Tonight we will be cutting out fleece for Jill to sew mittens. These mittens will be going to Ladysmith, WI, scene of a devastating tornado last fall. Jill, Jamie and Stephanie are organizing a massive food delivery to Ladysmith also.

And, since we are working with fleece tonight, we’ll be working on a project suggested by Keli to make fleece blankets for Turning Point Shelter. She has provided instructions in how to make them and will bring an example for us to look at in case she is unable to attend tonight and show us how to do it.

The Eighth Annual Sports Lock-In is 8:30 pm, Saturday, January 25th until 6:30 am, Sunday the 26th and will take place again at Knowles Center. Information brochures are attached for those who are signed up (Keli, Annie, Brittany, Stephanie, Jill and Jamie). Also, the required UWRF Release forms for the wall are included for those who will be participating in that (Keli, Brittany, Stephanie, Jill and Jamie).

Rachel needs this form in hand at the Lock-In for you to climb, so either mail it or be sure to bring it along Saturday night. The cost for the Lock-In this year is $14 and the Wall is an extra $3. Please make your check out to Troop 1577 for either $14 or $17, as the registration was sent in in December and paid for out of the Troop account. You will find a “tear-off” form for this payment attached to this newsletter.

Gayle will be handing out Cookie Sale packets at tonight’s meeting. This is our main money maker of the year, so SELL COOKIES! Gayle is going to set up Booth Sales also, and will be looking for volunteers. Cookie order taking starts Saturday, January 18th. Remember, all girls and adults are on their honor to wait until this date to start selling. Order taking ends Sunday, February 2nd. Our order cards are due at our February 4th meeting. The cookies will come in at the end of February.

The River Falls Girl Scout Talent Show is scheduled for Thursday, February 20th at 6:30 pm in the MMS auditorium. We will decide at tonight’s meeting if we will be participating.

There is a Cadette/Senior Interest Project called A World of Understanding (page 108 in the badge book). The introduction states, “Throughout the world, you will find a multitude of cultures, languages, foods, architectural styles, behaviors, and values. The result of all these differences is a fascinating but often conflict-filled world. Working on the interest project will help you gain an understanding and appreciation of your own and other people’s cultures—the first step in creating a world of understanding.”

One of the activities suggests finding out about a religion that differs from your own. Gayle is arranging a speaker of the Buddhist faith for our February 4th meeting. Don’t miss it!

In November we deposited $139 for our garage sale minus from that $10 to the Service Unit for the table and $15 from our account for our cash box. In December, $99 was spent for Lock-In registrations, but this will be paid back from participants, bringing our current balance to $805.