Girl Scouts of Nassau County Girlfriends October 2022

Girlfriends

Traditions

This issue of Girlfriends highlights our traditions. As Girl Scouts of Nassau County continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of today’s girls, we still celebrate and honor the traditions of our past. This means that the Girl Scouts of today looks a little different than when I was a girl and when my mother was a girl. I remember getting my new Worlds to Explore handbook when I became a Girl Scout Junior, my grandmother and mother commented on how different it was from their handbooks. As a girl, I loved that it was different and that it was made especially “for me.” I still have that handbook with all my doodles and notes on the shelf in my office today. Flipping through my handbook as a girl, I imagined the person I was going to be and all the great things ahead for me. Girl Scouts was one of the reasons I believed I could do and be anything when I tried. That confidence fueled me even when I wasn’t a Girl Scout. It pushed me to be a class officer in high school, to tackle calculus-3 in college, and to go to graduate school while working full time. That same confidence also encouraged me to be a Brownie troop leader and later work for Girl Scouts. I still carry that confidence with me today as I continue to lead Girl Scouts of Nassau County for a sixth year. As we celebrate Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday this month, think about your favorite Girl Scout traditions and how you share them but also think about how Girl Scouts needs to evolve to allow all girls to thrive and have confidence.

Celebrating Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday is a favored tradition at Girl Scouts. Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low was curious, adventurous, creative, and compassionate. She was interested in nature, animals, sports, and the arts.

In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered a group of 18 girls from her hometown to create an exciting, outdoors, educational club for girls. Her club grew quickly and became the Girl Scouts of the USA, an organization which continues to serve millions of girls within the United States and all over the world.

To celebrate our founder, Juliette, we have created a themed challenge for Girl Scouts to enjoy. Keep an eye out for the challenge on the OLC.

l Go to MYGS on our website, gsnc.org

l Username is the email address you opened the account with. If you have forgotten your password, please select Reset Password and a new one will be sent to you.

l Once you are in your account, click on Manage My Household.

l Click on Members to renew. Remember to click on the troop and any roles you may have.

l Click on Add Renewal.

l Click on renewal year (2023).

l Choose Payment Type.

Click on Review Cart.

—RMB

One of my favorite Girl Scout traditions is making sit-upons. I remember the first one I ever made. I made it with some old vinyl flowered wallpaper stuffed with newspaper. I looped the edges with some yarn and kept it much longer than I should have. A sit-upon is something to protect you against the cold and wet. Sit-upons are usually homemade, and you can make one in preparation for a hike or a camping trip. You can use sit-upons when sitting on the ground, a log, or any other cold, wet area.

l Click on Agree to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Click on Add Payment Details and insert the requested information.

l You will receive a receipt to the email on record.

a reminder–if you are a lifetime member, you must

every year but there is no

Contact customercare@gsnc.org

Girlfriends is a publication of Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Celebrate Girl Scouts with Special Traditions

Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history and inspire them to be the best they can be! It’s never too late to introduce or to bring back these traditions as a part of your Girl Scouting experience. To learn more, check out the Girl Scout Traditions Training Tidbit in gsLearn.

HERE ARE A FEW TRADITIONS YOU CAN TAKE PART IN TO CELEBRATE GIRL SCOUTS!

l Girl Scout sign: One of the most recognizable and well-known traditions is the Girl Scout sign, also known as the Girl Scout promise sign. To do the sign, raise your right hand. Use the thumb to hold down the pinky finger, leaving the three middle fingers raised to represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise. This tradition, along with the Girl Scout Promise, kicks off most Girl Scout-related events and ceremonies.

l Motto: The Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared.” In the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook , the motto was explained this way: “A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency.” The same holds true today.

l Slogan: The Girl Scout slogan is “Do a good turn daily.” The slogan, which has been used since 1912, is a reminder that Girl Scouts can make a difference in big and small ways.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THESE!

l Greeting: Girl Scouts can greet one another with the Girl Scout handshake. The handshake is made by shaking hands with the left hand and making the Girl Scout sign with the right. Reintroduce your Girl Scouts to this traditional greeting and incorporate it at special ceremonies, events that celebrate the girls, and when meeting Girl Scouts from around the world!

l Friendship Circle and Friendship Squeeze: Representing the unbroken chain of friendship, Girl Scouts stand in a circle, cross their right arms over their left, and clasp hands with their friends on both sides. Each girl makes a silent wish as a friendship squeeze is passed from hand to hand around the circle. This is a great tradition to incorporate at the end of troop meetings.

l SWAPS: Looking to connect with other troops? SWAPS is the way! SWAPS stands for “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.” They are small tokens of friendship that girls share with other Girl Scouts they meet while traveling or during events. They are often handmade and tell a story about the givers’ country, community, Girl Scout council, or troop. Check out the SWAPS wall in the GSNC Shop and the Volunteer Connections group on the OLC for ideas!

CEREMONIES FOR GIRL SCOUTS

Ceremonies allow girls to reflect on their accomplishments in a meaningful way, and acknowledge the rich tradition and sisterhood of Girl Scouting! Encourage girl-led plan ning so that all troop members are involved and their ideas are heard. To learn more about these and other Girl Scout ceremonies, check out the Girl Scout Ceremonies Training Tidbit in gsLearn!

Here are a few special ceremonies Girl Scouts can par take in:

l

An investiture ceremony welcomes all new members to Girl Scouts. The girls make the Promise for the first time and receive their membership pin. Host this ceremony after the girls learn the Girl Scout Promise, during the week of Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday (October 31), or in December before the holiday season.

l

A re-dedication ceremony is a great way for returning members to kick off the troop year and renew their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

l

Bridging ceremonies celebrate girls’ passage from one program level to another.

During the ceremony, girls should also receive their new membership pin and their membership stars and discs. Bridging years also are a time when girls can earn the Girl Scout bridging awards. The requirements can be found in the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK).

l Flag ceremonies help girls learn patriotism and respect for flag and country. They can take place indoors or outdoors, and may be included as the opening and/or closing of another ceremony. Flag retirement ceremonies teach girls to respectfully dispose of a flag that is worn beyond use.

Membership pins, stars, and discs, as well as the bridging awards, for all levels, are available to purchase in the GSNC Shop!

Volunteer Resources and Support for YOU!

The Volunteer Training and Resource team is committed to ensuring volunteers feel confident and knowledgeable in their roles! Check out the new and continued resources below, exclusively dedicated to helping volunteers have the best experi ence possible as a Girl Scout adult.

All of the following resources can be found under the “For Volunteers” section on gsnc.org or with this QR code:

l Virtual Office Hours

NEW! COMING THIS MONTH

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. Available the last Thursday of the month! First Episode Airs 10/27

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.

Get your Girl Scout questions answered on Tuesdays by meeting virtually with the team.

l Loaning Process

Borrow badge, journey, ceremonial materials, and more for your troop! Check out the materials available for loan today!

l 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 learn how you’re building skills through your volunteer experience. Available the second Monday of the month! First meeting on 10/10

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.

This summer Camp Blue Bay celebrated our 75th anniversary. We celebrated in traditional Camp Blue Bay fashion with a birthday party theme night, dance party on the basketball court, and CBB history tour for campers. Each week campers enjoyed customary activities like swimming in Gardin ers Bay, roasting s’mores, boating, and cooking their own meals over a campfire. They also tried some of the newer Camp Blue Bay favorites like archery (2016), corcling (2019) and even went for a night hike on our new nature trail (2022)! Today, Camp Blue Bay serves approximately 400 Girl Scouts each summer, offering overnight camp programs for campers ages 7-17. A lot has changed since 1947, however, our dedication to providing a safe space for Girl Scouts to explore the outdoors and gain independence remains the same. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next 75 years! Have an idea you want to see at Camp Blue Bay? Email the Summer Camp Directors at cbbsummerdirector@gsnc.org

SAVE THE DATE: Camp Blue Bay Winter Mommy & Me series registration opens November 9, 2022. More information available at gsnc.org/camp starting October 19.

Conversations with Cadettes

Welcome our new Girl Scouts tradition, Conversations with Ca dettes! This event features the best inter-generational leadership and sharing, and helps our Juniors com plete their bridging requirement.

This summer, our first Conversations with Cadettes event featured Cadette panelists who spoke about their mid dle school experience and how being a Cadette leads to more confidence, leadership skills, and friendships! Girls also spoke about how being a Girl Scout has helped them make a greater impact in their community. Leaders and parents had an interac tive discussion about middle school, supporting your Girl Scouts, and how involvement in Girl Scouts results in more empowered girls!

Join us for Conversations with Cadettes

on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at Merrick Golf Club from 9:30 am—1:00 pm.

Did you spot the Traveling Trefoil this summer?

The van gained miles visiting Martin “Bunky” Reid Park for National Night Out in Westbury, the Port Washington Children’s Center, Evergreen Charter School in Hempstead, and back to the GSNC parking lot for National S’mores Day! While enjoying time spent outdoors, Girl Scouts played Cornhole, Jenga, Connect Four, and learned new yoga poses. Capturing the sounds and sights of nature, girls painted trees with bold, colorful leaves, and made bee hummers to replicate the buzzing noise a bee makes with their wings. At GSNC, the van welcomed National S’mores Day participants by displaying a video on campfire safety. Girl Scouts created fire starters for Camp Blue Bay, crafted a campfire SWAP, narrated their own campfire tales, built different campfire structures, and roasted marshmallows for some tasty s’mores! The Traveling Trefoil is creating new traditions for Girl Scouts by providing programming directly to girls in public spaces. When you spot the Traveling Trefoil, be sure to take a photo with it and share it on social media with #TravelingTrefoil.

Registration is Now Open for the 2023 Girl Scout Convention at Disney World!

It’s our time to shine! Join us in July 2023 at Walt Disney World® Resort for the world’s biggest gathering of Girl Scouts. Our national convention only happens every three years, so you don’t want to miss it. Register for Phenom by Girl Scouts today and save with early bird pricing. Connect with Girl Scouts from across the country to experience amazing activities and demos in the Expo Hall, meet special guests, attend the National Bridging ceremony and Gold Award celebration, and much more. For more infomation or to register, click this link or scan the QR code! bit.ly/2023-gs-convention

of Convention...



My favorite part about going to NCS and convention was getting to exchange SWAPS (Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Some where). In between workshops and the session, you could always find people SWAPping and sometimes even forming giant SWAP circles. It was a really great icebreaker and gave me the opportunity to interface with Girl Scouts from all over the world.

—Christina Mendoza

This photo is from the 1999 GSNC delegation to the National Council Session in Kansas City, MO. It was my first NCS and I was in charge of a girl leadership experience with several girls. It was a wonderful trip and the sheer number of Girl Scouts—a sea of green—was overwhelming. It was then that I knew how committed I was to the Girl Scout mission and that I would one day work for GSUSA. By the next NCS, I was a GSUSA staff member. I attended the 2001 and 2004 NCS with GSUSA and virtually participated in 2020 as the CEO of GSNC. I am looking forward to the 2023 NCS at Disney!



—RMB



“My favorite part of going to a National Council Session and Convention was being a part of the decision making process at a national level and having the opportunity to build relationships with girls from across the country.”

—Amanda Ieraci

Leaders’ Guide to Take Action Projects for Journey Awards and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards!

It’s important to understand the criteria for a good Take Action project, so you can confidently lead your troop to earning these awards. For both the Journey Awards and the highest awards, the girls are required to do a Take Action project.

What’s the difference between community service and Take Action?

Community service makes the world better for some people “right now.” For example, collecting cans of food for the local food pantry feeds people or gathering toys for a homeless family shelter makes kids happy “right now.” These acts of kindness are important ways to help some people, “right now.”

In Girl Scouts, when we encourage girls to Take Action, girls un derstand the roots of a problem so they can develop a project that continues to address that problem, even after they are done.

For example, girls might want to do something about trash in a local park. If they spend a day picking up trash, they’ve solved the problem for that day, but there will probably be more trash on the ground a week later.

To create a sustainable solution, the girls would explore why there’s so much trash. They might discover that there aren’t enough trash cans in the park and people do not understand the

effects of littering. Once they know that, they investigate possible solutions, get advice from experts, and then develop a plan and put it in motion. They can make a presentation to the parks department and advocate for them to add trash cans. Once that is in place, the girls can turn their attention to educating the com munity on why not to litter. Doing research on what happens to trash on the ground or in our oceans will lead to smart practices on how to minimize waste.

Try your knowledge by taking the Take Action Quiz This quiz lives in the Bronze and Silver Award Toolkits.

When girls Take Action, they work as a team to:

l Identify a problem they want to do something about

l Research the root causes of the problem

l Come up with a creative and sustainable solution

l Develop a team plan—for the Gold Award, the girl is the CEO who leads her team!

l Put the plan into action

l Reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what they learned Girls will develop important skills when they do a Take Action project and use those skills to help others throughout their lives.

That’s inspiring!

In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia, to begin what is now Girl Scouts. Juliette’s outstanding leadership was matched by her thoughtfulness in preparing her own personal will. She gave Girl Scouts of the USA her carriage house, which became our first na tional headquarters. Her bequest represents the beginning of planned giving to Girl Scouts.

To celebrate our fearless founder, the Juliette Gordon Low Society was established to thank and honor those who (like Juliette) chose to include Girl Scouts as part of their legacy, and as a beneficiary of their estate.

The Juliette Gordon Low Society formally recognizes those who make a planned gift for our girls. These gifts can include naming Girl Scouts as a beneficiary of a:

Will

Retirement plan

trust

insurance policy

estate

fund

gift of

gift that

lifetime

income, such as a charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder trust

Your thoughtful and generous planned gift, no matter what the mon etary value, will extend your involvement with the Girl Scout Move ment beyond your lifetime to provide future generations of Girl Scouts with opportunities to reach their full potential.

Contact the GSNC fund development department to share your plans, or to discuss the best planned gift option for you. We thank you, and our girls thank you!

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.

Andrea Elder-Howell, Esq.

President and Chief Volunteer Officer

Randell Marie Bynum

Chief Executive Officer

Donna Rivera-Downey

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

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.

Dates to Remember

Oct 10 Volunteer Connections meetings resume

Oct 27 Volunteer Connections podcast launches

Oct 30 NY Jets vs. Buffalo Bills game

Oct 31 Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday

Nov 2 Mobilizing Our Mission Food and Wine Pairing Fall Fundraiser

Nov 6 Mags&Munchies program ends

Nov 11 Veterans Day

Nov 23 Thanksgiving Day

Girlfriends

October 2022 l Issue 5

FUND

In memory of:

Marilyn “Mrs. A” Avruskin (52+-year Girl Scout, CAV, Leader, Treasurer, and Gold Award mentor)

The Avruskin Family

Joyce Caggiano (50-year Bellmore Service Unit member)

—Lynn Ortlani-Morris

Back in Action!

was the theme for the 2022 GS Gardeners and Under Gardener program at The Farm at Oyster Bay. Fun was had by all as the garden was planted and maintained for the season. Harvesting the bushels of potatoes is always the highlight. A BIG thank you to Amanda Robert, the garden manager at The Farm and the Under Gardeners for leading this fabulous program.

Wondering how to stay in the know with GSNC news and events?

GSNC EMAIL NEWSLETTERS

Program Newsletter—

Sent on the 1st of the month to parents according to your Girl Scout’s level What’s Happening at GSNC Newsletter—Sent on the 15th of the month to all members

Volunteer Connections Newsletter— Sent on the 22nd of the month to all volunteers GSNC PUBLICATIONS

Girlfriends—August, October, December, February, April, and June Issues

Possibilities—Spring/Summer issue and Fall/Winter issue OLC

The OLC has the latest and greatest offer ings for our Girl Scouts, including in-person and virtual programs, patch challenges, community service, and more.

SOCIAL MEDIA

We’re always posting new programs and activities, as well as sharing our Girl Scouts’ stories on our social media pages, so follow us to stay in the know.

Facebook: @GirlScoutsofNassauCounty Instagram: @GirlScoutsNassauCounty Twitter: @GSNC

LinkedIn: @GirlScoutsofNassauCounty

As we begin the new Girl Scout year, it is

important to review and update your Girl Scout member communication and photo/ media release preferences in the MyGS portal so you hear from us.

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 at the bottom of each individ ual’s profile page. 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