R.E.A.L. Girls

On Wednesday, September 1, at 2:00 p.m. EST, join us for a webcast of the 2011 R.E.A.L. Girl Fashion Show Launch Party! Register early by clicking here.

Girl Scouts of the USA has partnered with Justine Magazine to celebrate the launch of the 2011 R.E.A.L. (Remarkable. Energetic. Aspirational. Leader) Girl contest, open only to current Girl Scout members, ages 13-19, during the launch party being held at the Girl Scout Headquarters in New York City. Watch the latest Girl Scout trends - modeled on the runway by Girl Scouts, a special guest appearance by the hot new country-singing sensation Katie Armiger, and a book panel discussion featuring teen issue authors, Dr. Robyn Silverman, Good Girls Don’t Get Fat; Sarah Mlynowski, Gimme A Call, and more.

Tune in on September 1 at 2:00 p.m. EST and learn how to be the next R.E.A.L. girl winner. You’ll also get a chance to win an exclusive prize only available to our online viewers during the live webcast! Again, register early by clicking here.

200 Girls Enjoy Summer Fun Programs in Etowah County

The Etowah County Summer Fun Girl Scout Programs, which served over 200 girls this summer, were held at two locations: Walnut Park Community Center and Gateway Community Housing. Everything the girls did centered around the theme, It Is Great to Be Me! and the Girl Scout promise and law. Each girl received a journal and participated in activities about feelings and issues that happen in everyday life and in their schools. The girls also participated in exercise each day.

The girls at Gateway Village had an instructor teach them Zumba, a popular new dance style of exercise. Girls explored their creative abilities by making many different types of things like appliquéd beach towels, decorated flip flops, painted wooden jewelry boxes and picture frames, as well as painted and designed beach cover-ups out of T-shirts, painted and decorated beach bags. They made bath salts and put in decorative bottles, made real lip gloss and even made bulletin boards for their rooms with boards and fabric and ribbon and buttons.

Girls were also taught how to help others. The girls at Walnut Park appliquéd towels for Thirteenth Place, a home for teenagers after one girl shared how she was separated from her family and spent nearly a year at Thirteenth Place. They also picked up trash all around the Walnut Park community center and school grounds. Girls at Gateway Village made one of all their crafts for a young girl with brain cancer. They also did cleanup project at the community housing.

Field trips were also a big hit this summer. Walnut Park girls went to DeSoto Caverns for a day of fun panning for gold, exploring the caves and water activities. Gateway Village girls went to Spring Valley Beach for a day of water activities and spent a day at Noccalula Falls riding the train, touring the grounds and swimming at the campgrounds. The girls were given kapers each day and the opportunity to make choices that gave them ownership of the program and the development of leadership skills.

Girls who attended the 21^st Century Grant day care program at Striplin Elementary participated in Girl Scout programs one day a week and Girl Scouts also partnered with the Boys and Girls Club by presenting Girl Scout programs with their girls one day a week.

Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Gadsden and Gadsden Service Guild for sponsoring the Summer Fun program.

Photo: Girls at the Gateway Community Housing showing off their new jewelry

Oak Mountain Sophomore Earns Gold Award

Joy, a 10th grader at Oak Mountain High School, recently earned her Gold Award. Joy wanted to make a difference in the lives of local children attending the AG Gaston Boys and Girls Club programs. By developing an empowerment program and collaborating with professionals in the community, she was able to educate the children on many options they have when choosing a career path and pursuing their dreams. She and fellow Girl Scouts, along with volunteers from the Jack and Jill of America organization, held mini-seminars that related to career fields. Along with the seminars, Joy and her volunteers presented experiments that had to do with each career field so the children could receive a firsthand experience. Fields covered included medicine, writing, history, engineering, math and music. Each child received a notebook at the beginning of the week and had homework each night to research the next day's career topic. Through earning her Gold Award, Joy learned she had the courage and ability to overcome any obstacle, and that although she was just a teenager, she had the ability to empower others. Joy is the daughter of Adolphus and Diann of Birmingham.

Barber's Dairy Wins GSNCA Fishing Tournament

Pictured: Brent Suggs & Lynn Holt with their first place trophy.

The inaugural Bill Ireland Invitational Fishing Tournament was held August 13-14 on Lake Alice at Kanawahala Program Center (KPC) located in Chelsea, AL. Proceeds benefited the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

The tournament kicked-off Friday, August 13 with a Captain’s Party on the deck of Lake Alice at KPC. The Captain’s Party included appetizers and beverages with a silent auction. Following the 6 a.m. breakfast on Saturday, August 14, the tournament began with a shotgun start on Lake Alice at KPC and other private, local lakes.

Lynn Holt and Brent Suggs of Barber’s Dairy took home the first place trophy for 23.54 lbs of largemouth bass. Coming in second was Jim Parsons and Reed Rogers with 19.62 lbs of largemouth bass. Barely behind capturing third place was father/son team Dennis & Jackson Smith with 19.2 lbs.

Brent Suggs of Barber’s Dairy won the largest bass, with a weight of 7.2 lbs. Jason Parsons had the most fish, with 18 filling his ice chest. Coming in first for all other species was Jim Parsons and Reed Rogers with 13.27. Second for all other species was Bob Suellentrop and Jim Parker with .75 lbs.

The fishing tournament, started in 2004, was revived in honor of a wonderful Girl Scout supporter, Bill Ireland, Sr. This year’s event was chaired by Tom Clark, Alice Williams and Marjorie Davis-Trimm. Sponsors included Alabama Power, Barber’s Diary, George Barber, Jr., EBSCO, Ted Kennedy, The Ireland Family, Regions Bank, Servis 1st Bank, Talladega Superspeedway and Vulcan Materials.

Woodmen of the World Donate Flags to GSNCA

Pictured: Dennis Witmer, Field Representative;
Jennifer Parker, Community Development Manager for GSNCA;
and Marti Baldwin, Volunteer with the Whispering Pines Service Unit.

Woodmen of the Word recently presented two flags with stands to the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. One flag was donated to the Whispering Pines Service Unit in Walker County and the other flag will be donated to Kanawahala Program Center in Chelsea, AL. Woodmen of the World are the largest purchasers of American flags to donate to local organizations. The presentation was part of an annual Leaders Retreat, held at First Christian Church.

Troop 67 Gets to Know Vestavia Hills

Pictured: Vestavia Hills Councilman Steve Ammons, Reyna,
Samantha, Hannah, Barrett, Anne Kearny, Anna and Hannah

Troop 67 recently went on a Get to Know Your Community Scavenger Hunt as a part of their Bronze Award requirements. They toured Vestavia Hills and also met by Councilman Steve Ammons at City Hall for a private tour. The 5th grade girls learned a lot about the city, it's 60-year history and several upcoming projects and events with which Girl Scouts could help.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Locust Fork Girls Earn Bronze Award

The members of Troop 1281 which includes Jenna, Emilie, Katie, Hannah, Susanna, Alana, Cierra, Layla, Kendall, Abigail, Jordan and Jodie all of Locust Fork adopted the Olive Branch nursing home for their Bronze Award project. The girls went to The Olive Branch several times and made 25 lap quilts, planted flowers for the home, read to the residents, played games and held a sing-along party. The girls enjoyed hearing the histories that the residents shared and becoming close friends. The girls learned how to be better listeners through this project.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Vestavia Hills Girl Earns Bronze Award

Photo: Emily and her artwork.

Emily of Troop 451 decided to do an art project that she could donate to the children’s area of the new Vestavia Hills Library. She enlisted the help of her troop by taking pictures of businesses, schools and places in Vestavia Hills. She pasted all pictures to a canvas that she had painted beforehand. Emily also sought after donations to get the artwork framed and then donated to the new Vestavia Hills Library. Emily feels that her project creates awareness of her community, and will encourage other children to learn about the place they call home. She also found that while talking with people about her project, she learned valuable public speaking skills. 

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Oak Mountain Girls Earn Bronze Award

Anna Claire, Josy, Kate, Rachel, Natalie, Melanie, Maggie, Callen, Jaybeth, Lauren, Lauren, Meredith, Lyndsey, Lauren and Brennah of Troop 980 held a book drive at their school, Oak Mountain Intermediate, to earn their Bronze Award. The girls collected and sorted over 3000 books to donate to Better Basics and the Lovelady Center. They also went to each organization and led each group in activities. At Better Basics, they designed activities for school-aged children to help them enjoy reading. At the Lovelady Center the girls worked with the day care program and celebrated Dr. Seuss Day by reading Dr. Seuss books and created special Dr. Seuss activities for the kids. 

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Headstart at Curry Elementary

The Head Start Daisy program at Curry Elementary in Jasper is a 6-week program that gives low income children a head start before K-5. Throughout the program, the girls completed activities in the Girl Scout Daisy Journey book. They also learned the Promise, participated in the Friendship Circle and did several garden activities. The girls planted Daisy seeds in pots to watch them grow and dried some wild daisies by ironing them between pieces of wax paper. At the end of the program, the girls received certificates and Daisy pins at their graduation ceremony.

Pictured: Visually-impaired girl feeling her new Girl Scout pin after it was pinned on her dress.

Girl Scouts to Unveil New National Brand Initiative

Girl Scouts, one of the most well-known and well-loved organizations in the nation, is revitalizing and re-energizing its brand to reach a new generation of girls. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA) is scheduled to launch the new brand publicly in mid August.

After extensive research and development, Girl Scouts recently debuted a long-term, multichannel brand campaign that is designed to reacquaint the country with the iconic organization and communicate the power girls have to change the world through Girl Scouting. The campaign, known by the tagline What Did You Do Today?, is also keyed to boosting the number of girls and adult volunteers who participate in Girl Scouting annually after a period of declining membership.

“A revitalized and energized brand is absolutely essential for us and our future growth,” said Trish Coghlan, Chief Executive Officer of GSNCA. “About one out of every 16 girls within the 36 counties GSNCA serves participates in Girl Scouting and that’s a tremendous number when you think about it. But that also means that we have a great opportunity to grow even after almost 100 years. We have literally revamped our entire organization to appeal to that 94 percent of girls who aren’t benefiting from the Girl Scout leadership experience. We think we have the right message at the right time with our new brand.”

The branding, in the works as part of the organization’s comprehensive transformation that began in 2004, is composed of a striking new visual identity, which includes a distinctive trefoil mark, revised color palette, and refreshed logo that was originally created in the 1970s by the legendary designer Saul Bass. In addition, the initiative also includes plans for a 360-degree marketing program that taps the online, place-based and traditional media.

As part of the What Did You Do Today? campaign, Girl Scouts also has developed Spanish-language advertising to target the Hispanic market, one of the few girl populations in the country that is growing. GSNCA currently serves the Hispanic population through its uniquely ME! program, which combats many of the issues facing Hispanic pre-adolescent and adolescent aged girls. The core curriculum, which integrates the latest research from the Girl Scout Research Institute, consists of age appropriate booklets with information and exercises about recognizing one’s strengths and best attributes, identifying healthy media images, handling peer pressure, healthy eating habits, hygiene, general wellness, exercise and identifying core values and personal interests. The overall goal of uniquely ME! is to foster the growth of self-esteem within the realms of the participant’s intellectual, physical, psychological, social and mental development. The uniquely! Me program is set to kick-off in the Fall.

“What we’re doing with What Did You Today? is repositioning Girl Scouts with a message that is relevant to girls and the lives they lead today,” said Hilary Perry, Director of Communications and Advocacy. “To some degree, our brand had faded and our research revealed that while many girls and parents knew about us, they had a very limited view of us. While we are proud of our $3 million cookie business run by girls, we offer so much more than that, and this new work is designed to let people know about all the new and exciting things girls do every day as Girl Scouts. Our brand promise is that Girl Scouts gives every girl access to life-changing experiences that inspire her to do something big. We don’t have to look much further than our Gold Awardees to see evidence of that.”

Perry said that Girl Scouting is launching its rebranding from a position of strength because it can draw upon strong name recognition and a long legacy of leadership development. With this new campaign and the projected growth in overall girl population in the United States, Girls Scouts expects to see its membership begin to increase over the next few years. The campaign will also pave the way, Perry said, for a major effort to gain exposure during the organization’s national centennial celebration in 2012.