VISTA 5:

no agenda defined yet

1.    WELCOME and INVESTITURE

• Thank you to Senior Troop 41006 and their leader, Judie E. (Niles) for conducting a traditional New Leader Investiture and Re-dedication, complete with candle lighting and an explanation of the Girl Scout Law.
• All in attendance recited the Girl Scout Promise.
• Thank you to Cadette Troop 40791 and their leader, Judie E. (Niles) for providing goodie bags.
• All new leaders received their membership pins, as did returning leaders who had not previously received them.

2.    COUNCIL NEWS—Sara N. (Membership Specialist)

• National Cookie Sleepover
• Saturday, Jan. 12 – 13, 2013 @ 7 pm – 8 am
• Journey World, 770 N. Halsted, Chicago
• Grades 2 – 8 (Brownies, Juniors & Cadettes)
  
• Cost: $35 for girls; $20 for adults
• Register on-line. [register.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/] Code: 1062243
• Troops from around the country will kick off the cookie sale. Click here [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/detail/?eventid=2004] to download the official event flier.
  
•  
• Journey World Fitness Fair
• Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 10 am - 2 pm
  
• Cost: $15 for girls; $5 for adults
• Register on-line. [register.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/] Code: 1060593
• Activities include nutrition, meditation and fitness stations. Click here [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/detail/?eventid=695] to download the official event flier.
  
•  
• Happenin’ Holiday Hijinks
• Brownies: December 7, 2012 @ 5 - 8 pm. Register on-line. [register.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/] Code: 1060473
• Daisies: December 8, 2012 @ 1 - 4 pm. Register on-line. [register.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/] Code: 1060483
• Journey World, 770 N. Halsted, Chicago
• Cost: $15 for girls; $5 for adults
• Girls will investigate holiday customs and crafts from around the world. Click here [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/detail/?eventid=2451] to download the official event flier.
  
•  
• There is still time to earn the 100th Anniversary Service Patch
• Troops must do four service projects that benefit the community in our anniversary year. Deadline to complete this patch is March 11, 2013.
  
•  
• Financial Assistance
• There are various forms on-line to apply for financial assistance. Please review the Financial Assistance Guidelines [www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/volunteer-resources].
• There is limited funding available. The earlier you submit the application, the better chance of receiving assistance.
  

3.    FALL PRODUCT

• Thank you to Joyce M. (Niles/Morton Grove), Chris W. (Park Ridge), Sue S. (Park Ridge) and Susie S. (Skokie/Lincolnwood).
• Pick-up went well.
• Incentives have been distributed.
• Service Unit 405 met 93% of its goal.
• Thank you to the 30 troops that participated.
• In order to participate in another fundraising event, troops must have sold at least 20 items in the Fall Product sale, and participated in last spring’s Cookie Sale.
• Troops are not allowed to sell other organization’s products. They can sell a service (like a car wash) or hand-made crafts. Please submit a Money-Earning Activity Application [www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/volunteer-resources].
• Troops may raise funds for Hurricane Sandy without satisfying the requirement of participating in the Fall Product and Cookie Sale.

4.    COOKIE SALE

• Cookie training for troop cookie volunteers took place on Tues., Nov. 13^th.
• If your troop’s cookie volunteer was not able to attend, please contact your Community Cookie Manager to get the cookie packets.
• Thank you to Sue S. (Park Ridge) and Chris W. (Park Ridge), Joyce M. (Niles/Morton Grove) and Susie S. (Skokie/Lincolnwood) for coordinating the cookie efforts for their communities.
• Every troop will need to complete the Troop Account ACH Debit/Credit Authorization [www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/cookie-resources] form available on-line at council’s web site under Cookies/Resources [www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/cookie-resources], and submit a voided check from the troop checking account. These steps are new this year and mandatory for selling cookies.
• On March 5, 2013 council will withdraw half the money it is due for cookies from each participating troop’s checking account.
• E-mails from the Community Cookie Managers will have “Girl Scouts” or “Cookie Sale” in the subject line so that your cookie volunteer knows it is important information to read.
• In response, leaders and cookie volunteers, please identify yourself in your e-mails with your name, troop number and community.
• Cookie costumes are available for troop use. Further information will be available closer to the actual sale.

5.    CAROLING PARTY

• Start this holiday season with a Girl Scout Troop Caroling Party!
• All Service Unit 405 troops are invited to join the Caroling and Hot Chocolate Party [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/detail/?eventid=1669] on the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 23, 2012.
• NEW time for this event is 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
• Traditionally, on the day after Thanksgiving, Park Ridge hosts a winter festival. Among other activities, the stores are open, there are double-decker bus rides, and Santa Claus comes to town. Girl Scout troops are invited to sing carols almost anywhere they would like in Uptown Park Ridge, including outside the library, in front of stores, or even on the double-decker buses.
• Troops are invited to St. Paul of the Cross Gym before or after caroling, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, for cookies and hot chocolate. It’s also a great place to drop off and pick up the girls, as well as a great place to warm up (depending on the weather!).
• This is a free event.
• Service Project: We are asking that each girl bring a non-expired, non-perishable canned food item for the St. Paul of the Cross Food Pantry.
• Any non-expired, non-perishable food item or paper goods item is always accepted. Cash donations are accepted, as well. The food pantry at St. Paul’s serves the entire Park Ridge community, as well as surrounding communities.
• Trip Applications are not needed for this event, but the girls must have signed Permission Slips on file with their leader if they plan to attend this event without their parents. 
• Best practice is to have your First Aid adult volunteer with you that evening if this is a troop event.
• If you have questions about this event, please contact Sue S. (Park Ridge).
• Hope to see lots of Girl Scouts there!

6.    ORNAMENTS

• The deadline to make ornaments for the huge tree in Hodges Park in Park Ridge has passed, and ornaments are in the process of being hung up.
• Unfortunately, the tree is dying, and those in charge of this project do not know what will happen next year regarding decorating a city tree.
• Our Service Unit will pass along any information that we hear regarding this issue.

7.    TRIP APPLICATIONS

• New Trip applications can be found on page 119 of the current Volunteer Essentials 2012-13 [www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/volunteer-resources] booklet, in the Support Us/Current Volunteers/Resources and Forms [www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/volunteer-resources] section of council’s web site, or in the Events [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/] section of our Service Unit 405 web site.
• According to council, any troop taking a trip requiring drivers must complete a Trip Application.
• The following information must be submitted for each driver: driver’s name, driver’s license, driver’s insurance carrier, policy number, and license plate number.
• Trip Applications, along with your First Aid/CPR volunteer’s information, should be submitted to:
• Michael M. -- Niles/Morton Grove
• Sue S. -- Park Ridge
• Susie S. -- Skokie/Lincolnwood
• Your troop’s First Aid/CPR volunteer’s name, phone number, copy of verification of certification, and date completed training must be included on the Trip Application. (This information is not kept on file and must be included each time a Trip Application is submitted.)
• We are Service Unit 405. This information should be recorded on the current Trip Application.

8.    SERVICE UNIT 405 EVENTS

• Leader/Daughter Event
• Thank you to Barbara M. (Morton Grove) for organizing this event. If you need to contact Barbara, please check page 3 of the Roster for her correct e-mail address. (Apologies to Barbara who’s e-mail is incorrect on the first page of the Roster.)
• Saturday, March 9, 2013 @ 12 Noon – 3 pm
• The Tiki Terrace, Des Plaines
• Cost: $27.50 per person, and includes lunch and luau show.
• Maximum attendance is 120. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Service Unit Team members will be invited space permitting.
• Download the official event flier [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/detail/?eventid=1316] from our Service Unit 405 web site under Events.
•  
• Leader Appreciation Night
• May 8, 2013
• Servie Unit 405 is in need of a leader and/or troop to volunteer to organize this event. Please contact Sue S. (SU405 Manager) if you are interested.

9.    LIBRARY SHOWCASE IN PARK RIDGE

• Thank you to all the leaders who lent items and memorabilia for the Park Ridge Library display case.
• The display was well received and library staff reported many former scouts reminiscing while viewing it.
• Items are available for pick-up from Margaret T. (Park Ridge).

10. ADULT RECOGNITIONS

• Nominations for adult recognitions requiring council board approval are closed.
• These awards, and pins recognizing adult years of service, will be given at a council luncheon. Click here [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/detail/?eventid=285] to download the event flier.
  
• Saturday, April 20, 2013 @ 12 Noon - 3 pm
  
• White Eagle, 6839 N. Milwaukee, Niles
• Cost: $27 per person
• Council-sponsored awards that are approved on the Service Unit level, and our Service Unit 405 Honor Roll nominations, will be due early next year.
• There are new awards this year. Information is on the council website, or you may contact Margaret T. (Park Ridge).

11. GIRL SCOUTS COOKIE KICKOFF RALLY

• January 5, 2013 starting at 2:00 pm
• Chicago Wolves game starts at 7:00 pm
• Allstate Arena, Rosemont
• Registration deadline is December 14, 2012.
• Click here [www.ilcrossroads.org/vistas/5/events/detail/?eventid=2366] to download official event flier.

12. ROSTER

• A big THANK YOU to Michele H. (Skokie) for creating our Service Unit 405 Leader Roster again this year.
• Each troop receives one copy. Feel free to duplicate it for each leader in your troop.  

Thank you for coming to our Service Unit 405 meeting!

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

Next Service Unit 405 Meeting:

Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:00 pm

St. John Brebeuf Ministry Center

(There is no meeting in December)