Friday, February 26, 2010

GSNCA's Lemon Chalet Cremes NOT affected by Quality Hold

Lemon Chalet Cremes sold by the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama are NOT affected by the recent complaints of taste and smell. Please see the statement from Little Brownie Bakers below:

Little Brownie Bakers recently received a few contacts from consumers informing us of an off taste and smell from certain packages of Lemon Chalet Crème cookies. We immediately took the precautionary step of testing product samples. We determined that while the cookies are safe for consumers to eat, they are not up to our quality standards.

Certain lots of Lemon Chalet Crème cookies contain oils that may be breaking down which can result in an off taste and smell. These cookies will be replaced by the baker. For more information visit www.littlebrownie.com.

If you are still in need of cookies, please visit www.girlscoutsnca.org and click on “Cookie Locator” and rest assured cookies purchased from GSNCA are not affected. Booth sales will continue March 6.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Milk & Cookies!

What could be better than enjoying a cold glass of delicious Barber’s Milk? A glass of Barber’s Milk with your favorite Girl Scout Cookie!

Through March 30, Barber’s Dairy will be donating a portion of milk sales proceeds to the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

In addition to the donation, Barber’s sales manager Johnny Collins says the dairy is also giving milk lovers a chance to save money. During the promotional period, Girl Scouts will be handing out the coupons at sales booths at select locations while supplies last. With each Girl Scout Cookie purchase, consumers will get a coupon for a $1.00 off a gallon of Barber’s Milk.

“We’re excited about our partnership with the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama,” said Collins. “Giving back to the communities we serve is important to us, and this partnership lets us contribute to something very important—programs that will provide girls with the skills they need to be outstanding members of our community.”

“The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is thrilled Barber’s has chosen to contribute to our council,” said Hilary Perry. “Their contribution is an investment in the future of 19,000 girls. It will help us provide support to our local troops with programming, help us operate camps and provide financial assistance to girls who can’t afford membership costs.”

“No matter which Girl Scout Cookie is your favorite,” said Collins, “there’s nothing better than enjoying a few with a glass of Barber’s Milk.”

Please call the Council if you purchase a box of cookies and didn't receive a coupon.

Friday, February 19, 2010

GSNCA “Thinks Globally and Locally”

World Thinking Day, February 22, not only gives Girl Guides and Girl Scouts a chance to celebrate international friendships, but is also a reminder that we here in North-Central Alabama are a part of a global community—one of 145 countries in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).


“Think globally, act locally,” is the mantra for encouraging girls to participate in activities that increase cultural awareness and emphasize the positive connections between Girl Scouts in their area and their sisters throughout the world.


This year’s theme, "Together We Can End Extreme Poverty and Hunger," reminds us to help those in need. According to a 2005 report from the World Bank, 1.4 billion people (one in four) live on less than $1.25 a day. Nearly one billion people face problems finding adequate, nutritious food for themselves and their families every day.


Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference held at Girl Scouts of the USA's Camp Edith Macy (now Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to "think" of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl Scouts. The delegates chose February 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.


To emphasize the global aspect of Thinking Day, members at the 30th World Conference, held in Ireland in 1999, changed the name from Thinking Day to World Thinking Day.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Celebrating National Youth Leadership Month with Girl Scouts!

February is National Youth Leadership Month. What automatically comes to mind when you think of young people growing into the leaders of tomorrow? Girl Scouts, of course! The Girl Scout experience enables girls ages 5-17 to grow into strong young women by providing opportunities that help shape their futures. Girl Scouts explore leadership, business, science, travel, adventure, health, sports and technology all while learning about themselves and our diverse world. They are molded to be tomorrow's leaders through the opportunities that challenge them today.

The Girl Scout program teaches three keys to leadership: discover, connect and take action. Girls discover and understand themselves and their values, connect with others locally and globally and then use their newfound knowledge and skills to take action and make the world a better place. Girl Scout programs are designed to take girls on "journeys" which engage girls in discovering themselves. Journeys unfold through a sequence of activities and discussions that add up to a great adventure. All journeys have activities that focus on financial literacy, healthy living, science & technology and most importantly, leadership.

In Girl Scouts, leadership is not just about building future leaders, but also about building girl leaders for today. Girls learn that a leader is defined both by the qualities and skills one possesses, and more importantly by how those qualities and skills are put into action to effect positive change. Girls develop into leaders through a variety of activities that promote responsibility, self-discipline, listening skills, teamwork and the ability to direct and delegate. These skills prepare girls for futures in every career field and are essential in helping them to achieve their personal goals.

Journeys provide an important foundation for girls and volunteers in each level of Girl Scouting and provide meaningful and fun experiences centered on the three leadership components. As girls progress through the levels from Daisy to Ambassador, their awards signify attaining new and higher levels of knowledge and skills, and ultimately a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader who makes a difference in the world.

In addition to participation patches and age level awards, girls can earn special awards called the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. For each of these awards—the highest achievements in Girl Scouting—a girl will have planned and executed a project that encompasses using organizational, leadership and networking skills to create change and fulfill a need within her community. To receive these awards, girls must meet requirements that help them prepare for and complete a special project benefiting their communities. The Bronze award is the highest award for a Junior (4th and 5th grade) Girl Scout and the Silver award is the highest award for a Cadet (6th, 7th or 8th grade) Girl Scout.

The Gold award is the highest level of Girl Scout achievement. Girls must be in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade to earn this award. The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy are an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, the American Legion and colleges and universities nationwide for admission and scholarship opportunities.

Over time, these outcomes will set girls on a life-long path to lead with courage by speaking out on issues they care about and taking active roles in their communities. They will gain confidence by making the most of their strengths and feel empowered to make a difference in their communities. Girls will build character by acting with integrity and compassion and making decisions that promote the well-being of themselves and others as they continue to make the world a better place.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

GSNCA Recognizes 2010 Central Alabama Women of Distinction

The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama will recognize ten outstanding women at their annual Central Alabama Women of Distinction Luncheon, Thursday, March 4, 2010 at The Harbert Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Central Alabama Women of Distinction Luncheon will honor women from Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Blount and Chilton counties.

The Women of Distinction program pays tribute to women who have made special contributions to their community through civic, academic or professional involvement This year's Women of Distinction honorees are:
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Judy Benson of Clanton, CRH, HR Director, North America, Inc.
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Moanica Caston of Birmingham, Vice President, General Counsel, Southern Nuclear Operations
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Sara Hamlin of Birmingham, Vice President of Tourism, The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau
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Mildred Lanier of Pelham, Business Management Instructor, Jefferson State Community College
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Darlene Negrotto of Leeds, President and CEO, Vulcan Park Foundation
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Dr. Claire Peel of Homewood, Associate Provost, University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Carole Marcus Pizitz of Birmingham, Civic Leader
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Marianne Prime of Birmingham, EVP, Tech Support Services, BBVA Compass
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Ruth Strong of Birmingham, Retired Superintendent, Birmingham City Schools.

In addition,
Donna Dearman Smith of Birmingham, HR Director, Alabama Power, will be honored with the Mildred Bell Johnson Award, the Council’s highest adult honor. The award is given annually to a woman who has a prior affiliation with Girl Scouting and has made a lifelong contribution to her community by distinguishing herself through professional, community or humanitarian efforts. The Mildred Bell Johnson honoree serves as a role model for past, present and future Girl Scouts.

Bettina Boateng of NBC13HD will serve as the Emcee. Chairing the Luncheon are Mariah Chapman, SVP and Manager, Treasury Management Operations, BBVA Compass; and Lois Woodward, Partner at Balch & Bingham L.L.P. Committee members include Leann Barr, Julie Carter, Majorie Davis-Trimm, April Deal, Sue Esleck, Debra Goldstein, Tessa Hughes, Susan Bevill Livingston, Ann McMillan, Peggie Myles, Margaret Ritchie, Chris Ross, Alice Williams and Cutressa Williams.

Several Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts will also be honored at the Luncheon for earning their Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. These young ladies from around the community will be recognized for their leadership projects. The Gold Award requires over 65 hours of planning, community service and evaluations.

This is the largest fund raising event of the year. Proceeds from the Women of Distinction Luncheon provide direct support to Girl Scouts in North-Central Alabama, which serves more than 14,000 girls and an additional 5,000 in special programs across 36 counties. The signature sponsor is
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Primary Benefactors include: ACIPCO, Balch & Bingham LLP, BBVA Compass, b Metro magazine, Brookwood Medical Center, Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mercedes-Benz, Carole & Michael Pizitz, Protective Life Corporation and Southern Company Services, Inc. Many other local companies and individuals have generously sponsored additional corporate tables. For more information on sponsorships, please contact Margaret Ritchie at 800-734-4541 x127.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Girl Scout Cookies Are Here!

Thanks to DMS Moving Systems and Armstrong Relocation for helping us distribute cookies!









Friday, February 5, 2010

GSNCA Goes Red!

In honor of National Wear Red day for the Go Red for Women campaign to bring awareness of heart disease in women, Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is trading in their green for red! Heart disease is the number one killer of American women, and greatly affects young women. Girls need to learn early to identify risk factors which include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, diabetes and smoking. The earlier they begin a healthy lifestyle, the earlier they are set up for a long and healthy life. 


From engaging in regular physical activity to eating healthy and reducing stress, you'll not only keep your heart happy, you'll put a smile on your face too! Does this sound like a major life change? Maybe it's all in how you look at it:
  • For physical activity, think walking, jogging, cycling or dancing with someone you love
  • For a healthy diet, think whole grains, delicious fresh fruits and more
For more information, visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

GSNCA Focuses on Girl Issues

GSNCA has a long-standing commitment to the well-being of girls and for almost 100 years, Girl Scouts has been engaged in girl’s lives and a resource and expert on their growth and development. To advance our mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place, and ensuring that all girls have the opportunity to be successful, we advocate for the following girl issues:

· Encouraging healthy living among girls;

· Increasing girls involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM);

· Girls and leadership; and

· Financial literacy.


Encouraging Healthy Living Among Girls

Through our program experience and research, Girl Scouts has a unique understanding of the complex issue of healthy living and what motivates youth – especially girls – to adopt healthy lifestyles. As public officials and community leaders grapple with issues such as childhood obesity and school safety we encourage you to consider a wide range of related and overlooked issues, such as relational aggression and cyber-bullying, healthy media images and eating disorders, that directly affect girls’ health. These issues are informed by Girl Scouts’ own research and extensive programmatic expertise. Recently, Girl Scouts in East Alabama attended In The Pink, a breast cancer awareness workshop, where they learned about proper nutrition, careers in the medical field and recognizing breast cancer symptoms.

With more than 60 healthy living-related badges and a historic emphasis on health in the Girl Scout experience, girls are educated and empowered to take action to strengthen their physical and emotional health and positively impact their communities and the world. Additionally, the Girl Scout Research Institute report, The New Normal? What Girls Say About Healthy Living, tells us that girls believe health combines good nutrition and physical fitness with emotional and social well-being. Girl Scouts can provide valuable perspectives and counsel in shaping policies that address this and other serious children’s issues. Girl Scouts is looking for opportunities to improve how our state promotes the health of young people, especially girls.


Increasing Girls’ Involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Around 3rd grade, girls begin to lose interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). As they age, the problem only gets worse - the percentage of girls who say they would not study math anymore given the choice increases from 9% to 50% in the years between 4th and 12th grades. As a result, women are vastly underrepresented in STEM fields. With more than 70 badges and patches and a journey program entitled, It’s Your Planet Love It!, focused on STEM-related activities, Girls Scouts are encouraged to explore many possibilities in STEM fields. Our research and programming finds that Girl Scouts can play a significant role in capturing and maintaining girls’ interest in STEM fields and GSNCA is proud to have NASA as a dedicated partner in these activities. Girl Scouts from all over the state have attended robotics activities and rocket propulsion workshops. Too, Girl Scouts in Central Alabama have had the opportunity to attend different programs and camps to learn about water filtration systems, metal works and how to properly build and weight a structure. Through this initiative, we seek to help increase the number of girls and young women pursuing education and careers in STEM, and to ensure that education policies reflect the unique learning styles of girls and include expanded learning opportunities.


Girls and Leadership
For almost a century, Girl Scouts has produced leaders who have excelled in every segment of our American life: culture, politics, civic, business, community, etc. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls 5-17 discover themselves and their values, connect with other girls, and take action to make the world a better place. The original research study by the Girl Scouts Research Institute, Change it Up! What Girls Say About Redefining Leadership found that girls aspire to a leadership style focused on personal principles, ethical behavior and the ability to affect social change. Locally, GSNCA develops leadership skills by offering programs such as the Young Women’s Leadership Summit. This state-wide event, hosted by GSNCA and the Alabama Business and Professional Women’s Organization, is open both Girl Scouts and non-members and teaches them interviewing skills, how to market themselves and how to take action in their world from professional women in the community. Girl Scouts is eager to identify opportunities to cultivate and expand girls’ leadership opportunities.


Financial Literacy

The current economic crisis has highlighted the need to improve financial literacy among all Americans. With youth controlling more than $172 billion in spending, and one in three carrying a credit card, we must ensure that all youth – including girls – have the information they need to properly save, spend, budget and invest. Moreover, as women are more likely to earn less, work fewer years and live longer on smaller retirement benefits than men, teaching girls personal finance early is crucial to helping them avoid financial insecurity as they mature. From the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program – often girls’ first introduction to business planning and entrepreneurship – to innovative programs like Dollars and Sense, CentsAbility and Penny Power, GSNCA has a long history of working with girls to deliver informal financial education and ensure their financial literacy. GSNCA hopes to help develop programs and policies that ensure all girls have solid financial literacy skills and support the role of youth-serving organizations in providing real-world financial literacy experiences for girls.


supporting a thriving non-profit community

GSNCA, working in partnership with our state’s non-profit community, supports public policies that sustain non-profits, recruit and retain volunteers, incentivize charitable giving, facilitate nonprofits abilities to provide background checks, protect nonprofit sales and property tax exemptions and activities that help us achieve our missions.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Nomination Deadline Extended for West Alabama Women of Distinction

Each spring the West Alabama Women of Distinction Luncheon is a unique opportunity to recognize and celebrate women who have made special contributions to their community through civic, church, academic or professional involvement. The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama invites you to nominate an extraordinary woman to be considered for this award.


Nominees should have a personal record of community involvement, successful career, and be a positive role model for past, current and future Girl Scouts. The nomination deadline has been extended to Friday, February 12 and will recognize women from Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Sumter, Greene, Marengo, Hale, Perry and Bibb counties.


Please use the nomination form provided at www.girlscoutsnca.org/wod-tuscaloosa.php and include as much information about your nominee as possible. The selection committee will base their decisions on the information you provide. Nominations should be postmarked, emailed or faxed by February 12.


The Women of Distinction Luncheon will take place on April 8, 2010 at Indian Hills Country Club in Tuscaloosa. The guest speaker will be author Edie Hand (www.ediehand.com). Proceeds from the Women of Distinction Luncheon directly support the Girl Scouts’ mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.


Event chairs are Nancy Lambert-Brown, Owner, Borgo Design and Jean Caldwell, Retired Fund Development Director. Other committee members include Avery Brown, Bunny Cox, Lois George, Pat Guin, Elizabeth Hamner, Sandra Jemison and Jane Searcy.


For questions, please call Julie Carter, Special Events Coordinator at (205) 980-4750 x130 or (800) 734-4541 x130 or via email at jcarter@girlscoutsnca.org. For more information, please visit our website at www.girlscoutsnca.org/wod-tuscaloosa.php.