The GSSA Weekly from Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama

July 21, 2016 
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Welcome to GSSA Weekly, the council's e-newsletter. 
 
At right, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts of Troop 7230 planned a trip to New York City; Girl Scouts from Troop 8605 came on the trip, as well. While making new friends, the girls visited GSUSA headquarters, completed a Broadway workshop on Stage Combat, attended a Broadway show, visited iconic New York City sites, and shopped on 5th Avenue!

Click here or on the photo to see a larger view.

Want to see your Girl Scouts featured in GSSA Weekly?  
E-mail the photo with event information to communications@girlscoutssa.org.
  
How Do You S'MORE?

How do you S'MORE? 

National S'mores Day is August 10, and we have a fun contest for you!  

Would you like to win a S'mores Party for your troop?  Just send us a photo of you, your Girl Scout, or your troop creating or eating s'mores!

The last day to enter the contest is Friday, August 5, and we will announce the winner on National S'mores Day, August 10.

Send your photo to communications@girlscoutssa.org and show us how you s'more!
Quick Links
Have Fun Earning Your Thin Mint Sprint Patch!

There are so many ways to earn a patch for the 2016 Thin Mint Sprint! 

You can engage as a participant or volunteer, or accumulate walk/run mileage before the race to earn the 5K or the Marathon patch. 


Press Rep Applications Open for 2016-17 Girl Scout Year!

Are you or your Girl Scout an outgoing person who would like to inform others about why Girl Scouting is important to you? Then submit your application to be a Girl Scout Press Rep! 

Girl Scout Press Reps can be girls or adults, who enjoy public speaking or writing and would like to represent the council. Press Rep activities vary.  They may include writing articles, public speaking and more. 

Press reps will be required to write at least three articles during the year about Girl Scout activities for possible publication. 
Click here  to see posts that Press Reps have written for our Girl Blog.


Older Girls Gain Skills, Confidence at Sail Away Camp

I was fortunate to have an opportunity to be up at Sail Away camp last week.   This camp is a specialty camp that is focused on sailing all week long.   Because it requires higher-level skills, such as swimming and good strength, it is intentionally a camp for older girls.   It isn't often that I get to observe our older girls in action.    But this was an especially gratifying experience.
When you sail you don't move to your destination in a straight line, you tack, which is back and forth, zigzagging, rather than directly.   You have to rely on the wind, or lack of wind to move you to your destination, so arrival is not necessarily in your hands solely.   You also have to work to get to your destination; sailing is an active sport, not passive.   You are always looking for the wind and determining your next move in relation to the shifts in the wind.
What I observed was a group of girls who were highly skilled.   There were a few younger ones, working with the Sunfish, which has only one sail, so in some ways it is harder to deal with.   They were doing a great job working their way along the edge of the cove to move out into the more intense wind of the length of the lake.
Continue reading on our Virtual Volunteer Blog. 

New Programs & Updates
  
Both Service Centers and the online shop will be closed on Wednesday, July 27, for a staff picnic.





 Save the Date: Kappa Delta Girl Confidence Workshop 11/6
   
Upcoming Deadlines 

Event
Location
Date
Deadline
FA/CPR/AED Certification (Volunteers)  
 Montgomery
7/28
online study
  
8/1
 
 webinar
8/4
RSVP
FA/CPR/AED Certification (Volunteers)  
 Montgomery
8/11
online study
 Mobile
8/20
8/13 
 Mobile
8/20
8/13 early registration
FA/CPR/AED Certification (Volunteers)  
 Montgomery
8/25
online study
Program Credits earned during 2105 Cookie Sale expire on August 30  
  
 
8/30
 
Other Opportunities
Because we want our girls to have many learning (and fun!) opportunities, we offer this additional calendar for programs that are not presented by our council. Some of these programs are presented by our volunteer Troops and Service Units, others are put on by groups in the communities we serve. Calendar listings do not imply endorsement by the council.  This calendar is available on our Events & Programs page 
Please contact the volunteer listed in the program for more information and program status. 
Thin Mint Sprint is ON! Join Us August 20 in Mobile
Join us for a fun Saturday morning on the USA Campus in Mobile.  The Thin Mint Sprint 5K Run/Walk, Fun Run and Health Expo has something for everyone!  Plus FREE Thin Mint Cookies! Register today!