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Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida
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In this Issue: January 11, 2018
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Mark Your Calendar!
You don't want to miss any of the great things happening at GSSEF.
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GSSEF Closure on Monday, January 15
Please Note: GSSEF will be closed on Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. The Palm Beach Retail Store and the Broward Pop-Up Shop will also be closed.
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One Week 'Til Cookie Season 
In just seven short days, it will be the best season of the year - Girl Scout Cookie Sale Season! And we are already breaking records before it even begins. This weekend, Girl Scouts will be picking up a whopping 1,177,896 boxes of cookies - the biggest initial cookie order in GSSEF history! In addition, this year 20 troops qualified for IN HOME delivery by ordering 600 or more cases of cookies on Initial Delivery. A huge shout out to troops 10507, 22222, 10546, 10442, 10708, 20699, 10401, 12516, 10410, 20609, 50733, 40098, 10707, 10010, 50337, 10203, 10937, 11110, 10434 and 40116 for setting big goals this Cookie Season. We have a feeling there is a top seller in that list somewhere. Here's to a turtle-y awesome, record setting, fun-filled Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program.
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NEW Palm Beach Retail Store Grand Opening
On Saturday, February 10, 2018 we will cut the ribbon - and some cake - at our new Palm Beach County Retail Store located at 1232 West Indiantown Road, Suite 105 in Jupiter. It's the same plaza as our former Service Center, but this store is bigger, brighter and waiting for shoppers like you! Join the party and grab some amazing, one-day deals and discounts from 10:00 a.m. - 3 p.m.
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Girl Scout Cookie Sale Begins January 18!
 Are You Ready?
The cookies are here and just waiting to be sold by our awesome #cookiebosses. Parents - how can you help your troop right now?
- Offer to go with your troop leader to pick up cookies during initial delivery. It is a big deal to load and unload cars with cases of cookies or be in line to get them.
- Arrive on time when she calls you to get your cookies once she gets them home.
- Be in touch. Your leader needs to know how your side of the sale is going. Let her know if you need more cookies or if you're having trouble selling them.
- DO NOT WAIT to ask for help! The girls only have a couple of short weeks to reach their goal.
- Be proactive getting the money you collected back to your leader, or help her deposit it into the troop's account.
- GSSEF withdraws payment for the Initial purchase on February 7, so help your leader by turning in money promptly.
- You may begin distributing all pre-orders starting January 18, but remember the sale runs through February 11 so there's plenty of time to reach all of your existing customers - and make some new ones.
- Do not sell cookies beyond these approved dates and follow the all the guidelines in the Booth Etiquette.
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Camp Welaka Catwalk is Open!
For an entire year, a group of tireless and dedicated volunteers worked to improve and rebuild the Catwalk at Camp Welaka. This group gave their green blood, sweat and tears - as well as all of the materials required to restore this wonderful camp feature. Now thousands more girls will be able to experience this magical path through the mangroves and make amazing memories. In 2010, GSSEF was forced to close the Catwalk because of its state of deterioration. Because of our camp's proximity to the ocean, the salt, wind and water had seriously weakened the structure. Be sure to add this to your camping agenda when visiting Camp Welaka. This is an element that no Troop Camping trip or Camporee should be without! We will be delighted to see Girl Scouts walking this trail and having picnics at the legendary Sea Cloud Circle too! Post on our Facebook page using the hashtag #BackOnTheCatwalk
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Program Spotlight
Calling all GLOW Getters! New Mall! New Stores!
Registration for Mall Madness 2018 is still open! Don't miss your chance to join us at this exciting program on February 24-25 at Pembroke Lakes Mall. Bring your holiday cash and gift cards and check out all kinds of new stores like Lunchbox and Bath and Body Works, as well as some old time favorites like Build a Bear and the Disney Store. Plus stop by the Slime Bar and have a blast with a Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt. There's something for everyone at GLOW the Mall Madness 2018! Gather your troop and get your GLOW on! Register today!
For additional information, see the flyer
here
.
NU2U Council-led Troop Camping
Is troop camping brand new to you? Maybe yo
u've been intereste
d in taking your troop camping, but don't know where to start. Whether you want to learn or troop camp with expert guidance, NU2U is perfect! NU2U is a brand new outdoor program and your chance to go troop camping with our volunteer pros! Register now for an expertly guided one-night troop camping event at Camp Welaka. Leaders can see the basic how-to's while girls hike, swim and canoe. NU2U also offers archery, fire building, outdoor cooking, cool crafts and warm s'mores! Simply put, NU2U is designed for Troops and Leaders who are ready to take their first "steps" into the amazing world of camp, yet have little or no camping experience. Junior and Cadette Troops are welcome to register for March 3-4, 2018. The troop camp trained (TCT), First Aid certified adult, lifeguard, and canoe and archery instructors are provided.
Lunch, snacks and dinner (Saturday) and breakfast and lunch (Sunday) are all included. Accommodations are in cabin units. Packing list and
confirmation packets will be sent via email a week prior to the program. NU2U requires female chaperones only. Troop Leaders are expected to provide adult to girl ratio. Refer to Volunteer Essentials Manual for information about ratios. Space is limited for this program! Adults will be limited to satisfy ratios so we can serve as many girls as possible. Cost is $30.00 per girl and $20.00 per adult.
Register today!
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Save the Date: GSSEF Annual Council Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at our NEW GSSEF Administrative Headquarters located at 6944 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, FL 33467. During this meeting, girl and adult delegates representing each Service Unit will vote to elect new members for GSSEF's Board of Directors and Board Development Committee. All girl members over the age of 14 years and all registered adult volunteer members are welcome to attend this meeting as visitors. There is no charge to attend. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting will start promptly at 9:00 a.m. Coffee and water will be served. RSVP is required to attend, as seating will be limited. Please email Suzanne Canter at scanter@gssef.org no later than Monday, February 12, 2018 if you'd like to attend. We appreciate your commitment to Girl Scouting and look forward to seeing you.
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It's Adult Recognition Award Nomination Time
Now is the time to recognize an adult volunteer for their hard work and dedication that make Girl Scout experiences fun and positive! The Adult Recognition Award nominations are designed to acknowledge outstanding accomplishments that go above and beyond what is expected of our volunteers. The significance and impact our Girl Scout volunteers make cannot simply be measured in years of service but in the impact on the young women whose lives are enriched by the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The nomination link will be live tomorrow! To access the online nomination form, click here beginning January 12. The time frame for this nomination term is for services performed January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017. Please note, some of the higher awards will ask for information prior to this time frame. Get your reference letters ready and submit your nominations by March 15, 2018. Please email adultrecognition@gssef.org with questions.
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Cookie Eating Contest
Do you love the taste of Girl Scout cookies? Then don't eat breakfast and bring your competitive spirit for our annual cookie eating contest at the South Florida Fair next Saturday January 20 at 11:00 a.m. at the Expo East Stage. Hosted by Carmine from WiLD 95.5, our contestants will see who can eat three of each cookie variety the fastest and can become the new Cookie Queen or King! Want to participate? Email marcomm@gssef.org to get your name on the list.
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On Your Mark, Get Set, Register!
The race to register for the 2018 Thin Mint Sprint is on. Bring
your family and troop for a morning full of fun activities.
You can register online to participate in the 5K or Tagalong Trot at your favorite race location (or all 3!)
- Saturday, April 7, 2018 - Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, Hollywood
- Sunday, April 8, 2018 - Okeeheelee Park, West Palm Beach
- Saturday, April 14, 2018 - Halpatiokee Regional Park, Stuart
The 5K is a chip-timed race. Awards will be given in 17 categories, and all finishers will receive a box of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. Also, all registered Girl Scouts will receive a fun patch. For additional information, see flyer
here
.
Register yourself, your troop, or your team today. Click
here.
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Miss Thin Mint Sprint Application Deadline Extended to January 15th
Are you the perfect girl to represent the Thin Mint Sprint in Broward County, Palm Beach County or on the Treasure Coast? Are you a Girl Scout that embraces a healthy lifestyle and promotes positive self-esteem? If so, we are looking for you!
Miss Thin Mint Sprint will need to be present at her race location:
April 7 - Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, Hollywood
April 8 - Okeeheelee Park, West Palm Beach
April 14 - Halpatiokee Regional Park, Stuart
Miss Thin Mint Sprint will need to commit to starting a race team and serving as a Thin Mint Sprint spokesperson at troop and service unit meetings, encouraging other girls to get involved. Miss Thin Mint Sprint will be the recipient of an authentic Miss Thin Mint Sprint sash at her race location and will be invited to help present the runner's awards at her location.
Tell us why you would make a great Miss Thin Mint Sprint in 200 words or less and email your submission to Danielle Crouch at dcrouch@gssef.org by January 15 (include Name, Troop Number, and Race Location). This opportunity is open to all registered Girl Scouts. Three girls will be selected: one from Broward County, one from Palm Beach County, and one from the Treasure Coast.
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Join Us for the Emerald Awards: February 24 
On Saturday, February 24, join us at the Emerald Awards as we honor six Palm Beach County women who represent the national initiatives of Girl Scouts and serve as role models for today's girls.
The Emerald Awards will be held at The Beach Club on Palm Beach from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
This year, we will present
the Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy to Geri Emmett. New this year is the Young Philanthropist Award which will be presented to Noemi Coltea.
In addition, we will honor the following four women is these categories:
Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy: Tammy O'Rourke
Healthy Living and Life Skills: Theresa LePore
Outdoor and Environmental Leadership: Hannah Campbell
STEM: Carla Duhaney
Get your tickets today
here
and help us celebrate these wonderful women.
For additional information, see the
invitation.
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Has Your Girl Scout Set Her Cookie Goal?
This year we have the coolest incentives to help keep your Girl Scout motivated during the sale, as she works to achieve her cookie goal!! Check out the Girl Reward Card and help her see how many cool items she can get this year.
Remember, the girl rewards are distributed at the end of the sale and are the individual rewards that each girl earns by participating. The cookie money-earning opportunity is a group effort and the funds go back to power your troop's projects and programs for the year! Questions? Please contact Gabriella Gaita at ggaita@gssef.org.
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Does your employer provide matching gifts when you make a charitable contribution? Do they make donations in honor of your volunteer commitment to an organization? These gifts are the perfect way to double, or even triple your gift to Girl Scouts. If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer, and send it, completed and signed, with your gift. We will do the rest.
Click here to find out if your company has a matching gift opportunity. To get more information and find FAQs on matching gifts please
click here. For FAQ's,
click here for the drop-down menu.
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Digital Cookie Enhances Sale 
Digital Cookie has been live and delivering cookies since December 15. Participate in this digitally delicious cookie selling enhancement and reach out to your family members all over the country for their support. They too can enjoy delicious Girl Scout cookies delivered right to their doorstep OR send some to the military (with no shipping and handling charges) through your Digital Cookie online site. So far, 2,309 boxes of delicious cookies have already been shipped to customers all around the USA!
This year, we have some very cool rewards as well. Click here to see what your Girl Scout might want to earn. If you did not get the invite to Digital Cookie, or if you forgot your password, Digital Cookie now has an awesome self-help feature where you can get started! Just click here and follow the prompts. Note: If you selected to UNSUBSCRIBE from system emails, you will not be able to receive any Digital Cookie emails or participate in the program, so make sure to unselect that feature and try again later. (The system takes 24-48 hours to reset). Thank you for participating in this year's Turtle-y Awesome Digital Cookie Program!
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Fall Product Sale Super League 
Thank you to all the troops, parents and volunteers who helped make the 2017 Fall Product Sale SUPER successful. The GSSEF Super League, made up of top sellers from each of the Service Units and for each product category, gathered at the end of December for a special premiere screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The Fall Product Sale Girl Rewards will be reaching your Service Units later this month!
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Find Your Fave G.I.R.L. Gear
GSSEF Online Store Open 24/7
You can shop anytime by visiting our Online Store that is open 24/7.
Here's Your Chance for a Cookie Cart 
With Cookie Season right around the corner, why not make a plan for easier booth set up. Cookie Carts are the perfect way to haul boxes and cases of cookies to and from the car in style. Stop by the Palm Beach or Broward Retail Store for your chance to win a cookie cart. No purchase necessary. Drawing will be held January 17th. One entry per person. See store for details or call Jodi Potter at 561-427-0197. *valid in-store only
Gear up for cookie season and make your own sweet treats!
Gear up for cookie time and be inspired to make your own sweet treats with your Girl Scout! The colorful Cookie Mom Kit includes mixing bowl, spoon, spatula, bag, cookie cutters, and five balloons. $24.99 *while supplies last
It's Red Line Clearance Time: January 11th-25th Only!
During this special time in January, shoppers in the GSSEF Retail Stores can enjoy big savings on selected merchandise! Because it is our store-wide clearance time at both retail stores, you will receive an additional 20%-50% off selected in-store merchandise that has a red line on the ticket. Don't wait - when it's gone, it's gone. Shop early for the best selection.
World Thinking Day & Global Action Awards 
Each year on February 22, Girl Scouts participate in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. It is a special day in the Girl Scout year when we remember we are part of a worldwide movement.
Impact! This year, we'll celebrate the Impact that the movement brings in the lives of our members and their communities. Let's celebrate, learn about and participate in all of the amazing ways our global movement has impacted each of us in our communities.
Each year, Girl Scouts of all grade levels can earn the Global Action award. This award emphasizes the WAGGGS sisterhood (146 countries strong) by encouraging girls to work together to make a difference as they support an issue that affects girls and women around the world.
In 2015, the U.N. community came together to form the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-a set of 17 ambitious goals aimed at ending extreme poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and curbing climate change by 2030. Starting this year, as they work to earn their Global Action award, girls will learn about the SDGs and related challenges locally and globally. They'll join their sisters worldwide to take action in support of this important global agenda.
Both the World Thinking Day and Global Action awards are Official Awards and therefore may be worn on the front of the Official Uniform sash or vest and placed where other earned badges are worn.
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Cookies for the Military 
Another way of participating in the Cookie Sale Program and making an impact on the lives of others, is through the Cookies for the Military (CFM) program. Each year we send thousands of boxes of cookies to our men and women deployed overseas. What better way to feel the love and remember that we are thinking of them back home. Many Girl Scouts standing at booths get visits from ex-soldiers who tell them that they too received Girl Scout cookies when they were deployed, and that single gesture made their day!! If your troop has had one of these visits, it truly is a highlight for the girl's experience.
This year, we've added some new incentives and even a Cookies for the Military Top Seller reward level. Check out all the awesome rewards here. Whether it's a box, a case or some spare change, we thank you for your support.
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 2018 American Honda Birdies for Children Donation Link is OPEN!
American Honda Birdies for Children program is a vehicle for GSSEF to team up with The Honda Classic and present you with a chance to win a new Honda automobile.Your donation will be matched at 110% courtesy of The Honda Classic. The minimum donation is $20 for which you will receive one guess. Any size donation can be given through this link and GSSEF will receive an additional 10% on each gift! Donations can be made through late February.
Click
here
to donate.
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Girl Scouts Take the Lead
Do you have photos from your troop or service unit activities or service projects that you would like to share? We'd love to give you a shout-out. To share your photos and activities, complete this short form here.
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T
o prepare for this years Girl Scout Cookie Sale, Service Unit 746 hosted a cookie rally. By participating in the rally, 50 G.I.R.L.s learned a variety of ways to take their cookie business to the next level. The girls had a great time making cars and then racing them to see what their cookie goal would be. Each girl made her own homemade play-dough to then form a turtle out of it. And they did cookie safety pinwheels. These Cookie Bosses are ready for this year's Girl Scout Cookie Sale!
G.I.R.Ls of Troop 20255 collected new movies and books for the Palm Beach Children's Hospital at St. Mary's. These Go-getters decided to take action after they identified the problem that many families who had to stay at the hospital while their children were being treated did not have any updated movies in the lounge or any books. On the day they delivered their donations, they volunteered their time and made 50 Welcome Bags, too.
Take a look at more photos of Girl Scout Adventures
Check-out GSSEF'S
Flickr page.
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Stay Connected, follow us on:
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Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida is a funded partner of the Town of Palm Beach United Way
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