Gearing Up for MY2017Welcome to the 2016/2017 membership year! We are excited to kick off the new Girl Scout year with a full calendar of events and sign ups to engage new girls and volunteers into the best leader-ship program for girls in the nation! There is so much to share, but to keep this to a reasonable space, we will just hit the highlights of resources, events and ideas for the next couple months. Check out the Black Diamond GS web page for more information!

If you would like to share your passion for Girl Scouts with new girls and adults, share recruitment ideas and resources with the Service Unit, network in the community on behalf of Girl Scouts or maybe you only have time pass out fliers at your local school (we have found a local face at the schools has a lot better chance of getting the fliers into the hands of the girls), we welcome new Volunteer Recruiters. This position would be flexible in time commitment and we would like to have a minimum of one but preferably several in each Service Unit. Contact your Regional Recruiter for your recruitment folder/kit and get started today!

With girls inviting friends to join their troops, troops sharing their meeting and sign up information with the community, Service Units providing fun kick off events and Regional Recruiters attacking the new frontier, all girls will have a chance to be a Girl Scout. Thank you for all you do to spread the word!

Yours in Girl Scouting,Debby Kemmerling

SU Manuals now onlineService unit teams are the glue that bonds the girlsin your community together. Check out our updated Service Unit Team manuals online at www.bdgsc.org/en/for-volunteers/vol-unteer-resources/service-unit-team.html for details on ways you can volunteer and help your service unit succeed.

Blast off to the new GS Year

Girls in your area will be off to an exciting start when they attend one of these signa-ture fall events. These events are perfect for bringing old friends back together and inviting new girls to join. You don’t have to be a member to attend and experience all these fun filled events have to offer. For more information, check out our program guide or events calendar online at www.bdgsc.org.

Hunger Games- Girl Scout StyleSeptember 10th • Fayetteville, WV

Survivor Challenge & CampfireSeptember 10th • Parkersburg, WV

History Alive CampfireSeptember 16th • Charleston, WV

Be-you-tifulSeptember 17th • Morgantown, WV

In Search of BigfootSeptember 18th • Belmont, OH

Once Upon A TimeOctober 1st • Athens, WV

Wizarding World of Girl ScoutsOctober 29th • Weston, OH

News

What to expect when you’re …. VolunteeringAs a Girl Scout volunteer, you belong to a network of nearly one million adults who share an important commitment: preparing girls to lead successful lives. You’ll serve as a partner and role model to girls. In the process, you’ll discover your own skills and abilities, meet new people, and “learn by doing”. Our role at Black Diamond Girl Scout Council is to prepare you for your volunteer position and support your experience

As a Girl Scout volunteer you can expect:• A flexible volunteer experience that fits your needs and

interest• Initial and ongoing training offered in a variety of ways • Technology that makes volunteering quicker and

easier than ever before• Online troop support for planning and delivering the

best possible Girl Scout experience• In Person meeting with MEM• Prompt and thorough assistance with any issues that

may arise. * If you are not available during business hours please note that and we will make every attempt to contact you at a time that is convenient for you.

As a Girl Scout volunteer we ask that you:• Be the role model she’ll always remember• Stay informed by checking the bdgsc.org website

frequently• Help keep our girls safe by completeing all necessary

trainings and background checks• Assist in making the Girl Scout opportunity available

to all girls• Help grow the visibility of Girl Scouts in your

community• Communicate your successes, joys, concerns, and

needs to our Girl Scouts of Black Diamond staff

Volunteering with Girl Scouts is a partnership and we know that when you feel supported, you’ll be the cheer-leader, guide, and mentor that every girl needs. From all of us here at council, thank you for all the smiles, excitement, and memories you share with Girl Scouts.

Fall Product SaleThis year all Girl Scouts will Dare to Dazzle with our fall nuts, candy, and magazine program. We are excited to announce that we will be working with Trophy Nut/M2 to offer the highest quality product and customer service possible. In person trainings will be held across the council August 29th – September 2nd.

• August 29th – Athens, OH• August 30th – Wheeling, WV • August 31st – Morgantown, WW• September 1st – Beckley, WV• September 2nd – Hurricane, WV

Register online at: https://goo.gl/Tz9Oac

Leader RetreatsJoin our council staff and trainers as we provide skills and resources to help lead your troop to-wards making the world a better place. Cost is $5 and includes lunch, snacks, and a welcome gift. Register online at www.bdgsc.org.

• October 22nd, Charleston WV• October 22nd, Albany, OH• November 5th, Beckley WV • November 5th, Parkersburg WV• November 12th, Bluefield WV• November 12th, Triadelphia WV• November 19, Grafton, WV

For more trainings and webinars, visit our the Online Training and support section of our website at www.bdgsc.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-resources/online-support-for-volun-teers.html.

On-Time RegistrationIt’s time for a new Girl Scout year! Please take a moment to reach out to every fabulous girl in your troop and get them all signed up and ready to go for another year of Girl Scout FUN. Registering now will help get everyone organized and all set for adventures ahead!

We can’t wait for your troop to sign back up for another year of FUN!

We’ve all heard the “But wait, there’s more” saying on television info-mercials. Well, there’s more here too! We are offering renewal incentives for troops. Here’s what you can expect:

Tote Bags: • We will be giving tote bags to each troop who has a 50% renewal rate or

more between July 2nd and September 30th.• We will offer an additional tote bag to any troop that registers a

secondary Troop Leader by September 30th. This is an incentive for those troops with only one Leader.

• Tote bags will be given on a first come/first serve basis. Quantities are limited. Register early to guarantee you receive a bag!

Membership Patch: • 2016-2017 membership patches will be given to all girls who register

between July 2nd and September 30th.

Questions? Give us a call at 304-345-7722! We’re here to support you.

Are you on Facebook? Connect with other volunteers in these groups!• GSBDC Leaders• GSBDC - Product Sales

Customer Care to the rescue

Do you have a question? Need assistance registering online? Wondering what to do when…

Just about any question, comment, or concern you have, our customer care team can answer it. Give our Customer Care team a call at 304-345-7722 or shoot an email to customercare@bdgsc.org for all your assistance needs.

Leader Retreats

Be a Sister to every Girl Scout

This summer, flood waters ravaged many parts of our council causing dev-astation and damage. In true Girl Scout fashion, hundreds of volunteers and troops took action and helped make a difference in the lives of those affected.

Cases of cookies were donated for distri-bution to Greenbrier, Clay, Nicholas and Summers County flood relief efforts.Donations were collected by many groups including SU 421 , Rocky Ledges Day Camp, Troop 51160, Troop 4609, Troop 4022.

Troop #13011 from Millersburg, Pa collected donations and delivered them to the White Sulphur Springs area July 16th.

Putnam Service unit is collecting the following items for girls: Journey books, troop supplies, vests and sashes, and extra patches and badges. For more information contact Ashley Fizer at 304-982-0237.

Girl Scout & Volunteer Resource Center321 Virginia Street West

Charleston, WV 25302(304) 345-7722 • (800) 756-7616

www.bdgsc.org

Event registration just got easierBeginning August 3rd, registration for all events will be done through your member community. To sign up you will log into your membership community using the same credentials you use for membership registration and troop management. You then click on ‘Activities’. You can search for the activity by typing the name of it (or the first few words of the name) into the ‘Search for Activity’ box. If you do not know the name or are interested in searching based on other criteria such as location or grade level, click on ‘Advanced Search’. OR you can navigate to our Events Calendar by clicking on ‘Events’ from our home page and selecting an event. It will then prompt you to log in using the same credentials.

GoGold!We invite you to learn more about the highest award in Girl Scouting; the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Each year these awards are presented to girls who have planned and executed Take Action projects in response to pressing community needs. In the process, the girls gain valuable skills and confidence that lasts a lifetime. With the support of adults like you, our girls can do anything. To learn more visit http://www.bdgsc.org/en/about-girl-scouts/highest-awards/gold-award.html.

Save the DatesNational S’mores DayAugust 10th

Girl Scout Day at theWV State FairAugust 14th

I Spy DC TripSeptember 16th-18th Washington, DC

Horses at Harvest-TimeSeptember 17th • Albany, OHOctober 1st • Albany OH

Girl Scout Day at Gritt’s FarmSeptember 17th • Buffalo, WV

Haunted GiscoOctober 15th • Triadelphia, WV

Camp CreepyOctober 15th • Milton, WV

Check out the Program Guide at www.bdgsc.org for more details and more upcoming events.

GSBDC