Monday, January 11, 2016

Girl Scout Starts Successful Trading Library, Earns Gold Award


 BIRMINGHAM, Ala.January 11, 2016–Lillian Sharp, a senior at the Altamont School and native of Birmingham, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Sharp earned her Gold Award for her project, “Lilly’s Literacy.” Sharp discovered that many children in her community didn’t have books at home, and this seriously affected their reading skills. Sharp connected with her local library and with S.T.A.I.R. (Start The Adventure In Reading) Birmingham to see how she could take action on the issue. Sharp gave books to over 100 children in the Avondale area, and began a successful trading program, “The Free Little Library,” at Avondale United Methodist Church, that will last for years.

“A large percentage of kids in my area do not have money to go and buy books, and their parents are concerned with library fines, which keeps them from having reading materials in the home, especially in the summer,” Sharp said. “My Free Little Library set up a trading network that will allow kids to trade books and create their own personal libraries.”

Sharp has also earned her Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards, and she has served as a volunteer at the Birmingham Zoo, the Ronald McDonald House and the Avondale Public Library.

“Reading, no matter if it’s fiction or non-fiction, opens up a child’s world, it exposes them to new vocabulary, it strengthens their imaginations and, most importantly, reading is the key to learning,” Sharp said.

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Karen Peterlin, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Lilly has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

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. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. 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, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

About Girl Scout Gold Award
Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright! To learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org.

About Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama

We're over 13,000 strong—9,500 girls and 3,800 adults in 36 counties in the state of Alabama who believe girls can change the world. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Girl Scouts' founder Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low, who believed in the power of every girl. She organized the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, and every year since, we've made her vision a reality, helping girls discover their strengths, passions, and talents.


Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way partner. To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, visit www.girlscoutsnca.org or call 800-734-4541.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

New Reservation Process Simplifies Long-Range Planning for Camping Experiences

In response to feedback from volunteers, we are revamping the system for reserving camp facilities. The changes will allow service units and troops to plan more long range.
The new reservation system will incorporate a rolling calendar which will allow you to reserve facilities up to one year in advance AND give first priority to service unit and troop reservations.
Reservations will be accepted for one year in advance as follows:
  • 1st through 10th of each month - reservation availability to service units
  • 11th through 20th of each month - reservation availability to service units and troops
  • 21st through last day of each month - reservation availability to service units, troops, and nonmember groups
For example, March 1st -10th of 2016, service units only will be able to make reservations through March 2017. Then March 11th - 20th troops and service units may make reservations through March 2017. Finally, beginning on March 21st, 2016, in addition to troops and service units, nonmember groups will be able to make reservations for March 2017.

With this new system, troops and service units will always have ample opportunity to make their reservations before dates become available to nonmembers. You can still make reservations any time of the month, but access to the dates one year out will be in the order described above. For example, a troop can call on March 1, 2016 to reserve a facility for any date through February, 2017, but must wait until March 11th to make a reservation for March, 2017.

The new system is a direct response to member feedback and will be a real improvement in the timing of reservations. While we reconfigure for the new process, reservations are being temporarily delayed. Your name will be placed on a waiting list and those on the waiting list will be given priority to reserve facilities when the new system is operational. When the new system is rolled out in 2016, you will be contacted in the order in which your inquiry was received.
To make a reservation at any GSNCA camp facility, please email Tonya Sails at tsails@girlscoutsnca.org