Download the original attachment A Girl Scout Leader's Musings . . . .: September 2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

Shopping for Food

My co-leader took two of the girls shopping for camping food yesterday. She sent them in alone with a list. They were so proud of themselves. They both told me that it only took them 28 minutes. They are so cute. They got everything on the list and it cost $39.00 even. Strange. Anyhow, I thought that was pretty good. In the back of my mind I was thinking that if they went to Lucky and Food Maxx instead of Safeway it would have been cheaper, but I kept my mouth shut. Amazingly!
   
posted at 10:24 AM  
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Thursday, September 25, 2008

A Camping We Will Go!

I am taking my troop camping this weekend. It is the first time for us. Luckily all the girls have been camping before. Otherwise, I would be very nervous about this endeavor.

They created their menu last Monday. Then I went over it item, by item with them. It’s easy to write the menu, but then you have to think about all the items that are needed to create that meal. Not just the food, but how is it going to be cooked.

Tonight I need to go through my camping gear and get everything together and washed. I can’t remember the last time I went camping. I mean full blown camping, not what I did this summer where it was just somewhere to sleep.

My co-leader will not be going with us this weekend so I asked one of the registered mom’s to attend. Here is how I asked her “do you camp? And I don’t mean Motel 6”, LOL.

My co-leader is taking her daughter and one of the other girls from the troop food shopping tonight. Yea one less thing for me to do. I love it when I don’t have to do everything.

It was decided that we would cook all of our meals over the fire. Yep you heard me no propane and no charcoal. Open flames. I think the mom’s think I am crazy, but I know it can be done. These girls are going to learn a lot this weekend.

Wish me luck!
   
posted at 8:31 AM  
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Camping Discount

One of the mom's sent me this link to KOA, it doesn't work in our area, but it might in yours. $5.00 per person, or 10% off a Kamping Kabin.

http://www.koa.com/scouts/
   
posted at 9:23 AM  
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Internet Safety

I always remind my daughter the following when using the internet. Don't give your last name, and don't tell anyone where you live. I just recieved this e-mail this morning. I plan on printing it out and giving it to my daughter to read. I assume she careful when on the internet, but maybe this store will show her (I know it did me) how easy it is for these "people" to figure out who you are. I may even pass it out tomorrow night at our next GS Meeting. I will attach a PDF copy in case you would like to print it out also.

After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line. She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213. She checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on. She sent him an instant message:

ByAngel213:
Hi. I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!

GoTo123:
LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you?
Don't you live in a safe neighborhood?

ByAngel213:
Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz' I didn't see anybody when I looked out.

GoTo123:
Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven't done that have you?

ByAngel213:
Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.

GoTo123:
Did you have a softball game after school today?

ByAngel213:
Yes and we won!!

GoTo123:
That's great! Who did you play?

ByAngel213:
We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees. LOL

GoTo123:
What is your team called?

ByAngel213:
We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really cool.

GoTo1 23:
Did you pitch?

ByAngel213:
No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don't want them mad at me. Bye!

GoTo123:
Catch you later. Bye

Meanwhile.......GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far.

Her name: Shannon
Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985
Age: 13
State where she lived: North Carolina

Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall. Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just told him. He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton Cats. Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He knew she was in the eighth grade at the Canton Junior High School She had told him all this in the conversations they had on- line. He had enough information to find her now.

Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ballpark that day. She didn't want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacting and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parents wouldn't be so overprotective.

By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her.

Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely.

He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissed the sudden fear she had felt.

After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name on the back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.

Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to Shannon’s home, and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car.

Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon’s house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.

Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room.

'Shannon, come here,' her father called. He sounded upset and she couldn't imagine why. She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.

'Sit down,' her father began, 'this man has just told us a most interesting story about you.'

Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!

'Do you know who I am, Shannon?' the man asked.

'No,' Shannon answered.

'I am a police officer and your online friend, GoTo123.'

Shannon was stunned. 'That's impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! He's 14. And he lives in Michigan!’

The man smiled. 'I know I told you all that, but it wasn't true. You see, Shannon, there are people on-line who pretend to be kids; I was one of them. But while others do it to injure kids and hurt them, I belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. I came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to talk to people on-line. You told me enough about yourself t o make it easy for me to find you. You named the school you went to, the name of your ball team and the position you played. The number and name on your jersey just made finding you a breeze.'

Shannon was stunned. 'You mean you don't live in Michigan?’

He laughed. 'No, I live in Raleigh It made you feel safe to think I was so far away, didn't it?'

She nodded.

'I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone. Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the time on-line. The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here and there on-line. Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done it. I hope you've learned a lesson from this and won't do it again. Tell others about this so they will be safe too?'

'It's a promise!'
   
posted at 8:08 AM  
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Blogger Cari expressed...

WOW ... very well stated. I have printed and will be sharing this w/my dd as well!!

October 16, 2009 at 8:19 AM  

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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Meeting Results

I think everything went very well last night.

Loretta (adult) took minutes.
I ran the meeting (Roberts rules of order) a 1st for these girls

1st thing 1st. We went around the table and each girl provided a theme idea. Once that was done I made a motion that we incorporate the Pirate theme with the Earth connection badge. It was approved.

Then the girls decided that Junior level was their target.

Then we took turns reading our of Safety Wise in the group camping section.

It was determined that two girls would find the location. The other two girls would turn the chosen activities from the Jr. Badge in the Pirate Theme (at least in name).

The results will be given at the next meeting.

We also decided that the minutes from the meeting will be emailed to the other Cadette Leaders so they have an idea of what we are doing and maybe some more girls will join us in the planning. It was also decided that we would meet at my house due to cost, and several available computers so things can be looked up and researched during meetings.

So in a nutshell, things went well and I plan on posting progress here to share with anyone interested.
   
posted at 7:59 AM  
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Monday, September 8, 2008

1st Camporee Committee Meeting

Wish me luck tonight is the 1st Camporee Committee Meeting. I sure hope girls attend from other troops.

For our 1st meeting we are meeting at Round Table Pizza in the back room. I asked each girl to bring $3.00 to help cover the cost. The Events Committee will provide the overage.

I am bring raffel tickets and GS t-shirts (never worn) for a raffel prize. I have sign-in sheet to get their names, phone numbers and email addresses. I set up a google group (did I already talk about that?) for communitcation throughout the month.

My co-hort Loretta and I were talking about trying to find a meeting place with WiFi. That way we can bring laptops and the girls can look stuff up at the meetings if necessary.

I will try to remember to post the results of tonights meeting tomorrow.
   
posted at 5:22 PM  
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Friday, September 5, 2008

Girl Lead Meeting, LOL!

Well last night was our 1st meeting of the year. At the beginning of the meeting I passed out a bunch of flyers for up coming events. Then I told the girls now that you are older you are ready to run your own meetings. You need to decide what you want to do this year. So we left the four of them along to decide.

Background: one 7th grader, two 8th graders & one 11th grader. Of course, the oldest one was focused. The other three were all over the place. No one could agree on what IPA to do. Ugh.

So finally I stood up and said “OK everyone heads down” Now who is interested in this, and who is interested in that. Out of all my questions no more the two hands from any choice went up. Finally I said “OK heads up”

Then I proposed the following. Before the next meeting each of you choose a IPA. Decided which items will be done on each. Also, be prepared to lead it because your may be the 1st one chosen. So this means we will be doing four IPAs this year. The girls asked “what about the two that aren’t here.” I said “you snooze, you lose” they weren’t at the 1st meeting, and I think that four IPAs will be plenty.

So we survived our Girl Lead Meeting!
   
posted at 8:29 AM  
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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Sad State of Affairs

So we had our 1st Service Unit Meeting of the new season. Attendees consisted of One Membership Specialist, One SUD, and Three Leaders. Well that doesn’t sound so bad does it? Well here is the thing. The three leaders and one SUD all belong to the same troop. In fact, we consist of one Cadette troop and one Junior troop. We all meet together.

So, if it going to continue that way, maybe the SUD should just bring the info and flyers to our by-weekly meeting and be done with it.

Geez!
   
posted at 8:33 AM  
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Monday, September 1, 2008

Frustration

Last October is was decided that our service unit would create a website. I said I would do it, I have experience and it is something I enjoy doing.

On this site there would be tons of links, general information, and calendar of events, forms, on and on. I worked had on getting it up and running. I have done a total makeover on it twice to get it looking just right. And yes, it has the seal of approval from our council office.

There are people all over the country looking at it. Does anyone leave a comment, no. Does anyone report broken links, no. But here I the big thing does anyone from our area look at it? Rarely. I have the chair of our events committee, and leaders ask me, when is this even, when is that. I just look at them and say it’s on the website. Grrrr.

The other intention was for parents to know about it. This way they can look at the calendar of events and see if it is something they would like to sign their daughter up for just incase the leader doesn’t pass along the information.

So if you read this, please help me feel better about myself. Look at the website, and leave a comment.

UPDATE: I provided the wrong URL yesterday. Sorry. http://www.girlscoutsmendo.org


Thanks
   
posted at 3:16 PM  
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Blogger Margot expressed...

On your blog page, the link highlight color on "website" is very hard to see. I almost missed it.
And the link is broken. I get an error "Sorry, 'www.mendogirlscouts.org' does not exist or is not available."
I've been thinking about doing an SU Website too.

September 2, 2008 at 12:30 AM  
Blogger Unknown expressed...

Well, I have to admit I haven't been as diligent in my viewing of the website as I should be. An explanation (excuses are for wimps) is that there is so much information I get sensory overload and have to take little bites. Sandi, you're so quick with updates to the website that truly, one needs to look everyday or something will be missed. You inspire me to be a better leader and girl scout. I will visit our website if not daily, certainly weekly.

September 5, 2008 at 9:24 AM  
Blogger Andrea expressed...

I found your website searching for Kaper charts and I have enjoyed reading about your leader experiences. I'm a newer leader, going on my 3rd year, and can still use all the help I can get! I think your SU website is filled with info. I wish ours was as helpful.

September 5, 2008 at 8:51 PM  

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