Halloween Fun and Good Deed Run-Down

Juliette Gordon Low's Birthday falls on October 31, so it makes sense that here is an abundance of good coming out of Girl Scout Troops across the nation this Halloween Season. Let's have a Run-Down:

• In Minnesota, The Fargo Moorhead Forum reports that local Girl Scouts will participate in the fifth annual Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat food drive Saturday. Girls will go door to door to collect food which will be donated to the 2010 Fill the Dome project.
• In Louisiana, The Tri-Parish Times reports that Girl Scouts will be marching in Houma's annual Halloween Parade which includes an after party fundraiser with proceeds going to "plenty of food" and a silent auction, including gift cards and an autographed picture of New Orleans Saint Robert Meachem.
• In Lake Bluff, IL, a group of fourth grade Girl Scouts attended the 6th biannual Ghost Walk that drew nearly 900 for a spirit-filled historical Halloween tour of the downtown. It is the Vliet Museum's biggest fund-raiser. Read more in the Lake Forester.
• NorthJersey.com reports that Girl Scouts in Troop No. 335 recently looked a fright after visiting The Wonderfun Magic & Costume Shop in Pompton Lakes as part of its program on owning a business. Store owners Scott and Britni Morley discussed what goes into running their small business and Britni, a special FX makeup artist, gave an airbrush makeup demo, explaining how she can create spooky or fantasy designs at the store.
• Michigan's Williamston Enterprise reports that on Saturday, Williamston police reserves, along with the Girl Scouts, will be at various street crossings to assist families/kids safely across the street. The Girl Scouts will also hold a can/bottle drive in the Citizens Bank parking lot, so bring in your returnables and donate them to Girl Scouts.

Are there any Girl Scout good deeds happening this Halloween Season in your area?

Self Esteem, Healthy Media and Girl Scouts

Stylelist reports that last weekend, from Friday, October 22, through Sunday, October 24, Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove invited girls to participate in the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend. The events were part of the Dove Movement for Self-Esteem that encourages women and girls to create a world in which beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. Katie Couric, Abigail Breslin, and Dove Movement for Self-Esteem Youth Ambassador, Katherine Schwarzenegger, are just a few of the women who shared messages of inspiration with participants.

Similarly, an article appeared in Women's eNews about the recent Healthy Media for Youth Summit in Washington DC. Reporter Rich Daly was on hand and relates that Girl Scouts has enlisted the help of such industry leaders as the National Association of Broadcasters and the National Cable and Television Association. He states:

"The goal is to get entertainment and media companies to improve the images of
girls projected by Hollywood, advertising and even among kids on the Internet.
The girls' image campaign and ongoing gatherings is led by a partnership of 12
groups representing girls' advocates, broadcasters, studios and lobbying firms... As part of this effort, the Girl Scouts lobbied for support of proposed federal legislation--introduced by Reps. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, and Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia Republican in March--to fund more detailed research on media's impact on girls."

The story also gained traction in USA Today and Politico. Watch What You Watch, the national PSA campaign to promote healthy media images for youth was debuted at the October event and has been heavily covered by Chicago’s FOX News, CNN, Washington Post and many more. Watch it below:

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Provide Significant STEM Support

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, in collaboration with the St. Petersburg Times Newspapers in Education program, compiled a 12-page educational supplement centered around Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) titled "Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and YOU". It was distributed to all 6 - 8 grade classrooms in the area and will go to all subscribers of the St. Petersburg Times on Saturday, Oct. 30. I've read the brochure and loved it. It is full of activities ranging from growing your own crystals and building your own car to making éclairs and doing your own clean air inventory. Kim Jowell, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, communicates the importance of STEM career opportunities to girls and their leadership development. She states:

"According to the National Science Foundation, women constitute 46% of the U.S.
labor force,but only 22% of scientists and engineers. Although young girls are
precocious learners, by fifth grade many girls shy away from math and science.
Academic stereotypes and lack of encouragement for girls have caused fewer girls
to take science or math classes than boys and to pursue higher education/careers
in these fields... Together, we can create positive, lasting change by encouraging youth to have an early interest in STEM subjects and career paths – ultimately introducing an entire generation to the disciplines that are changing the future for all of us."

View and download the brochure here. I'm sure some of you will find it very resourceful. Do you have any STEM activities you would like to share?

In Michigan, Managing the Chaos of a Brownie Meeting

Char Luttrell, Community Contributor for AnnArbor.com, Communications Specialist for Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan and survivor of four years of Brownie sleepovers and campouts, recently penned a piece titled "Managing the Happy Chaos of a Girl Scout Brownie Meeting" - it's fantastic. Of Girl Scout Brownies, Luttrell states:

"They are lovable, energetic, boisterous and loud... These second and third grade girls love to test the limits, to find out what they can and cannot do. Without a plan, a Girl Scout Brownie troop leader can go home from every troop meeting with a raging headache."

I'm sure our readers can relate! Definitely read the entire article here. Do you have any advice for those venturing into Brownie Territory?

Photo Run-Down: NYPENN Pathways Store in a Mall!

The Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways has accomplished a new Girl Scouts first with the grand opening of their new boutique and customer service center at a shopping mall location. Let's have a photo run-down, shall we?

Congrats again to Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways for opening a Girl Scout boutique/office in a shopping mall location! Check out Binghamton NY's News Channel 34 for a report.

Vote for Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada!

Vote now for Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada's annual gala, Dessert Before Dinner, which has advanced to the final round for the Most Creative Fundraiser category in the Stay Classy Awards. Please show your support and vote for Girl Scouts!

With your help, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada could win $10,000 - that's a year's worth of Girl Scout Leadership Experiences for more than 800 girls!!! With collaboration we can make this a reality - VOTE Now!

Weekend Run-Down

An abundance of Girl Scout stories this morning from all over the map - Let's run them down:

• In Ohio, The Beacon Journal reports that three hundred fifty people sampled desserts - all made with Girl Scout cookies - at Dessert First, which raises funds for Girl Scout programs.
• In Illinois, two Batavia Girl Scouts received the Silver Award this October after helping Girl Scout Troop 4238 of the Batavia Apartments learn about healthy eating. Their Silver Award project took six months to complete and included planting a Community Garden with the help of the troop and Batavia Apartment residents. Read more here.
• The Whittier Daily News, CA, reports that Rock n' Roll Robots, a Girl Scouts robotics team based in Pasadena, is having a tremendous run. The team took top honors at the global 2010 FIRST Tech Challenge - which earned them recognition from President Obama at the National Science Fair last week.
• In New Hampshire, The Telegraph reports that Girl Scout Troop 10661 recently collected coloring books and boxes of crayons to donate to the children’s ward at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua.
• Nebraska's ABC NTV News reports that Girl Scout troops in Nebraska area have partnered with The Salvation Army for the second annual Fight Hunger Campaign.
  915 Girl Scouts from around the state are collecting nonperishable foods from their friends, families and neighborhoods.
• In Louisville, KY, Fox 41 reports that girls interested in engineering got their first hands-on project. University of Louisville engineering students, professors and Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana all worked together to assemble a canine wheelchair. They're designed for dogs with limited mobility because of injury or illness.
• Central Louisiana's The Town Talk reports that 1st Sgt. Gwen Haliburton of Leesville, a deployed soldier with the Louisiana Army National Guard, volunteers her downtime to work with the Iraqi Boy and Girl Scouts.

Enjoy!

Rock N Roll Robots Rock the White House

The Rock N Roll Robots, one of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles’ 11 robotics teams, attended the National Science Fair at the White House on Monday, October 18. President Obama hosted the fair, in celebration of the winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math competitions.

After taking the Inspire Award for the best overall team at the regional competition in Los Angeles, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles’ Rock N Roll Robots and their robot, Johnny52, competed in the 2010 For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology World Championships in Atlanta last April, where they won the Inspire Award again, which is presented to the First Tech Challenge team that not only represents a top performing robot, but is the best role model team.

The team has been together for three years and has taken top honors since their rookie year. Among the many exciting components of the robotics program, the girls work together to build a robot, program it to complete tasks, research a science-related topic and present before a professional panel, and compete in competitions with other youth. The Rock N Roll Robots robotics teams are part of the local council’s STEM-focused programs, including GSI: Girl Scouts Investigate, a national program about forensics, and Rocket Whiz, where girls build and launch rockets.

Congrats to The Rock N Roll Robots - Awesome stuff indeed!!

Self-Esteem Weekend Kicks Off Today!

From Friday, October 22, through Sunday, October 24, Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove invite all girls to participate in the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend. The Dove Self-Esteem weekend, is part of the Dove Movement for Self-Esteem that encourages women and girls to create a world in which beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. Among the many influential women showing their support by sharing their messages of inspiration are Katie Couric, Abigail Breslin, Lea Michele, and newly appointed Dove Movement for Self-Esteem Youth Ambassador, Katherine Schwarzenegger.

Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove encourage women everywhere to commit to spending one hour on a self-esteem building activity with a girl in their lives during the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend. One hour spent engaging a girl in a conversation about self-esteem is a meaningful start to help change her perception of herself and ultimately form a positive relationship with beauty. Women will show how amazing things can happen when they come together by registering their weekend activities on the interactive Dove Self-Esteem Weekend Map on dovemovement.com. The map will serve as a visual representation of support for this cause, and can also be used to locate activities open to the public. Girl Scout councils nationwide are participating in the weekend and building girls’ self-esteem through a variety of activities that can be found on the online tool kit on dovemovement.com.

Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove partner to deliver Girl Scout Leadership journey programming to millions of girls nationwide. A Girl Scout leadership journey invites girls to explore a theme through many experiences and from many perspectives to build leadership skills and confidence. Each Girl Scout journey features a book for girls and a guide for the adults who partner with the girls.

The newest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story—Tell It!, which will be released in December 2010, uses a storytelling theme in a fun and relevant way for girls to better understand themselves and their potential. Building a strong sense of self is an underlying goal of the series, which was made possible in part by a generous grant from Dove. With this exciting new program, Dove and Girl Scouts of the USA aim to address the all too frequent incidence of low self-esteem among adolescent and pre-adolescent girls.

In addition to other important areas for girls, It’s Your Story - Tell It! addresses media literacy, body image, and critical thinking about the portrayal of girls and women in the media. Activities and discussions that get girls to think critically about the media, including its portrayal of girls and women, are woven into each grade-level journey with a variety of goals. At the youngest grade levels, the aim is to get girls to understand marketing tactics for young consumers. As the girls get older, the focus shifts to the limited roles and opportunities that media gives women and girls, and the narrow definition of beauty that media displays. At the highest grade levels, the girls consider the portrayals of relationships between girls and women.

Girl Scout Film Earns Gold Award

Mainline Media News states that Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement for members, is something that any Girl Scout would be proud of. For Darragh Friedman, who comes from a family involved in the film industry, choosing to make a film for her project was an easy decision.

For the documentary, Friedman tracked down survivors of the Holocaust for on-screen interviews. The experience, which involved making many calls, following up on recommendations and visiting Jewish Community Centers and synagogues, is one that Friedman said was humbling. Friedman is currently studying communications and pre-law at Temple University and is involved with on-campus organizations including Temple Student Government and various school news and radio stations. Kudos to Darragh Friedman and her fantastic film.

Girl Scouts Invent It. Girl Scouts Build It.

Here is a great opportunity for Girl Scouts to utilize their capabilities to their full potential. Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, Society of Women Engineers, and PBS’ Design Squad are partnering up to offer an amazing one-day program event designed for Girl Scouts in grades 6 – 12 to take engineering on a test drive! You’ll meet outstanding engineers, team up with new friends, and build cool contraptions of your own. Judy Lee, the host of the popular PBS show Design Squad and a mechanical engineer at Ideo Corp, will emcee the event. Invent It. Build It. is for those who stretch their imagination beyond what most think possible.

Where: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
When: Saturday, November 6, 2010
10:30 am — 4pm
Who: Girls grades 6—12
Cost: $12 per girl and includes lunch, materials, and a cool t-shirt!

And guess what…there is still room for you to sign up today! Go to http://www.citrus-gs.org/ to reserve your spot today (registration is required), and we can’t wait to see you there!

Weekend Run-Down

Let's take a look at Girl Scout news stories from the weekend:

• In Springfield, MA, The Republican reports that "Girl's dance benefits church".
• ABC News 13 in Lynchburg, VA, reports that the Lynchburg Girl Scouts beat their old coat drive record this year by 50 coats.
• Also on Virginia's ABC News 13 - in Danville, Girl Scouts Need Troop Leaders.
• The Kansas City Star reports that The Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri will honor Angela Bennett with the C3 Award as a part of the Campin’ annual event. Every year they select a woman who personifies the three main characteristics girls develop through Scouting: courage, confidence and character. Bennett, 57, epitomizes all three and more.
• Congratulations to Fourteen-year-old Girl Scout Shelbey Logan who will participate in a Girl Scout/NASA program designed to form astronomy clubs in the nation's Girl Scout councils. She was selected to participate in the program based on an essay she wrote on the subject earlier this year. Read more in The Salina Journal.

Enjoy!

Girl Scouts Secrets of Moonacre

Girl Scouts of the USA is working with Entertainment One, the distributors of the new film “The Secret of Moonacre,” to spread the Girl Scouts 2010 brand campaign messaging. We are pleased to share that the Girl Scouts “What Did You Do Today?” campaign video has been included as a feature on all DVDs and Blu-rays of “The Secret of Moonacre” – currently available in stores.


Please be on the lookout for more information from Girl Scouts of the USA and for complimentary copies of the DVD (which will be arriving to you shortly) as well as special “Secret of Moonacre” giveaways later this fall!

An acclaimed adaptation of the beloved, classic children’s novel The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, “The Secret of Moonacre” is a new family fantasy spectacle directed by Gabor Csupo (“Bridge to Terabithia”) that stars up-and-coming actress Dakota Blue Richards along with Ioan Gruffudd, Tim Curry and Natascha McElhone. This fairy-tale adventure – complete with magical castles, unforgettable characters and mythical beasts – is rated PG, and is Dove Family-Approved.

Visit “The Secret of Moonacre” website for more information. There you will also find a special article posted for Girl Scouts of the USA that explains “How Dakota Blue Richards became Maria Merryweather.”

Girl Scouts and Dove Celebrate Self-Esteem Weekend!

Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove, our sponsor for the upcoming It’s Your Story—Tell It! leadership journey series, invite all Girl Scout councils to participate in the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend from October 22-24. The weekend is part of the Dove Movement for Self-Esteem, whose purpose is to encourage women and girls to create a world in which beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. Girl Scouts is joining Dove in this initiative.Dove has put together a set of tools help councils plan for the event, including conversation starters, activities, and discussion guides. Some of our favorite activities include It’s Your Story—Tell It! leadership journey series teasers, Girls in the Lead, the Positive Playlist, and The Self-Esteem Scavenger Hunt. Check them out here.

Girl Scouts of the USA has also developed a national signature activity, adapted from the forthcoming leadership journey series, for councils' engagement during Self-Esteem Weekend. It was inspired by the movie, Ramona & Beezus, in which Ramona creates a mural to tell her story. Girls across the country are invited to educate and inspire others by teaming up to create murals to share with family, friends and community. Download your instructions now. Councils can tell others how they will participate in this fun and exciting weekend. First, add your council’s activity to the Self-Esteem Map. Then send the name of your event to gsbrand@girlscouts.org so we can identify your activity as part of the Girl Scout movement with the Girl Scout Trefoil.

Oklahoma Beyond Bars

In Oklahoma, The Tulsa World reports that The Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma has received another large grant to provide services to children whose parents are incarcerated, bringing to $1 million the amount awarded the group within the last month for that purpose. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it has awarded a three-year, $600,000 grant to the group's Beyond Bars program.

It is double the size of a previously reported two-year $300,000 U.S. Justice Department grant awarded the program in September, which was specifically aimed at reconnecting incarcerated women with their children.

Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program is an inmate mother-child visitation program. The program covers subjects such as healthy living, budgeting, making good choices, accountability, and communicating effectively.

Girl Scout Boutique Hits the Mall

Congrats to Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways for opening a Girl Scout boutique/office in a shopping mall location! Binghamton NY's News Channel 34 reports.

North Carolina Girl Scouts add Chili to the Mix!

North Carolina's Sun Journal reports that Girl Scouts will be running the Drive Thru tent at the North Carolina State Chili Festival this weekend! Chili is one of my favorite foods, so I am jealous to say the least. If you're in the area and would like to attend - click here!

Music for Gold

South Carolina's Post and Courier has an article about a pretty awesome Girl Scout Gold Award project (they all are, I know)! Abby Kent has organized a six-concert series called "Music Matters". The series is not a fundraiser and is meant only to entertain and advocate for classical music in Charleston. She has invited a slew of local musicians - from the School of the Arts, Charleston Academy of Music and private studios - to join her in the series, and to highlight the need for businesses in the area to step up their support of the symphony and other music organizations.

The first concert is called "Piano Passion" and will feature Abby and others playing solo works by Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Mozart, Sibelius and Gershwin. The December concert will feature the ShamRocks. In January, the performance will include Beethoven's "Spring Sonata" and Bach's Double Concerto in D minor. Traditional Celtic music will be on offer in March. Kudos to Abby and good luck!

Journeys Promote Leadership in Texas

In Texas, The Abilenian reports that many Girl Scouts are taking off on “Journeys” - the latest program that Girl Scouts are using to develop leadership in their members. The article does a good job of conveying that different age-appropriate guidebooks are available for each level of Girl Scouts, with each providing a number of activities and options. Kathleen Copeland of Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains Council states:

"Journeys is the primary component for how we lead girls through the main
programming of Girl Scouts, the leadership experience. Girl Scouts likes to have
a girl-led experience... The adult leader works with the girls to decide what
they want to do, the how and why of what they want to do. Then they set out on
that journey."

Each Journey revolves around three keys: discover, connect, take action. First girls discover the world around them. Then they connect with how they fit into and affect the picture. Then they learn how to take appropriate action for positive outcomes. For more information, go here.

Also, did you know that the content of both journey series have been correlated (by grade level) to the Health & PE, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies standards for all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia?

Watch What You Watch!

Watch What You Watch, is a national PSA campaign to promote healthy media images for youth. The campaign is created in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA, The Creative Coalition, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and the National Association of Broadcasters. Watch What You Watch encourages all of us to pay attention to the media images that are influencing the nation’s youth. Girls in particular struggle throughout their lives with how to reconcile images of girls and women portrayed in the media with their own body image, self worth and potential.



The PSA, directed by actor and Co-President of The Creative Coalition Tim Daly, features actors Felicity Huffman, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Andrea Bowen, Seth Green, Rachael Leigh Cook, Kaycee Stroh, Kathryn Joosten, Carrie Ann Inaba, Teri Polo, Shay Mitchell, Ayla Kell, Josie Loren, Vanessa Lengies, Rachel Blanchard, Brooke Nevin, Lisa Gay Hamilton and recording artist Chuck D.

Trending - Girls in Ice Hockey

In Bismark, ND, Joey Whelan reports for KFYR-TV that members of the Mandan Girl Scouts recently participated in "Put the Biscuit in the Net" - a national campaign to increase female participation in the sport of ice hockey. The goal of this event is to help increase the nearly 60,000 girls nationwide who are currently active in the sport. In many instances the mission of the instructors is to simply make sure their students are as comfortable on the ice in skates as they are walking around in a pair of shoes. Once the comfort level has been established, the aim is to instill a love of the game that hopefully will lead to a new generation of hockey players. Check out the video report here. Over the last year, I've reported on similar hockey stories in Tampa Bay and Las Vegas - Perhaps a trend?

Do you know any Girl Scout ice hockey players?

Girl Scouts on the 2011 Tournament of Roses Royal Court!

Cool News - The seven members of the 2011 Tournament of Roses Royal Court were announced - and two of them are Girl Scouts! As ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Royal Court members will attend more than 150 community and media functions leading up to the 122nd Rose Parade presented by The 97th Rose Bowl Game on Saturday, January 1, 2011.

Congratulations to Rose Princess Evanne Elizabeth Friedmann and Rose Princess Tenaya Miyoko Senzaki - both Girl Scouts!

Weekend Run-Down

Hello, and welcome back to another Weekend Run-Down, where Girl Scout news stories from the weekend are highlighted - on a Tuesday today because, for some, it was a long weekend:

• In Ohio, The Newark Advocate celebrates a large group of Girl Scouts who made Christmas cards and stockings to be sent to U.S. soldiers around the world as part of Operation Spirit.


• California's Victorville Daily Press has a call touting the need for Girl Scout Leaders in their community - spread the word!


• In Arizona, The Ahwatukee Foothill News has a fun and inspirational piece about National Guard medic Shawn Malkind making an appearance at a room full of Girl Scouts - He was there to thank them for cookies he received while abroad.


• KARE 11 News in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, reports that Kristin Rachor has been collecting Halloween costumes for several months. She's gone to church rummage sales, put out donation boxes and hit up family members to help. The effort is to ensure that kids, especially those who can't afford it, can still enjoy the holiday. The Plymouth Girl Scout chose the project for her Gold Award.


• In North Carolina, The News Observer reports that three Raleigh Girl Scouts have been awarded the Silver Award, the second-highest achievement in Girl Scouting. For their Silver Award project, the three girls asked local youth to paint canvases representing their lives and showing diversity. The paintings were then displayed at Triangle Town Center mall in North Raleigh.


• In Massachusetts, The Cohasset Mariner reports that Eighteen-year-old Jennie Curley is well on her way to officially receiving her Girl Scout Gold Award - Her final project was about looking back at how girl scouts influenced women’s lives.

Enjoy!

Healthy Media for Youth is a Hit in DC!

The 2010 Healthy Media for Youth Summit was a huge success - I was there for all the excitement and so was the media. First up, USA Today.

Academy Award winning actress Geena Davis, Laurie Westley - Senior Vice President, Public Policy, Advocacy & the Girl Scout Research Institute - center, and Robin Bronk - CEO, The Creative Coalition - right, pose for a photo with a group of Girl Scouts at the 2010 Healthy Media for Youth Summit on Wednesday in Washington!

One of my favorite Blogs, Politico, was on hand at The Healthy Media for Youth Summit and reports that Actress Geena Davis has played a slew of powerful women: A member of the first female professional baseball league in the film "A League of Their Own," the first female president on the TV show "Commander in Chief" and a woman escaping her controlling husband in the now-classic movie "Thelma and Louise." And as Davis explained Wednesday on Capitol Hill, those choices weren't by accident. Davis related that:

"A group did a study after 'Commander in Chief' was on the air that showed that
people who watched the show were 68% more likely to vote for a female candidate after watching just one season - It speaks to the point where if you see it, you can be it."

For more information on The 2010 Healthy Media for Youth Summit - go here! More to come on this, so stay tuned.

Ford Motor Company Fund Makes Great Things Possible!

As we are in the midst of Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to thank one of our partners, The Ford Motor Company Fund for their generous donations of $25,000 to specifically fund programming related to the Hispanic Initiative to Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana and Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council and we look forward to working together in future projects. Each council used the money in unique ways.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Illinois held Un Lugar Para Las Niñas events at three schools in a struggling area and were able to connect with more than 500 local girls. This diverse program emphasized financial literacy, healthy living, and STEM activities for the girls and their families.

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto succeeded in improving Hispanic participation in Girl Scouting through efforts to recruit and retain Hispanic girls and adults in traditional scouting activities and initiatives including Scoutreach, They were able to serve more than 18,000 Hispanic girls because of this generous grant.

The grant helped Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida design and implement cross cultural family programs that fostered the diverse Hispanic values and cultures, including the important aspects of the father/daughter relationships. One specific program was the Fiesta de Quinceañera.

Fiesta de Quinceañera allowed council to deliver self esteem programming to the migrant community of homestead and Florida City, Florida. 132 girls participated in the weekly Uniquely Me! Self esteem program, of which 6 girls, ages 14-17, participated in the Quinceañera pathway that taught them etiquette, character building, self acceptance and Quinceañera traditions.
In the last four years we have experienced a 12% growth in our Hispanic membership nationally. Just last year our girl membership increased 6.5%. Let’s keep heading in the same direction.

We know that the Hispanic Community and Girl Scouts share common values and aspirations and we strive to offer girls of all ages and backgrounds a safe place to explore the world and discover their own potential. In a fun and stimulating environment, and with the guidance of adults, girls develop values, abilities, and leadership skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We are grateful to partners like the Ford Motor Company for investing in girls’ leadership potential.

Girl Scouts has made all programs, training, and communication materials available in Spanish so that the Hispanic mom can participate in whichever language she feels more comfortable in. To learn more visit www.girlscouts.org/espanol

"Live Healthy, Lead Healthy" in Ramona, CA

In California, The Ramona Sentinel reports that members of Ramona Girl Scout Troop 8009 participated in the 4th annual Girl Scout New Day 5K Fun Run at Mission Bay Park recently. The event’s focus was to raise awareness about the importance of a balanced, healthy lifestyle for girls of all ages.

After the run, the girls were encouraged to write their personal resolutions on the “New Day Resolution Wall.” Written on that wall were comments such as becoming more active, being more positive, promising to walk their dogs more frequently, and being nicer to their siblings. Money raised from the event will help fund Girl Scouts’ “Live Healthy, Lead Healthy” programs. Are there similar activities in your area to get youth involved in healthy living initiatives?

Call for Media Literacy Reaches Capitol Hill

Today, Academy Award-winning actor Geena Davis and other leaders from the entertainment, policy, business and youth-serving communities joined forces to examine media literacy and healthy images.

The Healthy Media for Youth Summit, a partnership of Girl Scouts of the USA, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and The Creative Coalition, considered and identified ways to promote media messages that inspire, empower and engage youth. Ms. Davis was joined by other Hollywood luminaries and members of The Creative Coalition including Emmy-Award winner Alfre Woodard, Steven Weber, Teri Polo, and Rachael Leigh Cook.

Many girls struggle throughout their lives with how to reconcile the images of girls and women they see in the media with their own body image, self worth and potential. Earlier this year, the Girl Scout Research Institute released a nationwide survey, Beauty Redefined, which found that the media has significant influence over girls. Nearly 90 percent of those surveyed say the fashion industry and/or the media place a lot of pressure on them to be thin, even as they realized that the fashion industry’s models were “too skinny” (65 percent), “unrealistic” (63 percent) and “unhealthy” (46 percent). However, despite the criticism of this industry, 3 out of 4 girls say that fashion is “really important” to them.

Recognizing the importance of this topic, GSUSA, NAB, NCTA and The Creative Coalition hosted today’s Healthy Media for Youth Summit where keynote speaker and long-time advocate for women and girls, Geena Davis led a conversation about ways to promote healthy images and media literacy. Davis is the founder of the non‐profit The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and its programming arm See Jane, which engages film and television creators to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters.

The summit brought together experts to lead discussions on the many aspects of healthy images and media literacy. Panelists included: Salaam Coleman Smith, President of The Style Network; Suzanne Malveaux, CNN White House correspondent; Ann Shoket, Editor‐in‐Chief Seventeen Magazine; Emme, Supermodel and leading advocate for positive body images; Erin Fuller, CEO of Alliance for Women in Media; Maria Brennan, CEO Women in Cable Telecommunications; Kim Myles, host of HGTV’s Myles of Styles; Jess Weiner, author, self‐esteem expert and the Global Ambassador for the Dove Self‐Esteem Fund; Lisa Dollinger, Chief Communications Officer, Clear Channel Communications, Inc.; Judy Schoenberg, Director of Research and Outreach, Girl Scouts of the USA; April McClain‐Delaney, DC Director, Common Sense Media; Teen Girl Scouts from the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital. Also addressing the conference were FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker; Kyle McSlarrow, President & CEO, NCTA; Gordon Smith, President & CEO, NAB; and Robin Bronk, CEO, The Creative Coalition.

Also at the summit a new public service announcement was unveiled urging youth to “watch what you watch” and have a greater understanding about the images in media. The PSA directs viewers to a new website www.girlscouts.org/watchwhatyouwatch which offers media literacy information and resources.

As a follow up to the Healthy Media for Youth Summit , there are plans to establish a “blue ribbon” panel to further explore the issue of healthy media for youth and to offer specific recommendations to promote them. Plans are also underway to convene “community conversations” in several locations around the country to address the issue.

Don't Buy Cookies From an Alligator!

Another one of my all time favorites from 1976 - good year for Girl Scout videos! I love this video. For more Girl Scout Videos, go here!

Focus on STEM

Let's focus on a slew of Girl Scout STEM stories from around the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs that require computer and math skills are projected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade. Unfortunately, studies show that girls begin to lose confidence and interest in science and math during middle school, which is why Girl Scouts is committed to providing opportunities for girls in science, technology, engineering and math to help bridge this gap.

The US FIRST website takes a look at Girl Scout sponsored FIRST Tech Challenge Team 18, the Techno Chix of Pleasantville, N.Y. FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 18 is sponsored by the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, among other companies, such as Motorola. The Chix started out in 2007, and went on to win the FTC Inspire Award in 2009. The FTC Inspire Award is the most prestigious FTC award, and is given to the team that truly embodies the ‘challenge’ of the FTC program. The ladies of the Techno Chix were also the winning alliance at the Hudson Valley, NY competition during the most recent FTC season.

In Kansas, The El Dorado Times reports that The Women in Technology group at Butler Community College hosted two events with Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland recently - Brownie Girl Scouts earned their Computer Smarts and Point, Click and Go Try-its, while Junior Girl Scouts earned their Discovering Technology and Architecture badges, learning about different styles of architecture in the engineering graphics/CAD labs.

In Pasadena, CA, The Whittier Daily News reports that Girl Scouts from throughout Los Angeles County and their families explored the wonders of modern science. The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles hosted their second annual Family Science Festival, with more than 70 exhibits run by both Scouts and scientists, including several from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. About 1,800 people attended the outdoor science fair, featuring interactive booths teaching topics ranging from recycling to space flight.

Do you know any Girl Scouts who excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Math?

Weekend Run-Down

Good Morning Everyone - Here's is today's Run-Down of stories popping up from the weekend:

• In Pennsylvania, The Tribune-Democrat reports that after extensive research and development, Girl Scouts debuted a new brand campaign to re-acquaint the country with the organization and communicate the power that girls have to change the world through Girl Scouting.
• The Texarcana-Gazette states that The Girl Scouts–Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas council is looking for former Girl Scouts to participate in an oral history project to celebrate the organization’s centennial birthday in 2012.
• In Massachusetts, The Canton Journal reports that to kick off “Girl Scouts Rock!” Week, Canton Girl Scouts will host a Zumba session Sunday, Oct 17, from 2-4 p.m., at the St John's Parish Center. It will include Zumba dancing, face painting and a craft. Zumba is a dance fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez in Colombia during the 1990s. The program combines Latin and international music with dance in an effort to make exercise fun.
• Helium has a story about the many things Brownies Girl Scouts will learn while completing requirements for badges called Try-Its. One of these badges is called the "Watching Wildlife" Try-It and will focus on wildlife that the girls may find nearby in their neighborhood.
• The State in South Carolina reports that on Saturday, more than 6,700 people marched through the streets of Columbia’s downtown to raise nearly $500,000 for breast cancer research and support - including three Girl Scout troops, to earn their “In the Pink” patches.

Enjoy!

The Cookies are Coming!

Girl Scout Cookie Season is beginning for some councils tonight!

In New York, RocNow reports that The official Girl Scouts of Western New York cookie season will start at 7 p.m. tonight with a kick-off in Henrietta, Batavia, Buffalo and Jamestown. Girl scouts and volunteers at the four locations will send out a text message blast about the cookie sale program to friends, family and prospective customers as part of a synchronized ‘Cookie Click Off’. The CEO of the Girl Scouts of Western New York, Cindy L. Odom, said the Click Off will expose girls to the use of texting, the internet and social media as powerful sales communication tools. The cookie sale strives to give girls an opportunity to be entrepreneurs, according to Odom. The cookie season will run till Dec. 5 this year.

Foundation Gives Girl Scouts $300K For Leadership

New Jersey Today brings the news that Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey has received a $300,000 grant from the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Alcatel-Lucent, to enable girls in underserved communities to participate in the Girl Scouts comprehensive leadership training program, LEAD ON!.

The partnership between Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey and Alcatel-Lucent, which employees 4,000 people throughout New Jersey, has two components. The first component involves Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey staff hiring up to 60 9th – 12th grade age girls to facilitate the LEAD ON! program to younger girls in public schools. The final component of the LEAD ON! program will be a leadership conference held in conjunction with Alcatel-Lucent. Awesome!

Are there philanthropic companies in your area that you would like to give a shout out to?