The 2011 GSSWT Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Luncheon will be held Saturday, April 30 at the Norris Conference Center at 4522 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, 78201.

The board of directors voted to move the Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition to the last Saturday in April 2011 due to Mother's Day falling on the first weekend in May. 

Get all the details and the registration form here. 

USA Girl Scouts Overseas has served American military and civilian families in Japan for many years, and has extremely close ties with Girl Scouts of Japan. In fact, many of our overseas troops and Girl Scouts of Japan are sister troops.  We have received many calls from Girl Scouts around the country asking how to help and are happy to report that the policy that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations has been temporarily suspended.

To contribute to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts, you can make an online donation to the newly established Girl Scouts of Japan Relief Efforts. At times like these, Girl Scouts throughout the world come together in sisterhood to help those in need. We have seen our Movement rally in support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters over the years, and will continue to do everything we can to help our sister Girls Scouts of Japan in the weeks and months ahead.

Make checks payable to Girl Scouts of the USA:

Girl Scouts of the USA-Fund Development

P.O. Box 5046

New York, NY  10087-5046

Memo: Girl Scouts of Japan relief efforts

Origami Cranes 

Girls are also encouraged to send expressions of friendship to their sister Girl Scouts in Japan by making origami cranes (Sadako). For instructions, see YouTube videos. The Girl Scouts of Japan made and mailed thousands of these cranes to the United States as an expression of peace and friendship after the September 11th tragedy.

Mail cranes to:
USAGSO - West Pacific
HQ USARJ/9th TSC
Unit 45005
APO, AP 96343-5005

Operation Backpacks for Japan: Kids Helping Kids!

The Scouts of Camp Zama, Japan are organizing this operation to help provide comfort and a message of love to the kids of Japan who have recently lost everything. These comfort backpacks can contain anything from small games to tissues to non-perishable snacks, and more. See the complete details here.  

A Journey of 1,000,000,000 Pennies to Japan

Elisabeth, a Girl Scout Daisy, is learning lessons in charity, empathy and math. She has decided to start on a journey to try to collect one million pennies, by her birthday in April, to be donated to the Girl Scouts of Japan to aid in their relief efforts. Read more and learn how to donate your pennies here.

Toyota to Host 5K Run/Walk

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas is hosting a 5K run/walk for the entire community in an effort to help the families and communities in Japan. The run/walk will be held:

Saturday, March 26

Registration, 7:30 a.m. | 5K starts, 9:00 a.m.

Toyota Plant, 1 Lone Star Pass, San Antonio, 78264

Click here to register.

Donations will be accepted, and all proceeds will go to the American Red Cross relief efforts. A recommended donation is $20 for adults and $10 for children under 16. If you cannot participate but would like to give, please click here.