Pre-ordering does not constitute a financial commitment.

Girls man a table outside the store where they will hand out lists of needed items to arriving shoppers.  Donations are deposited in large barrels placed in front of the table. Operation Shoebox staffers deliver all required materials, set up, and pick up art the end of the shopping spree.

Help is needed between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm. In some instances, you will need to be responsible for picking up the table, money jugs, shopping lists and other materials as well as returning donated items to OPSHBX NJ headquarters.

CONTACT:   Rod Hirsch, opshbxnj@yahoo.com, (908) 698-0333

VES PTA is looking for MCs and back-stage helpers for the first annual Montgomery's Got Talent Variety Show to be held on April 23rd and 30th. If you would like to audition or help, please contact Mrs. Michaelson at anniemichaelson@yahoo.com

Don't miss out on this exciting event to be held on Sunday, February 21st from 12 to 3 PM at the OHES cafetorium.

Looking for service hours? Village School's annual New Years Around the World party is back and needs Girl Scout help! The event is planned for Friday January 29th from 7-9 pm.

The Somerset County Department of Human Services is seeking donations of personal and clothing items to be included in packages that will be distributed on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010.
For more information, contact Tracey Rizk, Somerset County Community Development Office [(908) 541-5756 or rizk@co.somerset.nj.us]

Caryn is collecting toys and other gifts for the patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Click here for the gift collection flyer.

SEPTA still needs Girl Scouts to babysit on Tuesday, January 19 from 6:45 to 8:30 PM. They have a guest speaker coming in and that usually brings in a large crowd and the need for some babysitting.

Contact Ana Santini [ana.santini@ymail.com] if you can help.

They are all coming to Thinking Day! Come meet them! Don't miss it!
Click here for registration form with further details.

Please RSVP by - January 11th!!

SEPTA would like some Girl Scouts to babysit during the PTAC meeting on Jan. 6th from 4:00 – 5:30 at UMS

They also need babysitting help on Tuesday, January 19 form

6:45 to 8:30 PM. They have a guest speaker coming in and that usually brings in a large crowd and the need for some babysitting.

Contact Ana Santini [ana.santini@ymail.com] if you can help.

My name is Samantha Berk and I am in Troop 1252. I am helping my Mom perform a community service project through our temple, The Princeton Jewish Center.

We would like to show appreciation for some of the people in our Community who have to work on Christmas Day. We are going to do that by delivering trays of baked goods on Christmas Day to local Police Stations, Fire Houses, Rescue Squads and the Hospital. Culinary Creations in Hillsborough has kindly donated trays for us to use. We are looking for volunteers to help us supply the baked goods.

If you would like to help us (and get service hours), please bake or buy cookies, brownies, or another baked item, and drop it off at my house at 69 Roanoke Road, Belle Mead between the hours of 12:00 and 3:00 pm on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23rd. I will have a table in my garage for you to drop the goods on.

If you would like to come at a different time or if you have any questions, please contact me or my Mom, Amy Berk. Our phone number is 908-431-4353.

Thank you and have a happy holiday.

Sincerely,

Samantha Berk

Cookies are no longer sold in our Council shops.

For the fall cookie sale all cookie orders must be placed through a troop and purchased with a troop check only (no cash or personal checks).  If a leader or  parent in a troop plan to come to the Council Service Center for additional cookies, a troop check is required at time of pick-up. Please use the online cookie box pick up form on the Council website to place the order (http://www.gshnj.org/index.php?p=407) or contact Louise Fraser, Product Sale Manager.  Troops will continue to pay at a rate of $4.00 minus their appropriate profit.  And remember, girls will continue to get credit for recognitions for these additional purchases through 12/15.

NO COOKIES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AFTER 1/31/10.  Please be sure everyone is made aware of this new procedure.

What: Service Project to collect all–occasion cards for the St. Jude Ranch Recycled Card Program

Who: Asking leaders to ask parent to collect all-occasion cards during the holiday and other cards that have not yet been thrown away

When: I can collect cards up until the February Service Unit meeting

Where: Drop cards at 204 Taggert Drive / Belle Mead / in Pike Run or Bring to Jan Leaders' Meeting

RELIABLE GIFT WRAPPING SERVICE
BY GIRL SCOUT TROOP 909

CONVENIENT DROP OFF LOCATIONS AROUND TOWN
Cost: $2-3/package (depending on size)
December 4 to December 22

CONTACT: (908)-500-8559 or email: gstroop909@gmail.com

Please contact Ana Santini for details if interested.

Ana Santini
908-874-9945 home
908-868-3916 cell
ana.santini@ymail.com

You may attend by yourself or with your parents but you must register by Friday,November 27, 2009.

To register, go to this site: http://www.princeton.edu/~swe/ and click on the High School Colloquium Registration link provided there. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER.

There is no charge for the event. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.

You will hear speakers, take tours, have Q&A with professional women engineers. It should be an exciting opportunity.

All high school Girl Scouts are invited to participate in this workshop. For girls working on their Gold Award, this is an excellent opportunity to earn career exploration hours.

Questions: please contact Kay Stephenson at kstephenson@gshnj.org.

Join Cadette Troop 1059
Bring your Jingle Bells. We will provide the songsheets.

Serenade shoppers and merchants at the Montgomery ShopRite Center, then enjoy cookies and hot chocolate donated by our local ShopRite. Meet at the top of the hour outside Friendly’s to begin. Pick up 45 minutes later upstairs in ShopRite’s lounge.

Sign up now by emailing Andrea Bradley at abradley616@gmail.com
Include contact name and cell number, Troop # and # of scouts. Please specify 1 pm or 2 pm

There are collection boxes at OHES, VES, LMS, UMS, and the Montgomery Recreation Department through November 30th.

Awesome Food Drive. Thank you to all the troops who participated! We had a great turnout of Girl Scouts working the drive and the weather held out. Thank you to the 2 troops who came and delivered/shelved the food at the Bank. Great Job!!
For those who did not get to participate, look for the April dates/sign up to be announced in the near future.

Thank you,
Troop 61100

Join Troop 1104 at the Older Girls Camporee
For Juniors,Cadettes & Seniors
April 30-May 2, 2010

Activities include….
Boating, climbing wall, arts & crafts,
team building, hiking, campfire and more!

Trip Cost $111.75 (2 nights in heated cabins, food & activities)
One Day Cost $52.00 ( Includes Saturday activities, lunch and dinner)

Act Now… space is limited. Deposits are due by Nov.27th!

Please see flyer for more info.
Questions contact Adrienne Jakubowski at am_jakubowski@yahoo.com 609-644-2450

Any troop may bake and drop the items off at the drive to be delivered with the food donations. Baked items should be individually wrapped single-servings; iced items, such as cupcakes, are not ideal as they are difficult to stack during transport and storage. Last time to drop off is 4pm Sharp!

At the September and October Leader Meetings many of you have given much insight of how recent changes in the Girl Scout Program has affected you personally.

For the October Leader Meeting, Diane and I invited Susan Brookes (CEO Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey) as we wanted Susan to see who we are, and for those who have not met her, have the same opportunity.

At the October meeting, we were also happy to announce a newly formed “Committee” of dedicated Leaders with many years of experience who graciously volunteered their time to this. They will represent our Service Unit and bring the concerns and issues we have to GS Council and above. Moving forward at each monthly Leader Meeting, we will have time on the Agenda for the Committee to provide us with a brief update.

By forming this committee, Diane and I feel it is the best way to handle the issues and concerns, and will also keep our Leader Meetings moving forward in a positive manner so we can all focus on what matters most, the girls.

We are doing our best to ensure you know your concerns have been heard.

Thank you for your continued devotion you give to the girls in our Community and we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

Kind regards –

Diane and Michel
Service Unit Manager’s 75

If your troop can fill the 10-11 slot, please contact Val Lisowski.

Sourland Hills Actors Guild proudly presents
Willy Wonka
November 13-15 at MPAC.

Service Opportunities:

They are in need of ushers and baked goods.
Get all the details here.

Special offer:

Purchase 10 tickets or more at the special pre-show price of only $6 and receive:

• Backstage Tour!
• Photo with Cast Member!

Daisies through Cadettes: this opportunity can be a stop on your Journey:

• What makes our community a nice place to live
• A community theater is a group of people from town coming together to make a work of living art.
• It could also be the key to discovering special skills and talents in the girls which fulfills a key for Brownies.

There are also many badges and Try-its that incorporate theater such as:

• Theater Badge
• Imagination Try It

Tickets must be purchase in advance and subject to availability. Offer ends 11/11/09.

Should you decide to conduct a booth sale, please contact me to determine if the date is still available.  Once it is confirmed you will need to complete a BLUE Booth Sale Reservation Form and pick your cookies up at Council (the committee would help you with this process).

Also, please remember if you need to CANCEL a booth sale once paperwork has been submitted, you must contact me and Louise at Council (908-725-1226 X127).

Current booth sale openings:

• Saturday, Nov. 7            8-10 @ Skillman Post Office
• Saturday, Nov. 21          8-10 @ Belle Mead Garage
• Friday, Nov. 27               10-1 & 1-4 @ Sunoco
• Saturday, Dec. 5            8-11:30 @ Tiger's Tale
• Saturday, Dec. 5            10-12 @ Belle Mead Garage
• Klean King Cleaners (cleaners between Adam's Sandwiches and PNC Bank) – ALL SLOTS AVAILABLE
• Cammps – ALL SLOTS AVAILABLE
• Thursday, Dec. 3            3:30 – 6:30 @ Dance Factory
• Saturday, Dec. 12          9-12 & 12-3 @ Drakes Farm

Troop 710 is making stockings and stuffing them with gifts for sick children at Robert Wood Johnson's Children's Hospital. See the flyer for a list of suggested items.

November 30 TO December 16. See the flyer for details.

I have the following spots open:
11-12pm
12-1 pm
12-1pm (yes two spots there are 2 doors)
1-2pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
3-4pm
Please forward to the troops to email me if they are available.  This is a requirement for the Inchworm of Service as well as a fun thing to do.  They can make up cheers and signs and songs. 
Let me know if you need any other info.

Sincerely,
Val Lisowski
Troop 61100

50, 61, 103, 298, 386, 433, 454, 543, 555, 622, 625, 710, 711, 728, 818, 836, 908, 912, 913, 949, 961, 974, 1012, 1060, 1062, 1063, 1100, 1102, 1104, 1112, 1179, 1251, 1279, 1282, 1283.

Any Troop that has not handed in a financial report for the last two years may be audited by GSHNJ Financial Department.

Please e-mail me or mail me your financial reports ASAP. My address is:
18 Shetland Green
Belle Mead, N.J. 08502

jjuliet2@yahoo.com

Juliet Jablecki

All coats will be donated to the United Way of Somerset County. Drop off boxes will be located at both Orchard Hill and Village Elementary Schools. The drop box at Orchard Hill will be on the East gym stage and at VES in the front and back foyers. Please consider donating any gently-used coats (especially winter) for this worthwhile cause.

This flyer lists all the exciting volunteer opportunities, and this flyer offers info about participating in the festivities.

This cancellation is for the Parade. I don't know one way or the other as to the other events of Fall Festival, which may be moved indoors, so if you have kids involved, you may want to check or wait for other announcements from the HS.

But the PARADE is CANCELLED.

Thank you all for your willingness to participate again this year. Hopefully we will finally have a parade next year.

Sincerely, John Covino, Parade Coordinator

§ Location – Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex, 3 Princess Road, Lawrenceville

§ Appropriate age range of volunteers – All are welcome.

§ Number of girl volunteers needed – The more the merrier!

§ Task(s) to be performed –

• Making winter-themed decorations for the fun run. This task must be completed and delivered to Jeanene Leppert by November 30.
• Caroling along the fun run route
• Serving Refreshments to participants, volunteers and Special Olympics athletes (Cadettes and older only)
• Cheering on Special Olympics athletes during unified basketball game (Basketball game scheduled for after the fun run in the gym. All are welcome to support the athletes. Game time 7:30-8:30pm)

§ Contact -- Jeanene Leppert
Special Projects Managers
Special Olympics New Jersey
609-896-8000 ext.258
jcl@sonj.org

Please review it and send corrections and additions as soon as possible.

If interested, please provide troop #, contact, 1st choice/2nd choice/etc. to Peggy Kantor [peggykantor@yahoo.com] by Tuesday, October 20th @ 4pm (also copy me theschulers2@embarqmail.com). Peggy will get back to you as soon as possible with confirmation.

Current booth sale openings:

• Saturday, Dec. 5
  10-12 @ Belle Mead Garage
• Saturday, Nov. 7
  8-10 @ Skillman Post Office
  READING BOULEVARD – ALL SLOTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE
  KLEAN KING CLEANERS – ALL SLOTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE
  CAMMPS – ALL SLOTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE
• Thursday, Dec. 3
  3:30 – 6:30 @ Dance Factory
• Friday, Nov. 6
  2:30 – 5 @ Drakes Farm
• Friday, Nov. 20
  3:30 – 5 @ Drakes Farm
• Saturday, Dec. 12
  9-12 & 12-3 @ Drakes Farm
• Friday, Nov. 13
  3:30 – 6 @ Sunoco
• Friday, Nov. 27
  10-1 & 1-4 @ Sunoco

If you have any additional registrations, forward the forms and payment (via troop check) directly to council. Drop them off at GSHNJ council office, 1171 Route 28, North Branch, NJ 08876 or mail them to the attention of Maria Delgado, GSHNJ Registrar. Be sure to include the troop number on all forms.

Any questions, contact Jodi Devchand, SU75 Registrar at jdevchand@comcast.net.

§ Location – UMS Media Center

§ Appropriate age range of volunteers – Appropriate to entertain 4-8 children ages 4-10 some with mild special needs

§ Number of girl volunteers needed – 3

§ Task(s) to be performed – Baby sitting

§ SEPTA contact – Melissa Cunningham: 732-407-8238 or melissacunningham@comcast.net

Michel pulled on her waders and went searching for the definitive guide to Journeys and the new Awards guidelines.

There are several new documents on the Links column of our website: Leadership Journeys, Journeys FAQ, Awards at a Glance, and Transition Guidelines

If that doesn't make your day, I don't know what will. Thanks, Michel!

They'd LOVE to see some scouts and community members there to support them.

Check out the adorable flier!

Montgomery Twp/Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance & Youth Services Commission*
Invites you to a
Community Leaders Working Together Conference
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
8:30 Registration, 9 am to 1 pm Conference
Elks Lodge, 354 Route 518, Blawenburg NJ 08505
Lunch will be provided

Let's Work Together
to learn about what's happening in our community
to create relationships between local organizations
to promote and strengthen mutual cooperation
to achieve our shared goals of healthy youth, families, schools, and businesses
in our Montgomery/Rocky Hill community.

Please complete a short survey (whether you are able to attend or not) that will help provide data about your organization for the conference. This information will be shared with all attendees. Click on the link below.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=U3hpyTeZjwKwDPZTxa5LTA_3d_3d

RSVP by November 1st
You can use "REPLY" to this email to RSVP - Please be sure to include the name of your organization, the names of the attendees, a contact name, email and phone number.
Or email directly to: municipalalliance@twp.montgomery.nj.us

This conference would not be possible without the support of the Princeton Elks Lodge. Thank you!

Contacts: Jennifer Haftel at jabhaf@comcast.net or Vasanti Rao at vasantirao@aol.com
*The Municipal Alliance is committed to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse preventi on and violence prevention. The Youth Services Commission serves at-risk youth in our community.

Hi Ladies:

Responses are slowly coming in (deadline today @ 4pm) and I've notice the following:
It seems that with all the booth sale locations (15), most people are picking the same locations and times (ShopRite, WaWa, Rodolfo's, Tigers Tale). I'm taking this opportunity to tell you where the additional locations are in case you aren't sure.
We did a lot of work to get a variety of locations, based on suggestions from the TCM and Leaders, and we'd like to see the SU take advantage of these spots.
Just a reminder this is a lottery (drawing), all troop information will be put in a container, picked out one by one, and booth sale spaces allotted in order of troop selection based on their preferences. If you feel that you have picked POPULAR spaces, please feel free to submit additional or different choices.

ShopRite

Rodolfo's

WaWa

Tigers Tale

OHES Basketball: OHES has been approved for 12/5 and they are open to the possibility of offering additional dates once the schedule for Basketball is set

Belle Mead Garage: this is the car dealer next to the BM Post Office
Belle Mead Post Office: set up would be in front of the building on the grass (do not block entrance way)

Rocky Hill Post Office: set up would be on the sidewalk between post office and Buy-The-Cup

Skillman Post Office: set up would be in the grass in front of the building

Reading Blvd: this would be on the "S" curve on Rt. 601 on the corner opposite the old farm stand (near the 3 signs); the farm selling Mums 4/$11 on Rt. 601 owns this property and offered this site, since his MUM stand will be gone by November

Klean King Cleaners: cleaners to the left of Adams Sandwich Shop as you are in the parking lot facing the stores (lot of sidewalk space)

Cammps: this would be set up on the sidewalk near the store entrance

Dance Factory: this is the dance studio off of Vreeland Drive

Drakes Farm: this is the stand closest to Rt. 206 on Rt. 518 (just below Vreeland Drive)

Sunoco: the gas station at the intersection of Rt. 206 and Cherry Valley Road (opposite TD Bank)

STEPOFF for the parade will be at 9:00 AM, not 9:30 as I may have told you previously. We had to make that change because the HS football game is away. Please assemble at 8:30 if you possibly can. The parade route will be very short - assembly at the Rec Center then the short trip down Skillman Road to the driveway on the side of the HS, and then toward the back of the HS. The parade should be done by 9:30 or so.

The Rec Center will be open for restroom use, etc. Parents should not park at the Rec Center because parking is limited, and you will have to walk back for your car later if you are staying for the Festival, as we hope you will. Drop your marcher off at the Rec Center and then park at the HS. You can view the parade from the driveway on the parade route.

The order of march will be the HS Band, the ceremonial cars, the cheerleaders and HS teams, the Daisies, Brownies and Girl Scouts, then the Tigers, Cubs and Boy Scouts, and then the fire and EMS units. We were jinxed by bad weather in both 2007 and 2008, but this year will be better! (I am a Mets fan, so I have to be an optimist). We will be in touch with you before the 24th if a postponement is obvious beforehand, or on that morning if the weather is questionable. If you need to contact me, feel free to reply to this e-mail, or call my cell at 609-610-2319, my office at 609-984-5612 or home at 908-359-8262. Feel free to pass this message on to other parents or leaders whom I have missed - my list may be out of date. Thanks very much for your past participation and I look forward to seeing you this year. I will be there wearing my Mets hat. - John Covino

Parade participants, please bring a box of cereal to donate to the Montgomery Township Food Pantry. Scouts will be collecting the boxes at the Rec center starting at 8:30am.

Please e-mail to jjuliet2@yahoo.com, drop off in bin on her front porch or mail directly to her:

Juliet Jablecki
18 Shetland Green
Belle Mead, N.J. 08502

Since several Leaders asked me for a heads up when this list became available, it's also posted here on the website.

Please have your TCM email me the following information if you are interested in having a booth sale (if you are interested in having more than one sale, please make a note of that as well).

I need your response by Tuesday, October 13 @ 4pm.

Troop #, CONTACT NAME, email/phone, first choice (date/time), second choice (date/time), third choice (date/time). When we do the drawing, we will try our best to give you your preferences. IF they are not available, we will be in touch with alternatives.

We have 15 confirmed places. We have 75 troops (approximately 620 girls) selling cookies in the SU this year!!!

In regards to the "drive-thru/drive-by" locations - remember as always, safety of the girls must be of the utmost importance. Be sure to set up so that cars could drive up safely and not just be pulled over along the street/highway. Use signs to draw attention to your sale and if possible try to "block" the girls in. Follow Safety-Wise for adult/child ratio.

Once you have been given a space, you will need to follow the booth sale guidelines in the "2009 Cookie Sale Program Troop Information Guide" and "Troop Cookie Manager Forms Packet" and fill out the appropriate booth sale reservation form from the "TCM Forms Packet".

Green: Nov. 3- 30 (YOU will order the cookies per the guidelines on the back of the form)
Blue: Dec. 3 - 20 (Cookies will be picked up at council with Council placing the order).

Any questions, please contact a member of the committee.

Karen

Now available on our website: a sample flyer template and a flyer checklist. Council hopes that it will make it easier for all of our Volunteers to create event flyers to promote events. Hopefully, these will serve to minimize the time volunteers have to spend making sure that they have included all of the relevant information to best publicize an event. The sample template is in MS Word so it is easy and convenient to customize flyers with appropriate photos or images as desired.

Nancy Zimmerman is happy to assist anyone who needs help creating a flyer or web page. If a need arises for any other type template for promotion/marketing materials please let Nancy know and she can create it. If you need certain artwork, photos, or logos she can provide these to you as well.

In the future Nancy plans to have a section on the SU website so that getting these resources is more convenient and templates can easily be downloaded.

Nancy Zimmerman
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
201 East Grove Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
P 908.232.3236 ext. 1209 C 908.966.0961
nzimmerman@gshnj.org
www.gshnj.org

Station 45 (Belle Mead) may need assistance on over the weekend to stuff their fund raising envelope. Times available are Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday at the firehouse on Belle Mead-Griggstown Road. Because of building maintenance and space limitations, please contact Barb Kocsis at Barbra_kocsis@ml.com if your troop or a portion of your troop can assist for service hours and the times available to attend.

The booklet has been updated to include this wonderful local resource and can be found on our website under "Service Ops".

Please download the flyer and pass it along to the rest of your troop.

Donations of baked goods and any other refreshment items for their party on Friday, October 23rd would also be appreciated.

We are looking for both full size things and snack size things. We will price but for cookies and brownies we have some rules. It's the rule of 12. Basically, it's an attempt to keep the value uniform so here is how it goes.

Brownies need to be individually wrapped or in a ziplock as a single 3"x4" piece or a 2"x6". or 2 -3"x2" pieces to equal 12" area

Cookies should be a pack of 1 -12" or 2 - 6" or 3 - 4" or 4 - 3" or 6 - 2" cookies. Again getting to 12.

Breads, cakes cupcakes and pies are also welcome.

The best thing to do is to drop it Sunday morning (Oct4) at the event between 10am-12noon. If you can't do that, email me for drop off the day before.

Let me know if you are baking via email to Barbra_kocsis@ml.com or barbkocsis@yahoo.com.

The information below will assist you as you continue your journey in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. You will find exciting programs and events that will provide girls with exceptional opportunities to develop their leadership skills and have fun! Based on girl and adult feedback, we are bringing back some great programs and introducing new ones for girls of all ages.

Leaders:

An updated version of SU 75's Community Service Opportunities booklet can be found here. Please refer to this booklet for answers to questions regarding service and for ideas for service projects. If your questions are not answered within the booklet, please contact our Service Projects Coordinator, Karen Fortgang, directly at karenfortgang@comcast.net.

The Inchworm of Service program is being revamped by Council, however, as of September 2009 Council has advised that there will be a Council-wide service program similar, if not identical to, the Inchworm program and that leaders should continue their service programs using the Inchworm guidelines. The existing guidelines can be found in the Community Service Opportunities booklet and will be updated when new information is provided by Council.

Although the Inchworm of Service program is being revamped by Council, you should proceed with your service activities assuming that the revised program will be similar to the existing one. The following information summarizes what you need to know about the existing Inchworm of Service program.

1. This is an OPTIONAL program - it encourages service to the community but is NOT REQUIRED. Hours per level are as follows:

• Daisy:   5
• Brownie: 10
• Junior:  15
• Cadette: 20
• Senior:  25

Description of program and forms can be found on the SU website. YOU MUST COMPLETE SERVICE FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY FOODBANK AND SHIP in order to qualify for the program.

2. In January I will be taking PRE-orders. This does NOT commit you to purchasing patches at the end of the Scouting year, but does guide the Council shop re the number of items to order to meet demand. Please use the PRE-order form below:

Inchworm of Service Pre-Order Form: Due at January SU Meeting

SU #75 Troop # 60-_____ Leader __________________________________________
Number of patches needed: ____
Number of rockers needed: ____ Level: ____
Number of segments needed: ____

You are NOT to pay with your pre-order form. You will pay when you purchase your patches after April 15th. At that time, prices will be as follows: patches @ $1.75/ea; rockers @ $1.25/ea; segments @ $1.25/ea.

Please bring the pre-order form to the January SU meeting or email me at karenfortgang@comcast.net. My signature is not required.

What to order:

• IF your troop [or one or more of your girl(s)] is new to Girl Scouts: Order a PATCH and a LEVEL ROCKER for each girl expected to complete the requirements
• IF you have moved from one level to another (Daisies to Brownies, Brownies to Juniors etc,): Order a LEVEL ROCKER for each girl expected to complete the requirements
• IF you are in your 2nd or 3rd year of a level: Order a SEGMENT ("worm") for each girl expected to compete the requirements

Please note; For Daisies and Brownies, if the troop as a whole meets the requirements, each girl earns the Inchworm – even if an individual girl is short on hours.

3. In April I will be signing off on final forms. You must have a signed form with you in order to purchase patches at Council. You need to complete the the Inchworm application form as well as the work sheets for the appropriate level; please provide me with a copy. You can find the application form here.

4. Ideas on how to complete service requirements are included in the COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES flier, which is available on this website here.

Any questions? Email me at karenfortgang@comcast.net.

First and foremost we thank each of you for your attendance and participation in the September 16th SU Leader Meeting and encourage you to continue to attend the monthly meetings as this a great opportunity for you to get information on the most recent events and seek guidance.

A few of your Troop Leaders have contacted me regarding the 2009 Girl Scout Cookie "Gift of Caring Program" for the Montgomery Township Food Pantry. We loved receiving cookies from your troops last year and were able to provide them to our families throughout the year. We added them to all of our Specialty Programs during the holidays and even had some for the Back-To-School Goody Bags this year. We would gratefully accept Girl Scout Cookies again this year.

Because we are located in the Senior Center and our Pantry Clients expect privacy, making the scheduling work has been a learning experience for all of us since opening our doors in the Spring of 2008. At our 1st year review we came up with a number of ways to improve our service and availability and this summer made some changes for donors and clients to improve access to the Pantry.

We now offer an "open donation time" on Mondays between 8:30am and 9:30am and Mondays between 1:30pm and 4:30pm and we continue to accept donations by appointment. On Mondays we have a shopping cart in the vestibule of the Senior Center where donors can deliver non-perishable food or non-food grocery items and sign in on our donation log. We hope this will make it easier for the Girl Scout Leaders and Cookie Parents. I am happy to sign Gift of Caring forms for the Troops and have them available at the time of delivery if that will help streamline the process further.

For your information I have included an update on the Montgomery Township Food Pantry below. It includes information about donations and pantry usage. I have also included a copy of a Thank you note sent to our Girl Scout Friends in Service Unit 75 at the end of the last school year.

Please let me know what will work best for you and I will do my best to make it work here at the Pantry.

Thank you again for your support.

I look forward to working with you again this year.

Sincerely,
Denise Crowley

First and foremost we thank each of you for your attendance and participation in the September 16th SU Leader Meeting and encourage you to continue to attend the monthly meetings as this a great opportunity for you to get information on the most recent events and seek guidance.

For those who were not in attendance, there were discussions about several "new changes" to the Program, (cookie sales, percentage of money back to troops from the "Share Program") and other various issues/concerns. Please do not email asking for details, as we work through this we will keep everyone up to date with information on each item brought up at the meeting.

Diane and I agree there are many changes this year and we promise to bring your concerns forward to the appropriate Representatives at Council, however we do need your help. Until we have an opportunity to meet and seek guidance from Past SUM Managers/Committee Members and Leaders with many years of experience within our own SU, we ask this;

1. Please give us the opportunity to have discussions with members mentioned above
2. Please do not act on emotion and make decisions without trying to work through these issues
3. Help us work on getting resolution

We are also looking to form a committee whose job would be to act as a liaison between our Service Unit and Council to voice our concerns. If anyone is interested in joining this committee, please email us your name.

We respect and understand your frustrations. We feel we should not give up and leave this undone for others. Many of you have 15+ years of experience in Girl Scouts and with your knowledge and wisdom we can work together to get things back on track. We are a Community of Passionate, Strong, and Caring Women and we do not want to loose sight of the Future Girl Scouts of Montgomery.

This will take time, but we need you to give us this time and work together.

Kind regards –

Diane Cunniff & Michel Parise
Service Unit Managers
SU 75

We are looking for both full size things and snack size things. We will price but for cookies and brownies we have some rules. It's the rule of 12. Basically, it's an attempt to keep the value uniform so here is how it goes.

Brownies need to be individually wrapped or in a ziplock as a single 3"x4" piece or a 2"x6". or 2 -3"x2" pieces to equal 12" area

Cookies should be a pack of 1 -12" or 2 - 6" or 3 - 4" or 4 - 3" or 6 - 2" cookies. Again getting to 12.

Breads, cakes cupcakes and pies are also welcome.

The best thing to do is to drop it Sunday morning (Sep27 rain date Oct4) at the event between 10am-12noon. If you can't do that, email me for drop off the day before.

Let me know if you are baking via email to Barbra_kocsis@ml.com or barbkocsis@yahoo.com. I will send an email if we are moving to the rain date. However, I don't believe that determination will be made until late Saturday night at the earliest.

For Leadership run an activity; For service we need baked goods. Contact Barbara Kocsis for more information: barbra_kocsis@ml.com

Contact Valerie Lisowski for more information: james_lisowski_41@comcast.net

Contact Laura Robinson for more information: robinsonlaura@comcast.net

Katie Best, a senior at MHS is working on her Gold Award Project - a book drive to benefit the Children's Home Society of Trenton. Any new or gently used books that you wish to donate can be dropped off at Katie's house - there is a blue box on the porch, at 17 Boulder Brook Court, Belle Mead (off Bridgepoint Road.) Alternatively, if you like, donations can be picked up. Just email Katie at xjerseygrl22x@aol.com or call 908-904-6758.

Contact Beth Whitlock for more information: lgpunchbuggy@aol.com

Troop 61062 will be running Junior Badge Night on October 9th. It will be Art to Wear. Download the flyer here. Contact Michele Sherman for more information: mlsherman1@comcast.net

(all proceeds benefit SONJ) for scouts in grades 3-5 to model in the finale. We have 10-15 openings for the following shows:

October 10th --- 10:30am and 2:30pm
October 11th --- 11:00 am

The show is held at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township.

Troops can pick a show date and time that works for the interested members and contact me (Jeanene Leppert jcl@sonj.org or 609-896-8000 ext.258) with the troop number, troop contact information and the names, ages and dress sizes of interested scouts. We will contact the troop to schedule a fitting for the girls. SPOTS ARE LIMITED so troops should respond soon.

Important Note: Finale models and guests do need to purchase a ticket for the show @ $30 per ticket. Finale models will be able to watch most of the show and will be escorted backstage in time to prepare for the finale. The seats will be in the third row to allow the models to get backstage while the show is in progress. The finale models and guests will be seated together.

More service opportunities will be coming up as we get closer to the event.

Contact Jeanene Leppert for more information.

Calling All Girl Scout Troops!

What? An age-coordinated program that teaches self esteem and good self image to young girls through activities, crafts, and games.

Who? Jenna Abbot, a junior at Montgomery High School created and will be running the program as part of her Gold Award project.

Cost? Completely free! Leaders get some time off- all supplies provided including a snack! In return, we ask each girl to bring a donation (list will be provided) to be given to Operation Smile!

When? Leaders can schedule whenever is convenient! Teach your troop members valuable life lessons while helping a great cause!

For More Information Contact Jenna Abbot: Cell: (908)-458-2803 E-mail: jennadance17@gmail.com

Download the flyer: spreading-smiles-2009.pdf

Operation Shoebox provides personal supplies, as well as a virtual hug from home, to U.S. soldiers and Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A list of items needed appears below. Please bring your contributions to the event and join in this worthwhile and much-appreciated project.

You do not need to bring packing materials nor will you be responsible for any shipping charges. You are free to solicit donations of items from friends, neighbors, schoolmates, and members of your place of worship and are encouraged to represent yourselves as Girl Scouts when doing so.

If you have questions about the event, please contact
Marcia Cocozza
Program Segment Director
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
908-232-3236 ext. 1210 (office)
908-232-2140(fax)
mcocozza@GSHNJ.ORG

If you have questions about service projects in general, please contact
Karen Fortgang
Montgomery Twp. (Service Unit 75) Service Projects Coordinator
79 Willow Run Lane
Belle Mead, New Jersey 08502
908-874-8654 (home)
908-642-3336 (cell)
karenfortgang@comcast.net

Items Needed:

Lip balm
Sun block
Moist wipes
Bug spray - non-aerosol
Bars of soap
Small bottles of shampoo
Deodorant - non-aerosol
Powdered drink mixes
Cereal/Snack/Granola bars
Instant oatmeal - individual packets
Boxes of hot chocolate that contain individual packets
Small cans of tuna with pop-tops
Small cans of fruit with pop-tops
Microwave popcorn - individual bags can be sent
Athletic socks
Batteries - all sizes
Gum
Candy
Small boxes of cereal
Small bags of trail mix, peanuts, pretzels

Please note: Aerosol products cannot be shipped overseas. All items must be in their original packaging. When in doubt, think small. It is easier to ship smaller packaged items than large, economy size.

Activity: Leaf raking at the homes of the elderly and disabled

Supplied needed: Rakes

Perk: Lunch will be provided from 12:30-2:30 at the

Office of Volunteer Services, Conference 1,

1st floor, 27 Warren St., Somerville

Contact: 908-541-5715

If the date above is not convenient for you, you may contact the Office of Volunteer Services to arrange an alternate date; lunch will not be served on alternate dates.

Please mail the form below to Office of Volunteer Services, 27 Warren St., Somerville, NJ 08876

---------------------

Name:

Phone:

Address:

Email address:

Town(s) will to travel to:

How many participants? ______ adults _______Girl Scouts (ages ___ - ___)

--------------------------

Completed troop registrations (with troop check for $12 x girls and adults registering and troop check for $5 for Council tag-along insurance) may be left in the box outside her garage or turned in at the Leaders' meeting September 16. Christine will take registrations to Council on September 22. This year, all registrations must go through the Service Unit registrars. Please do not take individual troop registrations to Council.

Christine Dippold

We will not need any more sleeping bags for Crawford House. If you have dropped off a sleeping bag, you may pick it up at Crawford House at any time.

Once again, thank you for you cooperation, and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Christina Fakes

Dear Troop Leader,

I hope you have had a fun and relaxing summer! I know most of you are starting to plan your fall troop calendar and with that in mind I wanted to talk COOKIES!

As always, the cookie sale starts before most troops are really up and running. We are inviting you, the troop leader, to attend the cookie trainings along with your troop cookie coordinators. Many leaders in the past have expressed at the end of the sale that they were unaware of try-its, badges, pins and participation patches that their troop could have earned. If you want to know more about the cookie sale this is your opportunity to do so.

The cookie sale starts Thursday, October 1st. I have attached a letter that as sent to your troop cookie coordinator that includes the dates and times of the trainings. (Attendance is mandatory for the cookie coordinators and is optional for the leaders.) Many of you may be able to work your first meeting around earning one of cookie patches or pins. I hope you can join us!

Finally, please note we have asked your troop cookie coordinator to bring an alphabetized troop roster with them to training on Monday, September 14th. Please be sure to provide this to your troop cookie coordinator. The roster should include the name, address, and phone number of each girl as well as their parent or guardian.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you,
Karen Schuler
theschulers2@embarqmail.com
908-359-5367

The girls only need put the 4 or 3 digits of their troop number on their vests. However, we need the county designation (6 for Somerset County) for all other uses of the troop numbers.

Your 5-digit GSHNJ troop number is determined by adding the county prefix to your legacy council troop number. If your troop number is 4 digits, your 5-digit troop number will be 6####. If your troop number is 3 digits, your 5-digit troop number will be 60###. If your Troop number is 2, your 5-digit troop number will be 600##.

You can mail or deliver them to:

Juliet Jablecki
18 Shetland Green
Belle Mead, N.J. 08502

OR

Attach your Finacial Report to an e-mail to Juliet Jablecki

They are looking for girls scout volunteers to come and help out and have activity stations for the participants.

Contact Anne Feltquate by email or call (908) 829-0070.

Download the flyer here.

Troops can pick up the registration packets and return their registrations to 61 Red Oak Way, Belle Mead (off Willow Rd and Griggstown Rd)

Girls and adults must be registered before cookie sales begin on October 1!

Christine is happy to answer questions or speak to concerned leaders. Girl membership scholarships ($12) are available from Council, so please encourage all girls to re-register.

Please pass this email on to your troop families, friends and neighbors.

Many of your troops have participated in past Service Projects to benefit Crawford House, located here in Skillman. Crawford House has been doing important work providing transitional housing and addiction treatment services to New Jersey women for over 30 years.

My name is Christina Fakes. I am a Senior at Montgomery High School currently working on my Gold Award Project with Crawford House. I am helping them create an updated resource room with useful information which will assist their residents as they transition back into communities across NJ.

Your Help is Urgently Needed!

Crawford House has asked me to help with one additional project. Crawford House takes their residents on an annual fall camping trip at Camp DeWitt. THIS YEAR'S TRIP IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH SO YOUR ASSISTANCE IS URGENTLY NEEDED. Every year our Service Unit loans much-needed sleeping bags and foam camping pads to Crawford House for this annual trip. Troop leaders, parents, friends and neighbors are encouraged to drop off their sleeping bags and pads from now until Tuesday September 8th at Crawford House. For your convenience, leaders may also drop off sleeping bags at my house at 15 Derby Chase Ct., in Belle Mead. (Please call me at 908-240-9873 before you do, this way I can bring them in case of rainy weather.)

I am asking every troop to loan one sleeping bag and one pad for this effort. Your assistance will make a huge difference to the success of this event.

Crawford House is located at 62 Sunset Road, Skillman, NJ (ACROSS FROM DAUBE FARM). Office Hours are Monday-Friday 9-5. If you wish to make special arrangements to drop off after hours please call Crawford House in advance.

Sleeping Bags will be available for pick up at Crawford House beginning September 14th.

PLEASE MARK YOUR BAGS AND PADS WITH A SHARPIE OR A LARGE LABEL. INCLUDE YOUR NAME/EMAIL/TELEPHONE.

Many of you know families who have just sent kids off to college or who have announced that they are "cleaning out." PLEASE forward this email to them. If they wish to DONATE their sleeping bags and pads to Crawford House these donations would be very much appreciated. These bags and pads should be marked with a sharpie or a large label with the word "DONATE" in large letters.

If you have any questions regarding the camping trip collection please contact them at 908 874-5153 or call me at 908 240-9873.

Thank you for all your help, I can assure you the ladies at Crawford House appreciate it!

Christina Fakes

If you have not already done so, Karen Schuler needs the Troop #, Level (D/B/J/C/S/A), # Girls, Cookie Mom Name, Email and Phone Number ASAP.

If you have decided that you will not be selling cookies, please let Karen know, it saves us all a lot of emails and headaches.