Happy Holidays

On behalf of Girl Scouts Louisiana East, let us wish you and your families a safe and joyous holiday season. You have been a blessing to the Girl Scouts in your community, and please know that you are making a difference in the lives of many!  May 2009 bring nothing but happiness and prosperity to you and yours.

Annual Family Giving Campaign

The 2009 Annual Family Giving Campaign is in full swing, but with the process being new this year, the deadline to turn in money has been extended. All donations must be turned in by April 17 in order for the Troop/Service Unit to be recognized at the awards event being held in May 2009.

Congratulations and a big Thank You to the following Service Units who have raised the most money for the Annual Family Giving Campaign:

Baton Rouge Service Unit 611, Lafourche Service Unit 667, Mandeville Service Unit 681

Please contact Carrie Thomas at cthomas@gsle.org or (504) 733-8220 if you would like to donate or receive event ideas for your service unit.

Cookie Sale News

With a theme of Imagine If...We Could Change the World, it's no surprise that community service plays a part in this year's cookie sale. Cookies 4 a Change (found on the appropriate age-level cookie page), and Gift of Caring are all activities in which Girl Scouts can participate as well as the Troops Helping Troops patch program. Troops Helping Troops is an opportunity for Girl Scouts to lend a helping hand to the many military troops who are deployed or serving in the United States, and gives girls a better understanding about military service and history, as well as participate in the Gift of Caring portion of the cookie program.

This year, as we join this patch program with the Cookie Sale's Gift of Caring, there will be promotional signs available for use at cookie booths, and as an added challenge, the troop to donate the largest number of cookies to our men and women in uniform will receive an American flag and pole for use in their troop meetings and ceremonies! The council is in the process of securing an approved method of delivery of cookies to troops.

Girl Scouts will begin taking cookie orders on January 23. Please DO NOT sell cookies before the sale start date of January 23. Parents, stay tuned to your leaders regarding cookie trainings, cookie rally dates, and other cookie sale information.

Older Girl Entrepreneurship Challenge

All older girls (14  -17) are invited to create and implement an innovative marketing plan promoting the cookie sale.  Registration to participate in this challenge is February 2, and the plan - with its results - must be received at the Council (either Headquarters or the Regional Service Center) by 4 p.m. March 27. The challenge will be judged by a panel of local marketing professionals, and the winner will be awarded with a $1,000 college scholarship! Details - including competition guidelines - will be available after the holiday break.

Just for Girls sneak peek

The Winter issue of Just for Girls is at the printer, but click here for a sneak peek! Newsletters will be mailed out to all registered Girl Scout households between Christmas and New Year's, and the GSLE Connections will be mailed out the beginning of the year.

Property Update

While you may have enjoyed the beautiful Dec. 11th snow photos from Camp Covington and Camp Whispering Pines posted on the website, the unexpected 10 inches of snow at CWP caused extensive damage to our tents. Over the next few months we will be replacing tents and broken platforms in order to have Sunny Trails and Rabbit Run units up and running by March 1.

Sign up for January & February events

Don't miss out on some great council events! Below is a list of activities set for January and February. On the website calendar, go to the appropriate month and day, and click on the link for details including registration deadlines, age levels, times, etc.

1/3 - FULL Night Crawlers

1/10-11 - New Orleans Boat Show

1/14 - NEW Girl Scout Day - UNO & LSU Women's Basketball game with free clinic

1/17, 1/18 - FULL Love, Hug & Groom

1/17 - FULL New Orleans Artworks (Jrs & up)

1/17 - Nursing Exploration Day at Lakeview Regional Medical Center (Jrs)

1/17 - Pet First Aid (Cad & up)

1/24 & 1/31 - Creative Theatre Workshop at Southern Rep (Jrs & up)

1/24 - Girl Scout Day at the Rivertown Museums (all ages)

1/31 - National WWII Museum Girl Scout Day (FREE to all Girl Scouts in Uniform)

1/31 - Girl Scout Bronze Award Workshop - time has changed to 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

2/7 - Arbor Day at Covington, CWP and Camp Marydale

2/13-2/15 - Council Destinations: Backpacking Adventure (Cad& up)

2/28 - Break a Leg (Brs)

2/28 - Daisy Day at Camp Marydale (Daisies)

2/28 - The Show Must Go On (Jrs)

2/28 - Ready, Set, Go Camping at CWP (Jrs)

2/28-3/1 - Council Destinations: Lake Fausse Pointe (Cad & up)