Welcome to the Cowles Mountain Unit Website

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Welcome – Lara Ferguson McNamara, Service Unit Manager

See you at our next meeting.

First Thursday of the Month..

St. Dunstan's Church

6556 Park Ridge Blvd.

Main Hall

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

JANUARY will be Jan. 8

ATTENTION: IDEA CENTRAL is located in the Library Page...refer to the link to the left side of this page.

Cori Austin’s troop did the Seaworld Sleepover and got to see behind the scenes and sleep in the tube – girls had lots of fun!

Cowles Mountain Service Unit Meeting Notes

Welcome & SU Team Introductions
Make This Meeting Yours!! Tell us what would make this meeting great for you!

Registrar updates – Julann McMurray (jrmcmurray@cox.net)

Financial update – Penny Van Baale (PVanBaale@sbshelp.com)
Cookie Sales are coming! - Mary Kay Johnston (MaryKayJohnston@cox.net)

· Cookie training will be Saturday, January 3 @ St. Dunstan’s:

· 9am - Daisy Cookie Parents
· 10am – Returning Parents
· 11am – New Cookie Parents

· If you haven’t - send your troop’s Cookie Coordinator info to Mary Kay ASAP!
· Cookie Site Sale Lottery will be February 7, 8-10:30am at San Carlos United Methodist Church
(note: this is during SU Encampment)

· NEW this year: Daisies can sell to friends and family (limit of one case – 12 boxes - per girl)· Cookie Activity Program is now available – this is cool new program that is age-specific to help you get the girls ready to sell cookies!· Send your troop’s Cookie Coordinator info to Mary Kay ASAP! Training starts in December.

Encampment Update – Diana Osborn (eagle_rider@cox.net)
- This year’s SU Encampment will be at Whispering Oaks, Feb. 6-8, 2009, cabins only.
- Theme will be ASTRONOMY
- Next planning mtg will be Nov 6 @ 7:30pm (after the November SU Mtg) We need portable telescopes and troops to do flag up/down.
- Great opp for Leaders + Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors interested in planning!
- PLEASE SOLICIT PATCH DESIGN IDEAS FROM YOUR TROOP!!!
  - Due to Diana by Christmas (fun meeting idea for November)
  - Girls can choose any shape (give them round, triangle, rectangle patterns, or they can design their own shape)
  - Bring all girl-designed patch ideas to November SU mtg, or mail to Diana @ PO Box 1665 Spring Valley, CA 9197
Scoutacular Announcement by Troop #3080 – Lara Ferguson (laraf75@hotmail.com)

· Event will be Saturday, February 14 @ Casey’s Place
· Registration due at January SU Mtg (see attachment)
· Sign up for the country your troop wants to represent
· We need 2 troops to do flag-up and flag-down

Events scheduled – dates coming soon!
Thank you to the following troops, who have agreed to coordinate these events (dates coming soon!):
- Troop #3285 (Cori Austin) sponsoring a He & Me: Spring Luau
- Troop #3132 (Mary Allman) sponsoring a Teddy Bear picnic for Daisies/Brownies
- Troop #3318 (Amber Verri) sponsoring a She & Me Bunko event
SU Events – Organizers Needed – Lara Ferguson (laraf75@hotmail.com)
We need a volunteer or older girl troop to sign up as event coordinator for these SU Events:
- She & Me
- Talent Show
- Something else fun!!
- Please let Lara know ASAP if you can organize these events for our SU. Lots of resources, guidelines and past project binders are available to help!
Training – Lara Ferguson (laraf75@hotmail.com)
- Online registration for adult training is not available right now. Pls mail or fax in your registration.
- Sign in with any training you’ve taken so we can present you with your training patch!
Recognitions – Dawn Groff
- Stefani Palmer won the drawing for the night - the All Weather Bag (a cool GS visor and travel umbrella)!
- Thanks to everyone who turned in training taken – we will present training patches at the November meeting.
  - Congratulations to Joani McCauley who won tonight’s raffle prize – a beautiful GS Christmas ornament!
  - Big thanks to Dawn for helping us say thanks to you, our volunteer leaders, every month!!!
Service Unit Position Opportunities! Lara Ferguson (laraf75@hotmail.com)
- Service Unit Manager (this is Lara’s last year in this position)
- Teacup Coordinator (this is Terri’s last year in this position)
- Treasurer Helper (shared position with Treasurer)
- Training Helper (shared position with Recognitions Coordinator)
- Thank you to Stefani Palmer for volunteering as TOC for Benchley for next year!
Idea Central

· Leatha Cooksy maintains our SU website cooksyfamily@cox.net

Council Updates – Liz Raines (lraines@girlscoutssdi.org) and Hayley Carter (hcarter@girlscoutssdi.org)
- NEW PROCESS FOR BACKGROUND CHECKSThe database previously used for fingerprinting and background checks is no longer available.
  What this means for you? All adults working with your troop or handling troop funds need a new background check – effective immediately. Contact hcarter@girlscoutssdi.org for details and forms.
  Why? We have 11,000 volunteers working in the San Diego area with our Girlscouts. Only a small fraction of them have recent background checks on file, and of that amount, 2 out of 10 are objectionable. WE WANT OUR GIRLS TO BE SAFE – this is the main message to convey.
  Everyone who submits a background check document will need to supply their social security number. There are multiple secure methods for sharing this information. Contact Hayley hcarter@girlscoutssdi.org for more details.

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SAN PASQUAL STATE PARK

ASTRONOMY PROGRAM

2008 CALENDAR

DATE TIME EVENT

DECEMBER 20TH 5:00PM STAR PARTY

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO:

www.AQUATest.org or www.optastroclub.com

Red Cross offers a Babysitting Training class that is awesome! · Class cost = $70; Price includes the Babysitters Handbook, Babysitter's First Aid Kit, babysitter pin, CD with business card and resume templates for easy use! · Course covers safety and safe play, basic care, first aid, and essential professional, leadership and caregiving skills. · Prerequisites: 11 years of age or older ·

Class recommended by Lara, whose 12 yr old daughter Chloe took this class a few weeks ago and is ready to make her presentation to anyone needing a babysitter (she’s particularly excited about changing baby diapers and feeding a baby – that’s almost a direct quote. :) Contact Chloe at 741-4415.

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Every Girl Brings With Her A Precious Gift

One girl brings intelligence- the challenge of her sparkling mind keeps me continually learning.
One girl brings laughter- the challenge of her ready wit keeps me from taking myself too seriously.
One girl brings simplicity- the challenge of her unquestioning acceptance keeps me honest.
One girl brings skepticism- the challenge of her 'show me' attitude keeps me from ever trying to bluff my way through something.
One girl brings curiosity- the challenge of her continuing questions keeps me on my toes.
One girl brings kindness- the challenge of her radiating warmth keeps me from forgetting the importance of hugs.
One girl brings super activity- the challenge of her boundless energy keeps me moving and free from laziness.
Every girl brings with her a precious gift.
Grant that I may always look for, and nurture, that precious gift in every girl.

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Council Updates – Claudette Steinhauer

New GS levels currently being designed (will take effect in the 2008-2009 school year): Daisy: K & 1st Brownie: 2nd & 3rd Junior: 4th & 5th Cadette: 6th – 8th Senior: 9th & 10th Ambassador: 11th & 12th Council will share more information as soon as it’s available

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Tea Cups for Rent:

a party for 200?

Mix and Match Tea Cups and Saucers available for a small donation. Contact:

Terri Petronio

619-465-0205

email: thepetronios@cox.net

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The Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be

honest & fair,

friendly & helpful,

considerate & caring,

courageous & strong, &

responsible for what I say & do,

and to

respect myself & others,

respect authority,

use resources wisely,

make the world a better place,

and be a sister to every

Girl Scout.

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Service Unit Resources Lara is storing a great supply of resources that are available for you to check out and use with your troop.

Inventory of Service Unit Resources

Email laraf75@hotmail.com to check these out for use with your troop.

Arts & Crafts Supplies

Paint brushes (fat: 50, skinny: 80

sponge: 20)

Paint (fabric & poster: approx. 100 bottles of various sizes)
Bottle caps (for glue)
Balloon pump
Glitter glue
Magnetic photo backs
Flag box craft kit (6)
Jeweled bracelets (48)
Frames (10)
20 whistles
Crayons
Masking tape
Pens, pencils, markers
Wax paper
Toothpicks
Star stickers
Scissors (10 pair)

Camping Supplies:

2 first aid kits (to take camping)
Chuck box (includes all sizes pots & pans)

Event/Party Supplies:

Log candelabra (holds 10 candles)
Styrofoam cups
2 large coffeemakers
Sugar packets
Paper plates
Paper bowls
Plasticware (forks, knives, spoons)
4 large water coolers
Flags + holders (GirlScout & American flags)
Small paper bags
Folding sandwich bags
Foil
Alcohol wipes
Crepe paper (red, green, yellow, dark & light blue, orange, purple)
2 cup stacking kits
Bunko set

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Dear Girl Scout Leaders and Service Units,

You may make property reservations via fax, phone, and e-mail.

E-Mail= resourceproperty@

girlscoutssdi.org
Phone=619-610-0742
Fax=619-298-2031

Today’s economy takes its toll everywhere, including Girl Scouts. In order to maintain and operate our facilities with the rapidly rising costs of materials and utilities, Council must increase facility use fees for all users. You, our membership, are our greatest priority, and we have kept that at the forefront of our minds in planning, and will continue to keep fees as low as possible while maintaining and improving our properties. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

1.When are the changes effective? January, 1, 2009

2.Why is there a Night and Day price? Properties no longer need to be reserved for the entire weekend. Troops/SU will now be charged for each overnight use of the property they are renting. This means a troop can rent a property for just 1 night, allowing more troops to have single night overnight stays.

3.Do troops and SU need to pay if they are just having a meeting? Yes, it is a minimal cost of $10 for SU and $8 for troops for each meeting. This applies to all Council properties.

4.All information regarding property reservation can be found in the Property Resource Guide which will be available for all troop leaders/SU in January at any resource center location. You will also be able to download it from the Council website.

5.NEW PRICE GUIDE is in Meeting & Support - link above (coming soon)

Ann Pohlers
Program Support Manager

apohlers@girlscoutssdi.org
619-610-0750 DIRECT
619-298-2031 FAX

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Girls are Great! Let's be Visible.Send your articles & photos for publication to the Mission Times Courier. DEADLINES: 2nd Wed/month Drop off or mail to the mailbox inside Postal Annex at 6549 Mission Gorge Rd, #199 (near Vons at Zion) OR email: sally@newsetc.com (619-283-9747 for info)