Dear Members, Volunteers and Staff:

 

On May 15, I celebrated my one year anniversary as CEO of this wonderful organization.  This past year has been one of change, growth, challenge, and inspiration.   In many ways, it is similar to what I experienced in my military career....and in many other ways, it is very different.  One thing is for certain - there is no place I would rather be right now, pursuing such an important mission such as building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place!

 

Last month, we held our "Paint the Town Green" event at the Ventura County Community Foundation.  Some of you were able to attend, and if so, I am sure you had a great time.  This community outreach event was an overall success, and I am sure all the attendees were inspired hearing Raquel Ortega talk about her Gold Award Project "Can't Spell Heart without the Art."  Raquel is but one of our 28 Gold Award recipients this year, all young women who are making a positive difference in their communities.    

 

GSCCC membership continues to be experiencing strong growth - we are 4.3% ahead of last year at this time in Girl Membership.  However, Adult Membership is down slightly.  In order to bring Girl Scouting to as many girls as possible, we need adult volunteers to deliver the program.  I have met many of our volunteers, and you show a passion about Girl Scouts that is unprecedented.  You are our best marketing tool to describe the rewards and personal satisfaction of doing what you do, and seeing the positive results in the young girls in our programs.  Please encourage your friends and relatives to help us make a positive difference in the life of a girl by volunteering with us!

 

We have exciting news to share regarding the Cookie Sale in 2015.  It has been confirmed there will be a "digital cookie" option for our Cookie Bosses!  Girls will be able to take orders via an App on their smartphone and with a link that can be mailed out or placed on Facebook, and have cookies delivered directly to the customer by mail.  Orders by those grandparents on the East Coast will be possible!  You can expect to hear more about this in the coming months from Desiree, but we are all thrilled about this exciting news - Girl Scout councils have been requesting such an option for years, and we are glad to see it come to fruition.

 

Summer camp season begins this month, and our Service Units really do have some excellent summer camps scheduled - a listing is included in this newsletter.  Did you know that, according to a new report from the Girl Scout Research Institute "More than S'Mores:  Successes and Surprises in Girl Scouts' Outdoor Experiences," monthly exposure, high adventure, and repeat camp attendance are key drivers of girls' leadership development and satisfaction?  Outdoor experience also has a positive impact on a girl's self-esteem.  Also, when Girl Scouts are compared to girls at large, Girl Scouts report a higher environmental stewardship that girls at large!  Camp is not just fun and games (although it is that, too); camp provides positive leadership experiences for Girl Scouts.

 

GSCCC continues to rack up the recognition from GSUSA - last month, our council received an award for largest percentage increase in Retail Sales this past year!  Retail Sales Manager, Rebecca Jones, was presented a trophy from Anna Maria Chavez while attending the Retail Sales Conference at the Edith Macy Center in New York!  While we appreciate all the hard work that Rebecca and Christina do in our Retail Sales department, you have earned this award as well - it is your purchases and support of our retail shops that have made this happen!  Thanks to all of you!

 

Finally, I would like to say once more "THANK YOU!" to all of our volunteers for your dedication to the Girl Scout Mission.  Last month was Volunteer Appreciation Month, but every month is volunteer appreciation month in this council!  You are doing the heavy lifting to deliver Program to girl members, and the entire staff at GSCCC appreciates all that you do!

  

Sincerely,

 

Gina Jaeger

Chief Executive Officer

 

Our Website External Affairs News Shop Information

Membership Volunteers Programs

 

 

• June 6, 2014, San Luis Obispo
• June 8, 2014, Arnaz Program Center  

   

Pre-Order/No Shipping Charges:  Here is an opportunity for volunteers to place orders which will be delivered to Service Unit Managers at the SUM Forum event on August 3.  Shipping and handling charges will be waived as Service Unit Managers will distribute the orders to Troop Leaders and/or Volunteers after the event.  

 

All orders must be PRE-PAID and sent to Rebecca Jones (rjones@girlscoutsccc.org) no later than June 29, 2014. Please click here for an order form.  Item numbers and description can be found by clicking here for the council online shop.

 

New Returns and Exchange Policy effective July 1, 2014:

• Returns must occur within 60 days of purchase
• No returns or exchanges without a receipt
• Returns over $100.00 will be subject to a 10% restocking fee.

 

In this salsa-twist on the hit TV show, local "stars" are paired up with the region's best salsa instructors to dance for charity! They have nine weeks of rehearsals to prepare for the showdown at the Oxnard Salsa Festival on July 26-27.

 

In addition to competing in front of a panel of judges at the Festival, the stars and their partners are dancing for local charities. The public can "vote" by making donations in support of their favorite dancers and causes.

 

GSCCC will participate, with Tammie Helmuth - Board Chair, as our Dancing Champion.  More information to follow, we will keep you posted on her progress and hope you will join us in supporting her to reach her goal of raising $15,000 to benefit girls in our council.