April 2018

Thank You, Girl Scout Volunteers!

April is volunteer appreciation month, and I want to thank each and every one of you for making a difference not only in girls' lives, but also in society.

You have volunteered your time and resources to help girls overcome barriers, learn from their mistakes, grasp new skills, explore opportunities and build their inner core. You model the Girl Scout Promise and Law and set the example for the next generation to follow. You also understand the value and importance of having an all-girl space to meet the needs specific to a girl’s growth and development. And because of this, you are making a difference today that will impact our society for generations to come.
 
Our girls face many challenges to include bullying, media beauty images that establish unrealistic standards, low self-esteem, limited opportunities for girls in STEM fields, and the pressures encountered in and out of school. Girl Scouts provides a safe space for girls to explore unlimited opportunities with our STEM and outdoor programs, build their resilience and life skills by earning their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, and have an understanding of money management, people skills and business ethics through the cookie program.

You are the reason these girls will be prepared not only to deal with life but also to go after it. This is truly an awesome responsibility and one that has a long-lasting impact. Thank you for making a difference. Thank you for creating the next generation of leaders. And thank you for making our world a better place!

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Carol M. Dedrich, MBA, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer

Check out the video version of this message from Girl Scouts San Diego CEO, Carol Dedrich on our YouTube channel.
 
OTM: 3 Million Boxes and Counting!

Get ready to board the USS Midway Museum on Friday, May 4, 6:30-10 p.m. to celebrate a milestone: shipping the 3 millionth box of Girl Scout Cookies to a service member far from home. Our 17th annual Operation Thin MintSM (OTM) Sendoff features an evening of music, helo action, girl program activities and a pep rally.

Register now with your friends and family for this free event, where top Girl Scout Cookie entrepreneurs will arrive and depart by helicopter. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy during the festivities, then stay to tour the museum. This is a wonderful opportunity to salute the courageous men and women who protect our country.

Through OTM, a local service project launched in 2002, cookie customers donate "a taste of home with a note to show we care" to personnel in the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and National Guard. The program benefits local veterans as well. Please encourage everyone you know to create and collect as many OTM thank you notes as possible—then drop them off at the sendoff. Download printable notecards online or ask our Product Sales team for large quantities for you and your friends to sign.

G.I.R.L.-powered Cookie Program

Now that the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program has concluded, we’ve crunched the numbers. The results: Our business-savvy corps of 14,187 G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders)TM, with key support from 2,000-plus volunteers, sold over 2.8 million boxes—including 161,156 boxes for Operation Thin MintSM.

Check out these and other fun facts in our 2018 infographic. We are grateful to our entrepreneurial members, awe-inspiring volunteers, supportive parents, cookie customers, program partners (including the businesses that provided booth space) and everyone else who contributed to this year’s amazing outcomes. All cookie program proceeds stay in San Diego and Imperial Counties to fund local troop and individual adventures, Girl Scout programs, volunteer training, and the financial assistance that keeps Girl Scouting available and affordable for girls everywhere.

Girl Scouts Power Finish Chelsea’s Run

What better way to honor Chelsea King than to step up and lead? Girl Scouts like Ellie O’Connell, Jaddin Thomas, and Gold Award Girl Scout Cristina de Almeida Amaral were among those contributing to the success of “Finish Chelsea’s Run in Partnership with Girl Scouts San Diego.”

Ellie launched the event with her inspiring rendering of the National Anthem. Jaddin volunteered as an ambassador by inviting fellow students to participate in the event, and she and Cristina (recipient of a Sunflower Scholarship from Chelsea’s Light Foundation) served as media spokespersons (TV spots, photos). More than 1,000 other enthusiastic Girl Scouts joined a crowd of 8,000 #changemakers in Balboa Park last month for the 8th annual run/walk and family festival (San Diego Union-Tribune article).

Justine Panian (center) and CSU San Marcos college students Holly Isaacs (left) and Jessica Harloe form a “friendship circle” with new Girl Scouts.

Innovation 101: College Students as Troop Leaders

California State University San Marcos students are now leading Girl Scout troops in that city as part of an innovative, volunteer-powered partnership (photos). San Marcos Service Unit Manager Justine Panian—a Gold Award Girl Scout and recent college graduate—teamed up with her mother, volunteer Kassie Panian.

Working collaboratively with the university and Girl Scout staff, the Panians facilitate opportunities for students to form and run new troops. As a result, 24 students now lead troops at three previously underserved elementary schools in San Marcos. Interest and participation continue to grow!

Applause to Justine, Kassie and the university for this successful, replicable concept, an outstanding example of the type of "alternative program delivery model" that Girl Scouts of the USA recommends. To learn more about the CSU San Marcos Girl Scout program, or to share an idea for expanding Girl Scouting in our communities, please contact Ermelinda Kraft, (619) 610-0702.


Lupe Jenkins (left) enjoys mentoring volunteers like Melody Hazzard, a new Daisy leader.
Volunteer Spotlight: Lupe Jenkins

Our new Troop Mentorship program pairs rookie leaders with experienced ones to help ensure a rewarding Girl Scout experience for all. Participating mentors include Lupe Jenkins, a double recipient of the highest honor for Girl Scout volunteers. She earned the Thanks Badge 14 years ago, and a Thanks Badge II in 2013, both in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and service to Girl Scouting. Her contributions over the years include leading numerous troops and training hundreds of new leaders. Lupe extends that journey today, passing along her knowledge and heart-felt encouragement to others.

“I love Girl Scouting, and am really enjoying my mentoring experiences,” says Lupe, adding that she is “very honored and proud to share the wonderful world of Girl Scouts with new leaders!”
 
Research shows that volunteers are much more likely to continue leading troops if they have a strong support system. Mentees gain invaluable firsthand insights, a fresh perspective and a stronger sense of community. For mentors, benefits include networking opportunities, learning by teaching, and the chance make a positive difference by leaving a legacy. As Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low said, “The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” Our new mentoring program helps fulfill that visionary observation.

Why Girl Scouts Matters

Girl Scouting is proven to prepare girls for a lifetime of leadership. According to the Girl Scout Research Institute’s recent Impact Study, Girl Scouts shine above their peers in leadership, academics, career aspirations and hope for the future.
 
The study demonstrated that Girl Scouts are much more likely than non-Girl Scouts to:

  • Have a strong sense of self (80% vs. 68%)
  • Have positive values (75% vs. 59%)
  • Seek challenges and learn from set-backs (62% vs. 42%)
  • Develop and maintain healthy relationships (60% vs. 43%)
  • Exhibit community problem-solving skills (57% vs. 28%)


Featured Events
Cool Women of 2018—Friday, April 13
Building Bridges—Saturday, April 21
Annual Meeting—Wednesday, April 25

Operation Thin MintSM Sendoff—Friday, May 4
Gold Award Ceremony—Saturday, June 16
Volunteer Conference and Celebration—Saturday, Aug. 25

Urban Campout—Friday, Sept. 14

        

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