Monday, February 29, 2016



Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' 7th Annual Meeting is April 9 at Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon. Online registration is available now through eBiz. Search Annual Meeting or find it in the "Featured Products" section of the Activities page: http://bit.ly/eBiz1

You can also send a paper registration by e-mail to programregistrations@gsofsi.org, by fax to 618.692.0685 by mail to  #4 Ginger Creek Parkway, Glen Carbon, IL 62034.

Registration can also be dropped off in person at GSSI Service Centers in Mt. Vernon or Glen Carbon. 

Registration Form Adult Award Recipient (Free) Registrations MUST be received by March 28, 2016. Please complete a form for each person.


Additional Information:

Thursday, February 25, 2016

GSSI's OOPS! Robotics to Compete in Illinois and Missouri FIRST Tech Challenge State Tournaments




After a stellar season, GSSI FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team OOPS! Robotics is preparing to compete at the most elite level in two states.  

On Feb. 26, the team will travel to Elgin Community College for the FTC Illinois State Championship and on March 5, they will compete at the Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla in the FTC Missouri State Tournament. 



OOPS! has earned many honors this season:



At the Feb. 13 tournament in Ballwin, they won the Think Award and got third place for the Inspire Award.




At the Feb. 6 tournament in Decatur, they won the Think Award, got second place in the Inspire Award and were finalists for the Connect, Design and Motivate Awards.



At the Jan. 30 tournament in Carbondale they won the Connect Award and were finalists for the Think Award.



At the Jan. 9 tournament in St. Louis, they were selected for the robot game finals and won the Motivate Award. They were runners up for the Connect Award, Think Award and Inspire Award, and came in third for the Design Award.




GSSI receives funding from AT&T, the Monsanto Fund and  United Way to advance STEM programs for girls in southern Illinois.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Alexa Keiser from Edwardsville Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award



Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Alexa Keiser from Edwardsville has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.
 
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Mission Paws-able, Alexa worked with Partners for Pets in Troy. Alexa had already been working with the animal shelter by fostering dogs. When she visited the shelter with her mother, she saw how small the facility was and noticed the need of a shelving system to house the animal crates. Fortunately for the shelter, they were soon able to move into a larger facility. The new facility didn’t have a need for the shelving system, so Alexa came up with a new plan. She, with the guidance from her grandfather, designed and built carts for the shelter to use to transport kennels. Alexa provided Partners for Pets with the blueprints so they can build additional carts in the future, and she also volunteered at several of the organization’s adoption events.

Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Alexa gained valuable leadership skills that she’ll be able to use throughout her life. “I learned how to take part in leadership, make compromises when plans change and to not give up on a project you want to do,” states Alexa.

Alexa is the daughter of Laura and Mike Keiser. She is currently a freshman at Lewis and Clark Community College. Alexa plans to carry her love of animals through her education as she majors in veterinary medicine and animal biology. 

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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Carlie Daffron from DuQuoin Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award


Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Carlie Daffron from Du Quoin has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called "Help Feeding Du Quoin for the Summer", Carlie held a community food drive which collected more than 7,000 cans for her local food pantry. In addition, she and her mom served 75 Easter meals to the elderly and those in need. According to Carlie, her primary goal was to help end hunger in Du Quoin and surrounding communities.

“By completing my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I got a better feel of how many people go hungry or can’t afford to buy food,” Carlie said. While working on her project, Carlie said she gained confidence and courage to stand up and take charge of an issue that affects her community. “I love putting others first and helping out my community. I wish more people my age would volunteer in our community,” she added.

Carlie is the daughter of Crystal Winters and Brad Daffron. She is currently a senior at Du Quoin High School. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years.

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.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Girl Scout Cookie Program: 3-Peat Troop Booth Incentive



Gather your team! Troops who hit the court with this incentive earn a cool patch for all girls in the troop and the leader gets a cool prize as well - it’s a game winner! 

Rules:

  • Participate in all 3 Council Sponsored Booth Weekends
  • Troops must have all their booths entered in eBudde
  • Troops must be in good financial standing with GSSI
  • Troop Leaders must e-mail their name and troop number to Katie Grayling at kgrayling@gsofsi.org by March 22. Pictures of your booth are appreciated too!

Cookie Booth Dates:

Feb. 26-28
March 4-6
March 11-13

Troop Leaders Get:



Girls Get: 




Thursday, February 4, 2016

How Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Helps the Global Economy

How Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Helps the Global Economy
An Op Ed article by Emily Stanley BS MS 
Program Manager, New Initiatives Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

GSSI's Imagine Your STEM Future Program in East St. Louis

When I was 12, all I wanted to do was be old enough to volunteer at the Belleville Area Humane Society.  I think about half the girls in my junior high were the same – we all wanted to help people and make cute puppies and kittens better.  Today's 12 year old has the same goals for her future – to help.

I see it all the time in my job – girls who want to make a difference in the world and affect real change.  I am fortunate to have a career where I get to be around these girls who are tomorrow's leaders and encourage them.  The girls I work with are part of the Girl Scout movement, specifically the STEM initiative.  Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has approximately 13,000 girl members who are out to change the world for the better.  My job is to help them have positive experiences that help shape their future goals and contribute to the future of the United States in the Global Economy. 

Here's why it's important to reach all youth, but particularly young women interested in STEM careers.  The US News/Raytheon STEM index in 2014 showed that STEM employment has increased more than 30 percent from 2013 to 2014.  This isn't just the PhDs and researchers.  These are jobs that require analytical reasoning and problem solving.  A USA Today special report also noted that more than 2.5 million well-paying skilled labor jobs will be created over the next several years.  In the St. Louis area, a 12.4% increase in STEM jobs is projected compared to a 9.2% increase in non-STEM jobs, according to the St Louis STEM Workforce 2014 report published by St. Louis Community College.

GSSI Girl Scouts participating in FIRST LEGO League Robotics

With this growth, we will need a skilled and motivated workforce.  That's where Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois helps.  In 2009, we started to look for funding specifically for our Robotics and STEM programs.  We received a grant from Motorola Foundation and fielded one First Lego League robotics team from a small town in rural Illinois.  These girls learned basic computer programming and engineering, but what they learned more importantly was perseverance, team work and problem solving.  From that one robotics team in 2009, we have grown the program to include 10 First Lego League robotics teams, 12 First Lego League Junior teams and one First Tech Challenge team. Working on small, all girl teams, girls take on more active leadership positions.  They try programming and engineering.  They step outside their comfort zones when speaking publicly.

Over 100 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois also participated in a Made by Me camp this past summer, where, in addition to the normal fun outdoor activities like archery, hiking and campfires, girls voted on which Maker projects to try at camp.  The Maker Movement refers to the current wave of tech inspired DIY projects.  Our girls chose a wired light picture, a custom routed phone charging station, solar powered derby cars and battery powered flashlights created from Altoid mint tins.  Girl Scouts participation and sponsorship of Maker events is particularly important – the MakeHers study by Intel found that participation in Maker and STEM activities can help girls develop skills and improve their earning potential.  The study states, "As a result, the STEM talent pool expands, fueling competition and innovation and ultimately strengthening the global economy."

GSSI Family STEM Night 

What ultimately brings success to any program is volunteers.  In 2016, you will see girls learning origami and then wiring their creations with light and movement.  You will see girls learn leadership skills while working on their best slime recipe.  This summer, we will bring another great week of STEM camp – this time the Science of Superheros – and we need volunteer help!  Come for a half day, a couple hours or all week and share your skills to encourage a young woman in STEM!  Bring your girl and watch her grow in this exciting environment and beautiful outdoor setting.



We have had a lot of success in the past 6 years and we still have much to do.  In order to continue to meet the demands of girls in our area for high quality and exciting STEM programs, we will need mentors, volunteers and donations.  So when you see that young entrepreneur asking you to buy Girl Scout Cookies, know that you are not just supporting her and her troop but also contributing to the future global competitiveness of the United States!

See what happened when GSSI FIRST TECH Challenge team Oops Robotics! paired Girl Scout Cookies with their design & programming power! 

Monday, February 1, 2016

GSSI Shop Update: February 2016



New Items
Check out our new merchandise! GSSI has a multitude of new merchandise for girls and adult volunteers. Stop by a retail shop soon or browse our virtual catalog.


World Thinking Day - Feb. 22, 2016

Each year on February 22, girls participate in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. It is a special day in the Girl Scout year when we remember we are part of a worldwide movement. World Thinking day is part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts’ Global Action Theme. The Global Action Theme is based on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to improve the lives of the world’s poorest people. The theme of World Thinking Day 2016 is “Connect!”

On this day, Girl Scouts explore and celebrate meaningful connections that make our lives better, whether to the people closest to them, to a place they care about, or to a Girl Guide or Girl Scout friend on the other side of the world.

A Thinking Day Patch is available from GSSI Council Shops. To ensure large orders can be available at the desired time, please contact Shop Manager Stacey Port at 618.692.0692, ext. 1101 or e-mail sport@gsofsi.org.



Winter Bounce Back Coupon

Don’t forget to use your “Winter Bounce Back” coupon by 5 p.m. on February 15! The “Winter Bounce Back” coupon was given to customers who made a purchase of $75 or more from Jan. 1-25 and is good for $10 off of a $25 purchase in the shop.


GSSI Council Shop Hours

GSSI Council Shops are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday though Thursday.
Shops will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on the following Saturdays:
February 13, 2016
March 12, 2016


Mobile Shops

Several areas are running Mobile Shops at their events. You can too! If interested in a running a Mobile Shop at your local service unit or regional event, please contact Beth Ross, Business Services Manager at 618.692.0692, ext. 1129 or e-mail: bross@gsofsi.org or one of the Council Shop contacts below.

GSSI Council Shop Contact Information:

Corporate Service Center: Stacey Port: 618.692.0692, ext. 1101 or e-mail: sport@gsofsi.org
Regional Service Center: Linda Quinn: 618.242.5079, ext. 2115 or e-mail: lquinn@gsofsi.org

Go to GSSI’s Online Shop

World Thinking Day is Feb. 22, 2016

 

Each year on February 22, girls participate in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. It is a special day in the Girl Scout year when we remember we are part of a worldwide movement. World Thinking day is part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts’ Global Action Theme. The Global Action Theme is based on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to improve the lives of the world’s poorest people. The theme of World Thinking Day 2016 is “Connect!”


On this day, Girl Scouts explore and celebrate meaningful connections that make our lives better, whether to the people closest to them, to a place they care about, or to a Girl Guide or Girl Scout friend on the other side of the world. A Thinking Day Patch is available from GSSI Council Shops. 

To ensure large orders can be available at the desired time, please contact Shop Manager Stacey Port at 618.692.0692, ext. 1101 or e-mail sport@gsofsi.org.