VISTA 2:

 

 

- Council Realignment has been put on hold. Nothing has been done in any of the involved Councils. It is anticipated that there will be some type of merger worked out in the future. At this point, do not purchase any Council ID sets. Business should continue as usual at the troop level . . . building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place!

 

- VISTA 2 requirements – Ambassadors are needed ASAP for: Communications (WEB person) – don’t need to be an “expert” . . . 1-2 hours/week updating VISTA 2 website . . . someone who enjoys “tinkering” on computer. Training provided. Fall Product – Key person who is the “go to” for community Fall Product partners. Cookie Sales - Key person who is the “go to” for community Cookie Sales partners.

“Every Girl Every Where” - should be our philosophy! Hopefully, all our leaders are accepting of girls who are looking to get into troops, encouraging others to join and doing recruitment events.   The Chicago Tribune had a great article in the Sunday Magazine insert on July 22, 2007 about how GS have launched “a nationwide offensive against a spreading bully culture among young girls.” Look it up – it was great.

- Under Leader Resourcesand she will send them out to you.  on the Website you will find Recruitment flyers available to print. Or contact Kay Monroe at the HUB

 

- Fall registration - All existing girls must be registered by September 30^th, which is the end of the membership fiscal year.  New girls can be registered at any time. Membership cards will be coming out and should be given to girls to use when they attend events. Until then, wearing a vest/sash is sufficient.

 

- Troop leadership requirements – A troop needs to have at least 2 registered and trained adult leaders. At least 2 registered leaders need to be at any given meeting. If something should happen to one leader (i.e. they need to accompany a girl in an emergency), the other leader would remain and be responsible for the rest of the girls.   

 

- All leaders should be working toward level trainings – if your troop has bridged to another level, all leaders should take that level of training. All new leaders/co-leaders need to take the “New Volunteer Orientation” and their level training.

Other training is required based on type of activities your troop is doing. See pgs 12-13 in “Volunteer Personnel System . . .” section (gray) in Panarama for description of required trainings.

 

3 methods of training are offered for most courses (except Camp Craft): 

Classroom instruction – at the HUB. See Reservations on website or Panarama Annual Calendar.

On-line – accessed via Home page on website. Pop-up blockers need to be disabled.

Self taught booklets - available at the HUB or contact Kay Monroe.

 

- CPR/First Aid – Every troop needs to have a designated person that is certified in CPR/1^st aid . . . this can be a leader, a parent, etc. Anytime you leave your normal meeting space (that which is designated on your troop summary form), this designated person needs to be along on the trip. If, however, you are simply having a meeting at your normal meeting place, you do not need a CPR/1^st aider. Hence, leaders don’t need to necessarily be certified in CPR/1^st aid if you have a parent that will go with you on field trips that is certified. However, if the leaders are the only ones that accompany the girls on field trips, then one of the troop leaders need to get certified in CPR/1^st aid. Recertification is required every 2 years. 

Check local Fire Departments, American Red Cross, and American Heart Assn for available classes.

 

- Mini-Trainings – We will be getting information at future VISTA meetings @ 15 minute mini-courses that will be offered to leaders. 

Subjects vary but courses can be done right at the VISTA meeting.

 

- Tracking – Anytime training is completed, you should e-mail the person your community has designated with the information on what course you have completed. This information needs to recorded and tracked.

 

- Troop accts should be set up with;   “Girl Scouts – VISTA 2 & Troop number”

- Use GS FEIN #36-3871241 on troop accts, not personal social security #’s.

- Can use debit card with troop accts now & can allow for automatic deposit into troop checking accts.

- Should look for “free checking” with accts – avoid service fees.

 

For more financial guidelines, see pg 26-28 in “Troop/Group Management . . .” (pink section) in Panarama.  

Contact Sue Jacobson for any additional questions or for financial information regarding VISTA events.

 

- Fall Product:                     Sales - Oct 12–28                                  Delivery – Nov 16–Dec 2

Fall Product Partners are needed before program can begin in your community. Pls contact your community manager or

Kay Monroe if you are able to help with this.

Big News – product does not have to be ordered in full cases anymore!!!

- Cookie Program:              Sales - Jan 4-27, 2008                           Delivery – Begins Feb 16

Cookie Program Partners are needed before program can begin in your community. Pls contact your community manager

or Kay Monroe if you are able to help with this.

 

-          STEM Saturdays – Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (Ages 9-17)

-          Fit to Be Me Nutrition Module

-          Girl Scout Adventures – revised 9/5/07

 

-          “The Color Purple” – 3 dates available

-          Orbit Family Skate; Monday, Oct 8   10:00 – 12:00

-          Ringling Brothers Circus; Friday, Nov 2 Allstate Arena (see VISTA 15 “Events”)

-          Scouts Day at Medieval Times; Saturday, Nov 3 & 17 (see VISTA 6 “Events”)

-          Science Snoozeum at the Museum of Science and Industry; Friday, Nov 9

-          Share the Harvest; Saturday, Nov 17

-          Rockettes Christmas Spectacular; Saturday, Nov 17 Rosemont Theater

-          HS Musical on Ice; Friday, January 25 Allstate Arena (see VISTA 15 “Events”)

New event – Nov. 5^th - “Dreams to Reality” for 5^th grade & up. Sponsored by Cadet Troop 3315

 

- Trip Notices – any field trip taken within 10 miles of your normal meeting space (that which is designated on your troop summary form), you must e-mail or call Kay Monroe with the Troop #, date & time & destination of trip.

 

 - Trip applications – Any trip that takes you beyond 10 miles of normal meeting space, or overnight, requires a Trip application form to be sent or faxed (847-573-0400) to Kay Monroe. Trip Apps can be gotten on-line or on pg 21 in “Troop/Group Management . . . “(pink section) in Pananrama. Additional trip guidelines are found on pgs 20-24 in this same section.

 

- Permission slips – are needed anytime you leave your normal meeting place as a troop OR if you attend an event as a troop. In addition, if the event is organized by Girl Scouts, permission slips are needed. If it is simply a public event that GS are given a discount & Scouts go on their own, no permission slip is needed

 

- Double Punch Days – are Sept 17, Oct 15, March 10, April 21 at Council Shop

 

- Tax Exempt Letter – is on pg 30 in “Troop/Group Management . . . “(pink section) in Pananrama.   A copy of this should be kept in your wallet and used whenever buying troop supplies.

 

- New Panoramas – are in - 1 per troop. Pls contact your community registrar if you did not receive it. This is the “bible” of Girl Scouting – covers most questions regarding protocol of Scouting rules.