A Girl Scout Cookie Smackdown!

Top cookie selling Girl Scout Chelsea Masterson was a judge today on WNYC's radio show The Takeaway. She was there to judge a competition between two chefs: Kim Severson (author of "Spoon Fed") and Melissa Clark, both of whom write for The New York Times. The chefs were there to remix Girl Scout cookies into new recipes. The Takeaway called the challenge The Girl Scout Cookie Smackdown - and it's totally awesome. Listen below:



Chef Melissa Clark has taken to her Blog over at The New York Times and penned a post about the experience. Definitely check it out!

Alabama Girl Scouts Recognize Women of Distinction

The Gadsden Times is reporting that The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama will recognize nine outstanding women Thursday at their East Alabama Women of Distinction Luncheon at Jacksonville State University’s Leone Cole Coliseum. The luncheon will pay tribute to women in St. Clair, Talladega, Etowah, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Clay and Randolph counties who have made special contributions to their community through civic, academic or professional involvement.

This year’s honorees are Marie Akin, senior vice president, Exchange Bank of Alabama; Betty Carr, civic leader; Tina Gregerson, owner and CEO, Personnel Staffing Inc.; Joyce Hughes, medical staff credentialing coordinator, HealthSouth; Christie King-Ray, president, C King Benefits Auction; Carol Pappas, former editor and publisher, the Daily Home, Talladega; Valerie A. Richardson, vice president of institutional advancement and student services, Gadsden State Community College; and Jean F. Stanko, nurse practitioner, Anniston Family Practice.
Also, Josephine Ayers, founder and editor-in-chief of the Long Leaf Magazine, will receive the 2010 Frances E. Couch Award at the luncheon. Gail Collins, a New York Times columnist, will be the speaker. For more info, go here.

Congrats to all of the honorees! Are there Women of Distinction being honored in your community? Let us know. On a side note, the last time I was in Alabama - I was driving through a massive blizzard - It was surreal...

IBM Women in Technology Group helps Girl Scouts to use Computers in Everyday Life

In Raleigh, NC, My North Carolina is reporting that Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines recently partnered with the IBM Women in Technology Group to teach Girl Scout Cadettes how exciting computers and technology can be. The workshop, entitled "Computers in Everyday Life," was held on the IBM campus in Research Triangle Park and helped the Cadettes earn the Computers in Everyday Life Interest project award.

Through the workshop, 53 Girl Scouts participated in activities that utilized technology to make tasks easier on a daily basis. Activities during the day included: designing a website, getting "up close and personal" with personal computers, and creating a newsletter. New this year was a career fair, allowing the girls to investigate computer-related careers as well as occupations that are possible while working from home with a computer. Of the event and of IBM as well, Coastal Pine's Chief Executive Officer Rusine Mitchell Sinclair states:

"The event held at IBM was an outstanding way for girls to gain practical life
skills, engage in team-work, and learn how to become problem solvers... We are
so thankful to IBM for the resources that they have provided, and especially to
the IBM Women in Technology Group who gave their time today and provided
hands-on learning to Girl Scout members."

How important do you think it is to support technological initiatives within Girl Scouting?

Weekend Run-Down

Good Morning and welcome to this week's Weekend Run-Down. As always, there is much to report:

• Check out an awesome article in The Chicago Tribune on Maria Wynne - CEO of The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago. In October 2008, Wynne left Microsoft Corp. to become the Girls Scouts' new Chief Executive Officer for the region just three months after a controversial and unprecedented merging of seven Chicago area and Northwest Indiana councils.
• The Republic in Arizona has a great piece on five Ahwatukee girls who spent nine years together in the same Girl Scout Troop.
• The Great Falls Tribune, MT, reports that Sierra Rutledge has been awarded one of only 25 Girl Scouts of America “Destination” trips handed out worldwide - she’ll be traveling in England for two weeks.
• The Journal, in West Virginia, is carrying the story about the Healthy Media for Youth Act (H.R. 4925) - a bill to improve media literacy for youth and to encourage the promotion of healthier media messages about girls and women. This bipartisan legislation has been endorsed by the Girl Scouts of the USA.
• According to The Orange County Register, CA, Seven Corona del Mar High School students received the highest honor for Girl Scouts, The Gold Award, in a ceremony March 20 at Temple Bat Yahm Chapel in Newport Beach.

Enjoy.

13-Year-Old Girl Scout Rescues Two Children

Head on over to CBS 11TV in Dallas, TX- read and watch a video about life saving 13-year-old Girl Scout Kenna Dolan, who recently rescued two drowning children from a pool. As a result of Kenna Dolan's life saving actions, The Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains will throw the first pitch at the annual Girl Scout Friends and Family Day at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, TX. Dolan's dad, Jeff Dolan said:

"In terms of the awards you can get, I don't think it gets much better than this... My daughter is going to get to throw the first pitch out at a Major League Baseball game. It's incredible."

If you're in the area, definitely check it out! For another example of a life saving Girl Scout, go here.

Bill Supported by Girl Scouts Introduced in Congress

U.S. Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced bipartisan legislation that establishes a national task force that would develop voluntary guidelines and other measures to promote positive media images of girls and women. The bill, the Healthy Media for Youth Act (H.R. 4925), was developed in collaboration with us at Girl Scouts of the USA.

The bill would support media literacy programs, promote research on the effect of media images on young people, and encourage the adoption of voluntary guidelines to promote healthier media images for youth. The Healthy Media for Youth Act is part of a Girl Scout effort at the federal, state, and local level known as Live Healthy, Lead Healthy, which seeks to engage policymakers and community leaders around key health and well-being issues affecting girls. On the importance of healthier media images, Representative Baldwin states:

“Children are consuming more media than ever... Unfortunately too many of the images they see often reinforce gender stereotypes, emphasize unrealistic body images or show women in passive roles. All young people would benefit from seeing healthier and more positive messages about girls and women. The Healthy Media for Youth Act is a critical step towards achieving this goal.”

Moore Capito goes further in saying:

“The need for healthy, positive images of girls in the media is clear... We applaud the Girl Scouts' response to this need. The Healthy Media for Youth Act, which builds upon with their tireless efforts to build girls' self-esteem, will improve youth media literacy and create new opportunities for the media to positively impact the health, relationships and future of our young people.”

With the bill now formally introduced in Congress, Girl Scout staff and volunteer leaders from councils across the country will meet with their local members of Congress in coming weeks to build support for the legislation. The effort, known as Girl Scout District Congressional Advocacy Days, is part of an organization-wide effort to be the leading voice for girls and promote healthy media images for girls.

If you want to take action and gain support for the bill, please visit The Girl Scout Advocacy Network today to send a support letter urging your Representatives to cosponsor the bill.

Across the USA and Beyond, Girl Scouts are Green

There is an abundance of environmental news stories today involving Girl Scout Troops from all over the country and beyond. In Jessup, IA, The Citizen Herald reports that Girl Scouts from Troop 336, along with their leader Jennifer Kimmerle and other leaders, attended the Jesup City Council meeting on March 8. The girls gave a brief presentation to the council about Earth Day and the importance to reduce, reuse and recycle. They then asked the council for monetary assistance with an Earth Day Poster contest - which they will get. The contest will involve approximately 550 students in the Jesup area and winners of the contest will receive trees to be planted as prizes.

In New Jersey, The Courrier Post is reporting that Medford Township is one of 6,000 cities in 115 countries where lights will go out for one hour Saturday as millions of people around the world participate in Earth Hour - a call to action on climate change. Medford Girl Scouts are among the individuals, businesses, governments and communities participating in Earth Hour on Saturday March 27. Lights will go out on some of the most recognized landmarks on the planet, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Mt. Rushmore and the Empire State Building and at major landmarks in Toronto, Taipei, London, Bangkok and Cape Town. Across the ocean, Girl Scouts of the Phillipines are also participating in Earth Hour! Read about it in the Manilla Bulletin. The Philippines has much reason to be proud of taking part in this event. Last year, the country ranked #1 in terms of scope of public participation, with over 10 million Filipinos in 647 cities and towns participating. This has resulted to at least 611 MWh in energy savings in just one hour.

In Maryland, The Gazette is reporting that on March 18, Girl Scouts received lessons in water conservation. At Thomas G. Pullen School in Landover, Girl Scouts from Troops based at Pullen and at Lake Arbor Elementary School in Mitchellville tested tap water samples from their own homes for clarity and pH balance and began sealing their own rain barrel, which traps rainwater before it becomes runoff.

Certainly no shortage of community minded Girl Scouts in The U.S.A, and in the world.

Milk, Cookies and Maggie the Mayfield Cow

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Mayfield Dairy recently partnered in time for the Girl Scout Cookie Program. From February 15 to March 30, Mayfield Dairy has been and will continue donating a portion of milk sales proceeds to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta - Fantastic! In addition to the donation, Mayfield President Scottie Mayfield says the dairy is also giving milk lovers a chance to save money - During the promotional period, Girl Scouts will be handing out coupons at Girl Scout Cookie Booths. With each Girl Scout Cookie purchase, consumers will get a coupon for a $1.00 off a gallon of Mayfield Milk. Of the partnership, Mr. Mayfield says:

"We’re excited about our partnership with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta... Girl
Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, and we’re happy to
help this great organization provide girls with the skills they need to be
outstanding members of our community."

Awesome! Milk and Cookies sounds good to me...

Photo Run-Down: Celebrating Girl Scout Week!

Girls from the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore celebrated Girl Scout week in New York City by attending tapings of the CBS Early Show, Good Morning America and touring Girl Scout Headquarters. Check it out!

CBS Early Show:

Crowd:

Cookies, Personified:

Future Anchor:

Juju Chang:

Robin Robets:

George Stephanopoulos:

Girl Scouts of the USA Headquarters:

Weekend Run-Down

From a 'Tagalong Run' to girls learning about the automobile parts under the hood of a hybrid car - Girl Scouts are in the news:

• In Sioux Falls, SD, The Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons will host “Purses with a Purpose” - a ladies night out fundraiser featuring a silent auction.
• Girl Scouts learned about sustainable energy through a hands-on approach, building and racing cars made from K'NEX before touring different research rooms and the Eco Car garage. In addition to fostering awareness on new advancements in vehicle technology and sustainable energy, the event also aimed to educate youth about sustainable energy. Read all about it in The Daily Collegian.
• The Winchester News Gazette in Indiana reports on The Tagalong Trail Run - a new event for Girl Scouts that will help raise funds for local programs. The event allows for young Scouts to run along with their mother, father or other family member in a peaceful, natural rural setting.
• Camping equipment donations requested for Girl Scout project! For more information, check out an article in The Nashua Telegraph, NH.
• To earn their Community Service Badges, members of Girl Scout Troop 8 in Windsor, CO, decorated the Windsor Police Department and Town Board with potted plants. Read more in The Windsor Beacon.
• On Saturday March 13th, Girl Scout Troop #263 from Alamo, TX got together at the Alamo Post Office to send off several boxes of cookies to soldiers overseas.
• The Villages Daily Sun in Florida has a fantastic article titled, 'Once a scout, always a scout' - check it out!

Enjoy

Valuable Life Lessons Learned From Girl Scouting

Northwest Asian Weekly is running one of the best articles I've read in a while, which is no small accomplishment considering the amount of truly positive attention Girl Scouting garners on both the local and national level. The headline reads 'Girl Scouts helps young girls while shaking off the suburban stereotype' - and is a true testament to the life enhancing experiences Girl Scouting offers not only to girls, but to the community as a whole. Grace Chien, CEO of The Girl Scouts of Western Washington, is quoted throughout, starting with:

"I think what people need to recognize about the Girl Scouts is that it’s very
much a grass roots organization... Most of our programs and Girl Scout troops,
which are led by adult volunteers, and their service to the community are driven
by the interests of the girls."

The article, which confronts the issues of cultural acclimation and accessibility to youth programs in regards to marginalized communities, is best summed up by quoting Girl Scout and high school freshman Julie Nguyen:

"Before I joined Girl Scouts, I was this girl who didn’t think about going to
college or think about doing good in school. I didn’t have many friends because
I was pretty mean... But when Girl Scouts came into my life, I became this
outgoing, funny, respectful girl with lots of potential."

Definitely check out this article. Also, what do you think the benefits of Girl Scouting are?

Former First Daughter Speaks to Girl Scouts!

Best selling author, Jenna Bush Hager, will speak to Girl Scouts and their supporters at two fundraisers for Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council. The former first daughter will give the keynote address at two luncheons - April 21 and May 6.

The fundraisers are two of four Building Futures events, which raise money to bring the Girl Scout experience to all girls, even if they can't afford membership dues, said Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council spokeswoman Emily Tucker:

"We want to give all girls access to the leadership skills gained through Girl Scouting. Building Futures is about just that - ensuring that girls who might not otherwise have positive role models or decision-making skills can get them and, ultimately, have an improved future."

If you are in the area, make sure you check it out - more details here.

Marine Surprises Girl Scouts With a Visit

In Connecticut, The Middleton Press is running an extremely cool article about Marine Reservist Lance Cpl. Robert LaFleur - who surprised the scouts by coming to a meeting to thank them for a Christmas care package they sent him, while he was stationed in Iraq! The girls sent food and cards to LaFleur and his unit, which the Marine said cheered them up a lot. LaFleur said:

“The cards were beautiful”

After giving LaFleur the honor of holding the flag for the scouts’ opening ceremony, the girls were welcome to ask the Marine any questions they wanted about his service. They inquired about what it was like to be a Marine and be in a war, among other things. For video and more, definitely check out the entire article. Also, let us know about ways The Girl Scouts in your communities reach out to soldiers - Have you personally been involved with sending care packages abroad?

South Carolina Girl Scouts Honor Rev. Dr. Jeri Perkins

South Carolina Now is reporting that The Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina honored the Rev. Dr. Jeri Parris Perkins, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Hartsville during the annual Mary Dean Brewer Woman of Distinction Award Dinner. The award is named for Mary Dean Brewer who was a Girl Scout leader of outstanding ability and who suffered a premature death due to cancer.

Perkins, a member of the Hartsville Kiwanis Club, has served the Hartsville First Presbyterian Church for nine years, and she has served as adjunct faculty in the Department of Religion at Presbyterian College as well as retreat speaker and council moderator. She is on the Board of Trustees of Presbyterian College, the Alumni Council of Columbia Theological Seminary and chair of the Committee on Ministry for the Presbytery of New Harmony. Congrats to Jeri Parris Perkins, an extremely busy Woman of Distinction!

Girl Scouts Turns Greener Leaf

Check out a fantastic article in USA Today about Girl Scouts Forever Green Community Action Project - aimed at engaging, educating, and empowering girls to take the lead in developing and implementing sustainable initiatives to decrease the environmental footprints of their schools and communities. The article pinpoints that Forever Green is a response to a 2008 survey, in which members of the Girls Scouts picked the environment as the most important issue for them. In it, GSUSA spokeswoman Michelle Tompkins eloquently states:

"We are where the girls are. Right now, environmental action is very important
to them. We allow them to lead us"

Forever Green, which began in 10 councils will expand nationwide in 2011.

Happy 98th Anniversary Girl Scouts!

Today, Join with me in celebrating the 98th anniversary of Girl Scouts! More than 3 million girls in the United States and more than are discovering their path to leadership through Girl Scouts.

Self-discovery and community service were core values that Girls Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low sought to instill in girls from the earliest days. When the organization was founded in 1912, many girls’ paths in life were limited and Low’s vision was to establish an organization where any American girl could expand her personal horizon by having fun while exploring new interests and contributing to society. Low was determined to help expand opportunities and learning for the average American girl, and founded Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912.

Tampa Skyline Green for Girl Scout Week

According to The Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL, The Sun Trust Financial Centre in downtown Tampa is shining green lights March 7-13 to commemorate Girl Scout Week. Stiles Property Management, the building’s manager, agreed to light up the tower after Girl Scouts of West Central Florida contacted the company. Awesome!

HGTV Wishes Girl Scouts a Happy Birthday!

Head on over to HGTV's Blog, Design Happens, and scroll through a fantastic look The Girl Scout's classic trefoil symbol and cookie design. From Gothic architecture to modern furniture, the trefoil has been utilized in design for a very long time - but I like to think that our incarnation is the best!

In other trefoil news, check out The Northwest Arkansas Times for an awesome picture of a Girl Scout dressed as a trefoil, selling cookies.

Girl Scout Week Run-Down

From Mayoral Declarations to 98th Birthday Wishes, Girl Scout Week is in the news:

• Last week in Raleigh, NC, Mayor Charles Meeker declared March 7-13 Girl Scout Week.
• The Canon City Daily Record, CA, reports that Girl Scout Week was proclaimed with these sentiments: "Girl Scouts, the largest organization for girls in the world, is the leading authority and advocate for girls inspiring millions of girls and women with the highest ideals of courage, confidence and character."
• The Kirksville Daily Express, MO, states that The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri will join Girl Scouts around the country to celebrate Girl Scout Week and the 98th anniversary of Girl Scouts from March 7-13.
• The Citizen in Auburn, NY, wishes Girl Scouts a Happy 98th Birthday!
• In The Warren Reporter, NJ, Helen Wronski, president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey says that, "Girl Scout Week is an opportunity to celebrate the history of Girl Scouting and help our girls to make the world a better place by giving back to their communities."
• Utica - NY'S WKTV declares that Girl Scout Week means cookie time.
• According to The Richmond-Times Dispatch, VA, Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has given up sweets for Lent, but that didn't stop him from meeting yesterday with a group of cookie-selling Girl Scouts for National Girl Scout Week.

Girl Scout Week is Here!

Hello Everyone, It's Girl Scout Week - and what does that mean?

It means that while Girl Scouts across the country celebrate 98 years of community service, we remain committed to helping make the world a better place. Girl Scouts salutes all for their dedication to and support of the positive development of girls everywhere. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character. Serving as a Girl Scout today means being part of a worldwide organization that builds leadership skills by providing girls with opportunities to discover their interests, connect with others, and take action. March 12, 2010, marks the 98th anniversary of Girl Scouting. During Girl Scout Week, which runs from March 7 through 13, Girl Scouts of all ages celebrate by demonstrating leadership and commitment in ways that have a real impact on their communities.

Girl Scouts is proud that change is one of our greatest traditions. We continue to keep in step with girls’ needs while remaining true to the core values of the Girl Scout Movement. Indeed, when a girl becomes a Girl Scout, she promises to try to help people at all times and this has been so since the early years of the Girl Scout Movement. That promise is actualized everyday through a vast array of community service projects in which Girl Scouts help make the world, and our community, a better place.

We thank all the volunteers and members in our community for their time, talent, and financial support. That spirit of volunteerism and support makes it possible for us to continue to be the best leadership experience for girls—today, tomorrow, and always.

I will be celebrating Girl Scout Week by only posting stories relating to Girl Scout Week activities and related news pieces from across the country! How will you celebrate Girl Scout Week?

All Things Considered Celebrates Girl Scouts Online Marketing Efforts

Yesterday, NPR's legendary show All Things Considered ran a segment on Girl Scouts and our efforts to venture online and market cookies. Definitely take a listen when you get a chance. In the piece, Laurel Richie, Chief Marketing Officer for the Girl Scouts of the USA, says that whether the girls are marketing in person or online, the important thing is that they're coming up with a plan and executing it. Of the transition to online marketing, she states:

"I love the fact that we're moving from door to door, to online, because it says that we're really in touch with girls today."

The piece also touches on our Blog in partnership with Microsoft Windows to assist parents and teens in bridging the generational, digital divide - LMK (LMK, text-speak for Let Me Know). Check it out! While you're at it - let's keep circulating our recent PSA, "What Can A Cookie DO?", posted below.

How To Sell Like a Girl Scout

The Worcester Business Journal, out of Massachusetts, has a fantastic article on the lessons business leaders can learn from Girl Scouts as they embark on their annual cookie sale. The paper goes to the scouts themselves, namely Elizabeth Anderson and Hannah Schur for answers! The girls break down the success of the Cookie Program into six categories and expound on them:

• Perseverance - “The cookie sale is right in the middle of winter, and it’s cold; I spend hours on it. It takes up all of my weekends for two months.”


• Promotion - “Don’t be afraid to promote your products...I would go door to door and I would be so afraid that people would just kick me out, but if people want a product, they’ll buy it."


• Be Nice - “You should always be nice to any customers... Even if they don’t buy anything, be polite, because they might become future customers.”


• Be Empathetic - “Put yourself in the customer’s shoes... Do everything you can to be convenient to customers.”


• Be Opportunistic - “Even thought I wanted to be home, I went out on Super Bowl Sunday to get more sales. Who doesn’t want Girl Scout Cookies while watching the football game?”


• The Incentives - “Destinations”

Of the Cookie Program as a whole, Richard Kennedy, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce goes on to say:

“It shows you that the power of networking is incredible... They engage every
civic organization, every neighbor and friend, and it’s almost embarrassing not
to buy them...”

Definitely check out the article and, as always, send in your best cookie selling advice!

Success and Diversity in Minnesota

Recently, The Star-Tribune in Minnesota ran an article touching on the challenges faced by other cultures to acclimate to American culture - and spotlighted The Girl Scouts as a resource for those looking to participate in American culture, while still maintaining their heritage. The article highlights Mai Yer Xiong, a senior high school student in St. Paul, who is of Hmong descent. Xiong, who applied for a scholarship to the prestigious Wellesley College, will begin classes there in the fall and credits scouting with showing her that she,

"can accomplish just as much as anyone"

Congrats to Mai Yer Xiong! As always, send us any stories highlighting diversity and success in your communities.

Girl Scouts and Girl Guides attending The United Nation's 54th Commission on the Status of Women

What is The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)? CSW is a functional commission of the the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. It is the principal global policy-making body. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. For a better understanding of CSW and its' history, go here.

This year, Girl Delegates are representing the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts(WAGGGS), at the commission - as well as me! I will be reporting from the front lines as our WAGGGS Delegation lobbies to change the inequality of girls and young women worldwide, which leads to their being disproportionately burdened by many of the issues affecting humankind. They will approach country delegations at the CSW and work with UN agencies, other Non-Governmental Organizations, committees and caucuses to make sure girls stay at the center of attention when deciding policies and programs. Please stay posted for stories and news from The 54th Commission on the Status of Women.

Weekend Run-Down

Hello and welcome to another installment of Weekend Run-Down. As always, there are no shortages of Girl Scouts in the media:

• The Newark Post is reporting that more than 100 Girl Scouts from Delaware and Pennsylvania teamed up with 60 female DuPont engineers, chemists and physicists in Engineering Your Tomorrow, an all day educational event designed to demonstrate that science is fun and to show girls they can succeed in careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
• More coverage of 'Engineering Your Tomorrow' in The Delaware News Journal.
• The Grand Haven Tribune in Michigan has a report on World Thinking Day.
• In Auburn, NY, The Citizen has a fantastic story about Girl Scouts participating in “It's Your Planet, Love It” Try-It Day.
• The Northeast News and Tribune in Florida is reporting that Girl Scout Troop 758 has partnered with the Youth Triathlon Series in the season's kick-off event, Tri It Get Fit - urging children and adults to participate in the troop's upcoming triathlon.
• In Austin, TX, Sabrina Stinson is making news for being a Gold Award recipient. Check it out in The Statesman.