New Richmond Girl Scouts

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Early bird discount for summer camp 2010

Congratulations to Emily Hursch, who was the very first camper to register for summer camp 2010! Early bird registration for 2010 camp is still open. All girls who register by December 18, 2009, will receive an early bird discount of $40 off the resident camp fee*. 2010 Camp brochures have been mailed to all currently registered Girl Scouts. If you have any questions, please contact River Valleys at 800-845-0787 or camps@girlscoutsrv.org.

*Discount is not available for troop, Adult & Me, day, or family programs or as part of the deposit.

Double your dollar, double your funds

Donate to River Valleys November 17, and your contribution will be matched

GiveMN.org, a new website for nonprofits and donors to connect, launches November 2. To celebrate their launch, they will be matching all donations made through their site on Tuesday, November 17, up to $500,000.

Please visit GiveMN.org, find River Valleys, and pass the link to anyone who values leadership for girls in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Fall Product Program

River Valleys' Fall Product Program is moving into its final phase. We had a record number of 1000+ troops participating from across the entire council. Delivery of nut/chocolate orders to service units takes place November 9-14. Service unit Fall Product Program managers will also receive the girl awards and recognitions items during the month of November.

Thank you to all troops and volunteers for your time and efforts.

New at the Girl Scout Shop

New in the Girl Scout Shop! Adult Girl Scout fleece vest in navy or red. Black contrast stretch armholes and hem taping. Front and back princess seam detail. Black zipper and zipper pulls. 2 ½ inch collar stand, tapered bottom. 100% polyester. Adult sizes X-Small – 3XL. This is a special purchase, and quantities won’t last!

Show your support for Girl Scouting

“Girl Scouts is important. In the last seven years my daughter has had amazing opportunities she would not have had if it weren't for Girl Scouts. She has learned and developed leadership skills beyond her years, including courage to try new things, and confidence to know that if she fails to try again. ... I truly believe that Girl Scouting has built her character and given her skills to succeed in anything she attempts.”

- Cheryl Cartony, Girl Scout parent and volunteer

When you donate $25 to River Valleys, you are helping your girl have the experience of a lifetime—enjoying new experiences, creating memories, and establishing connections that will carry with her throughout her life. Programs that foster courage, confidence, and character in girls ultimately help girls discover their full potential, improve their lives, and uplift their communities.

In order to provide the best value to girls throughout the council, River Valleys needs the support of its families. Donations help the council to:

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  • plan programming that is relevant to girls,
  • provide resources such as a new website, teleconferencing technology, and program kits,
  • train volunteers to deliver Girl Scouting effectively,
  • hold events in convenient locations, and
  • demonstrate member support to foundations/potential donors.

Take the opportunity to say, “I value Girl Scouting for my girl and all girls!” To make a donation, contact the fund development department at 651-227-8835, 800-845-0787, or famfundraising@girlscoutsrv.org.

 Girl Scouts on TV

Girl Scouts are on TV!  To help promote fall recruitment River Valleys partnered with our sister council to the north, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines, to run a 30 second TV commercial on Comcast and Charter cable networks throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.  In addition, Comcast Cable featured a special interview with Girl Scouts on their Newsmakers segments that aired on CNN. In total, the River Valleys’ Girl Scout commercial aired more than 2,600 times throughout September on a variety of network stations, including TBS, CNN, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, ABC Family, A&E, TLC, Lifetime, VH1, Spike, and Discovery Channel.  During these weeks, the River Valleys website saw almost double the web hits.  Please feel free to share the video commercial with others.  It is also available on our Facebook page. Volunteers may request copies of the commercial from the council’s marketing and communications department to send to their local public cable access stations, which will often run the spots at no cost when requested by a resident.

Adult awards

River Valleys values all volunteers and recognizes the contribution they make in developing girl leaders. Adult awards are intended for volunteers who provide exemplary service that goes “above and beyond.”

Council level awards will be distributed at River Valleys’ annual volunteer recognition event on April 10, 2010 at Gustavus College in St. Peter, Minn. Council level nominations are accepted through January 15 and should reflect service provided October 1, 2008, through September 31, 2009.

Visit the adult awards page for detailed adult award information including award descriptions, requirements, nomination applications, and nominating tips.

Community partnership

Honoring Women Worldwide

Girl Scouts is excited to announce a new partnership with Honoring Women Worldwide. Honoring Women Worldwide’s mission supports Girl Scouts' mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

As a Girl Scout member, you may attend all events at a reduced member rate. The next event is Thriving vs. Surviving on Saturday, November 21. The event focuses on leveraging women’s untapped leadership capabilities, building community across cultures, and creating a unique global education. You may register online (indicate that you are a member) or at the door. For more questions, please contact Jackie Means at 763-971-4025.

Beyond the Troop equivalent qualification

A troop must have at least one Beyond-the-Troop-trained adult to participate in activities such as sleeping overnight as a troop, preparing snacks and food, or camping. However, if you already possess the necessary skills and experience working with girls in the Girl Scout program, you may apply for Beyond the Troop equivalent qualification. The application includes information regarding skills, knowledge, and level of comfort in several outdoor camping areas, as well as experiences working with girls.

The equivalent qualification application (PDF) is available on the Forms & Documents page under the section labeled Volunteers.

Will travel to assist girls

Special Interest Volunteers are ready to help

Call on River Valleys' Special Interest Volunteers to help your troop with field trips, events, or special projects, or to share an interesting skill or service. Below are just a few examples of volunteers who are ready to help.

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  • Tiffany offers uniquely ME! self esteem workshops for troops and/or service unit events. She lives in the metro area and may be willing to travel if requested.
  • Mari Beth teaches girls about geocaching, an outdoor activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers called "geocaches." Mari has six GPS devices girls can use and offers geocaching at Edith Mayo in Rochester, Minn.
  • Joann provides demonstrations/seminars on dog/child safety. For a flier with details on the seminar visit www.packleaderbehavior.com. She is located in St. Francis, Minn. and is willing to travel up to 50 miles to give a seminar.
  • Lisa teaches tap dancing, aerobics, and Pilates and is interested in assisting with service projects and/or Girl Scout events. Lisa lives in Lakeville, Minn. and will travel up to 60 miles to assist girls.
  • Amy has a variety of knowledge areas that she can share with girls: botany, ecology, wetlands, geology, soil sciences, gardening, environmental sciences, military history, personal nutrition, first aid, and healthy lifestyles. Amy is willing to travel 50-60 miles outside of Redwood Falls, Minn.

For more information about Special Interest Volunteers, or to view the entire special interest volunteer database (more than100 talented individuals), visit the service unit Intranet or contact wendy.walton@girlscoutsrv.org.

Leadership Essentials self study available

Leadership Essentials training is required for all new leaders within four months of appointment. If a facilitated training sessions is not an option for you, complete the Leadership Essentials self study (PDF) available on the Training page. After completing the Leadership Essentials self study, download the Troop Meeting Planning Form (PDF) from the Forms and Documents page under the Volunteer section to help with meeting preparation and planning.

Direct any questions or comments to the adult development specialist in your service center.

Save the date - Mid-Winter Warm Up

Saturday, February 6

Osseo, MN

Break the monotony of a Midwestern winter by attending River Valleys' Mid-Winter Warm Up. The event will be held at Osseo Junior High School in Osseo, Minn. Cost is $25 before January 22 and $30 thereafter. Learn new skills and warm up with new ideas that can be applied to your troop and service unit. Watch for registration information on River Valleys’ website mid-December.

Share your skills

Become a trainer

Consider using your skills in a new way as a River Valleys trainer/facilitator (PDF). Trainer/facilitators lead adult learning opportunities on a variety of subjects, using provided Girl Scout curriculum. The time commitment of trainer/facilitators varies, but most training sessions last 2-3 hours and are scheduled at various times throughout the year. Contact the adult development department at training@girlscoutsrv.org if you are interested in learning more about serving as a trainer/facilitator.

Justine R.E.A.L. Contest for girls

Girl Scouts everywhere are encouraged to tell the world how they are Remarkable, Energetic, Aspirational Leaders by entering the Justine R.E.A.L. Girl contest where the prize is a feature in the national teen/tween lifestyle magazine, Justine.
  
 This R.E.A.L. Girl Contest is open only to Girl Scouts between the ages of 13-19, who are working to make the world a better place in their local communities and beyond.  The winner will be featured in an article telling all about her activities as the R.E.A.L. Girl, and she will win a trip to the Justine offices in Memphis, Tennessee, for a professional photo shoot, as well as other fun prizes and Justine subscriptions for her troop and her school library.
  
 “As the publisher of Justine (and a former Girl Scout), I am thrilled that we are partnering with Girl Scouts of the USA to showcase amazing Girl Scouts through our R.E.A.L Girl Contest. Justine is proud to feature these girls and their many accomplishments in their schools and communities,” said Jana Kerr Pettey, Publisher/Editorial Director, Justine magazine.
 
Submissions will be accepted until mid-January 2010, and the finalists and winner will be selected in February. For more information and contest rules, check out: justinemagazine.com.
 
“Making the world a better place is a priority among Girl Scouts, and it is an exciting opportunity to have one of our girls featured in Justine, showcasing her extraordinary service,” said Laurel Richie, Chief Marketing Officer, GSUSA. “We hope that our girls enter the R.E.A.L. Girl contest and tell the world about the great things Girl Scouts are accomplishing through their leadership.

Community service opportunity

"Give a Day. Get a Disney Day"

Starting January 1, Disney, in collaboration with HandsOn Network, is bringing you volunteer opportunities to which you can lend your much-needed services. As a way of thanking you for your good work, Disney will give you a ticket good for one day admission to a Walt Disney World® or Disneyland® theme park. Visit Disney's website for more information.

Council-sponsored program events

Below is a complete listing of council-sponsored program events from November 15 through December 31. Girls can register with their troops or individually.

Thursday, November 19

Abracadabra: Wizard Workshop at The Bakken • Grades 2-3 • Minneapolis, MN

Saturday, November 21

Design It, Build It • Grades K-3 • Fridley, MN (Search "Design It" for more times)

Girls in Space • Grades K-5 • Marshall, MN

Passport Around the World • Grades 2-5 • Hudson, WI

Wizardly Science • Grades 4-6 • Hudson, WI

Money Sense • Grades 4-5 • Plymouth, MN

Auto Designer • Grades 4-5 • Roseville, MN

Tower Builder • Grades 4-5 • Roseville, MN

Take Action Workshops – Gold, Silver & Bronze Award • Grades 4-12 • Eden Prairie, MN

From Fitness to Fashion Interest Project • Grades 6-12 • Mankato, MN

Thursday, December 3

Girl Scout Gold Award Workshop • Grades 9-12 • St. Paul, MN

Saturday, December 5

Intro to Magnets: Wizard Workshop at The Bakken • Grades K-1 • Minneapolis, MN

Smart Cookie - Money Basics • Grades K-8 • Owatonna, MN

Manners Tea Party • Grades 2-3 • Minneapolis, MN

CentsAbility • Grades 2-5 • Windom, MN

Steps to Cookie Success • Grades 4-5 • Eden Prairie, MN

Abracadabra: Wizard Workshop at The Bakken • Grades 4-5 • Minneapolis, MN

TroopJam • Grades 4-12 • Zimmerman, MN

Quilting For Others • Grades 4-12 • Maplewood, MN

YEA Opportunity: Manners Tea Party • Grades 6-12 • Minneapolis, MN

Tuesday, December 8

Girl Scout Silver Award Workshop • Grades 6-10 • St. Paul, MN

Thursday, December 10

Girl Scout Bronze Award Workshop • Grades 4-5 • Roseville, MN

Saturday, December 12

Cookies Inspired by U • Grades K-3 • Plymouth, MN

Wolf Howl Bonfire at the Wildlife Science Center • Grades K-3 • Forest Lake, MN

Numbers Are Nifty – Math Fun • Grades 2-3 • St. Paul, MN

Electricity Party Try-It • Grades 2-3 • Minneapolis, MN

Treasure Collector • Grades 4-5 • St. Paul, MN

Mini-climbing camp at Vertical Endeavors • Grades 6-12 • St. Paul, MN

Program Aide Training • Grades 6-12 • Blaine, MN

Your Own Cookie Business • Grades 6-12 • Blaine, MN

Saturday, December 19

Wolf Howl Bonfire at the Wildlife Science Center • Grades 4-12 • Forest Lake, MN

Tuesday, December 22

Cookie Spokesgirl Training • Grades 2-12 • Rochester, MN

Tuesday, December 29

Smart Start • Grades 6-12 • Minneapolis, MN

Overnight

Saturday, December 5 – Sunday, December 6

Troop Jam Overnight • Grades 4-8 • Zimmerman, MN