VISTA 6:

VISTA 6 Minutes

October 7, 2008

Frost Junior High Gymnasium

Barb called the meeting to order shortly after 7:30 p.m. (Please note a new leader session was held from 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) The meeting began with Denise U leading all leaders, new and experienced in an Investiture and Re-Dedication.    

 Ryan from SCORE gave a brief presentation on SCORE’s ability to work with troops to earn badges during a free field trip to their Schaumburg location.  Juniors can earn the Math Whiz badge and Brownies earn the Math Try-it.  Leaders were provided with the contact information and scheduling process.

Team members and ambassadors were again introduced with brief descriptions of their roles.  Briefly, they are as follows:  Barb – VISTA 6 Manager; Selena – Girl Membership; Julie J – Fall Products; Donna Marie- Registrar; Karen – Training; Denise – Public Relations; Dawn – Financial; Joan, Lisa, Marcia, Lori, Tiffany, Cheyenne and Heather- Members at Large (Still looking for 2 additional girls); Julie R – Family Partnership and Kathy Internal Communications.  As a separate note, Kathy should receive all pictures of events for the website.

Barb again called everyone’s attention to the welcome folders that were distributed in September and to the White Packet Panorama (1 per troop).  Cheyenne discussed Adult Members and Friends Bingo Night to be held 11/21 @ Schaumburg Township from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.  Cost is $10 for both registered and unregistered adult attendees, along with the donation of a non-perishable food item to restock the Schaumburg Township food pantry.  Information was distributed and will also be posted on the website.   

Troops were asked to sign up to provide the flag ceremony at future VISTA 6 meetings.  Girls attending will receive a VISTA 6 patch.

Two opportunities to attend a holiday production of The Nutcracker were discussed.  One will be at the Prairie Center for the Arts and the other one will be at the CRC. Further details will be posted on the website. 

Denise reviewed the events of the Leader/Daughter overnight planned for the weekend of November 6, 7, and 8.  She urged leaders to let others in their troops such as Cookie Moms or Fall Product moms know about the event.  Attendees must be registered Girl Scouts.  Depending on response, this event may be opened up to other members of other VISTAs.

Donna Marie encouraged all to continue registering girls and adults through the end of the year.  Uniform strips have arrived for the girls who participated in Spring Registration.

Julie J reported that 58 of 97 troops sent reps to training sessions.  The sale starts 10/10 and runs through 10/26.  Distribution of products will be at Schaumburg Township Center with final details to follow.

Dawn urged all who have not yet done so to turn in their Financial Reports.  Although they were due 6/30 only about 50% of the troops have complied with the requirement thus far.   Disbanding troops must also file a report.  Failure to do this by disbanding troops will result in the Council ultimately “taking” the balances in dormant accounts.  Dawn also informed the group that a new tax exempt letter has been received.  Wallet-sized cards will be made and distributed at the November meeting.

Barb will report at the November meeting about the National Convention to be held 10/30/08 thru 11/2/08

Karen gave info on two upcoming CPR/1^st Aid training courses:  10/22 and 10/29 with 10/24 to be a re-certification session.  She is planning additional sessions for November and December and will continue to keep attendees posted about logistics.

The website will be updated with new dates for leader training and of note is Part 1 of Cadette training to be held 10/28 at St Hubert.  It was also noted that 10/13 is “Double Punch Day” at the Hub

Denise then gave a Power Point presentation of the new Journey’s initiative.  She discussed the new dress code for both girls and leaders, along with the new age groups by grade and names: K-1 Girl Scout Daisy; 2-3 Girl Scout Brownies; 4-5 Girl Scout Juniors; 6-8 Girl Scout Cadette’s; 9-10 Girl Scout Seniors; and 11-12 Girl Scout Ambassadors.  The major goal of the new program is to impart leadership skills to the girls.  Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership.  She clarified that there are no plans to eliminate the current roster of badges, leadership awards, patches, or how they are earned.  The New Journey program is described as additional opportunities and programs.  Order forms for books are available with the suggestion that one set per troop be ordered.  The theme is the same for each level with obviously the older levels getting more detail and challenges.  The theme is “It’s Your World, Change It.” 

A question and answer session followed.

Barb reminded everyone that our next meeting will be November 4^th at Blackwell School—which is not a polling place.

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m.