Ask it Basket - Miscellaneous

Is a Singalong being planned for the 100th birthday in 2012? Our girls want to know if they start making SWAPs now!
We are beginning work with GSUSA on plans to celebrate our 100th birthday. We hope the plans will include a Sing-a-Long and will pass along details as soon as they are available.

Vendor Programs - Will GSCNC provide ability to submit feedback about vendor programs (likes, dislikes, what went well, girl participation,etc)?
At this time, this is not planned. However, we have always welcomed feedback about any of our programs. Please send any feedback about council or vendor programs to programaa@gscnc.org.

Which vendors give money to GSCNC for us to use their program?
Community program partners/vendors pay a nominal subscription fee in order to place advertisements and listings in our print Yellow Pages and on the program vendor pages on the website.

Troops who want to take C&O Canal Riley Lockhouse Training are having trouble finding the course. The course is under enrichment, but this is a program for B-J older girls, PLEASE move it to program. Some new or inexperienced leaders will not look under enrichment.
Based on the nature of the course, Riley's Lockhouse Training falls in the category of additional enrichment training that leaders may elect to take to enrich the troop experience for themselves and for the girls. The Program Level category (or our 100 series) of courses apply to more core basic training such as basic level information and travel from the troop meeting site. With so much new information for troop leaders, we need to keep the 100 category as simple as possible.

At some point we should consider an article (or post or some communications forum) that explains GSCNC's overall social media/Internet strategy. Primarily, the purpose and use of: Facebook, The Pixie List, Wikis, E-mail Communications, Etc.
Contact Nancy Wood, Director of Public Relations nwood@gscnc.org

What is the easiest way to set up a troop visit to the White House?
Sign up as a Sudden Service Troop

Transporting Girls on Trips: If I am going on a trip to New York on a bus that has more than just Girl Scouts on it, does the bus company have to be on the approved bus list?
It would depend on a couple of factors; if the trip is being sponsored by a GSCNC Troop or group then we would prefer you use a company from the approved list. However, if they are willing to provide us with an insurance certificate with the appropriate levels of coverage, listing the council as additionally insured you can used a company not on the list. If you are taking a bus like a Greyhound or a DC to NY bus, we would treat those like public transportation and not like chartered transportation, in which case we would not need a Certificate of Insurance.

A helpful resource for leaders would be a map that shows approximately what 200 miles from Council boundaries is.
Included in Volunteer Essentials 2010 in the "Troop Travel" section

Do deposits apply to reach programs?
All programs with fees will have a small deposit amount.

Can the section about New Troops be put online?
http://www.gscnc.org/newleadernewtroop.html

Training - at the end of an online tutorial, is it possible to have "certificate" to prove completion? This could direct a person to take certificate training card to SUM, then SUM can sign card.
Since program level training has never been required, we are continuing down this path a little further and offering education and support to new leaders who get to decide where, when and how they receive training. Training records should not be tracked at the Service Unit level, as they are not being tracked at the council level. If a leader wishes to keep a record of his/her courses she has participated in, that is his/her choice.

Are round-table or phone conferences required with online tutorial training?
Since program level training has never been required, we are continuing down this path a little further and offering education and support to new leaders who get to decide where, when and how they receive training. No component of program level training is "required" however, after watching an online tutorial a volunteer might choose to call in to a conference call to get any unanswered questions addressed by an Adult Educator.