Brownie Troop 4044 welcomed a new member during a special ceremony at Francis Parker Lower School. Participants included (from left, back row) Girl Scouts San Diego Vice Chair Regina Buckley, troop co-leaders Kim Stover and Andrea Frost, San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria, Spring Simpson Adams with her grandmother Daphyne Watson and mother/co-leader Sophonya Simpson Adams, and Girl Scouts CEO Jo Dee C. Jacob.

March 2015

Brownies right a wrong

March 12 marks the anniversary of the day Juliette Gordon Lowe launched a movement to bring Girl Scouting to girls of every race, culture, religion and background. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion continues today.

Among those on that mission is a Brownie named Spring, granddaughter of Daphyne Watson, executive director of Mental Health America of San Diego County, and a long-time champion for youth and the needy. When Spring learned her grandma was wrongly denied Girl Scout membership in 1960 because she was black, her reaction was, "That's not fair!" She rallied her sister Girl Scouts to help change the story's ending. As a result, Brownie Troop 4044 officially inducted Daphyne into the troop during an inspiring surprise investiture ceremony (photos), highlighted by CBS national news and other media.

The newest member of Troop 4044 joyfully sold cookies with Spring and her troopmates, and plans to stay involved. During a recent visit with our board of directors, Daphyne reflected: "This is really about the girls. They saw the injustice, and wanted to make it right. There's a lesson here: You're never too young to make a difference. If you see something wrong, you can do something about it. Girl Scouting is a platform for that."

Well said, Daphyne. And happy birthday, Girl Scouts!

Jo Dee C. Jacob
Chief Executive Officer

Location change: Conversation of Consequence
Join us for Conversation of Consequence on Wednesday, March 4, 4:30 p.m., at our Balboa Campus (not Roosevelt Middle School, as previously announced). Keynote speaker San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten will share how Girl Scouting built the leadership skills she uses today to lead the state's second largest school district. A Q&A will follow her presentation. (Please note: the March 9 session is cancelled.) No RSVP needed; for questions, contact Alison Bushan, (619) 610-0784.

Cindy is a past Gold Awardee, 2013 Cool Woman and member of Girl Scouts' board of directors.

Presidents Day spotlight: Girl Scout takes action
For her Silver Award project, Cadette Ashley Pearce of Troop 8430 spearheaded a presidential campaign ... of sorts! The 13-year-old history buff secured 10 framed portraits of George Washington and information kits for her community. During a family trip to Mount Vernon, Washington's historic estate, Ashley discovered a treasure trove of portraits of the founding father. Although free of charge and earmarked for educational purposes, they were unclaimed until she petitioned for them. She recently presented the first print to her classmates at Thurgood Marshall Middle School, and is hanging others at a high school, library, university, government offices and the state capitol. 10News got the full scoop.

Ashley plans to use Girl Scout Cookie proceeds to purchase additional educational materials for her George Washington displays.

New library for preschoolers, courtesy of Troop 8907
These smart cookies are playing it by the book! To earn their Bronze Award, members of Junior Troop 8907 are creating a library and reading nook at the Head Start Preschool in Escondido. They chose the project "because they love reading and wanted to promote literacy," shared troop mom Molly Engblom in a U-T article. After learning that lack of access to books at an early age is the most common cause of illiteracy — and brainstorming how to address the issue — the girls went to work. They are currently conducting a book donation drive, and plan to use cookie money to buy bookshelves and a rug.

Introducing Girl Scouts' Cool Women of 2015
During the Cool Women luncheon on Tuesday, April 14, we'll salute San Diegans who make a difference in our community. Congratulations to Rabbi Arlene Bernstein, Cantor (Temple Beth Israel), Awetash Keflezighi (mother of Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi), Carmen Vann (Turner Construction project executive), Carol Lazier (San Diego Opera board president), Dr. Karen Haynes (CSU San Marcos president), Karen Archipley (organic farmer), Lesley Cohn (Cohn Restaurant Group co-founder), Susan Salka (AMN Healthcare CEO, president and director), Reena Horowitz (businesswoman, philanthropist and jewelry designer), Rose Schindler (Holocaust survivor/educator) and Sue Swenson (wireless pioneer). Our 2015 Cool Girl is Girl Scout Ambassador Elena Crespo. Register now.

Getting ready to Finish Chelsea's Run
We're counting down to Finish Chelsea's Run in Partnership with Girl Scouts San Diego. Please join us for the fifth annual run/walk on Saturday, March 7. You'll be in great company: More than 8,000 San Diegans are expected to gather at Balboa Park for a morning of fitness, fun, hope and inspiration. Girl Scouts San Diego co-hosts the event with Chelsea's Light Foundation, an organization that shares our vision of recognizing and supporting young people who will make the world a better place. Register now for the 5K or Short & Sweet one-mile routes, or at the event.

Everyone's invited to OTM Sendoff on May 2
Climb aboard the USS Midway Museum for our 14th annual Operation Thin Mint® (OTM) Sendoff Celebration on Saturday, May 2, 8:15-10 a.m. Girl Scouts, friends, families, military troops and cookie customers are all welcome at this free event. Enjoy live music, girl activities and great photo opportunities, and greet our top cookie sellers as they arrive by helicopter. Attendees will also include OTM Sleepover participants, who'll bunk below deck Friday night to get a taste of Navy life. While exploring the world-class carrier, they'll learn about the nearly all-woman crew who built the 70-year-old ship.

Crafty partnership
Cheers to all the grown-ups who raised money and awareness for Girl Scouting at Cookies on Tap. Mike Hess Brewery (MHB) hosted the craft beer and cookie pairing fest during National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend (San Diego 6). Customers enjoyed specialty cuisine and beer-and-cookie pairings ... supported Operation Thin Mint® by writing thank you cards and buying cookies for the military ... and ordered second helpings of Native American Samoas Bread Pudding from Chef Deborah Scott's Ms. Patty Melt and Chop Soo-ey food trucks.

Girl Scout Week: Open house set for March 7
Each year, we celebrate Girl Scout Week in tribute to our organization's March 12 birthday. Our members will fill the days from Girl Scout Sunday, March 8 through Girl Scout Sabbath on Saturday, March 14 with kind deeds and service activities. Girls and volunteers can learn how to earn the Girl Scout Week patch and religious recognitions during a free open house on Saturday, March 7, 2-4 p.m. at our Balboa Campus. No registration necessary; contact Amanda Host, (619) 610-0781, with questions.

SPAWAR helping girls explore STEM careers
Our community partners play a key role in helping us deliver Girl Scouting experiences to girls in all zip codes. Working in collaboration with our Girl Scout Outreach staff, organizations like SPAWAR are instrumental to the success of our ongoing diversity initiatives. Female SPAWAR engineers and other volunteers led science experiments during a recent after-school STEM session. For example, girls used string, a protractor and mirrors to create a plan to get a laser to hit a target. To learn about opportunities to fund or volunteer for Girl Scout programs, contact Debbie Rider, chief development officer, (619) 610-0735.

Welcome, new Girl Scouts!
Thanks to all the troops that stepped up to the plate to welcome new members during our winter Add-a-Girl campaign. Among those hitting a home run: Brownie Troop 5062 — led by Megan Ruana — which registered six newcomers. Novice and veteran members are enjoying their time together. The girls jumped right into the cookie program to raise money for upcoming activities, like going to the zoo and Living Coast Discovery Center this summer. They also plan to assemble care packages for deployed military, and partner with animal shelters to make cat beds and dog toys, and decorate the pet adoption room. Four of the Brownies set a goal of selling 525 boxes of cookies to earn a trip to Girl Scout camp.

Adrianna, Selene, Annie and Mesha (left to right) of Brownie Troop 5062 had fun hanging out during a recent playground excursion after a meeting.

Certified volunteers lead girls to new frontiers
Volunteers like Natasha Shaw are always ready to learn new skills. As a certified lifeguard, CPR/first aid instructor, and Wilderness First Aid (WFA) provider, Natasha (pictured) is now authorized to take her Junior troop on a wide range of outdoor adventures! She encourages other adults to complete the Girl Scout/Red Cross WFA course Friday-Sunday, March 20-22 at Camp Whispering Oaks or Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19 at our Balboa Campus. Our Adult Training Catalog is full of other great volunteer opportunities. For details, contact Iris Gerber, (619) 610-0741.

• Girl Scout camp — Register now!
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About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouting provides the nation’s best leadership experience for girls. Through Girl Scouts, girls discover themselves, connect with others, and take action to make the world a better place.

Girl Scouts San Diego provides activities for 43,000 local girl and adult members, trains volunteers, and maintains two camps and four program and service facilities.

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