GSNCA Calls for 2015 Women of Distinction Nominees

Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA) is now accepting nominations for the Women of Distinction Awards. Nominations may be submitted by any individual or organization.  The review and selection of nominees will take place in December by a group of community leaders from across the council. The awards are open to women who have made special contributions to their communities through civic, academic or professional efforts and are exemplary role models for today’s girls.  Nomination forms are available at http://girlscoutsnca.org/donors/special-events/women-of-distinction/ or request a nomination form by emailing tmines@girlscoutsnca.org.

The 2015 Women of Distinction Awards are open to all women in North-Central Alabama. Women chosen for this award will be recognized at the annual Women of Distinction Luncheon at the Harbert Center in Birmingham on Friday, March 6, 2015 from 11:30 – 1 p.m.

Ten outstanding women will be honored at this year’s event. GSNCA will present the Mildred Bell Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award to one woman from Walker, Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton or St. Clair County in Central Alabama.  The Frances E. Couch Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to one recipient from Etowah, Talladega, Calhoun, Cleburne, Cherokee, Clay or Randolph counties in East Alabama. The Christine Richard Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to one recipient from Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan or Winston counties in North Alabama.  The Karen LaMoreaux Bryan Lifetime Achievement Award is open to women in West Alabama from Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Hamilton, Lamar, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter or Tuscaloosa counties. Each of these awards honors the memory of a beloved community leader whose contributions had far-reaching impact in her respective community.

The deadline for all nominations is November 21, 2014. The Women of Distinction Awards is the premier fundraising event for GSNCA. All proceeds from this event directly support the Girl Scouts’ mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.  

For more information, please contact Interim Senior Director of Fund Development Tonya Mines at 205-453-9513 or tmines@girlscoutsnca.org. 

About Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama 

Girl Scouting gives every girl access to life-changing experiences that inspire her to do something BIG! Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way community partner and serves over 15,000 girl members grades K-12, and 5,000 volunteers in programs across 36 counties. For more information, call 800-734-4541 or visit girlscoutsnca.org. 

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Samantha Vaphiades Earns Gold Award by Assisting Senior Citizens

Samantha Vaphiades, a 2014 graduate of John Carroll Catholic High School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Vaphiades earned her Gold Award for her project A Pathway to Beauty. Her project focused on enriching the lives of the senior citizens at St. Martins in the Pines by creating wheelchair accessible activities. Vaphiades organized the building of a stone pathway to the raised gardens so that residents in wheelchairs have access to the planters. Ingram planted vegetables that the residents will take care of, and she says they are relearning the skills of gardening and setting daily goals for themselves.  

“Working on this project has brought me closer to the senior citizens in the community and has helped me to see how disabilities impact so many,” Vaphiades said. “Working with the senior citizens in the gardens has given them a purpose to their day as they take care of their own plants. The pathway and gardens have inspired other Girl Scout troops to participate in planting with seniors.”

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Debbie McDowell-Tate, senior director of membership, volunteers and program with the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Samantha 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 are 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 the Girl Scout Gold Award

The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. For more information about the Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.

About Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama

Girl Scouting gives every girl access to life-changing experiences that inspire her to do something BIG! Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way community partner and serves over 15,000 girl members grades K-12 and 5,000 volunteers in programs across 36 counties. For more information, call 800-734-4541 or visit girlscoutsnca.org.

Girl Leadership Awards & Workshops

	Workshop	Date	Location	Grade Level	Registration Deadline
	Program Aide Workshop	Nov 8	Birmingham	C	Oct 25
	Bronze Award Workshop	Nov 15	Birmingham	J, AV	Nov 1
	Silver Award Workshop	Nov 15	Birmingham	C, AV	Nov 1
	Gold Award Workshop	Nov 15	Birmingham	S, A, AV	Nov 1

Training Schedule: Get Ready for the 2014-2015 Cookie Program!

GSNCA is excited to share the 2014-2015 Cookie Program training schedule. Please view the schedule below and register for a training that works for you!

***It is mandatory for first time Troop Cookie Manager’s (Cookie Rookies) to attend the in-person council training.***

All registered girls will be uploaded directly into eBudde again this year. Please make sure your girls are registered by December 1, 2014.

In order to best serve you, we will need you to register for Cookie Training. Please use the Adult Learning & Girl Leadership form found on the council website. The page link is provided below:
http://girlscoutsnca.org/wp-content/uploads/Adult-Learning-Girl-Leadership-Awards-Registration-Form2.pdf

Please register two weeks before the class date so that we can send  a confirmation e-mail with needed check in information. Our goal is to provide the volunteers and girls with all the information they need to have a positive product sale experience. Help us to provide that for you by registering early. We thank you for your commitment to the girls and willingness to be a part of this exciting Girl Scout Cookie Program!

All volunteers who register for training will be given priority the day of training. If you come to training without preregistering we will ask you to wait until all registered participants are checked in. If there is still space available we will be able to let you attend.We are providing food, fun and door prizes!! In order to be eligible for prizes registration is a must!

Please note that we will not be adding additional trainings. There is a webinar available for returning troop cookie managers. If you are a returning troop cookie manager and cannot attend a scheduled training by your Service Unit Cookie Manager, you can attend any of the council training or you can view the recorded webinar session. Training materials will be distributed by your Service Unit Cookie Manager after training is completed.

Service Unit Cookie Manager Training

The training classes listed in this section are for volunteers who are in the leadership role to coach the troop cookie manager in their service unit.

Junior League October 20, 2014

2212 20th Ave. So. 6:00-8:00 pm

Birmingham, AL 35223

Huntsville Service Center October 23, 2014

1515 Sparkman Dr. NW 6:00-8:00 pm

Huntsville, AL 35816

First United Methodist Church November 1, 2014

109 Gayle Ave. SW 9:00-10:30 am

Jacksonville, AL 36265

Ivan K Hill Park November 8, 2014

Recreation Center 9:00am – 10:30am

400 Community Street

Winfield Al 35594

Cookie Rookie Troop Cookie Manager Training

The training classes listed in this section are for first time troop cookie managers and leaders.

First United Methodist Church November 1, 2014

109 Gayle Ave. SW 1:30 -3:00 pm

Jacksonville, AL 36265

Florence Service Center November 3,2014

4050 Helton Drive 12:00-1:30pm

Suite 202 6:00-8:00pm

Florence Al 35630

Birmingham Service Center November 4, 2014

105 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. 9:30-11:30am

Birmingham, AL 35223 6:00-8:00pm

Wedowee First UMC November 6, 2014

116 W Broad Street 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Wedowee Al 36278

Ivan K Hill Park November 8, 2014

Recreation Center 11:30am – 1:00pm

400 Community Street

Winfield Al 35594

Huntsville Service Center November 10, 2014

1515 Sparkman Dr. NW 9:30-11:30am

Huntsville, AL 35816 6:00-8:00pm

Tuscaloosa Service Center November 13, 2014

21219th St. South 6:00-8:00pm

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Tuscaloosa Service Center December 1, 2014

21219th St. South 9:30-11:30am

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 6:30-8:00pm

Birmingham Service Center December 2, 2014

105 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. 9:30-11:00am

Birmingham Al 35242 6:30-8:00pm

Huntsville Service Center December 4, 2014

1515 Sparkman Dr. NW 9:30-11:00am

Huntsville, AL 35816 6:30-8:00pm

Returning Troop Cookie Manager Training

The trainings in this section are for experienced troop cookie mangers. If you have been in the role of troop cookie manager prior to this year please sign up for one of the trainings below.

Holly Cross Lutheran Church October 27, 2014

1401 University Blvd East 6:00-8:00 pm

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

First United Methodist Church November 1, 2014

109 Gayle Ave. SW 11:30am – 1:00pm

Jacksonville, AL 36265

Florence Service Center November 3,2014

4050 Helton Drive 12:00-1:30pm

Suite 202 6:00-8:00pm

Florence Al 35630

Wedowee First UMC November 6, 2014

116 W Broad Street 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Wedowee Al 36278

Ivan K Hill Park November 8, 2014

Recreation Center 11:30am – 12:30pm

400 Community Street

Winfield Al 35594

Birmingham Service Center November 18, 2014

105 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. 9:30-11:30am

Birmingham, AL 35223 6:00-7:30pm

Huntsville Service Center November 24, 2014

1515 Sparkman Dr. NW 9:30-11:30am

Huntsville, AL 35816 6:00-7:30pm

Tuscaloosa Service Center December 1, 2014

21219th St. South 5:30-6:30pm

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Birmingham Service Center December 2, 2014

105 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. 5:30-6:30pm

Birmingham, AL 35223

Huntsville Service Center December 4, 2014

1515 Sparkman Dr. NW 5:30-6:30 pm

Huntsville, AL 35816

Webinar

To best serve our busy volunteers, we are offering a webinar in addition to the live trainings. Information for registration will be e-mailed out when it is available. Returning troop cookie managers may choose to participate via webinar. First time troop cookie managers must attend a live training, the webinar is geared to returning troop cookie managers and will not have the basics that are provided in the cookie rookie training.

Webinar Recorded Available starting December 8, 2014

Having Fun & Keeping Girls Safe

Involving girls in the planning and keeping them safe during an activity helps to ensure they have a fun and positive memory of the experience. Five simple steps to planning fun, safe activities are: 

1. Use the three processes of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, be sure that: 

1. All activities are girl-led. 

2. Girls have the chance to learn cooperatively.  

3. Girls learn by doing. 

2. Review the Girl Scout Safety Guidelines in Volunteer Essentials.  Every adult in Girl Scouting is responsible for the physical and emotional safety of girls, and we all demonstrate that by agreeing to follow these guidelines at all times.  

3. Read the Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoints for the particular activity the girls are planning. You can find these on our council’s website at:  http://girlscoutsnca.org/volunteers/forms-and-resources/safety-activity-checkpoints. 

4. Remember that if a Safety Activity Checkpoint does not exist for an activity you and the girls are interested in, check with your staff liaison before making any definite plans with the girls. A few activities are allowed only with written council pre-approval and only for girls 12 and over, while some are off-limits completely: 

• Caution: You must get written pre-approval from council for girls ages 12 and older who will operate motorized vehicles, such as go-carts and personal watercraft; use firearms; take trips on waterways that are highly changeable or uncontrollable; experience simulated skydiving and zero-gravity rooms; or fly in noncommercial aircraft, such as small private planes, helicopters, sailplanes, untethered hot air balloons, and blimps. 
• Warning: The following activities are never allowed for any girl: potentially uncontrolled free-falling (bungee jumping, hang gliding, parachuting, parasailing, go-karting, and trampolining); creating extreme variations of approved activities (such as high-altitude climbing and aerial tricks on bicycles, skis, snowboards, skateboards, water-skis, and wakeboards); hunting; shooting a projectile at another person; riding all-terrain vehicles and motor bikes; and taking watercraft trips in Class V or higher.   

5. Be aware that some discussion or activities may be considered sensitive for some due to their faiths or cultures.  Put the topic on hold until you have spoken with parents and received guidance from your staff liaison. When Girl Scout activities involve sensitive issues, your role is that of a caring adult who can help girls acquire skills and knowledge in a supportive atmosphere, not someone who advocates a particular position. You are required to obtain permission slips signed by the girls’ parents/guardians; see the “Engaging Girls at All Grade Levels” chapter of Volunteer Essentials for more information.