VISTA 8:

VISTA MANAGERS:

Sara S
Kris K

REGISTRATION AMBASSADOR:

Jan S

LEADER MEETING DATES:

THUR February 19
THUR March 19
THUR April 23
WED May 13

Introductions

News from Council – Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana:

There will be another Brownie STEM Sampler on Feb. 7. Council is e-mailing a survey about VISTA programs – please complete.

2008-2009 Registration Update:

Please contact Jan S via e-mail if you need any adult registration forms, dues summaries or deposit slips for registration. Completed registration forms should be dropped off at my home or mailed to me.

New Leader Orientation:

Please contact Marisa N if you are interested in becoming a new leader or if you have a new leader joining your troop. The next orientation will be in early spring.

Brownie/Junior Training:

The next Brownie training will be in February or March led by Ellen S. If any leaders want to do the self-study workbook option, they can contact me for the workbooks.  Leaders can also contact Ellen with any post-training follow up questions regardless of which training method you use - online, workbook or in-person. Leaders are required to attend this level specific training within six months of becoming a leader or moving up to the next level.

Cookie Sales:

Cookie order taking is now underway. Approved Site Sale applications will be ready and available for pick up next week from Kathy B. All cookie parents should have their troops order entered into the system by Jan 28th.

Don’t forget to turn in the drawing slips for a portable DVD player with the troop order for those girls that sold over 100. The girl that sells the most boxes in our VISTA receives this and a gift certificate to Blockbuster and then there is a drawing for another lucky girl.

Please remember we need two willing people from each troop to help out on cookie pick up day. Please contact Mary F if you have any cookie questions

CPR:

We are offering a CPR class on Monday, March 2, 2009, and have tentatively set a First Aid class for Tuesday, March 31, 2009.  As usual, each class costs $20 and they will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Northminster Church, 2515 Central Park Avenue in Evanston.  Also as usual, we must get a minimum of 10 people signed up in order to hold the class.  Anyone interested in either class should contact Laurie M

Publicity:

If any Evanston troops would like to share information with the community via the Evanston Review, The Roundtable, etc. please send information to Elizabeth H. You can use this opportunity to share exciting news (like troops getting a Bronze Award), publicize events like the Daisy/Brownie skating party, or to solicit donations or help for service projects (collecting books or DVDs?). Let’s let the community know what a large and vibrant VISTA we are.

VISTA Website:

Ivy S has taken on the job of our new VISTA webmaster. We are going to post news of different activities and events. We would love to get some pictures of troops in action. If you have any photos of your troop that you would like to share, please send them Ivy’s way.

Camp Duncan:

It’s time to register for this year’s trip to Duncan YMCA, March 21st: one night, 3 meals and great activities, cost $53.25 per person, includes a patch for your girls. Activities that we have done in the past: climbing tower, archery, group games, tie-dye, campfire, hayride (no hay), teams course. Arrival will be after Noon on Saturday the 15th with programmed activities stating at 1:00 p.m. We will depart Sunday the 22nd after lunch.

Troop leaders will be responsible for getting their Girl Scouts to the activity or to the cafeteria for a meal but the YMCA staff will lead all programmed activities.  Troops will have a cabin with bunk beds; bathrooms may be in a separate building.

This is a great first time overnight for any age troop. Please send me Your name, e-mail address, troop number how many girls and leaders/adults, (please note if you have a male leader or a Dad) will be attending and a $5 per person deposit (make checks out to G.S.I.C.C. VISTA 8).

We have reserved 125 spaces. --- Full payment will be due March 1. No changes after March 1, I have to give the Duncan staff the final numbers March 1. No refunds unless we have over 125 participants, and then they will be done on a first come basis. When your deposit is received, you will be sent a permission slip and suggested packing list. This is a really fun event that the girls really enjoy going to (and returning to) each year. Everything is planned for your troop. 

 * Send your deposit or contact Elizabeth O with questions.

Annual Brownie/Daisy VISTA 8 Ice Skate:

Get ready to help each other up, let some girls shine and others teach, and have fun together! On Saturday, February 28th from 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m., Evanston’s VISTA 8 Brownies/Daisies will be skating at the Skatium in Skokie. This is always a popular & crowded event, so girls should arrive by Noon so they can get skates on etc. This event is only for Brownies or Daisies - no siblings please! The cost is $1 per girl, which covers the cost of a patch. Please let Sheila C know how many of your Troopers are attending by February 2nd.  Don’t let this one glide by without you!

5^th Grade Overnight:

William Q is organizing the 5^th grade overnight at Wild Rose Program Center in St. Charles. It will start on Saturday, February 21 and finish Sunday, February 22. Please email him at if you have any questions.

Upcoming Events:

Ski Trip for Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors (Jan. 25) – coordinated by Mary Therese S and …
5^th Grade Overnight (Feb. 21-22) coordinated by William Q
Brownie/Daisy Ice Skating (Feb. 28) 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. coordinated by Paul M and Sheila C
Camp Duncan for Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes (March 21-22)
Earth Day Service Project for all ages in April organized by Troop 49

 

Planning Activities:

Check Safety-Wise when you are planning your activities. Put your health cards and registration forms together on a clipboard or in a binder so you will have them at all times. We need to use permission slips EVERY time we take the troops somewhere other than our regular meeting place