VISTA 13:

VISTA Agenda

1. Call to Order
   
   
2. Ambassador’s Reports
   1. Manager (Lydia S)
   2. Finance/Large Events (Margie A)
   3. Registration (Kathie R)
   4. Girl/Adult Membership (Lydia S / Sophie Gavilanes)
   5. Learning Opportunities (Kathie R)
   6. Internal Communications (Liz F)
   7. Fall Product (Natalie M)
   8. Cookie Product (Meredith G)
      
      
3. Committee Reports 
   
   1. Large Events
      1. Corn Maze
      2. Bingo
      3. Food Drive
      4. Snoozeum - Sold Out for this season
      5. 2009 Camporee
   2. Juliettes (Cynthia C)
   3. Level Consultants
      1. Daisy (Jessica M)
      2. Brownie (Michele O)
      3. Juniors (Beth D)
      4. Cadette/S2B/Seniors/Ambassadors (Meredith G)
      
      
4. New Business
   1. Large Events
      1. Tasting Tea/WAGGGS
      2. Fall Festival of Fun
   2. JA Presentation
   3. Volunteer Agreement Forms
   4. Shed Status - Program Boxes
       
      
5. Unfinished Business
   1. Breakout
   2. Service Projects
      1. VISTA Helpers (Lydia S)
      2. PADS (Cynthia C)
         
         
6. Announcements
   1. Next Meeting - November 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
   2. VISTA Orientation
   3. CPR / First Aid - 1^st aid at the November VISTA Meeting.
   4. Sign in - only if your information has changed.

Council Marketing Reps:  Sophie Gavilanes and Laura Ruffridge

Vista Meeting Minutes

September 17, 2008

1. Opening -
   1. True/False Quiz with one final winner!
   2. Flag ceremony led by Amanda M, Abby M, and Morgan F. Thank you!
   3. Babysitting by Morgan F, Amanda M, and Abby M
      
      
2. Ambassador’s Reports:
   
   1. Manager (Lydia S)
      1. We have a new CEO for our council with a unified goal date of 2010.  There is no set plans for organizational structure at this time.  We seem to be structured well.
      2. Our new council website is http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/; however, most of our local information is on http://www.ilcrossroads.org/.
      3. A new troop can only request $20 per girl for start-up fees.
      4. Rules for getting information out:
         1. If you wish to add anything to the agenda, please submit those to Lydia before the monthly Team meeting (usually held the 1st Wednesday of the month).
         2. All large events information must be approved by Margie A before Liz F can add the information to the website.
         3. Web updates other than large events require Lydia S’s approval.
         4. E-blasts (e-mail message from the consultants) must be approved by Lydia, except for the meeting reminders.
      5. Journeys program - PowerPoint presentations are available. If there is enough interest, may plan on one for Dec meeting.
      6. An updated VISTA roster was put in your mailbox. There is one correction: Sharon W's info
      7. Thank you to everyone who submitted paperwork for background checks.
      8. New Tax ID forms are available.
      9. A new STEM Engineering kit is available. 
   2. Finance/Large Events (Margie A)
      1. The sign-up sheets are always located in the back of the room during the VISTA meetings.
      2. We may need to move the dance due to a lack of leadership for the event.
   3. Registration & Recruitment (Kathie R)
      1. We currently have over 1300 girls and over 900 adults registered. Seven new troops have been formed this year. Registration is open all year.
      2. December 31st is the cut-off date for leaders to enter new member information online.  After than, the Community Registrar must be contacted.
      3. Remember - a girl is not a registered Girl Scout until her check has been deposited and her paperwork has been processed by the Registrar.
      4. Leader change of information must be shared with the Coordinating Consultant, so you don’t miss any information that may be sent.
      5. We need more leaders to attend VISTA meetings. This is the best way to learn what is happening in our VISTA.
      6. Woodland Recruitment Event is scheduled for Monday, October 20th at 7:00 p.m. at the Woodland Elementary West Cafeteria. Need help from older troops to teach the girls songs and leaders to help talk to perspective leaders.
      7. If your troop has not registered yet, your girls are NOT Girl Scouts and therefore, are not covered by Girl Scout insurance and assistance.
   4. Girl/Adult Membership (Lydia S / Sophie Gavilanes) - We still need a Membership Ambassador
   5. Learning Opportunities (Kathie R) - Please make sure Kathie receives any updates on your leaders/co-leader training.
   6. Internal Communications (Liz F)  - Please remember to check the main page for our VISTA (www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/13), because council posts special messages and opportunities in the box on the far right.
   7. Fall Product (Natalie M) - Fall Product sales are underway.
   8. Cookie Product (Meredith G)
      1. Cookie training will take place in November and December.
      2. Need a site sale coordinator.
         
         
3. Committee Reports
   1. Large Events
      1. Corn Maze - This Sunday - October 19th.  Find the Check-In table at the Richardson Farm.
      2. Bingo
         1. Registration forms were collected at the meeting.
         2. Make sure your e-mail address is on your form, because all communication for this event will be done via e-mail.
      3. Food Drive - Sunday, November 2nd
      4. Snoozeum - Sold Out for this season (through end of April 2009)
      5. 2009 Camporee
         1. Saturday, May 16th from 3:00 p.m. to Sunday, May 17th at 3:00 p.m.
         2. Bunk decorating will be done upon arrival and all girls will have a chance to vote.
         3. Theme is "Under the Sea" Camporee
         4. All monies for this event will be due in February after cookie sale totals are calculated.
         5. Need 2 more committee members for Arts & Crafts and a Food-related activity.
   2. Juliettes (Cynthia C) - no new information
   3. Consultants
      1. Daisy (Jessica M)
      2. Brownie - (Michele O)
      3. Juniors (Beth D)
      4. Cadette/S2B/Seniors/Ambassadors (Meredith G)
         
4. New Business
   1. Large Events
      1. Tasting Tea/WAGGGS
         Tasting Tea is Sunday, February 22, 2009 at Woodland Middle School. Please have your troops choose at least 3 countries by the November VISTA meeting. See WAGGGS site for ideas.
      2. Fall Festival of Fun
         The Women’s Business Exchange and the YWCA of Lake County are holding the YWCA’s Largest Ever Baby Shower on November 16th at the Oasis (Teen Center) in downtown Grayslake. The event will allow girls of all ages to complete badge work related to meeting women in business. See the Events Section for more information.
      3. JA Presentation - some interest was shown, so a short presentation will be attempted in November.
      4. Volunteer Agreement Forms - These forms need to be completed during the breakout session.
      5. Shed State - Program Boxes: There are lots of new STEM boxes and activity kits available in the shed.  See Sharon W for more info.
         
5. Unfinished Business
   1. Breakout - During breakout, Leaders were asked to complete their Volunteer Agreement Forms.
   2. Service Projects - VISTA Helpers (Lydia S) - If you would like to earn your Girl Scout Service Hours, please see Lydia about opportunities to help during the VISTA Meetings.
   3. PADS
      1. New location in Zion
      2. Volunteer slots available the first Sunday of every month to provide dinner, dessert, or decorations. 
      3. Contact Cynthia C for more info
         
6. Announcements
   1. Next meeting - November 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
   2. VISTA Orientation (see Kathie R)
   3. CPR/First Aid - A First Aid class will be taught on November 19th right after a short meeting.  Invite all your parents that need their First Aid refreshed.  A $10 fee will be collected at the meeting.  First Aid certification is good for 3 years.
   4. Sign in - This process will be discontinued. If you have a change of information, please contact your level coordinator.