New Leader Orientation and Training (NLOT) Dates are listed below.  Questions:  Denise at 218-208-0236 or dpaulisich@gslakesandpines.org.  Unless a town is listed, in Region 1 only, we take the town that the 1st registrant for the training lists and that becomes the location for the training.  If you do not see a date and place that works for you, please contact Denise.  Registration must be done online.  No online access?  Contact Denise to get registered.  In Region 1, all evening NLOT start at 6:30 pm and end between 8:30 and 9:00 pm.  Exceptions and Saturday times will be listed with the online information at www.gslakesandpines.org.

May 20 - Bagley

May 21 - Virginia

June 18

Aug 12 - tentative Kelliher

Aug 13 - Bemidji

Aug 20 - Virginia

Sept 17

Oct 14

Oct 15

Oct 24

Nov 11

Nov 19

Dec 17

Region 1 Fall Trainings in Grand Rapids and Park Rapids will include New Leader Orientation and Training.  See other Blog post for more information.

Basic Outdoor Skills (BOS) will be held in Bemidji from 11 am - 2 pm, Saturday, October 12.  Required:  register on, or before, October 2, 2013, minimum number of participants is 5.  Advanced Outdoor Skills (AOS) will be held in Bemidji from 3:30 - 6:30 pm, Saturday, October 12.  Required:  register on, or before, October 2, 2013, minimum number of participants is 3.  Ready to register?  Go to www.gslakesandpines.org.  Click on Volunteers, Learning Development.  Questions:  Denise at 218-208-0236 or dpaulisich@gslakesandpines.org.

Fall is a great time to add  information  to your volunteer knowledge  and to learn new skills that you can share with your Service Unit or troop.  Dates are already set for Saturdays, Fall 2013.  Mark your calendar now and plan to join others like yourself for fun and networking!  October 19 - Grand Rapids and November 2 - Park Rapids.  Have suggestions of what you would like offered?  Contact Denise at 218-208-0236, dpaulisich@gslakesandpines.org.

Looking for an Advanced Outdoor Skills Girl Scout Training?  Wednesday, May 29, is the last day to sign up for the one being held in Biwabik.  The minimum class size is 2 people.  It is required that you have already taken BOS (Basic Outdoor Skills) or that you are registered to take BOS training.  This course covers tent and site use, advanced methods of cooking selected from using a Dutch oven, box oven, or propane stove, knife safety, and minimal impact camping.  You are the ideal person to take this course if you are already experienced in the out-of-doors and you are eager to do tent camping with your troop and/or try new methods of cooking and new recipes with your own troop  or Service Unit. Ready to sign up?  Go to www.gslakesandpines.org and click on Volunteers.  Then click on Learning Development.   Place and time, plus zip for GPS or map questing, are  Saturday, June 8, 10 am - 1 pm, Vermilion Trail Park Campground 55708.  Questions, contact Denise at 218-208-0236.

At our recent cookie trainings, we've been discussing the importance of communicating clearly with the parents in your troop and sharing expectations before the cookie sale begins.  I strongly recommend troop leaders or cookie managers share a flyer/letter with each family, outlining the timeline of the cookie sale, describing the troop's goals, giving payment due dates, and explaining the troop's policy for handling unsold cookies that families may have.  It will help the parents to have something in writing that they can put on their fridge or near their calendar for reference.  When each family has received a clear schedule and directions before the cookie sale begins, you can hold them to those expectations.  If each parent has seen in writing that the deadline for returning unsold cookies to the troop is March 1, it is fair if you are not able to accept a return from a family on March 15.  As you know, each unsold package takes a bite out of the troop's profits and affects ALL the girls in the troop. 

Here is a sample of a parent letter that you can download.  It opens as a Microsoft Word document.  You can "save as" to your computer and customize with your own troop's goals, schedule, and guidelines.  If you're using it after you've already placed the initial order, you can delete those lines and still use it at a family meeting held in January. 

Thanks to troop leader Kelly Martin from Hinckley for the template that was my starting point for this letter!

Read the Lakes & Pines “E-Shopper” for Girl Scout volunteers! News of council shop promotions and timely information regarding Girl Scout merchandise will keep you in the know. October 2012 “E-Shopper” (or http://www.gslakesandpines.org/files/3346.pdf) highlights: What every Girl Scout volunteer needs; What every girl needs; order forms; troop leader t-shirts; Welcome Set special offer; Citizen badges. Enjoy!