Leader Newsflashes!

NEWS FROM 2008-2009

Polar Bear Swim
@ Tom Muehlenbeck Pool. Click here for information and the reservation form.

Eight Basic Skills Workshop
Download information here. Download registration form here.

"Around the World" Spring 2009 Campout at Lake Bonham
Download this form to make your reservation.

Girl Scout Journey
Learn about the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience program. See page 88 in CONNECTIONS.
NEWS FROM 2007-2008

The City Needs Us
The city is in need of Girl Scout troops (Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, or Older Girls) who would like to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at one of the upcoming City Council Meetings. Please contact Alice Snyder @972-941-7515 X7120 or at alices@plano.gov for additional information.

Be Smart and Earn Community Service Time
The Medical Center of Plano is having their Heart Smart Event on February 23 at the Willow Bend Mall from 10 AM to 4 PM. They need Older Girls to work stations in 2-3 hour shifts or all day. The stations are Stencil Face Painting and Coloring Sheets for a contest. They are also looking for Troops to perform on the stage. If interested please contact Joann Sedei @ 214-803-3345.

Scout Sunday
Scout Sunday is February 10. St. Andrew UMC is looking for Older Girls to help at services. If interested please contact Debbi Garrison. In addition, a special section will be reserved for Girl Scouts and their families at the 11:00 AM service.

View a Video from Iraq
This video includes the puppets collected at the Service Unit Fall Carnival for Peace Through Puppets, and the Thanksgiving Cards created @ the carnival for our military personnel. www.youtube.com "Tribute to the Soldiers at FOB Warhorse".

SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS FOR OLDER GIRLS (11 - 17)
Please see pages 195 - 205 in CONNECTIONS 2007 - 2008 for programs for Older Girls.
Gold Award Overview (Course No. 801, page 77 CONNECTIONS 2007 - 2008)
Additional Gold Award Information on pages 200 - 205, in CONNECTIONS 2007 - 2008.
Silver Award Overview (Course No. 800, Page 78 CONNECTIONS 2007 - 2008)
"Destinations" workshop for Girl Scouts 11 - 17 (Course No. 802, Page 76 CONNECTIONS 2007 - 2008)
Studio 2B Resource Box is available at the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Service Center (See CONNECTIONS page 115).
On the Road to Silver and Gold Program Box available at the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Service Center (See CONNECTIONS page 116).
Please see your "Going Places" booklet for additional information.

NEWS FROM 2005-2006

New IPs and Other Awards On STUDIO 2B Site
The new IP requirements, a new way of earning the old IPs and a new Challenge are all available on the STUDIO 2B website. Click below to check it out!
New IPs
New Rules from GSUSA about Fund-raising for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Please read the following update on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts posted by Girl Scouts of the USA Mission to Market, Program Group on 9/12/2005.

This past weekend, in response to the catastrophic events affecting our nation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the National Board of Directors made the decision to adopt a special rule of order to allow girl members to engage in activities, which may include the direct solicitation of money, from September 12, 2005 through May 31, 2006, to support emergency relief for the Hurricane Katrina disaster of August/September 2005.
Effectively, this decision temporarily suspends the policy restricting girls' involvement in direct fundraising for outside organizations, as noted in Safety-Wise.
It is recommended that: In addition, an Emergency Response Fund has been created by the National Board to help meet the needs of Girl Scout councils impacted by disaster. Information about the fund is being sent to all councils on September 15. You can also learn more about this fund and how to donate to it on the GSUSA web site.
With community service at the core of our Movement, and our Girl Scout Promise and Law guiding us to make the world a better place and to be a sister to every Girl Scout, it is natural that we show our caring and support for those who have been most impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact your council.
Sneak Peak at new IPAs Soon to be Available for Girls Ages 11-17
This was posted on an email list for leaders of older girls.
As mentioned over the last few months there will be 10 new Interest Project awards released at the National Convention. here is a sneak peek of the new awards.
1. In the Pink - Join the fight against breast cancer by thinking pink.
2. Home Is Where the Heart Is - Tackle the problem of homelessness in your community.
3. BXtreme! - Step aside, boys. Adventure and extreme sports are for girls.
4. Uncovering the Evidence - This is CSI is one Cool Science Investigation of the forensic kind.
5.Couch Potato - Make the most of your TV watching by becoming an expert at it.
6. Sew Glam - Clothes may be store bought, but fashion is what YOU make it!
7. G.O. Girl! - Improve the space around you and G.O. (Get Organized).
8. Global Girls - Become aware of and take action on women's issues on a global scale.
9. Hi-Tech Hide & Seek - Take scavenger hunts to a new level with Geocaching and letterboxing.
10.On Your Own - Prepare for the real world and life away from home.

There are SIX steps for completing one of the new IPs, described below:
1. BUILD: Girls build a skill foundation by doing the IP's REQUIRED activity (each IP has one REQUIRED activity separate from the LEARN, DO, SHARE activities).
2. LEARN: Do ONE activity from the LEARN category.
3. DO: Do ONE activity from the DO category.
4. SHARE: Do ONE activity from the SHARE category.
5. DESIGN and do an activity of YOUR OWN (based on a SMART goal girls plan with the help of an adult advisor). Designing a goal and activity of YOUR OWN is a great way to build and flex leadership skills!
6. REFLECT: Girls prepare a short REFLECTION describing what part(s) of the Promise and Law relates to what they did while earning the IP. They think about how this IP has given them skills or greater understanding to help live out that part(s) of the Promise and Law in their own lives. Then, they'll prepare a REFLECTION that best expresses their experiences and personality, like:
- a 1-2 paragraph description
- a poem
- a song/rap
- a drawing/painting/photograph
- a short movie

Awards for the New IPs
This is an exciting opportunity to explore some new approaches and award formats. All awards are official Girl Scout insignia available from NES and Councils/Council Shops.
The new Interest Project award program is now about choice! Awards include patches, as well as some charms, pins and even an IP Award Certificate. The new IP Awards will be available from NES in early November 2005. NES advance ordering information including UPC numbers, product information and prices will be distributed to Councils in September.
NEWS FROM 2003-2004
STUDIO 2B - New Program Options Available for Girls Ages 11-17
The new STUDIO 2B program is now available for 6th grade Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors. The program is divided into 3 age levels - 11-13, 13-15 and 15-17. Each age grouping has a yearly magazine called "Connections" and several smaller booklets called Focus Books. The girls are encouraged to set their own goals for working through the booklets. Upon completion of a Focus Book, the girl earns a charm which can be worn on the Girl Scout uniform on a charm holder or on a bracelet or backpack, etc. Currently the Connections magazines are available for all ages and the Focus Books are available for ages 11-13. More resources are coming to the Tejas Shop soon! If you would like more information, please check out the Studio 2B website.

Wider Ops renamed "Destinations".
The week of September 1, 2003, a listing of Wider Opportunities will be posted on the Studio 2B website. The new name for Wider Ops will be Destinations. It will be in the "Escape" section of the website. No booklets will be mailed to girls or councils, but girls will receive a postcard with the new name and websites to look up their choices. Girls will no longer need to go through a council interview to apply.

HYPE gets a new name and goes on-line!
The webpage "Going Places" will replace the booklet "HYPE". Going Places is a password-protected program and event/activity on-line booklet especially for girls, ages 11-17 in Girl Scouts of Tejas council. All Cadette and Senior council activities are in "Going Places" including some activities that may not appear in TIPS. Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts and their leaders will recieve a postcard with information about the website and the password.

NEWS FROM 2002-2003 (edited)
Garland Troop Selling Cool T-shirts
Cadette/Senior Troop 141 of Garland is selling cool T-shirts and tank tops to earn money to go on a 4-night cruise in June 2003. The girls in the troop have designed the shirts to appeal especially to older girls. Take a look at their website:
T-shirts and Tank Tops for Sale
Leader Magazine Now Available On-Line
Click below to check it out!
Leader Magazine On-Line
Five New Countries Join WAGGGS as Associate Members, Eight Associate Member Countries Become Full Members
Five new member countries were accepted to the WAGGGS Movement on June 19, 2002. New Associate Members are: Armenia, Cambodia, Chad, Malawi and Qatar and new Full Member Countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Estonia, Honduras, Rwanda and Senegal. That makes 145 countries where there are either Girl Scouts or Girl Guides! For more information about the World Conference, which took place in the Philippines, click here.

New Girl Scouts Care Patch Program
These patches were devised by Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Council as a response to the 9/11 tragedies. There are three patches which can be earned by all age levels: Girl Scouts Love NY, Girl Scouts Love DC and Girl Scouts Love PA. The requirements for each and information on ordering the patches are available on the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County website.

New Ms President Patch Program
"The White House Project, an organization that is changing the way people think about women in leadership roles, worked with Girl Scouts of the USA to develop the Ms. President Patch. Take time to celebrate those women who have paved the way in social and political reform, as well as to learn about those who are on the front-lines of government today..."
Patch requirements for each program level may be found at: Ms President Patch Program.

7/30 - New Resources for Cadettes and Seniors on the Way
This information was originally published in the Scouting Links Email Newsletter Issue #142, April 15, 2002 and came from Rosa Esposita, Information Specialist, GSUSA
"...Resources for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts are not on the same revision schedule as the books for the Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout resources... An extra year is being spent on research at the 11-17 year-old-age levels, primarily due to the low retention and recruitment rates for girls in these age groups. So, new materials will not be off-press Spring 2002. The current resources for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts will remain in print so that girls who bridge into these age levels may do activities from these books.
... In 2001, based on a recommendation from the National Advisory Group, extensive research was conducted with current Girl Scouts, volunteers and council staff around the country, as well as with girls 11-17 who are "potential" Girl Scouts... Based on this research, new materials are being developed directly in response to what girls have said. New Directions for Girls 11-17 is about expanding the menu of options and resources that girls can choose from. These new materials will be showcased at the National Council Session in October 2002. Periodic updates will be sent to councils so that they are kept fully informed of the nature, cost, and off-press dates of the New Directions materials. Information is also posted regularly on the Girl Scout's Web site, under 'New Directions'.
As part of the New Directions work, new resources that clarify the guidelines for girls earning Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards will be available in 2004. These resources will not change the awards, but will do a better job of 'coaching' girls who want to earn them. In the meantime, girls who want to earn these awards should follow the direction in the existing resources...
NEWS FROM 2001-2002 (edited)
7/30 - Service Unit Flags Available to be Borrowed
Service Unit 155 now has an American flag, Texas flag and service unit flag available for troops to borrow. Contact the Service Unit Manager for details.

7/30 - Service Unit Given President's Award
Service Unit 155 has been given the Girl Scouts of Tejas Council President's Award. This award is given to service units that meet goals of various kinds and get paperwork in on time throughout the year. Judy, our SU Manager has worked hard to make sure these requirements have been met. Three cheers for Judy!!! The award will be presented at the council Kick-Off on August 11. All Service Team members should have received an invitation. If not, please contact Judy or Sarah. Let's all be there to accept this award!

6/1 - Input Wanted From Girls aged 11-17
Girl Scouts of the USA is working on revising the Cadette/Senior books and program. They are looking for input from the girls who will be affected by the change. Click below to go to the page on the GSUSA website where there is a questionaire to be filled out. This questionaire will change monthly. Encourage your girls to be heard!
New Directions for Girls 11-17

NEWS FROM 2000-2001 (edited)

5/12 - Service Unit Leaders Recognized at Mother/Daughter Leader Appreciation Brunch.
Doris Terry, Jhil Wilkins, Debbie Garrison and Evelyn Day received the Outstanding Leader Award. Lynn Langdon, Sarah Scott and Judy Severance received the Green Angel Award. Elizabeth Massengill received a pin for 15 years of service and Debbie Garrison and Jennifer Lindsley both received 5 year pins. The food, decorations and fellowship were great. The fashion show of old and new uniforms was lots of fun. Many thanks to Doris and her team for a lovely event!

5/8 - Girl from Troop 1674 to attend National Wider Op in San Francisco area.
One of Troop 1674's Cadettes has been selected to attend the GirlSports Sampler wider op being offered by the Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area Council. She will take part in a variety of sports including rock climbing, kick boxing, gymnastics, hip-hop dancing, and synchronized swimming. Congratulations Brittany!!
Note: A wider op is a national event for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts.

4/28 - Two SU 155 leaders honored.
Two of SU 155's leaders received the Honor pin at the Council Appreciation luncheon on Saturday. Terri M. received her pin for her on-going work at the council level with our older girls. Debbie G. was honored for her work with the council-wide event Tejas 2000 - A Walk in Time. According to the Girl Scouts of Tejas Council Adult Recognition booklet the Honor pin is given to "an adult member who has consistently given outstanding service beyond the local level to a broad segment of the council and has contributed to council goals and objectives." Congratulations, Terri and Debbie!!

4/15 - updated 4/27 Summary of changes to Junior badges.
Click below to see which badges have been added, deleted and changed in the new program. The link below will take you to the GSUSA website.
Junior Badge Changes

The Signs have changed significantly. You may want to check the new requirements before starting one.
Girls may continue to earn awards from the old books next year (2001-2002), but must switch to the new books the following year (2002-2003).


4/14 New Award for Juniors
The Bronze Award for Juniors can now be earned by fulfilling the following requirements from the new Junior books:
  1. Earn two badges that are related to the project you will do for your Bronze Award. For example, if you choose a project that improves the environment, earn the "Eco-Action" and "Earth Connections" badges. If you are doing a project that helps senior citizens, you could earn "Across Generations" and "My Community."
  2. Complete one of the Girl Scout Signs.
  3. Earn the Junior Aide Patch OR the Junior Girl Scout Leadership Award OR two of these badges: "Girl Scouting in the USA," Girl Scouting in the USA," "Girl Scouting in My Future," and "Lead On."
  4. Do a Girl Scout Bronze Award project. This project shows the leadership skills you have learned as a Junior Girl Scout, and your commitment to your community and to yourself. to earn this award, you will do a project that shows that you understand and live by the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

The project should:

1/26 and bridging New Junior Program Books and Uniform Components (updated 3/2)
The new components include a mixture of several of the current jade green components and offer some new choices in jade green and khaki colour coordinates. Included will be a white polo shirt and long sleeve knit top, khaki cargo pocket shorts and pants. Also included are a jade skort, slim skirt, hooded sweatshirt and bucket hat.. All are designed to easily coordinate and mix and match with the existing Junior GS vest, sash, belt and hosiery. Discontinued: skirt, culotte, blouse, mock turtle, jade/floral leggings, shorts, white T-shirt, blue T-shirt, sweatshirt, cardigan, cap, knee socks, flashes, sport socks. The sash and vest remain the same.
New Junior badges: Adventure Sports, Court Sports, Environmental Health, Field Sports, Food Power, Fun and Fit, Global Awareness (see below), A Healthier You, High on Life, Humans and Habitats, It's important to be me, Oiling up, Sew Simple, Stress Less, Winter sports, Write all about it, Making it Matter.
There will be a total of 104 badges (17 new; 22 with name changes, 64 remain the same, and 24 are discontinued).
Discontinued badges are: all the Dabbler badges, Arts and Media, Food Fibers and Farming, Girls Are Great, Health and Fitness, Popular Arts, Ready for Tomorrow, Sports, The World in My Community, Women's Stories, Family Living Skills, Active Citizen, Women Today, Now and Then Stories, Do It Yourself, Science in Action, Talk, You and Your Community, Video Production.
The Junior badge book has a new name and will be spiral-bound. The handbook will include Signs and other awards. The signs will have different requirements and one has a different name. The Sign of the Satellite changes to the Sign of the Star. The handbook will introduce the Bronze Award. This book will not be spiral bound. The Leaders Guide will be compact like the new Brownie Leader Guide. NOTE: Old hand books are good for one more year. The new uniform and program books are expected to be in council shops after May.

1/26 New Junior Girl Scout Global Awareness Badge.
People in the world are becoming closer and more connected - and finding out much more about one another. Take time to learn more about your world. Developed with the help of United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Click below to learn more at the GSUSA site.
Global Awareness Junior Badge


10/25 SWAPS Book Available
Cadette Troop 4354 from the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capitol in Maryland has put together a terrific SWAPS resource! They have compiled over 200 different SWAPs with a picture and complete directions for each one. The SWAPs are divided into sections according to what materials are used. There is also a section covering SWAP history and etiquette. The book costs $16.95 ($14.95+$2.00 for shippping and handling). The profits will be used to help finance their trip to Savannah. To get more information and an order form go to their webpage SWAPS Galore.

10/25 New Safety Awards in SafetyWise
The new SafetyWise has Safety Awards that can be earned by Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors on pages 11-13. These pages may be photocopied for use with the girls.

10/25 Girl Scout License Plate
The State of Texas is offering a new Girl Scout license plate featuring the new logo. Order forms are available from council. The new license plates cost $30/year ($70/year with personalising). The profits from the sale of these license plates will go to the council's Gold Award Scholarship Fund.

10/1 Scholarship List on GSUSA Website
An updated list of colleges offering scholarships to Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Gold Award recipients has been posted at the GSUSA website.
GS Scholarships

This page last updated 1/14/09



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