NYC Culture Adopts Girl Scouts as Meme

This week, Girl Scouts occupy space in both high-brow and pop-culture circles. New York Magazine's Approval Matrix, a deliberately oversimplified guide to who falls where on taste hierarchies - features Girl Scout Pop Up Stores in NYC this week.

Over at The New York Times, it is revealed that William Lauder, executive chairman of Estée Lauder, greets reporters with Girl Scout Cookies of the Peanut Butter Sandwich variety.

Do you have any fun Girl Scout stories popping up in your favorite publications?

It's Your Spirit, Nebraska!

Somali Bantu refugee girls, grades K-12, attended a Girl Scout Spirit of Nebraska cultural event at Yates Early Childhood Center in Omaha on Friday, March 25. The program, based upon a Girl Scouts of the USA curriculum, It’s Your Story –Tell It!, covered a series of topics about mass media and its influence on today’s girls. The girls were given the opportunity to work with a successful professional from the media field who was able to give them a behind the scenes look at how television studios really work. They also celebrated sisterhood and diversity by sharing stories and customs from around the world.

Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove®, the leading personal care brand, partner to deliver Girl Scout leadership and self-esteem programming to millions of girls nationwide and abroad with the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It!. Do you have any favorite Journey activities?

What Nonprofits Can Learn from a Girl Scout Manual

The Philanthropic Family has a fantastic piece titled What Nonprofits Can Learn from a Girl Scout Manual. "Don’t laugh, but I’m the cookie mom for my daughter’s Daisy troop" says author Sharon Schneider. "There are still boxes of Thin Mints and Samoas in the corner of my living room..." Certainly a sentiment many folks out there can currently relate to. She continues, "We have to get rid of those extra boxes, and so I read some of the material provided by the Girl Scouts about site sales. What caught my eye was an admonition for the adults not to take over the activity."

What she is referring to is the 2010-2011 Girl Scout Product Activities Guide. It states: “Adults act as coaches who help girls develop leadership skills by using these three processes: Girl-led: Girls play an active part in figuring out the what, where, when, how, and why of their activities. They lead the planning and decision-making as much as possible. Learning by doing: Girls engage in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding of concepts and mastery of practical skills. Cooperative learning: Girls work together toward shared goals in an atmosphere of respect and collaboration that encourages the sharing of skills, knowledge and learning.”

After reviewing the product guide, Schneider concluded that "as the Girl Scouts manual so delicately points out, the larger goal isn’t to sell a bunch of cookies. The larger goal is to teach the girls critical leadership and entrepreneurial skills that they can apply elsewhere. And to accomplish that goal, there is no more important step than putting the girls in charge of cookie sales with adults coaching them." Definitely read the entire post here.

I've certainly gained skills by watching some of our girls in action! What have you learned from The Girl Scout Cookie Program?

Express Your Story Through Music

Self expression is a large thread throughout the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! Music has always been one of the most popular forms of self expression. On Saturday, March 19, Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA launched the national Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland initiative at the Los Angeles Theatre Centre. Many Girl Scouts and their parents attended and participated in the fun, interactive music workshop co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts, designed to get girls pumped up about making music. Check out this video of Girl Scouts beginning their journey into the world of music!

Charlotte Caffey, of the Go-Go's, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, was at the event to offer her support and said, "This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat. As a female musician and songwriter and mother of a 16-year-old daughter myself, I love that the Girl Scouts and Roland have partnered to bring girls across the country access to making music." Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Go's, sang "We Got the Beat" with the Rockin' Roland Girls Band, and participated alongside girls, inspiring them to learn to make their own music and follow their dreams.

The latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! has its' very own comprehensive website that allows you to get involved in a number of awesome activities! Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove®, the leading personal care brand, partner to deliver Girl Scout leadership and self-esteem programming to millions of girls nationwide and abroad with the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It!.

Paper Cranes and Cookie Cash to Japan

The Press Enterprise, CA, reports that from now until April 23, $1 from every box of Girl Scout Cookies sold by the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council will be donated to the Girl Scouts of Japan Relief Fund. This fund will be used for families affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

"I challenge our troops to join me in raising $10,000 by April 23. It's so easy for all of us to get caught up in our own day-to-day troubles. Yet none of them are as significant as the troubles disaster victims are facing right now in Japan," Elizabeth Locke-Thomas, vice president of retail and product sales, said in a statement to the council's troops.

In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Girl Scouts of Japan mailed thousands of paper cranes to their Girl Scout sisters across the United States in an expression of peace and friendship. American Girl Scouts now invite their friends and neighbors to buy cookies or make a paper heart or crane to bring hope to families in Japan who may have none.

Similarly, when five Girl Scouts in Troop 76 from Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways heard about the March 11 earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, they were concerned.

Binghamton's News 34 reports that the girls recently represented Japan at a World Thinking Day celebration. As part of their study of traditional Japanese culture, they learned to fold paper cranes. Like the California Girl Scouts, the girls learned that Japanese Girl Scouts folded and sent thousands of paper cranes to New York to show their goodwill and sympathy after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

The policy by Girl Scouts of the USA that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations has been temporarily suspended in order for Girl Scouts to support the relief efforts. This is why the girls decided that instead of trying to mail 1,000 paper cranes to Japan, they would fold a thousand cranes and sell them for $1 each and send a check, along with a picture of them with the cranes, to Japan.

Do you have any examples to share about how Girl Scouts are contributing to relief efforts in Japan?

Girls Experience Religion in Life

New Jersey's Mercer Space reports that ten local girls recently completed the Religion in Life program at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing. Religion in Life, the Unitarian Universalist Association’s religious award program designed for Girl Scouts but open to all girls, has more than 40 requirements involving religious study, service, and self-exploration. The girls’ activities included learning about religious diversity by visiting Masjidut-Taqwa, a mosque in Trenton; conducting an accessibility survey of the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing building; and hearing of the Depression-era Girl Scout experiences of Newtown resident Ruth Samsel.

Laurel Richie in the Top 25

Laurel J. Richie, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Girl Scouts of the USA has been honored as one of The Network Journal’s 25 Influential Black Women in Business for 2011. Richie, recognized for her key role in rolling out the Girl Scouts’ brand-repositioning initiatives in 2010, credits her Girl Scout experience of selling cookies for instructing her on the fundamentals of marketing. Under Richie's leadership, the multi-cultural and Hispanic campaign roll-out continues. Print executions recently appeared in Oprah and Time magazines, and the campaigns have expanded into airport, mall, highway and transit out-of-home locations across the country. Media impressions to date have topped 1 billion, with donated media valued at $23 million.

On Thursday, March 24, Richie was celebrated and presented with The Network Journal's 25 Influential Black Women in Business award during the awards luncheon at the Marriott New York Marquis in New York, New York. The Network Journal is a monthly print and online business publication for black professionals and small business owners. In March 1999, The Network Journal launched the 25 Influential Black Women in Business Awards honoring women whose professional achievements have significantly impacted an industry, a profession or community.

Girl Scout Cookie Empire Evolves, Continues

Business Insider has a brilliant article titled 'How The Girl Scouts Built Their Cookie Empire'. There is a timeline slideshow, detailing the evolution of The Girl Scout Cookie Program. The story begins with an Oregon Girl Scout troop that organized a bake sale. Nearly a century later, Girl Scouts of the USA commands a $715 million cookie empire, selling 200 million boxes a year. The article details how Girl Scouts built their booming business thanks to decades of smart organizational choices, good products and an unbeatable brand image. This incredible growth story is a model for non-profit and for-profit companies.

The next step in The girl Scout Cookie Program's evolution, reported by an abundance of outlets over the past few days, is being played out in the digital arena. The Baltimore Sun reports that Girl Scouts nationwide are increasingly selling their famous cookies with a technological assistance. "We're shifting the way we do business in a big way, and this is one small indicator of that movement," says Jamie Joyce, vice president of interactive marketing for Girl Scouts of the USA — the first in the organization to hold such a title. "The general perception of Scouts is that they're an iconic brand that's been around forever, but not particularly a Web-savvy or connected one. We think this change will resonate really well with the public to let them know we are where they are." The Cookie Finder for iPhone is an extension of a Web tool the Scouts have found to be wildly popular. People searching for cookies go online to girlscoutcookies.org, type in their ZIP code and up pops a list, sorted by distance, showing how far to the nearest cookies. In January alone, that site topped 1 million visits — leading to countless sales for Scouts nationwide.

The story has been picked up by ABC News, Yahoo News (video below), redOrbit, Seattle Weekly and countless more. A quote from an article in The Washington Post resonates the most with me. “When it comes to technology, I think the best way to sum up Girl Scouts is: We are where the girls are,” said Michelle Tompkins, spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of the USA. “We listen to what they say. And when they tell us that they are on Facebook, then we go on Facebook.”

Download the Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder today!

Weekend Run-Down

Let's spotlight some Girl Scout media stories from the weekend:

• In New Jersey, The Cranford Chronicle's Dinah Dunn relates her family's love of Girl Scout Cookies by saying, "I am powerless against Girl Scout cookies. Powerless, so it seems, is my family. When the cookies arrived on Sunday, it was like chum in the water. The feeding frenzy was so vicious I had to wrestle the boxes out of their hands and hide them in an old suitcase in the basement." I can relate!


• The Herald-Mail reports that a group of Girl Scouts transformed a library into a 'heavenly' space.


• In Virginia, The Vienna Patch's column 'Whiz Kid' features a great read through of local Girl Scout Gold Award recipients.


• Ohio's Chronicle-Telegram has a column devoted to interviewing a fifteen year old Girl Scout. Regarding a sleepover at the All Pro Freight Stadium, she states, "We’re going to sleep on the field in a box to see what it’s like to be homeless and we brought donations to the homeless shelter. We’re trying to find out what it’s like to be homeless for a night."


• West Virginia's News and Sentinel reports that a group of women recently gathered in Parkersburg to reminisce about a special time in their lives. More than 30 years ago, the women were members of Cadet Troop 1256 and Senior Troop 1091 of the Girl Scouts who were based at St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Parkersburg.


• In Massachusetts, The Burlington Patch reports that Burlington’s fourth and fifth grade Girl Scout troops competed in the town's first Rope Runner competition on Sunday. Rope Runners are simple wooden figures that balance on a single wheel and race along 1/8 inch nylon ropes. The participants construct their Rope Runners from a kit and then decorate them according to their own design. Rope runners can be as simple as a wooden box with weights, wheel and axel, or they can be as elaborate as their creators’ dreams.

Enjoy!

Girl Scouts Rock Powered By Roland Hits Times Square and Las Vegas Strip

On Saturday, March 19, Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA launched the national Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland initiative at the Los Angeles Theatre Centre. Many Girl Scouts and their parents attended and participated in the fun, interactive music workshop co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts, designed to get girls pumped up about making music.

Charlotte Caffey, of the Go-Go's, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, was at the event to offer her support and said, "This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat. As a female musician and songwriter and mother of a 16-year-old daughter myself, I love that the Girl Scouts and Roland have partnered to bring girls across the country access to making music." Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Go's, sang "We Got the Beat" with the Rockin' Roland Girls Band, and participated alongside girls, inspiring them to learn to make their own music and follow their dreams.

After the event, photographs of Charlotte Caffey, Shelby Spalione and Girl Scouts have been appearing on the jumbotron screens in both New York's Times Square and the Las Vegas Strip.

Run an aMUSE Camp This Summer!!

In the Junior journey, aMUSE, from It’s Your Story – Tell It! girls read inspiring stories of real women who have taken on many different roles. The women they meet took the lead in their own lives and then became leaders in the office, in the kitchen, and in government! Girls also think about the roles they currently play in life and the roles of the women and girls around them. Girls find out about the roles women play in real life and in media, they find out about the limitless possibilities available to them, and also learn about stereotypes. Juniors learn to bust stereotypes and try on even more roles! Juniors will delight as they find out how fun sharing stories through different methods like dance, music or drama can be. There is also a world of possibilities when considering the link this theme has to theater. Girls will have their choice of many acting-themed activities and games, like Take the Stage, a charades-like game that has them jump into the “spotlight” to act out a role while their sister Girl Scouts guess what role she is playing!

The theme of the third leadership journey series, It’s Your Story – Tell It! is storytelling. Stories teach girls about themselves and the world in a fun, interactive way. As you know, Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove®, the leading personal care brand, partner to deliver Girl Scout leadership and self-esteem programming to millions of girls nationwide and abroad with the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It!. It's Your Story-Tell It! uses a storytelling theme in a fun and relevant way for girls to better understand themselves and their potential.
It's Your Story-Tell It! also has a very comprehensive website that allows you to get involved in a number of awesome activities! It has quizzes and games, video examples and templates plus a whole lot more! I've actually taken some of the quizzes and learned quite a bit.

Make sure you get a set of the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! and ask your girls how they want to be creative this summer!

Cookie App is a Hit

Seattle Weekly's Jason Sheehan reports that Girl Scouts are going to be taking cookie sales into the 21st century with the release of their new Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder for the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Girl Scouts of the USA announced the release of the Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder for the iPhone or iPod Touch. The Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder for your iPhone or iPod Touch allows you to support Girl Scouts by using the free app to navigate your way to Thin Mints, Lemonades, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Shout Outs, Samoas, and all the other Girl Scout Cookies in your area and around the nation. Your next box of Thin Mints is just a touch away!

"With the app, the iPhone's GPS will read your location and show you cookie sales nearby," says the press release and Girl Scouts blog. "All search results are easy to sort and view. All listings are sorted by date, radius, or you can view them all on a map. The app includes the most comprehensive information available and contains cookie sale data from around the country, including the start and end of local cookie sales."

Sheehan states that "The Girl Scouts see this as just another way for them to connect with the community... And just think, with $700 million or so in sales and all that cash on hand, the Girl Scouts could've bought The Huffington Post themselves and used the entire thing as just one big virtual bake sale."

Oh, and Jason, thanks for the blog shout out. Werd! The Tech Herald and socialtech.com have also picked up on the App. Much more to come...

Kappa Delta Promotes Confidence in Girls of All Ages

The Northwest Indiana Times reports that Girl Scout Brownies from Crown Point and their parents quickly learned there is more to sororities than the stereotype when Valparaiso University's Kappa Delta sorority, Zeta Psi chapter, sponsored a Girl Scout try-it badge workshop recently at the Purdue University Academic Learning Center.

The women of Kappa Delta helped the Brownies learn about sewing, weaving, and mask making. Other activities included face painting, making friendship bracelets and decorating T-shirts.
Kappa Delta sisters shared stories about their travels abroad and taught the Girl Scouts international games. All of this fun helped the Brownies earn three badges and their Thinking Day patch.

One of Kappa Delta's national philanthropies is working with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. The sorority creates a one-of-a-kind partnership with Girl Scouts in which Kappa Delta sisters are able to influence the lives of girls across the country in a positive way. Although their main focus is to promote confidence in girls of all ages, they also show girls that women can develop many skills, travel to many places, and can become whatever they dream.

Girl Scouts Stuck On Train Arrive Safe

Orlando's WESH 2 News reports that a wildfire had a troop of Seminole County Girl Scouts stuck on a train late Thursday. The troop picked up the train in Sanford and was on its way to Savannah, but the train stopped in the middle of a forest in Jesup. The 8-mile-long brush fire was burning near the tracks , authorities said.

The train was able to get moving again and the girls arrived in Savannah safely overnight. Amtrak officials said they stopped the train to inspect the track and get information on the fire. Glad everything worked out!

Country Star Jake Owen Tweets Love of Thin Mints!

Billboard reports that Jake Owen wants to high-five the creator of Thin Mints! I would like to as well, and add an extra high-five to the person who discovered freezing Thin Mints!!
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Jake Owen is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records Nashville in 2005, Owen released his debut album Startin' with Me that year. This album produced three singles, all of which reached Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. A second album, 2009's Easy Does It, has accounted for three more singles in the #2 "Don't Think I Can't Love You", "Eight Second Ride" and "Tell Me." Owen has also toured as an opening act for several country acts, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town and Sugarland.

Make sure you join in the conversation and follow us on Twitter @girlscouts!

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Women of Distinction Recognition Luncheon

The Tampa Tribune reports that Girl Scouts of West Central Florida was joined by nearly 700 guests on Tuesday, March 22 at the tenth annual Women of Distinction Recognition Luncheon, held at A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa. The fundraiser raised $138,000 to benefit the council and the nearly 24,000 girls and 10,000 adult volunteers it serves.

The four 2011 Women of Distinction are Sarah “Scottie” Beasley, Chief Jane Castor, Judith Lisi and Margaret Sullivan, Ph.D. The Women of Distinction personify the courage, confidence, and character that Girl Scouting instills in girls and young women today. Their community leadership and advocacy, both personally and professionally, set leading examples for Girl Scouts of all ages. The keynote speaker at the event was Jenna Hager.

Jenna Welch Bush Hager is the younger of the fraternal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, and a granddaughter of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush. In 2007, Hager began marketing a book proposal with the assistance of Robert B. Barnett, a Washington attorney. The title of the book is Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope and it chronicles her experiences working with UNICEF sponsored charities in Latin America, including visits to drought stricken Paraguay in 2006, while working as an intern for United Nations Children's Fund.

Maine Girl Scouts Sending Books Overseas

In Lewiston, ME, The Sun Journal reports that Local Girl Scout Troop 1626 participated recently in a state-wide Girl Scout project, collecting used books for Tanzania.

As part of the project, the members of Troop 1626 went through their bookshelves and donated more than 200 books for children in Tanzania, which will help them learn to speak English.

The primary language spoken in Tanzania is Swahili. However, the country's largest revenue stream is tourism, where English is spoken. In order for the people of Tanzania to work in the tourist industry in their country, they need to be able to speak English. Donating used children's books helps them learn the language.

“The Girl Bullying - Awareness to Action”

In Louisiana, The Times-Picayune reports that The Girl Scouts Louisiana East will hold seminar about bullying on June 4. The increased exposure to a variety of social media can put teenage girls at greater risk for online or text message bullying, commonly known today as cyberbullying. This type of bullying and other forms of relational aggression will be addressed by experts in their field during a one-day seminar hosted by Girl Scouts Louisiana East, and funded in part by the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund.

“While parents, teachers, and health care professionals continue to see the negative effects of relational aggression among children and teens, many adults are without the knowledge or skills needed to provide assistance in dealing with bullying,” said Yvette Hairston, vice president of membership for Girl Scouts Louisiana East. “This conference will give adults insight into the hidden world of relational aggression and situational tools that can help our girls.”

Allan Beane, internationally recognized expert, speaker, and author on bullying, will present true stories of victims, as well as his son’s personal story. Beane developed the curriculum for a program that is used in schools throughout the United States and in over 12 countries.

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Cyber-bullying is "the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others". As it has become more common in society, particularly among young people, legislation and awareness campaigns have arisen to combat it. The National Crime Prevention Council reports cyber-bullying is a problem that affects almost half of all American teens. A 2006 survey by Harris Interactive reported that 43% of U.S. teens having experienced some form of cyber-bullying in the past year.

Have you ever been the victim of cyberbullying?

Girl Scouts Go Broadway

New York's Long Island Herald reports that Girl Scout Daisy Troop 1343 sang and danced to a song from the musical “Hairspray” recently at the West Hempstead/ Franklin Square Girl Scout Association’s “Broadway Musicals Night” at the Washington Street School in Franklin Square. Local troops gathered and performed Broadway-inspired skits for the Girl Scouts’ annual celebration “World Thinking Day” - a special day for girl scouts and guides from around the world to give thanks and appreciation to other scouts.

After the troop’s performance, each of the girls earned her red Daisy petal patch for being “courageous and strong.” Jennifer Camacho, co-leader of Troop 1343, said the group received tremendous feedback from those in attendance.

“Troop 1343 now plans on taking its show on the road, and is in the process of organizing visits to local nursing homes to perform for the elderly,” Camacho said. Awesome!

The Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder App

Girl Scouts of the USA announces the release of the Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder for the iPhone or iPod Touch. The Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder for your iPhone or iPod Touch allows you to support Girl Scouts by using the free app to navigate your way to Thin Mints, Lemonades, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Shout Outs, Samoas, and all the other Girl Scout Cookies in your area and around the nation. Your next box of Thin Mints is just a touch away!

With the app, the iPhone’s GPS will read your location and show you cookie sales nearby. All search results are easy to sort and view. All listings are sorted by date, radius, or you can view them all on a map. The app includes the most comprehensive information available and contains cookie sale data from around the country, including the start and end of local cookie sales.

“We have been in the midst of a huge technological transformation at Girl Scouts,” says Jamie Joyce – Vice President, Interactive Marketing, Girl Scouts of the USA. “By releasing this app we are more efficiently connecting customers to girls, and increasing consumer availability to one of America’s most popular products, Girl Scout Cookies.”

Responsible for the design of the Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder is New York based digital firm StudioE9. “Girl Scouts of the USA is one of the most iconic brands on the market” says Paul Johnson, Partner, StudioE9. “StudioE9 is proud to have developed this app which will connect customers more easily to Girl Scout Cookies which fund activities for girls.”

The app can also be used on social networking sites, allowing you to post cookie sale locations to Twitter, Facebook, or send your friends an email. There is an interactive voting feature as well that encourages you to vote for your favorite cookie and share it on Facebook and Twitter. You can also “Bookmark” upcoming cookie sales and access the app with an iPod when it’s connected to the internet. Every Girl Scout Cookie has a mission: To help girls do great things. Start with our app, and get your cookies now!

What's In The Box of the Girl Scout Cookies Rap!!

Yo! Shout out to my friend Nancy Wood, Director of Public Relations at the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital for hitting us up with this.


The video was made as a school project. I give it an A+!

A Journey of 1,000,000 Pennies to Japan

This morning I stumbled upon a Blog titled 1,000,000 Pennies for Girl Scouts of Japan. The author, a second year Girl Scout named Elisabeth, is learning lessons in charity, empathy and math. She has decided to start on a journey to try to collect one million pennies, by her birthday in April, to be donated to the Girl Scouts of Japan to aid in their relief efforts after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

While a million pennies may seem an unreachable goal, half the fun is the journey! Currently, Elisabeth has collected 12,845 pennies! Help her on her way here: penniesforjapangs@yahoo.com

Awesome and inspiring work Elisabeth!

SC Girl Scout Legislative Page Class of 2011

South Carolina Now reports that five girls representing Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina were accepted into the Girl Scout Legislative Page Class of 2011. Caitlyn English and Shelly Smith, both of Bennettsville, Ally Luciano of Goose Creek, Kierra Richardson of North Charleston and Tia Brogdon of Turbeville spent three days working in the Statehouse and learning how our government works.

The girls had a brief one-on-one meeting with Governor Nikki Haley, who issued a proclamation establishing March 6-12, 2011, as Girl Scout Week. Nikki Haley is the first non-white and the first woman to serve as Governor of South Carolina, and the second Indian-American governor in the country, after Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. At the age of 39, she also displaced Jindal as the youngest current governor in the U.S.

Justine R.E.A.L. Girl Contest: Four Days Left to Enter!!

Five days and counting! Girl Scouts have the opportunity to enter the Justine REAL Girl contest - for Girl Scouts only. One lucky Girl Scout will live her dream and appear on the cover of national teen magazine Justine this summer. Other Girl Scouts will be designated as finalists and semi-finalists.

Travel to the photo shoot (with an adult) and be featured in an upcoming issues of Justine Magazine! They are looking for a Real * Energetic * Aspirational * Leader (R.E.A.L.) girl who makes the world a better place - a Girl Scout like you! If you are age 13-19, you are eligible. Here are the rules; here is the entry form. Go to Justine Magazine for more info. Good Luck Girl Scouts!

Cookie Thief Can't Steal Community Love for Girl Scouts

My Fox Chicago reports that a suburban Girl Scout troop experienced the worst and best in people after someone stole more than $400 in proceeds from Saturday cookie sales, but contributions on Monday more than made up for the loss. As they were packing up their tables and chairs at a Walgreens recently, the troop discovered that someone had made off with the bag containing their profits for the day - about $417.

There is a silver lining though - a local businessman wrote them a check for $417. Cary Police Chief Steven Casstevens also wrote a personal check for $417 and the local Fraternal Order of Police lodge also pledged a $417 donation. Awesome! Kudos to Cary, IL.

Star Tribune Highlights Journeys as Solution to Online Duplicity

Minnesota's Star Tribune reports that Social media allow adolescents and teens to be expressive, but a recent study by the Girl Scouts found that isn't always the case when girls go online. Surveying 1,000 teen girls who use social media, the organization found those with low self-esteem were more likely to project themselves through Facebook, Twitter or MySpace in ways that didn't match their personalities.

Of these girls, 22 percent portrayed themselves through social media as "sexy" and 35 percent presented themselves as "crazy." One in three said their online persona doesn't match who they really are. Trouble is, girls who try to boost their image in the virtual world suffer problems in the real world that they don't anticipate, said Sabrina Lee Sanchez, program implementation manager for Girls Scouts of the USA. Classmates might recognize exaggerations and use them as a source for teasing or bullying. Girls portraying themselves as sexually active or drinkers might be pressured into those activities. "They may get 'called' on these alternative identities or false impressions, potentially putting themselves in risky situations," Sanchez said.

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The Girls Scouts has increased training for its troops on social media, and just last month announced a program, called "It's Your Story -- Tell It," to boost girls' self-esteem. The initiative challenges girls to express themselves through media projects or art. "We know from our research that girls increase their self-esteem by trying new things," Sanchez said.

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The latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! has its' very own comprehensive website that allows you to get involved in a number of awesome activities! Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove®, the leading personal care brand, partner to deliver Girl Scout leadership and self-esteem programming to millions of girls nationwide and abroad with the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It!.

Girl Scouts Really do Rock!

On Saturday, I had the honor of attending the launch of Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA's national Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland initiative at the Los Angeles Theatre Centre. Many Girl Scouts and their parents attended and participated in the fun, interactive music workshop co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts, designed to get girls pumped up about making music. It was an amazing experience and I have to say that watching the girls light up when playing on all of the instruments provided by Roland was incredibly moving! The photos here are from my phone, but definitely convey how cool the event was.

Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland is committed to providing girls ages 8-14 a hands-on experience playing popular music; an opportunity fewer girls are receiving due to school music budget cuts.

Charlotte Caffey, of the Go-Go's, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, was at the event to offer her support. Charlotte's mega-hit "We Got the Beat" is the Girls Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland's theme song. "This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat. As a female musician and songwriter and mother of a 16-year-old daughter myself, I love that the Girl Scouts and Roland have partnered to bring girls across the country access to making music." Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Go's, sang "We Got the Beat" with the Rockin' Roland Girls Band, and participated alongside girls, inspiring them to learn to make their own music and follow their dreams. Spalione, 17, who opened for the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato last year as lead singer of KSM, is currently working on a solo project.

Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland hits the road next month with subsequent workshops in Miami (Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida on April 30); Minneapolis (Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys-Date TBD); Chicago (Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana on May 14) and New York City (Girl Scouts of Greater New York City on May 21).

Girl Scouts Sweeping FIRST Lego League

Selling cookies, wearing badge-bearing sashes and designing a prosthetic hand - that's the reality of The Flying Monkeys! Iowa's Des Moines Register reports that The Flying Monkeys, a group of six girls, ages 11 to 13, won the state Innovation Award from the FIRST Lego League, an international organization that holds an annual competition for child inventors, for a creating a device that allows 3-year-old Danielle Fairchild to write.

Danielle was adopted by Fred and Dale Fairchild of Duluth, Ga. She has no fingers on her right hand. Although Flying Monkeys member Kate Murray, 13, has never met Fairchild, she knows her struggles. Kate was born with a thumb but no fingers on her left hand. Despite that condition, she began playing the violin five years ago using a device that clips to the bow and wraps around her left palm.The group decided to make a similar device for the Lego League competition (this year's event asked participants to design something to heal the human body). After posting messages on websites with information on limb abnormalities, the team received many responses, including one about Danielle.

The group visited an occupational therapist and a prosthetics manufacturer for advice. Designing replacement fingers proved too difficult, so the team instead focused on an attachment. The device - made out of a moldable plastic - features a pencil holder and a Velcro strap to attach the pencil holder to Danielle's hand. It was called "Bob 1." Using the Bob has also caused Danielle to have increased dexterity with her right hand, even when not employing the device. Before, Fairchild said, Danielle would use the hand like a flipper, but now she is able to use it to grasp and carry objects. The Flying Monkeys are pursuing a patent on the device.

In a similar story, Jess Weiner at jessweiner.com reports that featured Actionists® this week is an all girls robotics team named GENIUS! Actionists is a global online community that recognizes and connects individuals and organizations who are making a difference in the lives of others.

GENIUS – “Girls Exploring New Ideas Using Science”, is a robotics team from the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. The team of six girls, ages 12-13, is the first all girls team to win 1st place at the Georgia State FIRST LEGO League Tournament.

GENIUS is one of 80 teams invited to participate in the FIRST World Festival in St. Louis in April 2011. Proving to be true Actionists®, for their research project, GENIUS chose to help out their friend, Quinn, a 10 year old boy who uses a wheelchair due to a neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Quinn had trouble seeing behind his wheelchair, making it difficult to backup. The team developed a backup system for Quinn’s chair using a camera and monitor. The girls raised money and worked with engineers from Georgia Tech, to install the camera system on Quinn’s wheelchair. The girls are planning to install another backup system on the wheelchair of a fellow Girl Scout.

Weekend Run-Down

Here's a snapshot of Girl Scout stories from the weekend:

• In Oregon, KTVL News 10 reports that 50 Girl Scouts in Medford helped fold and link 1,000 paper cranes Saturday night to be sent to Girl Scouts in Japan as a token of friendship. After September 11th, Girl Scouts from Japan sent over strings of 1,000 cranes. In Asian countries the crane is a symbol of happiness, and the act of stringing together exactly 1,000 is a gesture of healing. Fifteen-year-old Girl Scout Cassie Pollock said it takes about 25 folding steps to make the cranes, but it was well worth it.
• The Austin Statesman, TX, takes a look at three Girl Scouts who recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award.
• In Morganton, NC, three groups of Girl Scouts lined up to enter Grace Episcopal Church and begin the observance of Girl Scout Week's 49th anniversary. Girl Scouts also attended many other church services in the Morganton area as one of the features of the week. The Morganton News-Herald reports.
• The Staten Island Advance reports that The Girl Scout Crop, a 12-hour scrapbooking event for adults, will be held Saturday, April 2, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Willowbrook. This event is for adults only. To register, no affiliation with the Girl Scout organization is required. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York.
• In Michigan, The Flint Journal's David Harris reports that "the girl scouts were selling cookies outside of a Kroger’s in Burton when (a) man came up to them and, instead of grabbing cookies, took the cash box and fled. The mother of one of the girl scouts, took off chasing after the man showing she is one tough cookie (ha!). She helped track down the man to a nearby apartment complex where he was arrested by police."

Enjoy!

Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient Speaks at White House International Women’s Day Reception

March 8, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and Girl Scouts joined distinguished guests at a White House reception hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama.

Shannon McNamara, a 2009 Girl Scout Young Woman of Distinction and Founder of SHARE, a nonprofit that focuses on girls’ education in Tanzania, Africa, opened the reception and highlighted her work on behalf of girls. Next, thirteen year old Aissatou Hamidou Diallo, who had traveled from her home in Burkina Faso, Africa, captivated the crowd by sharing the story of her extraordinary effort to be educated. Aissatou also had the distinct honor of introducing Mrs. Obama. Video of Mrs. Obama’s comments...

Girl Scouts from the Central Maryland Council who attended the reception were inspired by Shannon and Aissatou, and speechless when Mrs. Obama personally greeted them with a warm hug and a few encouraging words after delivering her remarks.

It was a remarkable event that not only celebrated the progress and accomplishments of women from around the world, but recognized and elevated the girl voice in working to make our world a better place.

It's Your Song, Rock It!

Self expression is a large thread throughout the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! Music has always been one of the most popular forms of self expression. Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA have announced the launch of a national Girl Scouts Rock! initiative which includes workshops designed to inspire and empower girls through music. Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland will reach thousands of Girl Scouts and their parents, delivering the message that you can have a “Better Life with Music.” The fun, interactive curriculum co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts of the USA aims to get girls pumped up about making music and music education. Girl Scouts Rock! is designed to provide girls ages 8-14 a hands-on experience playing popular music; an opportunity fewer girls are receiving due to school music budget cuts.
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The Go-Go’s, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, are showing support by lending their mega-hit “We Got the Beat” to the curriculum. Charlotte Caffey, Go-Go’s guitarist who wrote “We Got the Beat” will be on hand at the Los Angeles launch on March 19. Caffey says, “This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat. As a female musician and songwriter and mother of a 16-year-old daughter myself, I love that the Girl Scouts and Roland have partnered to bring girls across the country access to making music. The Go-Go’s are thrilled to be a part of the next generation of girls ‘getting their beat!’” Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Gos, will be on hand at each of the workshop locations to sing “We Got the Beat” with the Rockin’ Roland Girls Band, to talk to the girls, and inspire them to learn to make their own music and follow their dreams. Spalione, 17, who opened for the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato last year as lead singer of KSM, is currently working on a solo project.

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At each workshop, after Spalione and the Rockin’ Roland Girls Band performance, girls will then be lead into break-out sessions featuring activities utilizing Roland’s Lucina AX-09 Shoulder Synthesizer, HD-1 V-Drums® Lite, Rock Band 3, an interactive instrument display, and karaoke station. The curriculum is based on the latest Girl Scout leadership journey: It’s Your Story---Tell It!, which uses a storytelling theme in fun and relevant ways to help girls understand themselves and their potential. Building a strong sense of self is an underlying goal of the series, which was made possible by a generous grant from Dove. Roland will also conduct “Better Life with Music” sessions for interested parents and troop leaders, presenting the latest research and information regarding the benefits of music education in the lives of their children.
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The Girl Scouts Rock! workshop launch will take place in Los Angeles (Girl Scouts of Greater LA) on March 19th, with subsequent workshops in Miami (Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida on April 30); Minneapolis (Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys date TBD); Chicago (Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana on May 14) and New York City (Girl Scouts of Greater New York City on May 21). Girl Scouts chapters will offer the workshop in their respective areas on a first-come, first-served basis.
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“We know that music is an important part of social and academic development for girls, and that through music we learn to express ourselves and our views,” said Chris Bristol, President, Roland Corporation U.S. “Not only does learning to play an instrument boost self-esteem, confidence and a sense of accomplishment, it also generates cognitive development in ways not reached by any other discipline. We’re thrilled to partner with Girl Scouts to produce quality workshops that expose girls to the opportunities making music can provide.”
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“Girl Scouts of the USA believes that girls develop self-esteem through taking action,” said Kathy Cloninger, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA. “Most girls have the desire to play music. Research indicates that the action of making music is a key factor in healthy social and academic development, increasing self-esteem and developing skills needed by the 21st century workforce. We look forward to working with Roland to bring important music making opportunities directly to girls, equipping them with tools necessary to discover, connect, and take action – three keys to leadership and the cornerstone of Girl Scouts of the USA’s core values.”
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Post-workshop tools will be available at RolandUS.com so that chapters across the country can access and re-create Girl Scouts Rock! in their own communities. Roland will serve as a liaison between local Girl Scout chapters connecting music retailers and teachers to help provide access to instruments and instruction.
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Pictured is my favorite female rocker, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Roland's Lucina AX-09 Shoulder Synthesizer. Do you have a favorite female rock star?

Growing Up With Girl Scouts and NASA

Marina Park - Girl Scout CEO, lawyer and mom pens a column in The SanFrancisco Chronicle's
City Brights about Girl Scouting. This weeks column is about the "Girls Go Tech" program of the Girl Scouts of Northern California, which recently teamed up with NASA to host "When I Grow Up," a full day of activities to engage and encourage girls to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The event took place on Saturday at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field. NASA reports that throughout the center, interactive exhibits and hands-on activities were available for curious young minds to possess, manipulate and conquer. In one corner, girls learned about diffraction of optics, wave-guide optics and optical illusion. In another corner, an electrical engineer was showing a troop of girls the inside of a computer, including circuits, memory, fan, connecting wires and the mother board. She patiently identified each part and explained what it does to make the computer work.
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Claudia Cruz and Ken Guanga, reporters for the Mountain View Patch, were also on hand and filmed a video report - It's awesome, definitely check it out.
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Have you ever been to a similar program?

According to Girl Scout Megan Merbach, Girl Scouts goes beyond cookies, camping and crafts. "It's a shame it's all that people think about when they hear Girl Scouts,'" said Megan. "It's just a way that we get to do our amazing things. We sell cookies to fund our programs. It means much more to the girls living it and doing it."

The Gloucester County Times reports that Megan and her fellow troop mates are just a snapshot of local girls heading to the 2011 Girl Leadership Summit taking place at Middlesex County College in New Jersey.

At the event, girls in grades 9 through 12 have the opportunity to network with more than 35 professional women and attend two of seven workshops. The seminars College 101, Interview Savvy, Learn it - Lead it!, Social Justice, Reach Out, Stress Less and Healthy Living aim to cultivate individual leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity, communication and life skills.

Megan, who studies Allied Health and Medical Science, hopes College 101 will give her valuable insight to achieve her goals. "I really don't have a clue what direction I want to go in except the health care field in general. I love math and science," said Megan.

Samantha, 14, a freshman pursuing culinary arts, said she's excited for the workshops she signed up for: Learn it - Lead it!, Healthy Living and Reach Out. "I signed up for the leadership workshop because I think everyone should have a good understanding of what leadership is," Samantha said. "I'd also like to either become a chef or nurse, so I'm also interested in Healthy Living so I can have a better understanding of nutrition." Samantha said Girl Scouts has had a positive impact on her life. Since she started in second grade, she admits it has boosted her confidence.

According to Leah O'Connor, Girl Scout Fund Development Specialist, the Leadership Summit partners the girls with 35 professional women who are experts in their fields. The partnerships show the girls who real role models are, and gives a wealth of information about what they can aspire to in their own futures.
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The Girl Leadership Summit is open to both Girl Scout members and non-Girl Scouts. Registration fees are for $15 for current members and $27 for non-members. Transportation will also be made available from GCSCNJ's Cherry Hill and Newfield offices.

This sounds like a really awesome opportunity! If you are in the area, definitely check it out and report back on your experience.

Girl Scouts Honor Fordham University

Fordham University was honored with a Community Service Award at the Fourth Annual Community Partnership Luncheon of the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, on March 15. Held in Tarrytown, N.Y., the event honored dedicated individuals and business friends who, through community service and support, have made an impact on the lives of girls. Funds for Girl Scout camps and other activities were raised through a silent auction at the event, which had the theme of "The Power of the Promise."Michael Gillan, Ph.D., associate vice president for the Westchester campus, accepted the award on behalf of the University. “When we opened our new campus at 400 Westchester Ave. (in West Harrison), we were committed not just to providing first rate degree programs, but also to deepening and extending our roots and connections with important organizations in the community,” Gillan said. “What more important and fitting group than Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson? Fordham’s core commitment is not just educational excellence for its own sake, but as our Jesuits say, education for the formation of ‘men and women for others,’ something that is consistent with the Girl Scouts’ promise.”

Gillan thanked the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson board and staff and praised those “most responsible for bringing this award about,” such as Lynne O’Connell, assistant dean of admissions for Fordham College of Liberal Studies, who initiated the relationship between the University and the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, and Mary Kate Donato, program associate for Fordham’s Executive MBA (EMBA) programs, and Francis Petit, Ed.D., associate dean for the EMBA programs, who led a Girl Scouts “Cookie Institute,” an entrepreneurial training workshop for Girl Scouts from the Heart of the Hudson Council, in November.

The Cookie Institute was the first event under a new partnership between Fordham and the Heart of the Hudson Council. Future events, such as a Career Day, are in the works.“We are looking forward to many more collaborations in years to come and to being at the very least, a semi-finalist for this award each and every year,” Gillan said.TD Bank was also honored by Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson with a Leadership Award. The Humanitarian Award was presented to the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Archives Committee.