Leadership

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. What you may not know is this event began as a small-town school event in California in the late 70’s and started out as a week-long event, known as Women’s History Week. International Women’s Day on March 8 was seen as the focal point for this week.

In 1980, President Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring this week as National Women’s History Week. Over the years, several states had declared the month of March as Women’s History Month. The momentum influenced Congress to declare the month of March 1987 as National Women’s History Month.

Traditionally, Women’s History Month in schools has focused on the U.S. women’s suffrage and reform movements of the late 1800s and early 1900s, but there’s oh-so-much more! Girls and women are making history every day!

Ways to Celebrate:

  • Get inspired with videos from makers.com.
  • March 8: International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women, took place for the first time on March 8, 1911.
  • Thank a woman who inspires you. Write her a letter. Send her a message on Facebook. Send her a gif of appreciation.
  • Read about women throughout history who’ve done amazing things.
  • Share your story through a creative outlet. Women’s stories need to be heard. Submit a piece to your favorite publication. Start a blog. Launch a YouTube channel.
  • Mentor a young woman or Girl Scout. Girls everywhere are in need of positive role models that can help them grow and develop into leaders.
  • Earn a Badge!Like the “Girl Scout Way” badge, Celebrating Community or My Family Story for Brownies, or Playing the Past for Juniors. Or check out the GIRLtopia Journey for Seniors.

Just a note: Throughout history, women trailblazers have fought both for and against controversial topics. As you explore the resources linked here, and do your own research and discovery alongside girls, you might find topics and causes that are still controversial today. If you’re a troop leader, communicate openly with parents of the girls in your troop so they know what you’ll be discussing at your troop meeting. If a polarizing topic arises, be sure to cover both sides of the issue briefly, and then move on.

Badges and Patches

We Don’t Need A Badge For That!

We Don’t Need A Badge For That!” is a program series where Girl Scouts connect with the community to work on community service projects.

This series is about community service and giving back throughout the year. Girl Scouts of Citrus Council will work with different community partnership to create a Take Action projects, clean-up events, or other services.

This series does not involve a badge or patch, but rather, encourages Girl Scouts and their families to volunteer and help support our Central Florida community.

Just Wing It! – March 24 – 11:00 am to 3:30 pm

The kickoff event to this program series is a take action project. Girl Scouts will be creating and establishing a butterfly learning garden. This is something anyone and everyone can do. Working with Orlando City they will be allowing Girl Scouts to use their land to design, create and build their garden for future events, generations, and environmental gains!

Come out and help us put together butterfly homes, plant flowers, create a peaceful garden for everyone. As teams we will build the homes, paint them and set them in place for the butterflies. Other teams will be planting trees, plants, flowers, and more. Lunch will be provided and an educational session will take place on importance and impact this has on our community. The girls will just need to show up in old clothes and Tennis Shoes and be ready to work.

Juniors can Register Here

Seniors and Ambassadors can Register Here

 

Cookies

Wrapping up your Cookie Season

Cookie Season is finally over! But before you shut down and focus on other Girl Scout activities, there are two questions you need to ask yourself:

  • Is all the money accounted for?
  • Did you meet your cookie goal?

Is all the money accounted for?
Collect all remaining cookie money and deposit to the troop bank account. Provide each girl/adult the remaining cookie balance and the final due date for the money collection.

Make at least three attempts to collect the money. The attempts to collect money must be documented in writing.

All outstanding parent debt must be reported immediately to Council’s Product team (by March 1, 2018 to Debbie Zito at 800-367-3906).

Enter each cookie deposit under Finances: girl transactions in www.abcsmartcookies.com.

Inform the troop of their total cookie profits.

Retain the ABC Smart Cookies Troop Balance Summary and share it with your troop leader(s) or troop finance manager to complete the June troop finance report.

…and of course, let the girls know which cookie incentives they earned as a result.

Did you meet your cookie goal?

Before the cookie sale started your girls set individual and/or troop cookie goals.

If they reached their goal:

  • Be sure to congratulate the girls on accomplishing their cookie goal.
  • Plan a cookie celebration with your troop.
  • Look at the cookie sale pin, earned cookie badges and fun cookie items available at the Citrus Council Shop.

Didn’t meet your cookie goal:

  • Meet with the girls and discuss how they can meet their goals next year.
  • Look at what you did well and what didn’t go so well.
  • Discuss different ways to increase cookie sales at booths and during walkabouts.
  • Suggest increasing online cookie sale participation.

 

Remember to Say THANK YOU

Lastly, be certain that your booth locations are recognized and appreciated for supporting the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council. In the past I would provide each booth location with some token of appreciation. They can be thank you cards, thank you certificates, handmade swaps or even some Girl Scout cookies.

Troop 763

Thanking each booth location is a great way for your service community to have the opportunity to return for booth sales next year. This is especially important when the location was a high traffic area.

It’s also good practice for each service community to thank their community cookie chair(s) and troop cookie troop chairs for their time, talent and support.

Troop 154

They’ve worked hard to make this a successful cookie season for all and showing appreciation can go a long way to make the experience a rewarding one.

Thank you to all the parents, girls and volunteers who made this cookie season a great experience for all.

 

 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook @floridagirlscout

Leadership

CIT and VIT…what you’ll need to know to earn…

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) I (must be currently enrolled in 9th grade)

Mentor younger girls in a camp setting as you build skills toward becoming a camp counselor. To earn this award, complete these steps:

  1. Take a leadership course designed by your council on outdoor experiences.
  2. Work with younger girls over the course of a camp session.

 

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) II (must be currently enrolled in 10th grade and earned your CIT I)

To earn this award:

  1. Earn your CIT I award
  2. Work with younger girls over the course of at least one camp session while focused on increasing your skills in one specific area- such as riding instruction, lifeguarding, or the arts.

 

Volunteer-in-Training (VIT) (must be currently enrolled in 10th grade)

This award is for girls who’d like to mentor a Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, or Cadette group outside of the camp experience. If you’ve completed 9th grade, you’re eligible to earn this award. Your VIT project should span 3-6 month period.

  1. Find a mentor volunteer who is currently the adult volunteer for a group of girls at the level you’d like to work with. This volunteer will help you through your training and internship, and you’ll help the volunteer with her group of girls for the 3-6 month period.
  2. Complete a council-designed leadership course
  3. Create and implement a thoughtful program based on a Journey or badge that lasts over 4 or more sessions. Be responsible for designing, planning, and evaluating the activities. If you’re passionate about a topic like art or technology, you could design the activities around the area you love or in which you have expertise.
Badges and Patches

Earning your LiA and PA awards

Leader in Action (LiA) (must be currently enrolled in 6th grade)

You can earn a Leader in Action (LiA) award by assisting a Brownie group on any of their National Leadership Journeys. There are three different LiA awards, one for each of the Journey series: ‘It’s Your World—Change It!’, It’s Your Planet—Love It!, and It’s Your Story—Tell It!. To earn a LiA, you’ll share your organizational skills, use one of your special talents (such as creating and demonstrating a science experiment or craft), teach Brownies something important from their Journey (such as making healthy snacks or getting exercise), and reflect on your experience. For more information about each LiA, network with the adult volunteers guiding Brownie groups in your Girl Scout community. Complete requirements can be found in their Brownie Leadership Journey adult guides.

*Cadettes can earn this award through Council programming or by working with a Brownie troop in the community.

Upcoming 2018 Training events:

March 9-10 – Leadership in Action LiA

 

Cadette Program Aide (PA) (must be currently enrolled in 6th grade)

To earn a Cadette Program Aide award, follow these steps:

  1. Earn one LiA award.
  2. Complete council-designed leadership course training. Part of your leadership course training will involve learning to work with children, and gaining a deeper understanding of a specialty such as science, art, the outdoors, or adapting activities for girls with disabilities.
  3. After completing PA Training work directly with younger girls over six activity sessions. This might be assisting girls on Journey activities (in addition to what you did for your LiA), badge activities, or other sessions. You might work with a group, at their meetings, at a day camp, or during a special council event.

Upcoming 2018 Training events:

April 14- Elements- Leadership Training Program Aide RSVP by April 2nd

Leadership

Girl Scout Troop 1710 is Always Willing to Help…

During the 2017 Hurricane season, troops everywhere were rallying together to do what they could to help those impacted. Some troops took to supporting existing initiatives to help make a larger impact. As was the case with Seminole Lakes Community, Troop 1710.

The Girl Scouts of Troop 1710 and their families, all took part in the ‘Orlando Cares-Hope for Puerto Rico’, coordinated by Feed Children Everywhere. Feed Children Everywhere is a non-profit organization committed to providing healthy meals to those in need. With the support of community organizations, numerous volunteers, and some of our very own Girl Scouts the organization was able to reach their goal of 4.4 million meals to help victims in Puerto Rico affected by Hurricane Maria.

Troop 1710 had heard about the goal of Feed Children Everywhere through Facebook. Admiring what Feed Children Everywhere stands for, these Girl Scouts jumped at the chance to help during ‘Orlando Cares- Hope for Puerto Rico’. The girls and their families were all able to rearrange their schedules at the last minute to help a great cause.

The event was held at the Orange County Convention Center in a 200,000 square foot hall. The girls and parents split up and worked in several small groups to get as many meals packaged. To add a little motivation, the troop and their families held a little competition to see who could pack the most. The girls would check on their parents and vice versa to see who was in the lead. There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly competition after all.

 

“We had such a great feeling knowing we were helping to bring love and support to a country so devastated. I am very proud of our girls, they are always willing to help someone in need. They make it their mission to help whenever it is possible” expressed Girl Scout Troop 1710 leader, Stacey Herron.

The troop, as many other Citrus Girl Scout troops, are active in helping their local community. Troop 1710 has held shoe drives, various coat drives and most recently helping package meals for the families in Puerto Rico devastated by the Hurricane Maria. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the troop also helped several of our senior citizens clear debris from their yards.

“I am so proud of our girls for always thinking of others before themselves. They are always willing to help when needed in the community. We have a wonderful bunch of girls and they are going to do wonderful things as they become adults” said Stacey Herron.

Leadership

Grow Your Troop!

Looking to grow your troop?! Know of girls asking to join Girl Scouts? 

Para Español oprima aqui.

Did you know the average Girl Scout troop only has eight girls? Yet our research shows that the most successful and durable troops have 12 girls on average. Just imagine what could happen if troop leaders added at least one new girl to their troop. Not only would more girls be able to participate in Girl Scouts, but introducing new friends to Girl Scouting allows existing members to flex their leadership skills and build confidence. Basically, everybody wins!

That’s why we’re launching our new Grow Your Troop: Increasing Troop Size Campaign.  What’s even more fun than a new year of Girl Scouts? Welcoming new girls to your troop! After all, new members bring fresh ideas, different ways of looking at things, and excitement that can spark creativity and energize everyone.

Girl Scouts of Citrus is offering your troop a chance to be entered into a raffle to win goodies! Troops that grow their size by registered girls will be entered into a raffle for the following:

  • Special Patch
  • $100 for each co-leader towards a Citrus shop purchase (up to 3 co-leaders)
  • $350 voucher towards a Citrus program of their choice
  • 2 night stay at Camp Mah-Kah-Wee (Up to 4 cabins at camp during a select time of year)
  • $100 food voucher via Wal-Mart gift card
  • $700 towards a Citrus program of choice

***ALL DAISY TROOPS that increase their troop by 4 or more registered girls between January 1, 2018-February 28, 2018 will be entered into a raffle to win:

  • Lunch with Citrus Council CEO
  • Tour Citrus Council Office
  • Earn the CEO Patch

One winner will be selected for each level based on the number of new girls registered. (1-3 girls, 4-6 girls, 6+, and Daisies)

 

 

3 TIPS TO HELP RECRUIT GIRLS FOR YOUR TROOP

1. Showcase what your troop loves to do most!

A. Update the Troop Description in the opportunity catalog. Visit Update My Troop Link and add your troop to the catalog and include a troop description. Whether that be the troop’s love for community service, outdoor adventure, photography, or science experiments. What better way to match families with a troop that does activities they love, and get a new Girl Scout’s experience off to an exciting and memorable start than to head straight into the action?

2. Hand out this form: GSC Troop Invitations.

A. Our girls are by far our best recruiters. Make it easy for their friends to join in on the fun by giving out a handful of physical invitations for your girls to pass out at school, in the community, clubs, church, sports practice, dance classes, back-to-school night, student government meetings, and, well, you get the idea!

B. Have your girls rock their Girl Scout uniform at school and to events.

C. Since 50 to 55 percent of new members learn about Girl Scouts from a friend or family member, share these relevant articles on social media.

 

READY TO GROW YOUR TROOP? Contact customer care with how many openings you want displayed in the opportunity catalog!

Academics

KPMG Leadership Program and Scholarship for graduating Ambassadors

GRADUATING AMBASSADORS ELIGIBLE FOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIP, APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 31

Annually, top female high school seniors from around the country are selected to participate in the KPMG Future Leaders Program and receive a scholarship of $10,000 per year through four years of college.

KPMG is deeply committed to the advancement, development and empowerment of women. As women break glass ceilings in the workplace and excel on the international athletic stage, the influence of women will only continue to grow and affect our society for the better.

To participate an applicant must:

  • Be enrolled as a high school senior female student (traditional or homeschool),
    progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school at the end of the
    2017-2018 school year, and planning to enroll in a 4-year undergraduate program at a
    college or university no later than the 2018 fall semester following the completion of high
    school.
  • Be a citizen of the United States, or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident.
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Demonstrate exceptional academic and leadership ability.
  • Display an interest in a business academic or STEM track.
  • Exhibit strong community involvement.
  • Letter of recommendation from a nonprofit organization to be attached to the applicant’s
    application for review. This person must speak to your character and leadership ability.
  • Provide a statement of financial need in the essay section of the applicant’s application
    for review (household income not to exceed $75,000 per year).
  • Applicant will also need to provide Federal Pell Grant Program application form or
    University financial aid application form or a reward letter to either program.
  • Must be available to attend the three-day KPMG Future Leaders Retreat at Stanford
    University, July 15-17, 2018.

 

Selected students attend a three-day retreat at Stanford University the summer before their freshman year of college. They also take part in a yearlong mentoring program, paired with a female leader participating in the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit.

Learn more about the program and share the application

Applications are due January 31.

 

Cookies

Getting the Cookie Plan Together

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays, Girl Scouts throughout the nation are also getting ready for that very busy time of year…Girl Scout cookie season!

Our Girl Scout Motto is to ‘Be Prepared’, and its important to do just that! January can creep up on us quicker than we think. Some of us may already see requests for cookies, so its essential to be prepared.

My troop prepares for the cookie season by attending our annual troop holiday party. We munch on the newest Girl Scout S’mores™ cookie, enjoy homemade hot chocolate and make plans for the first day of cookie sales.

Our troop prepares by getting our uniforms ready, attending troop cookie training and designing cookie booths. As a troop, we go over our cookie checklist. Which looks something like this:

____ Girl Scout vest or sash.

____ Identify a Cookie buddy (adult).

____ Tote, cart, or wagon to load cookies.

____ Cookie order form and pen.

____ Amount of money to have on hand for change.

____ Cookie envelope for payments in a day pack.

Before setting up cookie booths or selling cookies door to door Girl Scouts proudly wear their official uniform. I encourage girls to wear their favorite Girl Scout t-shirt or official Girl Scout polo shirt with vest or sash. Remember presentation is key.

When a Girl Scout wears the uniform, she lets the world know she’s a real-life Cookie Boss! I’ve found that wearing the Girl Scout uniform can also increases cookie sales. Cookie customers look for the blue, brown, green or tan vests and sashes to purchase cookies each year.

During troop meetings practice selling cookies to customers door to door through selling scenarios.

  • Smile and introduce yourself.
  • Practice your cookie “script”
    • Hi, my name is Daisy. I am a Girl Scout in Troop 123. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is teaching me how to run my own business. I have Girl Scout cookies for sale at $4.00 a box. You can also purchase cookies to support our military troops by donating $4.00 for each box.
  • Practice providing change for the cookie purchases.
  • Smile and thank your customers whether they do or do not purchase cookies.

Ask the girls in your troop to select the Cookie Badges they will earn during the cookie season. The 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Activity Pin – Celebrating the 5 Skills with girls can also be earned!

Daisies Count It Up Badge & Talk It Up Badge
Brownies Meet My Customers Badge & Give Back Badge
Juniors Cookie CEO Badge & Customer Insights Badge
Cadettes Think Big Badge, Business Plan Badge & Marketing Badge
Seniors My Portfolio Badge & Customer Loyalty Badge
Ambassadors Profit & Loss Badge and Research & Development Badge

 

Check with council and your community on the different Cookie Rallys and Cookie kickoff events they have going on early in the year. These are great ways to get your girls motivated and excited.

Here are just a few you might want to look into:

January 14, 2018- Sea World Cookie Kickoff

January 20, 2018 – Girl Scout Cookie University at Embry Riddle

 

Leadership

Hanukkah is Well Represented in Apopka Thanks to One…

Naomi Grabish, a Junior Girl Scout now, has been in Girl Scouts since kindergarten. As a Daisy she has done several activities similar to what other Girl Scouts of her age would be doing. A typical, normal girl progressing through school, Girl Scouts, and life. It wasn’t until she came across a holiday display in her community of Apopka that this Daisy would be challenged to do more.

In 2014, Naomi (six at the time) and her sister (five at the time) were going through Apopka and noticed the city’s holiday display. It was beautiful, yes, but something was missing for Naomi and her sister. They both noticed that there were no Hanukkah decorations in town, only Christmas decorations. She and her sister declared in protest, “that’s not fair.” But, what could they do?

Being six and five, they came up with several wild ideas which involved putting up their own display. Naomi eventually settled on writing a letter to Mayor Joe Kilsheimer, asking him to address the issue. Although this wasn’t the first time Naomi had written to a politician (she wrote to Barack Obama when she was four,) it was the first time she was asking for something from a political figure.

She mailed off her letter before Christmas break and when she got back from her family vacation, Naomi had a letter waiting from the Mayor apologizing for the lack of Hanukkah decorations. The Mayor promised to remedy this oversight and affirmed it would be fixed the following year.

Now, holding on to a promise for a year can be challenging for anyone. This proves even more difficult for prominent figures like Senators, Commissioners and Mayors. Sure enough, December 2015 rolled around and there were no Hanukah decorations. There was no change in December 2016 either.

A friend of the family, who happens to be the pastor at the local Presbyterian church suggested Naomi speak during the public comment period of a city council meeting. This would get her in front of city officials and leaders of the community, and she’d have a chance to be heard in person. This year, Naomi attended and spoke at the city council meeting. Mayor Kilsheimer was in attendance and told her that he remembered the letter. He promised her that he would look into the situation and assured her there would be Hanukah decorations this holiday season.

Not to be forgotten again, Naomi decided to write another letter to the Mayor before the holiday season, reminding him that he’d promised her Hanukkah decorations. In late October, as she was volunteering with her Girl Scout troop at a Halloween event in Apopka, she reminded him once again that he had promised her a menorah. He replied that he was making sure it would happen.

 

Mayor Kilsheimer with Naomi Grabish

Two weeks later, when Naomi and her family visited the city council with her Girl Scout troop, Mayor Kilsheimer handed her a photo and explained that the city had ordered that menorah. He then told Naomi and her troop that the menorah would be displayed with the rest of the holiday lights, and would be lit on December 1, 2017 during their Annual Winter Wonderland event.

 

“As her mother and her Girl Scout leader, I am in awe of the way she embraces both the value of inclusion and the importance of everyone seeing themselves reflected in their community-of making sure everyone is represented and heard” expressed Erika Grabish

When reflecting on this experience, and the significance of having a menorah in her community, Naomi expressed that “It seemed unfair…Apopka is a small city, but it should be inviting for everybody.”

Being a Girl Scout also played a key role in developing her confidence. “Girl Scouts helped me to do this because in Girl Scouts I talk to all different kinds of people” said Naomi

When asked how she was able to persist over three years (a third of her life), her only response was “the stronger the fight, the stronger the girl.”

Naomi’s persistence, dedication, belief in herself and her ability to make change happen is an inspiration to all. It also proves you’re never too young to make an impact in your community.

 

You can visit the Menorah light display, along with the other Christmas decorations at the Kit Land Nelson Park in Apopka.