Let's Wrap It Up!

In the fall, girls all across America and abroad begin to gather for meetings, community service projects and council sponsored events to embrace the season of scouting. These children and young adults often have excruciating schedules consisting of athletic activities, homework commitments, academic events and familial obligations. It's amazing that they have the time to be active scouts!

At the start of the new season, Troop 203 consisted of about seven returning members. There was a change in the leadership, some scouts were unable to continue for personal reasons and the others decide to move on to other troops. As we close out the scouting season, there are a total of fourteen registered scouts in addition to six registered adult volunteers. Quite impressive for six months work.

Members of Troop 203 are known for being very active members in their respective communities. Latest community service project, Roselle Clean Up and Tree Planting in Linden (Baltimore Ave). There's a perk to being a member of Brownie Troop 203....

You have lots of fun!

It's always important to balance the level of work required of the scouts with exciting activities that reinforce sportsmanship, global awareness and leader development. Without a doubt, the best activity was the Healthy Habits Try-it and the hottest event on our social calendar was the Parent Daughter Dinner.

So, as we wrap up this wonderful year of scouting, let's get ready to enjoy the summer sunshine.

See you on the beach!

Spring into Action !!!

March 20th marked the official start of spring. It's April 3rd, we are now two weeks into the season and it feels wonderful! Spring can be best described as a season of growth. It is a time when people, animals and things jump into action. The pace is faster and more enthusiastic. Excitement is in the air.

What comes to mind when YOU think of spring....

Possibly it is the beautiful flowers growing outside the front door. The buds have been hibernating all winter. Fall leaves providing a blanket of warmth and protection for delicate daffodils, tulips and daisies soon to bloom. Reserving energy so that they can push through the soil.

Maybe it is the sound of children playing in the park. Swings, swings, let's get on the swings! Off come the jackets and away they go running, laughing and offering the world the most beautiful song on earth....a happy child. Except for Christmas, there is no better time of the year for a school kid than Spring Break. A full week of sleeping late, eating snacks, playing video games or catching up with friends by text, email or MySpace.

Brownie Troop 203 will usher in spring with the same level of energy, vibrancy and growth as a new flower or a happy child playing outside in the local park. We're off to a great start!

On Tuesday, March 31st, the scouts traveled to Skate USA of Woodbridge, NJ located within the Woodbridge Community Center. Many of our scouts had visited the area before on Girl Scout Swim Night and for a St. Joseph the Carpenter School fundraiser. Scouts that once held the wall the entire night were now roller skating across the floor with a newfound confidence. There were lessons on the history of skating, safety tips and how to have fun while skating. Teamwork, optimism and resiliency are extremely important factors to ensuring positive development in our scouts and the skating rink provided an excellent learning environment.

Spring brings us closer to the end of my first year as leader of Brownie Troop 203. It has truly been a learning experience. Our troop has fifteen scouts and there is something unique about each one. In corporate environments, the strongest on the team thinks and acts first, fast and firm. The approach is entirely different in scouting. The strongest member of the team thinks quietly, speaks carefully and works proactively. Team BT203 seeks to ensure members do all three.

My assistant leader and I consistently show our girls that being a Brownie Girl Scout is fun. We have some exciting days planned ahead. We’ll participate in an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Troop 504 on Saturday, April 4th. This two hour event will have everyone scrambling to find the golden egg. There are times when some of our members are unable to travel away from the local meeting site. So, we will bring the fun to them! Thursday, April 9th, we will complete a series of activities to earn the Brownie Manners Try-It. Whether it is meeting new people or spending time with family or friends, good manners are always important.

Now that you know how we've sprung into action, tell us what you are doing to kick off spring!

Want to share exiting news, tell us how we can help or keep us up-to-date on scouting activities?

Just follow our blog http://gobrowniestroop203.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Octavia West
Leader - Brownie Troop 203
http://gobrowniestroop203.blogspot.com/
owestconnecting@gmail.com

The Journey to Leadership.....

By now you must have heard the news relating to the presidential race. Senator Barrack H.Obama is the new President-elect of the United States. From the North to the South, crowds lined the streets in many states to celebrate his victory.

As usual, the streets of New York were filled with merriment. New Yorkers came by the thousands to witness history in the making. Time Square was packed with men, women and children shouting OBAMA repetitiously. The only thing missing were the funny glasses bought from the street vendor marking the celebration of a New Year.

Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and Chicago were jumping with energy. Tears were flowing from the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson and college students. What could bring about such emotion? Some say our new president-elect is the face reflecting change in America. His family will be the first of its kind to grace the halls of the White House. There have been no small children in the White House since the Kennedy family. Among the 43 pictures of past presidents which hang in the White House, Senator Obama's will be the first to showcase a man of color. He is a youthful, multicultural, charismatic, prophetic individual that is poised for change.

As he spoke to the crowd in Grant Park, Obama appeared elated and ever so grateful to his family, campaign staff and the 100,000+ supporters that stood for hours awaiting his arrival. It is truly a new day and as he begins the journey to the highest call of leadership, may we offer to him our full support as citizens of this great nation.

Thank you.

Octavia West

Seton Hall Women’s Basketball - Seton Hall Basketball Classic
Saturday November 22, 2008: Girl Scout Day

We received an invitation from Rich Fetter who is the Graduate Assistant Coach for Seton Hall Women's Basketball. Our troop, along with others in the area, are invited to their next Girl Scout Day. The event will be held on Seton Hall's campus in the Walsh Gymnasium starting at 1:00PM.

All Girl Scouts will be admitted to the game for FREE!! All Brownies attending the event will receive a Seton Hall Scout Day Patch!!

If you think your Brownie would be interested, please contact your Brownie Troop leader no later than Friday, November 7th.

Thank you.

Calling All Parents.....

As discussed during our last troop meeting, we have a parent session scheduled during the month of November. If you should be unable to attend this session, please do not hesistate to contact your troop leader via email or phone.

Also, please remember that all troop meetings will take place alternating Thursdays. We no longer hold troop meetings on Tuesdays. So when you have a moment, please mark the logistics below on your respective calendars.

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008

Time: 6:00 - 7:00PM

Place: St. Joseph the Carpenter School - Cafeteria

140 E 3rd Avenue, Roselle, NJ