Recently in Girl Scouts In the News Category

GSUSA just let us know that in celebration of Girl Scout Week, the CBS Early Show will air a Girl Scout segment tomorrow morning (Thursday, March 11, 2010) beginning at 7:30 a.m. (We believe this is Eastern Standard Time, but haven't been able to confirm yet.) At about 8:30 a.m., one of the hosts will conduct an interview with Laurel Richie, Chief Marketing Officer, about new things going on in Girl Scouting.   Laurel Richie is the special guest speaker at our annual meeting, March 27!

Girl Scouts from at least five Tri-State area councils will fill the CBS plaza; and former Girl Scout Gold Award earner Chelsea Masterson--along with current Girl Scout Troop Leader from Girl Scouts of Jersey Shore (see Troop Web site: www.orgsites.com) is expected to chat alongside Laurel about the benefits of Girl Scouting.

Happy Girl Scout Week!  

Elizabeth Farry, community relations manager for the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast, talks about using Girl Scout Cookies as ingredients in other recipes. Farry has tried many of the recipes on the Girl Scouts' Web site, including fried Caramel Delights, Thin Mint brownies and Do-Si-Dos peanut Thai chicken.

Girl Scout Cookies have been something of an institution in this country for more than 80 years, and the ads have been updated over time. But in 2010, the changes are going further. This season, girls are taking their pitches for the $700 million a year business online.

When Disney FamilyFun magazine was looking for ideas for fun group and family activities, they turned to Girl Scouts (we posted a Call for Entries on the Virtual Volunteer last September View Article... )Over 550 ideas were submitted and eight troops ideas were chosen for the February 2010 issue of the magazine. The magazine asked girls to share memorable ideas other groups and families would love. The chosen troops not only received the recognition but also $250 and various other gifts from the magazine.

Senior Editor of Disney FamilyFun magazine, Debra Immergut said, "We were thrilled with the number and quality of ideas provided by Girl Scout volunteers across the country, from New York to California.  They've proved their mettle in coming up with fun ideas that engage children while providing priceless life skills; we hope Disney FamilyFun readers enjoy these activities as much as we have."

The Disney FamilyFun published ideas and troops are:

• A Pajama Party That Also Collects PJs for Women in Need, Brownie Troop 96, Scottsville, New York
• Pudding Served Up in an Ice-Cream Cone, Brownie Troop 155, Marietta, Ohio
• Catnip Mice for the Local Pet Shelter, Junior Girl Scout Troop 1332, Littleton, Colorado
• Going Green with Plantable Greeting Cards, Girl Scout Troop 496, Bristow, Oklahoma
• A Twist on Tradition: S'mores in a Bag, Brownie Troop 1169, Scottsboro, Alabama
• Compliment Sheets Share the Love, Junior Girl Scout Troop 24259, Woodstock, Georgia
• A Pass-the-Mirror Game That Teaches Self-Esteem, Daisy Troop 1486, Maricopa, Arizona
• Hula Hoop Game: It's a Group Effort, Cadette Girl Scout Troop 1486, Kirkwood, Missouri

You might even want to try some of these activities with your own troop!

Girls everywhere are working on making the world a better place. Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council recently built an energy efficient and environmentally friendly Science and Technology lodge in Hockessin, Del. It is the first building in Delaware to be awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) award. 

The LEED certification was developed by the U.S. Green building council. This certification is internationally recognized and proves a building was designed and built to be more environmentally and energy efficient. The facility improves energy savings, water efficiency, reduces CO2 emissions, and promotes awareness of the impact of resources on environment. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell stated, "The new building will help our environment by reducing pollution and help the Girl Scouts by reducing their energy costs."  Way to go, Girl Scouts!

The Girl Scout Cookie Sale has officially begun, and our local media is doing a great job to help promote it!  We've had calls from all around the council, and hopefully this will help increase your girls' success in the program.  Here's a sampling of what our local media is saying about the sale:

LiteMix 99.9 in Mobile had Press Rep Maggie on their morning show: http://www.litemix.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=137696&article=6552311

·         Lu Valentino at WABB in Mobile is promoting the sale: http://www.wabb.com/luvalentinoblog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10078082

·         Girl Scout Cookies Rich in History and Flavor by the Dothan Eagle: http://www2.dothaneagle.com/dea/lifestyles/local/article/girl_scout_cookies_rich_in_history_and_flavor/119932/ 

·         Girl Scout Cookies on sale January 5 in the Selma Times-Journal: http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/news/2009/dec/28/girl-scout-cookies-sale-jan-5/

·         Pre-orders for Girl Scout Cookies available now in Opelika-Auburn Now: http://www2.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/pre-orders_for_girl_scout_cookies_available_now/120051/

Did you know we post pictures on Picasa and videos on Youtube?  We have a new volunteer PR intern, Lindsey, who uploaded a slew of videos to Youtube for us.  Our Youtube channel is called girlscoutssal.   You can subscribe to the channel and receive notices as we add videos.  I think you'll enjoy them - I mean, it's precious Girl Scouts... what's not to enjoy??

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/girlscoutssal

Picasa Albums: http://picasaweb.google.com/girlscoutssal

On Thursday, October 29, 2009, Girl Scouts of the USA along with CARE International, Seventeen Magazine and the Documentary Group hosted Learning to Lead, an interactive discussion on the power of girl leadership and education.

Experts, celebrities, media, invited guests and Girl Scouts gathered at GSUSA to discuss the importance of providing girls with opportunities and support to build education and leadership skills regardless of their geographic location.

Moderated by Suchin Pak of MTV News, panelists included Cynthia Lloyd from the Population Council, Judy Schoenberg from the Girl Scout Research Institute, Stephanie Baric from CARE, and Award-winning actress Shohreh Aghdashloo.

On Thursday, October 29, 2009 President Barack Obama signed the Girl Scouts of the USA Commemorative Coin Act authorizing the minting of 350,000 silver dollar coins in honor of Girl Scouts and the achievements of the 50 million women across the nation whose lives have been influenced by Girl Scouting. This legislation enjoyed strong bipartisan support, with more than 300 cosponsors in the House, and more than 70 cosponsors in the Senate. The measure passed unanimously in both the House and Senate earlier this month.

 The Girl Scouts Centennial Commemorative Coin will be minted in 2013, marking the end of the celebration of our first 100 years and the beginning of our second century of leadership. Ten dollars from the sale of each coin will go to GSUSA to help fund much-needed renovations at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, Georgia. The bill also calls for the Secretary of the Treasury, in collaboration with the GSUSA and the Commission of Fine Arts, to design the coin in a manner "emblematic of the centennial of Girl Scouts."

 This victory would not have happened without your support.  Through your efforts, more than 40,000 messages were sent to Members of Congress asking for their support. Thanks to each of you, we are poised to have a Girl Scouts commemorative coin to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting!

Calling all Girl Scouts!

Girl Scouts everywhere are encouraged to tell the world how they are Remarkable, Energetic, Aspirational Leaders by entering the Justine R.E.A.L. Girl contest where the prize is a feature in the national teen/tween lifestyle magazine, Justine.
 
This R.E.A.L. Girl Contest is open only to Girl Scouts between the ages of 13-19, who are working to make the world a better place in their local communities and beyond.  The winner will be featured in an article telling all about her activities as the R.E.A.L. Girl, and she will win a trip to the Justine offices in Memphis, Tennessee, for a professional photo shoot, as well as other fun prizes and Justine subscriptions for her troop and her school library.
 
Submissions will be accepted until mid-January 2010, and the finalists and winner will be selected in February. For more information and contest rules, check out: justinemagazine.com.

Girl Scouts of the USA is pleased to announce that First Lady Michelle Obama has agreed to serve as its Honorary National President.

"It is my great pleasure to serve as Honorary National President of Girl Scouts," said Mrs. Obama. "With their innovative new programming, ground-breaking research, and emphasis on service and leadership, Girl Scouts is preparing the women of tomorrow to be a positive force for change - in their own lives, their communities, and across the globe."

In accepting the position, Mrs. Obama takes her place in a tradition stretching back to 1929, when Lou Henry Hoover became the first Honorary National President of the Girl Scouting movement. Since then, each successive First Lady has served in this post.

Girl Scouts plan to work with the First Lady on areas of mutual concern, such as healthy living, public service and leadership.