Results tagged “volunteer” from GSSA Leader Blog: The Virtual Volunteer

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

From GSUSA's Blog:

In Florida's Panhandle, The Foster Folly News reports that Girl Scouts from across the Panhandle have released a series of videos aimed at places to visit in the Panhandle - in addition to the beautiful beaches. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has created a deep impact on the Florida Panhandle's economy and tourism. The videos are currently available to view on the Girl Scouts Council of the Florida Panhandle YouTube Channel.

All videos were created, produced, and directed by Florida Girl Scouts and are definitely worth checking out. If you have similar stories about Girl Scouts contributing to relief efforts in The Gulf of Mexico, please share!

I found this article on GSUSA's blog, and wondered what Alabama Girl Scouts would say to increase tourism.  We all want to volunteer, and frustratingly there aren't many volunteer opportunities out there for our girls.  BUT!  We certainly could try to help increase tourism, though.  If your troop would like to make a video, we'll be happy to post it on our Youtube channel.  If you need help getting started, contact Molly Smart, ext. 1402.

UPDATE

With the oil slick approaching, we are receiving inquiries on how to help.  Prior to the oil slick reaching the beaches, the best thing to help is to pick up trash on the beaches.  Once the oil slick gets here, it's considered hazardous waste and requires training to assist. 

Volunteer Dana Jones is coordinating any and all inquiries for Girl Scouts.  If you are interested in volunteering with clean up, contact Dana Jones. She is in contact with the appropriate organizations and has up-to-date and comprehensive information.

Image via Wikipedia

Thank you Girl Scout Volunteer Sandra Grice for sending us this information.  This is a horrible situation, but it could be used to teach our girls about this type of environmental disaster, while learning the importance of community service.

As we all know there is a high probability now that we will be effected by the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.  As a local environmental organization, Southeastern Wildlife Conservation Group is in contact with US Fish and Wildlife, Alabama Division of Natural Resources and Mobile Bay NEP on a daily basis offering any and all assistance that can be provided. 

At this time we are on standby as these organizations await expert help with this type of environmental disaster and it has been decided what actions will have to be taken.  In an effort to be proactive we would like to go ahead and ask any who would be willing to volunteer their time in the event that a cleanup does occur to go ahead and sign up.  We will make a master list of volunteers and have this available not only for Southeastern Wildlife Conservation Group but also to any of the organizations seeking volunteers.  
 
Please forward this to any you think would be interested in volunteering their time.  Let's hope and pray these measures will not be needed but at the same time let's be prepared if we do have to act!
 
To volunteer, contact: Shannon Ready, volunteer with Southeastern Wildlife Conservation Group
shannonl67@hotmail.com

Also, thank you to volunteer Desiree Bishop for letting us know about this volunteer opportunity:

The Environmental Studies Center needs volunteers (minimum age 18) to help with Wildlife Rescue (some activities may include cleaning birds). Call 251-221-5000 and leave your name and phone number if you would like to help.

You asked, we listened!  We heard you say you wanted to reinstate the VIVA cards, so here they are.  You can go back through the past year (since Oct. 1, 2009), and receive points for all the wonderful things you've done for Girl Scouts.

The 2009-10 VIVA (Very Important Volunteer Appreciation) cards will be available at the service centers during office hours, or you can download them here: Viva2009-10.pdf.

Your Service Unit Manager can sign off on the points you've earned this Girl Scout year. These points may be redeemed in the GSSA shop, anytime prior to Sept. 30, 2010.

Questions or to request a card?  Contact your Volunteer Services Team:

Teri Eversole, extension 1302 

or

Cheryl Miller, extension 2302

Association II day camp will be held June 14-18 at the Mobile Botanical Gardens.  Volunteer Laura Doran is ready to host this great activity for the girls, but needs 7 volunteers in order to hold the camp.  Volunteers should have either first aid training or leader training.  The day camp runs from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.  Registration forms for the day camp will be available the first of April. 

Please contact Laura if you are interested in volunteering at 251.345.3328.

Dear Colleagues,

I know how hard you have been working to make the 2010 cookie sale a success!   I have heard numerous stories about new ways to sell cookies.   We have many more girls involved in the cookie sale this year, and are poised for a very successful "cookie season."

This year, we have worked to make the sale even easier for you, our volunteers. We piloted a new drive-through delivery system trial in the Montgomery area and worked to make the online booth sale scheduler easier for volunteers to use.   We also provided the cookie program books earlier, so leaders could work with girls on the program and integrate it into the girl activities.  We worked hard to provide cookie bucks and other improved incentives for girl participation. There is considerable work and communication that transpires before the sale ever start, and the staff felt very positive about the prospects of the sale this year.

In spite of all of our best efforts, this has, however, been a frustrating cookie season in many ways.  We work with the cookie baker in advance of the sale and do estimates of our beginning inventories for warehouses and cupboards.  Last year, the cookie baker made too many Girl Scout cookies, so they put them in a landfill at the end of the sale.   Because of the national decline in sales, the cookie baker is much more conscious of the number of cookies they are producing for the sale, which has translated into you not having enough cookies to fill your orders.  

We were told we would have 10 percent more cookies in our warehouse than our initial order in 2009.   That didn't happen.   From the first day of deliveries, we did not have that amount of cookies.   The cookie team has been on the phone continually talking to those we work with at the bakery to get more cookies to you.   We all want this sale to be a success.   To that end, we told the cookie baker last Thursday our cookie supplies were depleted; yet, we did not receive any shipment of cookies for 8 days.   And when the shipment came in, it still didn't have all of the types of cookies we ordered.   We have not had Trefoils for most of the sale, which is a top-selling cookie in this council.

I have been on the phone and sending e-mails trying to get your girls more cookies.   We know here is nothing worse than having cookies sold with no product to deliver, and many of you have shared your understandable frustration.     Know that those of us who work for you and your girls have been and are doing everything we possibly can to get cookies to you as quickly as we possibly can.   Quality customer service is one of those issues that come into play when selecting a cookie baker.   We will be scrutinizing responsiveness, quality of incentives and product going forward.

We thank you and appreciate all you do to make this a great council.   We appreciate all your year-round hard work.   Thank you for all you do that helps to build girls of courage, confidence and character.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth M. Brent, Ph.D.

CEO

This Valentine's Day, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama would like to thank all of our volunteers.  As you wrestle cases of cookies, stand at booth sales and ask yourself, why am I doing this?    We cannot even begin to describe the difference you are making in our council and your community. Your hard work and diligence is paid off by building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. As you spend your time making a difference in the lives of others, you are investing in our future. On this Valentine's day, please know we are thankful for everything you do, and WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Our annual meeting is approaching (March 27), and the council will be contacting volunteers to serve as delegates.  Being a delegate is a very important job and you may wonder what exactly a delegate does. Delegates are members of the Girl Scout movement who are 14 years of age or over and are registered within the council's jurisdiction.

As a delegate of the council, some of the duties include participating in important elections, such as electing the officers of the council, the members-at-large of the Board of Directors, the members of the Council Governance Committee and the delegators to the National Council of GSUSA. Delegates attend to other business that might come before the members as well.  Learn more about the role of the delegate in our council's bylaws. 

Are any of your girls high school seniors and planning on going to college? Their volunteer work could help them get a scholarship. The Junior League of Mobile is now accepting applications for their Young Woman Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship is available to young women in their senior year of high school and is available to one young woman in Mobile County and one in Baldwin County. The two scholarship recipients will be awarded a $1500 scholarship each.

Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to volunteering and community improvement, innovative and creative actions that reach out to and motivate others, commitment to continued education, and at least one year volunteer experience in addition to school related service requirements. This scholarship sounds perfect for a Girl Scout, who fulfills all of these requirements!

The registration deadline is March 15, and there are several requirements to apply.  If you would like an application, call or e-mail Mary Anne Brutkiewicz at 251.344.3330, ext. 1202.