Meeting Recap

We had an awesome meeting last night!  Thank you to Ms. Margie for putting together our craft and also to Ms. Joan for taking care of all of our Fall Product Sales stuff.  The girls had a LOT of "business-y" stuff to take care of so we spent a lot of time in our circle.  Here is the run down of what you need to know.

Field Trip
Mark your calendars, we will be going on a field trip to Powder Valley for a hike on Saturday, November 13.  We will meet at Powder Valley at 9:30 a.m.  We will walk a trail (to be determined) and then go inside the building to see the exhibits.  At approximately 11:30 a.m. we will load up and head over to Emmenegger Park for a picnic lunch.  We will be done no later than 12:15 p.m.  Tag-a-longs are welcome on this field trip, the trails at Powder Valley are paved so you can use strollers.   I will update the blog with more details as the date gets closer.

Trick or Treat Candy Donation
WOW did these girls impress me last night!  Their kindness and generosity exceeded my expectations and nearly brought tears to my eyes.  We discussed all the candy they get at Halloween and that it is not healthy for them to eat every piece of candy that they get.  I then opened a discussion for the girls to tell one another about some of the things they could do with that candy.  Donating and giving it away was a given in their minds.  I asked if they would be willing to donate HALF of the candy that they received in trick or treating, and they agreed.  They came up with SEVERAL ideas which we narrowed into four groups of places/people to donate to: 1)hospitals (nurses/doctors who treat patients)/Ronald McDonald House, 2)Shelter/Food Pantry, 3.) Police Department/Firefighters, 4.) Military .  I am not kidding when I tell you that these girls came up with these ideas on their own.   Everyone of them, even the quietest had fantastic ideas.  After a vote, the girls decided they would donate to the Police Department and Firefighters. 

For our craft, we decorated "you've been boo'ed bags". 

Ms. Margie will collect the candy from the girls and weigh it.  She will then separate it into the bags and we will take it to the Police Department/Firefighters. 

We are asking that the girls put the candy that they wish to donate in a closable bag (ziplock) and bring it to school with them on Tuesday, Nov. 2.  They are to look for Ms. Margie in the commons area as they arrive at school and go to their classrooms.  All the girls that donate candy will receive the Trick or Treat Patch.

Fall Product Sales
Girls can begin selling nuts/candy magazines on October 30, 2010.  If you have out of town family friends that might be interested in purchasing, you can set up at website at http://www.nutsforknowledge.com/ . 

All forms must be turned into Ms. Joan on November 7.  I will email you with her address and reminders.  She will leave a cooler on her porch where you can leave your order forms.  I will update more dates like when to pick up your products and when money needs to be turned in, as they are scheduled.

Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that we have a meeting on Monday, October 24.  Norah will be bringing a snack.  I will need just a couple of minutes of parents time either at the beginning or the end of the meeting for you to sign a permission slip in order for the girls to receive their Nut Sales Order Card. GO Day is October 30, which means that even though the girls will have their order forms, they cannot take orders before October 30.  If we anyone does, GSEM can take away our entire troops portion of funds raised.  I will write a completely separate blog regarding nut sales probably Monday night/Tuesday afternoon.  If you aren't dropping off or picking up on Monday, let me know so that I can work out a way to get that permission slip signed.  Thanks and I will see everyone on Monday!

American Veterans Traveling Tribute Balloon Release

Tonight was the Girl Scouts Neighborhood meeting.  An awesome opportunity came up that is pretty immediate and for the girls.  

I am assuming that many of you have heard about the American Veterans Traveling Tribute that is on the football field at Fox High School.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, here  is a link to the website.  It is completely free.  Girl Scouts are participating in the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m.  by releasing balloons. 

This is something you can do as a family, I do not have to be there. If you plan to go, have the girls wear their vest and head to the stage just before 6:30 p.m. They will be able to participate in the balloon release. 

We have family coming in town this weekend, so I am not sure if I will be there or not, but I thought it was definitely worth passing on.  Let me know if you go.  Email me pictures and I will post them on the blog!

Sit-Upons and other stuff

We had a great meeting on Monday night.  I had a BIG craft planned, and the girls sailed through it.  I seriously thought it would take us two weeks to get through, but the girls sewed up the sides like champs.  I was very impressed!  Thank you so much to Ms. Joan, Ms. Margie, Ms. Debbie B. and Mr. Matt for helping with the re-threading and re-threading of needles.  You guys ROCK!  I think the girls favorite part was seeing how many bags they could stuff into the sit-upons.  I will also have to keep an eye on the "pillow" fights.  I'll lay out a few boundaries next time and the girls will be fine.  We reviewed the fact that THEY are responsible for bringing their sit-upons to each meeting.  Actually, I pretty much pounded that into their heads.  We will see how many girls actually remember.  I know that it will be difficult for them, but they have to start learning somewhere right.  

This summer we went to a day camp and I had the girls carry their own water bottles.  It was hot and we did lose a few water bottles, but overall they did good.  There were 3 adults to 9 girls and if the adults would have carried all of that water in our backpacks with everyones lunch, the kids would have been fine, the adults however would not have made it.  Not to mention how often we would have had to stop, dig through bags to find the right water bottle, etc. 

A big thanks to Debbie W. and Abby for bringing the snack.  The girls enjoyed the pumpkin cookies and some leftover pretzels from the week before.  They really thought they were getting a treat.  I heard someone say "We get 2 snacks?!" 

I am of planning a short-medium outdoor hike for the girls.  I am looking at the first weekend in November.  The girls were given several options.  They said they wanted to do a LONG hike on dirt, and definitely not a sidewalk.  I am sure that the long hike they have in their minds is what I would consider a short hike.  Anyway, I am totally open to suggestions of nearby places where we could take them hiking.  

Finally, I changed the comments setting on the blog so that anyone can comment.  Sorry I didn't realize what was going on there. Thanks Joan for mentioning it.  I am going to the GSEM Neighborhood Meeting and Fall Product Sales Training tomorrow evening, so I will update after that.

Meeting Reminders - 10/11/10

Plastic Grocery Bags Needed
For our craft this week we are going to start working on "sit-upons".  For those of you who have no idea what that might be...it is a girl scout "seat", usually made of something light, waterproof and with a little bit of cushion.  The idea is that when the girls go to camp and are sitting on the ground, they have something to keep their bottoms dry and cushioned.  While we may use them for day camps, our primary use for them is keeping the girls in a circle during circle time.  It gives them a place to sit on their bottoms and not wiggle around/lay down, etc. 
We are making them out of vinyl backed tablecloths, but I need your help with the "stuffing".  If you could please bring any old plastic grocery bags that you have on hand to the meeting.

Snack
This weeks snack will be provided by Abby Wampler. I have water and pretzels left over from last meeting that I will also bring, so the girls will have a choice. 

Girl Member Registration Form
I have not yet received a girl member registration form for the following girls:  Bria Mental.  If I don't receive that form by Thursday afternoon, I will assume you do not wish to participate in Daisy's at this point.  I am turning in all of my registration papers on Thursday evening.

Adult Member Registration Forms
I have not yet received an adult member registration form for the following adults:  Michelle Mental, Nhu Phan, Erica Stevens, Debbie Wampler, Jen Wibbenmeyer.   If you wish to be a registered adult, I need to receive a copy of the adult member registration form by Thursday.  This is not something you have to do.  Any adult that stays for meetings must be a registered adult, pay $12 and undergo a background check.  If I don't receive paperwork by Thursday, I will assume that you don't want to be a registered adult. 
Dues/Registration
I still need to collect dues ($30) for the following girls: Sophie ($30), Annhien ($30), Emilee ($30), Bria? ($42) and Maddie? ($42). Please make checks out to GSEM Troop 1980.

Health History Forms
I need to get updated/current health history forms for the following girls: Amber, Sydney, Emilee, Abby, Amelia, Hailey.  I will have blank forms with me at the meeting on Monday.  

I think that is all for now.  I will update on Tuesday after our meeting.