Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore's Shore Essentials
GSMISTS  -  March 27, 2017
 
Spring Cleaning at
Camp Anna Behrens
Spring is right around the corner and it is time for some outdoor activities! We need a lot of help to get Camp Anna Behrens ready for this year's summer activities, including cleaning the storm shelters, shower houses, sleeping shelters and the beach area, stocking firewood, and picking up sticks around camp.

The Spring Cleanup has been scheduled for Saturday, April 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It would be great if you could spend the entire day, but a half day would be wonderful too! Lunch will be provided. If you have dietary issues, please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate the special diet.

This is a Super Service Project open to seniors and ambassador troops with leaders and registered adult members.


For questions, please contact Gary Lemke Property Manager.
National Convention -  Registration is Open!
Join us October 6-8 in Columbus, Ohio for G.I.R.L. 2017, a one-of-a-kind gathering of girls and women from around the world! Girl Scouts is taking the lead by working with high school girls across the nation to plan the multiday event for all girls and those who care about them. The event will bring together more than 10,000 people-Girl Scout members, supporters, speakers, entertainers, and exhibitors-to inspire girls to get active in their communities and build a better world.
 
G.I.R.L. 2017 will feature:
  • Life-changing conversations about issues affecting girls, women, and all of us
  • Inspiring speakers
  • Chances to learn crucial lessons and skills to implement in girls' communities
  • Amazing friendships and connections that will last a lifetime
  • Incredible fun and excitement!
Excited? We are!  Register Now!
Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month and it is always an important time for Girl Scouts to reflect on the amazing women who have come before us - blazing trails, setting records, breaking barriers, and generally wowing the world!  Sharing their stories with girls today is important not only in providing phenomenal role models, but also in showing girls the power that each of us has within us to create a better world.

This year, in true Girl Scout spirit, we decided that instead of simply talking with girls about these icons, we'd invite some Girl Scouts to actually be them for a day. By dressing up as some of the most influential and inspiring women, 11 girls were able to actually try historic heroism on for size.

Community Partners
A special shout-out to our wonderful Program Staff at GSMISTS. Thanks to their hard work, our council has established over 50 new community partnerships! 



These partners help provide exciting troop and girl opportunities for Girl Scouts throughout all areas of the council. 
Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events

Van Andel and Devos Performance Hall Events 
Times Vary 
Ferris's Technology Engineering Aptitude
April 1st
Register Here

Daisy 3 Cheers for Animals Journey Day
April 22nd
Register Here

Brownie Pet Badge Day
April 22nd
Register Here

Air Zoo Aviation Extravaganza
April 29th
Learn More

STREAM Girls
April 29th
Learn More

Finding Common Ground
Badge Day

April 29th
Learn More

Girl Scout Night at the West Michigan Whitecaps
May 6th
Learn More

Brownie Pet Badge Day
May 20th
Register Here
Wicked is coming October 29th! Purchase tickets here.
Troop Management
Troop Management Sessions have been added. Night & weekend dates are available! Click here  for details.
Day Camps
Interested in having a Day Camp in your area? We are looking for Day Camp Directors. Please email mvp@gsmists.org if you are interested in learning more.
Service Unit Troop Events
If you are holding local events that are open to the entire council, we would love to help you promote it! We are looking for events that are Girl Scout badge based, financial literacy, healthy living, etc. Please complete and submit this form for consideration.
Shop News
 
Cookie T-shirts
are still available in all three of our retail shops. Cost is $9 each.
 
Girl Scout Pins 
Cookie Activity Pins for 2017 are light pink. Pins are available in shops, $2 each.

Girl Scout Week  
Order your Girl Scout Week and Girl Scout Sunday patches today  

End of the Year Award Orders  
Leaders! Be sure to order your end of year badges and bridging awards early to ensure they arrive in time.

Shop for these and all Girl Scout items anytime online!
2017 Annual Meeting and  
Adult Recognition Event  
Join us for our 2017 Annual Meeting and Adult Recognition Event on Saturday, April 22 at Camp Anna Behrens, 9841 Colby Road Greenville, MI.
A light lunch will be provided. 

While we will be conducting business of the corporation during the annual meeting segment with delegates, all members 14 years of age and above are invited and encourage d to attend , as the meeting and recognition event have been combined into one big Girl Scout celebration.

Girl Scout Uniforms are appropriate and encourage d, but are not necessary.

The annual meeting will begin at 10:30  a . m .  with registration opening at 10:00  a . m.  There will be small $5.00 fee per person to help cover the cost of lunch. 

You will be asked during your registration to define attendance as an : elected Delegate, elected Alternate, Board Member, Board Development Committee Member, Nominee or Visitor.

Delegates and Alternates will receive a voter packet via email in the next few weeks , but must register through the online system.

For anyone traveling a long distance and wishing to stay at camp overnight on Friday, the Brinkert's Troop House will be available for  up to 12 people at no charge. Please contact Karen Olsen in the Muskegon Service Center to reserve a bed.
We will be recognizing Girl Scout Members with 50+ years of membership! Congratulations to: 
  • Judy Dennis
  • Susan Hastings
  • Ruth Lorenger
  • Cindy Rashawn
  • Donna Precord
  • Sally Ann Corner
If you know of a Girl Scout volunteer or lifetime member who should be on this list, please email us  mvp@gsmists.org .
Gold Award Winners
GSMISTS recently recognized our amazing Girl Scouts who have worked to make the world a better place.These girls are our Gold Award recipients, and they are the leaders of tomorrow! Each girl worked on a sustainable community service project, addressing a key issue in their communities. 

Learn more about their Gold Award projects by clicking the image below or visiting our website.

Congratulations Girl Scouts!
Membership News
Coming Soon!! Early Bird 2018 membership registration will take place April 15 - June 15. Watch for details to come by email, Facebook, and on our website.
 
Membership Goal Update

The following service units have met at least   80% of their girl membership goal:

  • Rogers City/Onaway (116%) - GOAL!!!!
  • Oscoda (97%)
  • Byron Center/Rabbit Run (117%) - GOAL!!!
  • White Lake (96%)
  • Charlevoix (93%)
  • Belding/Greenville/Five Cities (98%)
  • EBO/West/North Park (94%)
  • Big Rapids/Chippewa Hills/Morley/Stanwood (93%)
  • Rockford/North Kent (87%)
  • Forest Hills (95%)
  • Greater Montcalm (88%)
  • Reeths Puffer/North Muskegon (87%)
  • Alpena/Montmorency (97%)
  • Cheboygan (97%)
  • Otsego (90%)
  • Flat River(88%)
  • Zeeland (82%)
  • Ionia/Portland/TriCities/Lakewood/Grand River (83%)
  • Kalkaska/Antrim (83%)
  • Riverbend/Hudsonville/Allendale/Wyoming (84%)
We appreciate everyone's support in helping to grow membership in all areas.
 
Keep going! Let's be sure to offer the Girl Scout program to ALL girls.

Reminder: Troop Leaders 
Your Troop Finance Report will be due to your Service Unit Treasurer between May 23 and June 1, 2017. You can find the report on our website under the forms tab. You will also be required to submit bank statements from October, March and the statement you receive during the month of May 2017.  Please contact your service unit treasurer or membership staff person if you need assistance.
 
Attention Troop Leaders Using PNC Bank 
If your troop uses PNC Bank please visit THIS LINK to learn more about PNC account charges.
Program News
Reminder:  All Girl Scout events require girl supervision; either a troop leader or parent is asked to be in attendance at events with girls.  E vents organized by GSMISTS or by any of our Community Partners, may have cookie dough applied to the event fees.
Camp Season is Finally Here!!!
Go to our website to find camping opportunities near you! GSMISTS will be partnering with Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan this year for our camp program.


New! STEM Spark Events  
Spark Events inspire girls to dream big when they think about their future, and bring girls together with STEM professionals in their work spaces. Each event will introduce girls to a professional field, and will provide an opportunity to learn by doing an engaging activity similar to what the professionals do on a regular basis. There will also be time to ask questions and get a feel for whether this kind of career would be a good fit. Girls will receive a fun Spark patch at the event.

Upcoming Events

Pleune Services STEM DAY for  Seniors & Ambassadors:
May 20 at 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. - Pleune Service Company in Grand Rapids.  Girls will learn about the mechanical contracting industry and misconceptions about STEM careers as well as the technology within the walls of buildings being built in Grand Rapids. Girls who will be 18 years of age this summer, will have the opportunity to submit an application to intern with Pleune Services. Register here.
Wanna be an engineer? Exploring STEM jobs.
May 6 at 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.  Registration 9:30 a.m.
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 28, 2017
Cost per adult: $10 (includes museum admission)
Cost per girl:  $18 (includes museum admission)
Engineers use science, technology & math to solve problems. There are many different kinds of engineers. They design a solution, test it, redesign & test again. They try to control all variables in their tests for repeat-ability. Actively explore different engineering careers and strengthen critical thinking skills as you are challenged to innovate and solve problems in various fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, structural, materials, environmental and aeronautical engineering.  Become an engineer, help shape our nation's future and become a more knowledgeable consumer of our earth's resources.  

Program level for event: Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador.

To register, contact: Cheri Leach, Director of Programming, Raven Hill Discovery Center, 231.536.3369 cheri@miravenhill.org.
Mackinac Island Honor Scouts (MIHS) 
will be on Mackinac Island July 15  through July 22 . We encourage your troops to visit the island during this time. To learn more about the MIHS, please visit  our website .
Product Sales
2017 Cookie Sale: The 2017 Cookie Sale ended on March 19 and March 22 was the deadline to submit final rewards. Thank you all for a GREAT cookie season!

Bank Sweep:
Please make sure to deposit all checks to the troop bank account at least 24 hours before the sweep dates. The Initial order troop bank sweep happened around March 10 for $2.00 per box sold through initial orders only. We have had a few rejections due to incorrect bank account information in the ebudde system and those troops have been notified. The second sweep happened on or after March 17 for $1.43 per box sold through initial orders only. Tiered proceeds was calculated in the final sweep which happened on or after March 24 . This bank sweep included the payment for all Goal Getter, add-on's, booth sale cookies and/or paid outstanding money reports. 

Final Outstanding Money Reports  were due by March 22. There will be no late acceptance of these forms for the three bank sweeps. Please note, money from a delinquent parent should never be turned away. Always collect and give a receipt for any money collected. If an outstanding money report was turned in to council and the parent has since paid the troop, please let our Product Sales staff know so that we can sweep the troop account.

Girl Rewards:   All earned girl rewards should arrive to the SUPSM by the end of April. Please make sure the awards are distributed to girls right away. Girls do not receive rewards if the money due for cookie sales has not been collected. These rewards should be brought back to council to hold until the delinquent situation is resolved.
 
Permission to Sell forms:   All girls who have sold cookies through the 2017 Cookie Sale must have had a Parent Permission form filled out completely for the troop to keep on file. This form was needed if any delinquent money situations arise. Outstanding money reports will not be accepted without the completed Parent Permission form and any signed receipts from cookie pick-ups.
 
ONLINE Cookie Dough!  There was an option to chose whether girls would like to use cookie dough online or still receive a cookie dough card for our council shops, registration fees and camps. Online Cookie Dough may only be used to purchase items form the GSUSA shops. It can not be used for membership registration or other items within our council. All girls in the troop do not have to agree on the same method; some may chose online while others may want the card. However, once the choice is made, it can not be reversed. If a choice is not selected in the ebudde system at the final rewards time frame, a Cookie Dough card will be the default method of reward. Please contact us with any questions.
 
Check out the new  Gift of Caring Program
All Troop Gift of Caring donations will stay at your local level with girls distributing items to their choice of Hometown Heroes. We ask that girls work with their Service Unit to coordinate a designated site, or the troops may decide to donate on their own. We would love to see pictures of the girls donating!