Troop 8588:
Spring/Summer 2018
The Heart of Gainesville
The Girl Scout
Gold Award Girl Scouts
Renew TODAY for Your Exclusive Patch
U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Dana Vollmer inspires Girl Scouts
The Girl Scout
Who’ll Design the World? Girl Scouts! I’m very excited about the absolutely amazing opportunity that Girl Scouts has right now in our changing society—and you should be, too!
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In this issue Girl Scout Cookie Program Susie Bell Retirement Celebration and Recognition Events Gold Award Girl Scouts LinkedIn: Girl Scout Network Women of Distinction Dana Vollmer Q&A Troop 8588: The Heart of Gainesville Be Renewed & Ready!
The need for more female leadership has never been more immediate or more obvious. Girls need and deserve a place where they can just be girls—where they are free from the pressures and anxieties of a co-ed space and can take the lead and thrive. Girl Scouts prepares a girl to navigate her world, because we understand that today’s girls will become tomorrow’s world leaders. Now is our time to develop these leaders. Juliette Gordon Low said, “The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” Girl Scouts have always been earning badges in science, the outdoors— things that are very transferrable skills. And now, they are earning badges in robotics, computer programming, and cybersecurity. Can you imagine the future ahead of us? It’s Girl Scouts. I cannot wait for another year of girls discovering their potential and leading their way.
Becky Burton, CEO Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains The Girl Scout Spirit magazine is published by Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc. 4901 Briarhaven Road Fort Worth, Texas 76109 800-582-7272 / 817-737-7272 gs-top.org Editor-in-Chief Jessica Lewis Service Centers Abilene 325-670-0432 Amarillo 806-356-0096 Fort Worth 817-737-7272 Lubbock 806-745-2855 Southlake 817-281-7578 Wichita Falls 940-723-4336
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Do a Good Turn on Your Birthday Do you have enough gift cards, candles, and socks? With our Girl Scouts Birthday Club, ask friends and family to donate to Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains instead of giving a gift! We’ll help you honor your Girl Scout experience and build more G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders)™. Set up your Birthday Club fundraiser with our special collection envelopes, or ask everyone to give securely on our website.
gstop.formstack.com/forms/birthdayclub
Quick Bites: Girl Scout Cookie Program Our Girl Scouts sold more than
2.7 million 8,772 packages of cookies!
Congratulations! to the Girl Scout Cookie Pro 2018 contest finalists from our council!
Girl Scouts learned the 5 skills:
Daisy: JOCELID
Brownie: ADDISON
These girls are unstoppable cookie pros whose hard work and dedication made them shine in the national Cookie Pro contest.
With the introduction of the Digital Cookie
powered by Smart Cookies Direct Ship, online sales throughout the council increased by
287%!
Project Troop to Troop
deliveries were made to: • Naval Reserve Base Fort Worth • USO Fort Worth • Tidwell Air Force Base Oklahoma • Dyess Air Force Base
SPRING/SUMMER 2018 The Girl Scout SPIRIT 2
My Dear Girl Scouts, Troops, Families, and Volunteers: Susie with the Circle T staff.
In March, we celebrated the 106th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA—an amazing organization that started its journey in 1912 with the vision of Juliette Gordon Low. I started my Girl Scout journey in 1978. And here we are 40 years later! It has been an honor to have worked for Circle T and Texas Oklahoma Plains for the past 40 years. I am fortunate to have had a career that I loved so much, doing work every day that gave me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Girl Scouting instills such good values in girls and adults: respecting oneself and others, caring about the world around us, and using one’s skills and talents to make the world a better place. A Girl Scout truly does “leave a place better than she found it.” It has been a privilege to share the Girl Scout mission with staff, volunteers, girls, families, friends, and the community. Girl Scouts will always have a place in my heart. I look forward to seeing you at future Girl Scout events. Sincerely,
Susie Bell Chief Operating Officer 1978–2018
Susie with her husband, Reed Marshall, at her retirement party.
We celebrated Susie’s 40 years of service at CARE in Fort Worth. 3 The Girl Scout SPIRIT SPRING/SUMMER 2018
Celebration and Recognition Events April is National Volunteer Month, so it’s a natural choice for our Celebration and Recognition Events in Amarillo, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Wichita Falls. Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization. Girl Scouts literally would not exist without the dedication and talents of volunteers. So many of you go above and beyond to kindle that spark, give that voice, and encourage that step. We celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of our girls and adults at CARE throughout the month. More than 160 volunteers were honored with awards at the council and national levels. Listed below are awards from Girl Scouts of the USA.
Thanks Badge II Ruth Owen
Appreciation Pin Sueann Adams Lisa Brown Daniella Cedillo Erin Cornett Kami Flavin Melissa Freitas Sharon Johnson Jackie Koenig Linda McGinnis Melissa Miller
Thanks Badge
Cynthia Davis Debra Shackelford Matt Sutton Judy Treacy
Jennifer Mills Jennifer Mountain Janine New Esther Poirier Stacey Poldson Juanita Potter Betty Sefci Elisa Rivard Helen Rankin LeAnn Savage
Robby Savage Michelle Smith Rennie Wolverton Bill Wolverton
Volunteer of Excellence Award
Rhonda Alexander Andrea Bell Bethanne Bielby Tiffany Brown Elizabeth Burleson Sophia Calpito Penny Cooper Heather Costa Amber Darling Moylene Davis Shelli Davis-Redford Charity Dragna Laura Durant Lillian Edward Clarissa Golden
Rebecca Gumpert Dani Hawkins Devona Hernandez Megan Jakubik Jeanette Kaplan Nancy Lawrence Melinda Mayes Nicole Pennington Karen Perkins Tanner Pruitt Melissa Campbell Purifoy Jaya Purswani Gina Rainey Laurie Ritchie
Waynette Rodgers Jill Sexton Jennifer Shahan Melissa Sherman Miranda Slover Susan Smith Heather Stauffer Briana Steelman Tracey Ventimiglia
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Gold Award Girl Scouts
The Girl Scout Gold Award has its roots in early Girl Scout history— beginning with the Golden Eaglet of Merit in 1916. Since that time, it has changed names but has remained focused on leadership and service. The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Gold Award Girl Scouts join the ranks of a select group of female leaders. National research shows that Gold Award Girl Scouts rate their success in life significantly higher, and they more often reach their education, career, and community service goals.
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Throughout my Gold Award project, I learned new things that have helped develop my communication and leadership skills. Makaiya Johnson, 2018 Gold Award Girl Scout
NAME TROOP Neha Ali..............................................1563 Raheena Ali......................................1563 Eman AmirAli...................................1563 DJ Auburg........................................ 5267 Brianna Braddock........................... 5121 Catherine Buchanan....................3015 Shawn Carter..................................4017 Antoinette Cavalier-Fobb..........1928 Malini Chandra................................4017 Harper Crisp...................................4657 Katherine Dell Byers......................1613 Sarah Duncan............................... 4805 Ashley Earls.......................................5110 Nicole Fenley...................................4017 Dakota Fountain...............................1181 Whitney Elizabeth Gerro.......... 2006 Campbell Harris............................. 3215 Cassandra Hartmann................ 4036 Sarina Hassan.................................1563 Morgan Hennigan.........................4657 Aubree Herrold.............................3307 Reagan Isbell....................................1441 Makaiya Johnson.......................... 1904 Peyton Jones............................. Juliette Saher Kapadia.................................1563 Kristen Kilpatrick...........................7205 Kaylana Leinen............................... 5754 Emily Lemke.....................................1441 Meghan Lewis................................. 2702 Eleanor LoFrisco...................... Juliette Sheila Makhani................................1563 Caeley McCullough...................... 1904 Shelby McLellan.............................4031 Mary McQuade...............................4817 Amanda Mendonsa.......................1417 Abigail Parella...................................1921 Jacqueline Petescia............... Juliette Emily Privett....................................3307 Dakota Rankin............................... 2006 Peyton Reine............................. Juliette Ariana Richardson......................... 3512 Jennifer Schomburg.................... 2512 Saba Shaikh................................ Juliette Katrina Sheffield...................... Juliette Sydney Shelton..............................3222 Gabrielle Sherwood.......................1120 Alisha Somani.................................1563 Emily Tracy........................................2114 Olivia Ukle........................................2468 Marissa Williams...............................1101 Lauren Worth.................................3502 Nabiha Yousuf................................1563
LinkedIn: Girl Scout Network The newly launched Girl Scout Network on LinkedIn will harness the power of more than 50 million Girl Scout alums around the world, creating an unstoppable force to champion issues that affect girls and women, including pay equity, and build the female leaders of today and tomorrow. If you were a Daisy, Brownie, or higher in Girl Scouts—for a year or even 10—follow the Girl Scout Network on LinkedIn. If you’re a seasoned troop leader, you might have girls who are now adults! Tell them to join the Girl Scout Network, too. linkedin.com > search “girl scout network” > click Follow
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Women of Distinction Fort Worth and Lubbock
Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains recognized and celebrated eight inspiring women and one inspiring man in May for their leadership and service to the community.
2018 HONOREES CONNECT AWARD
TAKE ACTION AWARD
Heather Stark
J.R. Labbe
Shay Dial Johnson
MAN ENOUGH TO BE A GIRL SCOUT AWARD
Marilyn Nance
Brian E. Happel
FORT WORTH
DISCOVER AWARD
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Save the Date
LUBBOCK
Amarillo Women of Distinction Aug. 2 bit.ly/WODAma18
Denise Mattson
Michelle McCord
Kim Davis
Margarita Olivarez
We thank our event partners for supporting our Fort Worth and Lubbock events PLATINUM
GOLD
Ada Rummel
SILVER
BRONZE
Moritz Dealerships
BBVA Compass Ben E. Keith Foods Freese and Nichols Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
City Bank
Jane Rector 7 The Girl Scout SPIRIT SPRING/SUMMER 2018
Texas A&M University
TTU School of Nursing Larry Combest Community Health and Wellness Center United Supermarkets
Vault Rooms Inc.
BRENNA: How did you feel at the opening ceremonies for the Olympics? DANA: You don’t get much cooler than walking in surrounded by your teammates. There’s a tunnel that you’re walking through, so you can’t tell how huge it is. You step through, and they announce “Team USA.” That’s the feeling like you made it, you did it— everything you worked for.
U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Dana Vollmer spoke at Women of Distinction in Fort Worth. Before the event, Girl Scout Senior Brenna Kaplan had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit with Dana for some questions.
B: What would you say to girls who are struggling with body image because they are athletic? D: We need to remind ourselves that we are strong and we are beautiful. I like to carry in all of my groceries at the same time! Focus on the things that you’re able to do and the fun that you’re able to have with the strength of your body.
B: How do you balance your family and your swimming career and everything else that’s going on? D: I’d like to say that I have it all balanced, but it’s a complete daily juggle. I’ve always said that I’ll continue swimming as long as my family dynamics are happy. It’s both the actual happiness of the family and me mentally, as long as I’m enjoying it.
We need to remind ourselves that we are
MAN ENOUGH TO BE A GIRL SCOUT
Pressman Printing
MEDIA
King Korn Latino Lubbock Magazine Mark Umstot Photography
Fort Worth Magazine
B: I would like to get into competitive swimming again. What’s your advice for girls to overcome a fear of starting over? D: Set realistic expectations. I’ve had multiple injuries. It’s not the point to push through pain. It’s about what can you get out of yourself that day. Just keep that focus on health.
PRINTING IN-KIND
BRUNCH
Studio West
B: On my bucket list is going to the Olympics. What’s on your bucket list? D: I really want to travel when I don’t have the stress of competition. I found that there’s actually places in the U.S. I haven’t gotten to see.
strong
and we are
beautiful. Dana Vollmer U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist SPRING/SUMMER 2018 The Girl Scout SPIRIT 8
Troop Highlight
Troop 8588 The Heart of Gainesville Troop 8588 in Gainesville is quite large—67 girls from Daisies to Cadettes. “We have girls from very diverse backgrounds, and they are all sisters,” says troop leader Karen Giles. “None of us gets through life alone, and so I believe it’s important that girls learn this concept early in life.”
Karen says that the majority of the girls in her troop would likely never have these experiences outside of Girl Scouts. She sees girls go from shy and nervous to confident, brave, and courageous. And she makes sure girls can earn money to go no matter the cost.
Karen and the rest of the troop leadership and volunteers work yearround to create a fun, adventurous environment for the girls that is inclusive. “I want girls to know there is more to life than what they currently experience and know,” Karen says.
“Seeing the girls’ faces when they have their first experience at new things is priceless,” she says.
Through countless opportunities and experiences, Troop 8588 teaches girls how and why to be bold, set goals, and work toward achieving them. Just a few of the one-of-a-kind activities are ziplining across Palo Duro Canyon, camping in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, looking through big telescopes at the McDonald Observatory, trekking at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, and learning about geothermic properties at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.
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The troop also keeps close to home by being very involved in the Gainesville community. Girls visit local nursing homes throughout the year to spend time with residents. The troop goes door to door at Christmas to sing carols, and they give residents treats on Halloween instead of receiving them. Troop 8588 delivers meals once a month to their homebound neighbors for D.A.S.H. (Delivering and Servicing the Homebound). “Their hearts are happy,” she says of how the girls feel when they give a hot meal to someone in need.
Cadettes in the troop even helped open the city’s first dog park. For their Silver Award, the girls prepped and painted the park’s metal fences and created signs with information about dog care. Karen says her philosophy is any amount of time a girl can spend in Girl Scouts, she is better for it. She tells the girls: “Look to your left. Look to your right. That’s your Girl Scout sister.”
Be Renewed & Ready! Your girl is so much more than a Girl Scout. She is a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™. Renew today to help her unleash that unstoppable spirit again. Together, let’s give your girl another year of positive energy, excitement, and experiences that build the skills she needs today and tomorrow—all in a place designed specifically to bring out the very best in her. At Girl Scouts, everything your girl will do is with, by, and for girls. And research shows there’s no better place for her to discover her full potential. All girls who renew by September 30 earn a free patch! EXCLUSIVE TO OUR COUNCIL!
Do You Know a Girl Who Wants to Be a Girl Scout? This summer, we have a tremendous reason for girls to join now and become Girl Scouts: our unbeatable extended-year membership offer for new Girl Scout members. She will get nearly 17 months of membership versus 12 for one low promotional price! • Click JOIN NOW on our homepage between now and July 31, 2018. • Select Extended Year Membership from the dropdown menu during the registration process. • Save 30%, become a Girl Scout member immediately, and remain a member through September 30, 2019! All girls who join by July 31 and choose Extended Year Membership from the dropdown menu during the registration process earn a free patch!
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Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 2277 Fort Worth, TX
4901 Briarhaven Road Fort Worth, Texas 76109 800-582-7272 • 817-737-7272 gs-top.org
Girl Scouts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information on how you can support our mission through outright gifts or professional goods or services, please call 800-582-7272 or visit gs-top.org.
Save These Dates August 25
G.I.R.L. Rally Powered by Girl Scouts Sundance Square, Fort Worth
September 13 Texoma Gives
September 11 McPherson Cellars Lubbock
September 20
North Texas Giving Day
October 31
Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday
November 19–27 The Panhandle Gives
November 27
#GivingTuesdayLBK