Thank you to all of our volunteers, girls, and families for your dedication to ensuring safety standards. The safety of our girls, volunteers, members, families, and staff is our #1 priority. Virtual and at-home programming remains the safest way to participate, and there is no requirement to meet in person – any in-person meetings or activities are optional.
On November 9, 2020, areas of WNY were placed in a “Yellow Zone” with increased safety restrictions. This has affected the gathering size of in-person meetings and activities. There are also recent changes to quarantine rules for travel out of state.
Please review the Updated Guidelines from 11/10/2020 here and FAQs here for volunteers and members who plan to meet or participate in-person. Thank you for your diligent efforts to keep everyone safe.
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.
In observance of Veterans Day, GSWNY will be closed on November 11, 2020.
We offer our gratitude to all of the brave men and women who have served this country. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Election –Girl Feedback Wanted!
This year had a record number of women running for public office and many historic firsts of women being elected – we would love to hear from girls on what this means to them. Please have your girl complete the survey below to share her thoughts.
To ensure all Girl Scouts who want to earn the Highest Awards this year have the opportunity, Girl Scouts is offering a 3-month deadline extension from September 30 to December 31, 2020 for Girl Scouts who are graduating from 5th grade (Juniors who seek to earn the Bronze Award), 8th grade (Cadettes who seek to earn the Silver Award) and 12th grade (Ambassadors who seek to earn the Gold Award) this year. These Girl Scouts will bridge to the next program level officially on October 1, 2020 and, without this extension, would be no longer eligible to earn the Bronze, Silver or Gold Award, respectively.
Our camp pages have moved!
Looking for the Camp pages on gswny.org? They have moved and are now located under the program section of the website.
We also added a new page for Families! There are so many ways girls and families can participate in Girl Scouts. Whether your girl is part of a troop and looking for more activities or wanting to earn badges and get outdoors on her own, this page brings together all of the resources you need to participate in Girl Scouts together as a family.
Take a Tour of our Troop Leader Blueprint!
Badges, Journeys, and events all tailored for virtual or safe in-person meetings. This tool takes the guesswork out of leading a troop this year so you can focus on your girls. Check out this video introducing you to the Troop Leader Blueprint!
Pre-Black Friday Sale: Girl Scout Tote Bag
For the first time ever, GSWNY shops are having a PRE-BLACK FRIDAY SALE! Make sure you are checking back with us all month long as we will have a discounted item every week.
This week, November 10 to 17, we are featuring our Girl Scout Tote Bag for the low price of ONLY $5.00 each! This adorable tote bag is made of a thick durable canvas, has a zipper closure, and thick straps. It’s the perfect gift for a troop leader, Girl Scout, or even Girl Scout mom or grandma.
**There will be a limit of 2 per guest and no additional discounts can be taken ***
How to Order:
Place your order via email by emailing the shop location you want to pick it up from. Include a daytime phone number for the shop staff to contact you.
Await confirmation from the shop staff that your order is complete with the total amount due.
Make payment via debit or credit card and choose pick up day and time with retail staff during confirmation call. Current Pick up hours: Monday from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM & Wednesday 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Arrive at scheduled location on pick up day and time.
Additional Virtual Shop Hours
Please note that our GSWNY council is CLOSED in observance of the Veterans Day holiday on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, and will have special additional virtual hours on:
Saturday, November 14 (9am-noon)
Saturday, December 12 (9am – noon)
Visit gswny.org for up-to-date hours and information.
Retail and Fall Product Delivery
Retail: At this time, all curbside and retail order pickup processes have not changed and will remain unaffected.
Fall Product Delivery: The Fall Product program delivery is still on schedule for 11/21/20. More info here.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism Project
As we work to make Girl Scouts more welcoming, fair, inclusive, and accessible for everyone, we welcome feedback about your experience in Girl Scouts and any ideas you have for improvement. If you would like to share any aspects of your or your girls’ Girl Scout experience related to these topics, we would deeply appreciate hearing from you so we can come up with solutions, improvements and best practices together.
Help out Girl Scout Rosie from Troop 10310 in Hollis, New Hampshire
Rosie is a Senior Girl Scout working on her Gold Award and she needs our help! Her plan is to interview female role models to compile into a book in the hopes of inspiring girls.
Her survey, linked below, is for girls ages 8-16 and is designed to help her determine which women she should contact. Thank you!
Our first Virtual Campfire of the Girl Scouting year is tonight!
Register for the free virtual campfire using the provided link. The campfire will take place over Zoom on Tue., Nov. 10, 2020, from 7-8pm EST. You must be pre-registered for this event by that day to receive the Zoom info to attend. (Zoom info will not be provided through Facebook.)
PLUS… Celebrate International Camp T-Shirt Day! Wear your favorite GSWNY camp t-shirt that day and send pics to GSWNY by private message or emailing communications@gswny.org (please include your name, troop number, and city).
The Volunteer Experience Team is hosting a New Leader Welcome Meeting via Zoom “Face to Face with GSWNY!” for new leaders on Thursday, November 12, 2020. The purpose of the virtual meeting will be for them to meet GSWNY staff face to face, learn about our council’s various departments and what they do through a series of short presentations, and network with other volunteers. Service Unit Team members are also invited; come meet and greet your new volunteers.
Meeting Agenda 6:00 – 6:10 Welcoming remarks 6:10 – 7:00 Support Department presentations 7:00 – 7:30 Q & A Please sign up to attend using the Zoom registration link.
Registration will be open through the start of the meeting! Please come join us for the evening – an opportunity for YOU to have some Face to Face Time with GSWNY and new co leaders in your Service Unit!
If you have any questions contact our Customer Care Team at 888-837-6410 or customercare@gswny.org.
Looking for ways to stay involved with Girl Scouts? Check out our Girl Scouting at Home page today! New resources are added regularly.
Join Technovation Girls to work with other girls, ages 10-18, to solve problems that matter to you using technology. You’ll develop skills to help you no matter where your career takes you—like collaboration, problem solving, and leadership. You’ll have fun, too!
Register for either the November 17 or November 19 information session below.
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
Several troops recently found ways to honor our veterans and learn more about Veterans Day!
Troop 60473 in Henrietta visited VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System at Calkins VA Clinic on Sunday, November 8. They placed the signs in the lawn to recognize Veterans Day and to thank Veterans for the sacrifices they had made.
Troop 61042 celebrated veterans by having a guest speaker visit, Retired TSgt Richard Gutierrez. They made posters for a local senior center and VFW, wrote handwritten notes of thanks, and collected items for homeless veterans as well.
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.
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do, and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
GSWNY Blog 
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