Dear GSWNY Members,
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!
New for GSWNY Members on Facebook!
To provide an improved customer service experience for our members on the GSWNY Facebook page, we’ve made some updates. In addition to viewing great content on the GSWNY main Facebook page, GSWNY members will now also have a special place to collaborate and receive helpful information through our private GSWNY members-only group ! This group will help to foster greater collaboration and information sharing for members. Use the link below to learn more and join!
Month of the Military Child
April is here! A time for many celebrations, including Month of the Military Child. Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts of WNY are proud to honor the sacrifices made by military families worldwide. Celebrate the Month of the Military Child with using the button below.
Your voice counts! Girl Scout Voices Count survey coming in April
At Girl Scouts, we care about your experience—good or bad—and we want to hear from you!
In April, we are conducting a national survey with girls, parents or caregivers, and troop leaders called Girl Scout Voices Count. We will use your feedback to find out what’s working and what’s not to improve our services and programs.
The surveys opened April 5, check your email for the invitation to participate. As a thank you, everyone who completes the survey will have a chance to win one of 20 $50 gift cards! We can’t wait for you to make your voice count!
Got questions? Email GSVoicesCount@girlscouts.org.
Spring Renewal is ON!
Our Spring Renewal campaign opened on April 1! Girls and adults who renew their Girl Scout membership during our Ultimate Spring Renewal–April 1-30–will qualify for super incentives, with other incentives continuing through 5/31. We’ve got sneaker drawings, lunch sacks, Best Year Ever Packs, SAGE Scholars Tuition Reward Points and more! Check out our Renewal Page for complete list of incentives and renewal instructions.
Our first timed incentive is coming up!
Girls and co-leaders who renew by 11:59 pm 4/14 will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 5 pairs of KSwiss cookie-inspired sneakers!
Earn Points for College Scholarships From Girl Scouts of Western New York– Renew by 5/31
This is an exclusive benefit for girls, co-leaders, and SUMs who participate in our annual Girl Scout Membership Spring Renewal Campaign and renew by 5/31. After their first year of Girl Scouts, girls, co-leaders, and SUMs can earn Tuition Reward Points when they renew their Girl Scout membership. Each 1 Point equals $1 in college tuition scholarship. Girls earn 2,500 Points and co-leaders/SUMs earn 3,500 Points. Points will be applied to SAGE Scholars accounts in July. Want more information? Visit our SAGE Scholars Page.
Celebrate your story in our Becoming Me program, inspired by former First Lady Michelle Obama!
As we celebrate your strength, we want you to celebrate how far your girl has come this year and how far she’ll continue to go. Check out our new Becoming Me program, through which girls can explore their stories and who they can become, earn badges, and even attend a special members-only virtual event on May 6 with Mrs. Obama! Kick off a new year of Girl Scouting and save your spot by April 30.
Use this link to reserve your spot and renew your membership all in one place. Already renewed but want to attend? Click here.
Happy 2021 Volunteer Appreciation Month! We truly, deeply appreciate all that you do for us and how you’ve been Girl Scout Strong for us this entire past year and beyond. Check out the video below for a special thank you from all of the staff at GSWNY!
Tenure and Years of Service: GSWNY Adult Recognition Award Monthly Highlight – April 2021
Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month! This April we are going to circle back to Years of Service and Tenure pins. These are an easy and meaningful way to show volunteer appreciation. The greatest gift a person can give you is their time. The least we can do is formally thank one another and recognize each volunteer’s hard work and dedication. The Years of Service and Tenure Pins do just that – thank people for the years they have given to the Girl Scouts.
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.
First Aid/CPR Training
Did you know that each troop should have at least 1 adult with First Aid/CPR training for trips and certain troop activities? GSWNY provides these courses through EPIC Trainings Inc. at a reduced rate for our adult volunteers.
Check out our Volunteer Resources page on our website for the schedule and to learn more. To register, contact EPIC Trainings, Inc via email at mail@epictrainings.com or via phone at (585)615-4379.
To submit your own Volunteer Spotlight, please fill out this form: http://bit.ly/gs-vol-spotlight
Retail Item of the Week: Western New York Volunteer Tee
This T-shirt comes in two colors: navy and turquoise. Each one reads “I Became a Girl Scout Volunteer Because Your Life Is Worth My Time!”
Original price $15 | Spring Sale Price is $9.99 each (while supplies last)
Email your local Girl Scout Shop to order today!
Girl Scout Shops – Time for a Spring Sale!
The shops are having a GSWNY April Spring Sale, we will feature several items throughout the entire month and feature a select few each week.
Email us at Shop.Buffalo@gswny.org, Shop.Jamestown@gswny.org, Shop.Lockport@gswny.org & Shop.Rochester@gswny.org to learn all about these items or come check them out in person! Our shops are open Monday 1:00-4:00 pm for curbside pickup only, Wednesday 2:00-6:00 pm curbside pickup & in-person shopping and Friday 1:00-4:00 pm curbside pickup & in-person shopping during the months of April & May!
For in-person shopping we do recommend if you have a large shop order to please email them to us a few days before your visit allowing us time to have it ready and you still have plenty time to look around.
April 6 to May 4 is #ThanksToCamp month! Did camp change you as a person, teach you a new skill, or help you meet people who make your life more enriched? On our Facebook and Instagram find our #ThanksToCamp posts and tell us your story! Prefer to tell us directly? Email communications@gswny.org and include #ThanksToCamp in the subject line!
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.
The Cookie Jar with General Salinas
Yesterday our CEO Alison Wilcox and Lead Community Engagement Specialist MeKenzie Lund had a conversation with Major General Angie Salinas, United States Marine Corps (Retired), CEO Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas.
Child Care Focus Group
Community organizations across Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Seneca, Ontario and Yates counties are currently trying to meet the needs of parents/guardians who are navigating today’s challenges during the pandemic. They’re asking for parents/guardians in Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Seneca, Ontario and Yates to participate in a series of focus groups with them so that they can better understand your needs.
The results will remain anonymous and will be shared with members of the task forces which include: school district staff, doctors/health professionals, community organizations, child care providers, out of school time providers, and funders.
Click this link to learn more and use the link below to register.
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.
Girl Scouts Doing Good Things
Caroline C., Caroline T., Emily L. and Morgan W. of Troop 51140 earned their Girl Scout Silver Award by improving the trails at Indian Fort Nature Preserve. The girls created boardwalks to prevent people from further damaging the trails and making the path more accessible to park goers.
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
GSWNY Blog 