Dear GSWNY Members, 

Girl Scouts is even more important than ever – in a time when so many programs and events are cancelled, girls can still count on Girl Scouts – we are Girl Scout Strong. Thank you to all of our volunteers and families for what you give to help make this program possible– and at a time when girls need us the most.

We are excited about the coming year and we will be communicating our fall program plan and property rentals in mid-September for the fall season. 

As many schools in our nine-county region are still finalizing their plans, we have currently extended our summer COVID-19 guidelines through September 30 and will be updating our fall guidelines in September once more details are shared from the school districts. 

Our COVID-19 guidelines have also been updated with FAQ’s and some additional guidance about photos.

As a reminder, for troops to meet in person, co-leaders must watch the recorded webinar from 7-9-20, and follow all COVID-19 guidelines.  Meeting in person is optional, not required, and virtual and at-home programming is still the safest option.

If you have any questions, please contact customercare@gswny.org

Thank you for all you do, and for making an important difference in the lives of girls,

Alison

A few upcoming dates to remember:

• All Shop locations will be CLOSED for our annual physical inventory from Monday, August 24, 2020 through Friday, September 4, 2020; we will reopen to curbside pick-up service on Wednesday, September 9, 2020.  Please note that due to our Buffalo office moving, curbside retail will re-open later in September – TBD
• GSWNY will be CLOSED on Monday, September 7, 2020 in observance of the Labor Day Holiday. We will reopen to our virtual council hours on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 9:00 am.

​​​​Please see the important announcements below and for questions, please contact Customer Care customercare@gswny.org or call 1-888-837-6410. In an emergency, please call 1-800-882-9268.

Renew your Girl Scout membership by Sept. 30

Got a million things on your Back to School list? Check one off right now by renewing your Girl Scout membership! We make it easy using our online system, and we still have incentives left to give away. For girls and leaders, we’re still doing our $50 weekly gift card drawing, plus don’t forget our signature SAGE Tuition Rewards! Renew now!

ACTION REQUIRED:  We recently understood that moving our deadline to earn SAGE Tuition Reward Points to 9/30/20 will not work for students entering the 12th grade this fall 2020. If you want to earn and use your SAGE Tuition Reward Points for students entering the 12th grade this fall 2020, you must take action by TOMORROW, 8/26. Click here to learn more. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Retail Item of the Week: Virtual Bridging Patch

Throughout the past year, did your Girl Scouts Troop accomplish amazing things for themselves and the community around them? Celebrate them (virtually) as they bridge to the next level in Girl Scouts and start their next adventure. For only $1.50 and Free Shipping this a cute and easy way to celebrate your Girl Scouts!

This item is an ONLINE EXCLUSIVE and is available (for a short time) for FREE SHIPPING with no minimum purchase.

Order Today

REMINDER: Zoom Into Fall Webinars are happening tomorrow!

Join us for one of our FREE adult training sessions on Wednesday, August 26, to learn all about how you can use Zoom this Fall to run your Girl Scout Troop and Service Unit meetings. Morning session is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and evening session is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

GSUSA has subsidized the cost of professional zoom licenses for troops and GSWNY will soon be sharing how you can sign up for one. The monthly fee will be $3 per month ($36 per year). Licenses can be purchased by troops using troop funds, and for troops who need it, financial aid will be available to cover the cost. More details to come!

Questions? Contact Customer Care at 1-888-837-6410 or customercare@gswny.org.

You’re invited to attend the Girl Scouts of Western New York, Inc. Virtual Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2020. The Annual Meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Please RSVP your attendance for the Annual Meeting using the link below no later than September 10, 2020. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Blair at Blair.yaiser@gswny.org or 716-935-6076.

We look forward to seeing you on September 17, 2020.

RSVP for the Annual Meeting

Get ready for our Fall Product Program with your own avatar!

Excited about a new year of Girl Scouts and the Fall Product Program? Create your own unique avatar to just look like you! Yes, adults you can too! Customize it, share it, post it, and let the world know that you are excited for another year of Girl Scouts and entrepreneurship!

Create Your Avatar

Volunteer Service Award

If you know of a volunteer who was nominated for a Girl Scout Service Unit Award or a community award for their service to Girl Scouts, please send their name, volunteer role, a photo, and the name of the award to communications@gswny.org . Optionally you can also choose to include a brief quote explaining why the person deserves the award. We will work to create a social media post celebrating the award recipient to celebrate their achievement. 

The Summer/Fall 2020 Girl Talk is here!

The Summer/Fall 2020 edition of Girl Talk is out with a focus on Girl Scout Strong! This issue features stories about what our Girl Scouts have been doing during the pandemic and how Girl Scouts has remained constant.

Read the online edition to hear stories about Girl Scouting at Home, the Gold Awards, The Summer We Camped at Home, and more!

Read Today

Girl Scouting at Home

Looking for ways to stay involved with Girl Scouts? Check out our Girl Scouting at Home page today! New resources are added regularly. 

Looking for more options? Head to girlscouts.org for even more at-home opportunities for your Girl Scout by grade level, and check out some of the online opportunities below:

Girl Scouts Doing Good Things

Troop 30554 finally finished and dedicated their Bronze Award project – Make New Friend bench at Glendale Elementary School. Each girl painted and learned how to use a drill to make this beautiful bench. They hope the youth use it as a way to break the ice when making new friends and feeling included. There are ice breaker games attached to it also.

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.