2012-2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers Judith A. Maness, FACHE Chair Georgiana Prince Vice Chair Michael Osika Treasurer Bette Stonebraker Secretary
Directors-at-Large Monique Crawford Lettie Chilson Adrienne Rothstein Grace Howard Morgan Laura Mullin Judy Penzotti Valerie Pillo Marvel E. Ross-Jones, Ph.D. Annette Argona Tomlin Mary Worboys-Turner Cindy L. Odom Chief Executive Officer Ex Officio Deb Whais Chief Financial Officer Ex Officio
Dear Friends: What an incredible year! Staff, volunteers, and especially the girls have been on “cloud nine” as we celebrated our centennial birthday.
What’s a 100th birthday without a celebration?
Niagara Falls will never be the same after our unprecedented Rock the Falls event. Nearly 3,000 Girl Scouts and Canadian Girl Guides converged on the grounds and showcased a “day in the life” of Girl Scouting, sang Girl Scout songs, listened to great music, and held hands in solidarity across the Peace Bridge. Our fun didn’t end there; our girls participated in a national Take Action project called Forever Green. Rain gardens were planted in Buffalo, Rochester, Batavia, and Jamestown. Trees were also planted at Old Fort Niagara. We are sure our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, had no idea of the impact and depth her decision would have on girls and young women across the United States and abroad.
This organization’s commitment to understanding the dynamics of girls through GSUSA’s Research Institute is remarkable. We are getting a better understanding about girls – their interests, fears, and joys – and we’re using that information to create amazing programs to build girls of courage, confidence, and character for the next 100 years. Through this research, the energy and the direction that our organization is taking to make progress in developing girls’ leadership ability is exciting! Our focus throughout the past year has been to continue making inroads in the five key areas: science, technology, engineering, and math; financial leadership; healthy living; environmental leadership; and global citizenship. We focus on what girls need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The only way we can make transformational shifts in leadership is to begin this process in girlhood. We are so proud to be a part of Girl Scouts! Girls’ lives have been changed during the past 100 years and the future is looking so much brighter for generations to come. Warmest regards,
Cindy L. Odom Chief Executive Officer, GSWNY
Judith A. Maness Chair, Board of Directors