UPDATE: GSCCC is Moving to a New Membership System AND Going Live with Volunteer Toolkit Sooner than Anticipated!

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON NEW SYSTEM

• Parents and Volunteers, keep an eye on your inbox. You will receive an initial email from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) this Friday, December 16, 2016, notifying you that a separate login information email will be coming to you. Then you will receive your login information from GSUSA on Monday, December 19, 2016, which will connect you to the new enhanced membership registration experience. Also, note that events and activities will continue to be purchased in eBiz and will be available the same time.
• Volunteers, please note that access to the toolkit will be available after you login using the information GSUSA will email next week.

Send any questions you have to customercare@gsccc.org. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience!

Upcoming Holiday Closings

All GSCCC Offices and Shops will be closed December 24, 2016 through January 2, 2017 and will resume regular hours Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

Refer to our website for regular office and shop hours.

Delegate Chair and Delegate and Alternate Delegate Training Webinar

Delegate Training is required for all service unit Delegate Chairs and Delegates/Alternate Delegates to prepare for their role as voting members of the Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast. The training will include an explanation of the delegate job description, information on topics that will be voted on at Annual Council Meeting, an overview of Robert's Rules of Order, and a State of the Council report.

Delegate and Alternate Delegate Training Webinar
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
6:30–7:30 p.m.

Register here to attend the webinar.

Questions? Contact customercare@gsccc.org.

Community Service Opportunity in Norfolk

Community service has been a cornerstone of Girl Scouting for more than 100 years. If your troop is looking for community service opportunities in Norfolk, this is it. The Lydia Roper Home Assisted Living Facility is looking for Girl Scouts to come and spread some cheer!

Volunteer opportunities consist of:

• Singing songs
• Playing an instrument (facility has a keyboard)
• Doing craft activities
• Making seasonal cards
• Completing art projects
• Playing games and mingling with the 23 ladies who love children and especially music

Date/Time:
To make arrangements for your troop's visit, contact Christine Hoppe, Activities Coordinator, via email at CHoppe@VUMH.org. Volunteer or visit on weekdays or Saturday at 9 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.

ACE Adventure Resort Special Discount for Girl Scouts

ACE Adventure Resort is the East Coast’s largest 1,500-acre mountain hideaway with more guided adventures, outdoor activities, whitewater rafting, lodging and amenities than any other Adventure Vacation Outfitter! ACE will maximize your mountain privacy and surround you with the great outdoors.

Book a group trip before March 31, 2017 using promo code GIVINGTUES16 to receive a 20 percent discount off of your adventure. Visit online or call 800-787-3982 to begin planning your trip.

ACE Adventure Resort
1 Concho Road
Oak Hill, WV 25879

2017 Cookie Classic!

Calling all Girl Scouts and Friends! Put your running shoes on and get ready to race – or walk – in the 2017 Cookie Classic. Now in its third year, the Cookie Classic organized by GSCCC community volunteers, will take place on Saturday, January 21, with plans to be better than ever. This year’s event takes place on the trails of the Chesapeake’s Great Dismal Swamp Park. Find details on the website at cookieclassicrun.wordpress.com to get information and register.

Everyone gets a T-shirt and there are awards – medals and patches – depending on the race you select at registration.

GSCCC is Moving to a New Membership System AND Going Live with Volunteer Toolkit!

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON NEW SYSTEM

• Parents and Volunteers, keep an eye on your inbox. You will receive a login and password from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, which will connect you to the new enhanced membership registration experience. Also, note that events and activities will continue to be purchased in eBiz and will be available later this month. There will be a brief break in this service.
• Volunteers, please note that access to the toolkit will be available after you login using the information GSUSA will email at the end of this month. The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is the ultimate resource for a troop leader and one parents will benefit from as well. It will help leaders plan meetings, communicate with parents and check out great badge opportunities for your girls.

Send any questions you have to customercare@gsccc.org. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience!

Upcoming Closings

The Newport News office and shop will be closed all day Friday, December 9. The Chesapeake office and shop will close at noon Friday, December 9. The Chesapeake shop will be open normal business hours of 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, December 10.

Shop Promotions for the Month of December

December 1, 2, 3: Holiday Open House

• Receive a discount of 10 percent off your total purchase!
• Receive a discount of 50 percent off clearance items!
• Snacks, giveaways, and free grab bags!
• While supplies last. In-stock merchandise only.

Activity Fun Patches

• Caroling
• Christmas Parade
• Hiking
• Lock-in
• Wreath Laying

New Items

• Bubble umbrella: $15
• Chevron drawstring bag: $20
• GSCCC fleece zip-up: $35 (all sizes)
• Lead Like A Girl Scout adult tee: $30
• Pullover heather hooded tee: $44
• S’mores best friends pouch: $15
• Two-tone cuffed beanie: $18
• Two-tone fleece jacket: $29.95
• Two-tone gloves: $13

Calling all Volunteers!!

Start talking to your friends, neighbors, and co-workers about becoming a new troop co-leader for the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. If you recruit someone to start a new Daisy, Brownie or Junior troop, you’ll earn $50 to Badge & Sash online store and the new co-leader will receive a Volunteer Resource Pack (a $50 value). Once your friend joins as a Girl Scout leader and starts a new troop, you're ready to redeem your reward. Let us know so you can collect your prize. The Girl Scouts Invite-A-Friend program ends on December 15.

Color Me Mine Ornament Painting Party

Girl Scouts and leaders are invited to join us for an ornament painting party at our Ghent or Hilltop locations. Each participant will paint two trefoil ornaments, one to keep and one to swap! Call to reserve your seat.

Date/Time: 
December 18, 2016, 4–5 p.m. or 5–6 p.m.

Cost: 
$10 per child

Locations:
Color Me Mine Norfolk
1300 Colley Ave
Norfolk, VA 23517
757-625-1666
www.norfolk.colormemine.com

Color Me Mine Virginia Beach
737 First Colonial Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-422-2166
www.vb.colormemine.com

See the event flyer for additional details.

New Silver Award Processing at GSCCC

Based on Girl Scout best practices nationally, GSCCC has made a change in the way Girl Scout Silver Awards will be processed effective immediately. Starting now, Girl Scout Silver Award projects will be approved by the troop leader or, if a girl is not a troop member, by the assigned adult volunteer within her service unit. Guidelines and help to approve and assist girls can be found on the GSUSA’s website.

The Opportunity Catalog is Coming!

Have you heard? Our new Opportunity Catalog is going live near the end of December 2016.  This will bring more opportunities for girls, troops and volunteers at Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast than ever before! This means instant access to add troop openings, volunteer opportunities and updating troop information at the click of a button. This amazing new tool lets parents find and join a troop instantly during the online registration process.

We know you are excited so here’s a quick overview:
The new troop catalog can be utilized by troop leaders to:

• Add new troop openings
• Change meeting dates/locations
• Find new troop volunteers

Volunteer Opportunities at 2017 GSCCC Annual Council Meeting and Awards Luncheon!

Calling all Girl Scouts!
Step up and volunteer at this year’s 2017 GSCCC Annual Council Meeting and Awards Luncheon! There’s plenty of ways adults and girls may be involved. The event has a party spirit as we celebrate our girls and volunteers AND who we are as Girl Scouts! Take a look at the opportunities and decide how you can participate. You may want to volunteer only for Annual Council Meeting or the Awards Luncheon – or both! Select an opportunity and email customercare@gsccc.org, and we’ll get back to you with full details. Deadline to respond is Monday, December 19, 2016.

Girl Recognition - Buck Harris Award Nomination

The Buck Harris Award was established upon the retirement of Buck Harris, a former executive director of the Virginia Tidewater Girl Scout Council. Buck dedicated her life to providing the finest in camping and outdoor education programs.

This award is presented at the Annual Council Meeting each year and consists of a framed certificate and a certificate towards attending a GSCCC sponsored summer camp. To qualify for the award, a girl must be nominated by the girls in her troop, group or service unit or by an adult who is aware of her qualifications. As girls decide on their nominee, help them understand this is more than a popularity contest.