August 15, 2020 Update
Dear Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio,
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is changing how we
live, how we work, and how we serve our girls and volunteers. In
response to these changes, Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council is
providing quality virtual programming for our girls, because it is
clear they need us now more than ever. Virtual offerings can be found
on GSSGC’s website, under “GSSGC
Virtual.” Facebook Live sessions highlighting various skills, such
as learning how to tie different types of knots, are also airing
throughout the month of August on our Facebook page.
In-person Girl Scout troop meetings, suspended since
mid-March, continue via Zoom or other virtual platforms. While
providing a much-needed form of communication and connection, we know
that virtual meetings do not compare to being able to meet
face-to-face. However, our utmost priority is and must be the safety
of our girls, volunteers, and staff members. Until that time when
state and county restrictions are lifted and it is safe to meet again,
in-person troop meetings and events will continue virtually.
Your Council has made a pledge to ensure all girls, and their
parents and leaders, are welcomed, respected and valued. We stand by
our commitment to eliminate institutional racism and the structure
that supports it within our own Council. As we continue to seek
comments from our girls and leaders, we are finding many real-life
examples of the times we have fallen short. It is painful and shocking
to hear testimony of racism occurring within our own beloved Council.
I know that if we have the courage to listen and learn from one
another, then we can take positive action. We can do better and be
better -- after all, we are all Girl Scouts and live by the Promise
and the Law, “to make the world a better place, and be a sister to
every Girl Scout.”
The Board of Directors has
established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee that is
in the process of selecting an outside expert to guide us through
training and examination of all policies and practices. The staff has
also established a DEI Action Committee whose members include
volunteers and older girls. Our first task has been to strengthen the
Volunteer Policies & Procedures to support our promise to girls
and volunteers that racism in any form will not be tolerated. The new
policy was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors on August
12, 2020. It will be widely shared in the next few weeks.
Finally, the anticipated reopening of our offices has been
pushed back to January 5, 2021. During this time of remote working,
all departments are fully functional and stand ready and reachable to
assist in all of your Girl Scouting needs. Our retail shops will begin
to reopen next week on August 18th with limited hours and days for
each location. Maximum precautions are being taken for everyone’s
health and safety and current state and local guidelines are being
followed. This newsletter contains important information and updates,
with answers to many of the questions you may have. If you don’t find
the information you need here, do not hesitate to contact Customer
Care. You can chat with our Customer Care Specialists in real time via
the “We Are Here” chat app found on GSSGC’s Contact Us
webpage. To connect with a Customer Care Specialist by phone, dial
the main number, (909) 307-6555, and at any point during the recording
dial extension 5002. You may also contact Customer Care by emailing customercare@gssgc.org.
No matter what the future brings, I know that by working
together and remaining highly focused on the needs of our girls, we
will help them rise and become women of courage, confidence, and
character, who make the world a better place. We work for today’s
girls and for future generations. This is our duty and
responsibility.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Cynthia H. Breunig
President and CEO
Programs
We loved seeing your faces, virtually, this summer. What a treat to
programmatically engage with our girls via Facebook Lives, Camp
Awesome, Virtual Field Trips, Series and many other fun opportunities
offered via the program team this summer.
Be sure to check the event
calendar and our Facebook for events as we
launch cybersecurity for Juniors as well as other single day events
and series items.
We then move into the “Back to Troop” fall season. Watch your mail
boxes for the Food For Thought magazine arriving to mail boxes soon.
Within the pages you will find information about Programs-in-a-Box,
Virtual Clubs, and Opting into Program 411 so that you are the first
in the know about new program opportunities.
Retail
Exciting News
Our retail shops will be reopened beginning August 18th. Our hours
and days are limited based on increased sanitations and staffing, but
we are thrilled to start seeing you within our shops.
-
Low Desert and High Desert – Open 1 day a week, every Tuesday
from 10am-4pm closed for lunch from 1-2
-
Central West – Open 2 days a week, every Wednesday and
Thursday from 10am-4pm closed for lunch from 1-2
-
Southwest – Open 2 days a week, every Wednesday and Friday
from 10am-4pm closed for lunch from 1-2
-
Redlands – Open 2 days a week, every Thursday and Friday from
10am-4pm closed for lunch from 1-2
-
Saturdays in August 10am -2pm
Redlands on the 22nd
Central West on the 29th
Temecula 29th
Safety and Sanitation
Of course our shops will be following all local and state codes for
sanitation and safety. This indicates the number of people allowed in
the store at any one time, 6ft distancing especially when standing in
line for the register. Masks must be worn at all times by both staff
and customers – without exception.
Member Services
Troop Support is currently working on Troop Financial Reports. We
still have a number of troops who have not submitted their reports,
but you will be relieved to know that the deadline was extended to
September 30 for non-renewed Co-Leaders. We will continue to reach
out to leaders and set up meetings with troops who have questions. If
your Troop Financial Report has not been submitted and you need
assistance contact our team.
We are still in the midst of
Renewal for the 20/21 membership year. If you are thinking about
changing troop leadership or need assistance restructuring your troop,
contact us. We will work to do what is in the best interest of your troop.
Service Unit Managers should be planning their back to troop Service
Unit meetings and ensuring they have the tools to be successful in
this new environment. We are encouraging our SUMs to schedule virtual
meetings and activities until further notice. Reach out to your
Service Unit Mangers for upcoming dates or contact Troop Support.
The Member Services Department is developing the framework for our
upcoming Virtual Volunteer Conference in November. Stay tuned for
more information.
Fall recruiting is in full swing and the recruitment team has
scheduled several virtual meetups for interested new girls. If you
have neighbors, friends or family that have expressed an interest in
joining Girl Scouts, please direct them to send an email to customercare@gssgc.org. Someone from
the recruitment team will personally reach out to them.
Juliettes
Juliette’s or Individual Girl Scouting allows for a one on one
approach much like home schooling. Each year we look to see how can we
best serve our individual Girl Scouts. This year we reviewed the
Entrepreneurial Program. This program is best when done in a troop/
group setting vs. an individual format. As such, beginning with this
year’s 2020 fall program there will be no standalone IRG
entrepreneurial program. Girls who participated as Juliettes or IRGs,
in the 2019 fall or 2020 cookie programs and earned Juliette Program
Credits will continue to have access to them until they expire. If you
would like to participate in the Entrepreneurial Programs in the
future we urge you to form troops and/or join a troop. In today’s
virtual world girls from all over our council can form a troop, meet
via zoom and participate in the Entrepreneurial Program as a troop.
Location or travel is no longer a hindrance for an engaging troop
meeting. This allows for greater opportunities within Girl Scouting as
well as within the entrepreneurial program such as troop proceeds
which do not expire. Please contact customercare@gssgc.org for
information in regards to forming troops or finding a troop near you.
Adult Learning and Volunteer Services
Looking for a way to get ahead of the Girl Scout game? Overloaded on
binge watching Netflix? Why not learn more about Girl Scouts? Or
refresh your repertoire of Girl Scout trivia?
Get a jump start on the coming year. Go to the Council website,
click on MyGS and log in using your Girl Scout community log in. You
know - the same one you use to check your troop roster and access your
VTK. Once you’re logged in, you can check out the courses that are in
your course library. Even if you’re not a Cadette leader, take the
Silver Award Training. What can it hurt? You say you’re a Brownie
leader? Eventually you’ll be a Junior - sooner than you think – give
the Bronze Award Training a try, you won’t regret it.
Even if you’ve been a leader for a while, check out the Successful
Leader Learning Series, you might get some helpful tips or at the
least reinforcement that you’re still doing it correctly.
Wander back once in a while, we will be adding more trainings in the
future. Some might surprise you.
Properties
The Properties Department is closely monitoring guidance as provided
by the State of California and the County of Riverside Department of
Environmental Health on the operation of residential camps and meeting
locations for non-family members. Currently GSSGC is not allowed to
provide overnight camp experiences or provide meeting spaces for
non-family member groups. If you have a camp reservation in the month
of September or October, you will be receiving an email from our
Program Coordinator letting you know about the status of your
reservation. We are not accepting any new reservations until guidance
is provided by the State and County. Please watch our Social Media
posts as to when and how GSSGC will be accepting reservations for camp
and meeting space use.
