January 2009 SUM Minutes                      Back to Service Unit Calendar & Meeting Minutes



Carmela Arale began the meeting by introducing herself and Rachel Treadwell, who handles the Berkeley Heights service unit at the Heart of NJ Council.

Report from Council:
Rachel reported on council activities. Upcoming events include Girl Scout Day at Great Adventure, which is scheduled for April 25 and 26 (either day). For a fee of $44.00 per person, participants get use of the park, food, a patch, and a ticket to return another day. Families are welcome to join their Girl Scouts. Details and registration information can be found on the council website, www.gshnj.org.

Rachel also informed us that there have been some changes to the paperwork portion of the Bronze Award requirements. Again, details are on the council website.

Adult recognition nominations are due to council by March 7, 2009. There are many awards that are available for leaders, volunteers, and people in the community who have been helpful to our troops. Please check the council website and consider nominating those who help us so much!

Information and brochures about summer camp at Camp Hoover are not available yet. However, when this information is released, council expects there to be a great deal of interest, especially from those troops who have never had Hoover available to them before. So ACT FAST to register your daughter when the information is sent to you, in order to make sure you get a spot.

Lastly, Rachel informed us that troops do not need to purchase High Risk Insurance unless they will be away for three or more nights. Activities such as ice-skating, which used to require this insurance, are now covered by GSHNJ.

BH Girl Scout Events Update:

• The trip to Buehler Challenger Center is set for Jan. 30th. Barbara Smith is the coordinator.
• The Daisy Teddy Bear Tea is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7th. Emily Frank is in charge of that event.
• World Thinking Day will be held on Feb. 21st, from 2-4 pm. All information is on the Berkeley Heights Girl Scouts website, www.bhgirlscouts.com . Carmela's troop is running this event. Girls in K-3rd grade can attend as "Travelers", visiting the various countries. Girls in grades 3 and higher are encouraged to be presenters, sponsoring a booth and/or presentation featuring a specific country. Troops must register BY JAN. 15TH in order to participate. World Thinking Day will be held at the Berkeley Rehabilitation Center, on Cottage St. in B.H.
• ENCAMPMENT dates are Feb. 27-March 1, 2009. The theme this year is "Hoover Rocks". Cost is $22.00 per person, due with the registration form by Jan. 28th. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis. Late registrants may not be able to reserve space. Activities are planned for Sat. for troops that are interested. Creation Studios and Townley Hall are also available for troops that wish to reserve them. There will be a SWAPS meet and dessert Sat. evening in the dining hall. Checkout time on Sunday morning is 10:30 am.
  Everyone should be aware that we MAY NOT have a town-wide encampment next year. Because of the increased number of troops that are allowed to use Camp Hoover now, reservations are being taken for every other year, instead of yearly. There is no guarantee that Berkeley Heights will get a weekend next year, and no way to tell what season it will be if we do get to go.
• The Ready-Set-Go Camping program, on March 20, is full, but there may be another date scheduled in the near future. Watch the B.H. website for an announcement.
• The Mommy & Me camping weekend is March 21-22nd, 2009. It's called "Camp Hoover Carnival", and is a great way to introduce both girls and moms to beautiful Camp Hoover. Space is limited to 100 people (that's only 50 couples), so sign up quickly. Fliers are on the B.H. website. Registration and checks (made out to Troop 748) are due by Feb. 6th.
• Also on the B.H. website is information regarding the "Someone Special and Me" dance, sponsored by Troop 858. The date for that is April 24, and the cost is $22.00 per couple, and $10.00 per extra girl.


Anyone who is opening a new troop bank account should contact council (check their website first) for the "Merger document", which has the new federal tax ID number for the Heart of NJ Council. Troops with existing bank accounts, even though they say "Washington Rock Council", can keep them as they are for now, and can continue to use their old checks.

Finally, PLEASE get your year-end Finance Report to Carmela Arale or Randi Fluta as soon as possible.

As always, keep checking the Berkeley Heights Girl Scout website, as well as the GSHNJ website, for updates, information, and announcements




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