This site last updated on 5/31/13
By now, most of the troops have received their early bird packets and cookie incentives. Your next step is to distribute incentives and have parents sign the form, have parents fill out registration forms and leaders enter them into EBIZ, complete your annual finance report covering June 1, 2012 - May 31, 2013, complete your troop progression form(s); volunteers agreements for all 01, 02 and 03's; annual reviews for all 01 and 02's; and bring everything at one time to your June Area Meeting for Paper Push.
The Area Registrars, Treasurers and Chairs will be checking and verifying your information. Additional forms will also be available at the area meetings and at the office. Be sure to bring the extra copies of the submitted forms as indicated on your packet. If you cannot attend your area meeting, you can always turn in your paperwork at any one of the other area meetings or on the specific paper push at the office.
If you are dropping your paper push items off in the office early, please be sure to bring all the forms and reports in the envelope you received them in so the appropriate area representatives can sign off their sections.
Please do not use the old girl or adult registration forms. The membership fee is now $15 and the new forms should be used.
Get acquainted with the program now, you’ll need it for Early Bird registrations!
Early Bird Registration began April 16 and ends June 28. The registration fee will increase to $15 per girl/adult, so plan accordingly when budgeting for the end of year trip and community service projects.
With EBIZ, you can register for programs and events, adult trainings, and submit girl and adult membership. Troop leaders will also have the ability to manage their troop member records! To get started, please follow our walkthrough tutorial below which will give you step-by-step directions on how to activate your account, sign up for
events or trainings and how to register or renew your membership. Click here to get started with EBIZ.
The registered 01 (leader) in the troop can click on the troop management link and the current troop roster will be displayed. You can actually send emails to your members and print membership cards too!
Questions or issues, click on this link: helpdesk@gssgc.org
That’s a very good question and we have the answers. Policy states that within 30 days of the decision to disband your troop, troop leadership must submit a report along with all records, a Troop Finance Report, troop non-expendable equipment and remaining troop funds to Council.
Just come into the office and meet with Mary or Jewel. They will provide you the Disbanded Troop Report and explain any questions you may have with the steps to be completed.
Disbanding of troops includes girls graduating out to adults, leaders who can’t find anyone to take over leadership, troop divorces, troops not meeting the minimum requirements of a troop, etc.
Start your planning now. If you are disbanding after paper push in June, and you are not returning in October, your disbanding paperwork must be completed and turned in prior to October 1. Do not distribute any funds or equipment without prior approval from the office.
Troop 1334 has a few open spots in their reservations for this camp on Wednesday, June 12. The times are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cadettes, or 5th grade Juniors, can enjoy an exciting day participating in archery, horses, canoes, loco ropes and a high climbing wall. In addition, a scrumptious homemade pizza and salad bar lunch is provided. All this for $35 per person. The camp is in Big Bear. For more information, please contact Ruth Coe at (760) 249-5234. Parents are allowed to attend.
As you start planning for summer activities, please be aware that some required forms have been updated and are now available on the website. Be sure to look for the 2013 updates and discard any prior forms you may have in your possession:
This year's Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recogntions will take place at the Bear Creek Golf Club, 22640 Bear Creek Dr., North Murietta on Saturday, June 8, 2013 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dress is Girl Scout Uniform or Business Attire.
Please RSVP with $35 payment per person for luncheon. For more information, contact Leonard at llongo@gssgc.org.
Proceeds from the sale of your tax-deductible basket donation benefit Girl Scout programming in your community. To submit a basket donation or for more information, please contact Cindy at choltbusch@gssgc.org or David at dmaxfield@gssgc.org.
The High Desert Region and several areas are submitting baskets. If your troop, or you individually would like to donate towards a basket, please bring your donated items into the office before Friday, May 31. Please attach a note with your items identifying the value of the items. Baskets and basket items can also be brought to your May area meeting. Apple Valley Area is doing a wine and cheese basket, Hesperia Area is doing a Starbucks basket, and the Region is doing a Disaster Preparedness basket.
The BIG Expo features Girl Scout program areas where scouts can work on the necessary requirements for completing a badge. For the 5th Annual BIG Expo, January 11, 2014. GIRLS will be designing future badges that all other attendees will work on. Here’s how this will work:
Each region will decide how to advertise, collect and chose which badge from your region will be worked on at the BIG Expo. The badge should be something relating to the future of the Girl Scout movement. It doesn’t matter what grade-level the original badge was created in, Council will apply the badge to all grade levels.
In addition, each region can hold other contests (that are fun), of other futuristic Girl Scout related things. Suggestions include, but are not limited to, designing a uniform of the future, a diorama of a future meeting space, design a new Girl Scout logo for the next 100 years, etc.
Regions will have space at the BIG Expo to display all entries from the fun contests if they want to – but all 5 regions will need to be in agreement on whether or not to display entires (We will not have 3 out of 5 regions represented, and so forth.)
The regions MUST submit their winners by JUNE 26, 2013 regarding the badge that will be worked on at the BIG Expo. Fun contest entries will need to be received at the Redlands office no later than November 1, 2013 to be displayed at the BIG Expo.
For additional information, please contact Lindy at celebrationsbylindy@msn.com.
Attached you will find the link to tell us what worked and what didn't work for you in the Fall 2012 Sale and the 2013 Cookie Sale. District Managers please share this with your troops. Troops, please share this with your families. Families please share this with your girls.
We would love to have your input for our exciting new Product Sales Year 2013-2014!! We can't wait to hear from you.
https://girlscoutsgssgc.wufoo.com/forms/20122013-sale-survey/
Please be sure to download or pick up a copy of the 2012 Revision to Policies and Procedures. Printed copies will be available at the Area Meetings. Here are some of the changes that may directly affect your troop.
1) The minimum size of a troop/group for Daisy's, Brownies, Junior's and Cadette's shall be no less than 5 girls and 2 adults.
2) The minimum size of a troop/group for Senior and Ambassador girl's shall be no less than 3 girls and 2 adults.
IF at any time a troop/group drops below the needed number of registered persons, they will have 60 days to become compliant or must register the remaining girls as Individually registered girls.
The designation of a troop/group (i.e. D,B,Jr.,C,S or A) shall be dependent on the majority of registered girls in an age level.
In regards to multi-age/grade level troop/groups: Grade level specifics apply at all times (i.e. money earning activity guidelines shall apply to specific levels, extended trip rules, partioning of funds, etc.)
A volunteer may be released if:
The personal conduct of the volunteer does not comply with the high code of ethics and conduct as definede in the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
In addition, unacceptable volunteer behavior that may be cause of immediate suspension or termination shall include, but is not limited to:
m) Willful misuse of Council, Regional and/or troop group funds or credit/debit cards as defined by council staff and the CEO.
Whether governance or operational, a volunteer will be automatically discharged if a registered sex offender becomes part of their household.
Smoking in non-designated areas or in the presence of girls is prohibited. As per California state law, you must be a minimum of 50 feet away from a non-smoker when smoking. As a Girl Scout volunteer you may, at no time, leave the girls without the correct Safety Wise - Safety Activity Checkpoints ratio for the purpose of smoking.
All money earning funds are Troop funds and not individual girl monies.
When a troop/group disbands, (and it is realistic to expect that the troop/group may reorganize), all of a troop/groups funds shall be held in a council restricted account for one year.
If a troop/group reorganizes (as a whole) within the same year as they disband, they may request in writing from the Council to have all monies previously affiliated with the troop/group returned to the troop/group. If individual troop members re-register in another troop, in that same year, a percentage of the troop funds will follow into the new troop.
No troop/group reorganization, and/or troop/group disbanding will be allowed during Product Sales programming periods. If a troop/group splits or separates into multiple troop/groups, the CEO or designated council staff retains the right to mediate an equitable division of the assets.
All financial records belonging to a troop/group must be readily available to any troop member or council representative requesting inspection at any time.
A minimum of three (3) signatures will be required on all bank accounts; one council staff (as designated by the CEO) and at least two troop/group level registered members must be one of those signing. The troop/group level signers will be responsible for the day to day handling of troop/group funds.
If bank signers are related by blood or marriage, living in the same household or sharing a domestic partnership, then a non related or unaffiliated adult must be a second signer on the troop/group account.
Examples of money earning activities that are NOT appropriate for Girl Scout troops/groups include:
>Script (unless parents wish to choose or designate their troop as a recipient for Script, this is permissible)
A "Money Earning Activity: Troop Application" . . . MUST be completed and submitted . . . for approval prior to initiation of any money earning activity a minimum of 30 days prior to an event or the activity will not be approved and will be cancelled.
For older girl troops/groups (i.e. bridging Juniors, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador levels) working individually towards Extended Trip Travel or older girl packages, funds may be partitioned and tracked by each individual girl under the umbrella of the troop/group account. Partitioned accounts must be approved by the VP of Product and Retail Sales, must be agreed upon by the troop/group as a whole and have a contract on file with the council.
If a girl leaves the troop, partitioned funds will follow the girl to her new troop or to her Girl Scout My Way Pathway fund (only if she is continuing on the agreed upon activity).
Once credits leave the Juliette Pathway funds, and become troop/group funds, pathway credits cannot be reversed or returned to Juliette Pathway credits.
Extended trips are intended to be girl planned, girl led, girl learning experiences. They are not intended as a family experience. Any adult acting as a chaperone on an extended trip must be a registered and trained Girl Scout volunteer.
If chaperones will be paid for by troop/group funds, then only the Safety Wise and Safety Activity Checkpoint ratios may be paid for with troop funds.
Permission to use troop funds to pay for adults must be granted by 100% of the girls attending the trip.
Extended trips are trips involving more than two (2) nights and or more than 700 miles round-trip or any place outisde the continental United States.
If you are planning any trips where a rental car is needed, please be sure to follow Policies and Procedures in regards to rentals.
• Whenever a vehicle is chartered, leased, or rented to transport girls for any Girl Scout activity, a certificate stating proof insurance and proof of the most recent maintenance must be on file at the Council Service Center prior to departure.
• All required transportation contracts and/or agreements binding on the council MUST be submitted to the Council Service Center for approval, and MUST be signed by a person authorized by the Council Board of Directors.
• Troops are NOT able to rent vehicles that are not normally available for retail sale i.e. passenger vans of more than 8 seats. Specifically the 12-15 passenger vans. In order to lawfully operate these vehicles the driver would need a Class B license along with a Passenger Transport Endorsement.
Graduating High School Seniors can apply for their Girl Scout Lifetime Membership at the current price of $156 until October 1, 2013. After that date, the price goes up for both graduating seniors and adults. Applications for Lifetime Membership Scholarships are available at the area meetings and in the office. Deadline to submit is June 15.
Carroll Hoskins is looking for volunteers to help plan and run a day camp for this coming summer (June 17-21). If you are interested, please let the Area Chairs know at your upcoming meeting or contact Carroll directly at cruzncarroll@verizon.net. Please put the words "Day Camp" in the subject line of the email. Leaders, please share this information with your parents in case any of them are interested. Older girls wanting to help must have completed Program Aide training prior to the day camp.
Many troops are planning their summer camping experience and/or end of year troop trip. Here are some things to remember and consider before finalizing your trip:
Forms
Guidelines
Equipment available to check out
Transporting girls
You will need to complete the INTENT TO EVENT (I2E) package (4 pages) that includes the Application, Activity Details, Budget Worksheet, and a Signature page and a Flyer to advertise your event.
Did you know that we have an event committee who are very willing to help guide you through the process and give you tips to make your event a success? Our High Desert Event Chair is Nancy Baumbusch. You may contact Nancy at (snowline_sa@yahoo.com).
• At least 90 days before -- Complete the I2E, all four pages. Pay special attention to the budget section. You will need to charge the right amount; enough to cover the expenses but not so much that you have excessive leftovers. (Fund raising is a different subject.) Scan and email a copy of the packet to Nancy at (snowline_sa@yahoo.com) AND place a printed copy in the “Events” folder in the HD Office.
• Prepare a flyer (pdf format) for the Event Committee to review at their next meeting (the first Wednesday of every month.) Be sure to include: who, what, when, where, and why.
• Once the EVENT, DATE and LOCATION are approved by the committee, you will hear back from Nancy. You are confirmed to start the FUN stuff!
The “INTENT TO EVENT” package is printable on the GSSGC website under the Forms and Resources section under “Just for Volunteers”.
Please do not come to the Committee meeting the month before you want to hold an Event and expect it to be approved – you will force us to deny your request. To hold a successful event, the information must make it to the leaders and volunteers in time for everyone to make plans to attend.
With the new requirements for every troop having to turn in a monthly financial report at their area meeting, a new form has been designed to make your reporting easier. By completing and turning in your monthly financials on a regular basis, you will find that completing your end of year financial in June to be much easier. We've also included Troop Financial Report Instructions.
Here is a link for a monthly financial form.
Here is a link for another monthly financial form. You can use whichever one you choose, as long as one of them is turned in monthly to your area financial coordinator.
Here is a link for the annual Troop Finance Report.
Monthly area meetings are held at seven locations throughout the High Desert in order to keep the troop leaders, co-leaders and parents informed of what is happening in our Region. It is important that every troop is represented by either a leader, co-leader or parent at one of the monthly area meetings.
Remember, as a leader or co-leader, you agreed to "meet with appropriate groups on a regular basis for ongoing support and evaluation" when you signed your Volunteer Agreement. These groups include the area meetings as well as Regional meetings and trainings.
We are continuing to encourage troops to present a Girl Scout of the Month Certificate to one girl each month. The form is a little different this year because it embraces our theme of "Juliette's Pink Lagoon". Check it out and use it!
This checklist provides information on the trainings and forms needed for activities such as: overnight trips, cookouts, day trips, troop/group camping, extended trips and regional encampments. Dowload this helpful resource.
Kelly Bergstrom wrote the new patch program called "Girls On Target", the name being spun off of the Friends of NRA "Women on Target" program. With approval of the patch program for girls 12 and over, Kelly held the first program on March 23rd. Currently, the only approved site for this program is the Apple Valley Gun Club at their indoor range.
Leaders interested in participating in the program should contact their local Girl Scout office for more information. The Application for Markmanship Program must be submitted to the CEO 30 days prior to the event for approval.
Coming in November, a program for young ladies in grades 8-12. Are you on the right road to success? Get the real life skills needed to create the foundation for your success. If you would like to be a member on the planning committee, please contact Karen Early at klegs4life@aol.com.
This form is now fillable, savable and e-mailable. Please discard any older Special Activity Forms you may currently have and begin using this form. When planning your trips for this summer, make sure your troop meets all the qualifications and the proper paperwork is turned in ahead of time.
Special Activity Forms are due into the High Desert office 72 business hours prior to your trip. Make sure your 1st Aider has current certification and if you are going on a trip over 24 hours or doing any form of cooking, you must have a HGGO/BOT trained person attending with you. Their training must be completed at least 60 days prior to your trip. Check and double-check safetywise, safety checkpoints and policies and procedures for distances, girl/adult ratios, trainings and other important information.
Remember, a Special Activity Form MUST be filled out every time you do something with your girls that is different in time and location from what was filled out on your Membership Dues Summary Form. Yes, even if you change the day, times or location of your meeting - you must fill out this form. Don't put yourself or your girls at risk by not following procedures. Special Activity Forms and Camping Forms require approval, not just submission.
If you are emailing your form, it should be sent to chart@gssgc.org.
The blue SafetyWise book has been updated into the new Safety Activity Checkpoints. From this point forward, in completing your Special Activity Form, you will need to reference these Safety Activity Checkpoints as well as the current copy of the Policy and Procedures and Safety Wise. The Safety Wise book can continue to be used; however, the Checkpoints have more updated and accurate information for the activities.
In the space on the Special Activity Form where the page numbers are requested, please indicate the chapter title from Safety Activity Checkpoints and the section in Policy and Procedures pertaining to your particular activity in addition to any Safety Wise pages you researched. Information on Girl/Adult ratios for meetings are indicated in your Basic Leadership Training packet.
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Teams of Volunteers will meet monthly based on Area. Leaders, it is important that a troop representative attends these meetings regularly to receive important information and materials and to have your questions and concerns addressed by your Area Team. Information on upcoming events will be shared during the monthly area meetings. Here is the schedule for the meetings:
Ft. Irwin Scout Hut
Pizza Factory in Phelan (only for June Meeting)
Girl Scout Office in Victorville
NOTE: June meeting will be at the Girl Scout Office in Victorville
Girl Scout Office in Victorville
Needles Scout hut
Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, 1301 East Mountain View St., Barstow
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Be sure to periodically check the Council Events Calendar for other opportunities throughout the regions of Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council.
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This training must be taken by any adult wanting to be a leader, co/assistant leader and anyone working with money. 01’s 02’s 03’s. Please sign up under Events Calendar or contact Jan Gilbert at the Redlands office (800) 400-4475.
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Does your troop have some interesting activities scheduled? Has your troop been making a difference in the Community? Let us know! Your troop may just be featured in the Blog on our Council Website or on our Facebook Page. Click here to submit your stories to GSSGC.
Pathways - Are you interested in being involved in setting up travel trips, series programs, special interest groups, etc? If so, please contact Laura Baca to find out how you can help. gshdpathways@gmail.com
Flag Ceremonies - The Soroptimist Club in Hesperia is looking for troops to do flag ceremonies on a monthly basis. If you are interested, please contact Shaun Rickerl at rickerlzoo@verizon.net.
Summer Camp Experiences - The Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio believes every girl should experience Girl Scout camp and provides opportunities through the Girl Scout Product Sale Program for girls to fully pay for their experience. Exciting Girl Scout summer adventures await you!
Camp Azalea Trails is open to all Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts ages 7 to 18. We serve girls from diverse areas and backgrounds. No matter what your interest, you are sure to find a great experience at Camp Azalea Trails. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. When you go to camp, great things happen. Camp is designed to give EVERY girl the chance to succeed, build friendships, challenge herself and have fun.
For more information and the camp brochure, check the website at: http://gssgccamp.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/camp-2013-book_online.pdf. Opportunities are also available for camp staff. Please contact Joyce Knoll at jknoll@gssgc.org.
Check out the Council Region Flickr Page to see photos from recent events. Once photo submissions are sent in, the High Desert will get their own Region Flickr Page for pictures to be added to and viewed. We welcome you to share your photos with us. Please submit photos from your troop activities and events to be posted on our Flickr. Click here to submit your photos. Mark the GSSGC Girls page as one of your favorites. For the safety of Girl Scouts online, you must be a "friend" of GSSGC Girls on Flickr in order to download and print photos.
Have questions? Comments? Need some advice? Want to get in touch with other Leaders in the area? Click here to join us on Facebook. Search for and "like" Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council, HD Girl Scouts Product Sales and HD Girl Scouts to follow along with what's happening in the High Desert and throughout our Council.
We're looking for volunteers (01, 02, 03 and 14's) to become members of the High Desert Region Committee Teams. You can help with product sales, award recognitions, recruitment, events, camp, and mentoring. Positions are available in all city Areas. For more detailed information on the High Desert Volunteer Delivery Structure, please click here.
For information on the various committees you can join and their position descriptions, please follow the individual links below. If you are interested, please contact Mary or Jewel or sign up at the upcoming Area Meetings.
Area Chairpersons
Apple Valley Area - Carroll Hoskins - cruzncarroll@verizon.net (760) 617-8063
Desert Mirage Area - Elaine Lambert - jeffelaine@verizon.net (760) 255-2970
Ft. Irwin Area - Frances Gutierrez - francesrgutierrez@yahoo.com (760) 447-1705
Hesperia Area - Jennifer Rodriguez - jro112978@aol.com (760) 881-9524
Needles Area - Nancy Guffey - guffman@citilink.net (760) 577-4210
Snowline Area - Lindy Stottlemyer - celebrationsbylindy@msn.com (760) 949-6779
Desert Breeze Area - Jocelyn Encarnacion - henrynjo@hotmail.com (760) 780-5075
