the newsletter in the mail, please provide them with your most updated mailing address. If you would like to receive the information in email form, provide your service unit manager with your most up-to-date email address. Lifetime members, facilitators and other volunteers not directly associated with a service unit who would like to receive a paper copy of the newsletter, please send your mailing address to communications@gshpa.org or mail us a card to Communications, GSHPA, PO Box 2837, Harrisburg, PA 17104. We want to start the new distribution process for the March edition of the newsletter, so please get your responses in by February 16^th.

State College Area Service Center Moving

The State College Area Service Center is moving to a new, convenient location. A new lease was just signed and staff and volunteers are helping to move.

The address for the new location is 1040-1 Benner Pike, State College, 16801. Telephone numbers for the office will remain the same and you can always reach a staff member by calling 800-692-2816.

This office will have space available for meetings, as well as a council convenience shop. A grand opening is scheduled for February 24. More details will follow on this exciting event.

The council convenience shop will remain closed until the February 24^th grand opening. Volunteers serviced by the State College Area Service Center can order online or by phoning our Scranton or Harrisburg stores to place orders. The orders placed and shipped during the closure will have free shipping to the individual placing the order.

Hazleton Area Service Center Address Change

The Hazleton Area Service Center isn’t moving, but there is a new address. The township where the service center is located changed the address for the building. The new address for the Hazleton Area Service Center is:

426 Beltway Road

12 Beltway Commons

Hazle Township, PA 18202

Scranton Area Service Center Open House

Mark your calendars for your chance to see the new Scranton Area Service Center. There will be an open house on Thursday, February 26^th from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. More information about the open house will be available soon.

Product Sales

Cookie Sale is Here!

It is that time of year again! Initial order taking has begun! Girl Scouts will be out-and-about taking cookie orders until February 2^nd! Remember, girls continue selling through-out February and March! For some great cookie selling ideas, click here: http://www.littlebrownie.com/common/selling_tips.html?class=girls and for the Steps to success, click here: http://www.littlebrownie.com/common/steps_to_success.html?class=girls

As girls geared-up for cookie to begin, several Service Units held Kick-off Rallies! 68 service units signed-up for this first Council-wide event. Girls enjoyed taste-testing cookies and participating in activities. “This event was amazing for the girls to experience and enjoy,” said Carol Ross, Product Sale Manager. “The product sales staff would like to thank all of the Service Unit Cookie Managers, the Troop leaders and Cookie Managers, as well as the GSHPA staff for really coming together and making these rallies a success!” Check out photos from several of the rallies on our home page: http://www.gshpa.org.

Service Unit Cookie Coordinators and Troop Cookie Managers are busy obtaining locations to hold cookie booth sales. This is a great opportunity for girls to discover, connect and take action as a cookie entrepreneur. New this year, GSUSA is requiring all councils to approve booth locations, and we have automated the process for you! To get instructions on how to do this, click here: http://www.gshpa.org/programs/cookies_09/cookie_events.html

Do you ever feel like you can’t seem to learn enough about the Cookie Sale? Want to learn from the comfort of your own home? Have you tried a Webinar? The product sales team is offering numerous Webinars for you throughout the cookie sale. So, get a hot cup of tea, sit back and relax at the next Webinar, to see the schedule, click here: http://www.gshpa.org/programs/cookies_09/volunteers/volunteers_web_schedule.html

Update from our GSHPA’s financial connection Ann Catalano:

In response to your feedback, GSHPA is simplifying the Product Sales banking procedures and training for the 2009 cookie sale. Finance will be providing on-demand training via the Web site, instead of the webinars previously announced. Just click on the link at the bottom right hand side of the home page and take the training when you have the time. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Ann Catalano at 1.800.692.7816 ext. 1010 or email her at acatalano@gshpa.org.

Independently Registered Girls/Juliettes

Attention all parents of girls interested in participating in the cookie sale! Independently Registered Girls/Juliettes can sign-up to participate in the cookie sale. Parents/Guardians need to complete the permission form, which can be found here: http://www.gshpa.org/programs/cookies_09/forms/parent_permission.pdf

Please send the form to the region located closest to you and a packet of information will be sent once your girl is registered.

Regional Contacts:

Northeast Region (Carbon, Monroe, Luzerne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Pike, Wayne, Susquehanna)

Shelli Roosa, sroosa@gshpa.org, 242 Airport Rd, Beltway Commons, Hazleton, PA 18202

North Region (Schuykill, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Montour, Columbia, Sullivan, Lycoming)

Interim Carey Miller, cmiller@gshpa.org, Parkview Center, Suite 1, 999 North Loyalsock Avenue, Montoursville, PA 17754

West Region (Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Centre, Clinton )

Interim Amanda Amspacher, aamspacher@gshpa.org, 1040-1 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801

Southeast Region (Franklin, Fulton, Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon)

Carey Miller, cmiller@gspha.org, 350 Hale Ave, Harrisburg, PA 17104

South Region (York, Adams, Lancaster)

Amanda Amspacher, aamspacher@gshpa.org, 1600 Mt. Zion Rd, York, PA 17402

Web site updates:

You need the tools to help you through cookie and we are providing! Check our site www.gshpa.org regularly for new information.

Cookie Locator!

The cookie locator is new this year! Now, consumers can find cookie booths located close to their home or work to buy cookies. The locator is populated through GSHPA and eBudde, so make sure you get your cookie booth entered into eBudde as soon as possible. Look for the cookie locator icon on our front page. www.gshpa.org.

Cookie Supplies and Costumes!

You can now reserve the Octagon Project Cookie Jar (GOC) display, Cookie Table Top display, Green Table cloth and Cookie Costumes online! Click here to submit your request today! http://fs3.formsite.com/productsales/form696877655/index.html

Cookie Cupboard information will be available on the Web site at the end of January…stay tuned!

Cookie Tip of the Week – Check it out for some new ideas! www.gshpa.org

What is your Cookie Personality? Are you a Thin Mint, Samoa or Trefoil? Find out here. www.gshpa.org

Cookie Sale Slideshow

Have some great pictures to share from your service unit cookie rally, or from the start of the cookie sale? Send them to us at communications@gshpa.org and we’ll put your pictures right on the home page http://www.gshpa.org.

Volunteer Development

Volunteer Recognitions

The Volunteer Recognition Committee would like to extend a thank you to all those volunteers who nominated their fellow volunteers for GSUSA and Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania Board Approved Awards. The committee hopes volunteers will join them at the Annual Meeting on May 2, 2009 at Bloomsburg Fairgrounds to honor volunteers who will receive these awards.

The committee would also like to remind volunteers that nominations for Service Unit Level recognitions, Outstanding Leader and Outstanding Volunteer, are due to Service Unit Managers on or before March 15, 2009. Information and nomination forms for volunteer recognitions is posted at http://www.gshpa.org/volunteers/vol_recognitions.html

Facilitators Needed

Are you someone who would like to share your time, talents and knowledge with girls and adults in Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania? Then we need you! We are looking for a few good Program Facilitators to facilitate program for girls and Adult Learning Facilitators to help adults learn about various aspects of Girl Scouting. Interested persons may contact their associate, membership services for more information.

Are You Up-to-date with Your Training Certifications?

Outdoor Recertification: All volunteers who had current outdoor training certification with a legacy council going into the merger (May 1, 2007) were to update their outdoor certification to GSHPA standards by December 31, 2008. If you have not done so, there is still time. You may participate in the course through our Web site, through a self-study, or as a service unit group. For more details on self-study or service unit group participation, contact your associate, membership services. For online participation, register at www.gshpa.org

Leadership Essentials: A friendly reminder: new volunteers need to complete Leadership Essentials training within 3 months from the date of their first troop/group meeting. All experienced volunteers should also complete this new nationally standardized course in order to update their Girl Scout program knowledge. Experienced volunteers have until the end of this membership year (October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009) in which to complete the course. Leadership Essentials training is offered in a classroom format or online at www.gshpa.org

Looking for more training/learning experiences? The spring edition of the Program and Learning Opportunities Guide (PAL) is online now. http://www.gshpa.org/programs/pgm_opportunities.html. Register for needed/desired courses online, via fax or mail. Have questions about adult training/learning in your area? Contact your associate, membership services.

Program

There are lots of fantastic events coming up for February and March. Deadlines are fast approaching and now is the time to sign up. QUICK!! Before it is too late!

Here is a taste of what we have to offer (for a more complete list and descriptions check your P.A.L.):

February :

Council Campfires –available at various locations

Catapult Cookies- available at various locations

Skiing and Tubing at Tussey

March:

Wild 4 Water at Split Rock Resort & Indoor Water Park

Adventure Club

Venture Club

Scouting for the Cure

Lincoln Caverns- Junior Combo & Overnight: Geocaching & Rocks Rock

Some changes were made to the programs after the PALs were printed. Follow this link to a listing of those corrections. http://www.gshpa.org/volunteers/2009_spring_pal_corrections.pdf

Program Opportunities

Coming soon… 2009 Summer Camp!

Imagine if you could spend your summer days at one (or more!) of GSHPA’s summer camps… sounds like a pretty cool summer, right? You can experience all kinds of great outdoor activities: archery, art and crafts, horseback riding, hiking, silly songs and great games, boating, swimming, fun in the sun, dance parties, guitar lessons, and so much more! You’ll make friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

Look for our 2009 Summer Camp Guide in your mailboxes soon – they will be mailed in late January. Hope to see you at camp this summer!

CAMP SPOTLIGHT

Camp Louise

Camp Louise is located near Berwick in Columbia County. The 340 acre site boasts a 25 acre lake, hiking trails, and walking paths. The woods offer a great natural diversity with many species of wildlife. Facilities range from modern buildings with running water to tent and cabin units. Each unit has a covered shelter, outdoor cooking facilities, a fire circle, and restroom facilities. Test your skills on the archery range, enjoy the scenery while boating on the lake, splash about in the pool, or simply soak up the great outdoors – all while at Camp Louise.

Camp Gi Sco Ha

Camp Gi Sco Ha is located east of Hanover in York County and is adjacent to Codorus State Park. The camp consists of 18 acres of beautiful woodlands and the lake at Codorus is only a short distance away. Two modern lodges and a rustic cabin unit make up the facilities on property. Enjoy one of our many sailing programs this summer at Camp Gi Sco Ha.

Summer Camp Job Opportunities

IMAGINE IF… YOU COULD WORK AT CAMP THIS SUMMER!

Imagine if you could get paid for having fun, and sharing your enthusiasm, creativity, and ideas with girls of all ages and staff from around the world. Well… Now is your chance! We are currently seeking enthusiastic, self-motivated individuals who would love to work with children in the outdoors.

Available positions can be found by visiting our Web site. For more information please contact Liz Brobst at lbrobst@gshpa.org

Membership and Recruitment

Recruitment Tips

It’s Winter!!!! It is important to hold winter recruitments in each area of the council to provide an opportunity for each girl who is not in Girl Scouting to join. Many recruitments are already established and set up as events in your area schools. Volunteers are needed to join staff members and service unit teams to ensure a positive recruiting event. If your troop would like to help either with an established recruitment or would like to set up an event on your own, please contact your associate, membership services in your local area.

Remember, there are many positive outcomes to helping with the recruitments: Your girls can earn community service hours to apply towards their awards and recognitions, more troops can be established to provide other resources for new girls, you can help to recruit new leaders to be on the service unit teams. Please contact your associate, membership services to schedule help with your local recruitment now. And – we thank you in advance for your support.

Patch Design Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the design a patch contest for the new Leading the Way Troop Award. The launch of the Girl Scout Leadership experience is a great time to showcase how your troop leads with this award. Girls will be able to excel in troop management, volunteer development, and troop/group leadership activities.

The online voting was tallied and the winner of the contest is Blair Orndorf from Chambersburg. Blair is a second year Junior at Calvary United Methodist Church. Blair has been in Girl Scouting for six years.

She recently earned her God and Family Award and is currently working on her Bronze Award. Blair’s project involves getting donations for birthday bags to be used at her local Women in Need shelter for the children who celebrate birthdays while living there.

Her favorite part of Girl Scouting is going camping for a weekend with her troop. She enjoys visiting sites far away from her home and in the forests. She likes seeing the beauty the place has to offer and wishes she could stay forever. While at camp, she enjoys exploring the out-of-doors and discovering very cool things see hardly ever sees. Good job Blair and congratulations! Click on the following link to see Blair’s patch design: http://www.gshpa.org/programs/patches/patch_vote_leading_way.html

Save the Date! Spring Delegate Meetings Coming Soon!

Here are the dates and locations for the 2009 Spring Delegate Meetings. Meeting packets will be sent to all delegates in early March.

Monday, March 23, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

Calvary United Methodist Church, 150 Norlo Drive, Fayetteville, PA 17222

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

Hazleton Area Service Center, 426 Airport Road, Hazle Township, PA 18202

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

Scranton Area Service Center, Suite 222, 1444 East Lackawanna Ave, Olyphant, PA 18447

Thursday, March 26, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801

Saturday, March 28, 2009 (9:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.)

Harrisburg Area Service Center, 350 Hale Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17104

Monday, March 30, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

Riverwoods Retirement Center, 3201 River Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

Lancaster – TBD

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

York Area Service Center, 1600 Mount Zion Road, York, PA 17402

Thursday, April 2, 2009 (6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.)

Webinar

Longtime GSHPA Council Staff Member Passes Away

We are sad to report that longtime council staff member, Joyce Barber, passed away on December 27, 2008. Joyce was an administrative assistant in the outdoor program department with GSHPA and a registrar with the former Penn’s Woods Council. Joyce graduated from Lake Lehman High School and attended Misericordia University. She resided in Loyalville, PA. and is survived by her husband, Bill, and children Susan J. and Will N. Barber. The family requests any memorial contributions be sent to the Salvation Army 17 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre PA. 18701 or the American Cancer Society, 71 N. Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA. 18701.

Council Stores/Shops

This year, join us in sending valentines to our military troops overseas! Bring Valentine’s Day cards to your local GSHPA store/shop by February 28^th and we will mail them to the troops. While you’re at the store or shop, browse Valentine’s Day gift items or patches that are perfect for your special event! You can also check out the selection available at the online shop by visiting www.gshpa.org. Be sure to add Valentine’s Day items to your online purchase, they will be 10% off in February! Free shipping is available for orders over $75.00 when purchased at our online shop.

It is with great joy that I introduce the newest member of our Girls CAN! group!

Please welcome our youngest Girl Scout;

AnnaMarie Violet

6lbs 13 oz

19″ long

Born: Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 10:57 am

[This bit of joyous news comes to us from Amy Martin-Rineer, DRUMORE PA]

Girl Scout news!**********************************************************************************************************************

**********************************************************************************************************************

Katelyn Confer, daughter of Michael and Patricia Confer, Shavertown, was recognized by state Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, with a citation in recognition of her Girl Scout Gold Award achievement, the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive.

Confer is a member of Troop 2654 and previously received the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest award in the organization. She is a junior at Dallas High School and is active in various school activities such as SADD, student government, field hockey and Teacher for Tomorrow.

——————————————————————————————

Less Control, More Change

Only about 10 percent of American girls are involved with Girl Scouts — a number that’s held steady for decades. But the organization plans to start targeting the other 90 percent with their most aggressive public relations strategy to date. This week CEO Cathy Kloninger hired the organization’s first-ever marketing director to revitalize its brand and has charged its in-house Research Institute with studying how girls feel about the organization’s core mission to train future women leaders.

“What we heard from thousands of girls is that they’re really turned off by the command and control top-down type of leadership they see so much around them,” says research director Judy Schoenberg. “They really aspire to a type of leadership that’s about making a difference in the world and social change.”

Please follow the link-lead to the rest of this article:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89126533

——————————————————————————————

With 2.6 million members, Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s largest organization for girls. The group’s executives were pleased that four-fifths of both sexes said that women and men are equally qualified to lead. This was not the case in the mid-1980s, said chief executive Kathy Cloninger.

What concerned Cloninger and others was not only that girls did not desire to be future leaders but also that many feared they would not be capable enough to assume leadership roles. Twenty-one percent of girls said they had most of the qualities of a leader, such as being outgoing, hardworking and responsible.

They also said they lack the ability to command people and, if they tried to do so, they would be laughed at by their peers or seen as bossy and make people mad.

Please follow the link-lead to the rest of this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/26/AR2008032603036.html

——————————————————————————————

Posted by popi (who loves you)

Filed in Of interest ·Tags: Girl Scouts, Girls CAN!, gshpa

Leave a Comment »

Girls CAN!

GSHPA Council News

February 18, 2008

Girl Scout Tea

February 7, 2008

Networking Event:

February 5, 2008

Community Advisory Network in action!

February 5, 2008

Girl Scout news

February 5, 2008

Girl Scout news!**********************************************************************************************************************

Categories

Archives

Blogroll