Back to School Means Back to Girl Scouts!

We hope you enjoy one last weekend of fun in the sun! All GSCCC Offices and Shops will be closed Monday, September 2, 2013 in honor of Labor Day. Our regularly scheduled Office and Shop hours will resume on Tuesday, September 3, 2013. A new Girl Scout year is here, and we can't wait!

Drug Enforcement Administration Red Ribbon Week Patch

Red Ribbon Week

October 21-31, 2013

Free Patch Program for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts

 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) created a Red Ribbon Week patch to encourage and support Scouts who wish to learn about Red Ribbon and participate in local efforts to educate youth about the dangers of drug abuse.

Red Ribbon Week was established in memory of the sacrifices made to help keep our communities drug-free and encourage youth to lead healthy lives, free of drugs. Observed annually from October 23-31, Red Ribbon Week is a national celebration to promote youth education on the dangers of substance abuse.

The DEA encourages all Girl Scout and Boy Scout groups to participate. Patches will be given to the first 15,000 qualifying Boy Scout and Girl Scouts. The Red Ribbon Patch Program information can be found on our website, JustThinkTwice.com

All Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are eligible to participate in the program. To earn the DEA Red Ribbon Patch, Scouts must complete the following:
Each Scouting unit or troop must coordinate or support a Red Ribbon Week activity.
Each Scout must attend a drug prevention education session.
Each Scout must take a DEA Drug-Free Pledge.

Upon completion of the program requirements, the Scout leader must submit electronically the Activity Report no later than Thursday, October 31, 2013. The activity report is available at JustThinkTwice.com.

For any questions about the program, please review the Red Ribbon Patch Program Implementation Guide available on our website JustThinkTwice.com. Many of your questions may be answered in the Guide.

For any further questions or comments about the program, please send your e-mail to Demand.Reduction@usdoj.gov or call our Red Ribbon Patch staff at 202-307-7936 as they will be happy to assist you.

We look forward to your participation in the 2013 DEA Red Ribbon Patch Program!

Thank you,

DEA Red Ribbon Patch Program Staff

LIVE UNITED 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run - Franklin

Have you always wanted to be a super hero? Well, now's your chance. Franklin-Southampton Area United Way is having it's first (but not last!) LIVE UNITED 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run. September 28 at the Bronco Federal Credit Union in Franklin.

This is a family event where you can save the day and be a hero to thousands of folks in Franklin and Southampton. It's going be lots of fun! Music, Zumba, Prizes, and, oh yes, the race!

Race details and information are here.

Lifetime Membership

There is still time - But hurry!

Lifetime Membership
The lifetime membership fee is 25 times the annual fee, so on October 1, 2013, the lifetime fee for adults will be $375. If you are interested in purchasing a lifetime membership, please take advantage of the current fee and save $75. In order to ensure that your Lifetime membership is processed and completed before October, this paper form and payment must be turned in by September 1, 2013.

Lifetime Membership makes a Great Gift!
Lifetime membership is a great gift and a great value for our dedicated Girl Scout Ambassadors. Girl Scouts who will graduated high school this year can purchase a lifetime membership at the reduced rate of $156. Graduating Girl Scout Ambassadors, submit an Adult Registration form and payment of $156 by September 1, 2013.

Are you our next employee?

If you love Girl Scouting, consider getting paid for what you love to do. Girl Scouting is a rewarding career that makes a difference in the community one girl at time. We offer a diverse work environment, excellent benefit packages, and competitive compensation. We are seeking candidates for the following full-time positions: Membership Specialist, Annual Giving Manager, Membership Services Director. To view detailed job descriptions or to learn how to apply, visit our website at http://www.gsccc.org/Employment.aspx.

For more information contact hr@gsccc.org.

Fall 2013 GO!

The latest issue of GO is now available online!
GO, Great Opportunities for Girls and Adults, is the GSCCC publication that provides the newest information on program activities for girls, adult learning opportunities and girl leadership opportunities. 

Registration for the girl activities listed in GO begins on August 26, 2013. 
Register online for activities and events by visiting ebiz.gsccc.org.
Look for your own copy of GO in your mailbox starting this weekend.

The improved eBiz online registration site is now live!

As of August 12, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast completed some improvements to our online registration site! If you haven’t tried it out yet, go to ebiz.gsccc.org and click on the New Online Account button to create a new log in (instructions). Read more for improvements and training opportunities:

For Troop Leaders:

• You will be able to see all activities, regardless of the registration method, for their entire troop or troops
• You will be able to see all troop orders placed online
• You will have an easy to use interface that will prompt you to update troop meeting information

For Girl Scout Families: 

• You can manage your whole family with a single log in
• You can see all of your family’s activities, regardless of registration method
• You can see all orders placed online on behalf of your family
• You can manage membership renewals and new memberships for your whole family
• You’ll enjoy an improved search functionality

We are excited about these upgrades and improvements that have the potential for time saving and making your registration experience easier. If you need any assistance creating your new online account please contact support@gsccc.org.

All eBiz webinars for volunteers cover the same material. Please only join the webinar that best accommodates your schedule.

eBiz Webinars for Volunteers:

• August 22, 2013 - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Click this link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/738511430
• August 27, 2013 - Noon to 1 p.m. Click this link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/463553158
• August 27, 2013 - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Click this link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/785135070
• September 10, 2013 - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Click this link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/631429542

26th Annual Catholic Retreat-o-ree at Camp Pipsico - September 6-8, 2013

Registration is now open for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts 4th grade and up for the 26th Annual Catholic Retreat-o-ree at Camp Pipsico, September 6-8, 2013. It is sure to be a weekend filled with fun and fellowship.  It is also a great time to get away and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of your faith -- while you climb to the top of the Rock Wall! Early bird registration until August 17. Registration deadline is August 31, 2013.  Call 804-622-5159 or learn more here.

Looking Ahead!

Fall is almost here, and service unit leader/volunteer meetings will be here before we know it! The Girl Scouts annual cycle of activities and events is based on seasons, school calendars, facility availability, etc.  The Service Unit Operations Calendar & Agendas are tools for service unit volunteer support teams to use when planning monthly leader/volunteer meetings. Look ahead and get a jump on a new Girl Scout year!

eBiz Makeover - Family Management

Attention Volunteers!  Family registration and online registration improvements are nearly complete!  This weekend, from 5 p.m. August 9 until 8 a.m. August 12, eBiz will be unavailable as we implement these changes.  On Monday, you will need to create a new login for eBiz (go here for instructions).  Read more to learn about the new changes:

For Troop Leaders:

·         Leaders will be able to see all activities, regardless of the registration method, for their entire troop or troops

·         They will be able to see all troop orders placed online

·         They will have an easy to use interface that will prompt them to update troop meeting information

Girl Scout Families:

·         They can manage their whole family with a single sign on

·         They can see all of their family’s activities, regardless of registration method

·         They can see all orders placed online on behalf of their family

·         They can manage membership renewals and new memberships for their whole family

·         They’ll enjoy an improved search functionality

Volunteers will have opportunities to learn more about how the system works and how to support their troops and families on the following dates and times (invites will follow in another communication):

August 22 – 7 p.m. – Webinar
August 27 – Noon – Webinar
August 27 – 7 p.m. – Webinar
September 10 – 7 p.m. – Webinar

The webinar will be recorded and posted to gsccc.org as well. Give it a try Monday and tell us what you think at support@gsccc.org!

Coastal Connection Community to Hold Leader Launch

Coastal Connection Community Leader Launch
Saturday, August 24, 2013
10 a.m. - noon
Thalia United Methodist Church
$5
Deadline: August 9, 2013

Calling all troop leaders, new and returning, in the Coastal Connection Community serving Virginia Beach and Knotts Island! You are invited to kick-off the 2013-2014 Girl Scout year with our first Leader Launch event.

Join us as you browse displays, learn about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and explore materials that can help you and the girls you mentor. Shop at the Council traveling trunk store and meet special guests from Council. Registration is $5.00 and includes a welcome packet and special take-home gift. New volunteer classes, service unit orientation and the new Girl Scout program basics class will also be offered at the event.  

See the flyer for more information and to register today.

http://gs-coastalconnection.weebly.com/leader-launch.html   

Shakespeare in the Garden

Norfolk Botanical Garden, Renaissance Court
Wednesday, August 7th, 2013
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This event is included with regular Garden admission.
Appropriate for children age 8 and up.

Traveling Players Ensemble performs Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Traveling Players Ensemble is a summer theater camp for teens, whose mission is to bring great theatre to the great outdoors. Much Ado About Nothing is presented by the camp’s most advanced program: the Traveling Troupe. This group rehearses a full-length Shakespearean play for five weeks, then hits the road for a two-week tour throughout Virginia, camping, hiking and performing outside.

Rain or Shine! Food available for purchase from Wrap and Roll beginning at 5 p.m. Wrap and Roll is committed to locally grown food.
 
For more information, visit www.travelingplayers.org or call 703-987-1712.

Volunteer Policies Reveiw for 2013-2014

The Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast Board of Directors recently completed a review of Volunteer Policies. These updated policies are here.  Learn more.

Note:  Finance Policy #5 now indicates that "any financial contribution to the troop, service unit, or Community must be deposited through the Council."  This also applies to those working towards Girl Scout awards.  Effective immediately, there is no longer 10% council processing fee.

Ensuring the health and safety of girls in Girl Scouting is a cornerstone of the Girl Scout Movement. This includes developing safety consciousness in both girls and adults, as well as training staff, volunteers, and girls to ensure proper supervision, planning to prevent accidents and incidents, and maintenance of program resources (includes good stewardship of Girl Scout funds).

Everyone bears responsibility for safety: the Council, the group leadership, the parents/guardians of the girls and the girls themselves.

Thank you for all you do to make sure Girl Scouting is fun and safe!