Opportunities for Girl Scouts

ast year, I was asked by a Girl Scout, “What was Juliette thinking?” when she created Girl Scouts. My answer was that Juliette was trying to create opportunities for girls. In 1912 Juliette was quoted saying on a call to her cousin, “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we’re going to start it tonight!” What confidence and ambition in that statement! Juliette’s vision for the girls of Savannah, America, and the world changed their lives. Juliette and other visionaries like Frances Hesselbein, our former chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of the USA who passed away on December 11 changed our Movement. Frances was our national CEO from 1976 to 1990. She was 107 years old and embodied Juliette’s vision. It is because of Frances that we have a focus on leadership development, Girl Scout Daisies, STEM content, and programs that “reflect contemporary concerns.” Frances was also instrumental in broadening the diversity of our membership by intentionally creating a more inclusive organization. Frances was ahead of her time. I had the opportunity to meet her in 2018 and was awestruck. I challenged myself to build a similar legacy.

In November, GSUSA challenged council CEOs and board chairs to look through a “Girl Scout-first” lens and understand the issues and trends that are most relevant to her today, just as Juliette and Frances did. Girl Scouts of Nassau County champions several Girl Scout-first lenses, including over 50 girl delegates, our Girl Leadership Committee of the board, and for the second year, our Conversations with Cadettes program. I challenge all of us to continue to look through that lens and consider these six trends shared with me by GSUSA:

1. Equity and Inclusion: When discussing with younger girls, you might describe it as “feeling included and being treated fairly.”

2. Health and Wellness: Younger girls might relate better to feeling good in our brains, hearts, and bodies.

3. Education and the World of Work: What can girls be and do?

4. Technology: From social media to screen time to STEM—How are girls feeling about devices, connectivity, being online, and everything in between.

5. Sustainability and the Environment: From what we consume to how we behave and the choices we make; how do girls feel about the health of the planet?

6. Civic Duty and Social Responsibility: How are girls feeling about the impact they personally can have on the communities they see?

—RMB

Explore the six trends listed with girls, families, and other volunteers. Then scan the QR code below to share what you have discovered.

In 2023, we will continue to listen to and understand our Girl Scouts—understand that they are all not the same—and try to align our priorities with what is most relevant to them.

Celebrate World Thinking Day with Your Troop

Each February 22, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides across 150 countries celebrate World Thinking Day. It’s a day of international friendship and a time to stand up for causes that could improve the lives of girls around the globe.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which all Girl Scouts are a part of, has celebrated World Thinking Day since 1926. WAGGGS is the largest voluntary movement dedicated to empowering girls and young women in the world. Learn more about WAGGGS!

https://bit.ly/worldcentres-wagggs

So how can you get Girl Scouts involved? Your troop can earn the World Thinking Day Award! The 2023 World Thinking Day theme is “Our World, Our Peaceful Future: The environment, peace, and security.” With this award, girls in every Girl Scout level can explore environmental problems and learn how they can work with nature to create a more peaceful and secure future for girls everywhere. You may be thinking, “My girls are too young for that” or “That’s not really my troop’s thing.” We encourage you to keep an open mind and explore what these awards have to offer!

Find the World Thinking Day Award activities in the activity guides here: https://bit.ly/world-thinking-dayways-to-participate

Girl-led Tip: See if your troop is interested in this award by bringing the activity guide to your troop meeting. Discuss the activities with them and see what they say!

Silver Award Corner

Beinga Girl Scout troop leader

is one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. Guiding young women and helping them find their voice and discover their passions has been incredible to witness. Especially when they are earning their Silver Award. My troop’s Silver Award projects ranged from social media, mental health, and women’s history—all topics that were important to them. Their projects covered the uncredited women in the women’s history movement, like Alice Paul, how social media affects teenage girls’ mental health. The project included a survey and a pledge for girls to take, and finally how social media affects young girls body image. Resources were shared to help them if they are struggling as well as a pledge.

After all seven girls in my troop earned their Silver Awards, my troop, co-leader, and I all learned a few things that we would like to share with our sister Girl Scouts and troop leaders: l Start early—the Silver Award is a marathon, not a sprint. Giving girls enough time to complete their Silver Award will make it easier and less stressful for everyone involved. l Dedicate a meeting to earning the Silver Award and what it entails. Review the requirements and examples of Take Action vs. community service projects with the troop. l Invite sister Girl Scouts who have earned their Silver Award to speak with your troop about their process and how they selected their projects. Have questions ready for them. l Have a parent meeting to explain the value and requirements of the award. l Have a parent liaison to help you. l Listen to the girls in your troop—let them select their journeys. Vote on it as a troop. l Dedicate meeting time for check-ins for the groups.

—Troop leader, Karla

Please Update Your Preferences!

As we begin the new year, it is important to review and update your Girl Scout member communication and photo/media release preferences in the MyGS portal. This ensures that you receive the most up-to-date information on new programs, what’s happening at GSNC, Girl Scout Cookie season, and membership.

To review and update the preferences for your household, log into your MyGS account at https://mygs.girlscouts.org/. Once you are logged in, navigate to “my household,” then edit the profile for each member in your household including your Girl Scout(s). The communication and photo/media release preferences can be found all the way at the bottom of each individual’s profile page.

If you wish to learn more about each preference, you can click on the title of the preference for detailed information. Once you update your preferences, don’t forget to save your changes.

If you have any questions, please email us at customercare@gsnc.org.

It’s Not Too Late to Be a Cookie Boss and Participate in the Cookie Program!

Get

Ready

The sale ends on March 8, 2023 for both in-person and online sales. There are so many reasons to join the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world—and having fun is the most important!

to contact all friends and family, far and wide, because the Digital Cookie shipped option will be available starting February 27!

The new Raspberry Rally will also become available for purchase starting February 27. As a reminder, the new cookie can only be purchased online via Digital Cookie’s shipped option. Like other councils, Girl Scouts of Nassau County is only allotted a specific quantity of the Raspberry Rally cookie, so don’t wait—get ‘em before they’re gone!

Even before the shipping option became available, Girl Scouts have gone Bright Ahead to reach their goals this Girl Scout Cookie season! To thank you for your patience and to applaud you on your resilience, we are happy to announce that Girl Scouts of Nassau County will be offering a promotion for all shipping orders made during the first 48 hours it becomes available. Stay tuned to learn more!

A good time was had by all at our recent cookie rally at the Samanea Mall. There were crafts, a photo booth, cookie booth preparedness lessons, financial literacy, cookie selling skills, and of course cookie cheers and happy smiles!