March 2009 Archives

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama has two openings for unpaid Public Relations internships in Mobile and Montgomery. 

 

Description:

A people person, outgoing, computer savvy, good writing skills needed for youth-oriented projects. We are looking for someone with web development skills (not required, but helpful), and interest in the Interactive Media industry. We also need expert web surfers, who know the top blogs, top viral humor (videos and pictures) websites, or other similar sites that would appeal to teen and college-age audience, and be interested in development of appealing interactive media for our organization.  Interested candidates should send resumes to Molly Smart at msmart@girlscoutssa.org.

New for this year, dues are being increased to allow Girl Scouts to keep providing quality programming for girls.

·         Girl Scouts of the USA has increased girl and adult annual membership dues to $12.

·         Lifetime membership has been increased to $300.

·         Graduating Ambassador Girl Scout lifetime membership is $156 if purchased before 2008-2009 membership expires.

 

Background: Membership dues annually provide the single largest source of revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA.  The last increase in membership dues approved by the National Council went into effect in October 2003 and raised the dues to the current $10 level. Over the past 40 years, the National Council has approved dues increases approximately every six years.

Spend all day at Wild Adventures, Saturday, April 25, with Girl Scouts of all ages! All Girl Scouts will have a great day filled with fun, friends and fellowship. Learn about all your favorite animals as you discover hundreds of creatures from around the world. Take a walk through the swamp and meet the fearsome gators, black bears, playful primates, colorful birds and other interesting critters. Then travel half-way around the world to take a Safari Train ride, an adventure that will bring you face to face with a giraffe, elephants, zebras, wildebeest and more! Special shows just for the Girl Scouts are designed to bring the animals up close and personal to you.

Cost is $20 per person (if booked before March 31) and includes the special shows and event patch! On April 1, the price increases to $25 per person. You may also be eligible for additional bonuses including 1 comp ticket per 15 purchased. See order form for details.

Troop leaders should call the Group Sales department at 1-800-808-0872 and make a reservation today or download a 2009 Girl Scout Day Order Form. 

Service Unit 826 invites your troop to a Safari and Swamp Tour day trip to Louisiana from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, May 23. All age Girl Scouts are invited!  The group will take a chartered bus from the Mobile Volunteer Center to the Global  Wildlife Park in Folsom, LA for a covered wagon safari ride. After a picnic lunch, girls will tour a swamp through Honey Island Swamp Tours and see alligators in their natural habitat. Then, stop for dinner and shopping at the Gulfport Outlets. Cost is $60 per girl and $75 per adult and includes bus, admissions and dinner. Bring sack lunch and drinks. Registration deadline April 19 and space is limited.  Contact Colleen DeVoe at 251.342.2722 for more information or to register.

Hello,

 

My name is Kim Shaw.  Many of you may know me as SPORT. 

I have been a Girl Scout for the past 21 years, and one of my favorite places to be is Kamp Kiwanis.  I attended K.K. as a camper from 1992-1998 and was on staff from 1999-2007 as a unit counselor, assistant unit leader, lifeguard, waterfront director and most recently as assistant camp director to former Camp Director Cathy Whigham.  During my time as a camper, I worked tirelessly each year to sell enough cookies to earn a council campership.  As I got older, I not only sold cookies to go to camp, but I babysat to earn money, so that I could go for more than one week!  While attending camp, I completed much of the badge work required to earn my Silver and Gold awards.  I'm sure my counselors got tired of watching me perform certain skills and signing off on them, but they always encouraged me and they are the reason I was able to achieve such goals.

 

For as long as I can remember, Kamp Kiwanis has been a part of my life.  I am SO EXCITED to be able to go back this summer as your camp director.  I want to be able to give to girls what my counselors gave to me.  Ask any former camper, and they will tell you that they are who they are today because of the experiences they had a Kiwanis.  Our goal is to provide fun and safe opportunities for girls to try new outdoor activities like canoeing, swimming, kayaking, paddle-boating, sailing, and riding the banana boat to name a few!  There is so much Kamp Kiwanis has to offer.  This summer, we will be learning to read a map and compass and try our hand at a competition that is known throughout the world as orienteering.  Orienteering requires leadership and team work.  In fact, it is so popular that it is even an Olympic sport!

 

Our staff is committed to making Kamp Kiwanis a place where a girl can find herself away from Mom and Dad, brother and sister;  a place where she is responsible for herself, but is strong in her ability to work with others as a team.  Kamp Kiwanis builds capable, courageous, strong, compassionate leaders.  I can't wait for all the fun to begin! 

 

See you in June!

Sport

"America the Beautiful" takes Girl Scouts on an "I Spy" journey through the Conde Charlotte Museum House in search of designated items of the collection.  After completing the "I Spy" tour, girls learn about the history of our flag and how to show respect for it.  This program was offered by the Colonial Dames in the fall and was such a success, that troops can participate on their own!  Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts are invited to earn a patriotic badge and learn about Mobile's history through the "American I Spy" program at the Conde Charlotte House in Mobile.   Whether it's for after school or the weekend, contact Laura Clark at Hbc1tay@aol.com for additional information or to schedule a program.

In celebration of 100 years of Girl Scouting, we need your help to pass legislation introduced in the 111th Congress that will authorize the U.S. Mint to issue a Girl Scout Commemorative Coin. For this to happen, we need you to contact your Members of Congress to encourage them to pass "The Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act."

Please join the Girls Scouts Advocacy Network and make your voice heard! Click on "Take Action" at www.GirlScouts4girls.org, and you will be led through a few short steps that will generate a letter to your Members of Congress, asking that they support the Girl Scout Commemorative Coin bill. For this bill to pass, we will need 290 House cosponsors and 67 Senate cosponsors. We can reach these numbers, but there is some work to be done! Please take action and invite others to do so as well.

 

If you have any specific questions, please email the Public Policy and Advocacy office at advocacy@girlscouts.org, or call directly at (202) 659-3780.

On March 11, President Obama signed an Executive Order to create the White House Council on Women and Girls to establish a coordinated federal response to issues that particularly impact the lives of women and girls. The Council will ensure that federal programs and policies address the distinctive concerns of women and girls, and reach out to nonprofit organizations and other agencies and officials that can assist with the Council's development.

 

At the signing, President Obama said: "So now it's up to us ... to ensure that our daughters and granddaughters have no limits on their dreams, no obstacles to their achievements -- and that they have opportunities their mothers and grandmothers and great grandmothers never dreamed of.  That's the purpose of this Council."  

Girl Scouts is very excited about the Council and was pleased to be present at the President's announcement; in fact, we are a founding mother. While the proposal to the White House for a council on women came from a group of 40 women's organizations, Girl Scouts of the USA proposed a commission on girls. The Council is a combination of both ideas. It is our expectation to work closely with key players in the Council and the White House. In that spirit, tomorrow we are having a conference call with Valerie Jarrett, Chair of the Council, and the Council's Executive Director.

 
If you have any thoughts about this Council, please contact Laurie A. Westley, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, Advocacy and the Research Institute at LWestley@girlscouts.org.

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama hosted its 14^th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Gala on March 10, 2009 at Arrowhead Country Club.  Over 150 attendees helped celebrate the honorees accomplishments and commitments to their community. 

 Honorees included Elizabeth Braswell, Tamara Cofield, Dr. Susan Diamond, Dee Gambill, Sue Herring Groce, Joy Grodnick, Dora James, Juanita Owes, Nancy Raia, Sarah Spear, Lisa Stephens and Virginia Thompson.  Young Women of Distinction honorees included Barbara B., Maria B., Haley E. and Leah N.  Girl Scout Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Yvonne Lee.

Highlights from the evening included a reception and silent auction before the awards dinner.  Ellen Brooks, board chair and longtime Girl Scout delivered the keynote address.  The mistress of ceremonies was WSFA-12 news anchor Tonya Terry.  The fabulous evening also included a live auction conducted by Auctioneer Johnny Mullins.   

Proceeds from the event support our Girl Leadership Development Program and provide financial assistance for girls who would not normally have the opportunity to participate. 

Special thanks to all our sponsors and volunteers who helped make the night a success!  See our special events page to view all the sponsors and the committee members who put on this wonderful event.

Please Share Your Views On Energy!

Southern Growth appreciated the help last year in holding a forum about the importance of youth engagement.  As they emphasized in last year's Report on the Future of the South, Brave New South, youth are the future of the South.  They don't want to view last year's efforts as a onetime event.  Instead, they hope to continue to engage young people in thinking about and sharing their opinions on issues that are important to the future of their communities - and the South. 

Ask your girls to answer 4 quick questions about their opinions on energy, including bio-energy -- the production of electricity and automotive fuel from plants, trees and waste. The results will be incorporated in plans for addressing the South's energy issues.  To take the survey, click here or go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xgpQOzvuM4KcqA309em_2btQ_3d_3d. Feel free to forward the link to other individuals or organizations with an interest in energy.

Need service hours?  Girl Scouts are invited to help with the Dog River Spring Clean Up 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at Dog River Park in Mobile. Come on foot, by car or by boat. Bring kayaks and canoes. Contact Claire Wilson for more information at clairetwilson@comcast.net.

 

Or, if you're just looking for some entertainment... Dog Paddle 2009 will be held from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at Dog River Park. Bring your kayak or canoe or borrow one there to race (or you can just watch). Categories are: men, women, juniors (under 14), dog and owner, parent and child, and celebrity. Entry fee is $20 adults and $10 children (include T-shirts). There will be music, food and drinks to purchase, and a pet adoption. This is to  benefit Dog River's Clearwater Revival. Contact Ann Gathings for more information or to pre-register: 251-476-7245 or 251-454-2322.

Girl Scouts and their families are invited to a special showing of Bay Shore Ballet's "Coppelia" 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Fairhope Civic Center.  Girls can work on badge requirements while enjoying a beautiful performance.   Girls Scouts are invited to stay after the performance to meet the cast, come on stage to have their picture taken and questions to help with their badges!

Juniors can earn their Theatre Patch,  Brownies can earn their Dancersize Patch and Daisy Troops can come for a morning of enchantment!

 

THE STORY:  A beautiful girl named "Coppelia" sits very still on a balcony reading. Frantz, a boy from the village tries to flirt with her. He is promised to another maiden named Swanhilda who becomes very jealous when she sees Frantz blowing a kiss to the mysterious girl on the balcony. Swanhilda learns that Coppelia is really a mechanical doll who belongs to the mad scientist, Dr Coppelius. She discovers the doll in Dr Coppelius' work shop and decides to impersonate her. This causes chaos, but all is soon forgiven. The story ends in a village celebration with a beautiful wedding!

 

Tickets are $5 and snacks are $1 each.

Download the registration form. 

Mail Ticket Orders To: Lorna Foster, 27054 Bit & Spur Drive, Daphne, Al 36526

For addition information call: 251-472-6129 or e-mail lorna@mchsi.com.

Can girls who are currently in Kindergarten register to attend resident camp?

Resident Camp Sessions are geared to match the current National age-level guidelines (Brownies - grade 2-3, Juniors - grade4-5, etc.).  As stated on the first page of the brochure, the camper should meet "grade-level requirements" and that "grade refers to Fall 2009."

 

In the past, girls in Kindergarten were allowed to attend camp as Brownies because they were moving into the 1^st grade in the Fall and  1^st graders were Brownies.   Now that 1^st graders are officially considered Daisies, that changes the adult girl ratio requirements set forth in Safety-Wise.  Those guidelines were recently revised. (02/09)  The updates that GSUSA sent out, are published on our website in the left column of the Forms & Resources page.

"Girl Scout Daisies who have completed Kindergarten may independently participate in resident camp experiences lasting up to three nights." 

"Girl Scout Daisies who have completed first grade may independently participate in resident camp experiences lasting four or more nights."

 

So, to answer the question......

Yes, girls going into the 1^st  grade in the fall of '09, are welcome to attend

camp during either Troop Camping or Family Camping week or Brownie Sampler at Camp Scoutshire Woods.

 

If you have any additional questions about this, contact Volunteer Liaison Cheryl Miller at 800-239-6636, ext: 2302.   

Our CEO, Liz Brent, received an email from a Girl Scout mom whose husband instructs an Outward Bound Course for Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.  She convinced her husband to take 9 boxes of cookies left over from her troop's booth sale on his next course.  The course participants were in the Mobile Delta, slogging though the swamp in the cold and unceasing rain, and here's the message he sent to his wife:

"Girl Scouts save the day! Forgot to tell you. We were on the verge of hypothermia when we got out of the swamp. I got the kitchen up. Boiled water for tea and...served some cookies. Great for morale."

You have to LOVE the idea of these big, strong veterans fortifying themselves with tea and Girl Scout cookies!

It's amazing where our cookies go to brighten up the day! Leave a comment telling us what you do with your end-of-sale Girl Scout cookies!

The time to register for summer camp is almost here and we want to make sure you have all the information you need to sign up!

 

Questions about the health forms?

There's two forms - the health exam and the health history form.  Within 24 months prior to camp, a physical examination by a licensed physician is required for resident campers. The Health History Form must be completed within two months of camp. Both required health forms will be sent to the camper upon registration, and completed forms must be submitted on or before May 21.  If you have a physical exam form on file with the council from last year and plan to use that form, you must notify the council by May 21. An updated Health History Form will still be required.

Corrections to the camp booklet:

·         Survivors More session is at Camp Scoutshire Woods (not Kamp Kiwanis).

·         The Program Aide and Wrangler in Training last session is June 21 - 26 and June 28 - July 3 (instead of June 21 - 27).

It's that special time of year again!  Time to honor the many accomplishments of our older girls at the Older Girl Recognition Banquet.  This special event will take place at the First United Methodist Church (note: the location has changed!) in Montgomery on March 28 at 4:30 p.m.  We will present many girl awards, have dinner and enjoy a special speaker, Dr. Susan Diamond.  Dr. Diamond, minister at First Christian Church, is a recent Women of Distinction honoree and an engaging speaker who will talk to girls about her leadership journey. Registration ends March 15, so send your registration in today.

The Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory of Corinne Schillings, a 26- year-old woman who lost her life in the Baltimore Water Taxi accident on March 6, 2004. Corinne was a Silver Award Girl Scout and a 1999 graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Corinne received her undergraduate degree in foreign languages, majoring in Italian; she also studied Spanish, French, and Portuguese. She spent two semesters studying in Italy, first in Florence and then Milan. During her study abroad in Florence, Corinne met her future fiancé, Andrew Roccella, who also died in the accident. Corinne believed strongly in higher education for women and in learning about various cultures through language. The foundation will award scholarships and grants to deserving young women who reflect Corinne's aspirations, values, and enthusiasm for life.

 

Scholarship: The foundation will award scholarships to deserving young women who have earned the Girl Scout Gold or Silver Award and who plan to or are currently pursuing a college major or minor in foreign language. This scholarship is renewable.

 

Grant: The foundation will provide airfare for a Silver or Gold Award Girl Scout who plans to study abroad, regardless of her major/minor. It is not necessary to be a scholarship recipient to apply for this one-time grant; nor are scholarship recipients excluded from applying. This grant is not renewable.

 

Application Deadline: May 15

For further information about Corinne, the foundation, or to obtain the downloadable scholarship and grant applications, visit the foundation's Web site at: http://www.cjsfoundation.org or contact by email at: dschillings@cjsfoundation.org or by phone at: 708-957-3684 or 630-886-0507.

Think you might like to become familiar with archery? The Bowhunters of Alabama are offering beginning archery classes at their upcoming tournament on Saturday at the Alabama Nature Center. While this class won't certify you for archery for Girl Scouts, it will provide an interesting introduction to the skills used in Archery. Who knows, you might want to become certified for your next Camporee!

What happens at the end of Cookie Sale?  Signing up for Resident Camp!  And outstanding cookie sellers get to sign up early!

Girls who earned Cookie Camperships (by selling 600+ boxes of cookies) may register  starting March 23.  Camp registrations for all girls (including non-Girl Scouts) will be accepted starting March 30.   More information about all the different camp sessions may be found at the Camp page on our web site.

Registrations for all camp sessions, including girls with camperships, are on a first-come, first-served basis by postmark date at the Montgomery Service Center for Kamp Kiwanis and the Mobile Service Center for Camp Scoutshire Woods.  Walk-ins will not be accepted because camp registrations are processed by mail in order received to give every girl an equal opportunity to register for her first choice camp session. 

Many sessions fill up quickly, so get your registration in the mail on March 23 or 30!

"What started as a way to bring together distinguished women to help build girls of courage, charac­ter and confidence, is now an an­nual celebration of those who in­spire others to make the world a better place..."

Read the article from the Montgomery Advertiser about the Women of Distinction Gala being held tonight in Montgomery!

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama joins Girl Scouts around the nation to make the world a better place and celebrate Girl Scout Week, March 8-14.  The week honors the 97^th anniversary of Girl Scouting in the United States, which falls on March 12.

 What's New

 Girl Scouts proudly presents the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, a curriculum that fosters specific leadership qualities such as self-esteem, positive values, critical thinking, community spirit, and the ability to educate and inspire.  The Girl Scout Leadership Experience takes girls beyond single-interest badges into a series of themed activities based on the understanding that a true leader needs to do three things: discover herself and her values, connect to care about, inspire, and team with others, and take action to make the world a better place.  For example,  Girl Scout Juniors in fourth and fifth grades can now pursue single-interest badges on topics from computers to wildlife to field sports, or take a longer journey to become an "agent of change," earning three badge awards along the way to solve a problem together with community members.

Other recent changes include an updated Girl Scout uniform: girls can wear a tunic, sash, or vest to display their pins and awards combined with their own solid white shirts and khaki pants or skirts. Girl Scouts in high school can also wear a scarf like that worn by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 144 nations.

 Girl Scouts of the USA has more than three million members and is the leading authority on girls. Girl Scouts travel the world, learn twenty-first century business skills, and prepare for a high-tech future. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience reaches girls in every zip code, including locations in public housing, homeless shelters, juvenile detention centers, women's prisons, immigrant communities, and isolated rural areas.

 

It's getting to be Canoeing and Camping Season -- time to ensure that you are up-to-date on all you need to know to have a fun and safe outdoor experience with your Girl Scouts.

Check our Adult Learning Opportunities page for upcoming Camping Adventures: the next Basic Troop Camping Skills will be held on March 28 with a registration deadline of March 16. 

Please use the Adult Learning Registration Form to register for these and all other Adult Learning Opportunities. 

Are you one of the troops who is having a booth sale after March 8?  Then your troop will need a few extra days to calculate incentives and such.  The new deadline is March 18 for incentives for all troops.  But if you are done selling, feel free to get your incentives in to ebudde as soon as possible!

We have been having a great cookie sale!  However, in many areas the weather has interfered with the booth sales.  From rainy days to freezing cold, many booth sales have been affected.  In order to help troops increase their sales, we have developed an option for them to extend their sale for an extra week.  All money due for the cookies that have already been given to the troops will still be due on March 10. However, if your troop would like to hold booth sales through March 15, payment for the cookies picked up from the cupboard after March 8 will be due on March 18.  This extension only applies to those cookies picked up after the official sale has ended.  Again, payment in full for all cookies that you have already received will still be due on March 10.  We hope this helps your troop end its sale on a high note!

Special discounts to Disney on Ice will be offered for Girl Scouts!  Come experience a magical Disney fantasy on ice!  Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy.  

Montgomery                                                               Mobile

Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m.                                            Tuesday, May 5 at 7 p.m.

Garrett Coliseum                                                        Mobile Civic Center

Montgomery Event Registration Form                       Mobile Event Registration Form

We had high hopes for our first ever Thin Mint Sprint and Healthy Family Fun Fair. But frankly, we were a teensy bit nervous--it was a big event and the first of its kind...and the weather looked a bit iffy...so we were extra gratified and excited by the wonderful turnout!

We had over 300 runners registered for the 5K and more than 100 registered for the fun run.  Kids had a great time at all the activities at the Healthy Family Fun Fair following the Sprint.  There are commemorative 1st Annual Thin Mint Sprint cups for sale in the Mobile council shop.  Short cups are $4 and tall cups are $5. 

Here's a link to a slide show showing all the fun!

Also, check out the overall race results and the award winners. Congratulations to all the participants and we appreciate your support of Girl Scouting!

Check out this great video of girls from all over the world telling what the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts means to them!

<

You know those mysterious single socks that show up in the dryer?  Here's a craft that is a triple win -- your troop moms get rid of single socks, your girls get an easy and fun craft, and shelter kitties (or pet cats) get a toy they will actually play with.

All it takes are socks, polyester fiberfill and catnip.  You can read the step by step instructions here!

Save Outdoor Sculpture! is proud to sponsor the SOS! Patch program for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. To earn the patch, scouts must complete learning and service activities designed to help them discover female role models, investigate local history and experience the satisfaction of volunteering in their community to preserve outdoor sculpture.

To get more information about participating in the SOS! Patch program, fill out the enrollment form, call 202-233-0800, or download the program packet (1.5 MB PDF).

Read about Troops' positive experiences with this Patch Program at the web site.

911 Operators are truly unsung heroes -- we never see them, but they save lives every day!

Brownie Troop 8547 from Theodore is collecting letters, posters and drawings that thank or appreciate (or even telling a personal story) the 911 Operators in our council area.  They would like to get something from as many Girl Scout Troops as possible to let these heroes know they are appreciated.  Please send a note identifying your troop (and a troop photo, if you wish).  The items will be sent to Emergency Services Offices throughout our council to show our appreciation for all they do!

Your troop can even recruit a school to participate!  Nan Gray Elementary and St. Vincent School are joining in the fun.

Contact: Tracy Wilson, 251-445-6932
Deadline for receipt of all letters, posters and drawings: April 1
Mail to:  Mobile County EMS, Attn: Tracy Wilson, 7921-C Tanner Williams Rd, Mobile, AL  36608

The times change, recreational opportunities change, and Safety-Wise, our resource for keeping our girls as safe as possible during any activity, has been updated to reflect this! As a troop leader, you received a copy of Safety-Wise during your initial training.  Our web site now has a pdf document with all the updates, going back to 2004.  Print it out and keep it with your copy of Safety-Wise so you will be up to date!

If you no longer have your copy of Safety-Wise, they are available for purchase at the Council Shops.  Every troop must have a copy -- it is a great resource!