Union 1 District Newsletter – November 2007

District Meeting Next Sunday

Sunday, November 11th, 2007 2:30-4:00

New Leaders meet at 2:00pm

 

Remember this meeting:

Animal Shelter Adoption Bags – Bring your dog/cat items to donate to the Union County Animal Shelter

Fall Sale Awards Are Here! – See Chris to pick yours up

Poinsettia Orders & Money are due at the November District Meeting

 

Mark Your Calendars.  District meetings are always the 2nd Sunday of the month, September thru April.

Message From Gail

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new leaders (as well as returning leaders).  I hope to see all of you this Sunday, at our District meeting.  Many of us will be returning that very day from our Junior & Up Camporee.  For those Junior troops who were unable to participate in this event (perhaps because your troop just started meeting), we plan an overnight for you in the spring of 2008. 

 

For both new and returning troop leaders, please use our District website www.union1girlscouts.com.  It is a source of much information and you can contact team members by email this way also.

 

Our meeting place has opened its doors to another group on Sunday afternoons and so this means that our District meetings need to be conducted with an "eye on the clock" so-to-speak.  We need to exit no later than 4:00 PM on our District Meeting Sundays. My suggestion is for all leaders to make sure they arrive at least 15 minutes prior to our regular meeting 2:30 PM start time (still 2:00 PM for new leaders) so that you can pick up information from your troop folder as well as any other items.  This Sunday, for instance, Chris will have Fall Sale awards for those troops who participated and it is also the day you need to give Chris your poinsettia sale $$ and orders.  We are NOT at this time considering either a change of day or time for our District meetings.

 

Some new policies from our Team that you need to know about:

n      If you or the girls in your troop wish to be on the District Meeting agenda, you will need to email me by the Monday prior to the District Meeting.

n      If your troop or girl(s) in your troop plan a Bronze or Silver project that involves participation from other troops in our district (such as donations being requested or other community service activities) you and/or your girl(s) need to make a presentation to our District Team at one of our monthly Team meeting nights.  This serves at least two purposes--it avoids duplication of requests and it prepares your girl(s) for their future Gold Award committee presentations.  Please do not send out email requests for assistance with projects unless you have previously emailed me/the Team.

n      On the subject of emails--please remember that our leader group email is for Girl Scout related information only.  Also, if you have an idea you wish to share with the group, please run it by me/the Team first.  We want to make sure correct information is conveyed to all leaders.  We welcome and look forward to your input and ideas. 

 

Any questions?  Contact me.  Thanks and see you Sunday! 

Gail

October Service Project:  Animal Shelter Adoption Bags

November's Community Service Project is an Animal Supply Drive for the Union County Animal Shelter. All donations will be collected at the November District Meeting.  The following items are needed for both cats & dogs: toys, treats, collars, leashes, food bowls, grooming items (tear-free shampoo, combs, brushes, etc.).  Our goal is to fill at least 80 adoption bags!!  Any help is greatly appreciated!  Questions ??  Call Kim. 

Share The Warmth

Friday, December 7th from 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Cost:  Items for the tree

Please come with your troop and their families to help decorate the tree with new hats, scarves, mittens and gloves for all ages!  Handmade or store bought.  We will have music, hot cocoa and cookies!  Please e-mail Chris by Wednesday, December 5th  to let her know how many you plan to bring.

Cookie Rally

Friday, December 14th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Cost:  $2 per girl  (This is a Troop Event)

Come and have fun as you learn about the Girl Scout Cookie Sale.

Registration deadline is November 26th or until the event is full (200 maximum).

Questions?  Contact Chris

Open Membership Meeting Update

Your delegates received an update about the national realignment and the council's "camp of the future" from GSHNC at the Open Membership Meeting on Nov. 1st.  Sixty percent of the 312 councils nationwide have completed their mergers which will result in 109 new councils.  On Oct. 1st, the eastern side of North Carolina became Coastal Pines.  The western five councils, including Hornets' Nest, will begin their merger process in April 2008.  The transition should be relatively transparent to the girls and leaders, and may take up to a year to complete.  As a result of the merger, additional camps will be available for us to use.  A new council name will be recommended by a group of volunteers.  Each affected council will have a vote of their delegates 30 days prior to the official merger to accept the new name.  The merger process costs money and the council is using corporate donations and pro bono services; they do not want to touch the regular budget. Updates will be posted on GSHNC's website under the News & Announcements' Realignment button.

 

The "camp of the future" is now a reality.  On Oct. 31st, the council closed on a 500+ acre parcel of land north of Statesville in Iredell County.  This site will be developed in phases with camping units and facilities surrounding a lake. The proposed plans include a two-story dining facility, waterfront area for swimming and canoeing and an athletic complex with pool.  The council hopes to have shelter, power and water in place by spring.  Initially, primitive camping will be offered, followed by some small cabins. To fund the purchase of the new camp, the Board voted to sell up to three camp properties, including Camp Occoneechee and Camp Catawba.  At this point, 2008 summer resident camp is planned for Occoneechee. 

 

There is a lot of emotion attached to the future sale of these properties where many of us have camped as girls and/or leaders.  However, I think it is an exciting time to be involved in the development of a brand new facility.  We are building something not only for our daughters, but also for their daughters.

Family Campaign

The 2007-2008 Family Campaign has begun!  Check out the Family Campaign section of our website for monthly updates.  Recently, Council released a list of incentives for all Districts.  Check out the list at http://www.union1girlscouts.com/FamilyCampaignIncentives07-08.pdf.  Check out how you can help Girl Scouts and our District!  Questions?  Contact Shannon.

Cookie Training Dates

EXPERIENCED Leaders & EXPERIENCED Cookie Managers ONLY – Wednesday, November 28th, 6:30pm

Please make sure you are attending the correct training session.  A Leader and Cookie Manager must both attend a training.  If you can’t attend one offered by Chris, contact Janet at Council to arrange training at Council.  Questions, contact Chris.

Baby Baskets Delivered

As you know, Union1 collected and put together 2 baby baskets for the 1st girls born on Oct 31st at CMC-Union in Monroe & Presbyterian in Matthews.  Julie  and her daughter delivered one baby basket to Monroe and Junior Troop #2537 delivered one basket to Matthews.  Photos of the delivery to Presbyterian are included on the District Website, under “Photos”. 

Completed Silver Award Project – by LeeAnne, Leader, Troop #815

Troop 851 completed its Silver Project on October 27, by holding a Halloween costume party for the families at Turning Point in Monroe. Two weeks beforehand, they delivered and organized 65 costumes to Turning Point so residents could choose outfits for the party. They also collected two boxes of decorations and prizes, prepared and served lunch for 25, and planned games for the children. Every child received a goody bag filled with games, treats, and supplies like pencils. All the women received a carrying bag filled with shampoo, soap, razors, deodorant, a hair brush, and lotion. The troop also collected many other hygiene items that were donated to Turning Point. Finally, they collected candy and more than 250 Lance products, along with plastic pumpkins, so the children at Turning Point could safely trick-or-treat on Halloween by visiting staff offices. Each girl took responsibility for a portion of the party: costumes, games, food, hygiene items, and Halloween treats. They had a great time and are very proud of what they accomplished. Ellen, Emily, Carli, Jacquelin, and D'vorah wish to thank all the Girl Scouts who helped them with donations over the past year.

Corn Maze Trip – by Angela, Leader, Troop #1279

Troop #1279 took a recent outing to Aw Shucks Corn Maze. What a great time we had!!!! It was so much fun exploring 2 different mazes, which were riddled with trivia concerning the Carolinas and some funny expressions pirates used, too...We stopped and had some popcorn from the general store and then went on a bouncy hay ride.  Pictures can be found on the Union1 Girl Scout website, under “Photos”.

Junior Troop Happenings – by Marcia, Leader, Troop #269

Junior Troop 269 volunteered to help at Avante Nursing and Rehab's Fall Festival on Oct. 27th.  We were surprised and happy to see Cadette Troop 1278 and Kathleen Holland when we arrived.  We all had a good time serving refreshments and helping the residents play games.  We also made Halloween favors for Union County's Senior Nutrition Program at the Indian Trail site and collected eyeglasses for Sight Night.  Nine of us took the Super Sitter course at CMC-Union.  We had to make a toy and learn how to change a diaper.

District Team

A complete listing can be found at http://www.union1girlscouts.com/team.php

Newsletter Submissions

You or one of your girls write an article about your trip or service project and see if it gets featured in the newsletter next month. Each troop newsletter submission earns $5 Daisy Dollars. Submit to: Donna

District Website & E-mail

Check out the Union1 Girl Scout website at www.union1girlscouts.com

Available items:  a complete list of District Team Members and the ability to e-mail them, a District Calendar, a list of District Service Projects, past and current District Newsletters, popular District forms, craft links, and other leader resources.

Keep your e-mail address current so you can receive District E-mails.

Questions - contact Donna

Forms

Community Service - Remember that for each community service project (including those that are District sponsored), submit 1 copy of the service project form to Council prior to the event.

Troop Trip - For each trip, submit 1 copy of the permission form to Gail prior to the event.

We need record of your troop outings and community service.

Training Records

Update your training records.   Forms should be turned into Robin.  Click below for Training Information Form: http://members.aol.com/dianemnc/TrainingRecords.jpg

Science Bin Registrations

The contact is Cindy.  Click below for information:  http://www.union1girlscouts.com/science.html. 

See you at the District Meeting!