Merry Christmas Troop 1414

Thank you so much to Julie and Shelda for hosting and preparing the activities for our first Troop 1414 Christmas Party. The treats everyone brought were delicious and I know everyone had a wonderful time. I've posted all the photos from the evening on the Sam's Club account (don't forget to check it out) but had to share the photo of the gingerbread cookies here. It makes me wish that I got to make one. :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Everyone!

Nursing Home Carolling

Last night was the nursing home carolling with our sister Brownie Troop 1966. It was a fun evening for all - the residents and the girls. The girls did some wonderful singing and I think were able to visit a large portion of the residents rooms. I'm sure it was a wonderful treat for all those at the nursing home.

Great job ladies!

Solidiers Care Package Bronze Award Updates

November 14, 2008 GS MEETING: Here's an update on the soldier care project group:

The girls will need to report on all the items and their status at our next meeting on Jan 9, 2009. Taylor and Holly spent 1/2 hour planning at our meeting on 11/14/08. Please be sure to keep track of all time spent on this project! I am proud of each and every one of you, as you develop your leadership skills and take action to help some of the soldiers serving our country. You are becoming model citizens yourselves!

Ms. Gin
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Fliers - Holly made fliers and distributed 75 in her neighborhood. She picked up the items and has them at her house. (Holly - how much time did all of that work take? - please keep track). Holly will email her flier to Jenn and Taylor. Jenn and Taylor need to create their own unique flier, using the list of needed items from Holly's flier. Jenn and Taylor need to pick one group of people to solicit donations from (could be neighbors, church friends, parents' co-workers, etc). They need to hand out fliers and collect items, hopefully before our next meeting (Jan 9 2009).

Badge - Taylor and Holly completed requirement #4 of "Model Citizen" at our meeting. The only remaining requirement for this badge, that we haven't worked on during a meeting, is to visit a website to meet requirement #5. Holly has found such a website. The girls will meet at Taylor's to play the game on the website, in which they create an imaginary government. (Ms Gin is sending a copy of Model Citizen to Taylor on 11/25/08 so she can complete items on her own). Jenn needs to complete one more requirement of Model Citizen on her own. We will not work on this badge anymore during meetings.

Booths - Jen asked at Kroger and they said no for now. Holly asked at Ingles and they said YES. Holly will set up 2 dates at Ingles for Taylor, Jenn and Holly to work at, along with their parent(s) and Ms. Gin if needed. I don't believe Taylor asked anyplace if we could set up a booth. We can do these booths anytime between now and March. We will spend time at January meeting planning exactly how the booths will be set up.

Action points:

TAYLOR
Invite Jenn and Holly to come to your house to play the game on the website that Holly found (Badge requirement #5).
create fliers & distribute, collect items.
Be sure you have completed 4 requirements from Model Citizen on your own. You have done #4 with Holly, and #5 you will do with Jenn and Holly.
work booth at Ingles with Jenn and Holly.
JENN
complete requirement #4 from Model Citizen on your own.
create fliers & distribute, collect items
#5 you will do with Taylor and Holly at Taylor's house.
work booth at Ingles with Taylor and Holly.
HOLLY
find 2 or 3 dates that Ingles will let you set up a booth. Then make sure Jenn and Taylor are available those days.
work booth at Ingles with Jenn and Taylor.
This should be all for now! Girls please let me know if I've missed anything.

Ms. Gin

Rock Climbing Fun

These are some of the photos from rock climbing.

Animal Service Project Updates

Here's an update on to do lists for planning purposes for the animal service project group:


Claudia - to contact Ms. Dodds and get some possible dates for the girls to come do some service at her farm and send them to Ms. Stephanie so we can narrow the dates down.


Kayla/Maddog/Sara - finish up the fliers for the booths and neighborhoods.


Kayla - contact Walmart about doing a donation booth - most likely in the new year.


Franki - contact Ingles about doing a donation booth - most likely in the new year.

Whitney - will contact Pet Smart to see about doing a donation booth. She will also talk to the vet that attends their church.

Everyone - Spend some time planning when you might distribute banners throughout your neighborhood to collect donations or who you'll ask for donations if you don't want to go around you neighborhood.

We'll all be working on an additional requirement from the Horse Fan badge to satisfy our badge requirement for the Bronze Award.

Bronze Award - Sign of The Sun Requirements

At our meeting we worked towards finishing up the Sign of the Sun badge which is a requirement for the Bronze Award. If you weren't at the meeting this is what you need to do and get to Stephanie.

Requirement #5 - Read the section on values in the "Its Great to Be a Girl" chapter in the Junior Handbook then answere the "Test Yourself" questions on that page.

Requirement #3 - We worked on "The Choice is Yours" Badge. We completed requirements 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8.

1. Share the ExperienceIn a small group, share a difficult decision you made. What things influenced your decision? What helped you decide? what was the result of your decision? What would you have done differently if you had had a second chance?

2. Looking AheadMake a list of the important decisions you may have to make within the next ten years. talk with at least 3 friends to find out about the kind of decisions they think they will have to make. Compare their lists to your own.

4. Deciding to ActWith your troop or group, decide on a service project. Make a list of everyone's ideas. Discuss each idea. Come to an agreement about what you will do and put your plan into action. Once your project is complete, evaluate how it went. What changes might you make the next time? - This one is considered complete even if you didn't attend the meeting because everyone has participated in lots of service activities with the troop.

7. Try It On for SizeDiscuss the following situations and role-play what you would do if:- A classmate offered you a cigarette on the way home from school- A group of friends stopped by to visit you when no adults were home (your parents don't permit you to have anyone over when you're home alone)- Your family planned an outing on the same day as your best friend's birthday party- A bigger kid tried to bully you in the park- Some of your friends started teasing a classmateMake up your own situations and play them out.

8. Role ModelsThink of the things and people that influence your decisions - for example, friends, school, family, or the media. Star (*) the people on this list whom you can approach when you need help in making a personal decision. What makes these people special?

Last Requirement for the Choice is Yours Badge is to complete number 10 of the badge for those at the meeting.

10. There Once Was a Girl...Create a story about a girl who has trouble making an important decision and share it with others.

It was agreed that the girls could write the story and send it to all the girls via email or send it to Ms. Stephanie to read and/or if they wanted to post on the blog to share.

The girls that weren't there don't need to do the exact same requirements as we did at the meeting they just need to complete six total activities and let me know that they've done that.

Spring Trip Updates

Upon some research we discovered that in order to do the group overnight at the aquarium we needed a minimum of 30 people total. When we discovered that we opened it up to our service unit to see if there were some other junior troops that would like to join us. We found two troops (actually received emails from others) that have indicated that they'd like to join us. These are troops with some great leaders and girls in our girls age group.

The other change we had to make was the date. April 25th was not available for a sleep over so we had to change the date to May 2-3, 2009. That being said we've made reservations and are sending in a deposit in the next week or so. We'll also be receiving money from the other troops as well. If possible we'd like a committment by our troop Christmas party as to whether or not your daughter will be attending along with a deposit to hold the spot.

This would be the time table for the deposits to be paid:

DUE BY Dec 5 (our troop Christmas party) - Commitment to attend Chattanooga trip May 2-3, 2009 or not, and $25/each to hold spot for reservation
DUE BY Feb 6 (Feb meeting) - $25 more due
DUE BY Mar 27 (Mar meeting) - Balance due, if cookie money doesn't cover cost

The itinerary will remain the same only the date has changed.

Just A Few More Photos of Founder's Day

I couldn't help but share just a few more of the photos from the Founder's Day Event. The girls competed in a mummy wrapping costume. Didn't the mummies turn out cute?

Congratulations Madison

Madison was the winner at the Founder's Day Costume Party on Saturday. She won first prize for her barf patties courtesy of the Girl Scout Airlines. :) She won second place for her flip flop costume. But all the girls had great costumes! Claudia and Holly as "Speed Bumps" , Kayla as "Half-Asleep/Half-Awake", Sara as the "Bride of Frankenstein" and Jennifer as "a Pirate".

Special Thanks for Ms. Amy and Ms. Julie for coming along to chaperone. I think they had just as much fun.

Fun Spring Trip Update

I forgot that we had already scheduled the date for the quick trip to Chattanooga. It's scheduled for April 25-26, 2009.

November Fun Event

The girls voted while on the camping trip that for their fun November event, which would occur the Saturday (Nov. 15th) after our sleepover meeting. The girls decided that they wanted to do rock climbing at Adrenaline.

Madison is researching the cost of the activity and will report to Ms. Stephanie so that it can be shared with the rest of the troop and the parents.

More details to follow.

Solidier Care Package Service Project Updates

Soldier Care Packages Project Actions
The girls doing the Soldier Care Packages project narrowed down some of their options on the camping trip. This resulted in the following actions:

1. BOOTHS - The girls want to find out if they can set up booths at stores, to hand out lists of items that the soldiers have requested. They would have a box to collect the donated items. They also want to invite people to write poems to encourage the soldiers and thank them for thier service. Ms Gin shared with them that Publix doesn't allow any solicitation in front of their store. They need to find out if this is possible from the store managers.
Action point by next meeting which is Nov 14:
Holly - contact INGLES
Jen - contact KROGER at Russell Ridge (or other if it is more convenient)
Taylor - can contact another store that her family shops at, or may have another idea about this.

2. FLIERS - A flier needs to be created that lists items that the troops need. Holly and Jen worked on that list of items (based on the list that Taylor had written at the last GS meeting). They decided to leave "tampons" off the list because it may be uncomfortable for a Dad raising boys alone. They will ask for monetary donations to help cover postage costs, and purchase any feminine supplies along with other supplies from any money received. Ms. Gin will proof read the fliers that each girl creates, before they are distributed. On the flier, they will specify how they will collect the items. It could be something like "we'll come around in the neighborhood on Saturday December 6" or "Please drop off items at my Dad's office by Fri Dec 5". ALL the girls will be seeking donations from their neighborhoods, church groups, parents' workplaces, and other groups such as band and chorus if their teachers allow it.
Action point by next meeting which is Nov 14:
Holly - email list of items that Jen and she compiled, to both Jen and Taylor. Create a flier with that list that you will distribute to your own group of contacts.
Jen - Create a flier with that list that you will distribute to your own group of contacts.
Taylor - Create a flier with that list that you will distribute to your own group of contacts.

3. BADGE - The Junior Girl Scout Badge that Jen and Holly decided to work on, which is related to this service project, is "Model Citizen" which is on p. 20 of the Junior Badge Book. They completed items 1 & 3 during our camping weekend. Items 8 & 9 they have already done. They ran the flag ceremony at our rededication ceremony to reinforce #8. They decided to do items 4 & 5 to complete this badge. All 3 girls will work on requirement #4 at our next GS meeting.
Action point by next meeting which is Nov 14:
Holly - look for a website that meets requirement #5 and share that info with the other girls & Ms. Gin. Visit that website and create a government.
Jen - look for a website that meets requirement #5 and share that info with the other girls & Ms. Gin. Visit that website and create a government.
Taylor - If Taylor wants to do this same badge, look for a website that meets requirement #5 and share that info with the other girls & Ms. Gin. Visit that website and create a government. Taylor may choose another badge if she prefers. OR She may do items 1 & 3 on her own, and look over 8 & 9 to make sure she has completed them.

The girls will need to report on all the items and their status at our next meeting on November 14. The girls will communicate through email about things they've found.Jen and Holly spent one hour planning this with Ms Gin on 10/4/08. Taylor, Jen and Holly all spent 1/2 hour brainstorming about this project on 9/12/08. Please be sure to keep track of all time spent on this project!

Photo Uploading

We'll be doing the scrapbooks again this year as discussed at the parent meeting. If you attend an event and take photos if you can upload them to www.samsclub.com (go to services and click on digital photos). When you get to the digital photos screen it will ask for an email and a password. The email will be sreiniche@yahoo.com and the password is kaylasue. I'll try to create folders in advance with date and the event title so it's easy to save. This will help me organize and start the scrapbooking earlier.

Internet Safety

At our first meeting we talked about internet safety with the girls. In the latest edition of the Leader's magazine there was some information about internet safety. If you're interested the website is www.girlscouts.org/onlinesafety.

Animal Service Project Actions

The girls doing the animal service project narrowed down some of their options. This resulted in the following actions:

Claudia - will contact Ms. Dodds to see what service she needs at her barn. There will not be a try-it badge.
Whitney - will contact Pet Smart to see about doing a donation booth. She will also talk to the vet that attends their church.
Sara - will contact Petco to see about doing a donation booth and work on fliers. Will also contact the humane society to determine what things they need.
Kayla - will contact Walmart to see about doing a donation booth and work on some flyers with Maddog and Sara.
Maddog - will work with Kayla and Sara on fliers.
Madison - will work on posters once donation booths are set.
Sydney - will look to see what badge the girls can do related to their service project.
Franki - can work with Sydney - if there is a badge that they have not completed and help the girls do it at the next meeting.

The girls will need to report on all the items and their status at our next meeting in November. The girls will communicate through email about things they've found.

ALL the girls will be seeking donations from their neighborhoods.

Spring Event Approved By Girls

The girls at the campout voted on the Spring trip or fun activity. It was decided that the girls would go to Chattanooga. Thanks to Jennifer for all the details that she presented and thanks to Sara for all the details that she present to the troop for an Alabama trip. The girls also considered a day at the Lake Lanier Water Park. These are the tentative details below (we'll need to set dates and get firm prices):

Distance: 145 miles from Dacula - 2 1/2 hours

Suggested Itinerary:
Drive Up Early Saturday morning
Go to Lookout Mountain (4.5 - 6 hours)
Spend the night at Tennessee Aquarium
Go on lunch Riverboat Cruise on Sunday (1-1/2 hours)
Drive back to Dacula

Things to Do:
Go to Lookout Mountain and visit 3 attractions (Rock City, Ruby Falls, Incline Railroad)
Visit the Tennessee Aquarium, spend the night (includes dinner, evening snack, continental
breakfast and IMAX movie)
Take a river cruise on a riverboat includes lunch (www.chattanoogariverboat.com)

Meals:
Saturday lunch - need to make sack lunches or purchase lunches
Saturday dinner - included at Aquarium plus snack
Sunday breakfast - included at Aquarium
Sunday lunch - on the river boat
Sunday dinner - at home

Projected Costs:
Lookout Mountain attractions - $23
Lunch (Sat)- $6
Tennessee Aquarium - $50
Patch- $3.50
Riverboat Cruise - $8
Approximate Total $91.50 - $100.00 (plus some gas maybe)

Electronic Magazine By Girls For Girls

Girl Scout Publications Just For Girls - The Lime Green Giraffe, a "by girls, for girls" publication targeted to 11-17 Girl Scouts is now available online. In the past, the publication was printed and mailed to older scouts. Because so many girls reach for technology first, they now publish the magazine electronically at http://www.girlscoutsnwga.org/LGG/default.asp. You may want to check this out.

Care Package Service Group

Those in the Care Package Service Project Group are Jennifer, Holly and Taylor. I'll send out an email list soon. Make sure you copy Ms. Gin on your emails so she's in the loop.

Animal Service Project Group

Those in the animal service project group are Claudia, Madison, Madison, Sydney, Kayla, Whitney, Sara, and Franki. The group has elected Claudia as President, Madison (Maddog) as Vice-President, and Sara and Whitney as Co-Secretaries.

Emails will be sent out shortly. Make sure you're copying everyone on your emails in your group so no one is left out and everyone has a say. :) Don't forget to copy Ms. Stephanie (you know in case I have to be somewhere :)) so I'm in the loop.

Calendar Updates

Please add December 3, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nursing Home Carolling (meeting times TBD) in Lawrencville with Brownie Troop 1966.

Updated Calendar

OCTOBER
Oct 3-5 – GIRL SCOUT Camping Trip (Camp Pine Acres)
Oct 11– Nursing Home Bingo – Nursing Home Bingo at Medical Arts Facility, 213 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville, ph 770-963-5275. Girls meet at Dacula First United Methodist at 2:00, bring $2-5 in quarters for prizes, wear Junior vests, bring water bottle, return to Dacula First United Methodist at 4:30pm. Gin will drive, we need one more chaperone to drive as well. RSVP by Fri Oct 3. No cost besides the quarters for prizes.
October 25 - FOUNDERS DAY CELEBRATION Dacula High School Commons Area 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Dress girl scout appropriate costumes for the costume contest (for the younger children), GROSS GOODY contest, they will be judged! DANCE CONTESTS!!!!! Crafts. Cost is $9.00 per girl. Meet at 6pm at the high school to go in as a troop and pick up at 9 p.m. Bring permission slip to the DROP OFF!! Please RSVP by October 2, 2008 to Ms. Stephanie or Ms. Gin, MONEY $ is due October 3, 2008 if you don’t have enough money in your account.
We need another chaperone for this event as Ms. Gin will be attending with her Brownie Troop.

NOVEMBER
November 13 - Special Needs Spaghetti Dinner - Details to Follow
Nov 14-15 - GIRL SCOUT MEETING FOR GIRLS 7:30 pm-10:00 am. (Location – Taylor Family House, 945 Golf View Ct., Dacula, GA. Snacks: Fountain, Paper Products: Reiniche, Drinks: Wilber, Breakfast Food: Deckert)
Nov 15 – Possible Fun Activity – Girls to Vote on a fun activity to do – bowling, skating, etc.

DECEMBER
Dec 3rd - Tentative Date for Caroling at Nursing Home in Lawrenceville
Dec 5th – GIRL SCOUT Holiday Party FOR GIRLS 7:30-9:30 pm. (Troop Christmas Party – Kelly Family assisted by Fountain at 1005 Fairview Club Circle Drive, Dacula, GA)

JANUARY
Jan 9-10 – GIRL SCOUT MEETING FOR GIRLS 7:30 pm to 10:00 am. 3rd Annual Girl Scout Bake-off. All girls and parents are invited to come and have some coffee, lemonade, and enjoy the entries! (Location Wilber Family House – 844 Fairview Club Circle Drive, Dacula GA. Snacks/Paper Products/Drinks: Baker, Breakfast Food: Kelly. )
Jan 16 - cookie sales begin

FEBRUARY
Feb 6-7 - GIRL SCOUT MEETING FOR GIRLS 7:30 pm-10 am. (Location: Fitzpatrick Family Home, 1237 Highfield Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30043. Snacks: Reiniche, Paper Products: Wilber, Drinks: Fitzpatrick, Breakfast Food: Drew)
February 21 - Father Daughter Dance – Location TBD

MARCH
March 1ish - cookie deliveries begin
March – Cookie Booth Sales TBD
March 27-28 – GIRL SCOUT MEETING FOR GIRLS 7:30 pm – 10 am (Location: Lundy Family Home – 2737 Pathview Drive, Dacula, GA. Snacks: Fountain, Paper Products: Drew, Drinks: Grana, Breakfast Food: Lundy) – Girls will wrap up missing items on the Bronze Award

APRIL
April 25 or 26 – Troop Fun Overnight Trip or Ingathering

MAY
May 1 – All Photos for Scrapbook Due
May 9 or 10 – Girls Vote Fun Activity
May 14 –- End of Year Bridge to Cadettes Ceremony @ Location TBD

Items that will be added as dates become known:
Short Trip or Ingathering
Additional Service Opportunities
Service Project Hours
Cookie Booth
And more!