|
Welcome to GSSI's Weekly Volunteer Update
|
|
|
COOKIE PROGRAM EXTENDED
GSSI is extending the 2025 Cookie Program by one week. The program will now run through Sunday, March 9. Online access will remain available throughout the entire program.
New due dates are as follows:
• Girl Payments to Troop - Monday, March 10, 2025
• Troop Paperwork to their Service Unit - Wednesday, March 12, 2025
COOKIE BOOTH LOTTERY
GSSI will hold a lottery from Wednesday, February 26 to Friday, February 28, for upcoming cookie booth opportunities at Sam's Club, Schnucks, and Lowes. Troops can also continue to establish Troop Secured Booths.
FREE SHIPPING WEEKEND
Free Shipping Weekend for orders of 9-12 packages of cookies is from Friday, February 28-Sunday, March 2, 2025.
COOKIE TRANSFER REQUESTS ON FACEBOOK & RALLYHOOD
If your troop has extra cookies you'd like to share with another local troop, please post in the Rallyhood Cookie Exchange and the Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana Volunteers group. GSSI encourages troops looking to restock to check with fellow troops first before visiting a cookie cupboard. When posting, include the number of packages or cases available for each cookie variety.
Troops can also contact their SU Cookie Chair or email cookies@girlscouts-gssi.org if they have extra cookies they are unable to sell. Make sure to reach out as soon as possible; do not wait until the end of the cookie program on March 9.
Please note that the Cookie Exchange Rally and Facebook group are private. All cookie volunteers received an email invitation to join the Cookie Exchange Rally. Any volunteer can request access to both sites using the links above.
ENTER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IN SMART COOKIES:
Encourage families to submit cash and checks weekly. Troops should deposit funds frequently to prevent loss, theft, and bounced checks. To keep the Girl and Troop Balance Summaries accurate, log girl-to-troop and troop-to-GSSI deposits in Smart Cookies deposits. See directions for how to enter transactions at the link below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Register Now for the 2025 Spring Summits!
|
GSSI understands the importance of providing space for volunteers to connect and share ideas across our entire council. To foster a collaborative volunteer community, the 2025 Spring Summits will focus solely on volunteer networking through guided topic discussions. For each topic, volunteers will have the opportunity to engage in small group discussions at their tables, share insights with the larger group, and receive a brief overview of relevant council resources.
Discussion topics will include:
• Planning and funding your upcoming troop year
• Bridging ceremonies
• Favorite badge and patch activities
• Programming with community partners
PLUS, volunteers who attend will receive a Volunteer Summit patch!
|
|
|
|
|
Advocate for Your Local Girl Scout Community as a GSSI Delegate
|
Delegates act as a vital communication link between Girl Scouts, their service unit, the Board of Directors, and GSSI staff. They advocate for local members, ensuring that everyone’s voices are heard. Members who are 14 years of age or older are eligible to serve as delegates.
Two types of delegates need to be secured annually for each service unit:
|
-
Delegates for the Annual Meeting: These delegates attend GSSI’s Annual Meeting, in person or virtually, and vote in real-time on proposed council changes. This is a one-time commitment. GSSI encourages new and experienced volunteers to serve as delegates for the Annual Meeting and provides a simple orientation for first-time delegates. This year’s Annual Meeting is Tuesday, April 29, from 5:30-7:30 PM CDT in Evansville (location to be determined.)
-
SU Delegates: Each service unit may elect one primary delegate to serve as the voice of their community throughout the entire membership year. This SU Delegate has direct access to our CEO and Board Members to share important discussion topics as needed throughout the year. The SU Delegate should also serve as a delegate for the Annual Meeting when possible.
|
|
If you’re interested in volunteering for one of these esteemed positions, please contact our Director of Membership, Kim Consley, at kconsley@girlscouts-gssi.org.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Service Unit Meetings
|
Service units (SUs) consist of Girl Scout members who live in the same city or county. SUs provide opportunities for volunteers to connect, share experiences, and build camaraderie through their shared commitment to the Girl Scout mission. Regardless of volunteer role, all volunteers are invited to attend SU meetings in their area! Learn more at About Girl Scout Service Units.
Registered volunteers will receive a special save-the-date postcard in the mail for the upcoming March meeting in their area!
|
-
Perry/Spencer: Thursday, March 6, 6:00 PM CDT, First Baptist Church (802 13th St, Tell City)
-
Posey: Monday, March 10, 6:00 PM CDT, Saint Francis Xavier (10 N Saint Francis St, Poseyville)
-
Daviess/Martin: Tuesday, March 11, 5:00 PM EDT, Beulah Ame Church (805 W Walnut St, Washington)
-
Pike: Wednesday, March 12, 5:00 PM EDT, Pike County Indiana Historical Society & Museum (1104 E Main St, Petersburg)
-
Southwest Warrick: Wednesday, March 12, 6:00 PM CDT, Newburgh United Methodist Church (4178 IN-261, Newburgh), North Warrick volunteers are invited to discuss day camp planning
-
Vanderburgh: Thursday, March 13, 6:00 PM CDT, GSSI Office (5000 E Virginia St, Evansville)
-
Dubois: Monday, March 17, 6:00 PM EDT, Jasper Public Library (100 3rd Ave, Jasper)
-
North Warrick: Tuesday, March 18, 5:30 PM CDT, Boonville-Warrick County Public Library (611 W Main St, Boonville)
-
Knox: Thursday, March 27, 6:30 EDT, Ponderosa Steakhouse (2625 Hart St, Vincennes)
|
|
PLUS—All volunteers who attend a March SU meeting will receive a Girl Scout Volunteer Pin (while supplies last)!
|
|
|
|
Spotlight on Our Amazing Volunteers
|
|
We are excited to highlight and celebrate the following volunteers this week in recognition of their outstanding contributions.
|
-
Troop 308 Co-Leaders A big shoutout to experienced cookie volunteer Brooke Huthsteiner for her outstanding work alongside new co-leaders Micah Schneider and Abby Thomas! Together, they’ve secured several cookie booth opportunities for their new Daisy troop, helping the girls build essential business skills and reach their financial goals. Fantastic job creating leadership opportunities for your troop!
-
Troop 410 Co-Leaders Kudos to new co-leaders Jill Koch and Nesha Campbell for guiding their Junior troop to a successful first cookie booth! They braved the cold and crushed sales, even inviting a Daisy troop to join in the fun. On top of that, Jill and Nesha are planning walk-about opportunities for door-to-door cookie sales. Way to go, Jill and Nesha—you’re making this cookie season a huge success!
-
Rachael Watkins A huge thank you to Rachael for stepping up as a 3rd co-leader for Junior Troop 176 this year! In addition to completing her co-leader onboarding, Rachael has actively participated in the new co-leader cohort meetings and has gone above and beyond to make other volunteers who are new to the Girl Scout community feel welcome. Your dedication and support are truly appreciated!
|
|
Do you know a Girl Scout volunteer who has recently gone above and beyond in their role, and want to recognize them for their work? Submit this form, and we will include your story in one of the next weekly volunteer newsletters!
|
|
|
|
|
Rallyhood: An Improved Way to Communicate and Collaborate!
|
|
We’re excited to announce our new collaboration platform, Rallyhood! This all-in-one tool will help our GSSI community—volunteers, families, and members—work more efficiently and stay connected. With over 12 years of experience working with Girl Scout councils, Rallyhood eliminates the need for multiple apps and brings everything together in one place in an easy-to-use application. You’ll soon have access to features like direct and group messaging, shared calendars, file sharing, event planning, and payment collection, all through a private desktop and mobile app.
CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
All co-leaders received an invite to setup their Rallyhood account on or before February 18. If you did not see this email in your inbox, please search for messages from no-reply@rallyhood.com. If you cannot locate your invitation, email Lindsey Alvey at lalvey@girlscouts-gssi.org.
LEARN ABOUT RALLYHOOD
An upcoming live admin training for troop leaders will be held on Thursday, March 20, at 6:00 PM CST. Please join the Welcome Volunteers Rally for details of the call and to RSVP for the meeting. Training links and guides are available in the links section of the rally.
Please note that families have not yet been invited to join their Troop Rally. We recommend that you take time to build your Troop Rally how, and GSSI will send formal Rallyhood invitations to troop families this spring.
|
|
|
Last Chance to Register for Girl Scout Day at the Statehouse!
|
Registration closes this Tuesday, February 25! Join Girl Scouts from all over Indiana for Girl Scout Day at the Statehouse. This program offers Girl Scouts an up-close experience in civic engagement, designed to empower them with the tools to become informed, active citizens. The day's activities are structured to give girls an understanding of government processes, hands-on experience in advocacy, and insight into the impact they can have in their communities. Girl Scouts will also complete steps toward earning key badges related to civics, citizenship, and advocacy.
WHERE: Indiana Statehouse- 200 W Washington St. Indiana, IN. 46204
WHEN: March 11, 2025
Check-in: 8:15-8:45 AM EDT
Program: 9 AM-2:30 PM EDT
COST: $20 per Girl Scout, $5 per adult
|
|
|
|
|
Join us for Girl Scout Day with the Evansville Thunderbolts
|
Join Girl Scouts for an afternoon of hockey fun at this Evansville Thunderbolts game honoring all the Cookie Bosses from this year's Cookie Program. March 30 is Sunday Funday with the Thunderbolts, so come spend your Sunday with your Girl Scout friends and enjoy all the fun at this Thunderbolts game! There will be inflatables, slides, and hair tinsel for kids. PLUS, the top cookie sellers from the 2024-2025 Cookie Season will get to ride the Zamboni!
WHERE: Ford Center in Evansville, IN
WHEN: Sunday, March 30, 2025, with doors opening at 2:15 PM CDT for the general public and Puck drop at 3:00 PM CDT
COST: $12 tickets
REGISTRATION: Get your tickets through the Thunderbolt's Girl Scout Cookie Night form. Deadline to purchase tickets TBD.
|
|
|
|
|
Experience STEM in the great outdoors at STEM in the Wild!
|
This exciting one-day experience will immerse girls in hands-on STEM activities, nature exploration, and team-building challenges that foster critical thinking, resilience, and teamwork with GSSI's community partners!
Event Highlights include:
✨ Learn about Leave No Trace principles to protect our environment
🚀 Explore a STEM activity with NASA Ambassador Amanda Scurry
🏭 Get hands-on with Berry Plastics and discover the science behind materials
🦅 Experience a live Birds of Prey demonstration with Falconry Chronicles
🍫 Create your own delicious snack at the G.O.R.P. station and much more!
🎖️ All girls will receive a special event patch!
WHERE: Gibson County Fairgrounds
709 N Embree St, Princeton, IN 47670
WHEN: April 12 from 2-4 PM CDT
COST: $10 per Girl Scout with a patch and snack included
REGISTRATION: Deadline to register is April 7!
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Girl Opportunities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How to Get in Touch with Us
|
General questions & assistance: Email GSSI at support@girlscouts-gssi.org.
Volunteer events, training, and resources: Alyssa Miller, Volunteer Support & Training Manager, at amiller@girlscouts-gssi.org.
Bank accounts and finance reports: Brittany Pringle, Membership Administrator, at bpringle@girlscouts-gssi.org.
Membership questions and troop support: Contact your Membership Specialist based on the areas listed below.
|
-
Zone 1: membership1@girlscouts-gssi.org Vanderburgh, Southwest Warrick
-
Zone 2: membership2@girlscouts-gssi.org Gibson, Knox, Posey
-
Zone 3: membership3@girlscouts-gssi.org Daviess, Martin, Pike
-
Zone 4: membership4@girlscouts-gssi.org Dubois, Perry, Spencer, North Warrick
-
For additional membership support: Kim Consley, Director of Membership, at kconsley@girlscouts-gssi.org.
|
|
|
Show Us What You're Up To!
|
GSSI wants to know about the positive change that local Girl Scouts are creating so that we can spread their stories and their impact further. Tell us about your troop's Take Action project, volunteer activities, or participation in local events. Your girls could be featured on our website, social media, or future marketing materials!
Send your stories and photos to Hannah Minasian at hminasian@girlscouts-gssi.org. Be sure to include your troop number and details of the activities pictured.
|
|
|
%%[
SET @MIDrs = LookupRows("ENT.Footer Content FY22","MID", memberid)
IF RowCount(@MIDrs) == 1 THEN
SET @MIDrow = Row(@MIDrs, 1)
SET @CategoryImageURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'gs_logo')
SET @twitterURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'twitter_url')
SET @facebookURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'facebook_url')
SET @pinterestURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'pintrest_url')
SET @instagramURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'instagram_url')
SET @linkedinURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'linkedin_url')
SET @vimeoURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'vimeo_url')
SET @youtubeURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'youtube_url')
SET @googleplusURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'google_plus_url')
SET @flickrURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'flickr_url')
SET @tiktokURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'tiktok_url')
SET @threadsURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'threads_url')
SET @privacypolicyURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'privacy_policy_url')
SET @contactURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'contact_us_url')
SET @BU = Field(@MIDrow, 'business_unit')
SET @CouncilURL = Field(@MIDrow, 'council_website')
SET @address1 = Field(@MIDrow, 'council_address_1')
SET @address2 = Field(@MIDrow, 'council_address_2')
SET @address3 = Field(@MIDrow, 'council_city')
SET @address4 = Field(@MIDrow, 'council_state')
SET @address5 = Field(@MIDrow, 'council_zip')
ENDIF
VAR @var, @contactID
SET @contactID = AttributeValue("ContactID")
IF Not Empty(@contactID) THEN
SET @accountid = Lookup('ent.VS2_Contacts','AccountId','ContactID',@contactid)
SET @prefurl = CONCAT('https://mckhgfy4cjx4r80tsj-kz8lt91c0.pub.sfmc-content.com/jjf1iovzfy1?id=',@accountid)
ENDIF
]%%
%%[
SET @EmailAddress = emailaddr
SET @encEmail = Replace(Base64Encode(@EmailAddress), "=", "_")
]%%
|
This email was sent by: %%Member_Busname%%
%%Member_Addr%% %%Member_City%%, %%Member_State%%, %%Member_PostalCode%%, %%Member_Country%%
|
Update Profile
|
|
