Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Girl Scouts Declares 2012 as the Year of the Girl

Girl Scouts to Transform Leadership During 100th Anniversary

In a move designed to focus national attention on girls and the issues they face, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has declared 2012 the Year of the Girl: a celebration of girls, recognition of their leadership potential, and a commitment to creating a coalition of like-minded organizations and individuals in support of balanced leadership in the workplace and in communities across the country.

“The Year of the Girl is only a beginning,” said GSNCA Chief Executive Officer Trish Coghlan. “We will transform awareness about the increased need for a leadership organization like Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts offers girls experiences that inspire her to do something big. Our girls have many leadership opportunities, travel adventures and the ability to attend many science and technology programs. The Year of the Girl declares that when girls succeed, so does society. We know that together, we can get her there.”

This declaration serves as the foundation for Girl Scouts’ broader, multiyear, multipronged effort to break down societal barriers that hinder girls from leading and achieving success in everything from technology and science to business and industry.

During the Year of the Girl, the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama will hold multiple celebrations of the organization’s 100 years as the premier leadership experience for girls with efforts to bring awareness about girls’ issues, especially girls’ involvement in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). Council celebrations will take place on the following dates (for full list of events visit www.girlscoutsnca.org/100):

East-Central Women of Distinction with 100th Anniversary Reception | Friday, March 9, 2012
Harbert Center, Birmingham www.girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral

Women Who Serve West Alabama Event | Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Regions Taylorville Branch, Tuscaloosa www.girlscoutsnca.org/womenwhoserve

North Alabama Women of Distinction Awards Dinner | Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Davidson Center, Huntsville www.girlscoutsnca.org/wodnorth

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Anna Maria Chavez To Be Honored by US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Hispanic Business reports that The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce today announced it would honor Anna Maria Chávez with its 2012 Chairman's Award at an event titled "A Celebration of Women Entrepreneurship in America" during the Chamber's Legislative Summit gala. The Summit will take place in Washington, D.C., on March 21-23, 2012.

The annual gala honors and recognizes the affect that Hispanic businesswomen have in America.

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Nina Vaca said: "The annual Chairman's Award is presented to an individual who stands out as a leading advocate of Hispanic entrepreneurship in America. Through her work with the Girl Scouts, the nation's largest organization for girls, Anna Maria Chávez is a true inspiration for young women in America and continues to help shape tomorrow's leaders through innovative and supportive programs."

Chávez said that she is "deeply honored to accept the The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2012 Chairman's Award."

"I am especially honored because entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills are essential components of the Girl Scout experience," she added. "The Girl Scout Cookie Program alone is the largest girl-led business in the country providing immeasurable benefits to girls and their communities. We reach girls from every sector of society and empower them to realize their full potential as leaders—as young women who have the courage and confidence to make our world a better place. I look forward to a future in which our young girls will be standing in my place for their remarkable and meaningful achievements."

The Girl Scout Cookie Program generates more than $750 million in sales. It aims to teach the Girl Scouts five essential business skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. The Girl Scouts organization says that it has nearly 325,000 Hispanic Girl Scouts and adult volunteers, an increase of more than 50% in the past decade.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Girl Scouts Introduce New Cookie for 100th Anniversary


In honor of Girl Scouting’s 100th anniversary, customers can expect to see an old favorite, with a new name: Savannah Smiles. These lemon-flavored cookies, along with seven other varieties, will be on sale December 30 through March 3.

Cookies offered include all-time favorites: Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Savannah Smiles (100th anniversary cookie), Dulce de Leche and Thank U Berry Munch. Each box sells for $3.50. All eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies contain zero grams of trans fat. Girl Scout cookies are a low-sodium treat, and some varieties weigh in at only 28 (Savannah Smiles) and 40 (Thin Mints) calories per cookie!

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program, an integral part of Girl Scouting’s Financial Literacy initiative for girls ages 5 to 17, girls manage inventory, set goals, learn money management, and develop their own personal leadership style. Essentially, the girls run their own business. The entire troop sets a goal and creates an action plan leading toward that goal. Girl Scout troops use funds from the cookie activity to fund a service project or to plan an exciting trip. Cookie funds are also used for council programs.

“Girl Scouts teach the importance of health and wellness every day,” says Trish Coghlan, CEO of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA). “Even if you are participating in a weight loss plan, you can still participate in this important program by purchasing cookies as part of our Cookies for Troops campaign, and have your cookies sent overseas to brighten a soldier’s day.”

Girls will take pre-orders for cookies beginning December 30, with deliveries after February 3. Booth sales at many local stores and supermarkets will start February 10. If eager customers have trouble finding cookies near them, they can visit www.girlscoutsnca.org and use the Cookie Locator button or call 800-734-4541. Customers may also download the free Girl Scout Cookie Locator App for iPhone or Android. The app tells customers when and where sales will take place in their area, and map them to the location.

Girls in Lamar, Fayette, Marion, DeKalb, Lauderdale, Colbert, Marengo, Green and Sumter counties will take place in the Direct Sales Pilot Program this year. Instead of taking pre-orders, Girl Scouts in the above counties will have their cookies at the beginning of January to sell immediately. Booth sales at many local stores and supermarkets will start February 10.

Important Safety Notice: Girl Scout Cookies should be purchased only from someone affiliated with the Girl Scout organization to ensure safety and freshness.

About the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program  
Since 1917, the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program has become a famous annual event that has helped girls develop important leadership skills they will use throughout their lives. Whether they are dreaming of becoming a doctor, teacher, businesswoman, CEO of a Fortune 500 company or an engineer, the Girl Scout Cookie Program helps to build the self-esteem they need to reach for the stars.

About Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama  
For 100 years Girl Scouting has given every girl access to life-changing experiences that inspire her to do something BIG! For more information about how you can get involved, visit our 100th anniversary link at www.girlscoutsnca.org/100.Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way community partner and serves more than 15,000 girls ages 5-17, and 5,000 volunteers in programs across 36 counties. For more information, call 800-734-4541 or log on to www.girlscoutsnca.org.