September VINE

By Girl Scouts of Central Maryland on September 15, 2016 • ( Leave a comment )

We Need Your Input!

The opportunity catalog lets parents and girls search for troops with open spaces by inputting their zip code to find troops in their area, or by inputting a troop number to find a specific troop they’re familiar with. It also allows adults to easily view volunteer opportunities in their area and sign up to help.

Troop leaders who would like to invite more girls into their troop and/or need volunteers can submit their information by filling out the opportunity catalog form on our website. On this form, you will tell us how many available spaces you have in your troop, what type(s) of volunteers you need (if any), and your meeting location, day and time. We will then display your troop in the opportunity catalog. When a new girl or volunteer joins your troop, you’ll get an email notification with their contact information so that you can reach out and welcome them into your troop!

Curious about how it works? Please check out this short video about the Opportunity Catalog:

We are also asking all troop leaders to fill out a survey to provide their troop information. We need all troops to fill out the survey, regardless of if they are opting into the catalog or not. The survey asks whether the troop wishes to opt in. We are encouraging all troops to consider taking additional girls into their troop.

Troops need to complete the survey by Oct 15^th

GSCM Communications Survey

We’ve made some changes in the way we communicate with you over the summer. We’d like to hear from you about these changes and the way we communicate with you in general. Please take a moment to answer this quick 8-question survey.

Thanks so much!
The GSCM Communications Team

It’s Cookie Time!

Are you and your girls ready to sell cookies? Here’s how you know:

Your troop and girls are registered for FY’17
You’ve completed your Financial Reporting forms on the council website
Your troop is listed in SNAP

To complete any of these steps, contact your Service Unit Cookie Manager. You’re on your way to participating in the 100^th year of Girl Scouts selling cookies!!

Have a great cookie sale and remember:
Cookie orders are due by 5pm on Oct. 3^rd
Booth Sales begin Oct. 21^st

Event Spotlight: 2016 Cookie Kick-Off Rally!

When: September 18, 2016
Time: 1- 5 PM
Cost: $10 in advance online. $20 at the door.
Where: GSCM 4806 Seton Drive Baltimore, MD 21215
Register: GSCM Registration Site

The 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland is looking for girls to nominate for the 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The council can nominate girls in grades 5-8 and 9-12. Girl Scouts who have recently earned their Girl Scout Silver and Girl Scout Gold Awards would be ideal candidates!

Girl Scouts can apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. Applications must be submitted to the council by November 8, 2016. GSCM will then select one Local Honoree for Girl Scouts in grades 5-8 and one Local Honoree for Girl Scouts in grades 9-12.

All state-level honorees for 2017 will receive special recognition; the top high school and middle school volunteers will receive silver medallions, $1,000 awards, and an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital. The top 10 youth volunteers for 2016 will be announced at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Each will receive an additional $5,000, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a charitable nonprofit organization of their choice.

Please contact Lorrie Caudle at lcaudle@gscm.org with any questions.

________

2017 Toyota Financial Services Making Life Easier Scholarship Program

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) proudly announces the 2017 Making Life Easier (MLE) Scholarship Program that will award up to $1 million to college-bound students associated with select non-profit partners like yours because of your dedication to youth development and a special partnership with Toyota. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2016.

Recipients will be selected from all eligible applicants based on financial need, community involvement, and essay responses. Students associated with your non-profit can apply for scholarships of up to $20,000 that will be distributed over four years.

Basic Troop Camping and Open Fire Cooking
When: Thursday, September 22, 2016
Time: 7:00 PM- 9:30 PM
Where: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Pre-requisite for this course – Outdoor 101, Introduction to the Out of Doors.

This adult training is required when using an open fire for cooking and/or when planning to troop/group camp with girls at GSCM or non- GSCM sites with established restrooms and sleeping facilities such as cabins, screened in shelters, and platform tents/yurts. This course will demonstrate how to prepare girls for camping in the out of doors.
REGISTER ONLINE

STEM Training
When: Saturday, September 24, 2016
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: GSCM Program Center

Learn how to bring hands-on STEM exploration to your girls by attending GSCM’s STEM Training. Now combined into one convenient workshop, learn about the different STEM bins available to rent from GSCM including the STEM Is Fun bins for girls in K-3rd grade, and the Girls Go Techbridge bins for girls in grades 4-12. After finishing the training attendees can rent the bins and STEM materials from GSCM, as well as gain resources on engaging girls in STEM, including curriculum that connects activities with GS Journeys. Contact GSCM’s STEM Program Specialist at STEM@gscm.org to schedule training for a service unit or group.

Save the Dates:

Girl Scout Cookies & Wine Pairing

Invite your friends and join us for the first GSCM Alumnae Cookie and Wine Pairing of the season. Exchange taste impressions of Girl Scout cookies with wine and enjoy a beautiful fall evening in our outdoor courtyard. Make new friends and reminisce about your days as a Girl Scout while you enjoy Shortbreads & Chardonnay, Caramel DeLites & Malbec, and Lemonades & Pinot Grigio. Get ready for a match made in heaven and be one of the first to taste the NEW S’more Girl Scout cookie with an ultimate wine pairing!

When: October 13, 2016
Time: 6:30 PM
Cost: $20 per person/ Must be over 21.
Where: Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Outdoor courtyard
4806 Seton Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21215

GET TICKETS TODAY!

_____

Girls STEAM Ahead

With a new name and new location, this year’s STEAM Festival will bring more hands-on science, technology and engineering to middle and high school girls. The GIRLS STEAM AHEAD event is being held on Sunday, November 13^th at The SEED School of Maryland in Baltimore.

This year’s event will include a greater emphasis on connecting girls and their parents with local opportunities to engage in STEAM, including events, camps, internships, workshops, and trainings. Organizations or individuals working in a STEAM related field with an interest in participating in this year’s event to promote their work to women and girls are encouraged to email STEM@gscm.org. GSCM is still accepting applications for organizations or groups looking to facilitate a hands-on workshop, participate in a career panel, host an information table, or sponsor this year’s event.