Be Connected

July 2014 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER

Dear Volunteers,

We would like to thank all of the Girl Scout Communities who participated in this year's Family Partnership Campaign. 74% of our Communities participated and to date $23,479 has been raised thanks to these outstanding efforts. All of the proceeds will be directed to financial assistance and will help thousands of economically disadvantaged girls be a part of Girl Scouts.

We heard many stories about girls who have benefitted from the financial assistance and the funds raised through Family Partnership Campaign. Thanks to your efforts girls made new and positive friendships with their fellow Girl Scouts. They were able to experience many firsts at camp like horseback riding, zip lining, and archery - just to name a few. They were able go on trips near and far to attend museums, aquariums and GSHPA programs that opened up their imaginations and inspired them to dream big!

Did you know that your Family Partnership support extends past Girl Scouts and uplifts the entire community? Here is a real example of how....

One of our troops was recently traveling to a Girl Scout event when they drove through an underpass where they saw a homeless man asking for money.

The girls, many of whom were members of Girl Scouts thanks to the generosity of our very own financial assistance program, were compelled to make a difference and help the man. Feeling responsible for the safety of the girls, the troop leader said she could not stop the car. Instead, she asked the girls to think of other ways to help the homeless.

She challenged them to think about how they could help all the hungry people in their community. She encouraged them to think big and to dig deep in order to get to the root of hunger. After discussing some ideas, the girls chose to participate in an anti-hunger campaign in their county.

The girls collected and packed food for a local food bank. They used their passion to advocate for their cause and, despite their nervousness, they spoke to hundreds of people and encouraged them to join their fight to end hunger. Their self-confidence grew markedly as the campaign went on and they were filled with pride as they collected the food that would feed hundreds-a feat that wouldn't have happened if they were not able to be a part of Girl Scouts.

By choosing to support a Girl Scout, you are supporting an advocate, a life changer, an inspirer, a girl who solves problems and makes a difference in the world. Thank you for making it all possible.

Sincerely,


Carolyn Warman	Jane Ransom
Board Chair	President & CEO

The 91 Gold Award earners were officially welcomed to the elite alumnae of Girl Scouts when they were honored with the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting on Saturday, June 21 at Founders Hall at Milton Hershey School in Hershey.

91 Gold Award Girls Give Back to Community

The 2014 GSHPA Gold Awardees performed over 8,000 hours of community service while making a community impact in a big way thanks to inspiring role models and troop leaders like you!

We can add up the hours, but it is impossible to truly sum up the impact they had on the people they helped, the volunteers they led and the communities that they call home.

In addition to making their communities a better place, the Gold Awardees are breaking records! The number of awardees has increased from 79 in 2013 to 91 in 2014 - making the 2014 Gold Award class the largest in GSHPA's seven year history.

We believe that the Gold Awardees' community leadership will inspire Girl Scouts to break the record for 2015. Help us break next year's record by talking to your troops about going Gold and how they can start changing the world right in their own communities! Click here to find out more about the Gold Award.

Click here to view event photos.

Volunteer Kick-Off Convention Registration To Open on July 18

The planning is well underway for the upcoming Volunteer Kick-off Convention that promises to educate, energize and connect volunteers from across our council as we gear up for the start of the 2014-2015 Girl Scout year. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, September 6, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Grantville, PA (located right off of I-81).

With everything from sneak peeks into our plans for our next signature programming initiative and outdoor programs, Volunteer Orientation training for new and returning volunteers, workshops that dive deeper into troop meeting planning and administration along with plenty of time to network with one another, this year's event promises to have something for everyone! Look for your invitation to register for this free event to arrive in your inbox later this month.

Giddy Up Girl Scouts

Bramble, Bandit, Scout and the other horses at Camp Archbald are waiting for Girl Scouts to saddle them up and take them for a ride through camp during our Trail Rides (August 11 -14)! Our Trail Rides give girls an amazing experience whether they've been riding all of their lives or on a horse for the first time ever.

Girls will get to know their horse through a brief ring lesson and then hit the trails! Gather your troop up for a great learning experience that they won't forget!

Because Girl Scouts love horseback riding, openings go FAST! Sign up today to secure a spot!

Age Level: Junior, Cadette, Senior Ambassador

Dates/Times: August 11-14; Click here for specific dates/times.

Cost: Girls-$30/Adults: $30

Deadline to register: 11:59 p.m. on August 1 or until openings are filled.

The maximum group we can have per trail ride is 12 participants. Troops must follow girl/adult ratios outlined in Volunteer Essentials. Girls who are not attending the program with a troop, must be accompanied by their parent/guardian. All attending adults must register for the program.

Inspiring Generations Gala

At GSHPA we know that any Girl Scout, regardless of age or experience, can spark admiration and inspiration in her community to make it a better place! Join us on September 10, 2014 for the Inspiring Generations Gala at Hershey Lodge as we celebrate eight outstanding girls and women that span across our council and generations to highlight their incredible impact.

CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), Anna Maria Chavez, will deliver a keynote address to move us as a council to continue to build girls of courage, confidence and character that make the world a better place.

For more information or to attend the Inspiring Generations Gala, contact Lynne Dillard, Development Coordinator, at ldillard@gshpa.org or 1.800.692.7816.

Girls Change the World Convention

Volunteers, Girl Scouts, alumnae and friends-don't miss out on the ultimate Girl Scout weekend to celebrate and advocate on behalf of girls from across the country at our 2014 Girl Scout Convention in spectacular Salt Lake City, Utah! This exhilarating event is taking place October 16-19 and, for the first time ever, you can register directly for the convention!

And we have great news: if you register before July 15, you'll guarantee your spot and save $70 on the four-day alumna package. GSUSA's national convention happens only once every three years, so invite your friends, come join us, and let's inspire girls to change the world!

Share Your Story!

We know all our Girl Scouts go on amazing trips, camping adventures, give back to the community and learn something new all the time! And we want to hear about it and maybe even share it in our newsletters, Facebook and more! Tell us your stories throughout the year by emailing communications@gshpa.org.

We aren't the only ones wanting to hear from you! Girl Scouts of the USA wants to hear about your amazing cookie stories! Did you donate a ton of cookies overseas? Did you use your Product Sales Dough to go on an adventure? Did you have an out-of-the-box marketing idea that the community loved? Email communications@gshpa.org by Monday, August 25 by noon for a chance to have your story be included in the national 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Campaign!

Please include the following information:

Name
Age/level
Location
# of years as a Girl Scout
Details about her cookie sales
What makes her story so amazing
Is she enrolled for the 2014/15 cookie season?

Try Something New with Training Opportunities

We are always encouraging our Girl Scouts to be brave and to try something new. Did you know you can try something new too? Join us at these upcoming outdoor trainings to brush up or even learn a new skill!

Outdoor Basics

We know that Girl Scouts love to sing around a campfire! Attend our Outdoor Basics to learn tent care, safety skills and outdoor cooking. Wow your Girl Scouts with your outdoor skills and then pass the skills onto them!

Camp Archbald in Kingsley (Susquehanna County)

August 16 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Cost: $25 per participant

Registration Closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 1, 2014 or until spots are filled.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Level 1 USA Archery Instruction Certification

In just one day you can become certified for 3 years to teach archery basics to Girl Scouts! All you have to do is sign up, bring a lunch, grab a bow and arrow, and get ready to aim!

Camp Archbald in Kingsley (Susquehanna County)

August 17 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cost: $30 per participant

Registration Closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 1, 2014 or until spots are filled.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Climbing Tower and Low Ropes Training

Volunteers are adventurous too! Join the team and be trained to be a facilitator for our low ropes course, climbing tower and zip line. Want to know the best part? It is FREE-not to mention FUN! Conquer the courses and gain the knowledge and tools to get Girl Scouts through the adventure elements!

Camp Archbald in Kingsley (Susquehanna County)

August 17 from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Cost: FREE (Meals included)

Registration Closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 1, 2014 or until spots are filled.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

In This Issue

91 Gold Award Girls Give Back to Community

Volunteer Kick-Off Convention Registration To Open on July 18

Giddy Up Girl Scouts

Inspiring Generations Gala

Girls Change the World Convention

Share Your Story!