What's New? Office Max Discount Card for Leaders!
River Valleys' new agreement with Office Max stores provides discounts for all your Troop printing & supply purchase needs.
How to Use the Card:
Print & cut out the Office Max Retail Connect discount card from the 2008-2009 Council Reference Guide.
Take the card to any Office Max Impress counter. With the first purchase or print order, Office Max will laminate the card for free.
Cashier will scan card at each visit for your Girl Scout discounted pricing.
Locating an Office Max store: Visit OfficeMax.com and click "Store Locator" to find the store nearest you; or click here for complete directions, store locations, & details:
www.girlscoutsrv.org/Forms/OfficeMax_card
New Progression of Levels in Girl Scouting
Beginning in 2008-2009, new Girl Scout program age levels will be:
Daisies (grades K-1)
Brownies (grades 2-3)
Juniors (grades 4-5)
Cadettes (grades 6-8)
Seniors (grade 9-10), and
Ambassadors (-new-) (grades 11-12).
Find Out About Journeys -
This fall Girl Scout volunteers will have an opportunity to preview the new program level Journey books and Journey how-to guidebooks, now available at the Girl Scout Shop.
Your most important tool will be the new Journey books. These colorful, grade-appropriate books will help you lead girls through fun, exciting & interactive activities.
(Each program grade level is also supplemented with an adult guidebook to help leaders navigate their troop through the Journeys).
Each service unit will be receiving copies of the new Journey books to share with leaders, and each new River Valleys leader will receive one for the troop's program grade level.
New Girl Scout Daisy and Brownie leaders will also receive a meeting plan that corresponds to the Journey book.
Traditional Girl Scout handbooks will still be available in the Girl Scout Shop. They will be updated to include the three keys to leadership – Discover, Connect, and Take Action.
Girl Scouts nationwide are launching a brand new Girl Scout Leadership Experience in the upcoming membership year featuring GS-USA's new theme,
It's Your World – Change It!
Some important changes to note:
Adult volunteer training will be revised, including updates for on-line Orientation training
Leadership Essentials training will replace existing Program Age Level trainings
New trainings, such as Beyond-the-Troop training, will be available
First Aid/CPR trainings for Troop leaders will be offered more conveniently
Essential information regarding required background checks for all new volunteers will be communicated.
IMPORTANT: Council Policy re: Troop Meeting Locations Reminder - any agreements or contracts that you are arranging for your troop meeting spaces must be forwarded to the council office for the council CEO's signature.
This is to prevent you (the volunteer) from being placed into a vulnerable position legally and also is a requirement of the Council's insurance policy. Please send to the attention of:
Kris Parker
GSMWRV, 400 S. Robert St., St. Paul, MN 55107
651-227-8835, 651-227-7533 fax.
Badges, Patches, Pins & Books - Need a more convenient way to shop for Girl Scout items? Here are several options:
Visit the St. Paul Service Center, Burnsville Satellite, or other area Council Shop. For hours & locations, click here: www.girlscoutsrv.org/councilshop/shop.htm.
Council Shop staff at any of the locations will ship items to your address for a small shipping & handling fee, just give them a call.
Shop On-Line: goshop/girlscouts.org (or call toll free 1-800-221-6707)
Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards - please contact our Service Unit team if anyone in your troop is nearing completion of one
of these awards.
Click here for 2008-2009 Silver Packet info.
Click here for 2008-2009 Gold Packet info.
Our annual awards ceremony was held June 5. Congratulations to all of our Bronze & Silver Award winners! The Bronze Cross (for saving a life), and 4 Religious Awards were also presented, in addition to top cookie seller awards,
and top Annual Giving troop participation certificates. (Please check our www.FOTKI.com photo-site to view all of the pictures).
And yes, in 2008-2009 Daisies in Grade 1 WILL be able to sell cookies! Contact Membership Specialist, Kris Parker for more information.
Extra! Extra! Read All About Valley Lake Girl Scouts!
We're always interested in receiving your troop's news stories to promote throughout the service unit, council, or in the local media. Examples may include a silver or bronze award project, troops' contribution to the community through service projects, plus special troop activities or events.
Let's get the word out there, how we're developing young leaders with courage, confidence & character!
Arlys Thompson is Valley Lake's Communications Representative & Website Administrator and will work with you to share the Girl Scout message. Please send an email to submit your news article, photos, flyer or other information to publish.
We are always looking for new Girl Scout stories! Remember, your Troop's news, activity or community service project may be a big INSPIRATION to other girls.
Leader Resources
Leader Self-Evaluation
Hey leaders, it's always a good idea to evaluate how your year went to gain insight into how to make improvements for next year! Just for you, our Training Specialist has developed a quick &
helpful survey tool--click here: End-of-Year Reflections
Bridging Ideas for Leaders
Great bridging ideas for troops changing Program Age Levels: BRIDGING
Get Your Valley Lake T-Shirt
Just contact Terri McArthur to order - only $6.00/shirt! You can't beat that deal.
Troop Finance Basics:
Remember, the Troop/Group finance report form is due every year by June 15 to Susan Moy, the service unit treasurer: Troop/Group Finance Report.
For those Leaders opening a NEW account, here are the basics:
- 3 adult signers need to be on the account (usually the Troop leader, cookie mom, and Service Unit Treasurer--or any current Service Unit Team member).
- Checks should not have a personal name (or personal address, if possible). They should say "GSMWRV" on the first line and "Troop 5xxx" on the second line.
- For complete & updated info, click here: Financial Policies & Procedures.
Just Call Us GSMWRV
That is, The Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
- which includes 51,000 girls in 49 counties, combining Peacepipe, Greater Minneapolis, River Trails, Cannon Valley & our own G.S. Council of St. Croix Valley.
Interim headquarters is located at 400 Robert Street South. Check out the council's new website www.girlscoutsrv.org for more information.
Since over 5,400 troops were combined, there were a large number of duplicate Troop numbers. To address this issue, GSMWRV is providing complimentary additional numerals to be placed in front of existing troop numbers ('5's & '0's, as applicable, for former St. Croix Valley Troops), along with new Council ID strips
to any re-registering girl.
Are You A New Leader Looking For Extra Support To Get Started?
Pam Troje is our dedicated New Leader Advisor. Please contact her if you are looking for assistance in leading your Girl Scouts. She can provide you with resources for planning & holding troop meetings & ceremonies,
help you with ideas for games, songs, crafts & Girl Scout traditions, and even find you an experienced mentor to guide you along the way. So, New Leaders, there's no need to feel you have to go it alone. Plenty of info & ideas are available & we are more than happy to share it with you. Send Pam an email today! info@valleylakegirlscouts.org
Get Your Valley Lake Patch
Valley Lake patches are only $0.75 and plenty are still available for purchase at Leader's Meetings. Great gift-idea for your Troop members! Chloe, one of our own very-talented Valley Lake Girl Scouts, designed this beautiful new patch as the winner of 2007's Valley Lake Patch Contest. (Size: 3" x 2")
Stay Informed - Get Your Girl Scout Updates Here
E-mail is a great way to stay informed of all of the Girl Scout activities in Valley Lake. To make sure you are aware of opportunities year-round, double-check that your CURRENT e-mail address has been added to the Valley Lake Leaders' E-mail Distribution List.
You can ADD or UPDATE your e-mail address by e-mailing Christy Kotek
You may ask co-leaders, cookie volunteers or parents to subscribe to this e-mail if they are interested in receiving Valley Lake e-mail updates directly.
Info on Religious Awards for Girl Scouts - The not-for-profit national organization
Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) is approved by GSUSA to provide information about religious awards available to Girl Scouts.
Click here to go directly to their Girl Scout information.
Destinations - The online guide of national travel opportunities for ages 11 and up is now available. Check out www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations.
