Donation Received!
Girl Scouts of Nassau County has been selected as a recipient of a $1.8 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This generous gift is part of an $84.5 million donation award ed to GSUSA and 29 local councils selected by MacKenzie Scott making this unprecedented investment the largest donation from a single individual in the national organization’s history. MacKenzie Scott is well known for her philanthropic efforts throughout the pandemic and beyond.
These funds will enable our council to invest more in the development of pro gramming and resources to accelerate and deepen our work with girls to support more Girl Scouts in our community, especially those who have been historically under-engaged. And this donation could not have come at a better time. With the challenges facing girls today, it’s critical to invest in their futures through organizations like Girl Scouts, but the funding to directly impact girls’ futures remains historically underfunded.
Women’s and girl’s organizations receive less than 2% of overall charitable giving. We hope this donation will be a catalyst to bring more donations to our council and the Girl Scout Movement as a whole and enable all of us to reach more girls.
Over the next three years, in Nassau County we will not only accelerate our mission but will use the funding to expand access and engagement of girls and families in Nassau County through our new IDEA Lab (Innovation, Diversity, Equity, and Access Lab). The IDEA Lab staff will create new programmatic opportunities for our girls, establish a space for girls in the community, encour age access for new communities, improve cultural competency and give GSNC the opportunity to “color outside the lines” to meet the needs of today’s girls.
Thank you to everyone for your ongoing dedication to our mission and the girls we serve. This generous grant is a validation of the impact Girl Scouts of Nassau County makes in girls’ lives. We are so grateful for the opportuni ties this grant will provide in the work that we all do together to serve girls in Nassau County. —RMB
Check out the article on the back page to learn how we found out...
For more information about giving to women and girls, see the recent research from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy – Women’s Philanthropy Institute. https://bit.ly/Lilly-WomensPhilanthropy
Ready to Rally?
We are excited about the new addition to the online cookie line up—a thin, crispy cookie infused with raspberry flavor, dipped in chocolaty coating! Let’s all cheer for Raspberry Rally™, the first Girl Scout Cookie™ exclusively sold online and shipped only through Digital Cookie®. Cookie fans will love how Rasp berry Rally adds a delightful new dimension of sweet and tart flavors. Girl Scouts using Digital Cookie will love how it brings even more excite ment to their cookie business. But make sure to get ‘em before they’re gone! Councils are assigned a limited number of boxes of Raspberry Rally so place your orders soon!
Key Cookie Dates:
December 8: Digital Cookie setup begins
December 14, 2022: Program begins! (both online and in-person)
January 17, 2023: Initial Orders due January 28: Booth sales begin
March 8: Cookie program ends (both online and in-person)
Dates and activities for the 2023 GSNC Cookie Program are subject to change. Please watch for posts on the OLC (member.gsnc.org) and the GSNC website (gsnc.org) for the most updated status and guidelines for Girl Scout in-person activities.
DECEMBER 2022
Girlfriends is a publication of Girl Scouts of Nassau County
It’s Cookie Time! 92%
of girls believe they are smart enough to become an entrepre neur. When they participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, they are one!
REWARDS:
50+ donated packages earn a girl this exclusive GSNC Operation Cookie/Home town Heroes pin.
You make an impact when you collect donations. Now make a statement with this Gift of Caring patch, earned with 10+ donated packages Accessorize any outfit with these fabulous Fashion Shades, earned at 90+ packages. Add in this ocean blue Dolphin Tail Bracelet and Dolphin Mood Ring set, both earned at 400+ packages.
The future is bright for cookie entre preneurs celebrating success with this inspiring journal, which comes with glitter stickers and an animated bookmark. Earn the Dolphin Sunrise Journal when you sell 110+ packages during the Initial Order period. Are you dreaming of bright adventures with dolphins? When you reach 200+ packages, choose between Coral the Dolphin plush or a Travel Pillow and Mask set.
Encourage her to “Go Bright Ahead” and join the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, and be a part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. To get started with in-person sales, get your paper order card from your Girl Scout Cookie volunteer. Or start to sell online with Digital Cookie. Scan the QR Code to learn more or go to bit.ly/gsnc-cookie-sellers Here are just a few ways the cookie program helps girls learn business, the Girl Scout way:
l Girl-led—Girl Scouts take the lead in their budget, plans, and marketing techniques.
l Cooperative Learning—Girl Scouts work together to set their goals, decide how to use their money as a team, and overcome hurdles along the way.
l Learning by Doing—Real-life, hands-on activities help girls see how their experiences as cookie entrepreneurs can translate to their own career or business.
From Girl Scout Bianca: Cookie season of 20202021 was a challenging one. I decided to bring a page of cookie jokes to my booth sale.
To my surprise, the cookie jokes worked. People said that my jokes were hilarious and many people bought cookies even after previously saying no. I was inspired to give other Girl Scouts my cookie jokes to bring to their booth sales, too.
This is one of my cookie jokes: Why do basketball players like cookies? Because they can dunk them.
Winter Fun for Your Troop or Girl Scout Juliette
Explore these badges, awards, and additional resources and consider presenting them to your troop or Girl Scout Juliette to earn in the month of December! We have geared our suggestions to work perfectly for cookie season.
All badge requirements can be found:
l On the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK), accessible through the GSNC website.
l In the printed-out badge booklets, available for purchase from the GSNC Shop.
For a reminder on how to log into the VTK, follow the steps below.
1. gsnc.org 2. MYGS 3. Username and Password 4. Select Volunteer Toolkit on the left-hand side of the page
5. Start selecting badges with the “Explore” tab
Questions?
Contact customercare@gsnc.org for any of your Girl Scout planning needs.
Did you know that many badges and award categories are available for each Girl Scout level? See how there is something for everyone!
Cookie Business Badges
o My First Cookie Business (D)
o My Cookie Customers (B)
o My Cookie Team (J)
o My Cookie Venture (C)
o My Cookie Network (S)
o My Cookie Business Resume (A)
Financial Wellness Badges
o Money Explorer (D)
o Money Explorer (B)
o Budget Builder (J)
o Budget Maker (C)
o Manager Savvy Saver (S)
o Financial Planner (A)
Entrepreneur Badges
o Toy Business Designer (D)
o Budding Entrepreneur (B)
o Business Jumpstart (J)
o Business Creator (C)
o Business Startup (S)
o Entrepreneur Accelerator (A)
Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pins (All levels)
Resources
l Littlebrowniebakers.com: activities, as well as cookie safety tips and printable resources for girls.
l Service Unit Cookie Chair: Do you know who this volunteer is in your local community? They are your go-to resource for all things cookies. Contact customercare@gsnc.org to find out.
l “Awesome Cookie Volunteers” group on the OLC: Join this group on the OLC for all important GSNC cookie season information for Troop Cookie Managers.
l Follow the “Cookie Dashboard” on the OLC: Check out the cookie group found under the OLC’s program tab for cookie season updates, cookie selling resources, activities, and more.
*Girl-led Planning Tip: After looking at the requirements for these badges and awards, write down one or two of those requirements. Then present them to the girls, so they can get an idea of what they’d be involved in.
On November 2nd, GSNC hosted its fifth food and wine fundraiser at The Mansion at Oyster Bay. A lovely time was had by all, where adult members, corporate sponsors and community partners came together to celebrate our girls and mission.
Guests had the opportunity to sample various food and wines, bid for girl story-inspired art and guest experiences, and take a chance on winning luxury raffle baskets. At the end of the program, the recipient names of our Legacy and Impact Awards were announced. The four honorees will receive their awards at our Legacy Brunch in March 2023.
Special thanks to the evening’s Corporate Sponsors: PSEG Long Island, National Grid, Morgan Stanley and EPIC Brokers.
Legacy Award Honoree: Valerie T. Terzano PhD, R.N., NEA-BC Impact Award Honorees: Deandra Denton, Elizabeth Garcia and Melanie Sinesi
Our International Wine and Dine Event was magical!
Girl
GSNC Board of Directors President Andrea ElderHowell (right) and Member-AtLarge Melanie Sinesi
“Stories to Sketches” artwork on display for online bidding at our event.
GSNC CEO Rande Bynum with Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan CEO Monica Woodson (left) and Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee President and CEO Dr. Agenia Clark (right).
Help every girl get excited about her future as a Girl Scout. Get her started in your troop with a new patch on her uniform!
Add one or more new girls to your existing troop between January 17, 2023 and April 30, 2023 and each girl in your troop will receive the “Add a Friend” patch.
For more information, contact us at at customercare@gsnc.org
Go gaga for Gaga!
Need something fun to do during the winter break? We have a new and exciting opportunity for Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes registered for the 2023 membership year.
On Tuesday, February 21, 2023 and Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, join our first Gaga Tournament. Girls will play as individuals while representing their Service Unit. The games will be played at Globall Sports Center in Garden City. Look out for more information to come.
Get ready to represent your Service Unit and bring home a trophy!
Make sure all Girl Scouts in your troop are renewed for 2023 so they can be a part of our Inaugural Gaga Tournament. Please contact customercare@gsnc.org if they need help renewing.
Trainings and Resources for Girl Scout Volunteers
The Volunteer Training and Resource team is committed to helping Girl Scout adults feel confident and knowledgeable in their leadership roles! Check out the resources we have available to help volunteers have the best experience possible.
The following resources can be found on gsnc.org or scan this QR code:
Virtual Office Hours
Get your Girl Scout questions answered by meeting virtually with the team. Appointments are availabe on Tuesdays!
Loaning Process
Borrow badge, journey, ceremonial materials, and more for your troop. Check out the materials available for loan today!
Volunteer Connections
Volunteer Connections encompasses tons of resources for all GSNC adult volunteers! Access any of these resources when it fits your schedule.
l Monthly Live Zoom Meetings: Interact with other volunteers, and strengthen your skills and talents as they relate to volunteering. Register today for our upcoming meetings: gsnc.org/programs
Monday, December 12, 2022, 8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Lead with Impact Monday, February 13, 2023, 8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Celebrating a Global Sisterhood
l Monthly Podcast: Listen at home, in the car, or anywhere that fits your schedule! Learn about the Girl Scout program from GSNC staff and download Girl Scout activities and valuable troop and Service Unit resources. New episodes coming soon!
Thursday, December 29, 2022: Winter Activities
Thursday, January 26, 2023: New Year Fun and World Thinking Day
Dedicated Volunteer Email
Check your inbox for information geared specifically to strengthen your leadership experience.
Blog Posts
Read monthly articles about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and fun Girl Scout activities.
Follow the Volunteer Connections group on the OLC
Here you’ll find PDFs, links, and presentation decks on a variety of topics that you can use with your troop and Service Unit.
Our camp brochure is coming in January. Be on the lookout! Registration opens February 15, 2023.
Find more information about Volunteer Connections in your email, social media, the OLC, and the GSNC website.
Questions? Email the team at customercare@gsnc.org.
Key Elements of Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Projects
A big part of Girl Scouts is doing community service projects, collecting coats for the homeless or pet food for a shelter, for example. These projects are great, but they are community service projects. The higher awards involve Take Action projects.
Before Girl Scouts begin thinking about earning the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award, it’s helpful for all to understand the difference between a Take Action project and a community service project. Girl Scouts are often familiar with community service projects and might suggest one for their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award project. However, Take Action projects are required. Here are the differences:
Take Action Projects
A long-term project with sustainable and ongoing influence that addresses a root cause of an issue
Done WITH the community
Creating a unique initiative to address the root cause of an issue
Creating and leading your own team of volunteers
Setting the goals and leading a team to achieve them
Community Service
A short-term effort that helps something or someone fulfill an immediate need
Done FOR the community
Joining an existing effort to solve a
problem
Done as part of an existing team (usually as a volunteer)
Working toward a goal that’s set by others
Often, a community service project idea can be developed into a Take Action project. For example, Girl Scouts may want to collect items for a crowded pet shelter. That’s a community service project, of course. But if they partner with the shelter to understand the root causes of overcrowded shelters and come up with a solution, like workshops to educate others about spaying and neutering, that’s a Take Action project!
What Girl Scouts Means to Us...
Charlotte
Girl Scouts has become a big part of my life since I joined as a Daisy. I’ve met some of my closest friends through Girl Scouts. They are very important in my life now and I know we’ll be friends in the future. I always feel comfortable, like I can be myself, when I’m with other Girls Scouts at events and meetings.
I went to Camp Blue Bay as soon as I was old enough to sleep away; I consider it my happy place and where I learned how to be independent. I attend the full summer program every year because I love it so much.
I have had so many amazing oppor tunities to meet inspiring female role models and participate in unique events. Meeting then Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul at the 100th celebration of the 19th Amendment is just one example.
I met even more inspiring women at the Unapologetically Fearless event.
This has helped me to have a better understanding of what I want to do with my life. I learned not to accept limitations based on my gender. I can try new things and take advantage of opportunities that interest me. If I do my best, I might meet or go beyond anyone’s expectations. Girl Scouts is empowering and has given me new confidence in myself. I’ve earned my Bronze Award and was accepted into the National Junior Honor Society. I’m starting to work on the Silver Award and looking forward to making a positive impact when it’s completed.
Debbie
Girl Scouts is a family affair in our home. Everyone is involved because it gives us the opportunity to share amazing experiences with Charlotte. It’s helped us connect with her, our community, and nature, too.
I was briefly a Girl Scout as a child. When Charlotte was old enough to join Girl Scouts, I thought it was a nice opportunity for her to socialize with her peers. Then a whole new world opened up for us. I began making new friends and found a support system of other like-minded women. I was inspired by them to finish my master’s degree.
The value system based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law has helped us both grow
as individuals. It’s helped strengthen our bond as mother and daughter. I’ve gained confi dence in her ability to be independent and resourceful. I have a kind daughter that willingly offers to make dinner for the family and helps around the house. She’s also excelling academically and actively looking for ways to contribute to our community.
We were surprised when Charlotte first asked to go to Camp Blue Bay for two whole weeks as a Brownie. We allowed her to go after an open house knowing that it is a well-run program. It wasn’t a decision my family made lightly. Charlotte flourished at camp and made some great friends. I didn’t start Charlotte’s troop but was eventually asked to step into the leader role. My enthusiasm grew as I learned more about the program and have happily explored more leadership roles in our Service Unit. I want Girl Scouts to be as pleasant and rewarding experience for others as it has been for us.
110 Ring Road West Garden City, NY 11530
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Girlfriends, 110 Ring Road West, Garden City, NY 11530
Girlfriends (USPS 135-280), is published quarterly with a special issue in August. Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc. 110 Ring Road West, Garden City, NY 11530
Periodicals Postage Paid at Garden City, NY 11530.
Dates to Remember
December 1
December 23
National Women Supporting Women Day
GSNC Shop closed for inventory
TRIBUTE FUND
In memory of:
—Girl
GSNC Service Center and Shop closed for holidays
Referrals for Board Development Committee, Board of Directors, and National Delegates due Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Legacy Brunch Heritage Club at Bethpage
December 26January 2 January 15 January 16 March 30
Girlfriends
December 2022 l Issue 6
Girls and their caregivers got the chance to get their pho tos taken professionally on the red carpet at the Garden City New York Media studio.
The Phone Call that Changed Everything...
At a program event last fall, a girl asked me if I had taken over Girl Scouts after Juliette Gordon Low! Questions like that make you reflect on a lot of things. I confidently replied, that I did not know Juliette and that there have been many before me that have carried her mission forward. This spring however, I did have a Juliette “moment.” As you may know, Juliette made a famous phone call that marked the beginning of Girl Scouts in 1912. She proclaimed, “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we’re going to start tonight!” That call sparked a wildfire in many hearts, inspiring more than 60 million girls to blaze new trails and see limitless potential for their lives through their participation in Girl Scouts.*
In May, I got my own “famous” phone call. At first I thought the emails preceding the call were spam. The emails were vague and
we have some serious IT guidelines about answering odd emails. It turns out it was my Juliette call! My favorite part of this moment is when I got this call, I was walking around the office putting red noses on staff desks from the Red Nose Day campaign and letting them know little things make a big difference.
The caller got right to the point. She was calling to let me know that my work at Girl Scouts of Nassau County was being recognized and because of that, MacKenzie Scott was awarding our council with $1.8 million in funding. I let out a little squeal and then I cried. I cried because two years and two months into the pandemic, as a nonprofit leader I was feeling the stress. And to be recognized for my hard work and the hard work of our staff and volunteers was tremendous! I look forward to blazing new trails and expanding access for girls to see the limitless potential for their lives. —RMB
Andrea Elder-Howell, Esq. President and Chief Volunteer Officer Randell Marie Bynum Chief Executive Officer Cassie Colgan Director, Marketing and Communications Anna Lenz Graphic Design and Production Manager Designed by Anna Lenz Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc., an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Agency, is a member of Long Island’s United Way, Inc. Village of Hempstead CDA, United Community Fund of Great Neck, and The Community Chest of Port Washington.Follow Us On
1
Troop Click
* https://bit.ly/jgl-gs-quote
Doris Jeanne Olson (former Valley Stream Girl Scout Leader)
—Diane White
Grace LaRossa (mother and grandmother of LindaAnn and Tracey Wargo)
Scouts of Nassau County