Young Women’s Leadership Summit

The Young Women’s Leadership Summit will be held only Saturday October 10, 2009 at the Courtyard Marriott there is still room for more Seniors and Ambassador Girl Scouts. The program starts at 9:00am to 4:00pm. We will have door prizes, lunch and goody bags for each participant. For only $15 girls will attend 6 workshops on Standing Out in a Crowd by Lauren Goodson President Cornerstone Recruitment group, All About you, Vickie Brown Tuscaloosa City School Board, Women in History- Dr. Anna Vacca BPW State Parliamentarian, Welcome to My World- Patricia Coghlan GSNCA new CEO, Reality Check-Donna S. Cates Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch, Looking Your Best-Nicole Anderson BPW & RE/MAX Realtor. Come meet girls from all over the state!

Dove Campaign Benefits Girl Scouts

Dove is launching a new campaign to continue communicating the importance of building positive self-esteem in girls. The purpose of the campaign, entitled, “Thank You for Making a Difference,” is to show the positive effects self-esteem programs have on girls, and to thank consumers for making a difference. Dove is partnering in the campaign with three charitable organizations who have programs designed to build and support girls’ self-esteem—Girl Scouts of the USA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Girls Inc.

Dove is running a special promotion this October in which anyone who buys Dove products can have $1 from their purchase donated to one of the three partner organizations.

To participate, consumers who buy Dove products can go to www.dove.com, indicate the Dove product purchased via UPC code, and select the charity to receive the donation. All donations directed to GSUSA will go toward funding additional uniquely ME! programs at the council level. Consumers have until December 15, 2009 to donate to the charity of their choice.

Girl Scouts of the USA and the uniquely ME! program will be featured on www.dove.com, and Dove will celebrate individuals who are getting involved and making a difference for girls.

Global Leadership Opportunities

GSUSA is seeking applications from young women interested in global leadership opportunities. http://bit.ly/t0YUt

Becoming a Leader: Girl Scout Article in Shoals Woman

Shelby County Girl Earns Gold Award

Melissa recently earned her Gold Award by renovating the sensory riding trail for the Special Equestrians program. The sensory trail incorporates multiple activities that stimulate special needs students. Melissa created statues for the trail, a new magnetic board, a spinning flower and replaced their noodle hang. To have enough supplies to complete her project, Melissa contacted hardware stores and other retailers to donate the supplies she needed. Through this project, Melissa learned how to manage her time, money and supplies and learned the value of setting timely goals to keep her project on task. Melissa is the daughter of Roy and Nina of Birmingham.

JSU Student Earns Gold Award

Beatrice recently earned her Gold Award by collecting shoes and purses for single mothers and battered women who are served by the Oak Mountain Mission. Beatrice’s project, titled, YouNiquie Women: You Are Special, involved a day where she made the women of the Mission feel special by offering facials and massages, as well as educational material on health issues, nutrition, exercise, skin care and dressing for success. To ensure the projects’ success, Beatrice had solicit donations for supplies, time and other resources. She also had to create a back-up plan in case women from local shelters were not able to get transportation to the site of the special day by creating packages and delivering them. Beatrice is the daughter of Kerry and Georgiana of Birmingham. A graduate of Oak Mountain High School, she is currently a student at Jacksonville State University.

CFGB Partners with GSNCA on Technology

Pictured Left to Right: GSNCA CEO Trish Coghlan;
GSNCA Board Members: Holley Lagrone, Alice Williams, Judy Neil,
Peggie Myles, Phyllis Davis; GSNCA Board Chair Chris Ross;
and CFGB Vice President of Philanthropy Jan Bell.

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham recently awarded GSNCA with a technology grant of $6,900! Thank you for your support!

Haleyville Girl Earns Gold Award

Annalisa Fowler recently completed her Gold Award project by creating a PowerPoint presentation and brochure that educated the community about alternative energy sources that are available and may become available in the state of Alabama, energy saving tips and recycling. She presented this information to two different groups in her community. In addition Annalisa coordinated the planting of trees with the Haleyville High School Junior Civitans in the City Lake Playground/Outdoor classroom. The project will also be delivered to Haleyville High School science teachers to use in their classrooms.

Annalisa is the daughter of David and Suzzane Fowler. She graduated from Haleyville High School and currently attends the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Huntsville Girl Earns Gold Award

Stephanie recently earned her Gold Award by starting a Book Club for Teens at the Huntsville Public Library. Her project was developed to create an environment in the community in which girls could safely express their ideas and opinions about different topics brought up in the books that were read.
 
Annie Goodwin of the Huntsville Madison County Public Library commented, “It is my opinion that Stephanie met a very crucial need within out public library: a teen –led program for teens. Members were engaged in book discussions and were proactively working together to make selections for future meetings. That Stephanie’s book club is sustainable and will continue to serve teens in the future is very promising for the further development of teen programming at the library.”
 
Stephanie is the daughter of Susan. She graduated from Westminster Christian Academy and currently attends the University of North Alabama.

Hoover Girl Earns Gold Award

Catherine recently earned her Gold Award by planning and teaching environmental classes to the campers at Camp Fletcher. The project addressed the specific issues of water protection, recycling and reducing wastes. Catherine helped campers relate to their local surroundings through a variety of activities.
 
Janis Barksdale, Camp Director for Camp Fletcher, writes, “I must say when we first discussed the project in the spring I did not realize the true impact it would have on the camp. The benches Catherine built will allow better seating around the flag pole for group gatherings. Many of her environmental activities using recycled materials such as the newspaper hats, crayon kaleidoscopes and pictures with sticks were enjoyed by the campers so much that we plan to implement these activities into some of our programming. They really enjoyed digging in the creek searching for invertebrates creating lasting memories at camp. Her interest and commitment has definitely earned her the name given by campers as ‘The Environmental Lady’. The recycle bins and compose bins are also greatly appreciated and will permit better programming for future trips and camp sessions held at Camp Fletcher.”
 
Catherine is the daughter of Cliff and Donna and attended Hoover High School. She currently attends Auburn University and is majoring in Civil Engineering.

Troop 188 Bridges to Cadettes

L-R: Victoria, Mary Elizabeth, Anna Caroline, Olivia,
Ashley, Shelby, Cameron, Macy , Erin and Kennedy (not pictured)

Girls of Troop 188 recently bridged to Cadettes by sliding down a pool slide waving by to Juniors at the top before they plunged into the exciting world of Cadettes!

CEO Promotes Financial Literacy with German Ambassador

Trish Coghlan, CEO of Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, meets with German Ambassador on September 3rd to promote the Council’s financial literacy initiative.

Photo: L-R J. Bruce Jones, Honorary Federal Republic of Germany Consul for Alabama; the Honorable Klaus Scharioth, Federal Republic of Germany Ambassador to the United States; Trish Coghlan, CEO of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama; the Honorable Lutz Goergens, Federal Republic of Germany Consul General of the Southeastern United States.

Summer Jamboree!

Junior Troop 1001 preparing for the flag ceremony

The Coosa Valley's Service Area Weekend, Summer Jamboree, was an action-packed weekend! The service area was organized into color teams of older and younger girls to promote new friendships. Each team wore a different colored bandana throughout the day. Scores, by team, were tallied throughout the day and medals and ribbons were given out. Activities consisted of "land events" including archery, a badge design contest, nature table centerpiece contest, fire building, tug of war, table setting & etiquette, tent construction, obstacle course, scavenger hunt on the island, and knot tying, slip-n-slide, squirt guns, bottle filling contest, and a balloon toss! Thanks to Cynthia Smothers and Kerrie Johnson for putting together such a great weekend!

Cullman Water Party

Over 50 girls came out for the Cullman Water Party on Thursday, August 27 at Sportsman Park to recruit new Girl Scouts and new Girl Scout leaders. Girls made bracelets, threw water balloons and used water blasters, had egg races, and sang some songs! Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassador Girl Scouts helped with the party!

Girls made bracelets with many kinds of beads and got to snack on Chick-Fil-A nuggets. Special thanks to Chick-Fil-A for donating half of the nuggets and special milkshake coupons, and to Sportsman Lake Park for the use of the Park! Also thanks to Margaret Holmes and her Senior/Ambassadors for helping with the event!

Hartselle Tea Party

Service Unit 14, in Hartselle, hosted a Tea Party at the Sparkman Civic Center on Monday, August 24. Over 25 new girls came and new leaders were recruited! Local businesses donated tea, some beautiful teapots were "loaned" for the occasion, and Juniors and Cadettes helped with serving the tea and cookies. Current troops recruited new members and two new Daisy troops were established! Thanks to JoAnne Woodall and Cindy Hanback (Service Unit Manager) who planned the event!