February 2009 Archives

Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama invites all high school age Girl Scouts to their Young Women's Leadership Summit.  The event is April 17 - 18 at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana.

Check-in at 6 p.m. Friday and check out at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Join GSNCA for a weekend of fun and leadership!

Workshops begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The cost is $50 per girl including lodging, food, BPW/GS Leadership Patch and more.

Saturday sessions include:

Standing Out in a Crowd, Leadership 101 and It's All About You

Friday night activities include:

Putt-putt golf, volleyball or just hanging out!

Mail, fax or e-mail the Registration Form to the Huntsville Service Center:

Marie Gill, 1515 Sparkman Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816

Fax: 256-882-1750

E-mail: mgill@girlscoutsnca.org

For more information, contact Debbie LeBron at dlebron@girlscoutsnca.org or 800-447-5755.

9^th -12^th grade Girl Scouts are invited to "Rap on Relationships" March 13 6-8 in the Davidson High School Lecture Room. Teens from the Youth Congress of South Alabama along with Lifeline Family Counseling  will lead the program.

Don't miss this opportunity to get some ANSWERS!

Youth Forum 2009: Rap on Relationships

Davidson High School Lecture Room

March 13, 2009; 6 - 8 pm

9^th  - 12^th grade students

Group discussions with Lifelines Family Counseling

Music, Fun, Door Prizes, Free Food & Drinks

Drawing for FREE tickets to Kappa League Step Show

Register by March 11:

Email program@communityendowment.com with your name, grade and school name; or go to http://www.communityendowment.org/news/EventRegistration.htm

Questions? Call The Community Foundation of South Alabama 438-5591.

Women of Distinction honorees for 2009 have been chosen!  These women are leaders in their fields who have been chosen by their peers as Champions of Change.  These women lead the charge to advocate the importance of being role models, volunteerism and financial commitment in their community.

This year's Honorees will be recognized at the 14th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Gala in Montgomery on March 10.  Proceeds from this event supports our many outreach efforts, including Head Start facilities, Public Housing Communities and in schools throughout our 30-county service area. 

Read more about the Gala and see the list of 2009 Honorees on our Special Events page.

There's something for everyone at the Thin Mint Sprint on February 28!  Even if you don't run (and we hope that you do!), there will be the family fun festival with booth after booth of healthy living. This is the ultimate event to show your Girl Scouts a healthy living lifestyle.   Need more enticement?  We think you won't want to miss:

• Dr. Kerr from the Creating Wellness Center to do scoliosis screenings, blood pressure checks, lung capacity and strength and... Massage therapists!
• Blood Glucose testing
• Crimestoppers with McGruff, everyone's favorite crime dog
• Mobile Fire Department's Antique Fire Truck
• Spacewalks
• Slide
• Popcorn
• Sno-Cones
• Obstacle Course
• Canvas football and basketball
• Rescue hero
• Temporary tattoos
• Face painting
• Sun catchers
• Spinal screenings  by Dr. Phetsinorath
• Girl Scout retail shop items for sale
• Dentists Dr. Baldi and Dr. Cowles
• Victory Health Partners
• Orthodontist Dr. Keith Harvey's office
• Avon foot massages

Mmmm...foot massage...must get a foot massage...I'll see you in Langan Park at the Family Fun Fair!

Summer Resident Camp at Scoutshire Woods or Kamp Kiwanis is the ultimate Girl Scout experience.  The girls learn new skills, forge new friendships, and gain confidence in themselves while having a great time in the outdoors!  Now is the time to plan for your girls to attend -- some sessions fill up quickly.  All the information you need is on our Camps and Property page. 

Remember, girls selling 600+ boxes of cookies can receive $175 towards a camp session AND register early.  Be sure to remind your troop parents of this great opportunity to get a huge discount on Resident Camp!

One of the ways we celebrate Girl Scout Week (March 8-14 this year) is to offer our appreciation to the many of you in our communities who've given your time, talent and financial donations so that we may continue with the Girl Scout legacy of service to others. 

During this special week, we hope your religious organization chooses to celebrate Girl Scout Week by including this year's bulletin insert during Girl Scout Week. We have inserts for bulletins (5.5 by 8.5 inches) that are free of charge.  We have several thousand and will give them out until they are gone.  Ask your church or synagogue to place these inserts in their bulletins during Girl Scout Week, and let us know how many you need by filling out this form.  Don't hesitate if you need 500 or more inserts! 

Every year, a local Girl Scout designs the artwork for the insert.  The back of the insert has the Girl Scout promise, the Girl Scout law, and the address and web site of the council.  Click here to see the full size 2009 insert.

Some religious organizations also choose to let the Girl Scout troops attend services in uniform and take part in the service by taking up the offering or presenting the colors.  Make it a special day and help continue to make Girl Scouting relevant for the next 97 years and beyond!

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEM) want to thank us for voting in support of GSEM through Virgin America's "Revolution Takes Flight" contest!! (Here's the initial entry in our blog.)

 While the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts did not take the grand ($25k) prize, the Virgin America folks were so impressed with their runner's up take of almost 3,000 votes of support that Sir Richard Branson invited the girls to join him at a reception in Boston!  The girls were thrilled with the opportunity ( being Girl Scouts they weren't shy about selling cookies either!), Sir Richard was quite a character, and Virgin America was very generous in gifting GSEM with flight vouchers for an upcoming silent auction to be held during Cookie Creations on March 12th!

It's amazing what Girl Scouts can accomplish when they work together!

Does anyone else remember Mr. Green Jeans? You know, on Captain Kangaroo...hello, anyone? Well, his time has finally come! Dalton Stack's Eagle Scout project is collecting denim and using it for insulation in Dothan Habitat for Humanity homes. It's a green project that recycles jeans -- we can all be Mr. Green Jeans!

The jeans/denim will be recycled into insulation for a Wiregrass Habitat of Humanity family home. The insulation is also environmentally safe since it is made from cotton, and the denim will not fill our landfills. The collection goal is 10,000 pairs of jeans or equivalent denim.

A processing plant will receive the denim and break it down to its high quality of natural fibers; removing all metal: zippers, snaps and buttons. The recycled denim insulation doesn't itch and it's safe to handle without the need for protective clothing.

Collection Dates: February 28th, 2009 - April 4th, 2009

Collection sites are throughout Dothan and Ozark. A listing can be found at www.donatejeans.com.  What a great Eagle Scout Project! Good Luck Dalton!

The TOGA Cafe at the Volunteer Center in Mobile will be held on April 24 (6-8 p.m.).  The program will be given by Regions Bank on Financial Literacy. Some of the requirements for the Dollars and  Sense IP will be covered in this session. This is for 6^th-12^th grade girls. The fee is $3 and the registration deadline (by phone or email) is April 17. The minimum number is 10 and the maximum is 30 for this program. For more information, or to register contact Mary Anne Brutkiewicz at 251.344.3330, ext: 1202 or e-mail mbrutkiewicz@girlscoutssa.org.

If you've ever seen the Harlem Globetrotters, you know they put on quite a show of synchronized basketball.  They incorporate a message of healthy lifestyles while they dazzle their audience with incredible tricks basketball shots.  They've been doing this for decades, and it's one of the best shows around. Take your girls for a great time!

The Harlem Globetrotters will perform at the Trojan Arena of Troy University on Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m. Scouts are also invited to a pre-game session of the Globetrotter University, which promotes healthy lifestyles. Doors open at 5 and the event begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets and patch are $13 per person and the deadline for orders is March 2.  Download the TroyScouts.pdf.

We would like to invite you to join CARE, and more than 120,000 people gathering in 450 theaters across the United States, to celebrate International Women's Day 2009. On the evening of March 5, CARE is hosting an unprecedented one-night event featuring "A Powerful Noise", an acclaimed documentary that follows three extraordinary women in three different areas of the world who are working to achieve victories over poverty. The film is screening at theatres throughout Alabama, including Huntsville, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, and Gulf Shores.

Immediately following the film, a town hall discussion will be broadcast live from New York to each of the participating theaters, with celebrity activists and experts discussing how we all can play a role in empowering women and girls around the world to fight global poverty. 

Girl Scout Councils and troops can make A POWERFUL NOISE Live their own International Women's Day program for 2009. Simply have your members attend the event together at your local participating theatre, and then hold a meeting afterwards to discuss the issues presented in the film. You may download a step-by-step planning guide with more ideas for how local youth groups can participate in this exciting event at http://www.apowerfulnoise.org/guides.html .

I wanted to follow up on the emails that you have already received from the Girl Scouts Global Action Manager inviting you to participate in this event, to let you know that I can be a local resource to help you get involved. If you need help planning for the event, or if you would like informational materials or a CARE speaker for a follow-up meeting, please just contact me at hrobin@care.org.

We will also send an "I Am Powerful" t-shirt to the first 50 Girl Scouts that e-mail groups@care.org with their creative ideas for how they will get their troop and community involved (please include your troop name, the number of members in your troop, and a mailing address in your message).

Thank you again for your support, and see you at the movies!

**Visit www.apowerfulnoise.org to learn more about the event, watch the film trailer, or for participating theaters and ticket information.**

 

GSUSA announced today a new online safety campaign with Microsoft.  The name of this initiative is LMK (text-speak for "let me know"), and the program is designed to build girls as leaders in promoting online safety.  The web site is http://lmk.girlscouts.org.

What is LMK?

LMK ("let me know") is an online safety campaign created in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft. The campaign includes an interactive Web site for girls, as well as an e-newsletter and Web site for adults. Each month, an all-girl editorial board explores a different internet safety topic online and then shares what they learned in the e-newsletter, which is distributed to adults the following month.

What can girls expect to find on the girls' Web site?

Girls can anticipate learning more about internet safety through a fun and interactive Web site which includes forums, video features, articles, quizzes, polls, games and a question & answer column from internet safety expert, Parry Aftab.  There is also a "digital patch", Girl Scouts' first ever!

What about the adult components of the campaign?

The e-newsletter and adult site are designed to provide parents with timely guidance and also serve as a tool to help families have open and honest conversations about the dangers that lurk in cyberspace. 

Why is LMK important?

With the escalating popularity, increasing access to the internet and online technologies, it is important for teens and parents to be aware of the dangers that exist in cyberspace. The LMK ("let me know") campaign not only creates a space for internet safety experts and teen peer advisors, it also provides guidance about topics like cyberbullying and online sexual predators. The adult components of the campaign help teens to bridge the digital generation gap between themselves and their parents.

 

What is LMK teaching my kid that she doesn't already know?

While many young people are aware of the issues of cyberbullying and online predators, not many people know how to keep themselves safe. The LMK campaign shows teenagers how to stay safe online by:

·         Surprising girls with what they can learn about online safety;

·         Inspiring girls to pass their learning on to their friends;

·         Including their parents in a dialogue about online safety;

·         Empowering girls to become thought leaders who advocate safe and responsible use of technology.

Why is the Girl Scouts partnering with Microsoft?

Girl Scouts of the USA is committed to helping today's girls become tomorrow's leaders. Thanks to the support of Microsoft, we are able to create a unique online learning experience for girls, which furthers our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. 

 

We are implementing an exciting new recognition for our hard working troop leaders!  We appreciate how much effort it takes to lead a top cookie selling team, and we want to reward your efforts.  Now, you can have a keepsake from the cookie sale, and somewhere to store your cookies!

 Six Girl Scout Cookie Jars will be given to the leaders of our top selling troops:

Two  Cookie Jars to the top selling troops with 10 or fewer Girl Scouts

Two  Cookie Jars to the top selling troops with 11 to 25 Girl Scouts

Two  Cookie Jars to the top selling troops with 26 or more Girl Scouts

I can't wait to put my favorite Girl Scout cookies (this year, it's Lemon Chalet!) in one of these!

Here's the scenario:  your girls are making lots of cookie profits and want to use the money to take a trip.  They brainstorm exciting activities and destinations and turn their shining, eager faces to you for approval. 
What's your next step?  Our Volunteer Services Liason, Cheryl Miller, is happy to answer this frequently asked question. "Safety-Wise, our manual that defines safety guidelines for almost every situation, is our best reference.  It outlines, step by step, what you should do to prepare for almost any trip or activity, including when you need to contact the council or your service area for approval.  Chapter 7 outlines the steps for activities that are not covered by other chapters (like camping, land-based activities, and water activities).  There is even a helpful list on page 80 that outlines activities that are not approved -- sorry, bungee jumping is out!" 
Safety-Wise takes the guessing out of activities planning. It's a great resource! Other resources can be found on our Forms page, including: 

Form for getting written authorization:  overnight trip/camping form... http://www.girlscoutssa.org/forms/Program/Overnight_Trip-Camping_Application.pdf

Additional Insurance form http://www.girlscoutssa.org/forms/Program/addtl_insurance.pdf

 

What: G.E.M.M. - Girls Empowered to Make Movies is a destination where Girl Scouts ages 14-17 spend 10 days in beautiful San Diego, California working with professional filmmakers to hone their skills in writing, directing, editing, acting, cinematography, and production.  All aspects of the filmmaking process will be covered as they work in small crews to make movies.  Everyone will get the opportunity to fulfill each of the basic crew positions as well as write, direct, and edit a short film of up to five minutes. Twenty-four girls from around the country will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of a major motion picture studio plus other great surprises! 

When: July 10-19, 2009

For more information:

Visit http://www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations/event_details.asp?eventid=393

for a complete description of the event, costs, and application procedures or contact Rea de la Cruz, rdelacruz@girlscoutssdi.org or (619) 610-0739.

Submit applications to Mary Anne Brutkiewicz by February 27 at mbrutkiewicz@girlscoutssa.org.

There are still great destinations available for 2009. The destinations that are not marked FULL on the National Girl Scouts website are accepting late applications. The "late" application deadline is February 16.  Please share these travel opportunities with your girls.

Here's the link to the destinations website:

http://www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations/event_list.asp?catid=0

 Destinations timeline:

 Feb. 16             "Late" applications received by event sponsors

 Mar. 2              All additional applicants notified of their status

 March 16         All "late" applicants' deposit due to event sponsors

                        (Please note that there might be some destinations that

                        will extend the deadline if the event is not FULL)

Many of the destinations will be accepting applications after the Feb. 16 date depending on if their event is FULL or not. The destinations website will be updated to reflect the changes. Please share these destination opportunities with your girls. We have some destinations that were advertised late such as Wyoming's Wildlife Wonders and G.E.M.M. that have their own deadlines for receiving applications.

There are many veterans who are hospitalized, and they are of all ages. Some do not have families, and getting a card from a Girl Scout Troop would mean so much! Cards for any holiday are welcome. The link below provides guidelines and dates.

This is an inexpensive yet very meaningful craft that any age level can do and provides comfort, support and appreciation for the men and women who have served our country. Here's the link:

VeteransCards.doc

If you are thinking about signing up for the Thin Mint Sprint, please note that the price in Connections is wrong.  Connections is printed while some events are still in the planning stages, so there can be the occasional discrepancy.  The correction information is on our web site and at the sign up web site,  www.active.com.  See you there!

Join us for the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama Annual Meeting.  The meeting will be on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at Whitfield United Methodist Church, 2673 Fisk Road, Montgomery.  Registration will begin at 10 a.m., and the meeting should conclude by 2 p.m.  The cost to attend the meeting is $15, and lunch will be included.  In addition to the business meeting, there will be time set aside for volunteer forums, so that you can connect with other volunteers to discuss important topics relating to Girl Scouting. 

There will also be a Girl Scout Silver and Gold Award workshop held separately from the annual meeting.  The workshop will be from 1 - 2 p.m.  If girls are registered for the annual meeting, it's included in the price.  To attend only the workshop the fee is $2 for materials.   

To register for the annual meeting or the girl award workshop, send the Event Registration form to the Montgomery Service Center or ndavis@girlscoutssa.org by March 27.

Every year our council participates in the Goodwill/Easter Seals Clothing Drive to encourage our girls to gift other families with lightly-used clothing.  It's a very successful program, and one that helps our girls to reach out to our communities.

This year, we have an exciting addition to the program!  The Goodwill in several of our counties has offered a $250 scholarship toward summer resident camp to the girl scout who donates the most 33 gallon bags of clothing in one of those participating counties. (We truly wish the camp scholarship opportunity was available to all the girl scouts in our council; the Goodwill organizations in the remaining counties have not yet chosen to participate.)

We are grateful to Goodwill/Easter Seals for sponsoring this camp scholarship!  If any of our leaders works with a local Goodwill, please be sure to thank them (or to encourage them to participate).

For more information on the Clothing Drive, see the entry for March 1 in our Calendar of Events.

The Girls Going Places^® Entrepreneurship Award Program is Guardian's annual initiative designed to reward the enterprising spirits of girls ages 12 to 18. Guardian awards prizes to 15 girls who demonstrate budding entrepreneurship; are taking the first steps toward financial independence; and make a difference in their schools and communities. Prizes totaling $30,000 are granted to three top winners and 12 finalists each year, to further their entrepreneurial pursuits or save for college. The deadline for entry for the 2009 award is February 27, 2009. Good Luck! For more information or to apply to the 2009 Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Award, please visit www.GirlsGoingPlaces.com

Job Description: Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama seeks individuals to deliver a prepared financial literacy program to girls at Headland, Newville, and Abbeville Middle schools during the school day in a classroom setting. The program will begin in March and end in May.  Training will be provided.

Requirements:  Good presentation and communication skills and the candidate must have own transportation
Contact:  Angela Fedor afedor@girlscoutssa.org, 251-344-3330 x 1803
Resumes can be faxed to 251-344-4181 or emailed to afedor@girlscoutssa.org

You know what makes me feel POWERFUL? Knowing how to do things!  And what could be more powerful than learning about maintaining your car!  Hear Me ROAR!  Okay, so I'm getting a little carried away...but still...here's a great opportunity for your girls (and you) to learn now to take care of your faithful family servant, the car!  

Advanced Transmission in Spanish Fort (www.advanced-transmission.com ).  is offering a car care clinic to  Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts April 25 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Girls will work on skill builders and some of the other requirements for the Car Sense IP. Lunch will be served. Moms can attend a Ladies Car Care Clinic as time permits.  Two cars will be needed for the girls to change oil filters and other fluids. Please indicate on the event registration form what kind of car you have, if interested.  Please send the event registration form and $3 fee to the Mobile Service Center by April 8. Hurry -space is limited to first 25 registrants. 
When: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., April 25
Registration Deadline: April 8 or first 25 participants
Cost: $3 per participant
Contact: Mary Anne Brutkiewicz at mbrutkiewicz@girlscoutssa.org or 251.344.3330 ext: 1202

 

Space is still available!  Call Mary Anne in the Mobile Service Center 800-239-6636, ext: 1202, by April 23 to register.

The Hawaii Adventure destinations event has spaces available!

Hawaii Adventure

Camping, Kayaking, and Snorkeling on the Big Island

This adventure is designed to highlight one of the most naturally beautiful regions in the country, allowing a diverse, up-close and personal Hawaiian experience.

Now is your chance to visit beautiful Hawaii. You and thirteen other adventurers will learn about hydrology, hike to waterfalls, visit a local school, swim, snorkel and explore underwater ecosystems. Discover geology, volcanology and ecosystem ecology, walk through a lava tube and view flowing lava, and much more. Don't miss out on this opportunity!
Stay in comfortable lodges and enjoy tent camping on this program.

Applications must be received by Feb. 13, 2009 to Mary Anne Brutkiewicz at mbrutkiewicz@girlscoutssa.org.  

Get more info and download the application at http://www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations/event_details.asp?eventid=463

Come join the Auburn Gymnastics Team as they compete with Ohio State on Friday, March 13 at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The event begins at 7 pm, and is FREE to Girl Scouts!.

Register using the event registration form to request tickets by February 20 and you will be mailed free tickets for your troop. Send the completed form to the Montgomery Service Center.

Celebrate Black History Month by earning the Amistad patch from Girl Scouts Louisiana East Council.The Amistad became a symbol in the movement to abolish slavery after a group of African captives aboard the ship revolted. This patch can be earned as an individual or as a part of a troop and is appropriate for Juniors through Ambassadors. Find this patch on their home page: www.gsle.org .

And now's the time for us to recognize us!  Every year the council and service units honor outstanding volunteers who are nominated by their peers.  Here are the updated guidelines that explain the recognitions and their criteria. The nomination forms are available on our web site Forms and Resources page under Adult Recognitions.

Deadlines: The awards that are presented at the annual council meeting are due on or before the last Friday in February, and the service unit level awards are due the last Friday in March.

UPDATE! The volunteer recognitions deadline is extended until April 10. 

We're getting ready to Fun Run (or 5k, if you prefer) at the Thin Mint Sprint on February 28!

Please use this special Thin Mint Sprint registration form and make sure your girls sign the form with their parents (instead of using the standard Event Registration form).  Or!  Be Green and register our girls, ourselves, and our friends online at

www.active.com

Sign up and we'll see you there -- and we'll all have a great time having fun and getting fit!

A "trip" is when your troop/girls go anywhere beyond your normal meeting place.  If you are planning a trip with your troop, please remember that troop leaders must complete the Venturing Out training that is available online.  (http://girlscoutssa.org/training-misc/VO.pdf)

  

Always follow the Safety Wise rules for the trip/activity and make sure you have Permission Forms, Girl and Adult Health Forms, emergency contact info, a list of your registered and approved adult volunteers/chaperones and/or drivers, a map for every driver, etc. (see pg.54 and the index of Safety-Wise.)

 

Who needs to be registered and who needs to be approved?

See page four of the Leader Notebook  (http://girlscoutssa.org/forms/Adult_Volunteer/LNB.pdf)

 

Camping Adventures Overnight (Auburn), previously scheduled for Mar. 7-8, is rescheduled to Mar. 21-22.

This event is for adult volunteers with little or no outdoor camping experience, who want to learn all about troop camping basics in a low-key and fun environment.  Participants are welcome to bring their daughters (additional fee and min. age apply.)

Contact Cheryl Miller, cmiller@girlscoutssa.org   or  334.312.0433, to obtain the pre-requisite home study quiz (Preparing for Troop Camp/First Outings).

 

Virgin Atlantic is holding a contest for Boston based nonprofits - the winner (most votes by Friday February 6th) wins $25,000 for their organization!  And you all know so well how much that money can help with with programs, camps, and financial assistance to girls right now.

All you have to do to help is:

(1)  Go to www.revolutiontakesflight.com <http://www.revolutiontakesflight.com/>

(2)  Click on "register" and create a login

(3)  Once registered, click on "Non-Profit Causes" and then "Popular"
(currently GSEM is in 2nd place, and we need your vote to ensure a win!)

(4)  Find Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass and click the airplane icon to the left of the entry, casting your vote!

Thanks for helping your sister Girl Scouts!