2008 National Council Session/Convention Oct. 30 - Nov. 2., 2008 Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis All Indiana Councils are eligible to send volunteers!  All volunteers must be registered members of GSUSA for 2008-09 or be lifetime members. Applications are due March of 2008! For more information go to http://www.girlscoutsindiana.org  and click on 'National Convention'. To learn more from a DDGSC staff member, call 219.795.9640 x21.   Girl Scout Leadership Institute An incredible opportunity for 25 Indiana Girl Scouts (grades 6-12) to Discover, Connect and Take Action prior to the National Council Session, Oct. 29-30, 2008!  Go to http://www.girlscoutsindiana.org  and click on 'Girl Scout Leadership Institute' for more information.  To speak with a DDGSC staff member regarding this awesome opportunity, please call 219.795.9640 x22.   Council Service Center News New Hours for 2008! Effective January 7, 2008: Service Center Hours Office: Monday through Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. to Noon Shop: Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday: 8:30 a.m. to Noon Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Service Center Extended Hours (4/1/08 to 5/31/08) Office: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. to Noon Shop: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. to Noon Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Closed Saturday, May 24 and Monday, May 26   Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council's Program Center Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council's Program Center located at 8699 Broadway in Merrillville offers a versatile place Girl Scouts, adult volunteers and outside organizations. Girls have used the Council's program center to participate in overnight environmental programs, diversity workshops and even transformed it to represent different countries around the world. Adult volunteers have attended roundtables, training and even recognition ceremonies. For more information on the Council's Program Center , go to Council Corner and Click on the Council Facilities link.   Leader's Closet The Leader's Closet is located in the Leader's Resource Room at the Council's Service Center in Merrillville . This is a pilot program and highly experimental. Our intent is to provide leaders with free materials they may use for troop programming. For more information about guidelines, check out the 2007-2008 Program & Training Guide or stop by the Service Center during regular business hours.   News You Can Use Girl Scout Program Hotline Check out the latest in program and training news by calling the NEW  Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council Hotline. Just dial (219) 795-9640, ext. 30 and stay up to date with the latest happenings!   Important Pager Information - Save the Number If serious accident, emergency or fatality occurs during the evening hours or on a weekend, the person(s) in charge at the scene should call the Council's new pager number at (219) 899-8883 and someone will call you back. A postcard with this information will be coming soon.   Council Realignment News & New Leadership Development Program Winter 2008 Update The council realignment process for the formation of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana has been delayed until early 2008.  Girl Scout troop formation and volunteer recruitment/training will continue through Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council until further notice. Please check back here frequently for more details.   Learn More About Council Realignment! Background about GSUSAs Council Realignment and Core Business Strategy Plans. The weekend of August 25, 2006, Girl Scouts of the USAs National Board of Directors endorsed momentous decisions that will guide the future of the Girl Scout Movement.   For nearly two years, the Movement has been undergoing a thorough internal review process, evaluating its business strategy and the way it provides Girl Scouting to girls.  Many of the exciting changes youll read about below, which will begin in October 2008, were a direct result of that work. The board discussions that took place were highly thoughtful and utilized all data and research available including volunteer, girl and council input and the work of the past two years.  That work, which kicked off at the 50th National Convention/ Council Session, included countless focus groups, strategy cafes, teleconferences, work sessions, polls, and formal and informal conversations with thousands of girls, volunteers and staff; as well as discussions with academic and youth experts. In particular, volunteers by the scores participated in these various forums to discuss the important decisions that were to be made. The generosity of time from volunteers across the country made the final recommendations to the National Board true representations of the needs of our girls and those we will serve into the future. The National Board and indeed all of us thank you for your time and passion. The national organization has read every letter, every e-mail and responded to every call, and as a result, these decisions have been made in partnership with you.  As a result, Girl Scouting is being held as an example of how to manage change in the public benefit sector. The decisions focus on the organizations desired impact on the lives of girls and the structure that gives the capacity to have this impact.  All program changes will begin to be phased in as of October 1, 2008, and councils will transition based on their individual readiness.  Between now and then, GSUSA will work with councils to provide program, human resources, marketing, council services and volunteer development support.  A new volunteer model/ training system and Girl Scout curricula are being developed, and everyone will be given ample time and support to transition to these new models. During this period of transition, we continue to welcome input from our field on recommendations for a volunteer system that works for our volunteers and guarantees a consistent Girl Scout experience for all girls. Decisions of GSUSAs National Board of Directors:   New Nationwide Map of Council Jurisdictions The National Board approved a new Girl Scout council map that features 109 Girl Scout councils, which will create the infrastructure with which the organization will have the greatest impact on girls lives nationwide. In our region, Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council will join with six other Girl Scout councils to form one, new high-capacity council for the greater metropolitan Chicago region.  The other councils that will join with us include: Girl Scouts of Chicago, Trailways (Will, Grundy and Kankakee Counties), Prairie Winds (DuPage County and some western Cook County communities), Illinois Crossroads (northeastern Illinois and the Oak Park area), Girl Scouts of South Cook County, and Girl Scouts of the Calumet Council (northwest Indiana and several southeast Cook County communities. The process of consolidating began this past October (2006) and is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.  This new configuration will result in a strengthened Girl Scout presence in this region. Program Model Endorsement The National Board endorsed a Girl Scout Leadership Development Program, which will develop girls leadership skills by engaging them in activity cycles based on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law and the vision expressed in the Girl Scout Mission Statement: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  This leadership philosophy enables us as one national Movement to speak consistently about the impact of Girl Scouting on girls lives. Amendment of Membership Standards To meet the social and developmental needs of girls, it became necessary to differentiate groups by grade level, thereby requiring a realignment of membership age groups and the addition of a new identifying name.  As a result, three actions regarding the membership standards were approved: o        The membership grade levels have been realigned to better meet the social and developmental needs of girls. o        A new age-identifying name has been added, resulting in six age-differentiated levels.  The name Ambassador to identify Girl Scouts in the 11th and 12th grades consistently rose to the top in all research with girls, and reflects young womens leadership roles in our global world. o        The words Girl Scout will be emphasized at the beginning of each identifying name, highlighting the one consistent Girl Scout leadership experience and strengthening the Girl Scout brand. Grades                        Names K-1                               Girl Scout Daisy 2-3                               Girl Scout Brownie 4-5                               Girl Scout Junior 6-8                               Girl Scout Cadette 9-10                             Girl Scout Senior 11-12                           Girl Scout Ambassador Girl Scout Uniform Most uniform conversations centered on how we as a Movement balance our traditions of unity with economic practicality for families. In practice, most girls today are choosing to use a tunic/vest/sash with their own clothing and this is reflected in uniform sales trends.  At the same time, it is important to maintain Girl Scout tradition, and create a dress code that will identify Girl Scouts as a leadership organization.  As a result, the National Board approved the following: o        Girl Scouts at each level will have one official uniform item (e.g. tunic, vest, sash) for the display of official pins and awards. o        Following an official dress code, girls will use their own solid white shirts and khaki pants or skirts with an official uniform item that will unite girls as Girl Scouts. o        The adult uniforms will be a scarf worn with the membership pins for women and a tie for men. The scarf/ tie and membership pins will be worn with navy blue business attire of choice. o        Girl Scouts at the Daisy and Brownie levels will continue to have a full uniform ensemble available. o        Girl Scouts in high school will also have an optional scarf, uniting them in the international WAGGGS tradition. o        GSUSA will continue to offer a range of appealing casual wear for girls and adults. Transitioning Program changes will be phased in beginning in October 2008.  The organization is committed to supporting volunteers so that you fully understand the leadership experience  and the exciting opportunities that exist for you and girls.  As part of our journey ahead, the national organization is committed to: o        Providing tools and support to councils, to educate volunteers on the strengths of the new plans for age differentiation. o        Providing clear transition guidance to councils and tips for volunteers during the two year prep period. o        Providing girls with a two year transition period, which enables them to carry out plans and projects they have begun in the current system. o        Ensuring time to fully educate adults about the program curricula. We continue to rely on your feedback as we move forward into the next phase of this process.   National Media Discusses Girl Scouts of the USA Realignment NonProfit Times Showcases Girl Scoutings Journey of Transformation The NonProfit Times featured our national transformation in an extensive article that includes interviews with GSUSA CEO Kathy Cloninger, National Board Secretary Linda Foreman, and CEO of the former Hoosier Capital Council in Indiana (now known as Girl Scout Central Indiana), Deborah Hearn Smith. The article focuses on the realignment of councils, but more importantly, it discusses the real issues behind the transformation, including the need to pull Girl Scouts together as one integrated, unified leadership movement for girls. Girl Scout leaders and volunteers, community supporters and collaborators, donors, and board members will find this article gives a clear understanding of the issues and importance surrounding the council realignment.  Exciting changes are taking place both nationally and locally. To view the complete article, please visit http://www.nptimes.com/07Jan/npt-070101-3.html    New Name Announced! "Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana" has been chosen as the name of the Girl Scout council that will debut later this year when seven existing councils join together as one. Hundreds of suggestions for names were received from local Girl Scouts and adult volunteers. The name Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana ultimately was selected because it clearly identifies and is inclusive of the region to be served. The council is expected to launch in early 2008. The seven legacy councils included in the realignment are: Girl Scouts of the Calumet Council, Inc.; Girl Scouts of Chicago; Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council, Inc.; Girl Scouts  Illinois Crossroads, Inc.; Girl Scouts  Prairie Winds, Inc.; Girl Scouts of South Cook County, Inc.; and Girl Scouts of Trailways Council, Inc.  These councils include the Indiana counties of Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter; and the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Lake, and Will. Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council, Inc., established in 1954 as East Lake and Porter County Girl Scout Council, is based out of Merrillville, Indiana and currently serves over 6,000 girl and adult members across its four-county area.  More than 200 Illinois and Indiana Girl Scout volunteers and staff are currently serving on task groups focused on the local realignment process.