Dear GSWNY Members,
As spring approaches and NYS continues to update COVID-19 restrictions, GSWNY continues to review and revise our COVID-19 guidelines. We will update our Volunteer Guidelines to reflect the latest NYS guidance in next week’s Member Essentials – March 30.
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.
Thank you for all you do!
World Down Syndrome Day
Sunday, March 21, was World Down Syndrome Day! Our CEO Alison Wilcox spent some time talking to Gabby, a Cadette, about her Girl Scouting experience. If you haven’t seen it, check it out and share it with your girls and friends!
You can read more about Gabby and her troop in the blog post below:
The GSWNY Volunteer Experience Team is hosting our 2nd New Leader Welcome Meeting via Zoom “Face to Face with GSWNY!” for new co-leaders on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. 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.
Spring Renewal opens next week!
We’re excited to announce that Spring Renewal for Girl Scout membership year 2022 will open on April 1! We are finalizing our renewal incentives – including GSWNY lunch bags, patches, and drawings for cookie-inspired K-Swiss sneakers. Plus, don’t forget our signature renewal perk, SAGE Tuition Rewards – renew by 5/31 to qualify. Renewal flyer will be ready soon!
In the meanwhile, troop leaders should discuss with their girls about using cookie profits toward renewal – a great way to reward families and get ready for the fall!
Cookie Program extended till Sunday, April 4
GOOD NEWS! Many troops asked us to extend the cookie program for a week, as they know people will be looking to purchase cookies due to the upcoming holiday weekend.
So GUESS WHAT? Ask and you shall receive!
Troops can extend cookie booths and sales until April 4, if they wish to do so. This is optional and a request from girls, parents, and troops who are actively trying to reach their personal or troop goals. It is not an expectation for any troops.
Payment and recognition due dates will stay the same. To help girls reach their goals, troops will need to order cookies and assign them to girls by March 28th. Recognitions are due in Smart Cookies by March 30th and payments are due to council by March 31.
Troops who pick up cookies after March 30 will still receive troop proceeds and a troop refund form can be requested for those funds between April 8-April 15. Cupboards will be open March 30-April 1st – hours of operation vary by cupboard. Troops are requested to put in a planned order as soon as they can. Planned orders will be pulled by the order date and time they are received in Smart Cookies. Cookie varieties are limited so order ahead of time.
Walmart booth locations cannot be extended – we’ve utilized all the dates in our contract and Easter Weekend is one that’s not permitted for sales use by their corporate office.
GSUSA has extended the Troop Link for direct ship till April 30. More information on how to participate will be in the next Cookie Newsletter.
Introducing gsLearn
Take your experience to the next level with gsLearn, our new online training forum. You’ll find great training and support resources like Volunteer Toolkit tutorials, Girl Scouts in the Outdoors, Facilitating Virtual Troop Meetings, and more!
To access gsLearn, click MYGS/VTK on our website (gswny.org), log in to your account, and click gsLearn on the welcome screen.
To submit your own Volunteer Spotlight, please fill out this form: http://bit.ly/gs-vol-spotlight
Summer Camp 2021
Pre-registration for Summer Camp is open now! Review the camp guides and pre-register for camp (and earn that sweet, exclusive summer camp patch for pre-registered girls ONLY)!
We have every intention of operating summer camp 2021 in-person while following all of COVID guidelines and regulations. However, if the need should arise, we will be prepared to provide your girls with an amazing alternative camp program. We have set April 30, 2021, as our decision date.
We want to hear from you about our camp properties!
Get a sneak peak of the draft Concept Maps for all four of our camp properties. During the meeting, you will hear about the overall Master Plan process and then we will be breaking out into rooms by camp for in-depth looks at the plans for the future. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions. Please join our Zoom call Tuesday, April 6, at 7 p.m.
Register in advance for this meeting using the link below:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Display these to let everyone know you’re a Girl Scout selling cookies! Options include “Girl Scouts…SWEET!” and “It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time!”
Reduced Price: $4.00 each until March 31. While supplies last!
Email your local Girl Scout Shop to order today!
Click here to check out more gear for the cookie season, including the Cookie Booth Kit
The Girl Scout Shop wishes to announce we will begin welcoming in-person shopping opportunities starting in March. Please visit gswny.org to see our updated schedule for all shop locations.
Round Up at Walmart
Through March 30, you can round up your walmart.com or in-app transaction to the nearest dollar to benefit Girl Scouts. Look for the Round Up option at checkout. These small donations can add up to make a BIG difference for Girl Scouts.
ALL donations will stay local and be used for our Council Opportunity Fund to ensure girls and volunteers can fully participate in Girl Scouting. Your gift will provide financial assistance to cover membership fees, dues, uniforms, council-sponsored programs and trips.
Invest in Girls, Change the World!
New York State’s 2021 Women’s Agenda
Thursday, March 25, 2021, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Hosted by: Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson; Girl Scouts of Nassau County; Girl Scouts of Northeastern NY; Girl Scouts NYPENN Pathways; Girl Scouts of Suffolk County; Girl Scouts of Western New York
The 2021 State of the State proposals once again include a robust Women’s Agenda, including the transformation of the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to include all forms of gender-based violence and be renamed the Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Please join us to discuss this proposal as well as many others that directly impact the lives of women and girls throughout New York. The Women’s Agenda can be found on page 225 of the 2021 State of the State book.
You must pre-register using the button below.
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.
Badge in a Box Updates
Multi-Level Cookie Express Badge in a Box is 50% off now through March 31! For just $4, girls can earn the Daisy Money Counts, Brownie Meet My Customers, or Junior Savvy Shopper badge.
Badge in a Box can now be shipped right to your door!* For an additional $10, receive your Badge in a Box filled with activities, supplies, and all the Girl Scout fun you need in order to earn your badge and the badge itself! *Kits will only be shipped within the contiguous United States.
Click here to order your Badge in a Box today!
Looking for more options? Head to girlscouts.org for even more at-home opportunities for your Girl Scout.
Girl Scouts Doing Good Things
Troop 60516 made Easter cards for nursing home residents!
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, Uncategorized
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