Jody’s guest blogger today is Amy Foster, Director of Program Services

Wow!  I can’t believe the school year is almost over.  When I think of the end of the school year, I think of graduations, girls moving to new schools, endings, and new beginnings.  There’s been a lot going on in Girl Scouting these last several years!  Locally, this has been a year of new beginnings for all of us…new council, new jobs, new friends to meet, and the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience. 

There have been many stepping stones on the trail to work towards the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Coming out of Girl Scouts of the USA’s (GSUSA) strategy work in 2004, a collective decision was made to focus clearly on what we know we do best — leadership.  GSUSA then began partnering with girls to define leadership and came away with the 3 keys: Discover, Connect and Take Action.

GSUSA just recently published specific outcomes in Transforming Leadership; these outcomes represent our intentions for girls.  GSUSA developed them with lots of input from — girls and adults in Girl Scouting as well as youth development experts. 

Girl Scouts is, as it always has been, the organization best positioned to offer girls the tools they need to be successful leaders now and throughout their lives.  As Girl Scouting approaches its 100th anniversary, the Movement is using its expertise to create a completely new approach for what girls do in Girl Scouting, how they do it, and how they will benefit. 

Now we are ready to roll out new program experiences intentionally designed based on our outcomes.  This fall we will begin the journey to launch the NEW Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and I know you and your girls will find the new materials relevant, exciting, fun and easy to use! 

I know there are many questions about the details and I invite you to Discover, Connect and Take Action! Discover the possibilities, Connect with myself and others to answer your questions, and Take Action to spread the excitement.  Check out the new web page with information about what is coming this fall, with links to FAQ, how to manage the multi-year transition, where to ask questions and more!

Imagine the power of 33,000 girls in West Central Florida becoming leaders – not just in the future, but being a leader in her life today.  With 33,000 girls in West Central Florida and 2.6 million girls across the country leading the way – the world really will be a better place!

Jody’s guest blogger today is Kristin Whitaker, Director of PR/Marketing.

Discuss, Discuss, Discussion Board!

 In mid-April, we launched a discussion board on the website based on feedback indicating that girls and volunteers needed an area to discuss and share Girl Scout topics with each other; therefore, this discussion board was developed just for you!

Since its launch and a few user posts (thank you!), council staff conducted a round-table at our recent annual meeting where one of the topics was the new discussion board. Here, we learned that many leaders, volunteers, parents, etc. did not know that the discussion board really was a tool for you to communicate with each other so we’re announcing it every chance we get!

Some of the topics on the discussion board include the new Leadership Experience, Service Projects, Service Unit Events, Volunteers, Parents, Leaders/Advisors and much more! The topics on the board are not set in stone – what do you want to see out there? What is a frequent topic of discussion – feel free to make suggestions.

We really want the discussion board to become a helpful tool for you as well as the other items within the news room such as the GSWCF Photo Album. The photo album and discussion board are a direct result of the input that we receive from the heart of our organization – our volunteers!

We hope that you’ll take the time to explore the discussion board and provide us with your feedback about how we can make it a better tool for you to ask questions or communicate with each other. We are each other’s best resource for being in the know! Don’t be afraid to post a question, because there’s probably someone else that has the same question.

Please contact Tom Goodson, Webmaster, at tgoodson@gswcf.org for more information.

Discuss, Discuss, Discussion Board!

Today is Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day – for all you do, we say a great big THANKS! I’m sure that all of you who devote your time, energy and talent to assure a great experience for girls will relate to these poems – you truly are appreciated!

Leader Poem

Sometimes I get discouraged, My time is not my own.
If I’m not going somewhere, I’m always on the phone.

Reminding someone’s mother, Of a stray permission slip.
Whose loss would cause disaster, To our upcoming field trip.

I’m dashing out to get supplies, (I think I’m going daft!)
Whose idea was this? Can we really do this craft?

And then there are the cookies- On the chairs and on the floor.
My home has twice as many, As the local grocery store.

Even when I’m sitting still, my brain is overheating.
Searching for a game or song, to liven up the meeting.

Just when I am exhausted, Too tired to move again.
A small eruption at the door- The girls are coming in!

I draw a breath of wonder and ask myself “oh why?”
Then I’m almost toppled, by a bear hug, just knee high.

The room is full of laughter,and suddenly I see.
That I really cannot think, of a better place to be.

Yes, I’m a Girl Scout Leader, and I guess that’s no surprise.
And everything I do is worth the smile in one girl’s eyes

Here’s one more:

Because You Said ‘Yes’

Because you said ‘yes’:

…a young girl will feel the pride of being someone special as she carefully puts on her uniform for the very first time.

…a girl can move to a new town and have “instant friendships” with girls she might never have met.

…parents will experience that special pride when they listen to their daughter say the Girl Scout Promise for the first time.

…bright eyes will become a little brighter with excitement as the kindling finally catches on the first campfire.

…nervous giggles will emit from tents as girls try to fall asleep their first night of camp.

…the community and the world will be richer because a girl has learned the importance of caring for her environment, and the warm feeling that comes from giving service to someone less fortunate than herself.

…a parent will find a gold trefoil carefully tucked away in a drawer as her daughter packs to leave home for her first adventures as a young adult.

…a young woman will contact the Girl Scouts one day and say, “I had so much fun when I was a Girl Scout, I’d like to try being a Leader.”

And the circle will continue…because you said, “YES”

Today is also Earth Day – how are troops celebrating this event?

I wanted to fill you in on our Legislative Day program in Tallahassee. There’s no doubt that the mood in the Capitol is somber because of the need to cut program budgets, but we felt that our time spent there was productive.

The girls had an awesome experience and I have asked for some of their comments to share with you. I hope you’ll enjoy some of these pictures in the meantime. They were taken in the Senate Chamber before and during the Mock Legislative sessions – we held 2 sessions because of the number of girls present from councils throughout the state.

The CEOs and Board Chairs received an update on the Get Real! Program and how we would be affected by the budget cuts in 2008 and the more substantial cuts to our budget in 2009. We feel we’ll be able to manage the program through 2009 unless the cuts get even deeper but are concerned about the sustainability of the program beyond 2009.  In case you’re not familiar with the Get Real! Mentoring Program, it’s a one-on-one mentoring program funded by the State of Florida and conducted at nine of the ten Girl Scout councils in the state.

We had considerable discussion about other issues we believe we should pursue this coming year and I’ll share more with you as our plans evolve – I think you’ll be interested and supportive of our direction.

We also met with Dr. Lawanda Ravoira, who is leading a movement to develop a National Center for Girls/Florida. Her research and work in this field is in line with the information we have already discussed on this blog in the past and Girl Scouts in the state of Florida have offered our support to her efforts and indicated an interest in working with her on girls’ issues in the state.

We had an opportunity to meet with some of our legislators and thank them for their continued support of Girl Scouting in Florida.

Overall it was a busy two days but time well spent!

Today is Girl Scout Legislative Day in Tallahassee. Once a year, representatives from the Girl Scout councils in the state of Florida gather in Tallahassee to discuss legislative issues that impact our program delivery.

Girl representatives spend two nights there, learning about the legislative process and how to influence the decisions of our state legislature. They hold a mock legislative session, focusing on issues that they propose and debating the pros and cons of those issues. They also have an opportunity to tour the Capitol and meet legislators and their staff members.

While girls are in their sessions, the Board Chairs and CEOs of the Florida Girl Scout councils hold a meeting to discuss advocacy issues important to our program and how to respond to any issues pending in the state legislators’ hands or issues we want to discuss with them.

Several years ago, nine of the ten councils in the state formed a Legislative Network for this purpose. We formed a Legislative Network Steering Committee and hired a Legislative Monitor to keep us informed of pending legislation and help us make the connections we need to assure our issues are heard.

The Steering Committee members manage the overall plans of the Network, with input from all of the members. The law firm of Holland & Knight serves as our Legislative Monitor on-site in Tallahassee and works with us on our advocacy efforts.

It was through the efforts of this network that we were able to secure state financial assistance to deliver our Get Real! program throughout the state. While our funds will be diminished next year because of the current budget cuts, we would never have had the opportunity to deliver this program without the support of the state.

Girl Scouts of the USA is also beginning to place more importance on our Advocacy issues for girls and we keep in close contact with the Washington DC office regarding pertinent federal legislation.

There are some interesting issues on our agenda this year and throughout the coming months we may be calling upon YOU to help us in a “grass roots” campaign. I’ll keep you informed as we proceed and would also be interested to know if you have issues you’d like us to discuss.

Tune in to my blog over the next few weeks.  I’m going to invite some of our girl representatives who went to Tallahassee this year to serve as guest bloggers and share their experiences with you.

Responsibility for the Movement and the Democratic Process

The ultimate responsibility for the Girl Scout Movement rests with its members. We govern by an efficient and effective democratic process that demonstrates our leadership in a fast-changing world.

This statement is part of the Preamble to the Constitution of Girl Scouts of the United States of America.*

What this means:
When we make decisions about our Movement’s future, we seek and hear our members’ voices: girls, volunteers, and staff. It also means that our democratic process must be nimble and decisive.

What it means to YOU:
Your voice and opinion are important. As was discussed in my last blog message, there are a number of ways for you to influence the decisions made in our council – both policy decisions and management decisions. But if you don’t participate in this process, you lose that ability.

The main method we use in Girl Scouts of West Central Florida for policy-influencing is through the Area Association structure. Each service unit in the council is responsible for electing delegates to represent its members, and each area is responsible for electing two delegates for the area. At the Area Association meeting, Board members attend and give an update on the business of the Board. Delegates are then able to ask questions about policy decisions and provide input to these decisions. While anyone is welcome to attend these meetings, attendance is often sparse.  But if service units and areas don’t elect their delegates, they miss this opportunity to be part of this process and to VOTE at the Annual Meeting. One of the major pieces of business at the meeting is the election of the slate of Board members and Board Development Committee members, and National Delegates every three years. By your votes, you are giving these people the authority to make decisions that affect Girl Scouting.

We recognize that there are weaknesses in our system – and are going to be making some changes prior to next year to make this structure more meaningful to our members.  But we’d like to know from you what your suggestions for this are – please use this opportunity to have your voice HEARD.

*(Yes, Girl Scouting was chartered by a special act of Congress in 1950 – other organizations with Congressional Charters include the Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and American Red Cross).

Is it Governance or Management?
Is it Policy-making or Policy-influencing?
And how do they fit together?

After a discussion with Area Association Chairs following the last Area Association meeting, I saw clearly that there are a number of misconceptions and misunderstandings about the roles we all play in setting the direction for Girl Scouting through the democratic process.

In Girl Scouting, the democratic process is how the membership can influence decisions and activities of governance (policy) or management (operations), and have access to those who make the decisions.

Translation: 

Governance = Policy
Management = Operations
And we are involved in this democratic process either as decision-influencers, decision-makers or decision implementers.

The board of directors is our policy-making body.  The council board establishes our policies and standards, then the council staff and volunteers (management) operate within those bounds.  You influenced those policies just a couple months ago when you were invited to participate in the on-line policies survey.

The board of directors makes governance decisions, which are broad policy decisions that give direction for how a council implements Girl Scouting in its jurisdiction.  For example, strategic planning, fund development, fiduciary oversight, and selection and performance evaluation of the chief executive officer are all governance decisions.  You influence those decisions when you attend Area Association meetings and the Annual Meeting, or serve on a board-sponsored committee.

The CEO establishes the council’s operational procedures and guidelines; that is, how the volunteers and staff deliver the Girl Scout program to girls. You influence those decisions when you attend focus groups, listening meetings and forums, or participate in a council-sponsored group or committee. The volunteers and staff then implement those decisions.

Simplified, here’s the sequence:

• The board seeks input from the membership through meetings, surveys, committee work (policy-influencing).
• The board establishes the policies, strategic plan and overall goals (policy-making).
• The CEO and staff develop the operating objectives and financial budget, subject to board approval, and the operational procedures and guidelines that we all use to deliver Girl Scouting (policy-implementing).

So do you see how volunteers fit in this democratic process? The Blue Book of Basic Documents states:

We hold that the ultimate responsibility for the Girl Scout movement rests with volunteers.

And it really does go full circle.  After listening to volunteers about the pros and cons of the issues, the board of directors (which is itself all volunteers) makes all policy decisions.  The staff provides continuity, expertise, knowledge and skills to aid the board in making the best possible decisions for the organization.  Then based on those policies, the staff establishes the operational procedures, and together, the staff and volunteers use those procedures to deliver Girl Scouting to our girls.

Okay, that’s Part I of our lesson on council governance.  My challenge to you is, over the next week, think about what roles you play and whether those roles are governance or operational.  And think about all the opportunities you’ve had to either directly or indirectly influence the board’s and staff’s decisions.  Think hard – there might be a test!

Another Girl Scout holiday is almost here. March 12, 2008 is the 96th “birthday” of Girl Scouting and so March 9 – 15, 2008 is Girl Scout Week.  Do you know why March 12th is the birthday of Girl Scouting?  It’s because that was the date Juliette Low held her first Girl Scout meeting.

Girl Scout week was originally celebrated October 25 – November 1, 1919 to include Juliette Low’s birthday and the focus was to recruit sustaining members at one dollar each and to create community awareness of the Girl Scout program. In 1920, October 31st was designated as “Founder’s Day” and Girl Scout Week was celebrated from November 6 – 15. The focus remained on publicity and fund raising and the following jingles were developed for each day of the week.

Girl Scout Week!

MONDAY’s Scout is at the tub,
Her Sunday clothes to rinse and rub.

TUESDAY’s Scout will roast and stew
And fry fresh pancakes just for you!

WEDNESDAY’s Scout is bent on Thrift,
To patch the hole and darn the rift.

THURSDAY is Scout Service Day,
For helping your neighbor in many a way.

FRIDAY’s Scout is rosy and strong,
She camps and “hikes” the whole day long.

SATURDAY’s Scout is happy and gay
For this is Baby Caring Day.

While SUNDAY’s Scout presents to you
Her uniformed back in the family pew!

EVERY WEEK IS GIRL SCOUT WEEK

In 1932, March 12th was officially designated the Girl Scout Birthday and “birthday week” was to begin on the Sunday of the week March 12th falls.

By 1936, the day-of-the-week program activities changed to:

Sunday - Attending religious services
Monday - Homemaking
Tuesday - Arts and crafts
Wednesday - Thrift
Thursday - Hostess
Friday - Community Service
Saturday - Health

These were renamed in 1938 and stayed in effect until 1980:

Sunday - Girl Scout Sunday
Monday - Homemaking Day
Tuesday - Citizenship Day
Wednesday - Health and Safety Day
Thursday - International Friendship Day
Friday - Arts and Crafts Day
Saturday- Out-of-Doors Day

Over the years, the way we mark Girl Scout week has changed but I know that many troops and service units will find a way to celebrate Girl Scout week this year – please share your activities with us.

Happy World Thinking Day!  Today is a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides throughout the world.

World Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference, held at Girl Scouts of the USA’s Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all around the world think of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their “sister” Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.The delegates chose February 22nd as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.

Over the years, the focus of World Thinking Day has expanded to include an opportunity for girls to learn about health issues that affect young women. This year’s theme is Think About Water and many girls throughout the world will take part in activities focused on issues of access to clean water and water conservation.

This year the staff members of Girl Scouts of West Central will celebrate this Girl Scout “holiday” through our own Thinking Day event. Each department has learned about one of the countries within the World Association and will present a display for other staff members in order to help us all appreciate the diversity of this world association. This event will culminate in a festive lunch where we will sample food from each of these countries.

I know that a number of troops and service units will hold similar celebrations and we would love to hear about those celebrations. If your troop or service unit held a World Thinking Day event please let us know about it – if you have pictures, send them in and we’ll post them on the site.

The Girl Scout cookie sale is one of the traditions we have maintained throughout the history of our organization. Certainly the sale has changed considerably since the initial cookies were baked by girls and sold in 1917 but the skills girls learn through participation in this sale have grown along with the sale.

By participating in the Girl Scout cookie program, girls learn goal setting, marketing, teamwork, financial literacy and some of the most successful saleswomen in the world give credit to their days selling cookies as the beginning of their entrepreneurial spirit. Our customers anticipate the annual sale and the yearly binge of Thin Mints and Samoas. Whatever your favorite cookie, you must agree that this is a wonderful tradition.

Like many other customers, I am approached to purchase cookies each year by a number of girls in the program. Of course I can’t say “no” to a Girl Scout but I do make sure that the girls who sell to me have set a goal and know how they will be spending their profits. I am one of those people, however, who really does not need to purchase these delightful treats. I seem to be on a constant diet and because of my job, I have a never- ending supply of Girl Scout cookies around me at all times.

Because of this, I always ask the girls if they are participating in the “Cookies From Home” program. I would be happy to purchase the cookies and have them sent to our military personnel rather than have them in my home. I am often disappointed to hear from girls that they don’t participate in this “Gift of Caring” program or don’t even know about it.  What an opportunity for learning more about philanthropy and service these girls are missing – it’s a shame that all troops don’t participate in this service project. Not only are they missing a number of customers who would happily support the troops overseas but they’re missing a lesson about giving back to the community. I’m sure that I’m not the only person who would prefer to send a box of cookies to someone fighting for our country.

Booth sales will be beginning soon and I really encourage troops who sell cookies through this direct sale to keep the “Cookies From Home” program in mind. This project gives customers an option – and there are many people who are looking for ways to show support to the young men and women in the military. Veterans who attend meetings and functions at American Legion Halls and VFW posts would likely want to support this effort as well – let’s not miss this opportunity to do something to benefit our military forces.

I’d love to hear what troops will be doing with their cookie funds this year – what plans they have made and how they will be participating in the “Gift of Caring”.

By the way, we have just heard that Dairy Queen will be selling a Thin Mint Cookie “Blizzard” in select markets throughout the country – let me know if you see any in our area. Yummy!!