Leader Meeting Minutes 5/21/14

Meeting Called to Order:  7:45 pm

Attendance:  Debbie Nearing (73891), Kristin Puliafico (85118), Ruth Kennedy (73899), Anne Valade, Sarah Stetson (76213), Marnie Littleford (78181), Lindsay Felix (76211), Bridget Easler (76212), Kim Fischer (85337), Kristin Lamont (85193 and 71880), Kerstin March, Melissa Lally (85118), Amy Kelly  (73897 and 71901)

Financial Forms for each troop are due to Kristin Puliafico no later than June 15.

The basic idea of the form is for council to determine what troops are spending their money on:  project supplies, field trips, uniforms, etc.  Form is available on line at Girl Scouts of Eastern MA under "resource library and forms".  Contact Kristin with questions:  kscott1104@aol.com

Memorial Day Parade is Monday May 26.  Arrive at the Building on the Common at 9:45am for the 10am start.  Please remind parents to use sunscreen on the girls, have the girls wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared with a water bottle if it's very warm. 

PLEASE REMEMBER, per the Parade Committee, and the Girl Scouts of Eastern MA, North Reading Girl Scouts, as well as other organizations, are NOT to throw candy while walking!  If your troop wants to hand out an item, think about handing out flowers, pencils, or some other non-food item.

North Reading Girl Scout Fly Up is Monday, June 16 from 7-8:30pm at NRHS Auditorium.  Daisies are now included in this Fly Up!

Please bring your troop banner and have girls arrive early in their GS uniforms, no later than 6:45 pm.  If your troop is flying up, please email Anne Valade immediately to let her know you plan to attend ( annevalade@comcast.net).  Also, a list of all the girls and adult leaders needs to be sent to Deb Nearing ( bcednearing@comcast.net) for inclusion in the program.  To have PHOTOS in the slide show, send those photos to Kristen Lamont ASAP at  kristinlamont@yahoo.com.

And troops are asked to bring 2 dozen baked goods or cookies to share at the reception immediately following the ceremony.

As a reminder, North Reading Girl Scouts will have a small gift for each girl who is flying up and participating in the ceremony.  If troop leaders also want to give out a gift to their troop members, please wait for a private time to hand those out.  Please do not hand gifts out at Fly Up as this has created an issue in the past with other girls from other troops feeling left out if their troop didn't do the same.  Thank you!

Town Hall Veggie Gardens:

This is an important project between NR Girl Scouts, The NR Food Pantry and NR Garden Club. 

Beds are all turned and will be planted on Saturday, May 24 at 9:00am.  If you are available, please come and help.  We need TOMATO CAGES or SUPPORTS.  If you have an extra one or can donate one, please contact Ruth Kennedy (ruthekennedy@gmail.com). 

Also, the gardens will need to be watered all summer.  Troops are asked to pick a week and plan to water the garden beds several times (depending on weather) that week.  There is no water source, so you will need to bring your own water.  Re-use gallon milk containers (or similar) to bring water with you.  Have at least 10 gallons of water.

Encampment:

All troops attending have a folder of information.  The blue form lists where troops are assigned.  Also, please refer to this sheet for all emergency and contact information.

Each troop should have bandanas for each girl in their troop.  AC Moore is a good source for this item.  Bandanas hold back the girls' hair from the campfire (and there will be a campfire).

Further details on a "what to pack" list, the schedule of activities, and more are all included in the folder of information.

Troops should bring their own food.  Plan according to the schedule.

Also in folder is the white Troop Attendance List form.  Please complete this form and return to Deb Nearing at check in the day of encampment.  SAVE A COPY for yourself.

The Yellow Form is a GS Eastern MA form and needs to be returned for each girl also on the day of check in.

Troops coming for just the day have a PINK Packing list.  The Overnight list is on an ivory colored paper.

There is a map of the facility in the folder as well as a detailed list of facility resources (refrigeration, etc).

REMINDERS to all girls in attendance:  please leave electronic devices at home.  Girls should not have cell phones or other devices with them.   Girls should NOT bring their GS uniforms.

SWAPS (Some Whatchamacallit Affectionately Pinned)  The swapping of SWAPS is an encampment highlight!  Each girl should bring at least 10 SWAPS to exchange with other Girl Scouts.  Melissa Lally is having a SWAPS workshop on Sunday June 1 from 2-4pm in the Library Activity Room.  Stop by any time during those hours. This event is for girls attending encampment only.

If you still have Cookie Sale Incentives that you have not picked up, email Kerstin March.   march.family@verizon.net  Please make sure that if you have cookie credits from 2012-2013, they expire on June 30, 2014!  They must be used or you will lose them.

Meeting Adjourn 9:15pm