March 2007, Issue No. 2
Welcome to Council Connection!
Council Connection will be emailed to all volunteers who provided
us with an email address. This ‘up to the minute’ email
will feature news that YOU need to know to support girls ... like
opportunities in program, community service, training, volunteering,
and more! We will combine a lot of the emails and flyers we send
to you into this one, comprehensive email.
We encourage you to forward it on to parents!
In this issue:
PROGRAMS
TROOP OPPS
VOLUNTEER OPPS
TROOP NEWS
TRAINING OPPS
COUNCIL SHOP
MEETING REMINDERS
PROGRAMS
Last chance to register for Beyond the Rainbow (BTR)
Girls in grades 6 – 12 are invited to BTR on April 14 and
15 at the UW-Oshkosh campus. This program introduces girls to college
life, dormitory living and fun opportunities to learn about careers,
sports, hobbies, and important life skills. Girls can choose from
over 25 specific workshops presented by area professionals on topics
including college living, interviewing skills, photography, veterinary
medicine, study skills, stress less, resume writing, and more. Other
activities include a campus-wide scavenger hunt and working with
college students on a community service project. Saturday night
entertainment will be provided by Pink Confusion, an all girl band
from Green Bay. Cost is $65/girl and $30/adult (adult chaperones
are encouraged to attend, but girls attending without will be placed
in a chaperoned group). Register online at www.gsfra.org
or call 920-734-7069, ext. 28.
Lion King tickets available through Girl Scouts
Sunday, May 13, 1 p.m., Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your troop,
family and friends! Tickets are $77 per person and financial assistance
is available for all Girl Scouts. A Girl Scout Lion King Patch will
be available to purchase through the PAC. Register online at www.gsfra.org
or call 920-734-7069, ext. 30.
Summer camp registration in full swing!
Our council has a long and proud tradition of bringing memorable
and exciting summer camp experiences to girls for the past 68 summers.
Whether singing songs, making s’mores, paddling Lake Olivotti,
or building values and skills that prepare them for the challenges
of adulthood, girls truly find the adventure they’ve been looking
for with our day and resident camp programs.
- Day Camp programs are offered at Camp Winnecomac in Kaukauna
and Camp Vic-to-Rae in New London. Girls ages 5 – 12 can
experience all that camp has to offer in a location that’s
close to home. Programs are offered in nature, art, horseback
riding, sports, and more!
- Resident Camp programs are offered at Camp Birch Trails (CBT)
in Irma (near Merrill). Girls ages 6 – 17 can attend sessions
that last from 4 – 20 days. Programs are offered in arts
& crafts, nature, biking, hiking, canoeing, boating, and more!
- Family and troop programs are offered to let you share in the
magic of camp with your family or troop. Our staff will lead you
through all the fun that camp has to offer.
Visit www.gsfra.org/camp or call 920-734-7069,
ext. 30.
Additional Belly Dancing session offered
Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m. – noon
Daisies and Brownies can expand their knowledge of the Middle Eastern
Culture, make a belly dancing wrap and create a belly dance. Register
online at www.gsfra.org or call 920-734-7069,
ext. 30.
Additional Junior Badge Earning Day offered
Saturday, March 31, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., UW-Oshkosh
Girls will have fun as they earn either the Science in Everyday
Life Badge or Water Wonders Badge. When registering, indicate which
badge the girls would like to earn. Cost is $10/girl. Register online
at www.gsfra.org or call 920-734-7069,
ext. 30 by Wednesday, March 21.
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TROOP OPPS
Celebrate Girl Scouts 95th Birthday at program center open house
Thursday, March 22, 4 – 5:30 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Join us to recognize Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts,
and learn what we’re doing to carry on her legacy. Enjoy refreshments,
program displays and vintage uniforms. Color Guard Ceremony at 4:30
p.m. Entertainment by Erin Krebs, vocalist.
2007 Teen Summit: Believe in the Possibilities!
Saturday, March 24, 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., UW – Milwaukee
Teen girls in grades 7 – 12 are invited to talk, learn, have
fun, and take action! Girls can choose from three “learn”
topics, express their ideas, and decide how to make positive changes
in their lives. Visit http://www.girlscoutsmilwaukee.org/pdf/TeenSummit2007.pdf
Kiddo Publishing presents the Figureheads
Saturday, March 31, 3 p.m., The Grand Opera House, Oshkosh
Kiddo Publishing is an organization that seeks to encourage, affirm,
inspire, and celebrate children, educators, mentors, and families
in fun and playful ways, often trying to view the world from a child's
perspective. They use fresh, relevant music to communicate messages
of hope, self-esteem and making good choices. Together with a music
group called the Figureheads, they have traveled around Wisconsin
and the Midwest sharing music and celebrating with youth and adults.
Tickets are $12 or $10 for students, seniors and groups of 10 or
more. Visit www.kiddopublishing.com
Appleton Police Department open house and tours
Thursday, May 17, 4 – 7 p.m., Appleton Police Department
Celebrate Police Week with a tour, fingerprinting and McGruff.
Visit http://www.appleton.org/departments/police/
Girl Scout Days with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Have fun with between inning promos, walking around the field,
and having your troop announced during the game. Girl Scouts are
encouraged to wear their uniforms. Dates are April 28, May 12 and
19, June 2. Contact Heidi at the Timber Rattlers office at 920-733-4152.
Human Race invite extended to troops
Each year, the Volunteer Center hosts the Human Race, an event
that benefits not only the Volunteer Center, but other non-profit
organizations in the community as well. The Human Race is a non-competitive
5K run/walk that is being held on Saturday, May 5, at both Thrivent
Financial in Appleton and Menominee Park in Oshkosh. Our Girl Scout
council will receive 75 percent of the total money raised on behalf
of Girl Scouts, while the remaining 25 percent will go to the Volunteer
Center. The money earned will be used for girl programming. Our
council goal is to raise $12,500. If you are interested in sponsoring
a particular staff member or are interested in becoming a part of
the Human Race team to raise money for our council, call 920-734-7069,
ext. 17 or ext. 61.
Religious Awards offer a time to reflect
This is a good time to encourage your Girl Scouts to earn their
religious awards. The To Serve God Puzzle Patch (for all faiths)
may be presented to your Girl Scouts during a Sunday/Sabbath service
or any special event. It represents a girl’s desire to live
up to her promise “to serve God” and her commitment to
earn her religious award. Religious awards can be purchased through
the P.R.A.Y. website at www.praypub.org
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VOLUNTEER OPPS
The Catholic Committee on Scouting is looking for a Catholic adult
Girl Scout who would like to be trained in Girl Scout religious
awards and then share that information with other Catholic Girl
Scouts. Call Vernita Green at 920-235-2702.
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TROOP NEWS
Spring Splash: time to pre-register your troop for next year!
Registration packets will be available to all troop leaders
in April at your service unit meeting or at the Girl Scout Program
Center. By pre-registering, your troop will be ready for fall programs,
and it’s a great way to use your cookie program proceeds or
end of year troop funds. Pre-register at least three girls and one
adult by May 31 and your troop will be entered into a drawing for
one-night stays at the Girl Scout Program Center or Camp Winnecomac
as well as coupons that can be redeemed for council events or merchandise.
Spring Splash patches are available at the Council Shop. Call your
membership staff person or email membership@gsfra.org
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TRAINING OPPS
Check out these upcoming trainings. Register at least one-week
prior to the course date and at least two weeks prior for outdoor
courses. Contact Crystal at cmatuszewski@gsfra.org or call 920-734-7069,
ext. 17. More
Basics for Leaders
Thursday, March 15, 6 – 9 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Tuesday, April 10, 6 – 9 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Daisy Age Level
Monday, March 19, 6 – 9 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Tuesday, April 24, 6 – 9 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Brownie Age Level
Monday, March 19, 6 – 9 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Thursday, April 19, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Oshkosh
Junior Age Level
Monday, March 19, 6 – 9 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Thursday, April 12, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Oshkosh
STUDIO 2B/Senior Age Level
Monday, April 16, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Exploring Trips (Daisy/Brownie/Junior)
Tuesday, March 27, 6 – 9 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Leaders LIVE!
Tuesday, April 3, 7 – 8:30 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
(Celebrating Troop Memories)
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COUNCIL SHOP
- Bridging kits are available for leaders with troops bridging
to the next level. For your convenience, a package including bridging
certificate, appropriate bridge and/or wings, membership star,
and age level discs is available for your girls.
- Thinking Day 2007 patch and 2007 Cookie Pin orders must be placed
prior to April 1.
- Scrapbooking specials on paper and supplies through April! Bring
in a page or two of your completed product that uses at least
one Girl Scout paper and one Girl Scout sticker and we will display
it at the annual meeting. There will also be a drawing for those
that bring in their pages.
- Visit http://www.gsfra.org/stuff/support/buy/councilshop.shtml
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MEETING REMINDERS
No Spring Association Meetings
The year 2007 will prove to be a very important year in our
council as we transition through council realignment, merging with
six other councils in northern Wisconsin and the upper peninsula
of Michigan. In order to provide the best continuity for our council
through this process, the board of directors has decided to freeze
all board positions. We will also not be considering any policy
changes at this time. The board will continue to meet on a regular
basis and continue its mission, and be engaged in the realignment
process. In mid-April, the CEO’s and Board Presidents of the
merging councils will be attending training hosted by GSUSA to prepare
them to effectively lead the council through realignment.
At this time we have no new information to share with you; therefore,
we will not be holding Spring Association Meetings for 2007, and
will regroup to update the associations in the fall. Because of
this delay, and new information that will be available after the
CEO/board president training in April, it is imperative that you
attend the Annual Council Meeting on April 26, 2007 and the Fall
Association meeting (date yet to be determined). We have also decided
to present the Outstanding Leader and Outstanding Volunteer Awards
at the year-end service unit dinners and meetings in order to appropriately
recognize our valuable volunteers among their peers.
Annual Meeting
Thursday, April 26, 6:30 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center
Find out more about realignment, applaud the volunteers receiving
recognitions, and hear about this year’s Girl Scout Gold Award
girls. Enjoy musical entertainment that will have you laughing all
the way home! A Council History Book will be available for purchase.
Join in the Mardi Gras theme and wear your beads! RSVP to Janet
at jwhite@gsfra.org by Friday, April 20. Please indicate if you
are an association chair, delegate, board member, nominating committee
member, Girl Scout member, or non-Girl Scout guest. You must be
14 years or older to attend.
Parents…take your daughter to Camp Fun Night at Camp Winnecomac
while you attend the meeting! Cost is $2 per girl…and attendees
will receive a $10 off coupon for camp. Register online at www.gsfra.org
or call 920-734-7069, ext. 30.
If your email address will be changing, please send an email
to asager@gsfra.org with your name, new email address, troop number,
and city. Be sure to note if the email address of other registered
family members will be changing as well.
Girl Scouts of the Fox River Area, Inc.
4693 N. Lynndale Drive, Appleton WI 54913-9614
Ph 920-734-4559 or 800-924-1211
Fax 920-734-1304
Web www.gsfra.org
General email office@gsfra.org
Council Connection email girlscoutnews@gsfra.org
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