A Girl Scout Leader's Musings . . . .: October 2007

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Monday, October 29, 2007

Event Summary

The Events Committee put on a Costume Party last Saturday. I do believe it went off without a hitch. As far as I could see everything went smoothly. I don’t think we forgot to bring anything.

But with everything it could be better. So I created a word doc with event info on it. I filled in my part, and then sent it to the next person. She will add her thoughts and send it to the last committee person. Then it will come back to me. This way we can each read what the other person thought. With it all combined on one form we will not have to repeat ourselves. I came keeping this in a binder so that next year we will remember what went right and what went wrong. Maybe we will have all new people on the committee. This way they can read our summary and somewhere to begin.

View or download a copy of my form

posted at 3:11 PM
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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Cool Craft

A few days ago I read about this cool craft on Kellskorner Blog. I showed it to my daughter and she plans on teaching it to a younger group. This will cover a requirment to one of her IP projects.

Tonight my Cadettes are getting together at my house to plan their bridgeing and I thought it would be cool for this to use this technic to create their invitation. Heather and I tried it last night. It is simple, cool and cheap. Check it out. Marble paper.

posted at 8:27 AM
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Big Week Ahead

It’s a big week around here for Girl Scouts.

1) Tonight is a Pizza Party for Older girls. There is a volunteer in the area that is trying to get a Juliette program going for older girls. Tonight is the kick-off.
2) Tomorrow night my Cadette troop is meeting at my house to plan their bridging ceremony. Should be fun
3) Saturday the Events Committee is hosting a Costume Party for the Scouts of Ukiah. With games, crafts, contests, dancing and food. Oh, and goodie bags!

Wish me luck. I think I am going to be tired!

posted at 10:38 AM
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Monday, October 22, 2007

Service Unit vs Association

Why do some areas have Service Units and some have Associations? What is the difference?

posted at 1:31 PM
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Hurray for the Trainers!

After a few emails ( we groveled, sniveled, and whined ) and some phone calls, it worked out that a Silver Award Training will be held here in Ukiah! Yahoo!

Otherwise, we would have to drive one hour down and one hour back (yes 2 hrs) for a 1 ½ hour training.

All that was required of us was to take a pre-requisite training in Santa Rosa (remember the 1+1 drive) but this time it is for a 3 hour course. A lot easier to swallow. This will be on Sunday Nov 4th. Then the following Saturday Nov 10th we will have a training here. The timing was perfect, because the person that teaches this will be heading through our area for a training in the afternoon in Lake County. About 1 more hour drive for her. So she will be coming up a few hours earlier for us.

Thank you Stacey for starting the emails rolling. Thank you Joey for taking my phone call. Thank you Kathy for agreeing to do our training for us!

posted at 1:17 PM
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Sunday, October 21, 2007

Great Blog

So are you looking for more GS subject blogs to read? Check out Kellsborner she has some great stuff. As she posts often! Make sure you add her to your bookmarks.

posted at 8:31 PM
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Anonymous expressed...: Thanks Sandi :); October 25, 2007 at 8:39 PM

My New Kaper Chart

It's finally done. This is my new Kaper Chart. I even took pictures just for you.I purchased this round plaque from Michael's. My husband drilled a hole in the center and did a counter sink on the back. This picture shows the back.

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Then I watered down acrylic paint and used a sponge brush to paint it.

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Then I painted pop-cycle sticks gold. I used one size larger then you normally see. But they are not the jumbo size. Also purchased at Michael's.

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My husband drilled holes on one end. He placed tiny washers in between each one. This way they wont rub on eachother.

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I had each partol choose a name. The Monkey's, Peanuts and Crazy Squirrls. I then made a pie chart (with the help of my cousin) and put the tasks on each section.

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Then we screwed it all together. The hands move around to show the tasks for the week.

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And this is my kaper chart creation. Nothing is permantly fixed on it. Everything can be changed as the troops needs change.

posted at 6:00 PM
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Anonymous expressed...: How cute! I love it :); October 25, 2007 at 8:39 PM
Anonymous expressed...: This is so smart! I love how neat and tidy this looks.; January 26, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Deb expressed...: This is just so cute!! I think I'm going to TRY and duplicate your great idea! :); April 2, 2009 at 5:10 PM

Friday, October 19, 2007

Taking Baby Steps

The other day I spoke about frustrations. I am prepared to help take baby steps in fixing the situation. Here is my suggestion to our Service Unit Manager and Council Rep.

Create a SU website. I said I would take on that task. This would be a central location where people could find information regarding up coming events, meeting, etc. Not only would a calendar be posted there but we could post pictures. I am also toying with the idea of Troops having websites/blog whatever connected there.

Yesterday afternoon I did a search to find other service unit websites. I compiled a list and sent them to our SUM. I didn’t necessarily like the look of these websites I just thought it would give up some ideas of things to add. In addition, we would give us some ideas of things we could do to make our area better.

Here is the list I sent:
http://canyoncrestgirlscouts.com/
http://www.alamitosmarina.org/index.html
http://su676.grgsc.org/
http://www.cowles-mtn-scouts.org/index.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/va3/su805
http://www.geocities.com/monument06340
http://www.geocities.com/oklawewa
http://www.geocities.com/villagetrails/index
http://www.crestablanca.com/
http://www.wcgsa.org/
hey this is the association I grew up in http://www.phgsa.org/
http://www.lafayettegirlscouts.org/

Does your association have a website to share with me? Please let me know.

posted at 8:44 AM
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Delamonda expressed...: HI!
I am a leader in Massachusetts. Our SU has a website and also a yahoo group. The yahoo group works really well - we can post files and flyers, email the whole group, etc.
We also have a public website for news: www.bedfordhanscomgs.org
Julia; February 21, 2008 at 7:46 PM

Thursday, October 18, 2007

More on Nut Sales

I don't know if it's the company we are going through or if it is a council decision but we have to enter our troop orders online. I don’t have a problem with that.

Last night some of us got together to learn how to enter the info. There was only one problem with this. The web site that we had to use couldn’t handle so many people being on it at once. We all got together for NOTHING! Finally we all gave up and went home.

I logged onto the site when I got home and just kept hitting refresh until it would come up. I think they need to work on that before next year. I am not complaining just suggesting.

Anyhow, we all had a nice time chatting with each other waiting for it to come up.

posted at 2:40 PM
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Frustration

Do you ever feel ignored by your council? We are situated approx. 55 miles from our council office. Well it used to be the council office, I guess now it is our “area office” due to the merger. Lord only knows where the main office is now.

Anyhow, we feel like they don’t pay any attention to us. Like we are not worth their time or expense. It’s not like we don’t bring in any money. Last year out of the top 10 sellers our service unit had 2 for the entire council. We do provide money.

We don’t ask for much. We would like to see our local rep. taken out of her closet of an office. No really it is a closet, maybe 8’ x 8’. But, no that isn’t going to happen. We would like to see more training in our area. Don’t see much of that either.

Yes we are mad, and yes it is frustrating. But showing you are pissed off isn’t going to solve the problem. It is time to take action!

We have dropped down to approx. 48 registered scouts in our area. I think we have about 5 or 6 active troops. OK great. I am sure council thinks that isn’t enough to spend time on. Fine let’s build those number.

Let’s let people know we are here. Let’s bring in those girls. No it wont happen this year and maybe not next year. With perseverance we CAN and WILL build girl scouts back up in this area. Let’s not give up! Let’s make sure that we keep the girls we have. Then let’s go out and get some more!

We can make a difference. Let’s build those numbers and then maybe, just maybe our council will take note of us!

posted at 7:50 AM
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Anonymous expressed...: We merged also. Are you in PA?

Anyway, with the merger and the downsizing....

I'm with you on the wanting more training that is conveniently located. I am tired of driving an hour for training. And why haven't they posted anymore online training :(

We've also lost a few troops in the area, but we had a new Daisy troop open that meets in the same building I do. The leader has sent out announcements at the schools and everything. People expressed interest, then just didn't show. :( I know that my own troop sizes have shrunk. My older girls drop out because of sports, or the need to feel cool, and they think Scouts isn't cool. Of the girls that started in my original Daisy troop, only two are still members, the entired rest of the troop has quit. Of my original Brownie troop, I have 3 of them still and 2 were my original Daisies. When we bridged to Juniors I took over an existing troop - of which I only still have 2 of those members, 3 years after I took it over.

I keep hearing how there aren't enough troops, there aren't enough troops, when I offer to bring in new girls... no one comes ;)

I'm of mixed feelings. I do enjoy the smaller troops, we have more one on one and taking trips are easier.

Sorry for the comment that resembles a blog. I feel your pain.; October 18, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Jamie expressed...: We just merged and it's frustrating for me. They've taken away our store bus- yes it was old, gas is expensive, but they have to realize I spend more money in a store than I do in ordering online. They are also closing the main office (in metro Atlanta) and moving it closer to the new area (a town on the far side of Atlanta)- over an hour drive away from us. I only try to go once a month or so now, since traffic is so bad and it costs me in tolls, but I've also had questions that I needed answered about uniforms and I've picked up flyers of things going on, so I don't count it as a complete waste. They had better not cut down on what little training they do here.; October 19, 2007 at 8:10 AM
Anonymous expressed...: *hugs* Jamie. How frustrating for you. It just makes it harder for us. Kudos to you for sticking this out and doing the best you can!; October 25, 2007 at 8:42 PM

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Fall Product Sales ~ NUTS

The 1st steps of Nut Sales are done. My co-leader and I have been collecting order forms. So far we have sold 232 cans. We are still waiting for one more form. I am really surprised the girls didn’t do better then this. My daughter sold 90 cans and she really didn’t try very hard. The profit from nuts is so much higher then cookies. Next year we will try to get the girls to push a little harder.

Our troop will be the only one in the area doing booth sales. For years I didn’t even thing that the Girl Scouts were still selling nuts. Everyone stopped doing Nut Booth Sales. I which more troops would get out there and sell nuts. We are working on building the number of scouts in the area and booth sales is just one more way to be seen. Not only that but most people don’t even know that the Girl Scouts sell nuts!

When I was a scout we had the sell calendars. Gee, everyone just couldn’t wait to get their hands on one (NOT).

posted at 10:41 AM
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Jamie expressed...: We're doing calendars- gag. Other leaders are pushing their girls to sell 10 before they get the patch. I know that I'm the only one buying and don't know 10 people to give them to as gifts- pretty lame gift, too. We say 5 because it's not their fault the council has picked such a horrible seller. It's almost like they want you to rely on cookies being "the" fundraiser- they must get a smaller cut out of calendars.; October 18, 2007 at 4:02 AM

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Tracking Your Troop

How do you track your troop information? When I was a Leader 15+ years ago not everyone had computers. Shocking I know. We did everything by hand. Towards the end someone had created a program that track some of the info. I downloaded it and used it. Then my oldest daughter didn’t want to be in girl scouts anymore so I got rid of everything.

Last year I became a Leader again. I figured there had to be a program out there now that would do everything I wanted. So I started searching. There are in fact several. In my research I came across G-Scoutmate. It says that it is the only one authorized by GSUSA. Well I guess that is the one for me!

I tried to download it, but was sent a email informing me that if my Council Store sells it I was not able to use the downloaded version. So I sent my husband down to Santa Rosa to make the purchase for me.

I was so excited when I got home from work that day. Yes, this is going to be great! Then I started using it. Holy Cow, this was not an easy program to use. But, with perseverance and forcing myself to use it I can now hole hardily say that it well worth the effort.

The G-Scoutmate people are constantly doing updates (for free). There is a user group on Yahoo. So there is support there if you need it. I know this program does way more then I use it for. Over time I will delve into other aspects of it.

But the very BEST part of using this program was when it was time to do my end of year financial report. Not a problem! I just printed our the report, filled in the blanks and BAM it was done! No stress. What a change.

posted at 10:42 AM
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Jamie expressed...: I just got this a month ago. It did give me some headaches at first, but I'm getting used to how things are set up. I haven't tried reports yet. I love how Kevin gets things fixed and updated so quickly-awesome customer service! I would like more fields for cell phones, work numbers all on one page, though.; October 17, 2007 at 8:14 AM

Monday, October 15, 2007

Creating a Scarecrow

We had 4 Ukiah troops come together to create our scarecrow. The girls were excited and really wanted to help. Below they are creating the stuffing.

This is a group of some of the older girls punching holes in the bail of straw that will be the base for this guy.

Interest quickly gave way to fun. The girls played games and sang songs. They had a great time.

posted at 9:51 AM
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GS Scarecrow

Our Service Unit created this scarecrow last week to be displayed in our Oktoberfest in downtown Ukiah. We took 3rd place! Yahoo! We received $50 from our sponsor Pleasant View Dairy and $50 for 3rd place. So for just a couple hours work our SU earn $100.

posted at 9:46 AM
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Barbara expressed...: Great Job -- pretty creative idea for your scarecrow!; October 15, 2007 at 10:41 AM

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Silver Award Idea

NOTE: Read “No Disappointments Here” post before reading this one.

At our last SU meeting our local Council Liaison started bringing items out of her office. (She is the 3rd person we have had in this position in the past two years. She is doing a fantastic job.) Anyhow, some of the items were new products that she had i.e. badges, charms, sashes, pins, the list goes on and on. We all talked about selling these items.

On the way home I thought to myself that compiling a inventory of these items would be a great project for my Cadettes. Then this idea started to expand in my mind even more. This would make a great Silver Award Project for my girls.

I made some notes and told my daughter about it. She thought it was great. Now I just need to present it to the other 3 Cadettes and see what they think about it. Here are my ideas:

1) Create a SU website and maintain it
2) Inventory all craft items on hand and create a list for leaders
3) Inventory all store items for sale
4) Inventory all books on hand
5) Create a lending system for Books and Craft Supplies
6) Open our “Store” one Saturday and sell our new items
7) When orders for new items come in fulfill these order
8) First and foremost interview Jacque and see if the above would meet her needs and find out if there is any other way that she could be assisted.

But as always it is up to the girls to decide if these are items they would like to do. I know my daughter is interested so that is one!

posted at 10:21 AM
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Stacey expressed...: Sounds like a great idea!! Of course having read the other post first, here will be your hold up :)
trying to get the Silver Award trainings in Santa Rosa and have them not be cancelled LOL; October 10, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Anonymous expressed...: Great idea! Good luck for the girls on completing that project. I'm sure it will be appreciated.; October 10, 2007 at 7:14 PM

No Disappointments Here

Our Service Unit is located in a rural section of Northern California. As of October 1st we are no longer Konocti Council. We are now GS of N. California. Which makes us even more rural from the rest of the Council? Fifteen years ago I was a GS Leader for my older daughters’ troop. We had approx. 25 troops at that time. The SU meetings always consisted of 15+/- leaders. Now I am a leader again and it is so sad. We have approx. 7 troops now. The Girl Scouts in this area are dying off.

Last April one leader suggested that we put together a party for Spring Registrations. Myself and another leader said we are interesting in helping. We meet every Tuesday for a month planning. On our last meeting prior to the event we decided that this was a really good idea and proclaimed ourselves the “Events Committee.”

We whipped out a calendar and choose dates and named events for the up coming year. We are planning one event for September through June.

Our intention is to keep Girl Scouts alive in Ukiah. One additional reason for these events is because our Council sets a min. number required for events to take place. Many events are cancelled through out the year. One of them was a bridging ceremony from Jr. to Cadettes. Word has it that they were short less then 10 girls. It starts to become very disappointing when events are planned and then cancelled. How are the girls to remain inspired if they are constantly being disappointed?

So our events will never be cancelled. No matter how many scouts show up.

posted at 10:00 AM
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Stacey expressed...: This is very true. Right now in Ukiah Girl Scouts are on an upswing. We have several ladies (including your very own Sandi) who are excited and enthusiastic about Girl Scouts and growing in the Ukiah area. Jacque is doing an awesome job for us. And we just hope that all of our events will be well received, because frankly, it is not about us, but about our girls! We are teaching them to be good citizens and good friends, and there is nothing they will ever learn that is more important than that.

Think about it this way. Take a length of toilet paper 100 squares long, this is your daughter's life. You will die before her, rip of 25 squares (leaves 75 squares/years) she is now 10 (or however old) rip of that many squares (now down to 65) she in uder your roof until she is 18 rip off 57 squares) leaving you with 8 years, with your daughter, un doubtedly she will stop thinking that you are her world when she is 16, you are now left with 6 years (of that 100 squares we started with) THESE are the most precious years you have right now, to be there for her and teach her to be a good citizen, and be helpful. Don't squander these years they will be gone soon enough, enjoy them and enjoy your daughter, help whenever you can in her activities. Don't lose what you have left!; October 10, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Jamie expressed...: We seem to have lots of interest at the start of the school year, but no one wants to lead, then the times chosen don't fit into their schedule, and if it does, they want to just sit back and do nothing because they view the troop leaders only as babysitters. The grades that only have 1 or 2 interested can't find a troop willing to take them in, and we had between a quarter and a third of the troops in our service unit not come back this year.; October 11, 2007 at 9:37 AM

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Kapers by Patrols

I know that I post a lot about Kapers but frankly it seems to be a very important part of running our meetings.

Have you done any online research for Kaper Charts? What do you find? I found a bunch of sites that mainly show Brownie Kaper Charts. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but my girls are older.

I found that most of the Kaper Charts showed a task for each scout. As your troop grows that requires a very vivid imagination to come up with that may things to do.

Another type I found a lot of was “camping” charts. Now the interesting thing about them was that they have the girls in groups or patrols doing tasks together. Why wouldn’t you do that during troop meetings? I also have found that when you attend trainings all the paperwork provided shows camping kaper charts.

Why or why do you have to give each scout their own task? Girl Scouts are all about the group working together as one. Why not assign their tasks as groups. That way they are doing things together. It’s not all about me (well sometimes it is but that’s a different story, LOL). Sorry ;)

posted at 3:05 PM
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Monday, October 8, 2007

Pop-cycle sticks

A while back I wrote about our 1st troop meeting of the year. I asked the girls to come up with a way to decide who gets to bring snack to the next meeting. It was decided that they would write their names on pop cycle sticks and they would be pulled out of a bag.

Wow, what a great idea. In the past I had figured out months in advance who would bring snack. But, when a new girl entered the troop we would have to squeeze them in to the cycle.

So last week I handed them all a stick and told them to decorate them anyway they wanted just as long as their name and the word snack was on them.

While we were at it I handed them all another stick and had them do the same thing, but instead of snack they wrote It Other on it. While I was explaining to the new girls what this meant the following phrase popped out of my mouth “there are my fair stick.” Hmmm, I like that Fair Sticks! This way I don’t choose one girl to many or not enough times. (for more info on this scroll down I wrong an entire article about this).

So we now have Fair Sticks and Snack Sticks. I have them separated into “snack size” zip lock bags. The Fair sticks get put back into the same bag at the end of a meetings, but the snack sticks are in two bags 1) snack done and 2) no snack yet.

posted at 2:20 PM
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Full Schedule for October

We have a very busy month ahead of us. And being on the “Monthly Events Committee” for our Service Unit it just makes it a little more “special” for me.

Oct 11th – All of Ukiah get together to create a Scarecrow for the “Scarecrow City” at the up coming Oktoberfest. Our sponsor is Pleasant View Dairy. Gee, I think we can work with that. You know Cookies & Milk

Oct 13th – Oktoberfest Parade. We are keeping the float simple. Not much in the way of decorations. Our main focus to following the Safety Wise Guidelines.

Oct 13th – Program Aide Training. My daughter has finally hit that special age. She is now eligible to be a PA! So this weekend Heather and her friend from another troop are about to attend a 2 day training. Not here in town (that would be to easy), but 1 ½ hrs away.

Oct 19th – Older Girl Get together / Pizza Party – We have an Adult in the area that has volunteered to run a Juliette Program for Cadettes & Seniors. They will be getting together on the 19th to get to know each other and sign up for local workshops. Should be fun.

Oct 27th – Costume Party – We will be having a costume party as well as celebrating Juliette’s birthday. I still need to order supplies for this event. I have got to remember that. Otherwise, Oriental Trading will not get it to us in time.

Oh, and all of this is over and above our regular meetings of course.

I love girl scouting, I love girl scouting. If I say it enough times maybe this won’t seem like so many things. I know some of you reading this are saying, well that’s nothing. You should read my other blog, it talks about some of the other things I volunteer for!

Happy Scouting

posted at 1:32 PM
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Jamie expressed...: You sound like me! My co-leader and I have looked for the "sucker" stamp at our local GS store, but they have them hidden. We joke that we'll be co-SU leaders in a few years.; October 9, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Anonymous expressed...: Good post.; November 10, 2008 at 12:23 PM

3 new scouts

We picked up 3 new scouts in our troop last Thursday. It is so nice having a nice sized group of girls. 12 now have 12 registared scouts. Now we are able to have 3 patrols (which just makes more since to me).

The new Kaper Chart is progressing and should be ready for our next meeting on October 18th. And as promissed I will be posting pictures.

posted at 1:29 PM
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Jamie expressed...: Looking forward to seeing it- we'll be adding our 16th next week. I did meet one 2nd grade leader who had 22! last week at platform tent training. She was going crazy trying to come up with a kaper chart with something for each girl. 4 patrols of 4 sounds so much easier to work with!; October 9, 2007 at 2:56 PM

Monday, October 1, 2007

Candy Apple Bits part 2

OK, last Saturday night I made the candy apple sauce (easy to do) and I cut two apples into 6 pieces each (and cored them of course).

I had my daughter and her friend (also in our troop) dipped them using long wooden sticks. They seemed to cover just fine. They placed them on a buttered cookie sheet to harden.

Then the leaking began! I think the hot sauce partially cooked the apples and what happens when you cook apple pie? The liquid comes out of the apples to make a sauce. The candy hardened but slid off the apple because of the oozing.

They tasted good, but didn't work out the way I had hoped. So, my advice.
If you want to make Candy Apples use the entire apple. Don't try to cut them.

posted at 9:26 AM
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