Every month this year we will be highlighting the different adult awards that Girl Scout volunteers can earn. To start things off we are going to focus on Years of Service and Tenure pins in September. These are an easy first step to recognizing volunteers. Tenure and Years of Service pins are given to recognize volunteers for the time they have been registered Girl Scout members, given in 5-year increments.
Volunteer Years of Service Pin
Tenure pins are given for the total years a person has a Girl Scout, including youth and adult years.
Years of Service pins recognize the number of years a person has been a Girl Scout volunteer.
Did you know GSWNY will gives out FREE pins for 15 years for Tenure, and 10 Years of Service? You just have to submit and complete the form for each award!
Tenure Pin
The nomination process for Years of Service and Tenure pins is easy as pie! You can request a pin for yourself or for a fellow volunteer in your Service Unit through our easy Survey Monkey form. You can also mail or email in a pin request by downloading a paper form, located on the Adult Recognition page of our website. Council acknowledges Awardees with more than 20 Years of Service and/or Tenure in print and with numeral guard at the Annual Recognition Event. All others years of commitment should be recognized within the Service Unit.
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 time they have given to the Girl Scouts. Giving Years of Service and Tenure pins is a great way to kick off the Girl Scout year during a rededication or investiture ceremony.
Why is recognizing volunteers so important? Volunteers need to feel appreciated and know that they are having an impact on the community in which they serve. The result is volunteer retention! When volunteers feel appreciated and important, they are more likely to feel connected to the program and continue their involvement. There are several reasons to recognize and celebrate those involved in service: to highlight their achievements, to educate and inspire others, and simply to have fun!
For more information about the Years of Service and Tenure pins, and all other GSWNY adult awards, please read our Adult Awards and Recognitions Quick Guide or check out our Adult Recognition web page. You can always reach out to a member of the Volunteer Experience team for more information! Connect with us at volunteer@gswny.org. Thank you for all that you do! We’re looking forward to a great Girl Scout year!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
This Keyboard represents friendship and creativity in a time when it is needed most. It is a relic of our digital age, and demonstrates that Girl Scouts are go-getters, innovators, risk takers, and leaders in the world around them.
The keys of the friendship keyboard are interconnected, but fit in different places. This symbolizes how friendships can be created and maintained, though in unprecedented and unpredictable times.
The directional keys have been turned to face inward. This symbolizes the need for the responsibility Girl Scouts must take upon themselves to be moved to action and maintain relationships with their friends and the community.
The green circle at the top is for faith—faith in God and faith in one another. It is first because it is the basis of a happy and meaningful life.
Session 6 campfire where the legend was told
The next four circles represent the original races of the world. They stand close together indicating that all people are equal. Every person is capable of becoming a loyal friend.
The green of hope is above the races. It is hope for the future. It is hope that people everywhere will try to overcome any differences and human failings. Both faith and hope are green—a combination of hues; both combinations of emotional feelings we cannot adequately describe. The four races bound by faith and hope can produce unity—a working together for the good of all. The four paths lead toward a central goal signifying the attainment of this unity.
The smiling face is the result of friendship based on faith and unity. It is a reminder of the person with whom we promise to be friends. To be greeted by the smiling face of a friend is one of the greatest joys we can experience.
Session 6 campfire where the legend was told
The face is crowned by the Girl Scout colors indicating loyalty.
On the back, green is carefully placed opposite the four races to show that peace and charity can exist among all people.
The small white dots on the keyboards represents the stars. Although we cannot be together, we all share the same stars in the same sky.
Session 6 campfire where the legend was told
The cord of the keyboard is entwined with gold, and forged into the shape of an infinity sign. May the friendships sparked by camp be sustainable and last throughout the lives of those who took part. May we always say goodnight, and never goodbye.
A Friendship Keyboard must be crafted by its giver. It shows time, thought, and effort.
The Friendship Keyboard can be presented as a gesture of international goodwill; as a part of an inter-troop activity; as a sign of friendship between girls of one troop; at a campfire; or during an indoor ceremony. This keyboard represents the interconnectedness between the teams and campers of the four camps: Camp Piperwood, Camp Seven Hills, Camp Timbercrest, and Camp Windy Meadows, as well as the individuals who have joined us from all over the United States, and all over the world.
Friendship Circle from Session 6 campfire where the legend was told
This legend has traveled with Girl Scouts and Girl Guides throughout the world.
This Friendship Stick has been presented to the Camp Seven Hills Staff since 1994, when Sally K. Schmidt (Bloomer) found this legend stuffed in a drawer. She presented 10 of them. This tradition was brought to Camp Timbercrest in 2013 at the request of the camp director. At both camps, the Friendship Stick symbolizes friendship and unity among the staff. The Friendship Keyboard was adapted in 2020 to reflect “the Summer We Camped at Home” during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Author: Ann Evans of the Girl Scout Council of Buffalo and Erie County (a legacy council of Girl Scouts of Western New York). Edited by Brittany “Mambo” Sanford.
We are reaching out with an urgent message for all Girl Scout adult members who are sponsoring a student who is entering 12th grade in the fall of 2020 with SAGE Tuition Reward Points.
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. Points must be assigned to SAGE accounts in August of the year a student enters 12th grade. Unfortunately, Girl Scouts does not have control over these dates. This does not affect girls in 1st – 11th grade.
Girl Scouts needs time to submit the list of eligible adult Girl Scout members* that have renewed for the 2020-2021 Girl Scout membership year and give SAGE the opportunity to upload those points. That being said, 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 now.
For students entering 12th grade in the fall of 2020 ONLY:
– Create your SAGE account by 8/26/2020
–Renew your Girl Scout Membership for the 2020-2021 year by 8/26/2020
Unfortunately, if your Girl Scout membership renewal and SAGE account activation are not complete by 8/26/20, you will be unable to award a 12th grade students points for this year. As we do not control this system, there can be NO exceptions to this deadline.
*Eligible adult GS members: GSWNY Adult members that are Co-leaders and/or Service Unit Managers & staff.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Customer Care team at 1-888-837-6410 or CustomerCare@gswny.org.
Girls and their families who are interested in registering for or renewing their Girl Scout membership are invited to this FREE unique fall festival experience. This event is designed to deliver the fun of fall and Girl Scouts in a safe manner, keeping in mind all COVID-19 precautions and guidelines.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Below is a list of the current rules and expectations for the event. As more details are finalized, new elements to keep everyone safe may be added.
Fall Fest Drive-Thru Event Rules and Expectations
All GSWNY staff will be wearing masks for the entire event.
Hand sanitizer will be available onsite at each station.
Families in vehicles should wear masks if possible for two-way precaution while interacting with GSWNY staff.
All families must remain in their vehicles at all time.
Smoking in your car while driving thru the event is prohibited.
Families are asked to attend the event at their designated time slot to ensure safety precautions and congestion is minimized.
No restrooms will be available on site at Fall Fest.
Any handouts or giveaways from GSWNY staff will be prepared with COVID sanitation precautions.
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.
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.
Say hello to the brand-new Girl Scout cookie: toast-yay!
Girl Scouts is kicking off the countdown to our 2021 cookie season by announcing the new French toast–inspired Toast-Yay!™ cookie! Available in select areas, each delightful, toast-shaped cookie is full of French toast flavor, dipped in delicious icing, and stamped with the iconic Girl Scout trefoil on top.
Show your spirit through art for a chance to be featured!
Get your art featured on the landing page of our council’s M2 Fall Product Program System for the 2020 program. This means all WNY visitors to the Fall Sale will see your art!
We will be featuring at least one piece of art from EACH COUNTY in our council. A top choice will be voted on to be displayed larger in the final collage of 9 pieces of art!
Thank you so much to Paula’s Donuts for this amazing donation that will help us serve more girls across Western New York through our Council Opportunity Fund!
The two-day Girl Scout-inspired donut sale resulted in a $19,000 donation! Thank you to everyone who supported Girl Scouts of Western New York and Paula’s during the sale!
Pictured are Alana and Mariah from Troop 92216 enjoying the special donuts.
Zoom Into Fall: A live look at using Zoom for your Troop and Service Unit Meetings
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. We will walk you through setting up a Zoom account, how to schedule meetings, and how to run a Girl Scout meeting virtually. We will also go over some of our great resources to help you run virtual Girl Scouting easily and successfully!
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!
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.
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!
Retail Item of the Week: New Badges Civics Badges K-12
Isn’t it the perfect time of year to earn a badge on civics? The Badges are $3.00 each, available for EVERY level of scouting, and are available for Curbside Pick-up at your local store!
Civics badges (grades K–12) Girls gain an in-depth understanding of how local, state, and federal government works, preparing them to be voters, activists, and, potentially, political leaders.
They research laws and how they’re created, voting and the electoral college, the representation of women in government, and more. They also research their local government officials and are encouraged to meet them.
Introducing New York’s First Girl Scouts Academy in Rochester, NY − Innova Girls Academy Charter School
GSWNY is excited to partner with InnovaGirls Academy Charter School which is on track to be approved to be New York’s First Girl Scouts Academy in Rochester, NY. It is planned for a 2021 Opening (pending NYSED approval). Innova Academy is a proposed 4th-8th grade STEM school for young women in Rochester, with the belief that all girls in Rochester have the potential to become amazing leaders and problem solvers. Through this partnership, all Innova girls will have the opportunity to engage in Girl Scout programming on a daily basis, building courage, confidence, and character.
Innova STEM teachers will utilize Girl Scout programming in the computational thinking and science classrooms. This will include curriculum that is aligned to STEM badges and students completing a Girl Scout Journey at the conclusion of each unit in computational thinking and more. Learn more: https://www.innovagirlsacademy.org/.
Learn more about our Badge in a Box opportunities!
Check out the video and photos below to learn more about our Badge in a Box experiences for girls. We have four boxes currently available for purchase, one for each level through Juniors.
Looking for ways to stay involved with Girl Scouts? Check out our Girl Scouting at Home page today! New resources are added regularly.
International Peace Poster Contest from Lions Clubs Internationals
The Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest is open to any student 11-13 years old (by November 15) This is an activity that an individual troop can participate in or in a specific town or municipality, as well as one the students can do from home. Specific drop off locations will be arranged once the contest is underway. There is no cost to participate and the winner from each sponsored group receives a cash prize.
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– Gold Award Edition
We’re highlighting the more than 30 Girl Scouts who earned their Gold Award this past year! Below are this week’s featured Girl Scouts, but you can read about all the Gold Award Girl Scouts at gswnyblog.com.
Corinne Lapp Lapps’s project, Miracle Masks, involved creating 100 face masks for public distribution as well as providing instructions on how to sew additional masks with machine or by hand. Read More
Lauren Gulick Gulick’s project, Art Day at Gilda’s Club, hosted over 25 participants for a day of creativity. Read More
Nicole Spiegel Spiegel’s Gold Award was titled Daycare Project and focused on increasing literacy and availability of literature at a local daycare. For her project, she built a Little Free Library and picnic table, plus planted trees to establish a reading space. 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.
Did you know that the Girl Scout membership year runs October 1 through September 30? That means current memberships will be expiring soon. We make it so easy to renew your Girl Scout membership using our online system, and we’ve got some great giveaways.
We’ll be giving away one $50 Amazon or Target gift card every Wednesday in August and September – one for girls and one for leaders, so the sooner you renew, the better chance you have to win!
Plus, we have two MEGA gift card drawings of all the girls and co-leaders renewed by August 31 and September 30. On each date, we’re pulling for TWO $300 gift cards, one for girls and one for co-leaders. That means our co-leaders and girls each have two chances to win a MEGA GIFT CARD!
On top of these amazing drawings, this year you can earn our SAGE Tuition Rewards points as long as you renew by September 30. Ordinarily, these points are reserved for Spring Renewal, so don’t miss your extended chance to get them today! Girls earn 2,500 points and co-leaders earn 3,500 points, and each Tuition Rewards Point equals $1.00 in tuition discounts.
Other On-Time Renewal Incentives include:
Troops: All Troops who renew 100% of girls and 2 co-leaders by September 30 will be entered into a drawing to receive 5 extra cents per box sold during the 2021 cookie sale, up to a maximum of $150. 10 winning troops will be selected so get in it to win it!
Service Units: All SU’s who achieve their girl Renewal goal will be treated to a GSWNYsponsored Pizza or Ice Cream Party at a SU leader meeting
Adults: 10% off adult apparel with renewal receipt (single use only) – 12/31/20 expiration
Lifetime Members, don’t forget to renew your positions to qualify, especially co-leaders!
Microsoft has increased capacities for all of the below workshops to accommodate demand and they wanted to be sure they were shared with our Girl Scouts!
FYI to troop leaders and teachers: as the school year begins, any of these workshops can be scheduled as private field trips as well!
If you’re interested in getting involved with Girl Scouts of Western New York, or just learning more about Girl Scouting, we have several upcoming virtual events for you to attend!
Make New Friends: Kindergarten Readiness Series
This August, we’re hosting a free, girl-centered kindergarten readiness series! Make New Friends is a fun, four-part online series designed to boost your girl’s social skills and self-confidence while she learns to focus and thrive in a classroom or virtual setting. We have two series, currently running on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m.
Tell Me S’More About Girl Scouts: Adult Information Sessions
Our Tell Me S’more are virtual information sessions for adults related to Girl Scouting and Volunteering. Topics covered include the benefits of Girl Scouts for your family, how Girl Scouting fits into a virtual world, how you can be a community leader, and much more. Meetings are held Monday Nights at 8 p.m. and Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
What’s the benefit of a virtual troop? Make new friends from all over Western New York! Troops are a group of girls who have fun together, learn important life skills like money management and team work, and keep the creativity flowing! We currently have troops available for girls in Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Drive-Thru Fall Fest: Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Three Locations
All girls and their families are invited to this unique fall festival experience. Families will drive thru a number of tables for fun fall activities and treats! This event is designed to deliver the fun of fall and Girl Scouts in a safe manner, keeping in mind all COVID-19 precautions and guidelines. Events will be held at the same date and time at three (3) locations in Western New York, including Buffalo, Jamestown, and Rochester.
