Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone - It's the unofficial Summer Kickoff. More so, Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemeteries. Many parades and community activities also take place. As always, Girl Scouts will be out and about, participating in many activities for Memorial Day.

Join Us for Beauty Redefined : The Future of Girls' Body Image, Health and Media

Attention Everyone! Take some time on Wednesday, June 9, to participate in a Webinar with The Girl Scout Research Institute on the state of girls' body image, health and media - Register here. The discussion of these issues will be based in research, program and policy efforts led by Girl Scouts of the USA. Highlighted work will include a recent survey by the Girl Scout Research Institute about girls' body image and the fashion industry as well as national findings on girls health. In addition we will discuss an exciting new piece of legislation initiated by Girl Scouts - the Healthy Media for Youth Act as well as new programming on girls and self-esteem.

One major point of discussion will be childhood obesity. The childhood obesity epidemic has caused girls to be caught in a double bind - on one end they hear that children are overweight today and that is unhealthy and unattractive - on the other end of the spectrum they see images of girls and women who are super-thin and over - sexualized. What is healthy? As a result girls are left feeling confused and not knowing what or who to believe. We know from girls though that their definition of health and body image are linked. They see connections between physical and emotional health that adults often miss. For example, for girls, being healthy means feeling good about yourself, your body, having friends and family support.

The webinar will be hosted by The National Collaboration for Youth - a coalition of national organizations committed to advocating with and on behalf of youth and, in particular, in research-driven "positive youth development". Not only is Girl Scouts of the USA a member of The National Collaboration for Youth - Kathy Cloninger, our CEO, is the Chair of the National Collaboration for Youth’s board for the next year.

Definitely register here, and in the meantime - Imagine a world where girls' energy went to changing the world rather than aspiring to look like fashion models.

Leadership 18 Meets With First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden

First things first - What is Leadership 18? Leadership 18 is the coalition of the country’s largest and most well respected human development non-profit CEOs, and has been around for 30 years. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that our very own Kathy Cloninger - CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA - is a part of Leadership 18.

This week on Tuesday, May 25, The First Lady and Dr. Biden issued a national call to action to address the unique challenges facing military families, build stronger civilian-military community ties, and engage and highlight the service and sacrifice of military families.

Leadership 18 attendees included: Peter Goldberg, Alliance for Children and Families; Gail Mc Govern, American Red Cross; Roxanne Spillett, Boys and Girls Club of America; Father Larry Snyder, Catholic Charities USA; Kathy Cloninger, Girl Scouts of the USA; Judy Vredenburgh, Girls Incorporated; Jim Gibbons, Goodwill Industries International; Jill Schumann, Lutheran Services in America; Dr. David Shern, Mental Health America; Stephen Bennett, United Cerebral Palsy; Brian Gallagher, United Way Worldwide; Charles Gould, Volunteers of America; Neil Nicoll, YMCA of the USA; and Lorraine Cole, YWCA USA.

Earlier this month during a speech at a summit hosted by the National Military Family Association, the First Lady challenged every sector of American society to mobilize and take action to support and engage military families now and for decades to come. Awesome stuff! Read more here.

No Dancing at Father/Daughter Boot Camp

The Washington Post is reporting that a group of Girl Scouts and their Fathers traded in their traditional dance at Fort Belvoir last week, for something more intense: boot camp. They faced obstacle courses, three-legged races and drill sergeant Cindy Turrell, a kindergarten teacher at Fort Belvoir Elementary School. The event, which had more than 140 participants, was created to replace the dance's luaus and hoedowns.

Second-grader Kiley Sharpe's favorite event was the obstacle course, as I'm sure mine would be as well - sounds like fun! Have you ever been to a similar event?

Girl Scouts is Getting ‘Empowered’

Girl Scouts is partnering with the National Urban League on its “I am Empowered” campaign. The campaign is a yearlong public service initiative designed to rally millions of Americans around education, employment, housing and healthcare. It’s all part of the National Urban Leagues centennial celebration and anyone can take the “I am Empowered” pledge.

The pledge says, "I pledge to responsibly commit my time and talent to ensure that the nation is empowered to achieve the following goals by 2025:

• Every American child is ready for college, work and life.


• Every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits.


• Every American lives in safe, decent, affordable and energy efficient housing on fair terms.


• Every American has access to quality and affordable health care solutions."

So take the pledge, and check out the National Urban League’s cool video below:

The National Urban League is the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Girl Scouts has partnered with the National Urban League in the past, and has a long history of diversity and inclusion. The first Girl Scout troop for African American girls was formed in 1917, and by the 1950s, GSUSA had begun a national effort to desegregate all Girl Scout troops. In 1956, Martin Luther King Jr. described Girl Scouts as “a force for desegregation.”

Weekend Run-Down

Good Morning - no shortage of Girl Scout stories in the media. Let's begin:

• Kentucky's Business First reports that Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Inc. will donate more than 300 cases, or nearly 4,000 boxes, of Girl Scout Cookies Thursday to Louisville’s Dare to Care Food Bank.
• Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is holding their 3rd annual "Uncovering the Evidence" Crime Scene Investigation Twilight Camp for middle school girls in Clermont and Brown counties. Sounds fun to me! Read more here.
• NY Times Business Corner has an interview with Barbara J. Krumsiek, Chief Executive and Chairwoman of the Calvert Group Ltd. Investment Group. She credits Girl Scouting as a big contributor to her success!
• West Virginia's WVNS 59 TV has a positive realignment story!
• Oklahoma's News OK is running an incredibly inspiring story with the headline, "Mother’s battle with cancer inspires Norman Girl Scouts".
• In Montana, The Great Falls Tribune reports that a group of Girl Scouts recently earned their Silver Awards for the activity binders they created to be used by a preschool program.

Enjoy!

Girl Scout Google Doodle Artist!

Looks like there is a Girl Scout Finalist in the Doodle 4 Google Contest! Her name is Indira and she is eight years old. Vote for her here! She is Grade K-3, Region 4. Make sure you Vote!!

Nick News Covers Girl Scout's Anti-Bullying Vigil

Michigan's Battle Creek Enquirer reports that best friends Maddie Rayner and Alena Buczynski organized an anti-bullying week at their school last month as a way to earn their Girl Scout Silver Awards. The week focused on Massachusetts bullying victim Phoebe Prince, who killed herself after weeks of being targeted at her school. Rayner and Buczynski spent more than 50 hours planning school announcements and events, which culminated in a candlelight vigil for Prince on April 22. The project not only caught the attention of local politicians and People Magazine - Nick News sent a video crew out to film the vigil and gather a story on Rayner and Buczynski.

Awesome job young ladies! Definitely read the entire story here, and let us know your thoughts. How do you feel about bullying in schools?

California Cookies!

Head over to Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio's spot on InlandSocal's Blog and read more about this awesome photo of a Girl Scout with Liv and Steven Tyler!

Props to anyone who comes up with a clever Aerosmith/Cookie song title redux! Here's my best (pretty awful) attempt:

"Livin' on the Edge of a Thin Mint"

Girl Scouts Turn Trash Into Gold

The Kansas City Star has a story about a really awesome idea - Girl Scouts in Overland Park are repurposing used recycled car wash soap containers into rain barrels and selling them! A rain barrel is a water tank which is used to collect and store rain water runoff, typically from rooftops via rain gutters - basically devices for collecting and maintaining harvested rain. Rain Barrels are installed to make use of rain water for later use, reduce water use for economic or environmental reasons, and aid self-sufficiency. Stored water may be used for watering gardens, agriculture, flushing toilets, in washing machines, washing cars, and also for drinking, especially when other water supplies are unavailable, expensive, or of poor quality, and that adequate care is taken that the water is not contaminated or the water is adequately filtered.

In Overland Park, KS, 55-gallon plastic barrels are donated by a local car wash, which would normally end up in a landfill - then Troop 930 clean them and fit them with a spigot, strainer and overflow outlet. And then they sell the barrels for $55 each. The money they earn will help fund their Gold Award projects. Those Girl Scouts - Always Thinking!

Weekend Run-Down

Happy Monday Everyone! Lots to cover in today's Weekend Run-Down:

• In Iowa, The Des Moines Register is running a fantastic piece by Karen Grode - Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, Des Moines. Check it out!
• Colorado's Summit Daily News is reporting that Elizabeth Champion earned her Gold Award by collecting and assembling care packages of baby items to help mothers in need.
• In Kentucky, The Lexington Hearld-Leader reports that The Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council has honored Kentucky American Water Co. and Strand Associates with Community Awards. The awards recognize businesses, churches and organizations for significant contributions of support to the local Girl Scouts program.
• Also in Kentucky - more on that E-Waste recycling day from WBKO TV 13.
• In Georgia, Macon.com reports that five ladies were honored by local Girl Scouts as Women of Distinction.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reports that on Saturday, Girl Scouts participated in International Learn to Fly Day, where they learned the ins and outs of aviation! In other news, I'm jealous.

Enjoy!

Celebrity Scouts Abound!

For a good dose of celebrity Girl Scouts, head over to momlogic for a pretty fantastic slide show!

Who is your favorite celeb Girl Scout?

Petty Theft No Match for Girl Scout Resilience

Today in Massachusetts, North Andover's Eagle Tribune has a story that initially made me relatively angry, but the persistence of Haverhill's Girl Scout Troop 61286 definitely saves the day.

Last week, the 13- and 14-year-old girls spent a day planting a garden on a deck that overlooks the Merrimack River. Within 48 hours, they found their hard work had been hijacked - someone had ripped the flowers out of the boxes. No sign of them was left. Not cool. What is cool is Mayor James Fiorentini, who was "appalled" by the thoughtless act of vandalism and pledged to pay for new flowers. Now, despite their disappointment, the Scouts plan to return to the scene of the crime and plant another array of flowers. Fiorentini said his campaign committee will buy the replacement flowers and he intends to join Troop 61286 in planting them at the same place.

Share Your 2010 Cookie Stories!

Hey! Remember our Cookie Video from a few months back? Well, as Cookie Season is wrapping up, I find it totally appropriate to revisit that video and to also take a moment to share stories about Cookie Season 2010!



How was your Cookie Season this year?

Butterfly Garden for Silver Awards

Head on over to California's Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and read a story about two Girl Scouts working to improve the conditions at a local shelter that provides temporary housing and assistance to homeless families and their children. To acquire the Girl Scout Silver Award - which is the second highest award in the Girl Scouts - Veronica Osborn, 15, and Camille Goodwin, 13, spent a recent Saturday planting a drought friendly butterfly garden for residents and their children staying in the building. The award requires the girls - who are in Troop 12164 - to complete three projects for the community. The garden was the girls' main project.

Awesome work Veronica and Camille! Do you have stories you'd like to share about your Girl Scout Silver Award Project?

Oldest Living Girl Scout Turning 110

Boston's Fox 25 reports that this week, Milly England - The oldest living Girl Scout - is turning 110 years old. On Saturday friends, family and fellow Girl Scouts threw a big bash where she was honored as the oldest living Girl Scout. She recalled some of her Scouting memories from as early on as 1914 - almost as far back as the organization itself! Check out the video below for a peek inside her party. Happy Birthday, for sure!

Weekend Run-Down

As always, there was an abundance of fantastic Girl Scout press this weekend - let's begin:

• The Watertown Daily Express in New York reports that Girl Scouts got taste of 'CSI' at SUNY Canton.
• 'Finding strength in admitting a weakness' - a wonderful column from Sunday's Fort Worth Star Telegram. Definitely check it out.
• Tennessee's Times Daily sources Girl Scout Research Institute's "The New Normal? What Girls Say About Healthy Living" in an article about Moms still being the top role models for healthy lifestyles.
• The Washington Rapids Tribune, WI, reports accurately that Girl Scouts offers diverse camp options.
• A great story about youth organizations working together to do good - The Lawrence Journal World in Kansas has an awesome article about how Area troops in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts teamed up with the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department to plant 300+ trees.
• 'Girl Scout creates dog bite prevention program for Gold Award', reports Alabama's Dothan Eagle - check it out!

Enjoy

Brownies Bake For Haiti's Sake

Let's turn our attention to a group of Brownies in Omaha, NE, who prove that Creighton University donors come in all ages - They were even personally thanked by University President Rev. John P. Schlegel after donating to the University’s Haiti Relief Effort. The Brownies of Troop 3495, Omaha, raised $645 through a bake sale and made a donation following the January 12 earthquake that devastated the county of Haiti. Brownie leader Lisa Schartz Keane, a 1991 graduate of Creighton’s School of Law, sums everything up nicely:

“The fact that 8-year-olds helped someone in need is such a
powerful lesson for all of us. That they took this project and ran with it
demonstrates that there is good in the world and it is reflected in these young
hearts”

So far, five Creighton-led health care teams have traveled to the Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) in the Dominican Republic and were able to provide care for earthquake victims in Jimani just 30 minutes from Haiti’s capital. The quickness of the University’s response stems in part from its long-term relationship with ILAC. The University has supported health sciences students and faculty to provide health care at ILAC for more than 20 years. To make financial donations, please visit Creighton’s Haiti Relief Effort.

Girl Scouts of the USA Dedicates Elliott Native Plant Garden at Edith Macy

Girl Scouts of the USA dedicated the Elliott Native Plant Garden at the Edith Macy Conference Center today in honor of Herford N. and Priscilla Elliott and their family’s longtime efforts to help develop girl leaders who value and protect wildlife and the environment.

The Elliott family, through the Herford N. Elliott Trust Fund, has supported GSUSA’s Elliott Wildlife Values Project since 1977. The dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by GSUSA and Girl Scout council staff members, as well as former Elliott Wildlife Values Project managers.

“We are so grateful to the Elliott family for their support of Girl Scouts,”

- said Florence Corsello, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration at GSUSA.

“The outdoors and respecting and appreciating nature are an essential part of
the Girl Scout experience, and it’s more than fitting that we would honor the
Elliotts and their longtime commitment to Girl Scouting with a beautiful garden
and a beautiful setting like the Edith Macy Conference Center.”

The mission of the Elliott Wildlife Values Project is to develop girls as leaders of both wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship efforts, who positively impact their communities and the world. The project fosters the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girls develop science, outdoor, and leadership skills through girl-led, cooperative activities, in which they learn by doing. In the process, they
discover a strong sense of self, develop positive values, and gain an understanding of their important role in caring for wildlife and for our earth’s natural resources; connect with nature, the outdoors, and their local and global communities; liaise with environmental experts; and investigate career opportunities; and Take action to identify community and environmental needs, positively impact the environment, and educate and inspire others to act as stewards of the earth and its wildlife.

The project supports local Girl Scout councils, committees, and volunteers globally through program development, membership and volunteer development, learning opportunities and consultative services, grants to councils, and collaboration with organizations and agencies.

“Millions of girls have benefited from the work of the Elliott Wildlife Values Project,”

- said Jodi Schwarzer, Project Manager, Elliott Wildlife Values Project at GSUSA.

“The Elliott family’s support has been instrumental in building our national
environmental and outdoor programming.”

The garden, which is located near the Great Hall in an area of the conference center known as Sleepy Hollow, features a variety of native plants and places where visitors can view local wildlife and engage in quiet reflection. The garden was funded by a grant from Bank of New York Mellon.

Recycle Your E-waste With Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana

What exactly is E-Waste? It is Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) - discarded, surplus, obsolete, or broken electrical or electronic devices, to be exact. An estimated 50 million tonnes of E-waste is produced globally each year. The USA discards 30 million computers each year and 100 million phones are disposed of in Europe each year. It is estimated that only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled, the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators. That is quite a bit of preventable pollution.

If you are in the Louisville, KY, area - you can help your local Girl Scouts make sure some e-waste gets recycled. According to Kentucky's Business First, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana is hosting an electronic waste recycling day May 15, at the Girl Scout Program and Learning Center in Lexington. If you are in the area, definitely bring in your e-waste and have it recycled!

Are there e-waste recycling initiatives in your communities? Let me know!

Girl Scout-supported Bill Featured on PBS

Recently, the bill Girl Scouts was instrumental in crafting has been getting some substantial media attention. The Healthy Media for Youth Act (H.R. 4925), co-sponsored by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), was the subject of a feature story and spirited discussion on To the Contrary, the long-running news analysis television program on PBS. The story focused on body image and the legislation, and mentioned Beauty Redefined, the Girl Scout survey on girls and their attitudes toward fashion and the media. The discussion that followed, moderated by host Bonnie Erbe, touched on a number of issues, including whether the right advocacy approach should be more grassroots oriented rather than focused on legislation in Washington, D.C. It was a provocative and thoughtful discussion. Check it out via podcast (the segment starts at 16:45 mark) and let us know what you think.

For more coverage on Beauty Redefined, check out articles in The Anniston Star, The Ottawa Citizen and Cinematical.

Leaders Inspire Future Leaders

Recently, on April 22, 2010 - Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, and Women’s Policy, Inc. marked the 18th anniversary of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day by pairing a diverse group of girls with Members of Congress for the day, continuing the tradition of bringing girls to Capitol Hill to witness firsthand the crucial role women play in shaping public policy.

The event provided a unique opportunity for girls to spend the day with a female role model, learn about the political process, and envision themselves as leaders. In addition to meeting with women Members of Congress throughout the day, the girls also attended a press conference held by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. The girls asked questions of the Speaker ranging from female leadership to environmental issues, and enjoyed the view from the Speaker’s balcony where she personally greeted each girl. Additionally, the girls attended a lunch event hosted by the Century Council featuring Olympians Apolo Ohno and Dana Torres. Along with autographs and pictures, the girls received tips on making healthy lifestyle choices.

More on the Girl Scouts meeting with governance news, North Carolina's News and Observer is reporting that Governor Bev Perdue - North Carolina's first female governor - recently hosted a group of Girl Scouts at the Executive Mansion. Perdue discussed female leadership with the girls, who was once a Girl Scout herself.

Operation Thin Mint Takes Flight From San Diego

Head over to NBC San Diego and check out some awesome photos of Girl Scout Cookies being lifted into the sky via helicopter - to be delivered around the world to American Troops serving abroad! Approximately 147,000 boxes of cookies are on their way to service men and women stationed in Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, and Korea and on board Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. It is a project called Operation Thin Mint, which was started by the Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council nine years ago.

Do you have similar stories? If so, please share!

Weekend Run-Down

Lot's going on in Girl Scout news - Let's run it down!

• In Massachusetts, Melrose Girl Scouts participated in a free “Self-Protection Workshop” at North Shore Martial Arts Center - The Girl Scouts learned self-defense prevention techniques for situations ranging from bullying to kidnapping and abduction. Read more here.
• The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, reports that Girl Scouts in Westmoreland County will benefit from a $15,000 grant to Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania to fund science and technology programming.
• In Roseville, CA, The Press Tribune reports that Girl Scout Jamie Reich earned her Silver Award for an Eco-friendly project - The Woodcreek High School freshman was honored by Roseville mayor for her accomplishment.
• In New London, CT, The U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol hosted Girl Scout Troop 63101 from Harbor Elementary School on April 27 at its offices at Fort Trumbull. Read more here.
• In Temecula, The Californian reports that Boy, Girl Scouts united for park cleanup.

Enjoy!