Dear GSWNY Members,
I hope you are safe and well. We promised to keep you updated regarding the important news we shared on Saturday, May 30, 2020 and we have updated our blog with the most updated facts as we have them. If you have questions, please call Morgan Williams-Bryant, Chief Impact Officer at 716-935-6034, or email: Morgan.Bryant@gswny.org. We ask that you direct any media inquiries to Callie Johnson, EVP of Marketing at 716-935-6023 or email: Callie.Johnson@gswny.org. Thank you.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Alison Wilcox
CEO, Girl Scouts of Western New York
Our community is reeling and we are heartbroken over the unconscionable murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, among others. In times of injustice in our community we cannot remain silent. As an organization which stands up for girls’ potential, we stand firmly against forces which harm girls’ potential. We vehemently oppose racism, and we stand with our staff, volunteers, girls, and families of the black community and with all of our members of color who disproportionately experience the insidious violence of racist, demeaning, and hateful comments, taunts, and acts.
June Renewal is now open
During the month of June, we have a number of incentives for our members who renew, including exclusive patches for girls and Best Year Ever pack drawings for girls, co-leaders, and troops. As always, financial assistance is available for girls and volunteers.
If you or your girls are not in a position to renew right now, don’t worry – our signature Renewal perk, SAGE Tuition Rewards points, can be earned by girls, co-leaders, and service unit managers who renew by September 30.
Just because we can’t celebrate in person this June doesn’t mean we aren’t celebrating our Gold Award Girl Scouts! We plan to hold a virtual event later in the month for those who completed their projects and invite them to join us next year in person at the 2021 ceremony.
Even better, you can help us celebrate these amazing Girl Scouts! During the month, we’ll be sharing the more than 30 projects completed this year and the amazing girls behind them. Follow the stories on Facebook to let the girls know just how proud you are of their accomplishments. We will also share their stories in the weekly Member Essentials email.
Another way you can help recognize the Gold Award Girl Scouts in your life is through items in our online shop. Check out a few of the items below and check out more here.
The Annual Troop Financial Activity Report Submission Window is Open!
Co-Leaders! The time to submit the annual online Troop Financial Activity Report, or T-FAR, is here! June 1–30 is 2020 T-FAR Time!
A new T-FAR Training Slideshow PowerPoint has been created. Even if you aren’t new to T-FAR submission, please review it – there are updates as well as information regarding the GSUSA Covid-19 troop fund extension guidelines you won’t want to miss. Don’t forget you will need to attach your May bank statement to the report.
If you have any questions – please reach out to Customercare@gswny.org or 1-888-837-6410.
Virtual Bridging Resources
GSUSA has extended the bridging deadline through December 31, 2020, and plan to hold a virtual bridging ceremony later this year. In the meantime, we’ve created a Virtual Bridging Resource guide to help your troop hold their own virtual ceremony.
Girl Scouts Give Back: Mask-Making Project
You heard it first! Girl Scouts launched a new mask-making service project in partnership with Feeding America. Together we will help keep kids, food bank staff and volunteers, and families currently seeking food assistance.
National Webinars: Week of June 1 to 5
| LIVE! Awesome Girls: Family STEM Series – Brownie Coding! Tuesday, June 2 | 4:15 to 4:55 p.m. The Activity is the first step to earn the Brownie Coding Basics badge. Families will create an algorithm to color in patchwork quilt. By the end of the event you’ll know what an algorithm is and how to write an algorithm other can follow to recreate your own paper design of a patchwork quilt. REGISTER FOR BROWNIE CODING |
| LIVE! Awesome Girls: Crowdsourcing for Cures Wednesday, June 3 | 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Meet scientists who are on the front line of finding cures for disease and improving human health. This interactive panel discussion will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how scientists do research — and how you can help them solve real-world problems. You’ll also be able to ask the scientists questions and learn about their career path. REGISTER FOR CROWDSOURCING FOR CURES |
| Tips for Troop Leaders LIVE: Bringing the Great Outdoors Home Wednesday, June 3 | 8:00 to 8:45 p.m. Outdoor activities offer so much more than fun in the sun; they’re about building tangible outdoor skills, forging deep friendships, and growing girls’ confidence. In this webcast, we’ll discuss how you can build your comfort with the outdoors—yes, even from home—and inspire your girls to do the same this summer. REGISTER FOR BRINGING OUTDOORS HOME |
| LIVE! Awesome Girls: Living Our Faith in Uncertain times Thursday, June 4 | 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Join leaders of diverse faiths for a free webinar to learn how different religions are responding to COVID-19 and how your faith can support and help you serve others. We’ll also cover ways that Girl Scouts supports girls’ faith as part of their leadership journey. This event is for girls in 6th through 12th grades (or older) and their families. REGISTER FOR LIVING OUR FAITH |
Watch weekdays at 3:12 p.m. on GSWNY’s Facebook Page to see videos from staff and membership.
Make sure you check in every day at 3:12 to catch us live. Can’t make the live broadcast? View all our Trefoil TV videos on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
THIS WEEK: Girl Scout High Awards and Other Service Ideas
- 6-1-20: Fitness & Nutrition in Female Youth: A Gold Award Project (Eating for Beauty Worksheet)
- 6-2-20: Bronze and Silver Awards (Time change to overnight)
- 6-3-20: Making Masks (Part 1 | Part 2)
- 6-4-20: Anniversary of the 19th Amendment
- 6-5-20: What is a Girl Scout Gold Award?
GET CAUGHT UP: View previous videos on YouTube, including the videos from our Girl Scout Traditions week.
- Hiking and Trail Signs
- Girl Scout Uniforms
- Girl Scout History: Cookies & SWAPS
- Juliette Gordon Low, Our Inspirational Founder
- The Heart of the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Girl Scouting at Home
Looking for ways to stay involved with Girl Scouts? Check out our Girl Scouting at Home page today! We regularly add new resources, including new Virtual Badge Work for all Girl Scout Levels on Thursdays!
Girl Scouts Doing Good Things – Gold Award Edition
We’re highlighting the more than 30 Girl Scouts who earned their Gold Award this past year!
Amber Hornquist
Hornquist’s project, Lothlorien Feed Bins and Organizing, involved improving the tack room and building feed bins for the horses at Lothlorien TRC, a riding center for veterans and people with disabilities.
Read More
Zaria Gibson-Stevenson
Gibson-Stevenson’s project, Inspire You, involved creating a video to show diversity in Girl Scouting, primarily, black and brown Girl Scouts in the community for recruitment and awareness.
Read More
Carmen Ponce
Ponce’s project is Improving the Display of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers’ Pictures & Information, and honors police officers, federal agents, troopers, sheriffs, and military personnel who died in the line of duty and have family members in the Genesee Valley area.
Read More
We are #GirlScoutStrong! Looking forward to talking to you next Tuesday! In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Customer Care customercare@gswny.org or call 1-888-837-6410. In an emergency, please call 1-800-882-9268.
Categories: Member Essentials
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