The GSSA Weekly from Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama

September 1, 2016 
                           See what our Girl Scouts are doing:       

 


Welcome to GSSA Weekly, the council's e-newsletter. 
 
At right, Prattville Troop 9427 collected items for our Sister to Sister drive to help Louisiana flood victims.

Thank you, Girl Scouts, for living the promise to "Help People at All Times."

We are so proud of all our Girl Scouts who are collecting items to help their sister Girl Scouts.  There's still time to drop off collected items!  

Click here to learn how you or your Troop can help by donating items.

Want to see your Girl Scouts featured in GSSA Weekly?  E-mail your photo with event information to communications@girlscoutssa.org.
  
Follow Your Passion: Press Rep Allyson Interviews Ambassador Deja

Press Rep Allyson had the opportunity to interview Girl Scout Ambassador Deja Chappell. Deja is a Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) graduate who will be attending Yale in 2017. She was selected to participate in the 2016 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). The USSYP has a very competitive application process. Only two students from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity are selected to attend what is known as "Washington Week." The selectees were also awarded a $10,000 scholarship.
Deja began Girl Scout in first grade as a Daisy and remained until she graduated high school. Although, she didn't earn awards she made memories that will last a lifetime. Deja's favorite memory was learning to sail at Kamp Kiwanis. She enjoyed going to Kamp Kiwanis every summer as a Girl Scout so much so, that she became a camp counselor. 
Read more on our Girl Blog
Quick Links
Recruitment Events in September
 
Please tell friends who might be interested in Girl Scouts for their daughters!

 Informational Events for Parents and Girls:    

Thursday, September 1: Mobile County
Thursday, September 1:  Prattville/Millbrook
Thursday, September 1:  Enterprise/Coffee County
Tuesday, September 6: Baldwin County
Thursday, September 8: Wetumpka
Thursday, September 8: Andalusia/Covington County
Saturday, September 10: Troy/Pike County
Tuesday, September 13: Mobile County
Thursday, September 15: Baldwin County
Thursday, September 15: Mobile County



There's more!  For all September events, see the calendar on our Join Girl Scouts page.

Bright Ideas for New and Returning Leaders
 
One New Permission Form for the Whole Year!  

We've developed a new Annual Permission Form that replaces the Single Event Permission Form, the Multi-Event Permission Form, and the Hold Harmless Agreement.  This form is filled out only once each year, and covers all programs and events attended by Girl Scouts and Adult Members.


Parents/Guardians will fill out the form for their Girl Scout (and themselves, if registered), and give the form(s) to you, the Troop Leader, for you to keep in your records.  Please email us a copy of the pdf form to GSSAVolunteer@girlscoutssa.org.

ChemScouts - a Fun STEM Day for Brownies and Juniors

Our popular ChemScouts program is back on Sept. 17!

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama is collaborating with USA's Chemistry Department to present "ChemScouts." The day will include some popular past experiments, such as making ice cream and investigating a "crime scene" in a "forensic lab," as well as some fun new experiments. Girls will see mind-blowing demonstrations by chemistry students and professors.


"Explore Something Different" with Fall Product!

Come "explore something different" with the 2016 Fall Product Sales. 

While the troop leaders are in the adult training (at the same location), girls will participate in fall product-themed games and crafts. We will have a taste test table, a magazine table, games, crafts and a fun photo wall where the girls can pose with our new mascot, the Koala! 

This is a great way for the girls to familiarize themselves with the products they will be selling this fall! The cost includes lunch, a rally patch, and activities.

Mobile (ALL) - 9/10                             Montgomery (ALL) - 9/11

For the Sake of Our Girls

Have you taken time to study the most recent statistics about girls in our state?  I hadn't, either, until recently, and I was appalled.  I share the following with you not to be depressing or inflammatory, but to remind us all of the importance of Girl Scouting in the lives of those to serve. We have the power to change these stats and make the world a better place for our girls. It's simply what we do.
The Girl Scout Research Institute's "State of the Girl" report details the harsh realities of life for many girls in Alabama. Girls in Alabama ranked 30th in terms of overall well-being. Girls ranked 21st in terms of emotional health, 33rd in physical health and safety, 34th in economic well-being, and 42nd in education. The report also notes that roughly 26 percent of school age girls in the state are currently living in poverty and around 8 percent of girls, ages 6 to 17, have experienced some form of neighborhood violence. Clearly, these numbers leave much room for improvement.
Continue reading on our Virtual Volunteer Blog.  

New Programs & Updates

 Both Service Centers and Shops will be closed on Monday, Sept.5, for Labor Day.
 Both Service Center Shops and the online shop will be closed Sept 29-30 for inventory.

 Canoe Certifications: Kamp Kiwanis 10/1 or Camp Scoutshire Woods 10/8

 Zip Line Certifications: Kamp Kiwanis 10/1 or Camp Scoutshire Woods 10/8
 Updated with Badge options: Kappa Delta Badge Day at USA (ALL) 10/15

 Updated location: Cookie Training in the Wiregrass (Troop/SU Cookie Chairs) 10/22

 Save the Date: Annual Meeting - Auburn 4/1

Upcoming Deadlines 

Event
Location
Date
Deadline
 webinar
9/1
RSVP
 Mobile
9/10
9/2
 Montgomery
9/11
9/2
FA/CPR/AED Certification (Volunteers)  
 Montgomery
9/8
online study
ChemScouts (B J)
 Mobile
9/17
9/8
 Kamp Kiwanis
9/17
9/9
 Kamp Kiwanis
10/1
9/16
FA/CPR/AED Certification (Volunteers)  
 Montgomery
9/22
online study
 Kamp Kiwanis
9/30-10/2
9/23
 Scoutshire Woods
10/8-9
9/23
 
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.