Teaching Girls about Using Computers in Everyday Life

(forwarded from blog.girlscouts.org)


In Raleigh, NC, My North Carolina is reporting that Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines recently partnered with the IBM Women in Technology Group to teach Girl Scout Cadettes how exciting computers and technology can be. The workshop, entitled "Computers in Everyday Life," was held on the IBM campus in Research Triangle Park and helped the Cadettes earn the Computers in Everyday Life Interest project award.


Through the workshop, 53 Girl Scouts participated in activities that utilized technology to make tasks easier on a daily basis. Activities during the day included: designing a website, getting "up close and personal" with personal computers, and creating a newsletter. New this year was a career fair, allowing the girls to investigate computer-related careers as well as occupations that are possible while working from home with a computer. Of the event and of IBM as well, Coastal Pine's Chief Executive Officer Rusine Mitchell Sinclair states:

"The event held at IBM was an outstanding way for girls to gain practical life
skills, engage in team-work, and learn how to become problem solvers... We are
so thankful to IBM for the resources that they have provided, and especially to
the IBM Women in Technology Group who gave their time today and provided
hands-on learning to Girl Scout members."

How important do you think it is to support technological initiatives within Girl Scouting?

Farewell to Maegan and Hello to Trista

(copy of email sent by outgoing CDM Maegan Wilson)

Hello leaders,

I would like to formally introduce to you your new Community Development Manager Trista Cooper. She comes to GSNCA from Alabama Adventure, and is excited about her new position and serving your troops. I’ve been training with her the last few days and have really enjoyed her and think she’ll be a great CDM. Please be as helpful and gracious to her as you were to me when I first startedJ. Her contact information is below and her email should be working by tomorrow which is my last day in the office. Please pass Trista’s information along to your parents or anyone else that usually communicates with me.

Trista Cooper: 980-4750 ext. 120, tcooper@girlscoutsnca.org

If I were able, I would thank each and every one of you face to face for a wonderful year and a half at Girl Scouts and as your CDM. Overall, I’ve had a wonderful experience, and one of my favorite aspects of the job was working with so many different volunteers. You truly make this organization what it is, and I’m going to miss you. Thank you again for all the help you’ve given me and best of luck in your Girl Scout endeavors. Thank you!

~Maegan Wilson

Legislation to Promote Healthy Media Messages about Girls

The Journal, in West Virginia, has a story about the Healthy Media for Youth Act (H.R. 4925) - a bill to improve media literacy for youth and to encourage the promotion of healthier media messages about girls and women. This bipartisan legislation has been endorsed by the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Youth Leadership Opportunity for Seniors/Ambassadors

Do you have an older girl who's looking for a chance to expand her horizons and travel overseas? You might find some inspiration in The Great Falls Tribune from Montana. It has the story of Sierra Rutledge, a 9th grader who has been awarded one of only 25 Girl Scouts of America “Destination” trips handed out worldwide. She'll be traveling to England for two weeks for a youth leadership development conference.

Weekly Program Updates

Find out what's happening at GSNCA in the Weekly Program Update.

Volunteer Opportunity - Great for Younger Girls

Looking for a drive for your troop? Consider a toiletry drive for Project Homeless Connect!

This is a great project for youth and teens who are under 18 and aren't eligible to volunteer at the Project Homeless Connect event.

Get Stuff -- On Sale!

The council shop is in the midst of March Markdown Madness... check it out!

Girl Scouts in the News

(via GSUSA's blog)

From a 'Tagalong Run' to girls learning about the automobile parts under the hood of a hybrid car - Girl Scouts are in the news:

•In Sioux Falls, SD, The Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons will host “Purses with a Purpose” - a ladies night out fundraiser featuring a silent auction.

•Girl Scouts learned about sustainable energy through a hands-on approach, building and racing cars made from K'NEX before touring different research rooms and the Eco Car garage. In addition to fostering awareness on new advancements in vehicle technology and sustainable energy, the event also aimed to educate youth about sustainable energy. Read all about it in The Daily Collegian.

•The Winchester News Gazette in Indiana reports on The Tagalong Trail Run - a new event for Girl Scouts that will help raise funds for local programs. The event allows for young Scouts to run along with their mother, father or other family member in a peaceful, natural rural setting.

•To earn their Community Service Badges, members of Girl Scout Troop 8 in Windsor, CO, decorated the Windsor Police Department and Town Board with potted plants. Read more in The Windsor Beacon.

•The Villages Daily Sun in Florida has a fantastic article titled, 'Once a scout, always a scout' - check it out!

Weekly Update

Want to know what's going on in GSNCA? Check out the Weekly Update.

Free Music Event

(via UAB)

Meet the Composer and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Music will present “Listen Out Loud,” a concert of newly-composed works for Birmingham cellist Craig Hultgren, Saturday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South.

A pre-concert discussion is scheduled for 6 p.m. Admission is free for both events. Call 205-934-7376.

The concert is the culmination of a residency that brings together three composers: Connecticut-based Alphonse Izzo, Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn of Washington and Alabama’s Craig Biondi, adjunct faculty member in the UAB Department of Music. Each composer will present a work for solo cello and a work for cello with ensemble. Izzo’s solo cello piece “The Madcap Laughed” is the composer’s surrealist tribute to Syd Barrett, the late founder of Pink Floyd. Hultgren will be joined by Samford University’s Katherine Fouse on piano and UAB’s Associate Professor of Music Denise Gainey, D.M.A., on clarinet for the premiere of Izzo’s “Memory Theater.”

Alabama Symphony Orchestra English horn player Erica Howard and Hultgren will engage in an intimate dialogue in Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn’s “...and I will love the silence... .” The composer will provide a dramatic contrast with the premiere of his light-hearted solo work “Snap! Crackle! Pop!”

Biondi will present his haunting work for solo cello, “Adrift.” Fouse and Hultgren will be joined by soprano Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk, D.M.A., UAB associate professor of music, and percussionist Gene Fambrough, D.M.A., UAB assistant professor of music, for the premiere of Biondi’s improvisatory “Two Psalms.” Visit his blog for more information on the composers.

Marine Surprises Girl Scouts With a Visit

(via blog.girlscouts.org)

In Connecticut, The Middleton Press is running an extremely cool article about Marine Reservist Lance Cpl. Robert LaFleur - who surprised the scouts by coming to a meeting to thank them for a Christmas care package they sent him, while he was stationed in Iraq! The girls sent food and cards to LaFleur and his unit, which the Marine said cheered them up a lot. LaFleur said:

“The cards were beautiful”

After giving LaFleur the honor of holding the flag for the scouts’ opening ceremony, the girls were welcome to ask the Marine any questions they wanted about his service. They inquired about what it was like to be a Marine and be in a war, among other things. For video and more, definitely check out the entire article. Also, let us know about ways The Girl Scouts in your communities reach out to soldiers - Have you personally been involved with sending care packages abroad?

Girl Scouts Turns Greener Leaf

(via the GSUSA Blog

Check out a fantastic article in USA Today about Girl Scouts Forever Green Community Action Project - aimed at engaging, educating, and empowering girls to take the lead in developing and implementing sustainable initiatives to decrease the environmental footprints of their schools and communities. The article pinpoints that Forever Green is a response to a 2008 survey, in which members of the Girls Scouts picked the environment as the most important issue for them. In it, GSUSA spokeswoman Michelle Tompkins eloquently states:

"We are where the girls are. Right now, environmental action is very important to them. We allow them to lead us."

Forever Green, which began in 10 councils will expand nationwide in 2011.

Weekly Program Updates Available

The weekly program updates are available from GSNCA. Want a fun activity for your girls or need some training for your adults? Check it out here.

Birmingham Reads: Community Service Opportunity

The Literacy Council is teaming up with Better Basics, The Junior League of Birmingham, and the Children's Literacy Guild of Alabama for Birmingham Reads, a program that will distribute books to low-income children while raising awareness of child and adult literacy services.

They are looking for volunteers to read to K-5 graders at all 37 Birmingham City elementary schools on April 14th between 12:30-2:30. Your participation will make a difference in a child's life, by helping to foster the love of reading and giving him or her a book to take home and keep. A book drive, called Birmingham's Biggest Book Drive also will be taking place for Birmingham Reads, from April 1-15. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please visit Hand On Birmingham's website.

Bunny Aid 2010: Community Service Opportunity

Provide an Easter Basket for Birmingham's needy children by supporting Bunny Aid 2010. We're asking volunteers, churches, companies, etc., to give Peter Cottontail an extra hand by donating special baskets to children in area shelters. Please make sure all goodie-filled baskets are wrapped in cellophane for easy transportation. All baskets need to be delivered to Hands On Birmingham's office or picked up by March 31. The office is located at 3600 8th Ave South, just off Clairmont Ave at the United Way. For more information or basket ideas please visit Hands On Birmingham's website.

Fixed the link...

I fixed the link to the Young Women's Empowerment Conference application. Sorry for the bad coding!

Young Women’s Empowerment Conference

The 2010 Young Women’s Empowerment Conference will be held on March 27th at the Central Birmingham YWCA. The conference founders will select 60-65 applicants to attend free of charge with lunch provided from All that Matters Catering.

The conference, which is sponsored in part by the YWCA of Central Birmingham, welcomes applications from teen girls ages 14-19, through Monday, March 15th. The summit will include three main speakers, as well as three panels focusing on preparation for college, careers in media, and careers in the medical sciences.

Girls are invited to apply online to attend the conference. Additionally, teens can have their parents, school advisors or volunteer coordinators nominate them for one of six awards to be given out at the conference. These applications are also available online. Sixty to sixty-five applicants will be chosen to come together for a day of education and entertainment. They will leave feeling empowered to help themselves and their communities.

Summer Camp Is On Its Way!

(via GSNCA)

Each summer, thousands of children across Alabama beg their parents to attend summer camp to meet new friends and explore the great outdoors. But what parents may not know is Girl Scout summer camp involves so much more. The experience that your child will gain from camp is an experience of a lifetime. Camp activities are designed to provide opportunities to encounter new challenges, experience success, develop leadership, improve self-esteem and build life skills.

GSNCA runs camps throughout the state that hold summer resident and day camp. Each camp offers various activities such as canoeing, crafts, horseback riding and swimming that will let kids be themselves and explore different possibilities. Both day camps and resident camps are available; resident camps are available only to girls, while day camps are available for girls and boys.

Summer camp programs at GSNCA offer something for everyone in the following categories: Traditional Sampler, Traditional Specialty and Non-Traditional sessions. Click here for more information on the types of Camp Sessions.

At camp, everyone experiences healthy, outdoor activities that build courage, confidence and character (swimming, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, archery, riflery, rock climbing, high ropes, outdoor skills, etc,) Everyone who comes to camp enjoys balanced meals with plenty of healthy choices while participating in activities that offer intentional opportunities for campers to practice decision making and teamwork.

Registration Procedures

ONLINE - Online registration is the preferred method for registration. Online registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at www.girlscoutsnca.org. There is no additional fee for online registration. For each session of resident camp, a $100 deposit will be required. For each session of day camp, a $20 deposit is required. The deposit is refundable only if the selected session is full or is cancelled due to lack of registrations. Registrations will continue to be accepted until all spaces in the session are filled or two weeks before the start of the session, whichever comes first.

MAILED OR FAXED - Registrations will also be accepted by mail and by FAX, but will be processed after those that are entered online. Mailed and FAX registrations will be entered on Monday, March 8. Please be aware that space in all camp sessions is strictly limited. When submitting paper registration (mail or FAX), please complete a separate form for each camper and for each program. Each resident camp registration form must be accompanied by a $100 deposit. Each day camp registration form must be accompanied by a deposit of $20 per week. Registrations will continue to be accepted until all spaces in the session are filled or two weeks before the start of the session, whichever comes first.

Camp Open Houses

Come see what camp is all about for yourself at each of our Camp Open Houses this Spring!

Camp Coleman: 2:00 - 4:00 PM; Sunday, April 11, 2010
(205) 655-3782 or toll free (866) 882-3572 lelliott@girlscoutsnca.org

Camp Trico: 2:00 - 4:00 PM; Sunday, April 18, 2010
(866) 882-3572 or email acanterbury@girlscoutsnca.org

Camp Cottaquilla: 2:00 - 4:00 PM; Sunday, April 25, 2010
(256) 237-2825 x14 office; (205) 792-0229 cell; or by email khenderson@girlscoutsnca.org

Kanawahala Program Center (KPC): 2:00 - 4:00 PM; Sunday, May 2, 2010
(205) 678-8843 or toll free (866) 457-4590 tknowles@girlscoutsnca.org

Camp Anderel: 2:00 - 4:00 PM; Sunday, May 16, 2010
(866) 882-3572 or email acanterbury@girlscoutsnca.org

Girl Scout Week: Young Women of Distinction

Since Girl Scout Week is here, it's only fitting to celebrate the Girl Scouts who achieved Girl Scouting’s greatest honor - our Young Women of Distinction. Scouts across the country competed for this honor and just ten were chosen, including Hanna Cree, an Ambassador Girl Scout from Chelsea High School. Head over to GSNCA's blog to read about her very special Gold Project inspired by her struggle with dyslexia.

Volunteer Opportunity: 2nd Annual Women’s Health 5 K Run and 1 Mile Mother – Daughter Walk

(via Qula Madkin)

The Alabama Department of Public Health's Office of Women’s Health Steering Committee is pleased to announce the Second Annual Women’s Health 5K Run and 1 Mile Mother-Daughter Walk. The event slogan is “Women on the Move to Improve Women’s Health.” The 2010 run will be held during the ONB Magic City Art Connection on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at Linn Park, 710 20th Street, Birmingham, Alabama.

This historic run/walk event will help bring families together to celebrate the health of our grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and sisters. This event will increase the awareness of women’s health issues in the state of Alabama and highlight resources that are available for better health and wellness for women in our state.

There are two ways scouts and their families can participate:

1. Volunteer to work the event! Troops can help with registration, give out bags, fill water cups, help with set-up and clean-up, etc. Volunteer Contact Person: Katie Obringer, katieobringer@hotmail.com and cell phone # is 599-7798.


2. Run/walk in the race! Here's the
Registration Form (1.42 MB)

Mail the completed form and the registration fee to:
ADPH Office of Women's Health
201 Monroe Street Suite 710
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3017

Ages five and under will be admitted free. Advance packet registration pick-up will take place April 22-23 at St. Vincent's Health System 119 Location in Birmingham. For more information, contact Dechelle Merritt at (334) 206-5669.

Weekly Program Update Now Available from GSNCA

The weekly program update is now available from Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

Project Homeless Connect

(via Hands on Birmingham)



On Saturday, April 10th approximately 1,500 volunteers, public servants, non-profit agencies, faith-based organizations, and citizens will assemble under one roof to help people who are homeless in our community through Project Homeless Connect. This innovative one-day event is about breaking the cycle of homelessness, increasing access to services and ending chronic homelessness in Central Alabama. For one day, Project Homeless Connect will give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to access an array of services in a system which is often difficult to understand and navigate. Project Homeless Connect (PHC) links homeless individuals, veterans, and families to housing, medical services, identification services, veterans' services, employment services, pet care and haircuts. Be a part of Birmingham's solution to homelessness.

Girl Scout Week is Here!

(forwarded from GSUSA's blog)


Hello Everyone, It's Girl Scout Week - and what does that mean?

It means that while Girl Scouts across the country celebrate 98 years of community service, we remain committed to helping make the world a better place. Girl Scouts salutes all for their dedication to and support of the positive development of girls everywhere. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character. Serving as a Girl Scout today means being part of a worldwide organization that builds leadership skills by providing girls with opportunities to discover their interests, connect with others, and take action. March 12, 2010, marks the 98th anniversary of Girl Scouting. During Girl Scout Week, which runs from March 7 through 13, Girl Scouts of all ages celebrate by demonstrating leadership and commitment in ways that have a real impact on their communities.

Girl Scouts is proud that change is one of our greatest traditions. We continue to keep in step with girls’ needs while remaining true to the core values of the Girl Scout Movement. Indeed, when a girl becomes a Girl Scout, she promises to try to help people at all times and this has been so since the early years of the Girl Scout Movement. That promise is actualized everyday through a vast array of community service projects in which Girl Scouts help make the world, and our community, a better place.

We thank all the volunteers and members in our community for their time, talent, and financial support. That spirit of volunteerism and support makes it possible for us to continue to be the best leadership experience for girls—today, tomorrow, and always.

I will be celebrating Girl Scout Week by only posting stories relating to Girl Scout Week activities and related news pieces from across the country! How will you celebrate Girl Scout Week?

Financial Refresher - or how to make sure the banking stuff doesn't drive you crazy!

Maegan sends this reminder on dealing with Troop Finances:


Reminder: council financial forms come in your packet every year or can be printed off the website.

1. Bank Account Information Sheet: This is turned in when you begin a troop or there are changes to your account. Every account must have two non-related signers, but only one is required for signing checks.

2. Annual Financial Report: This is usually due around June 15th. You do not have to turn in receipts or a detailed spreadsheet, but we would encourage that a 2nd pair of eyes check turned in reports. Under the Forms and Resources page on the website under the Troop Forms section you’ll find and easy to follow Troop Detailed Financial Record.

3. Lapsed Troop Report: You must turn this in showing your account is zeroed out and closed if your troop isn’t continuing due to graduation or other reasons. Money can’t be handed out to girls but should be spent on the girls, donated anywhere, or given to the Council’s Troop Reorganization Fund. If girls are moving on to another troop some money can go to the new troop. Let the girls decide on how to use the money.

4. Tax Exempt Letter (separate attachment): You can use this to register at various stores for tax free purchases. You may have to fill out paperwork particular to the store using our tax exempt number which is not on the letter. It is 63-0288834.

5. Troop Sponsorship Agreement: This is submitted if an individual or company is donating money to your troop. The “ask” must be approved by the Council first.

6. Money Earning Application: If your troop would like to raise money outside of Fall Product or Cookie sales you will need to submit this form for approval. Safety Wise also has rules on what type of fundraisers you can do.

Common Issues:
1. Type of account: Your account should more than likely be a general checking. You can use debit cards/and or checks.

2. Spending own money as a troop leader: We know this happens, but it is never an expectation we place on volunteers. If you have to reimburse yourself for whatever reason from the troop funds please have your co-leader or other person on the account reimburse you and document it in your records.

3. Giving money to other organizations: In Safety Wise it states we can’t explicitly raise money in the name of another organization or participate in selling any other commercial product besides cookies/nuts. However, out of profits or money you already have in your account you can choose to donate funds. You can collect and donate physical items to other organizations at anytime.

4. Girl leaves the troop: Her money cannot be refunded for national membership fees and our suggestion is for any other money as the money belongs to the troop. If someone leaves they cannot be handed money directly. If a girl transfers to another troop it’s up to you to possibly transfer part of her troop dues to the new troop. Registration is transferred when you inform Council of the switch.

5. What if a child doesn’t pay: There are a variety of options as you can take the money she owes out of cookie profit, work out a payment plan, or not allow the child to attend add on events or purchase additional things like event t-shirts, etc. Please try to work with people as best as you can and make a written record signed by all parties for a payment plan. If this is a continuing problem Council can help.

6. Writing checks out to cash: We do not recommended this at all and we suggest getting a debit card and marking in your records what the cash was for.

7. What if someone bounced a check: They owe you for the check and the processing fee. From that point on we would suggest having the family pay in cash, cashier’s check, or money order only.

8. Not happy with your bank service: We have no ties or allegiance with any bank, so if you are not happy with your service the best thing we can suggest is moving your account to another bank that suits your needs and preferences better. Please remember that as the Council we can do very little with big Banks and changing their practices just to suit Girl Scouts.

Things We’re Still Working On:
1. Online banking: Although this isn’t new, it is a new problem for the Council. Since we all open up accounts under the same number there is a good chance that when you bank online you can see other accounts. You cannot do anything to them but you can see them. For some people this is not the case. It just depends on how the banker you worked with entered it into the system. Please have patience as this will be a slow process in working with the many banks.

Latest from Council

Download the latest Leader Connections with TONS of important information.

The Council would like to know what you are doing each month. You can share troop information including photos. Be sure to send this info to us too (see comment box below)

Raising Kids Who Care: Volunteer Opportunities

Last fall, Brownie Troop 27 and Junior Troop 145 made breakfast for the residents at Birmingham's First Light Shelter . The girls had a blast learning how to cook, and the women at the shelter really enjoyed the company. Several other local troops have participated in similar shelter activities. We'd like to start a repository for ideas for community service. If you've got a project to suggest please post a comment below.

Here's a great article that offers some other ideas for
Raising Kids Who Care. It includes lots of creative ideas for getting your girls involved and volunteering. Looking for volunteer opportunities in the Birmingham metro area? Check out Hands on Birmingham. They will hook you up!

NPR loves Girl Scout Cookies!

Yesterday, National Public Radio (NPR) aired not one, but TWO stories on girl scout cookies. You can listen here to learn about online cookie marketing efforts and here to get some good ideas on how to cook with GS cookies. Thin mint brownies, anyone? Or perhaps Do-Si-Do Peanut Thai Chicken is more to your taste?

Other Girl Scout Blogs

If you're new to blogging, hold onto your hat because there's a lot of information out there in the blogosphere! There are sites that offer advice on selling cookies, making swaps, planning service opportunities and more.

Here's a partial roundup. We'll be adding more as we find them.

The Official Girl Scouts of the USA blog

Shiny Little Things has some really cool crafting ideas for older scouts.

Want to take your cookie sales strategy online? This blog might help. It includes videos and other information.

(and, just for fun, here's a humorous blog about being addicted to Thin Mints!)


If you come across some great online Girl Scout resources, be sure to share them with us and we'll pass them along!

Leader Meeting - March 4, 2010

Cookie Sales have been extended another week. Check your email for details from Sherri. And reminder: Council has cookie costumes you can borrow to liven up your cookie booth sales!

Sweetheart Dance was a success. Expect to get an emailed survey soon asking for feedback (OR, just leave some here! in the comment box below). The sweetheart dance patches should be arriving in April.

Service Area Weekend is April 9-11. The cadettes have been working hard on a lot of fun activities -- hope you'll join us!

Rocky Mountain Day Camp is June 7-11. The theme is Culture Shock. Registration begins April 15th. There are more than 1,000 girls in our service area and only 120 camper spots, so be sure to get your registration in. You can either mail it (don't postmark earlier than April 9th) or drop it off at the business manager's home in Hoover on April 15th.

NEXT LEADER MEETING: April 1st, 7 p.m., St. Marks UMC
* early bird registration materials will be available. Girls who register early get a patch. Troops get $1 shop credit for each girl that registers early (and $1 for every two adults).

MEETING IDEA
March 12 is the anniversary of the creation of Girl Scouts in the US. Why not have a Birthday Party and play some games? Or you can mark the day with a ceremony.

Welcome to the new Shades Mountain Girl Scout Service Area Blog, where we'll keep you up-to-date on Alabama girl scout events, opportunities and more.