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Chat with the CEO!
Tracy Keller, CEO
It was
wonderful to gather with fellow
Girl Scouts at the April Annual
Council Meeting and celebrate
another successful year. We
celebrated the journey we
continue to be on as we are
transforming Girl Scouting
nationwide. We are refocusing on
leadership – the foundation of
the Movement which turned 96
this year. The Girl Scout
Leadership Experience defines us
as a unique organization for the
development of girls. It
embraces a program that is “by
girls, for girls.”
What do
girls want today? They tell us
there should be no limits in
Girl Scouting. They tell us they
want a place where they can just
be girls – have fun, make
friends, and feel safe. They
want to discover who they are,
connect with others in
meaningful ways and be empowered
to take action on issues that
matter to them.
We are
listening to them and are giving
them opportunities they can only
find in Girl Scouts. We also
know that gender gaps continue
to exist for girls in the areas
of science, technology,
engineering and math. We are
taking action by working with
community partners and offering
girls our cutting edge program
in venues that create
opportunities. Nearly 3,000
girls attended TechnoGirl at the
Virginia Air and Space Center in
January and the Jamestown
Jamboree, an event celebrating
the 400th anniversary, drew a
similar attendance. Girls came
to find out about yesterday’s
explorers and how they could
become they explores of the
future. These are just two
examples of how Girl Scouting
brings math, science and
technology alive to girls in
ways that create interest beyond
the classroom and excites them
to investigate these fields as
possible careers.
Our outdoor
programs are helping girls gain
an appreciation for the
environment and the importance
of conservation. This year a
Letterbox patch program was
introduced to encourage more
girls to explore the Outback at
A Place for Girls – a designated
Lou Henry Hoover Nature area.
The patch allows girls to use
their imagination as they become
treasure hunters in the
wetlands, hunting for clues.
Learning about ecosystems has
never been more fun. Girls can
experience this and much more
when they attend a summer camp
session this upcoming camp
season, which is just around the
corner. Registration is already
open and sessions are filling up
with registrations.
With your
help, Girl Scouting can offer
these types of opportunities.
The Girl Scout Council of
Colonial Coast is committed to
making a difference in the lives
of girls and mobilizing
volunteers to help with this
process. With your support, and
the support of others you bring
into Girl Scouting, we can send
a concise and strong message
about our Girl Scout Leadership
Experience. More than ever, a
leadership program of this
magnitude is vital for girls to
thrive. But without committed
adults who give encouraging
words, model positive behavior
and give total acceptance of
what girls need and want, the
leadership experience might not
be a reality. We all know that
it takes a great leader – caring
adults - to teach a girl not
to follow. This is more
important than ever as girls are
faced with making difficult
decisions that can change the
course of their lives.
No matter
what your background or the
amount of time you have to give,
there is no reason to stand on
the “sidelines.” Get involved.
If you are not already a
volunteer, connect your talents
and interest with the Girl Scout
Council of Colonial Coast.
Sincerely,
Tracy Keller, GSCCC CEO
United We Stand
Written by Girl Scout Jasmine, Age
13
I gone this far
To see you live,
Keep courage in your heart with
lessons learned
Days pass growing confidence within
Loving each other, United We Stand
How do we love in a world so cruel?
Together as a family, loving and
caring for everything we touch
Alone,
Love is there, just hidden
underneath
United We Stand
As we grow old, our character
changes
In the beginning we are separate
Seeing the world through tinted
windows
With courage and confidence, we
learn to see
Together we trust, United We Stand,
We are the Girl Scouts
Every Girl
Written by Girl Scout Peyton, Age 13
Every girl has the power to make a
change.
Every girl has the wisdom to
forgive,
and the will to stand up for what she believes in.
Every girl has an opportunity to
stay strong,
even when others around her are not.
Every girl has a voice;
it is about having the confidence to let it be heard.
Every girl has her own dreams;
it is about having the ambition to keep going, even if
she falls.
Every girl has a life;
it is about having the courage to take risks for the
better.
the brave may not live forever,
but the cautious and sheltered do not live at all.
Every girl makes mistakes;
it is about leaning from them and living with no
regrets.
Every girl should know in her heart
that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass,
it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
Moving Girl Scouts from Good to Great
Program Model Endorsement
The National Board endorses a Girl Scout Leadership Experience whose purpose is to build leadership skills by engaging girls in activity cycles based on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law and the vision expressed in the Girl Scout mission statement: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. This action will be effective October 1, 2008, and supersedes and rescinds all previous National Board action on the Girl Scout Program Model - 4 program goals.
Amendment of Membership Standards
Whereas, to meet the needs of girls, it is necessary to differentiate groups by grade level, thereby requiring a realignment of membership age groups and the addition of a new identifying name: and whereas, to strengthen the Girl Scout brand, the worlds “Girl Scout: will be included and emphasized at the beginning of each identifying name. The following membership age groups and identifying names will be effective October 1, 2008:
Grades Names
K-1 Girl Scout Daisy
2-3 Girl Scout Brownie
4-5 Girl Scout Junior
6-8 Girl Scout Cadette
9-10 Girl Scout Senior
11-12 Girl Scout Ambassador
This action supersedes and rescinds all previous National Board action on membership standards.
Girl Scout Uniform
Whereas, it is necessary to update Girl Scout uniform requirements, the Girl Scout uniform shall be such that the following elements are required:
Girl Scouts at each level will have one official uniform item ( e.g. tunic, vest, sash) for the display of official pins and awards. This uniform item will be required when girls participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement.
The official dress code will unite girls as Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts will wear solid white shirts and khaki pants or skirts with their official uniform item, which will be required when they participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement.
The adult uniforms will be a scarf worn with the membership pins for women and a tie for men. The scarf/tie and membership pins will be worn with navy blue business attire.
The following elements are available:
Girl Scouts at the Daisy and Brownie levels will continue to have a full uniform ensemble available.
Girl Scouts in high school will also have a scarf, uniting them in the WAGGGS tradition.
Girl Scouts of the USA will continue to develop and offer a range of appealing casual wear for girls and adults.
This action will be effective October 1, 2008, and supersedes and rescinds all previous National Board action taken on Girl Scout uniforms.
Council Realignment - List of Girl Scout Councils - August 28, 2006
Kentucky/Tennesse/West Virginia/North Carolina Map - August 2006
Send me an email.
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