GSSI Council Shop Update - March 2014

We’re Thinking Spring!!!

Check out the great new merchandise now available in-store and online. From GirlSports gear to camp accessories and new starter kit bags, it’s all here. Take a peek at the Spring Catalog 


NEW: Official Volunteer Polo Shirt
Women - $14 – any size
Men - $16 – any size

Council Shop Extended Hours

 

GSSI Council Shops will be open from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on the following Saturdays:
March 8, 2014
April 12, 2014
May 3, 2014

GSSI’s Mobile Shop at Annual Meeting & All That Glitters!
GSSI's Mobile Shop will be at Annual Meeting and All That Glitters on April 5 at Hilton Garden Inn's Regency Conference Center in O'Fallon.

Shop specials include:
Free gift at $25 purchase level – Girl Scouts Reusuable Tote Bag
Free gift at $50 purchase level – GSSI Tumbler
Free gift at $75 purchase level – GSSI T-Shirt
Free gift at $100 purchase level – Girl Scouts Trefoil Umbrella

Other offers will include:
"Clearance Corner" - 50% off all clearance merchandise
Girl Scout Award Gifts
Special Markdowns
…and much more!

Not sure we will have the merchandise you’d like to purchase at this Mobile Shop? Place an order with a Shop Manager, and pick it up at Annual Meeting/All That Glitters!


Upcoming In-Store Shop Sales:

March 10 - 13 – Celebrate Girl Scout Week!!! A special gift for you. Spend $25 or more and receive an adorable plush animal!

Online Shop Promotions:
Free Standard Shipping for 102 Hours celebrating Girl Scouts’ 102nd Birthday, March 11 - 16
Go to GSSI’s Online Shop Now


March Journey of the Month

Girl Scout Junior: aMuse
Receive $1 off the featured Journey book and $1 off the accompanying award when both are purchased.


GSSI Council Shop Contact Information:
Corporate Service Center: Beth Ross: 618.692.0692, ext. 1129 • e-mail: bross@gsofsi.org
Regional Service Center: Marilyn Border: 618.242.5079, ext. 2103 • e-mail: mborder@gsofsi.org

Cheyenne Chalkus from Salem Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

Cheyenne Chalkus from Salem has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.

For her project, Cheyenne cleared overgrowth and restored vandalized headstones at Dickens Cemetery, a historic burial site owned by the City of Salem. First, she took a course on cemetery restoration and got the proper permits to start her project. Next, she went to work – fixing damaged memorials, clearing brush and removing poison ivy from the site. To ensure the cemetery would stay maintained, she held a public presentation and distributed pamphlets about volunteer upkeep of historic cemeteries. To emphasize the importance of treating aging burial grounds with respect, Cheyenne included genealogy of those who were buried during her presentation.

“Cemeteries are neglected over the years due to lack of knowledge,” said Cheyenne. “When I started you could only see five headstones,” said Cheyenne. “Now you can see sixteen.”

 Younger Girl Scouts were interested in continuing to maintain Dickens Cemetery and Cheyenne plans to teach them what she learned. She also hopes to take an advanced restoration course. “I want to finish what I’ve started,” she said.

 Along with a sense of accomplishment, Cheyenne also gained positive leadership skills while earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. “I am more assertive and more confident in myself,” she said. “I have set goals and now know how to meet them.”

Cheyenne is currently a senior as Salem Community High School. She is the daughter of Scott and Carole Chalkus.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

GSSI Volunteer Rose Detmer Recognized for her Work on EBiz Rollout

(Back Row; L to R) Tamika Coats, Carolyn Brooks, Laurie Foster
(Front Row; L to R) Michelle Barnes, Micah Bolandis, Rose Detmer, Villie M. Appoo, Tammy Klapetzky

GSSI's EBiz team has been working hard to get GSSI ready to roll out this exciting online business tool! Special thanks to volunteer Rose Detmer from Germantown For her invaluable assistance, she has been honored with GSSI's "Most Valuable Volunteer" Award!

Waterloo Girl Scout Katie Albert Revels in World Adventure

 

Just 16, Girl Scout Katie Albert from Waterloo is already an accomplished world traveler.  For two years in a row, she has been selected to go on two trips sponsored by Girl Scouts of the USA.  Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the better place.  The organization believes that travel opportunities help fulfill this mission by allowing girls to see new places, meet diverse people and learn about different cultures and ideas. Travel opportunities for girls ages 11-17 called destinations give girls the chance to see the world, meet new friends and develop vital leadership skills for the future.

“I love to travel,” said Katie.  “I’m open to new experiences, new adventures and new cuisine.  I’m willing to work hard and make it fun.”

For her first destinations experience, Katie traveled to Switzerland to visit Our Chalet, a World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Centre located in the Alps.  The 10-day program included outdoor adventure and international friendship.   Girls enjoyed hiking, mountain climbing, rappelling, zip-lining, boating and exploring the local landscape and villages.

One of the most surreal moments to Katie was playing an alphorn under the Zytglotte, a famed astronomical tower built in 1530.  “There I was, standing under the Zytglotte on the historical streets of Bern, surrounded by tourists and playing an authentic alphorn,” she said.  “It was a feeling unlike any other I’ve experienced and a memory I will treasure.”

 

Katie playing the alphorn in Bern.

 

What Katie loved the most about visiting Switzerland was climbing Elsighorn, a mountain peak in the Alps.  Girls got to see Swiss pastures, glacier fed lakes and fragrant meadows on the way to the top.  Exploring the summit, girls found Edelweiss in bloom – a rare flower that grows only in the highest peaks of the Alps.  “It was a big challenge and a big accomplishment,” said Katie.  “I had really just climbed a mountain!”

 

Katie at the summit of Elsighorn.

 

For her next destinations trip, Katie joined fourteen Girl Scouts from around the country to kayak and camp along the San Juan Islands of Washington.   The trip was packed with natural splendor including cool blue water, bright sunshine and lots of local wildlife that included starfish, seals and even rare sea otters.  The transition from a day of paddling and hiking to a night under the stars was especially memorable.  “The sunsets never let us down with their beauty,” she noted. 

The beauty of the San Juan Islands on full display.

 

Putting their leadership skills to the test, girls took turns being “leaders” who checked tidal charts, plotted the course and led the group, and “sweepers,” who were at the back of the pack making sure that no kayakers ran into trouble or became separated.  The course could be strenuous and the days were demanding, but fulfilling.  “I didn’t know I had that much determination, dedication, enthusiasm and perseverance,” said Katie.

 

This group paddled and hiked together all day and camped on Lopez Island at night

 

This year, Katie will be pushing her boundaries even more on two additional destinations trips.   In late December, she will travel to Southern Patagonia in the wilds of Chile and to tackle outdoor adventures such as kayaking through the Straits of Magellan, horseback riding through wetlands and forests, meeting Patagonia gauchos, hiking through Pali Aike National Park and a glacier cruise. This summer, Katie will explore the culture, history and highlights of Sydney, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. 

 Along with lifelong memories and cherished friendships, Katie is also building leadership and life skills.  “Traveling on my own without a parent or troop leader build my confidence to take care of myself,” Katie said.   She also notes that trips of this magnitude require careful planning, organization and financial literacy.  “I learned how to save and conserve money throughout the year to pay for the trip,” she explained.  

Best of all, Katie knows that her future is boundless.  “I used to think that the world was so much bigger than my backyard.  Now I realize that the world IS my backyard,” she said. “Girl Scouting has helped me have the courage to do things I’d never dreamed I’d be doing.”  

For more information about Girl Scouts destinations travel opportunities, please contact Program Manager Julie Schloss at 800.345.6858, ext. 1119 or e-mail jschloss@gsofsi.org.

Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chavez Sets the Record Straight on the Girl Scout Cookie Program

 

Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez is proud to stand strong with Girl Scouts across the country in a new video where she sets the record straight on recent misconceptions about the organization.

 

We are extremely proud of the great work Girl Scouts do in their communities with the money they earn from selling cookies, and we will continue to deliver the mission of Girl Scouting—to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place—to girls and women of every background in the United States.

There's Still Time to Sign Up for a Girl Scout Cookie Booth

During GSSI’s Cookie Booth weekends, troops sell Girl Scout Cookies to customers at shopping centers, churches, apartment complexes, festivals, restaurants and other venues in their area. Cookie Booths gives customers a chance to get their favorite Girl Scout Cookies immediately and gives Girl Scouts the opportunity to reach a wider audience, promote the benefits of the Girl Scout Cookie program in their community and work on key business, financial and personal skills together as a troop.

 To host a Girl Scout Cookie Booth, troops needs just one registered adult volunteer and two registered Girl Scouts.  This flexibility allows troops to sell in shifts or on different days and to participate even if the whole troop cannot get together.

Remaining Council-Wide Cookie Booth Weekends are March 7-9 and March 14-16. A letter has been mailed to troops that have registered. If you would like to participate in a booth weekend, the eBudde Cookie Cupboard Ordering Quick Guide will help you navigate the easy online ordering system.

If you are unable to participate in the Council Sponsored Booth weekends but would still like to host a booth outside of those dates, please contact Product Program now. We would be happy to provide cookies for your scheduled booth weekend.

 

Get Creative With Your Cookie Booth!

 

Need a creative way to sell cookies? GSSI’s Product Program team is here to help! Below are just a few ideas to get you started -- call or e-mail if you’d like to discuss your idea!

 

• Contact your local legion halls for area fish fries or other special events.
• Have an empty parking lot or store front in town? – Set up a drive thru cookie sale.
• Decorate your van and drive around the neighborhoods selling cookies.
• Check out your local sporting events to see if you can set up a booth. 

For more information please contact Kelly Jansen, Director of Product Sales, kjansen@gsofsi.org or Katie Grayling, Product Sales Assistant, kgrayling@gsofsi.org.

Girl Scout Cookie Program 2014 - Glen Carbon Cupboard Hours

The Glen Carbon Cookie Cupboard will be open on the following dates and times:

Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
Sundays: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.

Cupboard Contacts:
Katie Grayling: 618.304.8099
Kelly Jansen: 618.830.5693
Ann Taylor: 618.558.3553

Please call one of the contacts above if you need to schedule a pickup time outside of these hours.  If they do not answer, please leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible.  Please do not use the GSSI Facebook Page or e-mail as a way to schedule Cookie Cupboard pickup times, as workers will not access Facebook or e-mail as quickly as their phones.

Thank You,
Glen Carbon Cookie Cupboard Team

Debbie Workman from Highland Named Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' February Pearl of the Month

 

 

GSSI is pleased to announce that Debbie Workman from Highland has been named the February Pearl of the Month. GSSI’s 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.

Debbie is a troop leader, event planner, assistant to the Day Camp Director, and serves as the "Financial Manager" for her SU 111 - Highland. One of her biggest events is the annual Decades Dance that draws hundreds of girls and is one of the most popular events in the area. Debbie is always one of the first to step up and help with an event and follows through with her tasks to ensure that all girls have a wonderful Girl Scout experience.

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.

 

Girl Scout Week is March 9-15, 2014

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois will join more than 3.2 million Girl Scouts across America in celebrating the 102nd Anniversary of Girl Scouting March 9-15.

Locally, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois will celebrate the 102nd anniversary by participating in a variety of activities and events ranging from flag ceremonies at their school, birthday party celebrations, and community service projects with their troops; while others will create displays highlighting Girl Scout history.

“Making the world a better place isn’t just part of the Girl Scout mission statement…it’s a real and lasting commitment to make Girl Scouting relevant for many generations to come,” said Villie M. Appoo, CEO Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. “Girl Scouts has a long and rich history of providing girls in all of our communities with a first-rate Girl Scout Leadership Experience that will give them the courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place for everyone,” Appoo added.

 

Girl Scout Sunday (March 9) is when many Girl Scouts receive special religious recognition awards for researching and exploring their religious culture and practices; while others will proudly wear their Girl Scout uniforms to their religious services to kick-off the week’s events.

“Girl Scouting is committed to being an integral part of our communities and during Girl Scout Week, we salute all those who continue to offer their dedication and support – not only of Girl Scouting, but to the positive development of young people in our communities,” said Appoo. “During Girl Scout Week, we renew our commitment to making sure every girl has the opportunity to grow strong and realize her full potential. But we need your help! We invite everyone over 18 to volunteer with a local Girl Scout troop. You don’t have to be a troop leader – even if you can only donate one hour of your time once a year, you’ll be making a great difference in the lives of girls.”

It’s been 102 years since the first Girl Scout troop meeting, and Girl Scouting has evolved from 18 members to more than 3.2 million nationwide. Today, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. is the largest voluntary organization for girls in the world. Its sole focus is to meet the needs of all girls (ages 5-17) from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.


After returning to the United States from England, Juliette Gordon Low made a historic phone call to her cousin in March 1912, “Come right over! I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, all America, and all the world, and we’re going to start it tonight.” The “something” was Girl Scouts, and the first group of girls embarked on Gordon Low’s vision. Low was determined to help expand opportunities and learning for the average American girl. At a time when many girls’ paths in life were limited to their social standing, Low’s vision was to establish an organization where any American girl could expand her personal horizon by having fun, while exploring new interests and contributing to society.

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.

 Girl Scouting has inspired more than 50 million girls and women since its founding in 1912. 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 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.

Share YOUR Special Skills with Girl Scouts!

Program: Junior Discovery Day

Date: 4/26/14

Time: 1-4p.m.

Location:  Meadow Heights Baptist Church, Collinsville

We are looking for volunteers to share their skills with Girl Scout Juniors.  Are you a whiz in the kitchen? Help girls create a delicious dessert! Do you have a green thumb? Come show Juniors how to dye flowers! Are you a health professional?  Talk to girls about your job and staying healthy! Contact Julie Schloss at 618.307.3619 or jschloss@gsofsi.org to volunteer.

Other Volunteer Opportunities:

 

Office / Administrative Volunteers

We are seeking volunteers available to work at GSSI Service Centers in Glen Carbon or Mt. Vernon during the office hours of 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.  Assist with the behind the scenes work that helps to bring the valuable Girl Scout program to girls in our community.   Hours are flexible based on your schedule. Duties may include data entry, preparing mailings, answering phones, etc.

Retail $hop Volunteers

GSSI's Council Shop is looking for volunteers to assist with operations during the regular hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, as well as the occasional Saturday morning. Duties would include stocking inventory, creating and maintaining displays, managing inventory, contacting customers and researching vendors.

Does your workplace offer an Employee Volunteer Program?

GSSI is looking to build partnerships with companies and organizations that offer an Employee Volunteer Program. If you work for or know of a workplace that offers a program like this, please contact Amanda at akaemmerer@gsofsi.org and we will take care of the rest!


To volunteer with GSSI, please contact Volunteer Services Manager Amanda Kaemmerer at 800.345.6858 or by e-mail at akammerer@gsofsi.org. 

Links:

GSSI Volunteer Opportunities

GSSI Event Calendar

VolunteerMatch.org

How Girls Can Reach Their Girl Scout Cookie Program Goals

 

There's Still Time for Girls to Reach Their

Girl Scout Cookie Program Goals!

 

 

 

Goal Getter Program Extended to Feb. 22

After this winter’s unusually severe weather, we want to make sure girls have the opportunity to reach their goals and earn the rewards they are aiming for. We have extended the Goal Getter program! Goal Getter order forms are now due to ...troop leaders on Feb. 22. Cookies sold during this extra week DO count towards the 20+ boxes needed enter the Build-a-Bear drawing for each Service Unit. Watch for a special #polarvortex patch to commemorate this season coming soon!

 

There's Still Time to Sign Up For a Cookie Booth

 

At a Girl Scout Cookie Booth, troops sell Girl Scout Cookies to customers at shopping centers, churches, apartment complexes, festivals, restaurants and other venues in their area. Cookie Booths gives customers a chance to get their favorite Girl Scout Cookies immediately and gives Girl Scouts the opportunity to reach a wider audience, promote the benefits of the Girl Scout Cookie Program in their community and work on key skills together as a troop.   Cookies sold at Girl Scout Cookie Booths from now until March 16 will count towards Girl Scout rewards.

 

Council Sponsored Cookie Booth weekends are Feb. 28 – March 2, March 7-9, and March 14-16.   To host a Girl Scout Cookie Booth, a troop needs one registered adult and two registered Girl Scouts -- so if a troop needs to work in shifts, they can. 

 

Also, if a troop wants to hold a Girl Scout Cookie Booth to raise funds for troop activities, they can.  Please contact GSSI's Product Program staff to get set up.

 

See Cookie Booth FAQ's

 

 

Don't Forget About Gift of Caring

Each year, GSSI has a special Gift of Caring project as part of the Girl Scout Cookie Program.  Gift of Caring lets fans of Girl Scout Cookies give to others while supporting Girl Scouts.

During the 2014 Girl Scout Cookie Program, GSSI is partnering with local American Red Cross chapters for Gift of Caring.  Through this partnership, Girl Scout Cookies can be donated to help comfort families who are affected by natural disasters.   

 

Contact Our Product Program Staff:  

Kelly Jansen, Director of Product Programs: 800.345.6858, ext. 2104 

E-mail: kjansen@gsofsi.org

 

Katie Grayling, Product Program Assistant: 800.345.6858, ext. 2107

E-mail: kgrayling@gsofsi.org

 

 

If you are a customer searching for Girl Scout Cookies in southern Illinois, please call 800.345.6858 or visit http://bit.ly/GetCookies to find a troop in your area.  Thank you!

 

Goal Getter Extended to Feb. 22!

 

 

After this winter’s unusually severe weather, we want to make sure girls have the opportunity to reach their goals and earn the rewards they are aiming for. We have extended the Goal Getter program! Goal Getter order forms are now due to troop leaders on Feb. 22. Cookies sold during this extra week DO count towards the 20+ boxes needed enter the Build-a-Bear drawing for each Service Unit. Watch for a special #polarvortex patch to commemorate this season coming soon!

 

For more information, please contact Kelly Jansen, Director of Product Programs at 800.345.6858, ext. 2104 or e-mail kjansen@gsofsi.org. 

 

 

 

Are you a customer in southern Illinois who is looking for Girl Scout Cookies?  Visit http://bit.ly/GetCookies to get in contact with a troop in your area!

Girl Scouts Invited to Celebrate Girl Scout Sunday at Bald Knob Cross of Peace

 

 

Girl Scouts, alumnae, family and friends are invited to celebrate Girl Scout Sunday at the largest Christian monument in North America!    The event will take place on Sunday, March 9, 2014 from 2-4 p.m. at Bald Knob Cross of Peace in Alto Pass.  A ceremony and prayer service will start the event, while a friendship circle will close it. 

 

An exciting program is also scheduled for registered GSSI Girl Scouts that will also kick off GSSI's new Council's Own "Southern Illinois Explorer" badge for Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes. 

 

The program cost is $5 per Girl Scout and will include snacks, craft and fun patch, plus lots of fun and games.   Come learn more about the hidden gems in Southern Illinois!

 

See registration form for program:

http://www.gsofsi.org/pdf/news/Girl%20Scout%20Sunday%20Flyer.pdf

 

Please register by Feb. 25, 2014 to Jaime Watkins, Troop #8552, PO Box 282, Jonesboro, IL 62952.  E-mail bradjaime76@msn.com for more information.

 

Friends and supporters attending the ceremony and prayer do not need to pay a program cost.

 

This event is part of Troop #8552's Girl Scout Bronze Award Project.

 

 

 

How Parents Can Help During Girl Scout Cookie Booths

 

At Girl Scout Cookie Booths, troops sell Girl Scout Cookies to customers at shopping centers, churches, apartment complexes, festivals, restaurants and other venues in their area. 

 

Cookie Booths give customers a chance to get their favorite Girl Scout Cookies immediately and give Girl Scouts the opportunity to reach a wider audience, promote the benefits of the Girl Scout Cookie program in their community and work on key business, financial and personal skills together as a troop. 

 

How can parents get involved?

Sometimes it's difficult to get an entire troop together at one time.  To host a Girl Scout Cookie Booth, at least one registered adult and two registered girl members need to be present.  Parents who are registered members can help girls host a Cookie Booth.  That way, girls can participate even if a Troop Leader is unavailable or if girls need to come in shifts, etc.

 

Cookie Booths also involve a lot of hands-on money management and interaction with customers.  Parents can help girls prepare at home by practicing making change or going over her sales pitch together.    These skills will be helpful to her throughout her lifetime!  

 

Watch Brownie Elf & Friends Discuss Money Management

(great for younger girls)

GSSI Annual Meeting & All That Glitters Ceremony Scheduled for April 5

 

 

GSSI’s Annual Meeting will be Saturday, April 5 at Hilton Garden Inn’s Regency Conference Center, located at 360 Regency Park Drive in O’Fallon, IL. Registration and breakfast start at 8:30 a.m. and the Business Meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. The All That Glitters Ceremony honoring this year’s recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award and Girl Scout Silver Award will start at 1 p.m. Girls receiving awards will receive an invitation in March.

 

For more information, please contact Director of MVP Micah Bolandis at 800.345.6858, ext. 1103 or e-mail mbolandis@gsofsi.org.

 

Kristian Nowell from Mount Olive Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Kristian Nowell from Mount Olive has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her project, Caring for Cancer, Kristian raised community awareness about cancer prevention methods, as well as collected items to make gift bags for cancer patients at Cardinal Glennon Hospital. 

“I came up with this idea when my aunt was diagnosed with cancer,” said Kristian.  “I wanted people to know how to prevent cancer and have information on super foods.”     

To help raise educate the community, Kristian organized a Cancer Awareness Fair that featured display boards, informational posters and educational pamphlets.  To spread the word about her event, she worked with area papers to publish a news release about her event, got local churches involved and put up flyers around town. 

Along with helping educate others about cancer prevention, Kristian also developed valuable skills by completing her Girl Scout Gold Award, including team-building, project organization and public speaking.  She also credits the project as a source of personal growth.   “I developed a stronger sense of self,” she said.  “I learned that I love helping people out.  It really warms my heart.”

Kristian has been a Girl Scout for 13 years.  She is currently a senior as Mount Olive High School and plans to attend college to major in Biology.  She is the daughter of Donnie and Robin Nowell.  

Kathryn Dragovich from Mount Olive Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Kathryn Dragovich from Mount Olive has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her project, Going Gold with the Dogs, Kristian held a community dog fair to help spread the word that the local Adopt-a-Pet agency had dogs for adoption, as well as to educate dog owners about pet care and the importance of spaying and neutering.  At the event, Kathryn also taught Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops how to make dog treats, as well as collected pet supplies for Adopt-a-Pet.  In addition, she arranged for veterinarian Dr. James Pastrovich to provide low cost shots.

“I came up with the idea for my project because I love animals and plan on working with animals,” said Kathryn.  “I saw a lot of dogs without homes and wanted to help them find homes.” 

Along with making a difference in her community, Kathryn’s project also helped her develop valuable skills, including project organization, team-building and effective communication.  “Earning my Girl Scout Gold Award will help me take on new challenges in the future,” she said. 

Kathryn has been a Girl Scout for 12 years.  She is currently a senior as Mount Olive High School and plans to attend college in the fall.  She is the daughter of Amy and Ted Dragovich.    

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life.  To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable.   The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work.  Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Kara Schwinke from Teutopolis Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Kara Schwinke from Teutopolis has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her project, Branching Out, Kara organized a tree planting project in Teutopolis Community Park, which included recruiting community donors to purchase trees.  She also held a tree presentation program from children in grades K-4, during which she discussed the positive impact of trees on the environment.   

“I wanted a project that would beautify our City Park,” said Kara.  “Trees provide beauty, shade, wildlife habitat ad oxygen production.”   

Kara was pleased by the community support for her project.  “Many people helped in many ways,” she said.  I believe that planting trees will be contagious and others will want to do projects in the park.”   She was also grateful for the personal growth that earning the Girl Scout Gold Award provided.  “I learned I am capable of doing great things for my community,” she said, noting that she gained valuable experience planning a project, organizing a team and speaking in front of others.

Kara has been a Girl Scout for 12 years.  She is currently a senior as Teutopolis High School and plans to attend college to major in Physical Therapy next year.  She is the daughter of Carl and Tina Schwinke.

 

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life.  To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable.   The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work.  Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

It's National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend!

 

 

Happy National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend!

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois would like to thank all of the volunteers, parents, friends, family and community members for helping make the Girl Scout Cookie Program America's biggest girl-led business!  With your support, girls are developing courage, confidence and character and learning valuable skills for their futures. 

 

To find Girl Scout Cookies in your area, please visit http://bit.ly/GetCookies

 

 

THANK YOU!

Girl Scout Robotics Team Introduced to Surgical Robot at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon

One of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' Robotics Teams, Purple Robot Penguins from O'Fallon, learned more about premier  robotics technology during February's "Healthy Woman" event at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon. 

 

Purple Robot Penguins are one of GSSI's FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams, which build and program autonomous robots to perform tasks on a themed-competition board.   Teams also learn vital skills such as problem solving, active participation and collaboration.   Robotics are one of many programs that GSSI offers to help engage more girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) -- areas which Girl Scouts sees as crucial to America's future success.

 

Dr. David Asbury and Dr. Andrew Johnson presented the Four Arm Robotic Surgical System to members of Crossroads' "Healthy Woman" program, as well as the Purple Robot Penguins.   The girls were able to examine the surgical robot before demonstrating their own robotics skills with their FIRST LEGO League model. 

 

Purple Robot Penguins were able to attend the exciting event through the consideration of Debi Richardson, current Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the hospital and former GSSI Board Member.  She was familiar with GSSI's Robotics Program and thought girls would enjoy getting a firsthand glimpse of modern medical technology and could show the "Healthy Woman" crowd that today's Girl Scouts are investing in the future through STEM programming such as robotics.

In connection to the event, Crossroads Community Hospital made a donation to GSSI.

See Photos






Members of Purple Robot Penguins with Finny Mathew,
Crossroads Community Hospital's Chief Executive Officer

 

Save the Date for These GSSI Events

 

 

25th Annual Girl Scout Golf Classic
Monday, May 12, 2014
Gateway National Golf Links -- Madison, IL


 

 

 

Thin Mint Sprint
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Location: Camp Chan Ya Ta -- Worden, IL

 

 

Dancing With Our Stars
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Holiday Inn -- Mt. Vernon, IL


For more information, please contact Director of Development Emily Kimmey at 800.345.6858, ext. 1144 or e-mail ekimmey@gsofsi.org.