Early Registration Begins April 1st

Dear Troop Leader,

This year has just flown past. Can you believe that 2013-14 Early Bird Online Membership Renewal will begin April 1 and end June 28? Now is a great time to make sure that all your girls are registered - before asking them to renew for the next fun-filled year of Girl Scouts.

Please take time to read the information below. More details about Early Bird Membership Renewal will be sent to you next month. Please direct your online registration questions and encourage your parents with questions that you cannot answer to contact: eBizHelpDesk@GirlScoutsNorCal.org. Online Troop Management HubPlease keep your troop and member information current using the online registration Troop Hub. Our 6-minute video about how to check your troop hub is at www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/usetroophubCheck and update, if needed, your Troop Grade Level InformationCheck and update your Troop members' information. Click on each member's link to:Correct email addresses, which are needed to send parents reminders about membership renewal, etc.Enter missing racial/ethnic information, multi-racial is an optionIf you need to change a name, school or grade, please use www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/troopchangeform Important 2013-14 Early Bird Online Renewal Dates:March 8: Deadline to submit all 2012-13 forms to a local office in order to renew online at launchMarch 24: Deadline for 2012-13 eBiz registrations in order to renew online at launchApril 1: 2013-14 Early Bird Online Renewal campaign begins with email blastJune 28: 2013-14 Early Bird Renewal deadline Troop Leader Email PolicySome Troop Leaders opted-out of receiving emails from Girl Scouts of Northern California when registering for 2013. Our valued Girl Scout troop leaders, like you, have volunteered to make the Girl Scout experience the best that it can be for our girls. So it is crucial that you are informed about Girl Scout policies and developments. Girl Scouts of Northern California now requires that troop leaders to provide a valid email address because the majority of our council communication occurs electronically. It is vital that we have the means to effectively and efficiently communicate with our leaders. Effective February 20, 2013, Girl Scouts of Northern California has opted-in all troop leaders so that they receive communications like this one.  Troop Leader Screening for 2013-14Remember, 01 Troop Leaders have access to the troop hub with confidential member information. So, your background screening must be current. If an electronic background check was completed in 2010, that screening will expire at the end of this year, i.e. September 2013. Those who completed screening using fingerprinting will not need to renew their screening clearance.  2013-14 Dues Will IncreaseThe annual membership fee for 2013-14 is $15. I’m sure that you will agree this is still a bargain. Please tell your adult members who may be considering Lifetime membership that it will increase from $300 to $375 on October 1, 2013. The deadline to receive these forms and the ones for girls graduating from high school in 2013 is September 15, 2013. The discounted Lifetime membership that is only available to girls graduating from high school will increase to from $156 to $195 for 2013-14 graduates.  ResourcesOnline Troop Change Form with email confirmation: www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/troopchangeformOnline membership renewal instructions handout www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/renewonlineOnline membership renewal FAQ: www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/onlineregfaqOnline Registration Help: www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/ebizhelpHelp Desk Form, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays: www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/helpdeskAuto reply with tips for frequently asked questions Help Desk Phone, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays:(800) 447-4475 ext. 2093 orYour local GSNorCal office phone, ext. 2093 Computer for member use at local GSNorCal office Thank you again for continuing to support and promote online membership renewal! If you have received this in error, we apologize. Please respond to this email to have your troop position changed from 01-Troop Leader and have your name removed from this list.