November 2006 SUM Minutes                             Back to Service Unit Calendar & Meeting Minutes



Our November Service Unit Meeting was held on 11/2/06 in the Columbia Media Center. It was well attended and covered a host of topics. Here are the hightlights:

Cookie Sale: the cookie sale begins after the New Year. The December SUM (12/7/06) is mandatory for troop cookie managers. Make sure your cookie contact knows about the meeting - someone from your troop needs to attend if you will be participating in the cookie sale.

Council Membership Specialist: Rachel Treadwell was introduced. She is our new membership specialist. She will be working with the Berkeley Heights service unit throughout the year. She can be reached at: rtreadwell@gswrc.com

Nut Sale: update provided by Debbie Knapp. She said the sale was successful this year. The nuts are in, as Debbie informed troops in a separate email.

Training Update: the Fall training sessions for new leaders went well. Our town trainer, Deb Knapp, did a great job. Needed: another town trainer to help with new leader and age level training. We hold these sessions a couple of times a year, and we really need someone to help out Deb. The commitment is not great, and the rewards are awsome!

First Aid Training: SafetyWise requires a first-aider to accompany the troop on all outings. The training requirements for a first-aider are Infant, Child and Adult CPR and First Aid. Classes are available through Council (check the Web site http://www.westfieldnj.com/girlscouts) or the Red Cross, Summit. We are hoping to offer training here in Berkeley Heights and will advise you with the details.

Teddy Bear Tea: the troop organizing this event plans to hold it in January, but the date has not yet been finalized. Keep a look out for the details.

Mitten Tree: a separate email was sent from the organizing troop. Please make sure you forward the information to your families - lets make this the best Mitten Tree ever!

Winter Encampment: the theme is Medieval Times. Start thinking about those S.W.A.P.S.! More details will come ... We need volunteers to start working with our encampment director, Kim Spellman. Contact Kim or Carmela for details.

Beuhler Trip: update provided by Susan O'Donnell.

Awards and Recognition: Kim St. Onge provided an overview of the Awards and Recognition programs provided by GSWRC. We would like to make sure that those who help us help our girls get the recognition they deserve. We will send further information soon.

Membership Update: Maggie Gonzales has been working furiously to get the final troop registrations completed. If you have any new registrations, outstanding registration quandries, or updates for the town's troop roster, please send them to Maggie ( MGonza1881@aol.com).

Volunteers: We need volunteers to help coordinate the programs with the Service Unit. Berkeley Heights Girl Scouts has always been able to provide a strong and vibrant program. This is because of the energy of the volunteers. Please ask parents you know to step in and volunteer for a position.

CAC Delagate Update:
Report on CAC/Delegate Meeting held on October 17th 2006

Berkeley Heights is still going to have 4 delegates this year.

There will be a new level of Girl Scouting beginning October 1st 2008:
Senior Girl Scout ends after 10th grade
11th and 12th Grades are going to be called Girl Scout Ambassadors.

Also on October 1st 2008, to emphasize the Girl Scout name, the words "Girl Scout" will precede each level in Girl Scouting, for example: Girl Scout Daisy, Girl Scout Brownie, Girl Scout Junior, etc.

Girl Scout uniform - Girl Scouts at each level will have one item for pins and awards (tunic, vest or sash) that must be worn to ceremonies. The official uniform is white shirts, khaki pants/skirt and uniform item. The adult uniform is a scarf for women and a tie for men, with navy blue business clothes. This will also start in 2008.

In 2007, after realignment we will be part of New Jersey Central, along with the Girl Scouts of Rolling Hills, and the Girl Scouts of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties. A discussion took place about the CAC/Delegates merging with other service units.

The budget is not balanced - working on a deficit of 1-2% and we need to increase fundraising.

More trainers are needed.

The Deep Six 2003 Blue Book of Basic Documents is not needed anymore because the revised 2006 model has been given to each CAC delegate of each town.

Jen Brookes
Jen St. Onge

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