Traditions Fall 2012

Chair of the Board | Tina Stillwell CEO | Anne Soots Chief Development Officer | Angie Robinson Sullivan

November 2012

A newlsetter for the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland alumnae.

Welcome to the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Alumnae Association!

On behalf of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland (GSMH), it is my privilege to welcome you to our Alumnae Association! The GSMH Alumnae Association began in 2011 as a way to reconnect former Girl Scout members with today’s Girl Scout programs and to celebrate our historic 100 th Anniversary.

Our “Girl Scouts Forever” Alumnae Gathering was held in March as part of our 100 th celebrations and Annual Council Meeting. Nearly one hundred former and current members gathered to share stories, sing songs, and celebrate the past with a special pinning ceremony.

In the pages of this newsletter you’ll learn about GSMH and what is happening in your area and around the state.

We also hope you will find opportunities to share your favorite Girl Scout memories and discover ways you can reconnect and share your unique talents with today’s girls.

We welcome your input and involvement as theGSMH Alumnae Association continues to take shape; because more than anything, we want this to be your association—a place where you can connect with others who have had the kinds of experiences that only Girl Scouting can provide. Please call or email us with your thoughts and ideas about how the GSMH Alumnae Association can build connections between Girl Scout alumnae and the Girl Scouts of today.

Warmest regards,

Renee Trout Resource Development Manager for Annual Giving and Alumnae

Who is GSMH? Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland (GSMH) was formed on October 1, 2008, when five legacy councils (Cotton Boll, Dogwood Trails, Heart of Missouri, Otahki and Ozark Area) merged. GSMH serves girls across 68 counties in central and southern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma. As we begin our fifth year, our message is clear: building on our strong foundation, GSMH is a unified organization focused on providing progressive leadership experiences that prepare girls for a lifetime of limitless opportunities.

GSMH is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, with regional offices in Cape Girardeau, Dexter, Jefferson City, and Joplin.

We have 11 program properties and operate resident summer camps at Cherokee Ridge Program Center, Finbrooke Program Center, Latonka Program Center and Mintahama Program Center.

GSMH Happenings

Share Your Story

Alumnae Spotlight

There have been lots of exciting things happening in GSMH to celebrate our 100th Anniversary. Through a wide range of program offerings, girls have had the opportunity to pursue their passions and expand their horizons. Here’s just a few of the amazing opportunities our girls have experienced…

What is your favorite Girl Scout memory? Learning the Girl Scout Promise for the first time? Making s’mores and sit-upons? Wearing your Brownie uniform, complete with beanie? We hope to be able to feature favorite Girl Scout memories in future publications.

Submit your favorite stories to Renee Trout at rtrout@girlscoutsmoheartland.org.

Lisa Nelson • Carl Junction, Missouri

• 100th Anniversary Believe in Girls Expo • Europe trip • Summer camps • 100th Anniversary Camporee • Lego Robotics grant • Young Women of Distinction / Gold Award • Pathways Stay informed about GSMH happenings! www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org www.blog.girlscoutsmoheartland.org

Show Your Alumnae Pride These alumnae pins and other 100th Anniversary items can be purchased in any service center shop or online at www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org/shop.

Reconnect We want you to reconnect with Girl Scouts. There are many volunteer opportunities at Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland from which to choose, whether you want to work with girls or adults, on an ongoing basis or a one-time event.

Mentor a New Leader If you’ve been a troop leader in the past, offer your advice and support to a new troop leader.

Run a Workshop for Girls Do you have a special skill or hobby? Whether it’s photography, scrapbooking, or cooking, you can have fun sharing it with girls!

Host an Alumnae Event Throw a party for a good cause! Connect with old friends and network with other alums in the community.

Help Girl Scouts in Your Community Make a difference in the lives of today’s girls by becoming a troop leader, volunteering at a girl event or help planning an event in your local service area.

What is your GS history?

Growing up in Aberdeen, South Dakota, I was in Girl ScoutTroop 55 of the Nyoda Council (now Dakota Horizons) while a Brownie, Junior and Cadette. Thirty years later, my daughter Kenzi joined Carl Junction Daisy Troop 61004 in the spring of 2009. The next fall when troop membership doubled, I was asked to take on the four Girl Scouts who had bridged to Brownies. We formed Troop 61024, which I still lead with the support of wonderful parents.

The troop has grown to 18 members, with two joining this fall. We ventured to St. Louis for Spring Break this year, and are planning a sixth grade trip to Chicago in 2014. I’m very proud of them for creating Bullying Awareness badges for all Girl Scout levels in GSMH as their Bronze Award project. Our troop alone accounted for 13 percent of cookie sales for Jasper County in 2012—an indication of the girls’ determination to reach their lofty goals!

I currently serve as the Communications Liaison for the Wilson-Gooch Service Team 710 (Jasper County), which was named after two families who devoted generations to Girl Scout leadership in southwest Missouri.

This year, I am helping mentor new leaders by providing an extra hour of essential leader topics before the monthly service team meeting.

It has been my honor to serve on the GSMH 100th Anniversary Celebration Alumnae Subcommittee, Marketing Subcommittee of the Property Committee, and on

Re-register for Girl Scouts today for only $12! Go to www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org/docs/forms/2012/ Adult_Membership_Form_Writeable.pdf to download the registration form. You can either bring the form and your $12 registration fee to any GSMH service center or mail it in.

Traditions | November 2012

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the Strategic Learning team that outlined the threeyear strategic plan for GSMH in 2011.

What is your favorite GS memory?

Good times spent around the fire singing songs to strummed guitars, roasting marshmallows for s’mores, and watching the fire die down to embers as the night stretched on endlessly at camp.

Are there qualities you developed as a Girl Scout which have influenced your life/career?

I recall feeling very satisfied when I had accomplished a task and initialed the line next to it in my Junior badge book. One by one, those activities became badges earned, and leadership awards. It doesn’t matter whether the goal is big or small—you will accomplish it one step at a time, so get started!

What is the greatest benefit of the Girl Scout program for girls and adult volunteers?

Many programs aim to educate youth and instill good values and decision making. But the hands-on approach of the Girl Scout program has the unique ability to empower girls as leaders as they discover and build self-confidence, explore their connections to others, and take action to fulfill their visions for the community. Girl-led is where it’s at.

If you could teach girls one lesson, what would it be?

Life repays you richly if you keep giving generously without expecting anything in return. Girls need to follow their inner voices. By doing the right thing, as often as possible, for as many people as possible, life opens doors and can take you in wonderful, unexpected directions.

What is your current profession?

Wife, mom, community volunteer and grant program supervisor at Freeman Health System in Joplin.

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Building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland 210 S. Ingram Mill Road Springfield, MO 65802

Non-Proft Organization U.S. Postage PAID Springfield, Missouri Permit No. 1470

877-312-4764 gscouts@girlscoutsmoheartland.org