GS Express - September 2012 - Girl Scouts of West Central Florida

SEPTEMBER 2012
Extended Hours for the Resource Center and Tampa Girl Scout Store!
To better serve our members, we are offering extended hours every Monday and Tuesday for
our Resource Center and Girl Scout Store at the new Leadership Center. The new hours are 8:30
a.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through
Friday. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Fall/Winter Program Registration Begins Sept. 15!
Coming soon to your mailbox – the Fall/Winter Guide! The next installment in the popular
guide series is making its way to all Girl Scout households. Inside, you’ll find programs
exclusively for girls that run October, November, December and January. Registration begins
Sept. 15!
Register now for gs fest!
Join us as we celebrate Girl Scouts’ centennial in a BIG way! Our council’s signature 100 th
anniversary event – gs fest – is for girls, volunteers, families and the community at large. This is
THE EVENT to attend for our 100 th anniversary! Check out the main highlights below and register
early because the bridging is limited to only 2,500 Girl Scouts (girls and adults) and is filling up
fast! Click here to learn more about gs fest.
Highlights of the Day:
Morning: “Bridging into the Next 100 Years.” Join us for this exclusive-to-Girl Scouts bridging
ceremony over the Memorial Causeway Bridge. This exclusive ceremony is just $12/person and
includes a commemorative shirt and LOTS of swag! Limited to 2,500 people – sign up quickly!
All participants (girls and adults) must be registered Girl Scout members. Deadline to
register for the bridging ceremony is Oct. 5.
Late-Morning to Afternoon: Following the bridging ceremony, we’ll have an afternoon filled
with live music and activities at Coachman Park. gs fest attendees will enjoy performances from

our line-up of hit entertainers: Casey Weston, Savvy and Caroline Kole (formerly Suite
Caroline)!
Calling All Girl Scouts!
Have you ever imagined yourself on the big screen? Here’s your chance to make it a reality!
Click here to get the details.
Want to participate in a staple of Girl Scout tradition at gs fest? Help celebrate Girl Scouts by
being part of a flag ceremony series that will culminate in a flag ceremony at gs fest on Oct. 27.
All participating girls will be first in line at each of the gs fest performers’ meet-and greets! Click
here for more information!
Participating in the Bridging Ceremony at gs fest? Remember to Renew!
The bridging ceremony is an exclusive-to-Girl Scouts event. Only members (girls and adults)
registered for the 2012-2013 program year can participate. If you haven’t renewed your
membership, it’s not too late! You can renew your membership 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. Simply log in to the Online Registration System (ORS) to complete the process.
Membership is still only $12 for the entire year!
Click here to register now for the 2013 membership year using the ORS.
LPGA – Legends Tour Open Championship
Enjoy a day on the links watching golf legends! The LPGA Legends
Pro-Am tournament is Nov. 8 – 11 with a Healthy Living Expo on
Nov. 9. Tickets are $20 each, 2 for $35 and 6 for $100. All ticket
proceeds benefit Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. Tickets
are available at all AAA outlets.
For more information contact Rebecca Pruitt: rpruitt@gswcf.org
or 1-800-281-4475, ext. 1759.
Save the Date: Alumnae Reception
Nov. 17: 1 – 5 p.m.
Join fellow Girl Scout alumnae on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 1 - 5
p.m. at the Leadership Center (4610 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa
33634) for a building tour and a 100 th Anniversary Celebration
especially for alumnae.
Come relive memories of your Girl Scout experience from “days
gone by,” earn a patch and learn who and what Girl Scouts are
today. There will be exhibits, activities, memories, SWAPS and
more!
Mark your calendar now for this important day for Girl Scout
alumnae in west central Florida. Click here register, today!
For more information contact Rebecca Pruitt: rpruitt@gswcf.org, or (800) 881-4475.
gs Silver Award Deadline!
Girls completing the Silver Award under the old “STUDIO 2B” guidelines who have just bridged
to become Seniors (going into grade 9) have until Sept. 30 to complete their Silver Award.
Silver Award final paperwork is due no later than Sept. 30 to council. Any paperwork
that is received afterwards will not be accepted. Paperwork can be mailed or dropped off at

the Leadership Center (4610 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa 33634), emailed
(avandenzen@gswcf.org), or faxed to (813) 262-1599.
If you need more information, have questions about the process, or need copies of paperwork,
please visit our Silver Award webpage, or contact Amber Van Denzen:
avandenzen@gswcf.org, or (813) 262-1599.
Troop Leaders: Renew Your Membership by Sept. 24
Don’t miss out on all of the great memories you will make with your troop this year in Girl
Scouts of West Central Florida because your membership lapsed. We want to keep you in the
GSWCF family!
Here are the steps you should take and dates to be aware of:
Renew your membership online before September 24. If you do not renew by then,
you will not be able to access troop management online.
Re-register all returning girls in your troop before September 26. If you do not reregister
the girls in your troop by this date, they will drop off your troop roster and the
parents of each girl will have to renew the girls individually.
Calling All Passionate Volunteers!
You know why you volunteer with Girl Scouts of West Central Florida: FOR THE GIRLS - the
hugs, the smiles, the memories. You know the pride in seeing the girls grow and learn and lead.
Would you share your experience with others? We are looking for passionate volunteers
willing to share their experiences in a videotaped testimonial. As an experienced
volunteer, you are the best advocate for the benefits of Girl Scouting. The testimonials will be
posted on our website as a means of encouraging others to volunteer. You will be provided a few
questions in advance to help you prepare your thoughts. Taping will be at our new offices – we’ll
give you a tour, a treat and a special thank you gift. No acting experience required! This will be
a very informal, relaxing conversation. If you would like to participate, please contact Jennie
Jordan: jjordan@gswcf.org, or (813) 262-1775. We can’t wait to hear about your Girl Scout
experience!
Share the Joy – Facebook Contest!
If you’re on Facebook, look for a new contest starting today! Share a link with your friends about
volunteering with the Girl Scouts and you could WIN a $50 gift card! See the Facebook post for
details. If you are not a Girl Scout Facebook friend, click here to connect.
Access Volunteer Tools
Are you a Girl Scout volunteer? Build a brighter future for girls by logging on to
GirlScouts.org/Tools4U, where you’ll find a wealth of online resources: the Make Your Own
badge site, My Girl Scout Calendar app, an online library of badges, and a cool
communications tool.
Family Partnership News!
Congratulations to Joining Rivers and Land O’Lakes
communities! They are our 2011-2012 winners of the Sisterhood of the
Traveling Sash Award. Great job, teams! At Membership Kickoff in
August, they were both awarded the sashes along with $300. The
competition for the new membership year is well underway. Please
support your troop and your community by making a Family Partnership
donation today. We had new winners this past year and we’re excited to
see how the new program year will shape up!

When you contribute to the Family Partnership Campaign, you are confirming that you support
all of the girls in our membership area and are standing firmly behind our mission. Your dollars
go to support our scholarship programs to allow every girl who wants the opportunity to
participate in Girl Scouting, a chance to do so. You are also ensuring that we can continue to
offer our science, technology and math programs, as well as providing maintenance dollars for
our camps.
A donation of $25 will earn the first Family Partnership patch and for families with more than
one girl, an additional $5 per girl will get patches for everyone. If you have any questions or
would like more information about Family Partnership, please contact Betty Blair:
bblair@gswcf.org, or (813) 262-1785.
Nominations Due Sept. 10
An annual tradition, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida’s Women of Distinction Award honors and
celebrates outstanding local women, linking leaders of today with the future leaders we are
developing through Girl Scouting. Additionally, in recognition of our 100th Anniversary, the
Inaugural Woman of Promise Award will be awarded in 2013 to a young woman under age 35, in
addition to four Women of Distinction.
We invite you to nominate an extraordinary woman to be considered for either award. You may
make a nomination for both categories. To be considered, nominees must live within Girl Scouts
of West Central Florida’s geographic boundaries (Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco,
Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties). Nominees must agree to attend the luncheon in person on
March 19, 2013 to accept the award. Nominees are not required to be or to have been Girl
Scouts. Nomination forms are due by Monday, Sept. 10.
Winners will be honored at the 2013 Women of Distinction Luncheon on March 19, 2013.
Delegate Elections
Community managers received their election packages at the membership kick-off in early
August, or via snail mail shortly thereafter. Submit your election rosters by Oct. 5 to the
executive assistant at the Leadership Center (4610 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa 33634). Email or
fax them to ksandy@gswcf.org, or (813) 262-1771. Rosters will be accepted after Oct. 5 and
until Dec. 31, but delegates on rosters submitted after Oct. 5 may not receive their personal
meeting notice card.
Remember – we are girl-led Movement, so plan to include some girls age 14 and older in your
governance functions. See the election packet instructions for ways you can include girls in your
governance.
Area Association Meetings in October!
Area association meetings will be the last week of October at a location near you. Because
volunteers asked for it and supported it, we are again offering a daytime area association
meeting at our Leadership Center. It’s not taking the place of any of the evening meetings –
this is an extra meeting, and like all area association meetings, it’s open to all registered Girl
Scouts age 14 and above.

Meetings will be from 7-9 p.m. except as noted:
Area A Thurs., Oct. 25 Wesley Chapel Toyota (Meeting Room), 5300 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley
…………………………………………Chapel
Area B Thurs., Oct. 25 Camp Wai Lani, Palm Harbor
Area C Thurs., Oct. 25 St. Paul United Methodist Church (Life Enrichment Center
………………………………………..Community Room), 1199 Highland Ave., Largo
Area D Tues., Oct. 23 St. Petersburg Community Church, 4501 30 th Ave. N., St. Petersburg
Area E Wed., Oct. 24 Leadership Center, 4610 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa
Area F Wed., Oct. 24 Temple Crest Civic Association, 4242 Miller Ave., Tampa
Area G Thurs., Oct. 25 Brandon Christian Church, 910 Bryan Rd., Brandon
Area H Tues., Oct. 23 St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 1839 NE 8 th Rd., Ocala
Area I Thurs., Oct 25 (New location!) First United Methodist Church Youth Building, 109 S.
. Broad St., Brooksville
Area J Tues., Oct 23 TBA Church, 1815 County Road 540A, Lakeland
Area K Thurs., Oct. 25 Hope Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall), 2110 Cypress
Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven
All Areas:
Thurs., Oct. 25, 10 a.m. Leadership Center, 4610 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa
Remember, if the meeting for your specific area isn’t convenient, you may attend whichever
meeting is convenient to you. Each meeting will have the same agenda!
Community Kudos!
Congratulations to the following communities who have met or exceeded their girl membership
goals for 2011 – 2012!
Region A/B – Pasco & North Pinellas Counties
Land O’Lakes – 111% of goal
Sand Eagles – 115% of goal
Beautiful Waters –111% of goal
Region C/D – Central & South Pinellas County
Shining Waters – 102% of goal
Region E/F – Hillsborough County
Rising Daisies –105% of goal
Sunburst – 124% of goal
Sunset Scouts – 104% of goal
Toppercrest –101% of goal
Tierra del Sol –106% of goal
Region G – East Hillsborough County
Beautiful Butterflies – 100% of goal
Fossil Valley – 102% of goal
Sacajawea – 130% of goal
Region H – Marion County
Land of the Silver Moon – 100% of goal
Region J/K – Polk County

Lakeland Golden Star – 110% of goal
Citrus Ridge – 105% of goal
Magical Dreamers – 210% of goal
PALS – 101% of goal
Winter Haven –101% of goal
Upcoming Trainings in September:
A Hard Pill to Swallow
Sept. 8, First United Methodist Church, Pinellas Park
Basic Outdoor Leadership Training (BOLT)
Sept. 22-23, Camp Wai Lani, Palm Harbor
Oct. 13 – 14, Camp Dorothy Thomas, Riverview
Nov. 10 – 11, Camp Wildwood, Wildwood
Bullying Prevention
Sept. 8, First United Methodist Church, Pinellas Park
Sept. 29, Camp Indian Echo, Hudson
Community Liaison
Sept. 5, Wesley Chapel Toyota
CPR/First Aid Certification
Sept. 15, United Way of Marion County, Ocala
Sept. 15, Seven Oaks Professional Center, Wesley Chapel
Sept. 23, Mease Countryside Hospital
Oct. 20, United Way of Marion County, Ocala
Nov. 17, Lamb of God Church, Lithia
Delegate Training
Sept. 21, webinar
Oct. 11, webinar
Digital Danger
Oct. 10, webinar
Event/Camp Coordinator Training
Sept. 27, Plant City Troop House
GSLE Coach
Sept. 19, Wesley Chapel Toyota
Managing Troops/Groups
Sept. 8, Belleview United Methodist Church, Belleview
Sept. 20, Palm Harbor University High School, Palm Harbor
Sept. 29, Camp Indian Echo, Hudson
Sept. 29, United Way of Marion County, Ocala
Oct. 9, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Ocala
Nov. 17, Lamb of God Church, Lithia
Small Craft Safety Canoe

Sept. 8, Camp Scoutcrest, Odessa
Nov. 10, Camp Scoutcrest, Odessa
Small Craft Safety Kayak
Sept. 22, Camp Scoutcrest, Odessa
Take Action Adult Workshop
Sept. 14, webinar
Oct. 6, First Christian Church, Ocala
Traveling Troops
Sept. 8, Belleview United Methodist Church, Belleview
Sept. 8, First United Methodist Church, Pinellas Park
Sept. 24, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Ocala
Sept. 29, United Way of Marion County, Ocala
Sept. 29, Camp Indian Echo, Hudson
Oct. 18, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Ocala
Nov. 17, Lamb of God Church, Lithia
Troop Pathway Coordinator
Sept. 19, Wesley Chapel Toyota
Wilderness Training: Session 1
Sept. 15, Camp Dorothy Thomas, Riverview
Wilderness Training: Session 2
Nov. 10, Plant City Troop House
Working with Girl Scouts CSA
Sept. 8, First United Methodist Church, Pinellas Park
Sept. 17, Highland's Baptist Church, Ocala
Sept. 19, Hillsborough Community College at The Regent
Sept. 29, Camp Indian Echo, Hudson
Working with Girl Scouts DBJ
Sept. 11, Highland's Baptist Church, Ocala
Sept. 17, Highland's Baptist Church, Ocala
Sept. 20, Leadership Center, Tampa
Sept. 29, Camp Indian Echo, Hudson
A complete list of all upcoming trainings can be found through our Online Registration
System.