“Do, or do not.  There is no try.”  -- _{Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back)}

 

“A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” – _{D.D. Eisenhower, U.S President (1890-1969)}

 

MINUTES – 11 AUGUST MEETING:

 

1.        The first Service Unit meeting for the 2005/2006 school year for Woodland Girl Scouts of Greenwood,  IN was conducted on August 11, 2005 at 7:00 PM by Sharon W at Greenwood Methodist Church.  Sharon holds the dual role of Service Unit Chairman for 2005-2006 as well as Registrar.

 

2.        The meeting began by an introduction of all members that hold a Service Team role along with signups for various committees. 

 

3.        The treasurer was absent, so there was no treasurer’s report.

 

4.        A sign up sheet for four Service Unit events was circulated. 

a.        October 30 is the tentative date for the Juliette Gordon Low Birthday Party.  Pam N will be chairing this committee and contacting the volunteers who signed up for this event. 

b.        A discussion was presented to the floor regarding the trim a tree event.  It was suggested the event lean more toward service orientation with a definite theme.  Books will be donated to the Library this year instead of canned goods.  The committee will need to begin meeting with the Library in September to work on details for the event.

c.        There will be more information on the Father/Daughter Dance and Mother/Daughter breakfast at future meetings.

Thank you, Committee Members,  for volunteering!

5.        Sharon would like to see at least one service project for the Service Unit.  Melissa S spoke about Christhole House in Nashville, IN.  This foundation houses disabled children and young adults that would welcome any service to help fulfill their lives.  A toy drive may be ideal as the average age is 7-14 and most are primarily males that often do not have outside family assistance.  This topic will be discussed in a future service unit meeting as their specific needs become apparent.  The Service Unit is open to other service projects as well and welcomes input from the group.  A spring service project is needed.  Mary Ann I mentioned a past service project that was done in last year by Troop 286 of stocking stuffers for the Women’s Prison.  She felt this was a worthwhile project and should be done again by the Service Unit.   Lois H’s troop collected stuffed animals last year for a similar project.   It may be that some troops may have a choice which service project they would like to support.

a.        Nan B and her scouts from troop #723 are preparing happy socks for cats that at the humane society and shelters.  This service project involves the collection of mismatch socks that are filled with catnip and delivered to the society or shelter for the comfort of the cats until they can find a home.  Her troop is accepting any spare socks that you might have for donation.

b.        Angie G and her scouts from troop #1331 are preparing Newborn kits for delivery to Wishard hospital.  This service project will help her troop to obtain the bronze award.  Any donations of new or like-new newborn clothes or blankets may be made to her troop as well as sterile and new items like bottles and pacifiers would be helpful.

Your donations are deeply appreciated!

6.        Service Team Openings

a.        Nan B shared what her responsibilities as a delegate are in hopes of recruiting two more delegates and three alternates.  There are three meetings a year at council that must be attended and her job is to represent our service unit and report back to us any significant findings.  All open positions were filled at this Service Unit meeting.

b.        Kim W, Troop 1115, has volunteered to be organizer for Isom Elementary.  Organizers are responsible for getting the Interest Forms into the schools and collecting them from the school.  The organizer will then pass on the interest forms to existing troop leaders.  For those interest forms for which there is no existing troop, the organizer will be responsible for contacting the parents and finding a troop leader at each age level.  She will then make sure the new troop leader is informed about trainings available, Service Unit meetings, etc.  Organizers are the first person a troop leader should contact with questions.

c.        We are still in need of an Organizer for Our Lady.

d.       Tammy W, Troop 1425, has volunteered as co-registrar this year, and will take over Registrar responsibilities in 2006-2007.

Thank you, Ladies, for taking on this additional responsibility!  We will be a better Service Unit thanks to you!

7.        The Nominating Committee was tabled until the September meeting.

 

8.        Eunice, Membership Development Manager, provided information from Council about the Infinite Possibilities program for Older Girl Scouts and items which will soon be available at the Showcase for purchase.  She also talked about the Membership Rally to take place on August 13.  She asked whether everyone had received the ENews from Council and whether they had problems opening the document.  Problems with the ENews have hopefully been corrected and future editions will be readable by the membership.

 

9.        The registration packets for the new school year were handed out.  If any extra forms are needed please contact Sharon.  Please follow the directions supplied in the package carefully (alpha order) and return to Sharon by the September 19, 2005 deadline.

a.         She would appreciate if the forms were carefully filled out with the correct codes for easier processing.  The Council Code, Report Code and Association Number are printed on the label on the registration packets. 

b.        If our service unit increases our girl scouts numbers by 10% our service unit receives a bonus of .50 per girl and if our numbers increase by 15% we will receive a bonus of 1.00 per scout.  Please work on recruitment!  The bonus is to be used for a Thinking Day Event, or in the alternative, a program for GIRLS.

c.        In the registration packages are forms for each troop leader to fill out regarding the approximate budget for their troop this school year.  Please estimate to the best of your ability and track your funds carefully in order to assist with the end of year accounting chores.  This form must be turned in with the registration packet. 

d.       The Volunteer Application was revised this year.  This form must be completed by all NEW adult volunteers.  Council will be doing criminal background check this year.  Throw away any of the old Applications and reference forms you still have.  Applications for new volunteers must be turned in with the registration packets too. 

e.        Also to be turned in with registration packets is the FPS and Cookie moms’ names.  Prizes will be given to the first three registration packets turned in with all the correct forms, registration forms filled in completely and in the correct order, etc. 

f.         Call Sharon W if you have any questions about the registration packet!!!!!  DON’T FORGET THE FAMILY CAMPAIGN and the importance of supporting our Girl Scout Council.

 

Not covered at the meeting, but of interest anyway:

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION AT GSHCC

August 6 was a day of learning what the new Scout year holds for GSHCC.  Debbie Smith talked about the new application for volunteers and why Council is now doing criminal background checks.  Also covered was FPS, Cookie Sale, and what’s new at the Showcase.  There will be car flags that announce “Girl Scout Cookies” and table cloths that will cover your cookie booth card tables available for purchase at the Cookie Chair Trainings for $7-8 each.  They will be available in the Showcase for $10 after the trainings. 

 

ATTENDANCE

Attendance at Service Unit meetings should be mandatory for every troop leader.  However, we realize there are going to be conflicts and that you may not make it to every meeting.  Ask a co-leader or other registered adult to attend as your delegated representative should it be necessary for you to miss a meeting.  There is valuable information available at every monthly meeting for your troop and you don’t want to miss out.  Remember:  As a troop leader, set an example for your troop members by attending meetings; turning in required paperwork and money on time; and participating in trainings and events both at the Service Unit level and Council level.

 

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES

Sharon announced at the Service Unit Meeting that she was available to attend open houses to answer questions and recruit girl and adult members.  Unfortunately there are going to be conflicts and she may not be able to make every open house.  The display boards can be made available even when the Registrar and Co-Registrar cannot be there.  Contact Sharon to make arrangements to borrow the boards.  An open registration may be scheduled for later this fall for all the schools.  More about this later.

 

FIRE BUCKET AND DOOR PRIZE BUCKET

FIRE BUCKET:  For those burning questions that you need answered!  If you have a Girl Scout related question, or an issue within your troop that you need help with, write it on a card and drop into the Fire Bucket.  Your question or issue could become a Round Table topic, thrown out to the floor for comments, or handled by the Service Team (depending on the subject).  We only had one card from the August meeting and it is being addressed by the Service Team.  DOOR PRIZE BUCKET:  Drop your name into the bucket.  One name will be drawn and will win a door prize (in August it was a zippered binder won by Tina T. of Troop 211). 

 

I’m looking forward to a great new year!

Sharon Williams, Chairman/Registrar

 

NEXT MEETING:  Service Team – 6:00 p.m. – 8 September

Service Unit – 7:00 p.m. – 8 September