VISTA 5:

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1. Welcome!

   • Thank you for coming to our monthly Service Unit 405 meeting. Please sign in on your community roster, and sign up for the raffle to be drawn at the end of tonight’s meeting.
   • Sue S. (Park Ridge), our Service Unit 405 Manager, introduced herself as there were many new leaders in attendance; and introduced a number of key people who help to make our Service Unit run as smoothly as it does.
   • Sara N., is our Membership Specialist from council.
   • Michael M., Community Consultant and Finance Manager for Niles/Morton Grove.
   • Sandy H., Service Unit Finance Manager; Community Consultant and Finance Manager for Park Ridge.
   • Susie S., Community Consultant, Registrar, Finance Manager, Fall Product and Cookie Sales Manager for Skokie/Lincolnwood.
   • Joyce M., Service Unit Registrar, and Registrar for Niles/Morton Grove; Fall Product and Cookie Sales Manager for Niles/Morton Grove.
   • Jennifer M., Registrar for Park Ridge.
   • Chris W. (along with Sue S.), Service Unit Fall Product and Cookie Sales Co-Managers; Fall Product and Cookie Sales Manager for Park Ridge.
   • Amy H. (Park Ridge), Events Coordinator.
   • Michele H. (Skokie), Roster and Webmaster.
   • Mary Beth C. (Park Ridge), Internal E-mail Manager.

2. Investiture
   

   • Tonight about 24 new leaders from all of our communities participated in the New Girl Scout Leader Investiture.
   • Thank you, and welcome to Girl Scouting!
   • A special thank you to Morton Grove’s Cadette Troop #1781 and their leaders, Jeannie H. and Kathy G., for planning a beautiful investiture ceremony. The girls did a wonderful job. And thank you to Sandy H. (Park Ridge) and her Brownies of Troop #132 for preparing gifts for all the new leaders.

3. Council News

   • We have a new name, again. VISTA 5 will now be know as Service Unit 405.
   • When Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana was launched as the new council in 2008, there were three terms in use to describe how communities called themselves--Service Unit, VISTA, and Association. The acronym SUVA was created to incorporate everyone’s choices. However, more than 150 volunteers in attendance at the August 2010 Fall Launch were surveyed, and overwhelmingly voted that the term we shall now use is SERVICE UNIT! Sorry for any confusion this may have caused anyone trying to identify who we are. Hopefully this should be the end of changes to our name.
   • There are so many activities happening around our council, from Vernon Hills to Chicago to Merrillville, IN and you can take advantage of any of them.
   • • STEM Saturdays for Juniors, Cadettes, and Senior Girl Scouts--Click here to see all the workshops and their descriptions, grade requirements, dates, times, locations and program codes. Look under Search by Date and Program Type, and select S.T.E.M. in the Program box to see a full list of what is available. Set the criteria (dates, grades, etc.) per your personal needs.
     • Science Samplers for Daisies and Brownies (use the same Search and Register process as above).
     • Beginning October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, register your daughter for four Science Samplers or STEM Saturday programs at any location and receive a refund for one! Contact Judy R. in the Lisle office for more information.
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     • Emergency Preparedness programs with Storm Chaser Eddy Weiss--Click here to see what’s available. Program codes range from 72057 to 72092. For more information, please contact Courtney F. at the Vernon Hills Regional Service Center.
     •  
     • Journey World--"Wonderful!" according to a leader who recently visited Journey World. This unique, experiential programming space is designed to inspire the next generation of civic and community leaders. It is divided into two floors that spotlight learning opportunities. "It’s Your Planet - Love It!" floor transforms students into young scientists where they use state-of-the-art technologies and equipment in a realistic mini-city and cave, forest, prairie and lake ecosystems. On the "It’s Your Future - Dream It!" floor, the girls simulate real jobs in offices that resemble know institutions and businesses. You do not have to have an entire troop to go to Journey World, or participate in a workshop. Parents can take their girls on their own. (No trip application is needed if you are going on your own or as a troop, however if you are going as a troop, please notify Sue S.) Go to www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org and highlight Journey World under the Girl Scout Info tab for loads of information about this great facility. Journey World is located at 770 N. Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois, at the corner of Halsted Street and Chicago Avenue. FREE parking is available across the street. Many workshops at all levels and interests are available, including:
     • Magic of Manners for grades 2-6 where girls have fun learning all about using basic manners. Click here, and search for Program Code: 56049

4. Registration Update

   • New girls can be registered at any time during the year, however please try to get your paperwork to Joyce M. (Niles/Morton Grove), Jennifer M. (Park Ridge), or Susie S. (Skokie/Lincolnwood) by the 15th of the month.
   • If you did Spring Registration last year, Joyce has your early registration patches.
   • Regarding photographing girls for print, video, or electronic imaging...may be used in promotional materials, news releases, and other published formats: if a parent does NOT want their daughter to be photographed, they must indicate this on their registration form by crossing out the aforementioned verbiage on the form, write NO in the margin, and initial the statement. If you have any questions, please contact Joyce M.

5. E-mails, Roster, and Web Communications

   • Thanks to all the leaders that sent Michele H. (Skokie) the information that is needed for our roster.
   • If you haven’t done so, PLEASE send Michele your information as soon as you can. We would like to have the roster for our November 10th meeting.
   • Also, if you have not turned in your e-mail address to Mary Beth C. (Park Ridge), please do so that you may get all our announcements.

   • NEW Web Site

   • The NEW web site for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is up. The address is the same: www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org. If you have any feedback (good or bad) regarding the new site, please contact Sara N. at the Vernon Hills Regional Service Center.
   • How do you find our Service Unit’s web site? Go to www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org, and highlight SUPPORT US. Select Current Volunteers, then select SUVA Links on the left-hand side of the page to find a list of the VISTAs. Select VISTA 5. (For your convenience, council has used a variety of terms to make the hunt for our web site more of a challenge! We hope to see this corrected soon.)
   • The on-line training courses for Daisy and Brownie leaders (officially titled: Girl Scout Daisy Grade Level Leadership Essentials and Girl Scout Brownie Grade Level Leadership Essentials) is currently off-line. There is no timetable for when these on-line training courses will be available. Unfortunately, they did not transition from the old web site to the new one. Council understands that this is a problem and is working to remedy the situation. Please be patient. Classroom training is still available for both of these training classes. Please consult the training calendar.
   • The on-line Volunteer Orientation is also currently off-line.

6. Fall Product

   • This year’s Fall Product sale order-taking is October 8 - 24, 2010.
   • Forms and bank deposits are due to your Community Fall Product Manager (Chris W. for Park Ridge; Joyce M. for Niles/Morton Grove; Susie S. for Skokie/Lincolnwood) by October 27.
   • If you are the Fall Product Manager for your troop, please make sure you follow the directions given in the Fall Product Manager’s Guide, especially pages 17-23.
   • Please make sure you take your troop profit before you make your bank deposit.
   • Fall Product pick up is Saturday, November 13, 2010. For Niles/Morton Grove and Skokie/Lincolnwood, pick up is at the homes of Joyce and Susie, respectively. For Park Ridge, pick up is at St. Paul of the Cross from about 12 Noon - 3:00 pm. Any volunteer can pick up your Fall Product items. It does not have to be the leader (especially for Brownie troops attending Brownie Day [see below] due to the conflict of dates).

7. Brownie Day 2010
   

   • Thank you to Barbara M. (Morton Grove) and her committee for coordinating this event, and in such a timely manner!
   • Enchanted Castle, 1103 S. Main St., Lombard, IL
   • Saturday, November 13, 2010
   • 9:30 am - 2:30 pm (Lunch is at 11:30 am)
   • Cost: $12 per scout. Chaperones are free. Leaders should submit one (1) signed troop check for this event.
   • Click here to download the official event flier. Note: Page 1 is the form to be given to the girls. Page 2 is for the leader to turn into Barbara, the event coordinator.
   • Registration deadline is November 5, 2010.
   • No troop First Aid volunteer is needed. There will be one volunteer for the entire event.

8. Caroling and Hot Chocolate Party

   • Start the season with a Girl Scout Troop Caroling Party!
   • All Service Unit 405 troops are invited to join the Caroling and Hot Chocolate Party on the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 26, 2010, starting at 6:30 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, including outside the library, in front of stores, or even on the double-decker buses.
   • Troops are invited to the St. Paul of the Cross Lunchroom before or after caroling 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: Please have each girl bring a non-expired, non-perishable food item for the St. Paul of the Cross Food Pantry. Cash donations are also accepted.
   • Troops do need to complete a Trip Application and have their First Aid adult volunteer with them that evening.
   • If you have questions about this event, please contact Sue S. (Park Ridge)

   • Ornaments

   • If your troop would like to make 1 or 2 ornaments for the huge tree in Park Ridge, they should be large (roughly the size of a 10" dinner plate), and made for outdoor weather (rain, snow, wind, etc.)
   • Ornaments are due by noon on the Wednesday of the 2nd week in November (this year: Nov. 10)
   • They may be delivered to the Public Works Building, 400 Busse Hwy., Park Ridge.

9. Service Unit 405 Events

   • As Service Unit 405 Events Coordinator, Amy H. (Park Ridge) is responsible for encouraging everyone, especially new leaders, to volunteer to chair a Service Unit 405-wide event, or to work on a committee. Amy will not be the actual event chairperson, but she will be available to guide our volunteers through the process. One person does not have to organize the event alone. Amy would like to encourage volunteers to build committees of 3-5 leaders. Please contact Amy if you are interested in chairing or being part of a committee for any of the events below.

   • Older Girl Event

   • Two leaders have already volunteered to work on this event. We are looking for two more volunteers. Please contact Amy if you are interested.
   • This event is slated to take place in January for girls of Junior level and above. The idea is to do an overnight lock-in at one of the Schaumburg Park District facilities.

   • Thinking Day

   • Girl Scout Thinking Day is February 22nd. It is also known as World Thinking Day. We honor the birthdays of Lord Baden-Powell and his wife, Lady Baden-Powell, who inspired Juliette Gordon Low, our Girl Scout founder, to start the Girl Scout movement.
   • This event does not have to occur on February 22nd, but usually takes place in February or March.
   • This is a big event that usually attracts 300-400 girls. There is nothing specifically defined for this event, so it is open to someone who wishes to interpret it in a creative way. An event folder is available for this event (as well as all of the other events) to guide a coordinator and her committee. The folder contains years of information and ideas to draw upon.
   • If you are interested in participating on the planning committee, there is a web site dedicated to WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) that might give you some ideas and help solidify your decision to participate. Click here to check it out!
   • This year’s theme is "Empowering Girls Will Change Our World."

   • Leader/Daughter Event

   • Thank you to those leaders who volunteered to work on this event. We now have a committee of 4 volunteers!
   • It is sometimes difficult to be a leader’s daughter, and this event offers those girls some special time with their moms, and honors the work that leaders do for the girls. A bowling party is in the works, with an opportunity for girls and their moms to mingle (over pizza, over coffee & dessert, etc.) afterwards. This event is specific to leaders and their daughters. More information will be available soon.

   • Leader Appreciation Night

   • Thank you to Jeannie H. (Morton Grove) and her Cadette Troop #1781 for volunteering to plan this event.
   • Leader Appreciation Night is also our Adult Awards & Recognition ceremony and takes place at the last Service Unit 405 meeting of the year. This year is will be May 11, 2011.

   • Camporee

   • This event, which usually takes place on the 2nd to last weekend in August, is coordinated by Nancy F. (Morton Grove). This year Nancy is looking for someone to help out with some of the financial details near the end of the registration process (late June/July). Please contact Nancy if you are interested in assisting her.
   • A total of 318 campers attended last year’s event--200 girls and 118 adults. That was the second highest attendance this event has recorded.
   • Materials for the 2011 Camporee will be available in February 2011.

10. Religious Training

    • Religious awards are available for almost every religion through Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). Go to www.praypub.org to see if an award exists for your religion. Click on Partnerships on the left-hand side, then Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., then To Serve God Color Brochure to access the flier and further information.
    • Other web sites that you may want to go to are: www.njgsc.org for the Jewish awards; www.nccgscf.org or www.nfcym.org for Roman Catholic awards.
    • For further information, please contact Sue S. (Park Ridge).

11. Trip Applications
    

    • Trip applications must be submitted to Sue S. (Park Ridge), Michael M. (Niles/Morton Grove) and Susie S. (Skokie/Lincolnwood) approximately 2 weeks prior to your troop’s field trip.
    • Multiple versions of this form exist. You may submit any version.
    • Please check Safety-wise for important information.

12. Special Tickets
    

    • We, the cabinet of Service Unit 405, are aware that it is very frustrating to get notices for special ticket opportunities from council often with only one day’s notice, only to find out that all the tickets have been issued by the time we get the notices. We have requested that this process be changed.
    • Council has offered to notify leaders directly.
    • Those leaders (or other adult volunteers) who would like to be on a direct e-mail list for these types of opportunities should e-mail Mary Beth C. (Park Ridge) and let her know that you would like to be included on council’s direct list.
    • Mary Beth will forward this information to council.
    • Mary Beth will continue to e-mail our Service Unit with the same opportunities for those not interested in being included in council’s direct list.

13. Cookie Time

    • Are you interested in being Service Unit 405’s Cookie Manager for next year (2011-2012)?
    • Currently, Chris W. (Park Ridge) and Sue S. (Park Ridge) are the Cookie Managers for our Service Unit, as well as Park Ridge. Joyce M. and Susie S. are the Cookie Managers for Niles/Morton Grove and Skokie/Lincolnwood, respectively. Thank you, ladies!
    • Chris and Sue are looking for one or two volunteers to take over this position. They would like you to work with them this year and learn how things are done, as well as working with you next year as your personal consultants. They know that somewhere out there someone is willing to volunteer for this coveted position! Please step forward.
    • Also, we are in need of someone to handle Site Sales for this year.

14. Silver Award Project

    • Thank you to everyone who brought items to be donated to the Wright-Way Rescue animal shelter in order to help Girl Scout Troop #1006 complete the requirements for their Silver Award’s service project.
    • Donations will be accepted for another couple of weeks. Please bring your donations to Judie E’s home in Niles.
    • Please go to: www.wrightwayrescue.net/wishlist.html, or click here to see the wish list.
    •  
    • A Girl Scout Silver Award training class is available in Morton Grove at the Park View school on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Click here for the on-line registration. Program code: 94514

15. Questions, Comments, Sharing, Raffle, etc.
    

    • October 31st is Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday!

    • Thank you to everyone who stayed until the end of our meeting. The first few meetings are always the longest. There is so much information to dispense.
    • Congratulations to all those volunteers who won Bath & Body products or candy bars in our end-of-meeting raffle.

    • Morton Grove Veteran’s Day Parade

    • Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010: Assemble at the American Legion Memorial Civic Center, 6140 W. Dempster at 1:00 pm. The parade steps off at 1:30 pm. Refreshments will be provided at about 2:30 pm. Please contact the Morton Grove Historical Museum and Education Center at (847) 965-0203 for more information.

    • Brownie Try-it Day

    • Thursday, Nov. 11 from 12 Noon - 3:00 pm for ages 6-8 (without adult). Cost is $25 per child (resident & non-resident). Girls will complete 3 Try-its. Please contact the Park Ridge Park District or go to www.prparks.org to download the fall catalog.

Thanks for coming to Service Unit 405’s meeting! Enjoy the colorful Fall days!

Next Meeting of the full VISTA

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm

St. John Brebeuf Ministry Center