Jane has put together the newsletter this month and it looks great! Thanks so much. Here's the link. http://rockfordgs.com/leader_pages/minutes_newsletters/Newsletter_200910.pdf
Our next leader meeting is October 12, 2009. There will be some VERY important announcements at this meeting. Please make sure someone from your troop is there.
NOTE FROM BEVERLY TO LEADERS.
Let me start by stating that I love Girl Scouts. I have never regretted becoming a leader or part of the service team or the Service Unit Director. I have learned and grown and watched many other leaders learn and grow. I have made so many friends.
However, I regret that I simply cannot continue the way it is. I am stating here that if I don't receive some significant help by the Monday, October 12 leader meeting, that will be my last leader meeting and I will step down as Service Unit Director.
(This is especially bad for the new leaders to read. To those new leaders, I apologize. Please be assured that Rockford really is a wonderful service unit. There are many caring, dedicated leaders who truly care about the girls and Girl Scouting. I have faith that we can and will pull this off.)
Rockford is a big unit with almost 600 girls and 50 troops. I know you have already stepped up by being a leader and many have stepped up further by becoming part of the team. Many of you have served for years and, rightfully so, have stepped back to allow others to take their turn. Some leaders continue on helping the Service Unit even though their daughters have grown up and are adults!
Yet our service unit remains sadly, woefully understaffed. Here is a list of positions that we desperately need to be filled.
Recruitment Manager – to help find troops for all those girls who have expressed interest. We had over 75 girls express interest since school night for Scouting. Some have not even been contacted because no one has been able to help me and I have not had time.
Fall Product Manager – only one leader has stepped up and she is a brand new leader. Council requires a co-manager with this. Previous managers will mentor and so will Vicky, our council liaison. We have already missed the council manager training. The Council Manager, Susan Tamme, will be coming to our meeting to do our service unit training.
Cookie Manager – that time is rapidly approaching
Event Manager – this is what I wanted to do with my daughter. Jessica is doing her best. But she is only 14. So far, instead of this being the bonding time that we had hoped, we have ended up in tears because of lack of time and interest from other leaders.
Event Coordinators – those willing to actually run the planned events.
School Organizers for Meadow Ridge and Crestwood – you guessed it that these are the girls who have not been contacted.
This should not be the first time that you've heard this (except for the new leaders). I have asked before and I have heard from many that you don't have time. I know that you are stretched. But, to put it bluntly, what do you think I am doing? When no one helps, the job still has to get done. And if you don't have ½ an hour, how do you think I can find all the time added together?
I cannot be all the above positions as well as director. I spent all day Sunday on Girl Scouts and never even got to my actual troop and never got done all that needed to be accomplished. (And when I say all day, I mean about 10 hours.) I promised my family that I would only do this for one more year if I had the help that I needed. I don't have that help and I have to put my family first.
I'm not asking for someone to take over all of this. I asking for each person to think if you could, or you know of someone who could, take one small part. Just one small part. And with many small parts, it becomes manageable. All the above jobs can be shared. Co-product managers, co-recruitment managers, co-event managers, co-service unit director!
I don't want to quit. I truly don't. But something has to change. So please, help.
--
Beverly Dickinson
Rockford Neighborhood Girl Scouts
874-8926
304-2615 (cell)
beverlyd@charter.net
Please visit www.rockfordgs.com for the lastest info on Rockford Girl Scouts.
No comments:
Post a Comment