December 15, 2009

Happy Holidays

 

On behalf of Girl Scouts Louisiana East, let us wish you and your families a safe and joyous holiday season. Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to Girl Scouting. May the New Year bring you and your family happiness and prosperity.

 

Data input help needed

 

We are seeking volunteers to help us with data entry at council headquarters in New Orleans. We are in a major push to have all of our membership information inputted into the database, so we can submit to GSUSA before the end of the year. We are seeking help from December 16-18 and 21-22 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Help as much or as little as you can. Additional help will be needed beginning January 4 until data entry is complete. Please contact Kim Hennegan, khennegan@gsle.org if you are able to help out.

 

Girl Scouts Cookie Program's mission: to help girls do great things

 

It's almost Cookie Time!  Girl Scouts across the council’s 23 parishes will begin taking cookie orders on January 15. Cookies will be delivered beginning February 26 and will be sold at various booth locations until March 14. Please DO NOT sell cookies before the sale start date of January 15. Parents, stay tuned to your leaders regarding cookie trainings, cookie rally dates, and other cookie sale information.  Ebudde training has been scheduled for Saturday, January 9 (10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.), Sunday, January 9 (2 - 4:30 p.m.) and Monday, January 18 (10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) at St. George School (Computer Lab, Library Building), 7880 St. George Dr. Baton Rouge.

     

A popular community service project held during the Cookie Sale is Gift of Caring, a voluntary troop project in which girls encourage customers to buy cookies for donation to a non-profit organization selected by the troop. Troops may elect to ship cookies to military troops serving overseas in the council’s Troops Helping Troops service project.

This cookie season the Girl Scouts are offering one new cookie: Thank U Berry Munch, which features cranberries mixed with the sweetness of creamy white fudge chips. Cookies are $3.50 per box upon delivery, and are preservative-free, kosher, with zero trans fat per serving.

Little Brownie Baker, the cookie baker, has developed several online features available to girls selling cookies, with an all-new Cookie Club "ask" feature designed to help girls maneuver safely into the fun of today's social media as they boost sales and learn the power of online marketing. Girls can send emails to family and friends to ask for cookie "promises," while customers submit their promises through an online order form that protects girls from unwanted communications. Girls can track online orders before printing the final promises page, turning it in with their order cards, yet still delivering the cookies and accepting payment in person. Girls should talk to their troop leaders about how to access their Cookie Club (parent permission required!)

Customers interested in ordering cookies beginning January 15 may call the Cookie Hotline at (504) 733-8220, (225) 927-8946, or (800) 644-7571. An online Cookie Locator to booth locations will be available on the website during the direct sale beginning February 26.

 

January's patch of the month

 

It’s the Chinese New Year! Unscramble the words in January's patch puzzle to learn about this holiday. Click here for patch of the month page on the website.

 

 


Additional Bronze Award Workshop

A Bronze Award Workshop has been scheduled for Saturday, January 23, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Salem Lutheran School, 418 Fourth St., Gretna.  Cost is $2 per girl. Registration is open now and closes January 15.

 

Online Donations now accepted

 

Girl Scouts Louisiana East is now able to accept online donations through the website. You won't believe how easy it is to give to Girl Scouts Louisiana East. Please spread the word to other volunteers, families, etc. that this is a new option for making a donation.

 

Sneak peek at council newsletters

 

For those who don't wish  to wait until  they receive Just for Girls and GSLE Connections in the mail, you don't have to since online versions are available on the council website. Check out the cookie recognitions in Just for Girls and all of the photos in Connections!  Over 55 troops submitted photos!  Just for Girls will be mailed on December 28, and GSLE Connections January 4.

 

Sign up for January-February events

 

Don't miss out on some great council events this January and February! On the website calendar, go to the appropriate month and day, and click on the link for details including registration deadlines, age levels, times, cost, etc.

 

POSTPONED UNTIL 2011 - New Orleans Boat Show

1/9 - Yoga & Pilates (Cad-Amb), Baton Rouge

FULL 1/9 - Night Crawlers (Cad-Amb), Baton Rouge

1/15 - Girl Scout Cookie Sale Pre-Orders begin

FULL 1/16 - Nursing Exploration Day at Lakeview (Jrs), Covington

1/16 - Ceramics and Clay (Jrs), Baton Rouge

1/16 - Program Aide Core Training and Science and Nature Specialization Training (Cad-Amb), Baton Rouge

1/16 - Folk Arts Workshop (Jr-Cad), New Orleans

1/16 - Girl Scout Day at Louisiana Art and Science Museum (Dai-Jrs), Baton Rouge

FULL 1/23 - Oschner Science in Action Day

1/23 - Native American Experience at Cannes Brûlée Native American Museum (all ages), Kenner

1/29-31 - New Wrangler/Spur Training Weekend (age 12 and up), Camp Marydale

1/30 - National WWII Museum Day (all ages), New Orleans

FULL 1/30 - Science Wonders Day at Louisiana Children's Museum (Br), New Orleans
1/30 - Defend Yourself (Cad-Amb), Baton Rouge

CLOSED 1/30 clinic and 2/5 game - Girl Scout Hornets Dance Clinic (girls 5-12).

2/6 - Bronze Award Workshop (Jr), Baton Rouge
NEW 2/6 - Women in Chemistry (Br and Jr), Baton Rouge
2/12-14 - Backpacking Adventure (Cad-Amb), Ville Platte
2/20 - Daisy Day at Camp (Daisy), Camp Marydale
2/20 - Colors & Shapes (Br), Baton Rouge
2/20 - Contemporary Arts Center (All), New Orleans

CLOSED 2/20 clinic and 2/26 game - Girl Scout Hornets Dance Clinic (girls 5-12).
2/20-21 - St. George Observatory Sleepover (Br-Amb), Shriever
2/27 - Goodwill Good Turn Day (All), All Goodwill locations
2/27 - Arbor Day (Jr-Amb), Camp Covington & Camp Marydale
2/27 - Explore Scuba (Cad-Amb), Metairie
3/6 - SPCA Girl Scouts & Critters Day (Daisy-Br and Jr), and 3/7 - (Cad-Amb), New Orleans
3/6 - Program Aide Core Training (Cad-Amb), New Orleans
3/6 - P.A. Arts & Crafts, Songs & Games Training (Cad-Amb), New Orleans
3/19-21 - Older Girl Weekend (Cad-Amb), Camp Whispering Pines
3/27 - Swing Into Spring (All), Camp Marydale
3/29 - 4/2 - Chicago Bound (Cad-Amb), Chicago

 

 

Office Closures

Just a reminder -- The Council Headquarters and Regional Service Center will be closed for the holidays, December 23-January 3. Both offices will reopen Monday, January 4, at 8:30 a.m. with the New Orleans Council Shop reopening January 4 and the Baton Rouge Council Shop reopening January 11.

 

Council Shops' January Giant Inventory Clearance Sale

*On In-stock Merchandise Only*

Markdowns on selected Girl & Teen & Adult size sportswear/ winter wear/baby clothes/

accessories and novelties

 

New Orleans Shop is now closed; Reopens on January 4.

Baton Rouge Shop closes 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 (will not be open Sat) and Reopens on Jan. 11

Come early for the best selection as sale is for IN-STOCK items only!

 

NEW! Women in Chemistry Brownie, Junior Programs

Discover, Connect and Take Action in the Women in Chemistry programs just scheduled for Saturday, February 6 (Brownies: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Juniors: 1 to 4 p.m.) at the Regional Service Center in Baton Rouge.

 

Meet women scientists. Explore the world around you. Investigate! Science is everywhere. This program is sponsored by members of Iota Sigma Pi, a national honorary society for women in chemistry and AAUW, the oldest and largest women's organization in the U.S., who will guide and explore with the girls as they discover new scientific ideas --- and help them earn the Science in Action Try-it (Juniors: the Science Discovery badge.) Stay a little longer or come a little early and eat pizza, ask questions, and get to know the exciting ladies. Pizza will be served at 12:15. Cost is $5 per girl and registration is open now until January 29 or when maximum capacity is reached.

 

Resident Camp Stocking Stuffer

Looking for the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer? How about ensuring a place for your Girl Scout camper in resident camp by placing a deposit (any denomination, non-refundable) toward any 2010 resident camp session! Deposits will be receipted at both office reception desks. Details, contact Allison Pastor at (504) 733-8220, ext. 2234.

 

Service Unit Summer Day Camp Training/Meeting

A Service Unit Summer Day Camp Workshop/Training has been set for Saturday, January 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (bring a snack lunch, drinks will be provided). This is an opportunity for all Service Units interested in learning how to hold a day camp but are unsure how to get started.  Learn from experienced day camp directors who have organized and ran a day camp for several years. Please see website for additional information and to register online. Contact Donna Dupre at (225) 927-8946, for additional information.

 

Recognize our Outstanding Volunteers

Each year Girl Scouts Louisiana East recognizes our outstanding adult volunteers. The process starts with public nominations and letters of recommendation that are then reviewed by a volunteer committee for completeness and accuracy, and finally the nominations are approved by our Board of Directors. The deadline for 2010 Nominations is 4:30 p.m., Monday, February 15, 2010.

 

The award recipients will be honored at the Adult Recognitions Breakfast  being held Saturday, April 24, 2010 prior to the Council Annual Meeting. More information and a breakfast registration form will be available at a later date. If you have questions, please contact the Adult Development Director at training@gsle.org.


Deposits due at registration for Chicago destination; girls to plan money-earning activities to pay remainder of trip

Cadettes-Ambassadors will spend their Spring Break in the Windy City, Chicago and even earn the Discover the World: Girl Scouts Go Hostelling patch. The Chicago destination is Monday, March 29 – Friday, April 2, and costs $275 - $375 per participant, the higher price applying to girls 16 and up since the train ticket considers girls that age an adult fare. A $150 deposit (if age 15 or younger at time of the trip) or $250 deposit (if age 16 or older at time of trip) is due at time of registration. After the group meets some money-earning activities will be planned so girls can earn the remainder of the trip’s cost as well as some spending money. If you have questions, please contact Claire Dudenhefer at (225) 927-8946.

 

Quick Links

Leadership Experience Electronic Resource
Girl Scouts Forever Green
Calendar
Training
Forms/Publications

Council Facebook Page