GSSI Robotics Teams Competing in FIRST Lego League Qualifiers

Some of the girls on GSSI's Robotics Teams pose with Angie Suhre,
GSSI's Director of Program  (top right) and Villie M. Appoo, Chief Executive Officer (bottom right)

Good luck to all of GSSI’s FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics teams at their upcoming FLL Qualifier competitions on Dec. 7 at Carriel Jr. High in O’Fallon, IL and Dec. 14 at McKendree University in Lebanon, IL.   We are so proud of the girls' hard work and grateful for the dedication of the coaches, mentors and parents who have been working with the girls for the past few months. 

Saturday, Dec. 7 -- Carriel Jr. High in O'Fallon, IL 

The Lego Divas from Effingham

The Unknowns from Belleville

The Twisters from Troy/Marine

The Robotic Gems from Washington Park

 

 Table rounds start around 10:30 and will conclude with awards at 4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14 -- McKendree University in Lebanon, IL

G4S4 from Ozark
The Tornado Twisters from Albers

Tornado Tech Girls from Pinckneyville

TBot 907 from Roxana

Robo Fury from Godfrey

GIR! Girls Investigating Robots from Staunton

Catastrophic Cadettes from Staunton

The Fireworks from Glen Carbon

The Purple Robot Penguins from O’Fallon 

The Shiloh Robo Bears from Shiloh

Lightning Storm from Belleville

This tournament begins around 9 a.m. and will conclude around 4 p.m.

See photos of GSSI Robotics Teams at the STEM Kickoff in September

Amber Funaro from Stonefort Named November Pearl of the Month

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Amber Funaro from Stonefort has been named the November Pearl of the Month. The Pearl of the Month Award recognizes a Girl Scout volunteer who has delivered service beyond expectations and helped to ensure that the approximately 14,000 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois benefit from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Nominees must meet several criteria, including completion of all required training for his or her volunteer position as well as providing outstanding service to his or her Service Unit or the Council.

Amber is the co-Service Unit Director representing the SU 66 – Shawnee, which serves Saline, Gallatin and Hardin Counties.  She has gone above and beyond what is expected to recruit new leaders in the community, filling every open position in the Service Unit.  Also, Amber made sure that every new leader had a co-leader to help them.  Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Girl Scout organization, so Amber’s role in recruiting new leaders and readily assisting current volunteers fills a vital need.

The mission of Girl Scouting states:  Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.   Girl Scouts is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls - all girls - where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.  In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives - like strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.

Today’s Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts, but they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork.  Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Girl Scouting has inspired more than 50 million girls and women since its founding in 1912. 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways throughout the region.  Girl Scouts is a Proud Partner of United Way.

Winter Camping at GSSI Camp Properties!

GSSI Camp Properties offer camping opportunities all year at the following winterized units.  Click on the camp name to see more information about that property.

Camp Cedar Point -- Makanda, IL: Sahara Lodge and Bruce Lodge both offer heat, fireplace, bathrooms, mattresses and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave).  Each has a capacity of 20 campers.   

Camp Chan Ya Ta -- Worden, IL: The Lodge offers heat, fireplace, bathroom/shower, fire pit, water, tables and chairs, mattresses and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave).  It is an accessible unit and has a capacity of 30 campers.  The Bunkhouse has two sections that sleep 12 people each.  There is shelter, lights, access to the showerhouse, fire pit, water and refrigerator.  Indoor cooking is not permitted.  This unit is accessible.

Camp Torqua -- Edwardsville, IL: Pumpkin Patch Unit A has a capacity of 36 campers in three heated cabins with bunkbeds and 1/2 the heated program center with heat.  Pumpkin Patch Unit B has a capacity of 24 campers in two heated cabins with bunkbeds and 1/2 the heated program center with heat.  Both Pumpkin Patch units have access to the showerhouse (two toilets and two showers), an accessible Pullman kitchen, microwave, tables and chairs, shelter with lights and fire pit. Both Tuckaway and Lisetta Units have a capacity of 30 campers and has a heated troop house, kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave), fireplace, tables and chairs, mattresses, shelter with lights and fire pit.  Tuckaway also has an indoor accessible bathroom.

Camp Wassatoga -- Effingham, IL: Ridimakahe Lodge has a capacity of 25 campers and offers heat, full kitchen, fireplace and bathroom with showers and mattresses. 

Camp Whispering Oaks -- Salem, IL:  Lazaretti Lodge has upper and lower levels that each have a capacity of 15.  Both have heat, fireplace, accessible bathrooms with showers, mattresses, fire pit, tv/dvd, tables & chairs and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave). 

Camp Butterfly -- Farmington, MO: No winterized units are available at Camp Butterfly.  This camp is open April 1 to Oct. 31.

There open dates available for your group now!  Call Carol Ann Hering at 800.345.6858, ext. 1131. 

GSSI's Nut, Candy & Magazine (NCM) Program is a Huge Success

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ 2013 Nut, Candy & Magazine (NCM) Program was a tremendous success as approximately 4, 200 girls sold over $550,000 of the delicious nuts, candies and magazines.  Girls who participated in the program benefit from “learning by earning” and developed five valuable life skills – goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.  Proceeds for the NCM Program help GSSI develop leadership programs for girls, recruit and train adult volunteers, improve and maintain camp properties and provide financial assistance so Girl Scouting is available to all girls.  

“What a wonderful job our girls did during this year’s Nut, Candy & Magazine Program,” said Villie M. Appoo, GSSI Chief Executive Officer.  “The success of NCM program is due largely to the commitment from our girls, their parents, our fantastic volunteers and of course everyone who supported the girls by purchasing an item,” said Appoo. “Proceeds from Girl Scout Product Programs provide numerous opportunities for girls to help them grow into leaders for America and teaches them many valuable skills like goal setting, decision making and working together as a team.” 

See Top Sellers By Area:

Service Unit	Troop	Top Seller	Amount Sold	Hometown
Alexander County	#8562	Cheyenne Lattimore	$216	Cairo
Alton/Wood River	#130	Kaylee Melton	$665	Wood River
Belleville/Swansea	#813	Amelia Wagner	$657	Belleville
Bond County	#8802	Sydnee Godier	$520	Sorento
Bethalto	#301	Cheyenne Quartermouse	$423	Cottage Hills
Centralia	#8825	Alexis Nelson	$472	Centralia
Clark/Cumberland Counties	#2113	Anastasia Turner	$514	Marshall
Clay County	#8782	Leah Cartright	$445	Clay City
Clinton County	#8434	Avery Pingsterhaus	$456	Aviston
Collinsville	#261	Jovie Mersinger	$659	Collinsville
Columbia	#359	Alexa Glover	$443	Dupo
Crawford/Jasper Counties	#2100	Paige Sanders	$551	Robinson
East Marion	#8504	Nevaeh Bryant	$476	Centralia
East St. Louis	#874	Carrie Webster	$427	Granite City
East Williamson County	#8247	Ali Stephens	$454	Marion
Eastern Coles County	#8643	Ryellie Roberts	$584	Coles County
Edwardsville/Glen Carbon	#204	Josephine Rutledge	$704	Glen Carbon
Effingham	#2047	Brooke Evans	$690	Altamont
Fairview Heights/Caseyville	#43	Ahmani Tillman	$718	Fairview Heights
Fayette County	#8383	Olivia Rubin	$363	Vandalia
Granite City/Madison/Venice	#1247	Emily Jones	$911	Granite City
Highland	#66	Dalanee Balint	$565	Highland
Jackson County	#8811	Lily Williams	$420	Jackson County
Jefferson County	#8643	Grace Seidel	$524	Bonnie
Jersey/Calhoun Counties	#532	Katlyn Springer	$667	Godfrey
Johnson/Pope Counties	#8649	Aydrianna Simmons	$403	Buncombe
Lawrence County	#8704	Lyndsey Brunson	$354	Sumner
Massac County	#8202	Jala Williams	$278	Metropolis
New Athens/Marissa/Freeburg	#294	Zion Waddell	$555	Swansea
North Franklin County	#8925	Alexis Talbert	$509	Sesser
North Randolph County	#8319	Jacelyn Boston	$637	Sparta
O’Fallon/Shiloh	#383	Alexandra Sumida	$627	O’Fallon
Perry County	#8130	Bianca Bell	$527	DuQuoin
Richland County	#8470	Kloe Elder	$451	Olney
Scott Air Force Base	#313	Madison Sanker	$201	Mascoutah
Shawnee	#8285	Brooke Mabrey	$475	Rosiclare
South Randolph County	#8235	Kaylie Jo Springston	$599	Chester
South Macoupin County	#376	Madison Rimar	$558	Mt. Olive
Trenton/Lebanon/Mascoutah	#734	Lynn Shirley	$400	Lebanon
Troy/St. Jacob	#578	Adelaide Mumper	$625	Troy
Union/Pulaski Counties	#8544	Erin Stout	$498	Jonesboro
Wabash/Edwards Counties	#8505	Jayla Edgin	$536	Keensburg
Washington County	#8753	Elizabeth Bierman	$636	Hoyleton
Waterloo	#561	Alayna Walton	#441	Waterloo
Wayne/Hamilton/White	#8677	Hannah Fickas	$467	Cisne
West Frankfort	#8037	Ella Hardwick	$432	Thompsonville
West Williamson	#8995	Maureen Corbell	$741	Carterville
Western Coles County	#2243	Chloe Stoneburner	$610	Mattoon