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Girl Scouts of
Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.
4780 Cattlemen Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
941-921-5358
800-232-4475
www.gsgcf.org
We Wish to Thank Our Following Community Partners:
Partner Agency
Click on the photos below to join us for the WEDU Exclusive Preview of Troop 1500, presented on December 8th and Girls Protecting Girls on February 18th.
Click on the photo below for information on our various girl and adult learning opportunites.
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 Issue: # 16 | December/2011 | |
Dear Girl Scout Families and Friends,
Welcome to Cybernews - the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida's online newsletter keeping you informed of all the great things being done by and for Girl Scouts.
Go Green! Please share this newsletter as a great resource for other volunteers, parents and families to get involved this year. We will be updating our website frequently, along with the girl program book and adult learning calendars. If you would like to receive this newsletter, click the Join Our List button on the left. Don't forget to stay in touch via social media - fan or like us at  . |
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CEO Corner
From The CEO:
Girl Scouts of the USA celebrated 100 years of history and welcomed our new chief executive officer, Anna Maria Chavez, at its National Council Session/52nd Convention in Houston from November 10-13.
The historic convention, titled Renewing the Promise: Girl Scouts in a New Century, drew 15,000 girl and adult members, as well as noted celebrities, such as ABC News journalist Katie Couric; Soledad O'Brien, host of CNN's In America; Robin Roberts, co-anchor of Good Morning America; three-time Grammy-nominated recording artist Sarah Bareilles; Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker; actress and philanthropist Marlee Matlin; gospel singer Yolanda Adams; and actress Monique Coleman, who starred in the High School Musical films. We had a video presentation from First Lady Michelle Obama and Maya Angelou.
A real treat was an inspirational presentation from former National Executive Director Frances Hesselbein, who shared her leadership model and her personal "defining moment." We met Anna and the newly elected National Board Members, along with girls and adults from around the world. Another highlight was seeing and hearing the accomplishments of the National Young Women of Distinction, a select group of ten Gold Award recipients.
I enjoyed seeing old friends and "family," including our reps from Little Brownie Bakers and Ashdon Farms. Best of all was experiencing the celebrations through the eyes of our own GSGCF Girl Scouts. Together, girls and adults laughed, talked and shared ideas and dreams to improve the Girl Scout experience for everyone in our council.
The conference, for me, was a re-igniting of the passion I have for improving the lives of all girls. We have this very historic and celebratory year to share our message and our values, to insure that we deliver on our promise that all girls have access to the best personal leadership development experience in the world- GIRL SCOUTS!
Please check out our Facebook page to see more pictures of the convention.
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Delegation included:
7 National Delegates (voting members elected by GSGCF membership):
Sue Stewart, CEO
Linda Getzen, North Central Region, President (Board)
Mary Disher, Central Region, Member at Large (Board)
Christine Yekel, Northern Region, Second VP (Board)
Lisa Radno, Southern Region, Service Unit Leader, Troop Leader
Emma Downey, Girl Scout Ambassador, Sarasota
Claudia Ponzio, Girl Scout Ambassador, Cape Coral
Kim Ponzio, Alternate, South Central Region, Service Unit Leader, Troop Leader
3 Girls and 2 Chaperones participating in the Girl Scout Leadership Institute:
Stephanie Alcime, Girl Scout Ambassador, Immokalee
Gillian Palino, Girl Scout Senior, Bradenton
Gellemanie Rouzard, Girl Scout Ambassador, Immokalee
Julia Onnie-Hay, Pathway Manager
Barbara Van Essen, Membership Specialist
Visitors and Attendees at the History and Archives Conference:
Florence Stephens, Girl Scout Volunteer, Venice
Megan Pierce, Girl Scout Volunteer, Venice
Suzanne Pardo, Girl Scout Volunteer, Sarasota
Marsha Alleman, Girl Scout Volunteer, Naples
Daralene Jones, Girl Scout Volunteer, Fort Myers
& daughter Denise Valentine, Girl Scout Volunteer-Buffalo
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
Regards,
Sue
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Gold Project Request!
Dear Delegates at Action Rally,
I am working on my Gold Award. I am an Ambassador Girl Scout and a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School in Manatee County.
At the December 3 Action Rally - please plan to bring new chapter books for donation to the soon to be renovated Old Schoolhouse which will become the new Myakka City Library. The closest public library is over 45 minutes away.
I love writing and history. Presently I am completing a color book history of Myakka City, Florida for give away to the Myakka Community Center after-school children ages K-2.
I have collected a borrowing library for the community center thanks to very generous donations from Manatee 4 Service Unit leaders in East Manatee County.
Possibly a region could join together to donate a series: Harry Potter, Twilight, Magic Tree House, Goosebumps, Geronimo Stilton, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, 39 clues, Kane Chronicles, How to Train your Dragon, Ramona & Beezus, etc.
I will be there Saturday morning, December 3 to pick them up from 9 - 10 am.
Thank you for your help
Kristin Kayser
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WEDU Preview of Troop 1500
Click here or on the photo above for more information or to RSVP. Light refreshments will be served.
Special thanks to Phyllis Siskel, her generosity made this presentation possible. |
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ARTopia
Seniors & Ambassadors in Manatee County:
ARTopia! Create Your Own Art World Retreat, Now Accepting Applications
Teen Girl Scouts in Manatee County...imagine a world created by YOU!
Art is all around us in the world. Our everyday life is full of images and objects created by artists. If art is something you are passionate about, plan to join us for the ARTopia! Retreat on January 28th - 29th 2012 at Camp Honi Hanta in Bradenton for a weekend designed to help you find out what is possible in your world.
Come try your hand at set design for a major amusement park, T-shirt design for a store retailer, character design for a figurine company, and book illustration for a children's b story. From 9 AM on Saturday the 28th until 5pm on Sunday the 29th, girls will participate in a variety of interactive workshops and enjoy a few activities from the Girltopia Journey. The
program will take place at the popular Manatee House on the river.
There is no charge for this event. It is sponsored by Brighthouse Networks. However, there are only 20 slots for this program so we will be selecting candidates based on artwork and answers on the ARTopia Application. If you are interested in applying to be part of this extraordinary program, find the application online by clicking here.
Fill out the application and submit it with photos of two pieces of your best artwork by Thursday, December 15, 2011.
What does your ARTopia look like? Apply today!
Questions and applications should be directed to:
Julia Onnie-Hay Manager of Pathways
4780 Cattlemen Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
juliao@gsgcf.org
Girl Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities
Click on the photo below to view or download the listing of the current Girl Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities.
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Against Human Trafficking!
Human trafficking is now considered the 2nd largest and fastest growing crime in the world and impacts more than 2 million girls ages 5 - 15.
Plan to join us on February 18 for this empowering event, free of charge, as we raise community awareness of domestic human trafficking.
Presentations by local law enforcement and survivor-led workshops for both girls and adults including:
- Local Impact and Statistics
- Physical Self-Defense
- Empowerment
- Recognizing the Signs of Trafficking
Seating is limited and pre-registration is necessary. Please click here for more information or to register/RSVP.
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You GO Girls! Travel Pathway Trips Interest Meetings & MORE!
Below is the schedule of Travel Pathways Trips offered by GSGCF for 2012-2015 along with staff contacts. These trips are open to girls participating in any of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience Pathways (Troop, Series, Events, Camp, Virtual, and Travel). Girls who are not currently registered as Girl Scouts may become registered Girl Scouts within our council and join the movement through participating in the Travel Pathway. All the Travel Pathway trips listed below are being widely marketed to our current Girl Scout membership as well as potential Girl Scouts in our ten counties.
For all girls and their adults who are interested in learning more about these trips, you are invited to attend one of our GSGCF Travel Pathway Trip Interest Meetings. There will be one held at the Gulfcoast Event & Conference Center in Sarasota on Saturday, January 7th and one held at the Fort Myers Service Center on Saturday, January 14th. Both meetings will be from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM . These meetings are open to Brownies - Ambassadors, adult volunteers, and parents/guardians.
We are very pleased to announce that in celebration of the Girl Scouts movement celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2012, we will be offering two Signature 100th Anniversary Trips. One trip will be to Washington, D.C. for the Rock the Mall sing-a-long event in early June and is open to Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors. The other trip will be to Chicago for the Girls' World Forum (WAGGGS conference) in Chicago in mid-July and is open to Seniors and Ambassadors with special interest in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (such as ending poverty and hunger; promoting gender equality and empowering women; and achieving environmental sustainability). More information about these very special trips will be shared at the GSGCF Travel Pathway Interest Trip Meetings.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the trips but can't attend a January meeting, feel free to contact the staff chaperones coordinating each of the trips. If you are a girl who is ready to apply to go on a trip, the Girl Application Form for Travel Pathway Trips can be found online at: www.gsgcf.org. Simply fill it out and submit it to the staff contact for the trip you are applying for.
We are recruiting for a staff and an adult volunteer chaperone for the 2014 Cadette Trip to New England. This trip will take place during the winter so the chaperones can look forward to opening Florida girls' eyes to the wintery wonders of the snowy north! Any lovers of skiing, ice-skating, snow angels and hot cocoa are encouraged to apply ASAP. Travel Pathway chaperones go on the trip free-of- charge. t. The GSGCF Travel Pathway Volunteer Application can also be found online at: www.gsgcf.org. For questions about this opportunity, please contact Julia Onnie-Hay, Manager of Pathways, at: juliao@gsgcf.org or (941) 921-5358 ext. 316
GSGCF TRAVEL PATHWAY TRIPS SCHEDULE & STAFF CONTACTS:
SIGNATURE 100th ANNIVERSARY TRIP
2012 JUNIOR/CADETTE/SENIOR/AMBASSADOR Trip
to Washington, D.C. for the Rock The Mall Celebration tentatively June 7th thru 12th -
Barbara Van Essen (Membership Specialist)
barbarav@gsgcf.org or (239) 561-1800 ext. 404
SIGNATURE 100th ANNIVERSARY TRIP
2012 SENIOR/AMBASSADOR Trip
to Chicago for the Girls' World Forum tentatively July 12th thru16th -
Julia Onnie-Hay (Manager of Pathways)
juliao@gsgcf.org or (941) 921-5358 est. 316
2012 JUNIOR Trip to Miami and the Florida Keys -
Ann-Marie Mathews (Pathway Specialist)
annmariem@gsgcf.org or (941) 921-5358 ext. 318
2012 CADETTE trip to New York City -
Barbara Van Essen (Membership Specialist)
barbarav@gsgcf.org or (239) 561-1800 ext. 404
2013 CADETTE Trip to Puerto Rico -
Yvonne Bras (Director of Membership)
yvonneb@gsgcf.org or (941) 921-5358 ext. 312
2014 CADETTE TRIP to New England ( winter ) -
YOU!?!?!?!? T.B.A.
2012 SENIOR/AMBASSADOR trip to Costa Rica -
Julia Onnie-Hay (Manager of Pathways)
juliao@gsgcf.org or (941) 921-5358 ext. 316
2013 SENIOR/AMBASSADOR trip to Southwest Europe (Cruise)-
Amanda Jacob (Director of Volunteer Services)
amanadaj@gsgcf.org or (239) 561-1800 ext. 406
2014 SENIOR/AMBASSADOR trip to Hawaii -
Julia Onnie-Hay (Manager of Pathways)
juliao@gsgcf.org or (941) 921-5358 ext. 316
2015 SENIOR/AMBASSADOR trip to Australia/New Zealand -
Roberta Rodgers (Membership Specialist)
or (941) 921-5358 ext. 318
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Product Sales
Thank you for an Outstanding 2011 Fall Product Sale!
Thank you to all of the girls, volunteers, parents, and customers who helped support GSGCF during the 2011 Fall Product Sale. Thanks for all your support and hard work, we are pleased to report that 2011 was our best ever Fall Product Sale. What a great way to kick off our 100th year of Girl Scouting!
An especially big kudos goes out to the following Service Units who experienced at least a 5% increase over 2010's Fall Product Sale totals.
- Charlotte 12
- Collier 11
- Lee 12
- Sarasota 15
- Sarasota 12
- DeSoto
- Sarasota 11
- Lee 11
- Charlotte 11
- Collier 12
- Hardee
 Cookies Are Coming Soon! Girl Scout Cookie season is right around the corner and will be here before you know it! 2012 is the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting, and is sure to be our best Cookie season ever! We'll be kicking off the 2012 Cookie Season on January 6, 2012 when girls begin taking pre-orders. Cookies arrive and direct sales begin on February 11, 2012. Here are a few things you can do now to get ready for an amazing Cookie Season. - Attend the Winter Region Meeting in your area for a full training on what's new and exciting for the 2012 Girl Scout Cookie Program. (Remember, the Cookie training offered at the Region Meeting is mandatory for first time Troop Cookie Managers, but lots of fun for everyone!)
- Start working with your group to decide on a group goal. Think about a "fun and learning" goal along with a goal to help others.
- Check out www.littlebrownie.com for tons of fun activities and resources, including the VIP e-Training website.
- Start reminding repeat customers that Cookie Season is coming soon.
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The Year of The Girl - Winter Region Meetings
Don't miss out on the GSGCF Winter Region Meetings, which will focus on the Girl Scout Cookie Program and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The training offered at the Region meeting is mandatory for all first-time Troop Cookie Managers, but all Girl Scout volunteers are invited to attend. This is the perfect opportunity for Troop Leaders, helping parents, and even girls to learn what's new with the Cookie Program and get excited to kickoff our best ever Girl Scout Cookie sale!
Volunteers who support the delivery of the GSLE (Girl Scout Leadership Experience) have the opportunity to come together throughout the year at their local meetings to network with volunteers and staff, as well as, receive training on the latest happenings locally and nationally with Girl Scouts. GSGCF's winter round of meetings are listed below. Please be sure to mark your calendar and attend join us at the meeting most convenient for you. Feel free to contact Amanda Jacob, Director of Volunteer Management with questions at amandaj@gsgcf.org.
All meetings begin at 6:30 pm with a meet and mingle with staff and volunteers from 6:00 pm- 6:30 pm.
Remaining Scheduled Meetings are:
Northern Region Tuesday, 12/13/2011 First Presbyterian Church,
1402 Manatee Avenue, W.
Bradenton, 34205
Eastern Region Monday, 12/5/2011 South Florida Comm. College
600 West College Drive,
Avon Park, 33825
Central Region Tuesday, 12/6/2011 Pt. Charlotte
United Methodist Church
21075 Quesada Ave
Pt. Charlotte 33952
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Scholarship
Dr. Elinor Crawford College Scholarship Fund Applications due March 1, 2012
Since 1989, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. Board of Directors has awarded college scholarships to 124-high school senior Girl Scouts. The guidelines providing eligibility criteria for the 2012 award year and the application for the Dr. Elinor Crawford College Scholarship Fund of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. are now available on the council website - GSGCF Updates tab. The completed application, including required attachments and letters of recommendation, must be received at the council headquarters in Sarasota by March 1, 2012. The scholarship recipients will be recognized for their achievements and presented with the scholarship award at the Girl Recognition Ceremony on May 20, 2012. Notification letters will be mailed to applicants by April 1, 2012. Please contact Marie Graziosi by email marieg@gsgcf.org or 941.921.5358 ext. 338 or 800.232.4475 for assistance.
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All programs sponsored by the council have specific program outcomes so you can be sure that your Girl Scout gets the full Girl Scout Leadership Experience every time she participates. Because no girl is the same, customizing the Girl Scout experience and letting the girl choose how she participates in Girl Scouts gives her control over her Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Each program and activity she participates in will encourage her and help her gain confidence in her skills and ability to be the girl she wants to be. Girl Scouting builds girls of Courage, Confidence and Character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves over 10,500 girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.
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