Sunday, January 31, 2016

Oops! Robotics Has Successful January




GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge team, Oops! Robotics is off to a great start in 2016!




During their first competition on Jan. 9 at Meramec Community College in Kirkwood, Mo, Oops! was selected for the robot game finals, won the Motivate Award and advanced to the Missouri State Championship! They were also runners up for the Connect Award, Think Award & Inspire Award (the highest FTC award) and got third place for the Design Award!


During their second competition on Jan. 30 at SIU Transportation Education Center in Carbondale, the team won the Connect Award and was a finalist for the Think Award.


Oops! has two more qualifying tournaments in February. Watch for more coverage! 


Friday, January 29, 2016

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Spotlight Awardees: Fall 2015/Winter 2016



GSSI’s Spotlight Award honors GSSI Volunteers who are being recognized by their peers for outstanding effort.  Without the commitment of passionate volunteers, Girl Scouts would not be the amazing organization it is today! 


Multiple volunteers can be honored through the Spotlight Award each month and there is no form required. To make a nomination, you can just e-mail or tell your local Membership Development Manager or Service Unit Manager. Please include the volunteer’s name, Service Unit number and one or two sentences that express why you would like that volunteer to be recognized. Help us put the Spotlight on our awesome volunteers!


January Spotlight Award Recipients:
Sherry Sutton, SU 7 - Bond County: “Although her daughter graduated this past year, Sherry continues to be a major asset to the area and began serving this year as the Area Product Sales Manager for both Product Programs. She is an excellent team player, enthusiastic, and a great volunteer.” 

Linda Sargent, SU 12 – Clay County: “Linda is a new leader who has a Girl Scout troop AND a Boy Scout troop. She went to a new school in Flora and had a breakfast rally for all the girls in attendance. Due to her efforts, many girls were recruited for the area.” 

Linda Pennington, SU 24: “Linda was a troop leader for several years when her daughter was young. She has served as Area Product Sales Manager and always offers to assist at any area event or recruitment. Linda came back this year to serve as a Daisy Troop Leader for a troop that otherwise did not have a leader. You always see Linda with a smile and an attitude of cheerfulness and gratitude.” 

Julia Merriman, SU 30 Jefferson: “At the leaders meeting in October, she had the most publicity in the papers for her troop. The girls have done so many wonderful activities and it’s all newsworthy.” 

Jennifer Larrison, SU 45: “Jennifer has served as the area’s Day Camp Director in the past and currently serves as an assistant leader and also is the area Treasurer. Jennifer always has a positive attitude and makes Girl Scouting fun for girls and adults alike!” 

Robin Jarvis, SU 54 - Perry County: “Robin has only been a leader for four months but in that short time she has portrayed the real reason to be a Girl Scout many times. She puts her heart and soul into her troop and other Girl Scout functions. She sacrifi ces any spare time she has to make sure her meetings are perfect.” 

Deb Evans and Kristy Neff, SU 57 - Randolph North “Deb and Kelsey are still somewhat new troop leaders, however, they recently held an event for an area Halloween celebration. Girls and adults are still talking about the fun they had and how well organized the event went. Everyone in the area is looking forward to more events led by Deb and Kristy in the future!” 

Becky Hohgrefe, SU 60 - South Randolph: “Although her daughters are now adults, Becky continues to be an older girl troop leader and is an excellent role model for girls and adults alike. She has mentored and encouraged girls to take Girl Scout Destinations across the world. She has also been the primary chaperone taking troops of girls on extended troop trips to locations such as the Historic Birthplace of Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. She inspires girl to set goals and reach them!”

Marci Malnar, SU 72 - UPAC: “Marci has continued to be involved in Girl Scouts although her daughters are now adults. She serves as the Area Service Unit Manager. Marci is an excellent role model to girls and adults. Marci is a positive force and has made a difference in the area.” 

Karen Miller, SU 108 - Edwardsville/Glen Carbon: “She stepped up and became the Fall Product Sales Manager for SU 108 without hesitation and she did a great job. Karen has shown exemplary leadership.”



December Spotlight Award Recipients:
Diana Doll, SU 7 - Bond County “Diana is an inspiration and true leader of volunteers and girls.” 

Alicia Dixon, SU 51 - North Franklin County “Alicia is the Service Unit Manager and Registrar. She plays a huge part in the recruitment of girls and leaders in the Service Unit. She makes sure everything runs smoothly at Service Unit meetings, events, and troop meetings. If the troop doesn’t have a leader she will start them out until a leader is found. She always has food and drinks at all of the Service Unit Meetings. She is a huge reason North Franklin is as successful as they are.” 

Tracey Cheeesman, SU 78 - Wabash/Edwards Counties “Tracey is the Service Unit Manager. She plays a huge part in the recruitment of girls and leaders in the Service Unit. Wabash/Edwards has met their girl goal and Tracey has done a great job making sure everything runs smoothly in the Service Unit. 

Mary Armes, SU 87 - West Frankfort “Mary is the Service Unit Manager, Registrar, and Fall Product Sale Manager. She plays a huge part in the recruitment of girls and leaders in the Service Unit. West Frankfort has met girl and adult goal this year. Mary is also a trainer and makes sure the leaders receive the training that they need. 

Michelle Myatt, SU 102 Granite City/Madison/Venice “She is the Leader for our Special Needs Troop in Granite City. Her outstanding leadership and continued dedication should be recognized.” 

Joanna Espique, SU 202 - ClinClair “Joanna is an asset to her local troops, her Service Unit, and to GSSI! She is a troop leader, Service Unit team member, cookie cupboard host and fall product manager. She has three daughters, all of which have been enrolled with Girl Scouts. She is active in her daughters’ troop, she also participates in Service Unit events and campouts. She has been a previous Service Unit Manager and Fall Product Manager for Service Unit 202. She holds the Cookie Cupboard at her house for the past several years. She is my go-to person when I need help or an idea to make something happen! She is one of the main reasons I am as active in Girl Scouts as I am today. For this, I have much appreciation.” 

Elaine Brandenburg, SU 533 - Clark/Crawford “She has volunteered for many Service Unit positions, leader for two troops as well as co-Neoga coordinator. She a great addition to Girl Scouts since she joined.”





November Spotlight Award recipients: 
Chris Scarbrough, SU 102: Chris was recognized for her continued dedication to volunteer in the Council Office, be the SU Registrar, Troop Organizer, Fall/Spring Product Manager and Trainer. 

Jason Dothager, SU 107: Jason was recognized for his support at the Service Unit Day and his Outstanding support at the Service Unit Registration night. Krysti Connelly, SU 109: Krysti was recognized for her taking over a Daisy TOC for the Service Unit and also for her continued support to parents to keep a Daisy troop from disbanding. 

Ronnie Winterich, SU 111, - for her taking on a Daisy troop because the need was there and also making sure that every troop turned in their fi nancials, she developed a Service unit Newsletter which has helped the Service Unit improve communications and information to leaders. Stephanie Hylin, SU 42: Stephanie has been a huge help in getting new leaders for troops. She has talked with them when they were unsure about volunteering and even invited people to attend her meetings so she could “show them the ropes.” 

Dusty Copple, SU 27: Dusty was very helpful with recruitments this year. She attended several school events and worked at our large recruitment event. She has also been mentoring a new Daisy leader to help her get her troop started. 

Amy Taylor, SU 90: Amy is both the NCM and Cookie Program Manager. This fall, Amy worked very hard to make sure that all of her troop leaders were trained and pumped up for the sale. She always goes above and beyond to be accommodating and available to volunteers in her service unit. West Williamson exceeded their product program goal by $14,000 and Amy was instrumental in making that happen. 

Samantha McCann, SU 72: Samantha has only been on board for a year. She did quite well managing the SU Day Camp this past summer and is already making plans for a Disney themed Day Camp for this coming summer. She is enthusiastic, has great communication, is very organized and has been a huge asset to the SU.




Girls' Week at Camp Ondessonk Deadline Extended


Girls' Week at Camp Ondessonk is a week you'll remember 
for the rest of your life! 



Date: July 17 to July 23
Age: Girls Age 10-15 at time of camp
Click for Registration, Address & More
DEADLINE EXTENDED: March 1, 2016



The single-gender environment provides growing girls and teens with something genuinely important - a safe, open, accepting place where they can truly be themselves.  Campers are able to leave behind social expectations, popularity contests, and worries about their outward appearance for a week filled with giggling, games, and meaningful friendships.  The girls's camp schedule includes a horseback ride, archery, riflery, songs, swimming, nature exploration, handicrafts, woodsmanship, canoeing, kayaking, campfires, an overnight campout, marathon, tug of war, and much more.  






Girl Scouts will be staying together in a rustic tree house and take part in many Camp Ondessonk activities, as well as some activities unique to Girl Scouts.

Details: 
Fee (per girl):  $450.
$225.00 Deposit Due Upon Registration
Registration Deadline - 02/01/16




Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Jill Gobert Joins Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois as Chief Development Officer

Jill Gobert
Girl Scouts Southern Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is pleased to announce that Jill Gobert has been hired as its Chief Development Officer. Gobert has an extensive background in development and fundraising, working at the university and college level for over 15 years as well as spending time as a volunteer fundraiser for many local nonprofits in southern Illinois.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and Master of Business Administration, both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Jill received top academic honors while at SIU and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society. She has a passion for community involvement and youth development spending time as a middle school band booster president, high school athletic booster, youth exchange coordinator for the Rotary Club of Carbondale, as well as a Girl Scout troop leader in southern Illinois. She is an avid dog lover and has adopted her last three dogs from the Jackson County Humane Society.

As a child growing up in Minnesota, Jill was very active in her local Girl Scout troop. 

“I am thrilled to be part of this wonderful organization that is Building girls of Courage, Confidence and Character who make the world a better place. As a former member and a leader, I know what a positive impact Girl Scouts can have on an individual girl as well as the community as a whole,” Gobert said. Jill resides in Carbondale with her husband, Daniel, and her daughter Megan. Her two sons (David and Steven) are attending college in the area as well. The family will be transitioning to Webster Groves in the near future.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Sign Up for Girls' Week at Camp Ondessonk by February 1


Girls' Week at Camp Ondessonk is a week you'll remember 
for the rest of your life! 



Date: July 17 to July 23
Age: Girls Age 10-15 at time of camp
Click for Registration, Address & More
Deadline: February 1, 2016



The single-gender environment provides growing girls and teens with something genuinely important - a safe, open, accepting place where they can truly be themselves.  Campers are able to leave behind social expectations, popularity contests, and worries about their outward appearance for a week filled with giggling, games, and meaningful friendships.  The girls's camp schedule includes a horseback ride, archery, riflery, songs, swimming, nature exploration, handicrafts, woodsmanship, canoeing, kayaking, campfires, an overnight campout, marathon, tug of war, and much more.  



Girl Scouts will be staying together in a rustic tree house and take part in many Camp Ondessonk activities, as well as some activities unique to Girl Scouts.

Details: 
Fee (per girl):  $450.
$225.00 Deposit Due Upon Registration
Registration Deadline - 02/01/16




Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Our Gift of Caring Partner, Mission of Moms, Is Having a Fund Raiser



Mission of Moms, our partner for Gift of Caring, is having a fund raiser on Sat Jan 30, 2016 at the Collinsville  American Legion.  Money raised goes to ship care packages to deployed troops - including many filled with Girl Scout Cookies! 

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

GSSI Travel Opportunities: Plan an Autumn Adventure at Trout Lodge



Girl Scout Juniors – Ambassadors get ready for an autumn adventure at Trout Lodge. Join GSSI on October 7 – 9, 2016 at Trout Lodge in Potosi, MO where we will participate in indoor and adventure activities. The cost of the trip is $225 per person and includes 2 nights lodging in a Forest View Cabin, buffet meals, an age appropriate zip line journey, a horseback or pony ride, hayride and a long list of other recreational activities. School bus transportation to and from Trout Lodge is included with pick up points to be determined. Visit http://www.ymcaoftheozarks.org for an overview of the facility. The deadline to register for this weekend of autumn fun is Thursday, May 19, 2016. 

Contact GSSI Program Manager Mary Buchanan at mbuchanan@gsofsi.org or 618.692.0692, ext 1115 for more information.  


Photos Courtesy of Trout Lodge:







Sunday, January 10, 2016

Send a Treat to U.S. Troops During the Girl Scout Cookie Program!




You can send Girl Scout Cookies to thank American military members through GSSI's Operation: Sweet Treats campaign.  In partnership with Mission of Moms, cookies purchased through campaign will be sent to military members serving overseas as well as local military organizations in our area. Mission of Moms is an organization based in Collinsville and is dedicated to helping improve the daily lives of our deployed United States military men and women.

To find a Girl Scout in your area, please call 800.345.6858 or click here.  Donations to Operation: Sweet Treats can be made through the new Digital Cookie online platform.

Last year, GSSI was able to send 1,120 cases of Girl Scout Cookies to current and veteran U.S. military members. 


Photos of U.S. Service Members Enjoying Girl Scout Cookies sent through 
our 2015 Gift of Caring Campaign:







Karlene Hoefener: Girl Scout Gold Award Advisor Extraordinaire


Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world through their Girl Scout Gold Award projects. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. As the Girl Scout Gold Award celebrates 100 years of girls changing the world, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is highlighting some of our shining stars who exemplify the greatness of this award.

22…2008…19…100…These numbers may sound random to most people, but for Girl Scout Volunteer Karlene Hoefener from O’Fallon they each have a significant meaning.

22 – Karlene Hoefener has been a Girl Scout Volunteer for 22 years, most of those years in her current hometown of O’Fallon, IL. In that time, she has held many volunteer positions such as Assistant Cook at camp weekends, Day Camp Director, Service Unit Cookie Chair and Troop Leader, just to name a few. Karlene is obviously passionate about the entire Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and her dedication to improving the lives of girls is something to be commended.

2008 – This is the year that marked the beginning of Karlene’s adventure as a Girl Scout Gold Award Advisor. Mentoring girls through their Girl Scout Gold Award journey takes dedication. To earn the award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within her 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, and their advisor plays a key role. Karlene states, “As a Girl Scout Leader our role is to always be there for the girls to encourage them, support them, guide them and listen to them. Being a Girl Scout Gold Award Advisor is just that!”

19 – Karlene has mentored 19 girls through their entire Girl Scout Gold Award project. That number continues to grow as she has another Girl Scout who is actively working on her Gold Award project and 5 additional girls that are researching projects to begin earning their award. Projects that Karlene has advised included working with special needs students, helping Alzheimer’s patients, making recordings to assist the blind, anti-bullying campaigns in local grade schools and many, many more. “For me, the best part of being a Girl Scout Gold Award Advisor is seeing the excitement in the girl’s eyes when she does something she did not think she could do. That is why I stay in Girl Scouting – to see girls’ excitement when they achieve goals no matter how big or small.”

100 – As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scout Gold Award, Karlene encourages other adults to consider making a difference in a girl’s life by mentoring her through her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Also, she’d like to encourage all Girl Scouts to consider earning their Gold Award. Karlene adds, “The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award you can earn as a Girl Scout – what better way to end your Girl Scout experience than to say you did it all!”

Friday, January 8, 2016

Digital Cookie 2.0 is Coming to Southern Illinois




For just the second year in history, Girl Scouts can sell cookies online!  Along with the five essential skills that Girl Scout Product Programs develop (goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics), girls will learn valuable lessons about online marketing and ecommerce through the Digital Cookie 2.0 platform.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is still girl-led!  Through Digital Cookie, along with traditional order taking and booth sales, girls initiate the sale with customers. On the Digital Cookie platform, girls personalize their own cookie website and share a link with customers through e-mail.   Customers can have cookies delivered to their house or even make a donation to GSSI's Gift of Caring campaign, which sends Girl Scout Cookies to current and veteran American military members. 


What's New in Digital Cookie 2.0?
The latest release of Digital Cookie is a more robust, hands-on, and entertaining learning experience. With an enhanced cookie website, fun quizzes, games, videos, and other activities, girls learn about marketing, budgeting, resource allocation, and other business skills on their way to cookie success. Girls can set their cookie goals, track their progress, manage orders and inventory, learn Internet safety skills, and more—all while they earn age-specific Cookie Business badges and explore ways to help others by investing their earnings back into their communities.

GSSI Girl Scouts can sell cookies through the Digital Cookie platform through March 13. To find a Girl Scout in your area, call 800.345.6858 or click here 

If you are a Girl Scout who would like to sign up for Digital Cookie, please have a parent or guardian send their e-mail address to our Product Program team at NutsAndCookies@gsofsi.org.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

How To Make a Custom GSSI Program Printout





1. Visit GSSI’s website, www.gsofsi.org

2. Click on “register” on the top bar to access eBiz (you do not need to log in unless you want to register through eBiz)

3. Once on the eBiz site, click the “Activities” button at the top.

4. There, you will see all of the available search criteria on the left side of the page. You can select as many options as you want to filter results; the more options you select, the more specific your results will be.

5. Once your program listing is generated, you can click on any of the programs to get more details and/or register online. Also, if you would like to sit down with your daughter or troop and look through what is available, simply click the “Print” icon at the top of the page (under the green bar) to get a printout of your search results.

6. You can also make a digital copy to e-mail or share through social media with a .pdf printer (several are available online) or by copying and pasting text into your preferred word processing software (Word, etc). 


** Please remember that program details may change after the date of your printout.  Always check our online program calendar for the most up-to-date information**

Monday, January 4, 2016

GSSI Council Shop Update: January 2016




New Items
Check out our new merchandise! We’ve got some cute COOKIE ITEMS! GSSI has a multitude of new merchandise for girls and adult volunteers. Stop by a retail shop soon or browse our virtual catalog.  

GSSI Council Shop Hours
GSSI Council Shops are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  Monday through Thursday.  

GSSI Council Shops and Service Centers will be closed Monday, January 18 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. 

Saturday Hours:
The shop will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on the following Saturdays
January 9, 2016
February 13, 2016

Online Shop
You can always shop for your Girl Scout merchandise 24/7 online!

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. 
618-692-0692, ext. 1129   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   e-mail: sport@gsofsi.org
Regional Service Center: Linda Quinn: 618.242.5079, ext. 2115   e-mail: lquinn@gsofsi.org