I officially started July 1 as the new CEO of GSWCF. It was a Thursday, so it made for a short first week and it has been full speed since then.  I am enjoying seeing the girls in action, visiting camps, meeting our wonderful volunteers, and beginning to work hand-in-hand with staff to provide more for girls.  

Since we are all passionate about Girl Scouting and what our program does for girls, I want to share what I have been doing every Friday when our offices are closed.

It was a priority to me to get out and see all of our camp properties within my first 30 days. It has been an absolute joy to see the camps and different resources at each one, but more importantly seeing girls enjoying camp and paying no mind to the high temperatures because they were having so much fun! 

Click here to see photos posted on our facebook page of my recent visits and some additional photos that I took along the way …

My first camp visit was to Camp Dorothy Thomas (CDT) in Riverview. The girls were busy making their Journal books and I quickly learned that all of camp staff have no real names and that I will forever only know them as their camp names. CDT is a beautiful piece of property that Dorothy Thomas and her father Wayne made possible.  I am looking forward to joining some girls on the Challenge Course in the future.

My next visit was to Camp Wai Lani in Palm Harbor where I met some of our faithful volunteers working very hard to prepare for two weeks of Day Camp for 100 girls each week! Wai Lani is yet another great piece of property with waterfront features that afford many opportunities for our girls. The Archery Range had just been cleared and was in perfect condition for the week ahead.  When I stopped back by to see the camp in action, I happened to arrive earlier than the scheduled activities. I did, however, get to see the wet tank which was filled with wonderful marine life the girls had discovered.  In the photos you will see starfish, snails, a large sponge and possibly a cluster of oysters with little fish. More than 100 girls enjoyed Marine Life, Spa Time, Art Shack and Canoeing camp programs at the Service Unit day camp that week.

My trip to Camp Scoutcrest in Odessa was filled with many different activities. When I arrived, the campers who were in the Survivor program were camping out in tents and withstood a massive rain the day before - but they were all great about it! They were busy making pancakes on the open fire pit, and boats were already active with girls being pulled in the tubes, and jumping on the inflatable water trampoline and slide positioned on the lake. Lunch was DELICIOUS! After lunch came one of the best parts of the visit - the girls interviewed and presented me with a hand-made sash. They then individually provided me with badges of what they thought it takes to be a Leader.  My badges are Good Listener; You Need a Helping Hand; Loyalty; Honesty (Honest Abe); You need to be responsible to be successful; Reach for the Stars; Smart; You Need an Organized Briefcase; You Need a Big Heart to be Successful; Hard Worker and Education!

My first visit to Camp Wildwood was centered on Pioneer Day activities, where I participated in the Staff Horseback Ride. Both my husband and I made new furry friends along the way; I was lucky enough to ride Choctaw Blue and my husband rode Flash. We thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring all of the camp both on foot and by horseback. A second trip to Wildwood showed me the wonderful buildings on the property, including the beautiful Nature Center, Homestead, Costello Lodge named after George and Gundy Costello, as well as the magnificent nature on the 589 acres of original Florida we know as Camp Wildwood.

My last stop is Indian Echo in Hudson on July 29 and I cannot wait to see the property. I have heard wonderful things it offers including the teepees and tree houses! 

I am so thrilled to be a part of Girl Scouting and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida! I am looking forward to meeting many of you at the Service Team Kickoff on August 7 and throughout the coming months.

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Kim

GSWCF CEO

Enjoying time with the Scoutcrest Campers and proudly wearing my handmade sash from the girls - thank you!

My husband Sean preparing for our horseback ride at Camp Wildwood.

Enjoying Pioneer Days at Camp Wildwood.

Seeing the beautiful trails of original Florida at Camp Wildwood

Girl Scouts, one of the most well known and well loved organizations in the nation, is revitalizing and reenergizing its brand to reach a new generation of girls.

To check out the new visual brand identity, click here http://originalchampionsofdesign.com/

After extensive research and development, Girl Scouts debuted today a long-term, multichannel brand campaign that is designed to reacquaint the country with the iconic organization and communicate the power girls have to change the world through Girl Scouting. The campaign, known by the tagline What Did You Today?, is also keyed to boosting the number of girls and adult volunteers who participate in Girl Scouting annually after a period of declining membership.

“A revitalized and energized brand is absolutely essential for us and our future growth,” said Kathy Cloninger, Chief Executive Officer of GSUSA. “About one out of every 10 girls participates in Girl Scouting and that’s a tremendous number when you think about it.  But that also means that we have a great opportunity to grow even after almost 100 years. We have literally revamped our entire organization to appeal to that 90 percent of girls who aren’t benefiting from the Girl Scout leadership experience.  And with our new brand work, we think we have the right message at the right time.”

The branding, in the works as part of the organization’s comprehensive transformation that began in 2004, is composed of a striking new visual identity, which includes a distinctive trefoil mark, revised color palette, and refreshed logo that was originally created in the 1970s by the legendary designer Saul Bass. In addition, the initiative also includes plans for a 360 degree marketing program that taps the online, place-based and traditional media.

As part of the What Did You Today? campaign, Girl Scouts also has developed Spanish-language advertising to target the Hispanic market, one of the few girl populations in the country that is growing. GSUSA already has secured more than $10 million in donated exposure in Spanish-language media ranging from Telemundo to People en Español. In its general market campaign, Girl Scouts is working to secure $30 million in pro bono placements from national online and in-mall and airport outlets, as well as traditional broadcast and print media.

“What we’re doing with What Did You Today? is repositioning Girl Scouts with a message that is relevant to girls and the lives they lead today,” said Laurel Richie, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President at GSUSA. “To some degree, our brand had faded and our research revealed that while many girls and parents knew about us, they had a very limited view of us. While we are proud of our $700 million cookie business run by girls, we offer so much more than that, and this new work is designed to let people know about all the new and exciting things girls do every day as Girl Scouts. Our brand promise is that Girl Scouts gives every girl access to life-changing experiences that inspire her to do something big. That’s a promise we keep every day, and you don’t have to look much further than our National Young Women of Distinction and Gold Award winners to see evidence of that.”

Girl Scouts has already implemented major changes in recent years as part of its Core Business Strategy, which was developed under Cloninger’s leadership to turn around the organization amid changing demographics and a gradual decline in membership. In just the past few years, the organization has realigned its federated system of 312 councils to 112. Those councils now operate with bigger budgets and are able to draw on economies of scale. And in 2008, the organization rolled out the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, a program that every Girl Scout will engage in from the youngest Girl Scout Daisy to the eldest Girl Scout Ambassador.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience also features a series of 15 outcomes, or benefits, that for the first time in the organization’s history will allow Girl Scouts to gauge how well its program is working in terms of developing key leadership skills in girls.

Richie said that Girl Scouting is launching its rebranding from a position of strength because it can draw upon strong name recognition and a long legacy of leadership development.  With this new campaign and the projected growth in overall girl population in the United States, Girls Scouts expects to see its membership begin to increase over the next few years. The campaign will also pave the way, Richie said, for a major effort to gain exposure during the organization’s national centennial celebration in 2012. 

About Girl Scouts of West Central Florida

Taryn will be joining Girl Scouts now and looks forward to next years Day Camp. It was a GREAT first experience with Girl Scouts for us and we thank you all!!! Have a relaxing summer. God Bless!

A parent of an attendee at a recent day camp shares a bit about her daughter’s experience:

“My 6 yr old daughter Taryn was not an official Girl Scout when she signed up for the day camp. Cairn and Ashley H. invited us. I honestly did not know what to expect. I was looking for something to help keep my daughter busy and connected to her peers for part of the summer. I was very, very happy and excited to see how much fun she was having each day.

She came home exhausted but excited about her day. The camp was extremely organized and I felt secure in the pick up procedures you had in place. I appreciated that it was indoors and out of the heat. The guest speakers were relevent and evidently informative and interesting enough for my daughter to be able to tell me about what she learned in some detail….she’s only 6. The crafts were awesome, I know some volunteers put in a lot of extra work on those-THANK YOU! I think the tuition was a steal…how you could arrange all the expenses, crafts snacks, shirts, water bottles, etc on that small fee was amazing.

Taryn’s favorite part was the swaps and the crafts (and one particular silly camp song Ms. Nicole taught them). She also enjoyed wearing her clothes backwards and hair crazy on Wacky Wednesday. Every detail was noticed and we appreciate all your efforts. I know a bunch of volunteers worked very hard to put it all together. It turned out great.

Leslie and Taryn S.

“School’s out for the summer, and it’s time to figure out what your kids are going to do to pass the time. Instead of hours on end in front of the computer or Xbox, texting away on cell phones, or watching rerun after rerun on TV, how about a summer camp where they will connect with the outdoors, and gain practical life and leadership skills?

Camp is a great place for your kids to not only have fun, but to meet new friends, and learn and practice leadership skills in outdoor surroundings. During their time at camp, your kids will learn to live and work with others as they prepare for the challenges of everyday life.

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) offers more than 150 age-appropriate summer camp sessions throughout June and July for all girls entering grades K – 12, whether or not they’re registered Girl Scouts!

Summer camp is held at three Girl Scout camp properties – Camp Dorothy Thomas (Riverview), Camp Scoutcrest (Odessa) and Camp Wildwood (Wildwood). Photography, horseback riding and swimming are among the many activities offered. Can’t decide on just one? Don’t want to sleep away for a week? Girls can customize their summer camps, and all sessions include sports, nature exploration, and arts and crafts for well-rounded camp experiences.

Why should parents consider Girl Scout Summer Camp above the rest? According to an outcomes study published by GSWCF, of girls under the age of 10 who attended summer camp in 2009, 86 percent seek challenges in the world (discover); 84 percent develop healthy relationships (connect); and 75 percent are resourceful problem solvers (take action). Of girls ages 11 and older, 88 percent develop positive values (discover); 89 percent can resolve conflicts (connect); and 94 percent educate and inspire others to act (take action).

These outcomes speak to the organization’s three keys to leadership – discover, connect and take action – and are integral components of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and the 15 outcomes set forth by Girl Scouts of the USA.

In addition, Camp Scoutcrest and Camp Dorothy Thomas are among just four camps in the immediate Tampa Bay area that are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), a national agency that conducts independent safety audits; Camp Wildwood is also accredited by the ACA. Background checks are conducted for each employee working at a Girl Scout Summer Camp, something that is not the norm, according to a recent story that aired on ABC Action News.

With more than 220 acres of campgrounds and a pool, horse stables, sports court, archery range, nature trails, softball diamond and challenge course, Camp Dorothy Thomas (CDT) offers myriad camp opportunities. During a stay at CDT, share the campgrounds with deer, raccoons, turtles, fish, birds and other creatures!

Camp Dorothy Thomas turns into a crime scene in June. Girls will learn how to take fingerprints, follow clues and conduct experiments to solve a scientific mystery in CSI @ CDT, as well as learning to work as a group and having fun along the way. Or, experience new heights on the challenge course – climb the rock wall, or traverse the Burma bridge. Photography and graphic design classes are also available, for girls who want to express themselves visually. During each session, girls will spend quality time with their counselors and other campers as they sing, create, dance, build and enjoy the outdoors.

Idyllically located on 24 acres right on Crescent Lake in Odessa, Camp Scoutcrest is the camp for you if you’re interested in aquatics such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, wakeboarding, or waterskiing. For those who want to stay dry, Camp Scoutcrest also has an extensive cooking program for everyone from beginners to those ready to compete in the camp’s own Iron Chef competition.

Camp Wildwood is celebrating 50 years this fall, and throughout those 50 years Girl Scouts and the community have enjoyed its 589 acres of original Florida – piney woods and palmettos in sandy soil, huge live oaks with Spanish moss and marshlands. The Olympic-sized pool, challenge course, climbing wall, nature center, homestead program, compass and geocaching course, off road biking on miles of trails, archery, game field and canoes all add to the fun!

From July 11-17, Camp Wildwood will hold its Pioneer Days, where girls can experience what it was like to live in rural Florida in the 1800s. Each group of campers will make sure their wagon train runs smoothly, with girls working at the chuck wagon for evening meal, sewing clothes and decorations, and corralling the horses. For anyone interested in the history of Florida or how the pioneers lived, this is the camp for you!

“Girl Scout summer camp programs encompass a rich history of nearly 100 years of providing outdoor experiences for girls,” said Elayne Dorsey, interim CEO, GSWCF. “Camp is a place where girls learn to live and work together, make new friends, practice leadership skills and, of course, have fun!”

This summer, send your kids someplace where they will learn leadership skills they will carry with them throughout their lives, develop healthy relationships and positive values, and learn more about themselves than they ever could in front of a computer. Send them to summer camp!

To register for Girl Scout Summer Camp, visit www.gswcf.org.

The following is the inspirational story of Amy Greensfelder, a Girl Scout from our council who received her Gold Award in 2004. Through her work on her Gold Award, Amy found her true passion and has subsequently pursued an education and career in helping others. Here’s Amy’s story, in her own words … an inspiration for all of us to follow our dreams and passions.

I had been involved with Girl Scouts in Tampa some years back. I thought that this year’s Gold Award recipients might be interested to know that the job I have right now is a direct result of my Gold Award project.

For my Gold Award, I had worked with an Afghan refugee family. I led a team from my church in their resettlement efforts in the U.S. When I entered university, I became involved with the Hmong refugee community in Hickory, N.C. After an internship in Columbia, S.C. working with Somali Bantu refugee kids, and an internship with the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration in Washington, D.C., I realized that I wanted to work with refugees on their legal issues.

I spent the past two-and-a-half years working at a refugee resettlement agency in Greensboro, N.C., representing refugees in their legal cases, including family reunification, green cards, citizenship and more. I spent a good portion of the last year on a special program for elderly refugees who were working towards citizenship, which was an incredible experience. In October 2009, I applied for the job I currently have, and by Dec. 3 was on a flight to the wonderful continent of Africa – Kenya, to be exact.

I’m now working for Joint Voluntary Agency, a division of Church World Service. In my role, I process refugees who are seeking admission to the U.S. Basically, I interview them to find out the reasons they left their home country and why they can’t return, and prepare a file for them. Afterwards, a U.S. government official interviews the refugees to determine if they are eligible for admission to the U.S.

In my work, I get to travel all over Africa, and have already spent time in refugee camps in the North of Kenya, an urban location in South Africa and am currently on my second trip to Ethiopia.

Peace,
Amy

Our sincere thanks to Amy for allowing us to share her inspiring story of a past Gold Award recipient, and a Girl Scout alumna who is truly living our mission: a girl of courage, confidence, and character, who is making the world a better place.

On Saturday, May 8, 26 Girl Scouts in West Central Florida will receive their Girl Scout Gold Awards – the highest achievement in Girl Scouting – at a recognition event at the St. Petersburg Marriott.

The Gold Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, community service, career planning and personal development. A Girl Scout must be at least 15 years old and successfully complete requirements before she begins working on her Gold Award project.

Congratulations to all of the girls who are receiving their Girl Scout Gold Awards this spring:  Melissa Black, Rebecca Brubaker, Kristen Davis, Kelsey Finn, Taylor Flumerfelt, Somer Harvey, Kari Holbrook, Michelle Karp, Aimee LaChance, Lauren Mayo, Anjali Modi, Melanie Morgan, Kelsey Rafols, Madison Rafols, Jessica Schachter, Sarah Schmidt, Taylor Smelt, Lauryn Tarvin, Alaina Thivierge, Stephanie Uhrig, Amanda Valdes, Jennifer West, Kayleigh Whitman, Nichole Wolf, Megan Young and Sarah Young.

This year’s Girl Scout Gold Award recipients completed projects focused on a variety of community issues that will have a lasting impact, including creating a butterfly garden, fielding a team for a Special Olympics softball tournament, creating a walking history tour of Plant City, combining the reduction of garbage in the water with the fun of kayaking, and much more!

“To earn a Gold Award, a Girl Scout must take all of the knowledge, leadership and networking skills she has developed over the years and set forth to complete a service project that will benefit her community,” said Linda Babb, president, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.

The following was written by Girl Scout Ambassador Whitney McFee, the 2010 Women of Distinction Girl Scout Speaker. Whitney read her essay at the recognition luncheon March 23.

Every Woman of Distinction is someone who stands out from the crowd, stays above average, and leaves her mark. Looking up “distinction” in the dictionary, you will find it’s “a marking off or distinguishing as different: the recognizing or noting of differences.” I believe that every woman has their own qualities that makes them, well, uniquely distinct. To me, Women of Distinction can fight their own battles, and realize the glass is always half full. A woman with values and morals, and a woman with a strong will to succeed. Women of Distinction make a difference in their family, community, and all others they may meet.

A Woman of Distinction to me has compassion, diligence, sincerity, and loyalty. Most importantly I believe a Woman of Distinction keeps an open mind. The best way to communicate is to be susceptive to what others have to say. Women of Distinction not only make a difference, but gets others involved. Mark Train once said “Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.” Women of Distinction do good, even if no one is watching.

As I age I hope to find I am turning into a Woman of Distinction myself. Girl Scouts has been nothing less then a vast stepping stone in this journey. Starting out as a Daisy into Brownies I learned to listen to others and to show the type of respect I would like to get in return. Moving on to Cadetts and Juniors, I learned the value of handwork and dependability. As a Senior Scout, I would have to say I have learned the most. I became well diversified, and learned other life skill such as running a business, different trades in traveling, and the importance of helping out my community. Girl Scouts has taught me to get involved, which has led to my involvement in my school, church and my community. I can honestly say Girl Scouts has given me so much, but most importantly, a foundation to become one of these honored women myself.

With all of the obstacles facing women in this society, I have the up most respect for these distinct women. Everyone may have their own opinion on what Women of Distinction stand for, but no matter who you ask, Women of Distinction keep their head held high and never lose hope.

Click here to read Women of Distinction guest speaker Ariane de Bonvoisin’s notes from her speech.

Hi, my name is Melissa and I’m 14 years old. I’ve been in girl scouts for the past 9 years. I also have a skill in selling stuff, particularly cookies. I’ve been selling Girl Scout cookies since I was in Brownies. The first year I sold 845 boxes and felt like nothing could stop me except the next year when we stopped at 500 boxes. “Oh well” I said, “next year will be my year.” I finally reached “my year” in my second year of Juniors and sold 1250 boxes. That put me in the award ceremony for people who sold over 1000. I was so proud of myself that I decided to go for 1st. Guess what? I made it… 2 years in a row! I knew that wouldn’t be possible without my friends and family so I just had to thank them. We even got to take our troop to Savannah, GA and go on a cruise. I think other girls should sell because not only does it teach you life lessons like confidence, how to handle rejection, and pride but you also get to have loads of fun with your friends (and get lots of cookies too. Yum!)

Editor’s Note: Starting Feb. 26, visit our website to find a Girl Scout Cookie Booth near you!

The Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) has just released its latest study, “Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens and Tweens Today.” It’s a fascinating look at how young peoples’ beliefs and values on a range of issues from lying and cheating to drinking and smoking have changed over the last 20 years. The study is nearly identical to one Girl Scouts commissioned in 1989, and a comparison of the two shows a marked shift toward more ethical and responsible beliefs and values among teens and tweens.

Nearly two out of three young people (62 percent) surveyed in 2009, for example, say they would not cheat on a test compared to about half in 1989. Fifty-eight percent say they would refuse an alcoholic drink if offered one at a party. That’s compared to fewer than half (46 percent) in 1989. And only 18 percent say they believe smoking is acceptable if a person finds it enjoyable. In 1989, more than a quarter of those surveyed thought smoking was acceptable.

And teens today appear to be quite tolerant of others and more civic-minded. Compared to 20 years ago, youth today are more likely to say they intend to vote in the future (84 percent vs. 77 percent), as well as give to charity (76 percent vs. 63 percent). Some 79 percent say they will volunteer in their communities. Make sure you check out the full study or the summary, and be sure to share your thoughts with us. Does this study reflect the attitudes and behaviors or girls in your communities?

In my last blog message, I promised to update you on other actions taken at the September Board meeting. There will be an opportunity to discuss these items at the Area Association meetings which will be held the week of Oct. 26. The list of meeting dates and locations is in the October GS Express, which you can find in the News Room (Publications) section of the website if you don’t receive a copy via e-mail Oct. 1.

Making decisions about our properties continues to be a major focus for the board. The properties chair pulled together a sub-group called the “Office Relocation Task Group,” and they presented three recommendations to the board in September. Prior to making these recommendations, this group considered the responses to a member survey regarding the location of our Main Service Center, and utilized maps showing the population trends and accessibility of all of our office sites in our eight county jurisdiction. Of course, the operating budget was also looked at as we continue to work in an economically challenging time.

The board accepted all of the recommendations of this task force, which are:

1. Sell the Lakeland office
   a. We have begun conversations with an interested not-for-profit organization
   b. This office will remain open until it is sold
   c. Staff who work out of this office will have the ability to work from home as well as have space in Tampa
   d. We will be looking for potential “drop off” locations to assist volunteers
2. Close the Ocala office at the end of the lease period (Dec. 31, 2009) and move the functions from this site to the Visitor’s Center at Camp Wildwood
   a. This location is more centrally located for the four counties currently served out of the Ocala office
   b. Staff who work out of this office will have the ability to work from home as well as have space at Camp Wildwood
   c. We will be looking for potential “drop off” locations to assist volunteers
   d. The Girl Scout Store will be open for troop purchases during camping weekends at Camp Wildwood – a schedule of times will be make available to troops with their confirmations
3. Purchase a van to utilize as a Shop on the Road
   a. Once the Lakeland office is sold, the money for this will be available
   b. The Shop on the Road will have items from the Girl Scout Store, plus forms and Program On the Go totes
   c. The van will visit service unit meetings and events, and develop a schedule that will be posted on the website for the convenience of volunteers
4. Keep the main office in the Westshore area of Tampa
   a. This area is convenient to major highways and centrally located for the majority of our jurisdiction’s population
   b. We will have an energy audit done on this site to see if changes need to be made with the desire to be “green.”  Potential or needed renovations will be considered (if money is available) with the goal of staying in this building, but we will look at other sites in the Westshore area if it is necessary.
5. Approved the recommendation to allow SWFWMD to locate a monitor well on the Camp Wildwood property and received the news that the Sumter County BOCC approved the lake restoration project on that site. We expect that in about five years, the lake at Camp Wildwood will be restored to its original size (or close to it), providing a natural venue for water activities for girls and volunteers, as well as an improved natural habitat for the wildlife.

Finally, I made two announcements:

1. I have been appointed by the president of the Florida Senate to serve a four-year term on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women
2. I announced my retirement from my position as CEO of GSWCF effective Dec. 31, 2009.

While the decision to retire was a very difficult one for me to make, the impending changes to the Girl Scout Retirement Plan caused me to move forward with retirement at least one year before I had originally planned. I will be working with the board to assure a smooth transition of leadership. I will truly miss working with Girl Scouting but will ALWAYS be a Girl Scout. At the same time, I am thrilled to be appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women as it will allow me to continue to make a difference in the lives of girls and women.

The Board of Directors of GSWCF held its regularly scheduled meeting on 9/15/09 and continued to move forward strategically in setting the priorities and direction of our organization. At their Board training in August, the Board finalized the council vision statement:

To be the organization of choice that develops girls into empowered confident women who dream, do and lead.

Keeping this vision and our National Mission statement (Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place) in mind, the employed staff identified focus areas for 2010 and prepared measurable operating objectives for next year to move us towards achieving our vision and goals. The Board approved this strategic plan for 2010 at their meeting last night.

Six major focus areas have been identified for 2010 and each of these areas has specific objectives we will work to achieve. We will report our progress throughout the year to the Board. Here are the six focus areas:

1 – Focus on development of strong service teams to ensure greater support for volunteers, increased opportunities for girl placement and full implementation of the girl leadership experience.

2 – Develop and implement a strategic membership marketing plan for consistent council-wide adult recruitment, placement, recognition, personal growth opportunities and support for all volunteer positions.

3 – Ensure a stronger focus on outcomes for girls’ participation in all council sponsored, service unit developed and troop programs and create a better understanding of ‘pathways’ and the relevance of incorporating them into our ongoing work.

4 – Increase the financial support of the organization by developing strong partnerships, new opportunities for support and a renewed strategy and emphasis for volunteer and parent giving.

5 – Develop strong, sustainable relationships with corporate and community groups who value and support girl leadership development.

6 – Increase awareness of internal and external audiences of the four Girl Scout areas: Financial Literacy, Outdoor Education, Relevant Girl Issues, and Community Service, with a consistent focus on research, outcomes, the leadership experience model and the value of Girl Scouting.

A number of additional important strategies and Strategic Action Programs will also be part of the overall work of the council in 2010 as we work to be the experts in personal growth and leadership development for girls in west central Florida, to assure that ALL girls who want to be Girl Scouts have the opportunity, to assure the financial stability of the organization for growth and sustainability and to exceed the expectations of our volunteers, girls, parents and the community.

Next week I’ll share other items of interest from this Board meeting but please share your thoughts on our future focus with us.