Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama: February 2012 Archives

"Where will you be when the lights go out?"

Girl Scouts are invited by ARC Energy Consulting and Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm to join hundreds of millions of people across the globe in switching off the lights for one hour - Earth Hour!  Here's the event poster -- it looks great!

By taking part in this event, Girl Scouts will earn the GSUSA's 100^th Anniversary Forever Green Patch.  The Celebration lasts from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  At 8:30 p.m. we will all turn out the lights!

We are looking for troops to facilitate and provide the activities.  If you would like your troop to lead a game, a craft, or hand out Forever Green stickers, please call (334)272-9164 ext 2205 or email Amy Farrar at afarrar@girlscoutssa.org   We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic girls who don't mind teaching and leading younger kids in activities.

This is a great opportunity to earn the100th Anniversary Forever Green Patch.  Girls will learn responsibility of their environment as well as all of the different ways they can help the planet!

Here's the link to the program details.

The first Girl Scout meeting in the United States was on March 12, 1912. To recognize this special event in Girl Scout history, the week including March 12 is known as Girl Scout week. The Saturday and Sunday of this week are known as Girl Scout Sabbath and Girl Scout Sunday. This week is an opportunity for girls to make a special effort to celebrate Girl Scouts.

Your troop can recognize scouting by asking your religious organization to place the Girl Scout bulletin insert on Girl Scout Sunday or Sabbath. This year Girl Scout Sunday is March 11 and Girl Scout Sabbath is March 17. The inserts are free, but supplies are limited, so put your order in quickly to ensure you have enough for your organization.

This year's insert (pictured right) features images by Troops at Thomas James and Oaklawn Housing Facilities in Mobile. The back of the insert has the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and GSSA contact information.

Order forms can be e-mailed to communications@girlscoutssa.org, faxed or mailed to either service center. The inserts can be put in service unit boxes for the service unit meetings in March or they can be picked up at the council.

I've heard lots of stories lately about our helpful Girl Scout fathers.   One dad has a cache of cookies in his office, helping his daughter out.   In years past, he had a few regular cookie customers, but with cookies in hand longer, some of her regular customers have consumed their cookies, so they have returned.   What a guy to help his daughter.  

I heard another story about a Daisy's dad.   He is in sales; she's 5 and experiencing her first cookie program.   He spent part of a weekend teaching her the requisite skills of the successful sales person.   He started with what to wear; then he moved on to the sales pitch.   And, finally, the gracious thank you if you don't make the sale. 

 All are excellent skills to learn, since they will be useful in later life.   Another dad came by the office to say he would assist in any construction projects we might have at our camp properties.   He has experience with that and would like to share his skills, so the girls would have more things to do at camp.   With Valentine's Day just a few days ago, it is always good to give a hug to the guy you love and who supports you.   Thank him for all he does to make the world a better place!

A Cookie mom's experience at a recent booth sale.  It's a lovely story!

I've worked for Girl Scouts for almost 10 years, and if there's one thing I know, it's that the first weekend of cookie booth sales is BIG.  What I didn't know until yesterday, when I captained my first booth sale at a local Wal-Mart with my Daisy daughter and her fellow troop members, was just how big an impact it could have on me.

Sure, I know that loading 20 cases of cookies isn't easy and sitting out in the hot sun with five-year-olds for two hours can certainly be a challenge.  However, I wasn't prepared for the wonderful outpouring of support from our community.  It was amazing to see how many people told us they just couldn't resist those sweet smiles our girls gave when they asked said "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?," or how many ladies and gentleman stopped by on the way into Wal-Mart to make a promise to buy cookies on their way out of the store (and, yes, our girls only asked them on their way out).  I also was overcome by the number of folks who said they couldn't afford a box of cookies, but gave us a dollar or a couple of quarters, instead.

One such individual, though, really touched my heart.  I had noticed the man in tattered clothes sitting outside Wal-Mart as I pulled up to drop of our cookies.  He was smiling at folks as they walked in, just watching the busy Saturday afternoon scene.  I assumed he was homeless, but didn't have much time to think about it as we busily shuffled cookies and got ready for our sale.  Toward the end of our shift, the gentleman walked up, simply handed our girls a dollar, smiled and said "good luck." It touched me, and our other parents, that this man, obviously hard on his luck, could be so generous to our girls.

I was relating this story to my parents that evening, and my father, who volunteers with our local homeless coalition, said he had heard of the man we'd seen, and that, yes, he is homeless.  He was laid off from his job and now spends his time at Wal-Mart, and even helps bus tables at a local fast-food restaurant, just to keep busy until he finds a job. Well, the gentleman will be rewarded for his dollar given to our troop, as I have arranged for him to receive a box later this week.  Such a generous, selfless act should not go unnoticed and certainly serves as a teachable moment for our girls.

Girl Scouts are blessed to have the support of many strangers.  It is through their kindness that our organization survives and our girls are able to develop courage, confidence and character.  I hope you can find such inspiration in your work during this busy cookie season, and I wish you many happy booth sales.  Look forward to seeing you out there!

The Murray House on Government Street has a volunteer need from local Scout troops. They are collecting hygiene items to give to their male and female residents for prizes. Examples of hygiene items they need are: toothpaste and toothbrushes, Kleenex, soap, shampoo, hairbrushes, and combs. They also have a need for new blankets, towels, and pillows, if anyone wants to donate those. If your troop can help out, please bring items to the council office by March 15. Leaders may also contact Rebecca Thomas (beckyt137@bellsouth.net 251-432-2272 for more information.

Golf is a wonderful lifelong sport for girls and Alabama has some of the best courses in the world! Mobile Girls Golf Club gives girls an affordable opportunity to learn and practice golf. Contact Michael@michaelbrisbanegolf.com for more information. 

Use your creativity to help Girl Scouts celebrate our 100^th Anniversary  in a big way!  Work with your troop to create a 3D "100" , which will be on display when "Girl Scouts Rock Mobile" March 24-25, 2012.  

Art projects must be able to sit or stand on a table. Projects will be judged for creativity the day of the event. One troop per program level will receive a prize. Girl Scouts will vote on a "Best All Around" to receive an additional prize. Troop leaders will bring projects to the Convention Center on March 24. 

Troops not planning on attending may still enter the contest, but will need to bring the art project in the week prior to the event in order to go on display. 

 Who: Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors

Date: March 24-25, 2012

Time: winners announced at 8:00 p.m.

Location: Mobile Convention Center

Cost: none

Registration Deadline : March 1 (Fill out an  event registration form; be sure and include number and program levels of girls in your troop).

Send Registration to: Mobile Office

                                       3483 Springhill Avenue, Mobile 36608

Minimum participation : five troops per program level

Contact: Mary Anne Brutkiewicz, ext. 1202

Yes, you.

You may think it's only for Boy Scouts, only for the most hardcore outdoorsman, only for the fittest of the fit.  But you are mistaken.

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, in partnership with the Alabama Wildlife Federation, are putting together a backpacking program where interested girls can learn all about the skills, equipment and techniques of hiking the great outdoors.  We will have a few meetings to train, learn skills and earn badges.  The program will then culminate in an overnight backpacking trip.

The goals of this program are to encourage team building skills, leadership skills, outdoor skills, environmental education and physical fitness.

Ages:  7^th and 8^th grade Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors

If you think your Girl Scout will be interested, talk with her about it.  If you think you know nothing about the sport, call me up or look it up on the web or in books.

Please contact me if you are interested, so I can start planning our meetings!

Amy Farrar

afarrar@girlscoutssa.org

Outdoor Education Programs Manager

145 Coliseum Boulevard

Montgomery, AL 36109

(334) 272-9164, ext. 2205

Yes, backpacking may be challenging.  But think about this:

Courage is when you try even though you are afraid.  Confidence is something you gain little by little when you tackle an obstacle that is new and scary.  Character is who you become once you have come out the other side, having conquered your fears and accomplished more than you ever thought possible.