Design our Troop T time!!!!

Calling all members!  Once again, we want YOU to have the opportunity to design this year's troop T-Shirt!  Just think how cool it would be to see everyone wearing YOUR design this year!  The mother of the girl who's design is chosen will also get a free T-shirt!  Here are the details:  

 You may submit your designs one of three ways:

1.  electronically to tlshome2001@gmail.com; 

2.  mail them to:

Tammy Starry

230 Indian Pointe Drive.

Maineville, OH 45039

3.  Final option:   drop them off at the first AHG meeting in January.  This will be the deadline for all submittals.

Moms, we would love to have YOUR daughter give it a go.   Please encourage them to put down on paper what THEY would like to see their fellow members wearing this spring.  Last year's was very cool.

If you need a theme to work from, this year's troop badge will be covering "All God's Children". 

Guidelines to follow: 

*  Sketches will be welcomed as we can get help with making it "camera" ready; we are mostly looking for ideas, not professional artwork

*  Say what print color you want to use
*  Tell what color of T-shirt you want your design on
*  Be sure to include AHG OH3124 or American Heritage Girls OH3124 as part of your design

For idea purposes and design choices, you can go to:  "yourartpages.com".  You can choose images you would like to use, put the identification name/number down on paper where you'd want that image, and the printer can lay it out for us.  If you would like a certain font, you can go to "dafont.com" and choose a font name to submit as well.  If you prefer to submit your own artwork,  just do outlines, again so the printer can get it copied easier.  

 Have any questions?  Contact Tammy at tlshome2001@gmail.com

 Hopefully, CHRISTmas break will be a good time to sit down and design this year's masterpiece!  Have fun with this and Merry CHRISTmas! 

 Tammy Starry at tlshome2001@gmail.com or 513 683-8951.

We have so much to be thankful for during this 2013 Holiday season!  Truly God has blessed us in every way.  We have a number of announcements that are very important, so please read through:

 

1.        For Monday’s meeting

a.       All girls:  We will be making ornaments, decorating cupcakes, and doing messy things.  Please do NOT wear your uniforms!

b.      Pi/Pa girls:  You are meeting off site at Mrs. Sargent’s house

2.       We need paper milk and juice cartons!  We need to collect at total of 29 of these!  Please bring as many as you possibly can to the meeting on Monday.

3.       We need EVERY GIRL to participate in the December service project.  Please make sure that you sign up through the link on the blog at www.oh3124.blogspot.com  This is a TROOP project.  It is a HUGE project that needs your help!

a.       Pi/Pa Girls:  If you would like to come, we really need your help with the younger girls

4.       Come see Martha Haney (Explorer 4) dance in Russian, a fun, energetic
dance, in the Nutcracker. She is also in the Party scene and a tin soldier
in the Battle scene. Former troop members, Ellen Haney and Christiana
Youngquist will also be dancing, in solos, as Clara and as the Sugar Plum
Fairy. Here's the specifics:

Saturday, December 8, 2012
2:00 or 7:30 pm
The Little Miami High School
3001 U.S. 22 (Mongomery Rd)
Morrow, 45152.

$15/adult, $10/student

Hope to see you there,
The Haney and Youngquist Families

5.       URGENT TROOP NEED:  We really do need a family or two to step up and oversee the clean up after meetings.  Since no one has stepped up, this has fallen to me and my girls.  This is extremely difficult!  I can’t meet with families who need my attention AND take care of troop clean up.  If you have not yet volunteered for something in the troop, We REALLY NEED YOU!  It only takes a few minutes, but makes such a difference for the troop.

6.   URGENT TROOP NEED    We also need someone to oversee the troop t-shirts this year.  So far, again, we have no one, so we have done nothing about t-shirts.  This is part of the dues, so it needs to be done.  It takes very little time over all, perhaps a couple of hours at most.

 

I think that is everything for now.  Have a truly blessed Celebration of our Lord’s birth! 

 

Merry Christmas!

Cynthia & Karen

AHG Family Skate Night

Greetings Families!

 

Each year, one of the highlight events is the Family Skate Night!  All of the information that you need is on THIS FLYER.  Please contact Karen Speed if you would like to attend.  This is a fantastic Bring A Friend opportunity!  Please be sure to invite a friend to come and learn about AHG.

 We need to have your form no later than the first meeting in January on 1/14 if you wish to attend.

 If you have any questions, please let us know.

 Blessings,

Cynthia Tann

Hope.coordinator.oh3124@gmail.com

Dec 17th Service Mtg sign up

Please click on the following link to sigh up to help at the service meeting on the 17th.

http://www.helpersignup.com/viewsheet.php?type=2&sheet=2c86a6dd1da94fa865a3f66471a6427a

CARTONS NEEDED BY DECEMBER 10 MTG!!!!

Please help us collect paper milk/juice 1/2 gallon cartons!

In order to make a uniform and eye pleasing gift basket for the staff at Hope Church, we are asking each family to donate one or two 1/2 gallon juice/milk paper containers at our meeting on Monday, December 10th.  The Explorer 4 girls will upcycle them into Christmas gift containers at our Service Meeting on Monday, December 17th.
 

5 Easy Steps to Help:

1.  Buy your families milk and/or juice in paper 1/2 gallon cartons
2.  Enjoy your milk/juice
3.  Rinse the 1/2 gallon carton in mild soap and water
4.  Take the clean carton with you to our next Troop Meeting on Monday, December 10th
5.  Smile knowing you made a difference
 
We need 29 milk/juice half-gallon containers by Monday, December 10th.

SCRIPS Program

AHG Families

 

Thank you for all the families that ordered Scrip this year.   Just in Oct/Nov, we have raised nearly $200 in profit with 13 families participating!    This is a huge blessing to our troop and will help keep our fees lower.   Many of you took advantage of using Scrip to cover your Fundraising Fee and didn't have to sell a thing:)   If you are one of the families who ordered, please continue to do so!  If you haven't tried Scrip yet, please consider it in December for all those Christmas gift cards that you give and for any other purchases you plan to make.  

 

To help with this, I'll be taking orders at the first December meeting (12/10) and have gift cards available to you by Friday 12/14 that same week!  Visit shopwithscrip.com for a complete list of retailers (including many online like Amazon) and restaurants.   Look for my earlier entries on this blog for the details on how to order Scrip.   If you have any questions, please call me at 513-886-8851 (cell) or 513-469-6151 (H).

 

Thank you for supporting AHG through Scrip!

Cindy Williams

Scrip coordinator

Items needed for meeting on November 26

Good Evening Everyone!

 

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, we know that we have so much for which to be thankful.  Truly God has blessed us immeasurable!  As we look ahead, we are working on planning the December service project.  Your girls’ leaders will be talking with them at the next meeting on November 26.  In a nutshell, we are doing a special Thank You to Hope Church for all that they do for our troop.  There is so much they do that no one ever sees.

 

We are going to be making gift baskets for all of the staff.  For this to happen, we are wondering how many of you have baskets sitting around your house that would be perfect for this project.  They can be any size or shape and they don’t even have to be baskets!  They could be just nice Christmas gift containers.  We are then going to fill these with gifts made specially by each unit.

 

Next, a quick reminder to have your kids sort their toys and bring in gently used toys for the next meeting.  These toys will go to the Hope sister church, River of Life in Over the Rhine.  Parents will be able to come and pick out gifts for their children.  This is a very special way for the girls to give Christmas to needy children right here in Cincinnati.

 

We hope that we will have an abundance of toys and baskets at the meeting on November 26!

 

Blessings,

Cynthia & Karen

More Ways to Help Our Troop!

We have now enrolled in two new ways that YOU can  help our troop without spending one extra dime.  Not only do we have Kroger Community Rewards, but now we have Meijer Community Rewards!  Click on the link on the right to learn more about this great program.  One more way for our troop to receive "free" money!

Also, on the right, you will see an Amazon.com link.  When you shop Amazon this fall, please enter through this portal.  When you do, the troop will receive a portion of the proceeds that you spend.  Easy as pie!

Thank you all for your support!  We are striving to make our troop financially stronger without asking parents to give more.  You give so much already.

Blessings,
Cynthia and Karen

Timberhill Service Project Info

Link for service project info.

Scout's Honor Weekend @ Newport Aquarium

Newport Aquarium's Scout's Honor Weekend is November 3rd and 4th.  Tickets are by presale only *before October 31st* for a specific day and are at a reduced price for the scout and family.  Special event pricing is $11/person (General admission pricing is normally $23/adult & $15/child over 2yrs. Children under 2 are free.)   Various "Exciting Additional Experiences" are being held, all of which have their own pricing separate from the NA admission.  Each scout will also receive a patch for the event.  Please refer to the attached enrollment form to purchase tickets and for additional information.

T2/3 & Pi/Pa Unit news page updates

The Tenderheart 2/3 and Pi/Pa Unit news page has been updated with a leader bio. Please click on the Tenderheart 2nd & 3rd Grade News and/or the Pioneer/Patriot 7th-12th Grade News tab at the top of the blog to access this information.

Scrip Info

Dear AHG Families,

I am your AHG Scrip Coordinator, Cindy.

Last year our AHG troop began the Scrip fundraising program and it was a great success!  Through Scrip, our troop raised hundreds of dollars used to offset troop costs and keep fees and dues lower.

Scrip is simply a word that means "substitute money."   Script fundraising is a no-selling program that allows families to raise money for AHG by using gift cards to pay for everyday purchases.

Families order gift cards from AHG and pay face value, and AHG orders the gift card from Scrip for less than face value.   AHG’s keeps the difference, or rebate, and that’s where the fundraising comes from.   This program costs you nothing other than the couple of minutes it takes to order Scrip.   It’s really that simple.  I’ve been using Scrip for years both for my own purchases as well as to give as gift cards at Christmas and throughout the year.

Many retailers participate in Scrip.  Visit shopwithscrip.com for a complete list or see the condensed list attached.   The rebate percentage that AHG gets is included on the form so you can see how much each card you purchase benefits our troop. 

There are two ways to order Scrip:

1.      Use the Scrips Order Form and place this and your check in the Scrip folder by the first meeting on the month.   Your cards will be available to you at the second meeting of the month.  Be sure to include a check for your order made out to HOPE CHURCH with Scrip OH 3124 in memo.

2.      Order online by visiting shopwithscrip.com, click the green box on the left and enter the AHG enrollment code: A9AE4CEF31953. There you will choose your retailers and submit your order.   At that point you can either pay for your order via check (as described above) or electronically through PrestoPay.  Detailed information about the online ordering process is attached.   It is very simple and I would be glad to walk you through it if needed.

With the holidays approaching, we would ask that you plan to do at least some of Christmas shopping using Scrip.  You can purchase cards, not only for your own shopping needs, but also to give as gifts.

I will be placing an order for the troop each month starting in October.   New orders will be by due the first meeting of every month, and cards will be available for pick-up at the second meeting of each month.

Thank you for considering participating in Scrip for AHG!

Cindy

AHG Scrip Coordinator
email Cindy

SERVICE PROJECT INFO

LINKS:

***Samaritans Purse***

***Instructions, Box labels & ideas***

***Personalized Letter***

Unit News Page Updates

Leader biographies and some unit newsletters have been posted on the individual unit news pages.  Please click on the unit news page tab at the top of the blog for your daughter's unit for this information.

AHG Joining Award Class

Calling all New AHG Girls!!! Come find out what it means to be an American Heritage Girl!!
The AHG Joining Award Class is for New (and Newer) Girls and their Parent
It will be held only once this year, Sunday, September 30th from 4 pm - 6 pm @ Hope Church

Please RSVP to Michelle Berry mbberry1@msn.com with your daughter's name and the name of the parent attending with her.

**The Joining Award is REQUIRED for all new girls and is only earned ONCE!  Come join other AHG Girls and work together to earn this badge!**

If you joined after September 2011 and have not earned this badge, please plan to attend!!

Instructions for making "Little (pillowcase) Dresses"

Thanks to Lydia B :), here is a link to go to for viewing/printing out the Little Dresses instructions for the upcoming National Day of Service project.  Don't forget, this is a good day to bring a friend and introduce her to AHG!

NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE***only 2 weeks away!

American Heritage Girls’

National Day of Service

AHG Troop OH3124

When:

Saturday, Sept. 15^th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Where:

Higher Grounds Room of Hope Church

4934 Western Row, Mason OH 45040

Who:

AHG girls, their moms & their friends!

What to bring :

• A washed pillowcase (new* or used) *Melody S. has purchased 18-300count Nautica brand pillow cases on clearance from Bed Bath & Beyond.  As cheap as $3.5  for standard size and $4 for king size.  contact her at melodyahg@centurylink.net to reserve one for you.

• thread

• 5 ft grosgrain ribbon 3/8” wide

• ½” wide double-fold bias tape, 3 yds

• ruffles, rick-rack, lace or iron-on appliqués are optional.

What We’re Doing:

Making pillowcase dresses to share

God’s love with girls in Africa & around the world!

Questions?:

Contact Lydia at ldbrashear@gmail.com

How to sign up:

At the Helper Sign Up link below. ***If you are willing to bring in your sewing machine, please note that when you sign up.***

http://www.helpersignup.com/viewsheet.php?type=2&sheet=c8ac979a9bb1c8e69fe7bda8ec86bac3

printable information flyer

NOTE FROM CYNTHIA

Hello Families,

Well, we are almost ready to start our new program year.  We are all excited!  A couple of items:

1.       The date for early registration has passed.  However, we still have families that haven’t registered.  We will be contacting these families so that we can get you registered.  Please don’t forget to register.

2.       A BIG PRAISE!  Many of you know that the Kroger fundraising program changed – drastically last spring.  We were very concerned that our funding would drop.  Well, worry no more!  Today I got a check for just over $221!  This is with only a handful of families participating.  It is critical that EVERY family in the troop join this program.  You just have to go to Kroger.com website and follow the directions previously posted on how to register your card.  Our troop gets credit for up to $300 in purchases in a three month period.

Thank you all for your support of this troop.  It is a blessing to serve you.

Cynthia Tann

Fundraiser Opportunity

Greetings Families!

Please note that the primary work in this fundraiser is only for girls in grades 5 and up due to the difficulty of the work.  There is a risk of being burned. Younger girls can help in the promoting and selling of the popcorn to the public, but not in making the popcorn.

As a troop, we have been looking to find really good quality fundraising opportunities that best benefits all involved.  Well, I have finally stumbled across one!  Jim Mullaney is the owner of Amazing Grace Popcorn out of Fairfield, OH.  Amazing Grace is a not for profit company that exists solely to support other non profit organizations.  He and I have talked long about how his company can benefit our troop.

Here is how it works.  You look at his calendar found here http://www.christianministrycampus.org/events2012.html and identify dates and times to work.  Then contact Jim at jim@edocservice.com to let him know when you can work.  For the shift that you sign up for, you show up and help make and sell kettle corn on site to the public.  He later figures the profits and a percentage of the profits will be sent to the troop.  Those who work will split 90% of the check and the remaining 10% goes to the troop for our fundraising.

This is not a drop off and often only two people are needed to make the popcorn.  But the younger girls can help by giving out samples to the public and looking adorable to get people to buy the popcorn while the older girls and adults make the popcorn.

Last winter, Kiersten Jung and I took a couple of our kids and went down to the Creation Museum.  We made and sold the popcorn on site.  The profit to the troop from that evening was $150!

The only thing that we ask is if you sign up for a shift, you are responsible for showing up or finding a replacement.  We simply can’t leave Jim hanging with no help.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Blessings,

Cynthia

Coordinator

Policy Manual Update and Posted

Dear Parents,

We realize that our policy manual is long and can be cumbersome to read, especially if you have read it before!  So, the updated policy manual is ready for you to download and read.  We are trusting every family to read it if you have not previously done this.

For those who have, here are the primary changes in effect for program year 2012-13:

1.        Troop Structure:  Officially we have a minimum of five board positions instead of previous years with only three required.  These include:  Coordinator, Vice Coordinator, Charter Representative, Troop Shepherd, and Treasurer.  We will continue with a Secretary, fundraising manager, and level representatives.

2.       Badges:  The dues will cover for up to 4 badges per girl.  There are no refunds if your daughter earns any less.  These will be divided into ONE badge in the fall, ONE badge in the winter, and TWO in the spring.

3.       Dues:  $90 if paid by August 27 and submitted with all paperwork completed (You have received this information in the mail.  If not, let me know immediately)

4.       Transportation:  In order to transport girls for AHG, you must be a registered adult with a background check and have completed BSA Youth Protection training.  You will also need to submit the driver information sheet that was included in your registration packet.

5.       In your registration packet was a family commitment sheet.  Please make sure that what you sign up for is from the list of immediate troop needs!  It is nice to sign up to help with a specific badge, and we encourage this.  However, these are urgent positions that must be filled for our troop to run smoothly.

We are really excited for the upcoming program year!  We hope that your girls are equally excited.  Thank you for the privilege of training and equipping them.

Blessings,

Cynthia & Karen