Happy Birthday, Juliette Low!

The Fall Festival at CWP on Nov. 8 (celebrating founder Juliette Low's Halloween birthday) is now full and no longer accepting event or camping registrations. However, even if your troop is not attending this year, you can still send your best wishes to your sister Girl Scouts by baking a birthday cake or other birthday goodie, or take action by participating in our service project by sending a donation of books and new pajamas.

Make arrangements with a troop in your service unit who is attending so they might deliver your decorated cake or donated items when they arrive. This is not limited to those troops not attending! All troops are encouraged to participate in the Pajama Project. Click here for additional information.

Fund Development Update

Be on the look-out for the Annual Family Giving Campaign brochure being mailed to you this week! 

We are asking you to Invest in Tomorrow’s Leaders by supporting Girl Scouts through our Annual Family Giving Campaign. It costs the council approximately $299 per girl each year to provide Girl Scouting throughout our 23-parish jurisdiction. Your $150 tax-deductible contribution to Girl Scouts Louisiana East will go a long way to helping us continue our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

A Girl Scout will receive this patch if her family donates $75 or more. Troops with 100 percent participation with at least $20 donated per registered girl will receive 10 percent back in Donor Dollars from their donations which can be redeemed for council shop merchandise and council-sponsored program events.

EGEW Luncheon in New Orleans is November 12

This year's Every Girl Everywhere fundraising luncheon is Wednesday, November 12, 2008, from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. Guest speaker is Anne Milling, founder of Women of the Storm, and mistress of ceremonies is Margaret Orr, meteorologist on WDSU-TV Channel 6. Luncheon Sponsors are Valero Energy Corporation, Baptist Community Ministries, and Lakelawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

Though the luncheon is free, requests for donations or pledges are solicited at the event. Those interested in attending please contact Cerise McClendon at (504) 733-8220, ext. 222.

Enter GNOF's Philanthropy contest for a chance to help Girl Scouts

Celebrate philanthropy with the Greater New Orleans Foundation who are recognizing their 25th anniversary with a contest. Simply complete the online form on their website. Four winners will be randomly selected on December 31, 2008 with a $250 grant going to their favorite charity.

GSLE Connections newsletter

The fall issue of GSLE Connections is in the mail, but click here for a sneak peak! The online copy does not include last names of girls for security reasons.

Photos for the winter issue of Just for Girls and GSLE Connections will be accepted through November 21. Email to maddy@gsle.org or mail to Girl Scouts, 841 S. Clearview Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70121.

Sign up for November and December, events

Don't miss out on some great council events! Below is a list of activities set for November and December. On the website calendar, go to the appropriate month and day, and click on the link for details including registration deadlines, age levels, times, etc.

11/1 - Bronze Award Workshop
11/1 - Life in the Great Outdoors (still a few openings)
11/7 - Ivanov Gym Friday Fun Night
11/8 - Stress Less (sign up!)
11/8 - Fall Festival Celebrating Juliette Low's Birthday NOW FULL!

11/9 - Baton Rouge Catholic Scout Retreat
11/14-11/16 - Older Girl Weekend at Marydale (this is an individual girl event - register individually versus as a troop)
11/14-11/16 - Program Aide Core Training
11/15 - Fun & Fit (still a few openings)
11/15 - Tulane Cheer Clinic/Game
11/16 - Catholic Girl Scout Tour at St. Joseph Cathedral
11/22 - FULL A Lark in the Park
11/22 - New Orleans Hornets Girl Scout Dance Clinic
11/23-11/25 Holiday Horse Rider Core Camp
11/24 - Audubon Zoo Twilight Trek
11/29 - Program Aide Arts & Crafts, Songs and Games Training
11/29 - FULL St. George Observatory Girl Scout Sleepover

12/6 - Beginner Holiday Sewing Class (Jr) (morning & afternoon classes available)

12/6 - Travel Right (Br)

12/6 - Linking Girls to the Land Day

12/6 - Pet First Aid (Cad & up)

12/6 - FULL Explore Scuba (Cad & up)

12/12-13 - Ready, Set, Go Camping (Jr)

12/13 - Program Aide Event Planning Training

12/19-21 - New Spur/Wrangler Training Weekend (ages 12 & up)

12/21 - New Orleans Bowl

New Events added to Calendar

Check out these new events just added to the website calendar!

11/28 - Ten Commandments Hike in New Orleans (Boy Scout event open to Girl Scouts)

1/17 - Nursing Exploration Day at Lakeview Regional Medical Center

4/9 - Nursing Exploration Day at Ochsner Regional Medical Center

Service Unit Team Meetings

Attention Service Unit team members! Girl Scouts Louisiana East will be holding Service Unit Team Meetings (in B.R. this meeting used to be called MMT) in November on the following dates and locations:

Monday, November 17, 6:30 p.m. - Regional Rouge Service Center, 545 Colonial Drive, Baton Rouge

Tuesday, November 18, 6:30 p.m. - Council Service Center, 841 S. Clearview Parkway, Jefferson

This is the perfect opportunity to get council updates from different departments as well as an opportunity to share your success stories with others. You may attend whichever meeting is convenient for you.

Let's make it a fun meeting! Let's have a Dessert Swap! Prepare your favorite dessert and share it with others at this meeting. Make sure you bring copies of the recipes to share also (unless it's your secret family recipe of course).

Please RSVP to Paula Schlumbrecht if you are able to attend.