April 15 2017

Surveys, Rogues, and Signs

Random Things That Don't Fit Anywhere Else Kinda Like Me    5 Comments    , , , , , , , , , ,

Here are just a few random thoughts about some subjects that wouldn’t necessarily take up a whole blog post, but they do deserve some mention before I go into my upcoming EPIC RANT!  Rawr!

First, it’s time again for the annual Voices Count GSUSA Survey!  ::throws confetti everywhere::  Our council supposedly requested 100% adult and girl participation, but apparently this request was ignored and they were just randomly sent out instead.  My oldest daughter received one, but neither my youngest nor I did.  But that didn’t stop me!  Nope!  I requested a survey by sending an email to GSVoicesCount@girlscouts.org, and after a few days, I got one.  But before I filled mine out, I cajoled my oldest daughter into taking hers.  I won’t go into the drama.  Gotta love the tween years.  I figured it’d be the same confusing survey written at an adult level like what’s been sent out year after year.  In fact, I wrote (aka complained) about it last year and suggested creating different surveys for leaders, parents, and girls.
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April 8 2017

WaBak Falls

Traditional Stuff    1 Comment    , , ,

There’s a small but beautiful waterfall located on the Camp WaBak property appropriately named WaBak Falls.   There are two ways you can view it.  One is via an observation deck that you can reach by heading down a short trail next to the Amphitheater, and the other by walking down a very, very steep wooden staircase down to the creek and then wade up from there.  The Creek Hike is a traditional activity during camp and a very welcome one when it’s during the hot South Carolina summers.  But be careful on the hike – it never fails that I slip on the rocks and come down hard on my tush.  But I have a lot of padding, so no worries!  Continue reading

March 12 2017

Badges? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Badges!

National Operations, Opinions    4 Comments    , , , , , ,

I’m sure you’ve heard the title’s quote many times in your volunteer career when you mention Girl Scout badges to someone.  It’s even the name of one of the tags used for this blog.  (Actually, the correct quote is “Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!”)  But recently, it seems that GSUSA is saying it too.  The word is getting out that the Make Your Own Badge website will be shutting down in June, and therefore, this option will no longer be offered.  Continue reading

February 20 2017

Camp WaBak’s Beginnings

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Home of The Greenville News archive

Last Friday, I visited the Greenville Main Library in the hopes of researching Charles H. Yates, a man who was a very kind benefactor to the Girl Scouts.  The Yates Lodge at WaBak is named after him.  When I arrived at the library, I found out that The Greenville News archive is only indexed from 1990 to the present.  Uggghhhhh… and there went my plans for cross-referencing Charles H. Yates and Girl Scouts.  I’d have to know specifically which issue I wanted to look up or at least have some kind of date to go by.  Continue reading

January 6 2017

Hooray for Hollywood and 2017’s Cookie Memes

Cookie Memes    2 Comments    ,

In what seems to have turned into a tradition, I present to you 2017’s cookie memes!  I have to admit – I was a little unmotivated this year.  I think it’s because I churned out so many last year.  But sometimes you have to just plunge yourself into a project, and once I got going, I was able to knock out a few.  I won’t do as many as I did last year, but I will be adding to these from time to time I’m sure.  This year I’ve got a “Hooray for Hollywood” theme.  As always, you are welcome to share these.  I’ll be also posting them on my cookie meme Pinterest board at some point. Continue reading

January 4 2017

Choosing a Troop Crest

Troop Leader Resources    2 Comments    , , , ,

I couldn’t find this online all in one place except for a PDF from the San Diego council, so this is shamelessly borrowed from them.  I added the graphics.

Choosing a Troop Crest

In the early days of Girl Scouting, troop crests were used to identify a troop. The rapid growth of the movement soon made numbering necessary, but troop crests were kept as a symbol of a troop’s goal or main interest. Today, troops should think carefully about the crest they choose. It should have a special meaning to them, one they can pass along to new members each year. The symbol can be used on a troop flag or to mark troop equipment. Every member should know what their crest is and what it means.  Continue reading

December 31 2016

New Year’s Eve Random Patch Bowl Edition Plus More

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GO DAWGS!!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but I’ve got three of them on the back burner that I should be publishing soon.  It’s been an exhausting December for me personally, so that’s cut into blog post time.  But here’s a quick one to round out 2016!

The other day I was thumbing through the latest and greatest patch catalog from Advantage Emblem, and I came across a timely patch for the most wonderful time of the year, aka bowl season.  I haven’t been able to watch much college football earlier this year, so I was very happy to see my beloved Georgia Bulldogs beat the Great Horny Toads of TCU along with some other great bowl games.  Continue reading