In early January, over 2,500 scouts from across the country traveled to take part in Scout Days at Daytona International Speedway. This three-day annual test session known as the “Roar Before the Rolex 24” was the start to the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) racing calendar.
And although it was pretty cold for Florida…that didn’t stop Girl Scouts from showing up. Troops braved the freezing temperatures as they camped two nights in the tracks infield. Over the weekend scouts got up-close and personal with the teams and drivers from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.
Girl Scouts were given their own dedicated camping area, participated in special question-and-answer sessions, and went on tours with some incredible G.I.R.L.s. The female drivers, engineers, and mechanics that make it all possible.
Minnesota Crouch, Kristen Bedard
For the first time in event history, a race was added to the “Roar Before the Rolex 24.” Above the track, Relationship Development Director, Kristen Bedard and Ambassador Girl Scout, Minnesota Crouch, waived the green flags as honorary starters for the IMSA Prototype Challenge season opener.
“To stand above the speeding race cars, motioning the start of their race while representing Girl Scouts of Citrus was a unlike anything I had ever experienced,” said Bedard.
The weekend ended in true Girl Scout fashion with a collectible fun patch earned by all!
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.
Cadette Program Aide (PA) (must be currently enrolled in 6th grade)
To earn a Cadette Program Aide award, follow these steps:
Earn one LiA award.
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.
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.
Enjoy one of our Summer Camp Open Houses with the entire family! Visit camp and get to know the staff: come on down to one of our 3 open houses.
Take a tour of our sleeping and activity areas. Learn about the different activities that girls will explore this summer. Sit down with our staff, over a plate of cookies and cups of “bug juice”– our campers’ favorite treat – and get answers to your questions, bring up any concerns, and get excited for summer fun.
The first 10 girls that bring a friend and register for camp together at one of our open houses will be entered into a special drawing! Prizes will vary each week and each girl can only win once.
*This event is free but advanced registration is required.
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.
I would advise to make individual cookie deposits for each girl rather than depositing cookie money in large sums. When you record the bank deposit receipt with each girl’s name this can help you track the progress for each girl. There may be questions down the road as to the total amount generated and what was recorded. This can help during that awkward conversation.
You’ll get to know the bank tellers (or in some cases, the Bank ATM’s) fairly well as you make frequent bank deposits during cookie season.
Please… DO NOT keep cookie money in your home or automobile for long periods of time. A week can easily turn into 2 weeks or even a month. A lot can happen during that time, including money loss. So again, just avoid being put in that position.
If you have other adult volunteers helping pool the funds it’s important to have a system in place to track this. Know which adult volunteer(s) have the troop cookie booth money and cash box. Count the cash box change before and after each booth shift. Deposit booth money into your bank account after the booth shifts.
Be prepared and have the cookie deposits in your troop account ready for the 1st and 2nd council withdrawals. Contact your cookie chair or council to confirm these withdrawal dates.
Working with Parents
Parents can be your greatest supporters or make your job harder. From my experience, they really want to help and make sure their girls have a successful cookie season.
Provide troop parents with all the cookie resources available. Encourage your girls/adults to participate in digital (Direct Ship) cookie sales, and remind girls to send emails through www.abcsmartcookies.com
In this digital age, Parents may want to go on different online platforms and sell for their girls or promote that their girls are selling cookies. It’s important to note that this is discouraged as it puts the girl’s personal information out in the cyber world. And in this day and age, that can be a scary notion.
What they can do, is share their girl’s online link. No names, no phone numbers, no emails, no personal info from the girl.
For those working the cookie booths, be sure to thank them. Thank your adult volunteers and girls after each cookie booth.
Keep Girls Motivated
Encourage your girls throughout the cookie sale. When they reach their cookie goal or complete the badge requirements provide them with a cookie fun patch, cookie pin or cookie badge. Give your girls fun cookie items from the Citrus Council Shop. There are mini buttons, pencils, pins, and all kinds of goodies.
I know of some troops who have a cheer they do, when the girls reach their initial goal. Remember to celebrate any and all accomplishments. Look for the positive, and keep the momentum going.
Dealing with failure or slow sales
Now, I would like to say that everyone will have an amazing cookie season, and all girls will sell non-stop. But that’s not always the case. There will be slumps or times when you don’t meet your goal.
Some ways you could help change that would be to:
Schedule additional cookie booths if you don’t sell out at your initial booths.
Continue to sell cookies during Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day.
Bring cookies with you to sell anywhere you go with an adult.
Resend emails to family and friends asking them to purchase cookies.
Go door to door selling cookies (with an adult). Many homes are not visited and have not had the opportunity to purchase cookies.
When in doubt, ask your fellow troop leaders, your community or reach out to council. We’re all here to help make this a successful experience for everyone.
Today, Girl Scouts enters its second century of Girl Scouts selling cookies! Given that more than half (57 percent) of Girl Scout alumnae in business fields credit the Girl Scout Cookie Program® with developing skills they use today—including money management, goal setting, and public speaking—selling Girl Scout Cookies has helped millions of female entrepreneurs over the past 100 years spark their careers.
During Girl Scout Cookie season, participating Girl Scouts across the country show their G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ spirit as they sell delicious cookies, building essential entrepreneurial skills along the way that are imperative to leadership and future success. And the funds from every cookie purchase power amazing experiences for girls year-round, like camping adventures, world traveling, Take Action projects that benefit their community, and more!
That’s because all of the net revenue from cookie sales—100 percent of it—stays within a Girl Scout council’s local area to benefit girls. Councils depend on cookie earnings to run their programming, and girls decide how to invest their troop’s portion of the earnings in impactful community projects and personal enrichment opportunities.
This season, troops nationwide are also welcoming the return of the Girl Scout S’mores® cookie, the most popular flavor to launch in the 101 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies. Consumers can fuel transformative leadership experiences for girls and help build the next generation of female entrepreneurs by purchasing Girl Scout S’mores as well as classic favorites like Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®/Samoas®, and more.
Last year, Girl Scouts of the USA debuted two versions of Girl Scout S’mores—a crispy graham cookie double-dipped in a crème icing and enrobed in a chocolatey coating, and a crunchy graham sandwich cookie with a chocolate and marshmallowy filling and embossed with designs honoring Girl Scouts’ Outdoor badges. They’re sure to be best-sellers again this year!
For the current season, girls will sell cookies door-to-door and at booths, as well as through the Digital Cookie® platform, an innovative and educational web-based addition to the cookie program through which girls run and manage their Girl Scout Cookie businesses online. Now in its fourth year, the Digital Cookie platform continues to keep Girl Scout programming current and relevant to today’s girls by providing them with valuable business and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills that prepare them for 21st-century leadership.
Additionally, Girl Scouts will celebrate the next century of female entrepreneurs during National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend 2018! February 23–25, Girl Scout councils nationwide will host exciting events and set up booths so that cookie enthusiasts can get their hands on the iconic treats and join in on the fun. To find Girl Scouts selling cookies near you, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, free on iOS and Android devices.
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.
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.
Have you ever wondered where your favorite Christmas traditions come from? We sure know we have! For example, why are your mom’s cookies left out for Santa Claus or why are the colors red and green considered Christmas colors?
Cookies and Milk for Santa
Some theories come from Norse folk lore. Odin, the Norse god, led a grand hunting party during yule tide festivals. Children would leave food out for Odin’s eight legged horse, Sleipnir. Eventually, with other European influences on this Norse tradition, it became the Christian tradition to leave cookies and milk for Santa while adventured around the world.
This tradition became popular in America during the Great Depression, when parents believed that their kids helping Santa during his tiring journey, taught them that their good deeds have rewards.
The History of Using Red and Green as Christmas Colors
The green is said to symbolize “The Paradise Tree” in the Garden of Eden. It was normally a pine tree with red apples tied to it. The green would also symbolize holly or ivy that were evergreen plants.
The red symbolizes the red apples also on “The Paradise Tree” in the Garden of Eden. The red is also said to reference holly berries said to represent the blood of Jesus Christ.
Still have more questions on Christmas and how the different traditions came about? Visit www.whychristmas.com for more info.
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.
Short and Sweet
If you have other adult volunteers helping pool the funds it’s important to have a system in place to track this. Know which adult volunteer(s) have the troop cookie booth money and cash box. Count the cash box change before and after each booth shift. Deposit booth money into your bank account after the booth shifts.
