Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Girl Scouts Host Past Presidents' Luncheon


Sally Barnett, Elizabeth Edwards, Chris Ross, Sarah Edwards
The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama recently hosted a Past Presidents’ Luncheon at The Club. Guests enjoyed the breathtaking view of the city from one of the state rooms. On the menu was fruit salad and chicken scaloppini with julienne vegetables and rice pilaf. For dessert, guests enjoyed crème brulee tartlets. Past presidents at the luncheon included Alice Williams and Sarah Edwards of the former Cahaba Girl Scout Council; Elizabeth Edwards, Forrest French and Sara Rutledge of the former Cottaquilla Council; Sally Barnett of the former North Alabama Council; Anne Moman and Nancy Lambert-Brown of the former Tombigbee Girl Scout Council; Donna Smith, past Cahaba Girl Scout Council and GSNCA; and Christina Ross, current GSNCA board president

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Girl Scouts Honors Volunteers

The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama recently honored volunteers whose service and dedication went above and beyond in 2011.

Appreciation Pin: The service performed by the honoree(s) is outstanding, above and beyond the expectations for the position held, and is delivered to at least one geographic division or service unit within the Council jurisdiction, and contributes to the Council’s goals and objectives.
Tabitha Borden of Calera
Kristina Crump of Irondale
Kimberly Diano of Tuscaloosa
Wynda Owens of Birmingham
Carla Petty of Bessemer
DeLois Turner of Birmingham
Cassandra Ward of Birmingham

Honor Pin: Recognizes volunteers actively giving outstanding service by significantly contributing to membership growth and retention, resource development, or increased community visibility in more than two geographic areas within the Council’s jurisdiction.
Celia Ardis of Birmingham
Selah McBride of Jemison
Joan McLaughlin Page of Vestavia
Linda Richardson of Vestavia
Cynthia Smothers of Chelsea

President’s Award: Recognizes the efforts of a geographic area team or program delivery team in moving its assigned area or audience toward achievement of the Council’s goals during a fiscal or membership year. Points are awarded for achievements in membership, program, diversity, family giving, community involvement, unit administration and communications.
Ensley East Service Unit, Birmingham
Homewood Service Unit, Homewood
Madison County Service Unit, Huntsville *
Mountain Brook Service Unit, Birmingham
North Pelland Service Unit, Ashville *
Points East Service Unit, Trussville/Pinson/Chalkville/Centerpoint *
Rocky Heights Service Unit, Hoover/Vestavia
Shades Mountain Service Unit, Vestavia
Southwestern Service Unit, Birmingham

*Indicates service units that earned the award with laurels (100 points).  

Years of Service Recognition: This pin recognizes registered adult members for their years of active volunteer service at five year intervals.  
50-year Pin:
Peggie Myles of Birmingham

40-year Pin:
Queen Watts of Birmingham
Sally Barnett of Union Grove
Jane McWhorter of Huntsville

35-year Pin:
Carolyn Brouillette of Alexandria
Paul Brouillette of Alexandria
Barbara Barone of Fort Payne
Karen Cooper Carroll of Odenville
Karen Cooper of Dora
Sally Smith of Talladega

30-year Pin:
Janell Alexander of Montevallo
Tommy McCarty of Dora
Christina Ross of Cordova
Nettie Robinson of Anniston
Jimmie Robinson of Anniston

25-year Pin:
Marcie Kilborn of Harvest
Frances Faulks of Birmingham
Barbara Wilson of Brighton
Dionne H. Edison of Eutaw
Eleanor Park of Demopolis
Andrea Wilson of Brighton
Brenda Oswalt of Hamilton
Lynda Fann of Ashville

20-year Pin:
Rhonda Carter of Hamilton
Joanne Pearson of Huntsville
Jeanette Humes of Birmingham
Lonnie I. Jones, Jr. of Birmingham
Wynda Owens of Birmingham
Dorothy Ray of Anniston
Sheryl Shelton of Huntsville

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Fishing Tournament to Benefit Girls

The annual Bill Ireland Invitational Fishing Tournament will be held June 22-23 on Lake Alice at Kanawahala Program Center (KPC) located in Chelsea, AL. Proceeds will benefit the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

The tournament will kick-off Friday, June 22 with a Captain’s Party from 6-8:30 p.m. at KPC. The evening includes a silent auction and dinner.

Following a 6 a.m. breakfast on Saturday, June 23, the tournament will begin with a shotgun start at Lake Alice on KPC and other private, local lakes. Lunch will be provided and an awards presentation will follow. Overnight accommodations are provided.

Sponsorship levels range from $500 to $2500. Fishing only is $500. Prizes will be awarded for bass weight and all other species including catfish and bream. Small fish may be iced or put in live wells, and fish over 14” must be released back into the lake. All other fish may be taken home. No live bait will be allowed.

The fishing tournament started in 2004, and was re-named in 2010 in honor of a wonderful Girl Scout supporter, Bill Ireland, Sr. This year’s event is being chaired by Gabe Hulbert. Other committee members include Tom Clark, Caroline Clayton, Phyllis Davis, Marjorie Davis-Trimm, April Deal, Joel Goldstein, Chuck Graham, Bill Granberry, Bill Satterfield and Alice Williams.

For more information, please contact Leah Beth Downs at ldowns@girlscoutnsca.org or 800-734-4541 x1030. You may visit www.girlscoutsnca.org/fishing for a sponsorship brochure.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Forever Green Exhibit Opens at BMA

Looking Into Our Promise by Troop 790;
Pictured: Whitney & Natalie
The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama’s Forever Green Exhibit opened at the Birmingham Museum of Art on Sunday, May 20. The exhibition highlights “green” artwork and coincides with the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary celebrations.

The Girl Scouts in the 36 counties covered by North-Central Alabama worked to create “green” artworks using recycled materials. They creatively used both man-made and natural materials to construct images of their world. 

Featured artists are Sophia of Alabaster; Heather of Madison; Nancy of Hoover; Kendal of Hazel Green; Vivian of Huntsville; Hanna of Trussville; Caroline, Cecily, Charlotte, Jamie, Giana, Caroline, Claire, Cayla, Reed all of Vestavia Hills; Gabby of Birmingham; and Anna-Li, Hayden, Whitney, Alexandria, Caroline, Tate, Ella, Lilly, Chloe, Paige, Natalie, Elizabeth and Annie all of Homewood.

The exhibit will run in the Education Gallery through July 31 and is free to the public. 
Untitled by Jamie

Monday, May 21, 2012

Girl Scouts Earn Religious Awards

Girl Scouts from Birmingham and North Alabama recently earned several religious awards.

The Family of God award is the official religious recognition program of the Roman Catholic Church for children grades 2-3. Family of God is a bilingual activity series developed to complement the catechetical efforts of the parish and families with children in the second and third grades. The program helps children discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish. Earning the award are Virginia Graves, Alexis Kennedy Rivas, Mary Margaret Williams and Camille Zibas of Huntsville; Sara Ruble Allen, Berkley Allen, Barbara Ann Allen, Caroline Crain, Tatum Holley, Sarah Anne Laney, Sofia Obregon, Gabrielle Saia, Claire Stansell and Olivia Stephens of Birmingham.

The I Live My Faith program is designed to help children grades 4-6 appreciate more deeply the place that God and religion occupy in their daily life. The action-oriented activities focus on developing awareness within the individual of his/her potential as a growing person, friend, family member, citizen and a participant in the community of faith. The program is divided into three chapters, “Stretching,” “Seeking” and “Finding,” each of which blends the dimensions of discovery, prayer, service and sacrament into a unified whole. I Live My Faith complements and supports the more formal religious education provided in Catholic schools and parish programs. Earning this award include Caroline Belrose, Maren Condra, Francesca Dichiara, Mary Elizabeth Dinan, Isabela Lemos, Serra Nolan, Morgan Wiedmeyer and Julia Wolter of Birmingham; Allison Tuggle of Madison, and Catherine Connolly and Amanda Robertson from Florence.

The Mary, the First Disciple award is written for young Catholics, grades 7-10, to enable them to “proclaim the greatness of the Lord.” This is accomplished by actively involving the participants in an understanding of Mary as a model of openness and spirituality – a woman of the church. Through various projects, discussions and liturgical celebrations over a period of months, the participants are provided with a unique opportunity to develop new insights into their personalities, friends, parents and the world around them. Alissa Beck, Maria Bell, Allie Craig, Michelle Harris, Samantha McDonald, Emily Page, Sarah Reed and Rachel Wesley all of Huntsville recently earned this award.

The St. Ann award is the highest national recognition for adults who contribute to the spiritual developed of Catholic youth through the Girl Scouts. Therese Wesley of Huntsville recently earned this award.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Troops Send Flags to U.S. Soldiers

On Tuesday, April 17th, 26 girls and adults from Girl Scout Junior Troop 20051 and Cadette/Senior Troop 20054 met at Jacksonville First United Methodist Church to fold 400 American flags and write messages to send to US soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

This project started last year as part of a Bronze Award leadership project for Junior Troop 20051. Stephanie Hurd, one of the troop co-leaders, got the idea from her father who was stationed in Afghanistan and received a pocket flag at a Marine checkpoint. The “Pocket Flag Project” was started over 10 years ago by a Boy Scout troop in Colorado. It provides a 2” x 3” folded flag for soldiers to carry in their pocket with a note of encouragement to remind them they have supporters at home. To date, the project has sent over 1.7 million flags to soldiers serving on the front lines. As part of their Bronze Award, the troop also learned how to be a model citizen and performed a flag ceremony at the Major Dwayne Williams Memorial in Jacksonville. 

Thanks to donations provided by the Bellsouth Pioneers, American Legion post in Piedmont, VFW post and VFW Auxiliary post in Anniston, 1,200 flags have been sent to active-duty soldiers in Bagram and Kandahar, Afghanistan by Troops 20051 and 20054. They would like to make this a continuous effort. For more information on this project, contact Stephanie Hurd at juniortroop51@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Christen Earns Gold Award


Christen, a senior at Our Lady of Good Counsel and a member of Girl Scout troop 480, recently received her Girl Scout Gold Award for her St. Clair County Cemetery project.

Christen spent 75 hours collecting data to create a genealogy website for St. Clair County. Christen travelled all over the county taking pictures of each headstone and recording the information in a database that can be accessed by anyone interested in finding relatives or historical figures from the area. During a Merit Badge Day, Christen had the opportunity to teach some Boy Scouts about how to use the new website and talk about the importance of preserving local cemeteries and graveyards.

Christen is the daughter of Roger and Suzanne. She will attend Gadsden State Community College in the fall.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Prayer Garden Earns Gold Award


Kate, a senior at Southside High School and member of Troop 620, recently earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for her Prayer Garden project at Christ Center Church in Rainbow City.

Prior to completing her project, Kate’s church did not have an outdoor area for people to reflect or spend time in prayer. A landscapist for a local golf course helped Kate draw up the plans for the garden and helped her pick out appropriate plants and flowers. To make sure she didn’t hit utility lines when she started digging holes, Kate contacted Call Before You Dig to mark the lines. With the help of some church volunteers, Kate made some concrete benches and a giant concrete cross that now sits in the middle of the garden. People have already used the garden for Sunday School classes, small groups and communion on Palm Sunday.

Kate is a native of Rainbow City.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Nestlé Crunch Introduces World's Most Valuable Candy Bars

New Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars Valued at 200 Times Suggested Retail Price by World’s Largest Collectible Auctioneer; Online Pre-Sale Starts Tomorrow at Facebook.com/NestleCrunch

LOS ANGELES - America, your dreams have come true! After months of speculation and mouth-watering rumors, NESTLÉ® CRUNCH® today confirmed it has created the new Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars, designated “the world’s most valuable candy bars” by the world’s largest auction house of collectibles, Heritage Auctions. Having officially authenticated the first set of the three limited edition Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars, Heritage Auctions has appraised the bars at $500, an amount almost 200 times greater than the bars’ suggested retail price -- making them the most valuable candy bars currently in existence.

Inspired by the three most popular flavors of Girl Scout Cookies, Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars are produced under license from Girl Scouts of the USA and come in three varieties: 
  • Thin Mints™ – Dark chocolate cookie wafers and mint chocolate crème, topped with airy crispies and a rich, dark chocolatey coating 
  • Caramel & Coconut – Cookie wafers layered with coconut caramel crème and chewy caramel, topped with toasted coconut and drizzled with caramel stripes 
  • Peanut Butter Crème – Cookie wafers layered with smooth peanut butter crème, topped with airy crispies and a creamy, chocolatey coating
“When word of this irresistible combination of Nestlé Crunch and Girl Scout Cookie flavors leaked earlier this year, consumers started calling,” said spokesperson Tricia Bowles, Nestlé USA, Confections & Snacks. “One said he’d give us all of his money for Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars! Another said she’d do ‘anything’ to get her hands on some, and our retailers seem to feel the same way. Fans should be ready to buy “the world’s most valuable candy bars” before they are all gone!”

Beginning tomorrow, May 9, Nestlé Crunch and Girl Scout Cookie fans can log online to purchase the candy bars through a special, limited supply pre-sale program at Facebook.com/Crunch while supplies last. After the pre-sale, the Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars will be available as limited edition candy bars this summer at participating retail stores nationwide, beginning June 1 through September.

WORTHY OF A RENOIR
The new Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars hold the distinct honor of serving as the muse for acclaimed painter Alexandre Renoir, the great-grandson of the legendary Impressionist, French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. His original painting of the bars will be auctioned off at a special VIP event at Galerie Michael in Beverly Hills on May 31. In addition to Renoir’s new masterpiece, a framed set of Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars from the first production run will be auctioned off at the gallery and online through Heritage Auctions. All proceeds will benefit the local Girl Scouts council, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles.

“Nestlé is anticipating a tremendous response to these Girls Scout candy bars and, given how good they are, I’d say those expectations are warranted,” said Margaret Barrett, a music, entertainment and pop culture specialist with Heritage Auctions, which will feature the framed set of the Nestle Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars online. “The three candy bars that we are auctioning – from the first production run – will be regarded as treasures of pop culture. They should easily command at least $100 to $200 each at auction or $500 for the set, with the winning bids to benefit the local Girl Scouts council, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles.

USA entered into a national license agreement with Nestlé, for the limited production of Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars. This marks the first time the Girl Scouts have licensed a candy bar product inspired by the flavors of their famous cookies.

"We’re pleased that with the help of a great brand like Nestlé Crunch, our iconic Girl Scouts brand can reach the public in new and unexpected places," said Barry Horowitz, vice president and general manager, Girl Scout Merchandise, Girl Scouts of the USA. "During our 100th anniversary, we hope the Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars raise awareness of the Girl Scout Cookie Program and all the business and financial literacy skills girls learn from participating in this annual leadership activity."

About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer or reconnect with, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA-4-U (800-478-7248) or visit girlscouts.org.

About Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $800 million, and 700,000+ online bidder members. Heritage features more than 34 categories of collectibles and is the unchallenged leader in Coins, Comics, Comic Art, Movie Posters, Vintage Sports Memorabilia, Illustration and Comic Art, Space Memorabilia and much more. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

About Nestlé USA 
Named one of “The World’s Most Admired Food Companies” in FORTUNE magazine for 14 consecutive years, Nestlé provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with LEAN CUISINE® to baking traditions with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®, Nestlé USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that make good living possible. That’s what “Nestlé. Good Food, Good Life” is all about. Nestlé USA, with 2010 sales of $10.4 billion, is part of Nestlé S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness — with 2010 sales of $105 billion. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or NestleNewsroom.com.

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Monday, May 7, 2012

Girl Scouts Elect New Board Members

Ben Goldman, new Board of
Directors member, and Board
Development Committee Chair
The Girl Scouts North-Central Alabama elected the following Board Members at the annual meeting held April 28 at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama: Neeysa Biddle of Albertville, Ascension Health; Mariah Chapman of Birmingham, BBVA Compass; Wendy Evesque of Birmingham, Protective Life; Ben Goldman of Birmingham, Hand Arendall; Laura Huckabee-Jennings of Huntsville, Transcend Leadership Coaching; Tanya Shunnara of Birmingham, Sirote and Permutt; Henley Smith of Birmingham, O’Neal Steel; and Mary Wuertenberger of Anniston.

Reelected to serve on the GSNCA Board of Directors again are Diane Brooker of Demopolis, Alabama Power Company; Paige Daniel of Birmingham, Highland Associates; Janet Kincherlow-Martin of Decatur, Calhoun Community College; Barry Morris of Florence; University of North Alabama; and Cindi Vice of Trussville, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

Additionally, Ben Goldman was elected chair of the Board Development Committee. Mayor Anna Berry of Heflin, City of Heflin; Vicky Kirby of Fort Payne, Edward Jones Investment Group; Elaine Kwarcinski of Birmingham, Alabama Power Company; Penny Southward of Birmingham, Urban Development Group; and Loo Whitfield of Tuscaloosa, West Alabama Chamber of Commerce were also elected to serve on the Board Development Committee.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Girl Scouts YP Society Hosts Third Annual Soiree@SoHo

Back: J.W. Swift, Mary Cummings, Ali Wilburn,
Tiffany Story, Meredith Foster;
Front: Ben Goldman, Kimberly Rudolph, Casi Ferguson
The Girl Scouts Young Professionals Society will host the third annual Soiree@SoHo, formally Soiree@Saks, on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at Rosewood Hall inSoHo Square from 6:30-9 p.m.

Young professionals are invited to join the YP Society for live music, food and drinks, a silent auction and role model runway fashion show provided by Belk at Brookwood Mall. Proceeds from the event ensure that girls across the North-Central Alabama have the opportunity to participate in Girl Scout programs.

Participating as models on the Role Model Runway are Amy Bailey of MyScoop Media; Elizabeth Boldin of Luckie& Co.; Jim Cavale of Iron Tribe Fitness; Trey Cummings of Bentley Realty Group Inc.; Carlin Everts of The Simblist Group LLC; Wendy Garner of Alabama's 13; Alan Gurganus of Alabama Environmental; Crystal Holmes of Sirote&Permutt, PC; Jamika Kirk of UAB College of Arts and Sciences; Jonathan Macklem of Christian & Small; Andre Natta of The Terminal/Urban Convo; and Natasha Rogers of Railroad Park.

Chairing the event is Mary Cummings of Frost Cummings Tidwell Group. Other committee members include Elizabeth Emerson, Casi Ferguson, Ben Goldman, Kyle Keith, Emily Kent, Ashley White Lord, Wynona Raby, Kimberly Rudolph, Morgan Sport, Tiffany Story, J.W. Swift and Ali Wilburn.

Sponsors for the event include Alabama’s 13, b-metro, Belk at Brookwood Mall, Regions Bank, Jim ‘N Nick’s, Hand Arendall LLC, Sirote & Permutt PC and MyScoop.

For sponsor and ticket information, please contact Meredith Foster, Communications Coordinator, at 205-453-9530 or mfoster@girlscoutsnca.org.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Mark Your Calendars for the Martha Stewart Show


The Martha Stewart Show is featuring Girl Scouts in an episode that will air at 10 a.m. on May 7 on the Hallmark Channel. The entire show is devoted to Girl Scouting and a celebration of our 100 years. The show, which was taped on March 21, begins with a conversation about Girl Scouting between GSUSA CEO Anna Maria Chávez and Martha Stewart, who was a Girl Scout while growing up in New Jersey. The program also features Girl Scouts engaging with Martha Stewart in various cooking and craft segments, and there’s even a segment on Girl Scout uniforms through the decades. The show will air again on May 7 at 2 p.m. and on May 8 at 1 p.m., and you’ll be able to watch clips from the show at marthastewart.com beginning on May 8.

We hope you’ll tune in for a wonderful celebration of Girl Scouting!