Communication, Rallyhood, Camping & Traveling

[Karen Metallo]

Good Evening,

Seems like fall is upon us finally and with that we've restarted troop activities.  Even more than before, Vanessa and I are working with the girls to be responsible for their participation with the troop.  We reinforce the use of Rallyhood for information in addition to using texting to remind them.  After all, they are still just budding teenagers and it's a learning process.  I wanted to ask everyone to continue to do what you are doing....reminding your daughters to look at Rallyhood and responding when necessary.  It's been a little spotty. 

This year we've been working on getting the girls to let us know when they'll be missing a meeting.  If you can look through the calendar and remind your daughters when their schedule will have them missing a meeting that they should let us know.  Last weekend we waited around for almost 30 minutes for girls who weren't attending.  In addition, not knowing that 5 girls were not coming, I prepared materials for 9.  As they get older, I can appreciate that schedules are busy and not everyone can come to all the meetings.  I don't expect everyone to be there, but it would be nice to know who is not going to be there so I can plan appropriately.  Our schedule is busy, too, and it's just helpful to know how much to buy or copies to make, etc.

Coming up next weekend is an overnight camping trip.  We will be working on the Trailblazing badge which introduces the girls to backpacking.  I posted on Rallyhood a note about dinner and the need for each girl to bring their own dinner.  (This was decided upon by the girls).  I also recently posted that I have the backpacks for the girls who needed one rented for them.  They will be at my house after 8pm tonight so please let me know what is the best way for us to get them to you.  The girls should be packing for the Saturday night overnighter in the backpack.  I'll post a list Sunday or Monday, but want to make sure that families knew about the need to purchase and bring a backpacking dinner and that the packs were here.  I have packs for: Alex, Anika, Gabby, Alissa, Ciera and Victoria.  If your daughter is not going to be able to attend, can you please make sure they let us know?  I asked for that on Rallyhood, but really need to have that information early in the week so I can plan food, supplies and paperwork.

One last item....the girls at the last meeting had a discussion and came to a conclusion about a traveling option.  The next step is for us to have a parents meeting to discuss the details.  We've talked over the past year or so about a number of options, but the girls are wanting to focus on an international trip.  I have information to share and we'll need to come up with a decision.  Our conversations with the girls did not include cost information.  We wanted the focus to be on what they were interested in.  I'd like to go over the information with you all on Sunday, November 12th during the troop meeting time.  Please plan to come and stay for the meeting.  This is the itinerary that the girls were interested in:  https://girltrips.eftours.com/eliterature/dbd/n/cosj.pdf

Sorry for the long email and repetition of items on Rallyhood.

Karen