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Be Connected
April 2013 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
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Re-register Online and Receive 20% Off
GSHPA Online Store Purchase
Our annual Early Bird Registration Campaign always focuses on encouraging as many of our existing members to re-register for another year of Girl Scouts. But this year's campaign has a little different spin - encouraging as many of our existing members to re-register online! As we gear up for this year's campaign, we are asking each of you to spread the word that any current girl or adult member who re-registers online between April 10 and June 30, 2013 for the 2013-2014 Girl Scout year will receive a 20% off coupon to be used towards any GSHPA online purchase totaling $25* or more between August 1 - December 18, 2013.
*Please note that the $25 total is pre-tax and pre-shipping fees.
And, believe it or not, the online process is simple. Check out the videos below to see just what we mean:
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Email Address Required to Re-Register Online
Keep in mind that current members will  need to have an active email address on file in order to access their accounts. In February, GSHPA reached out to all of those members for whom we did not have an active email address with a postcard mailing (at right). While some responded to our request, many did not. If you are receiving this newsletter, we do have an email on file for you and ask that you encourage those current members whom you know do not receive emails from GSHPA promoting girl and/or adult activities to either call 1-800-692-7816 or send an email to helpdesk@gshpa.org to get set-up today.
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As a troop leader, spring has traditionally been about distributing, collecting and shuffling last minute paperwork as you try your best to encourage as many of the girls (and adults) in your troop to re-register for the next Girl Scout year while taking your valuable time away from planning and enjoying bridging ceremonies, camping trips and other end of the troop year celebrations.
As a troop leader, we hope that your spring has just gotten a lot easier - no more paper, no more shuffling, no more tracking down payments, no more collecting of checks, etc. Starting this year, all you have to do is encourage as many of your returning girls and adults to go online to re-register beginning April 10, 2013. And the best part is that the volunteer designated as your troop's troop leader (or 01) in our system will actually be able to track who has and who has not re-registered all from within her/his own online GSHPA membership account!
To learn more about the Troop Management component of our online membership system, the troop leader's ability to see who has and has not re-registered, update contact information for members of your troop and even email all of the members of your troop right from the system, please check out the video link below:
We also recognize that not everyone will be able to access our online system, so don't worry, the 2013-2014 paper versions of the girl and adult registration forms are still available under the FORMS tab on our website or by clicking here:
If you have girls and/or adults who elect this option*, their completed forms may be either:
- Mailed directly to our Harrisburg office OR
- Entered into the online system by you as the troop leader using a credit card payment on their behalf and then mailed by you to our Harrisburg office (this option is actually more work for you as the troop leader) OR
- Passed along by you to either your Membership Associate or Service Unit Registrar who will then forward it onto our Harrisburg office for processing.
*Keep in mind that by using any of these methods to re-register, the returning member is ineligible to receive the Early Bird Campaign 20% off coupon.
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Be Part of History on April 21 at the
Healthy Promise 1,000,000 Mile Family Event
April 21 is GSHPA's very own version of the Olympic opening ceremony - symbolic, ceremonial and fun...a momentous event no one should miss!
With the date quickly approaching and registration numbers climbing, the event details are all coming together. The 2-hour event will include the following:
- Opening remarks by 2-time Olympic softball player and current ESPN commentator Jessica Mendoza - Jessica's story will inspire anyone to see how the healthy choices we make can influence how we feel about ourselves, our potential and our impact on our world.
- Ceremonial 1st mile walk - Similar to the Olympic opening ceremony's Parade of Nations, this will serve as GSHPA's parade of girls as members, families and friends walk united while organized by grade level. In preparation all girls should attend wearing the following designated colors:
- All Daisies should wear Blue
- All Brownies should wear Brown
- All Juniors should wear Purple
- All Cadettes should wear Red
- All Seniors & Ambassadors should wear Orange
One girl from each grade level will carry the Healthy Promise 1,000,000 mile torch for 1/5 of a mile alongside Jessica Mendoza before handing it off to the next girl. A random drawing will be used to select each girl. Each girl will receive her own unique Olympic number to wear throughout the event.
- Following the walk family-friendly activities and games will be available, some include: relay races, sack races, hula hoop contests and much, much more! Wilkes University, Live Well Luzerne and the YMCA have partnered with GSHPA for this event. Keep in mind this is a RAIN or SHINE event.
WHEN: Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 2 - 4 p.m.
(Registration deadline is April 11 at 11:59 p.m.)
WHERE: Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre, PA
COST: Only $10 per person*
Click here to register
All participants will also receive a Healthy Promise water bottle, a patch and a Healthy Promise activity tracker that can be used to tally and report their activity miles**. Every girl will also receive a unique Healthy Promise number (similar to those worn by athletes in the actual Olympics) to wear throughout the event and will be eligible for the drawing awarding up to 100 girls the chance for a meet and greet with Jessica Mendoza after the event.
**30 minutes of any type of activity = 1 mile.
*This is a family and friends event - all non-members must register along with a registered girl member.
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aMAZING Weekend Opportunity Returns
 Cadettes in grades 6-8 are invited to attend an aMAZING weekend at Camp Small Valley and earn at least one award associated with the aMAZE Journey. In addition to being well on their way to earning their Silver Award, participants will learn more about themselves and their relationships with others. Plus, they'll get to enjoy tons of fun activities including low ropes and high ropes activities on Camp Small Valley's state of the art Adventure Challenge Course! Participants MUST be a registered girl member of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania (GSHPA) at the Cadette level. This is a girl-only activity. Girls may attend with other members of their troops. GSHPA will provide staff to cover adult/girl ratios. WHEN: Friday, May 17 - Sunday, May 19, 2013 DROP-OFF: 7 - 9 p.m. on Friday
PICK-UP: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Camp Small Valley
COST: $75 per Cadette This includes activities, aMAZE Journey Book, aMAZE Journey Award, 4 meals + snack and overnight accommodations.
Click here to register. |
Register Now for Spring Volunteer Training Weekends
As you plan your spring and summer camping trips and other outdoor adventures, GSHPA is once again offering outdoor-themed volunteer training weekends including required trainings like 1st Aid/CPR*, Outdoor Skills and Camping 101. These are free weekends that are available on a first come, first serve basis. Click on the weekends listed below to register for the remaining three opportunities:
April 19-21, 2013 | Camp Small Valley, Halifax, PA (Dauphin County)
June 7-9, 2013 | Camp Golden Pond, Petersburg, PA (Huntingdon County)
June 14-16, 2013 | Camp Louise, Shickshinny, PA (Columbia County)
*First Aid/CPR does require a $25 deposit that is refunded after completion of the course.
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Check out GSUSA Resources to Help Plan Your Bridging Ceremonies At this time of year, we often inspire all Girl Scouts to think about how they have grown and what they want to do next through Bridging Ceremonies. That's an important part of our learning by doing (experiential) leadership model-and it's a really important way to retain girls too. Please check out GSUSA's latest Bridging resources, as the traditional troop year starts to wind down and you begin planning Bridging ceremonies for your girls by clicking on the link: http://bit.ly/Xq9jLr
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Kate Crowley
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Thank You, Kate
This issue of Be Connected, our newsletter for volunteers is dedicated to Kate Crowley, our council's Board Chair from 2009 - 2013. As we prepare for a leadership transition, I would like to thank Kate for her strong leadership of the council through its formative years, guiding us to a remarkable place-an enormous advance from where we stood four years ago. Here are some of the things that others have written to me about Kate:
- Always put girls first
- Assured Girl Scout values remained the foundation as the council introduced new models of working and delivering service to girls
- Presided over the council as it became a great place to work for staff
- Inspired and pushed staff and board to go to new heights
- Strengthened us through a business plan, a camp development plan, strategic learning and planning for the 100th anniversary
- We are so much stronger now, thanks to Kate
- Focused but with a good sense of humor always on display
- Took time to get to know staff
- Cared about and listened to volunteers
- Always available to the board, committees and volunteers
- A stellar Chair for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania over the last four years
No matter what our role in GSHPA, we are one united council which wasn't the case when Kate became Board Chair. Kate Crowley has deepened my understanding of integrity, accountability, commitment and fairness every day that I've worked with her over these last four years. Thank you, Kate, for living the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law as you have led our council. I know our volunteers join me in extending heartfelt thanks to you.
With enormous appreciation,
Jane Ransom
President & CEO
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Save the Date!
April 5 - 7 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Echo Trail
April 10 - Early Bird Online Re-registration begins April 11 - Summer Camp Info Webinars at 12 p.m. or 7 p.m.April 16 - Troop Adventure Camp Info Webinar at 12 p.m. or 7 p.m.
April 19 - 21 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Small Valley
April 21 - Healthy Promise Million Mile Walk Event at Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre
April 24 - Troop Adventure Camp Info Webinar at 7 p.m.
May 17 - 19 - aMAZE weekend for Cadettes at Camp Small Valley May 31 - Family Partnership ends June 7 - 9 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Golden Pond June 14 - 16 - Volunteer Training Weekend at Camp Louise June 22 - Girl Scout Gold Award Event at Founders Hall, Milton Hershey School, Hershey June 29 - July 3 - Lifeguard Certification Course at Camp Louise June 30 - Early Bird Online Re-registration incentive deadline July 20 - 24 - Lifeguard Certification Course at Camp Furnace Hills July 31 - Troop & Service Unit Financial Reports Due
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2012 - 2013 Delegates
Click here for the most up-to-date list of 2012-2013 Service Unit Delegates.
Service Unit Delegates serve as the voice of their service unit's girl and adult members and can influence council-wide governance decisions by sharing their insights with GSHPA's Board of Directors. Don't see anyone listed for your service unit? Please contact your Membership Associate to see how you can become a Delegate.
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