VISTA Agenda

November 18, 2009

• 7 p.m. - Call to Order
• Flag Ceremony, Pledge and Promise
• Council Activity and updates
  • Tent Sale (see website)
• Troop #585 - Bronze Award project presentation
• Registration - Kathie
  • Troop Openings
  • Forms: The Girl Scouts GCNWI site has lots of different forms on-line (click here to visit)
• Cookies & Fall Product - Meredith
  • Cookie training on December 3, 2009.  Packet pick-up from 6:30 - 6:50.  Training will begin promptly at 7 p.m.
  • Cookie event in December with a Wolves Game - need Cadette Volunteers. **
• Finance
  • Reminders: ALL financials for the troops were due June 30, 2009.
• Communications and Web
  • VISTA Newsletter - please sign up to receive yours!  To change your options, follow the sign-up procedure.
  • Information on the web changes almost daily, please check the site.
  • Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana site:  http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/
  • Special Girl Scout Program link: https://www.girlscoutspw.org/program/search.php
• Large Events (click here for event information)
  1. Friends are Fun Try-it Party
  2. Jingle Bell Rock Holiday Dance
  3. Cookie Rally**
  4. Tasting Tea - Thinking Day Event
• Service Opportunities
  • PADS
  • Operation Christmas Child
  • Feed My Starving Children (December 4 - 6, 2009)
• 7:30 - 8 p.m. - Breakout Sessions
• Announcements
  1. Next Team Meeting - December 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
  2. Cookie Training - December 3rd from 6:30 p.m. at Woodland Middle School
  3. Next VISTA Meeting - December 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Woodland Middle School

Adjourn - Thank you for coming!!!

Vista Meeting Minutes, November 18

FLAG CEREMONY, TROOP 585

ANNOUNCEMENTS (LYDIA SCHER)

Girl Scouts Giving Service Project:
Adopt a Child at CLC Womens Center.
Sign up ASAP by calling or emailing Lydia: 847-917-0690 / jeanlydiascher1@prodigy.net
Deliver by Dec 14

COUNCIL UPDATES (LILLIA SANDERS)
Commemorative coin will be released in 2013.
http://www.girlscouts.org/news/news_releases/2009/obama_signs_girl_scout_commemorative_coin_act.asp

Pilot programs are available for the Environmental Education Program
http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/just-for-volunteers/news-and-updates/environmental-education-initiative/

Nutcracker on Dec 13 and Dec 18 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs023/1101702514523/archive/1102791678325.html#LETTER.BLOCK15

Winter Fun Day at Camp Morrison on December 5 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs023/1101702514523/archive/1102791678325.html#LETTER.BLOCK22

MEGS Patch contest
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs023/1101702514523/archive/1102791678325.html#LETTER.BLOCK23

Vernon Hills Regional Service Center Council Shop Tent Sale on Dec 4 and Dec 5
http://www.ilcrossroads.org/spotlight/vernonhillstentsale/
If you shop online at the Girl Scouts shop, Lillia will bring your purchases to the next Vista meeting. Thanks, Lillia!http://www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/13/events/detail/?eventid=2388

Please use your 5-digit troop numbers on new uniforms. Existing uniforms do not need to be changed, but when you bridge, please put all 5 numbers on the uniform.

Lillia passed a sign-in sheet for leaders, so she can have a database of Vista leaders, troop sizes, troops who can take additional girls, etc.

Lillia sent around a training needs sheet.

LARGE EVENTS
Troop 685 is hosting a Carnival on March 14. More details to come.
Jingle Bell Rock Holiday Dance on Dec 11. http://www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/13/events/detail/?eventid=2341
Friends are Fun Try-It is full! http://www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/13/events/detail/?eventid=2351
Girl Scouts Thinking Day- Food Around the World on February 21 Food Around the World

FALL PRODUCT (MEREDITH GAUTHIER)
Thank you all for a smooth and successful product sale

REGISTRATION (MEREDITH GAUTHIER) Trained 43 new adult volunteers! YAY and THANK YOU! 16 new Daisy troops, 6 Brownie troops, and 2 Junior troops
Leader training on Dec 1. Check the calendar (http://www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/13/calendar/) or ask Kathie Rutkowski for details.
New leaders must have paperwork and background check before any training. Email Kathi Rutkowski if you need the Council Essential book.

COOKIES (MEREDITH GAUTHIER) Cookie training on Dec 3. http://www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/13/trainings/classroom/#441
Cookie moms must have a background check Email Meredith if you have questions.
Chicago Wolves Cookie Rally on January 2 http://www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/13/events/detail/?eventid=2173

FINANCE (BETH DANCY) Turn in your bank forms!

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS (LIZ FOGARTY) The http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/ is updated daily.
Find the following informative publications at the Web site:
RULES Council Procedures and Policies: http://www.girlscoutspw.org/program/
Safety-Wise updates (print this out and keep it in your Safety-Wise book): http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/just-for-volunteers/news-and-updates/resources/
Troop Module (meeting planning guide): http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/just-for-volunteers/news-and-updates/resources/
Resource Guide for World Thinking Day: http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/just-for-volunteers/news-and-updates/resources/
PADS (CYNTHIA COBB) PADS season runs through April Need troops for January - April Goodie bags can include hard candy, toothbrushes, socks, granola bars, etc. Decorations are for 60 people and can include decorated placemats, paper chains, buffet table decorations, posters, etc. Need donation of mittens, gloves, hats, scarves. Contact Cynthia at busycsquared@aol.com