Connections Newsletter Contents
Spring 2014 Edition
CEO Corner Upcoming Dates Community Challenge National Convention Girl Scouts Taking Action Community Partners BFF: Be a Friend First 2014 Recognitions Cookies & Cookie Challenge Camp STEM Donors Board of Directors
Council Contact Info & Hours Council Headquarters (Albuquerque): p: 505.343.1040 f: 505.343.1050 Business Hours (Headquarters): Mon-Thurs: 8am-5pm Friday: 8am-12pm Santa Fe Office Hours: Each Thurs: 8am-5:30pm p: 505.983.6339
LaTienda
505.923.2522 Shop Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10am-5pm Friday: 9am-12pm Select Saturdays from 9am-2pm: 5/17, 5/31 (open until 5pm), 6/14
www.NMGirlScouts.org
THANK YOU to our volunteers and staff…. There is nothing better than watching a girl in a real life experience of discovering what she can do. I spent the day with many of our girls traveling through the Round House, meeting aids, legislators, touring Governor Martinez’s office and watching our legislature in action. The girls were so candid and engaged, you could just see them envisioning their place as our future leaders. Recently, we honored many of our extraordinary leaders and supporters at our Award and Recognition Celebration which we held at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. What a beautiful location and lovely evening with outstanding food and friends! I thank each of our volunteers for making time to contribute to the growth and development our girls throughout New Mexico. Your commitment to this big responsibility is heartwarming and greatly appreciated. Please know that what you contribute everyday directly benefits our girls who then take action to “make the world a better place.” So as we celebrate our successes this year, we look forward to summer and the smell of pine trees and horses. Ahh….wonderful camp! So many fond memories filled with new friends, exploring the wilderness filled with elk and deer, hiking, archery, rock climbing, and selecting a camp name that perfectly describes you. If you haven’t experienced camping, give it a try! Come and celebrate the 45th anniversary of our beloved Rancho del Chaparral. Bring your family and friends…..and a sleeping bag, sleep under the stars, smell the lovely air, and listen to the breezes whispering through the pine trees. Thank you for helping make this the best Girl Scout Council in the country. We all know when we invest our time, talent and resources to girls, they truly can change the world!
Peggy Sanchez Mills, CEO
Upcoming Program, Training, & Event Dates Museum Sleepover
May 25
DBJ. NM Museum of Natural History & Science
BuddieZ & FriendZ
April 26
DBJ and CSA at Valle de Oro NWR
First Aid & CPR
May 10
CSA and Adults. GSNMT Headquarters.
Rancho Big Clean
Are you an Early Bird? Have you renewed your membership for the 2014-2015 Girl Scout year? Anyone re-registering for the 2014 – 2015 Girl Scout year before June 16, 2014 will receive an Early Bird patch!
May 16-18
All.
Outdoor Core
May 17
All. Bear Canyon.
Rancho Open House
May 18
Open to All!
Barker Big Clean
May 30-June 1
Daisy Sleepover
May 31
D. Santa Fe Children’s Museum
Barker Open House
June 1
Open to All!
Pecos Wilderness Backpacking Cliff’s 750+
June 2-5 June 7
All.
CSA. Girls who sold 750+ boxes ofcookies. Cliff’s Amusement Park, Albuquerque.
Troops who re-register 60% or more of their troop members (girls and adults) will earn a 15% coupon to use in La Tienda toward the following Girl Scout merchandise: • All program level books • All official insignia and pins • Patches for all grade levels • Vests, sashes, or tunics
Roar ‘n Snore
June 14-15
BJCSA. Rio Grande Zoo
Outdoor Expo
June 21-22
CSA and Adults. Hyde Memorial State Park.
Please note: Every girl who “Early Birds” gets a patch. Only troops who re-register the number of members provided by their Regional Managers get the 15% discount coupon for La Tienda. New registrations do not count towards Early Bird. Only current reregistrations. For more information contact your Regional Manager at (505) 343-1040
www.NMGirlScouts.org
GS$
45th Anniversary
July 12
All. Rancho del Chaparral
Daisy Day
July 19
D. Rancho del Chaparral
First Aid & CPR
July 19
CSA and Adults. GSNMT Headquarters.
Build Your Own Mountain Adventure Camporee
July 26-Aug 1 Sept 13-14
SA. Telluride, CO Loretto Park, Bernalillo
D=Daisy, B=Brownie, J=Junior, C=Cadette, S=Senior, A=Ambassador
The GSNMT Camp Book is here!
Use your 2012-2013 GS$ by May 31. GS$ can be used for camp registration, programs like Roar ‘n Snore, and La Tienda.
Go online to see what awesome camp programs we have in store for you this summer. From horseback riding to white water rafting, learning new songs and having s’mores ... so many exciting programs are happening at camp this summer! Where can you find the camp book? Go to our website: NMGirlScouts.org
About GSNMT Council Patches
Council Patches are unique to the Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails. Girl Scouts of every age can earn them. These patches give Girl Scouts the opportunity to discover topics that are specific and unique to our council, connect with others, and take action in their community. Girl Scouts who meet the grade level requirements can earn a council patch by working with a group, with a troop, or on their own. These patches are a fun and educational way to learn more about the many landmarks and locations throughout our council. Learn more about our council patches and their requirements online: nmgirlscouts.org / Program / Council Patches April Patch of the Month is New Mexico Trails Council Patch (pictured left). Learn more about New Mexico with this challenging patch program.
Join our Community Challenge, our Gift of Caring
Help GSNMT send 50,000 boxes of cookies to the military troops and veterans through Blue Star Mothers. Where will the cookies go? Cookies will be distributed to military troops overseas and to veterans at any of the following: veterans hospital, veterans reintegration center, homeless veterans, and/or veterans on the base. Cookies can be paid for online (yes, they are taxdeductible)! Please share with everyone you know! http://nmgirlscouts.org/gift-of-caring.aspx Eligible GSNMT Troops can benefit as well. When boxes are paid for online, a troop can be designated, earning them $1 per box.
About Blue Star Mothers
In February 1942, during World War II, the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. organization was formed in the United States to provide support for mothers who had sons or daughters in active service in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in a window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. The Rio Grande Valley NM Chapter of Blue Star Mothers sends care packages to overseas troops quarterly. These care packages typically include food, green chile, books, magazines, cards, letters ... and, with your help, Girl Scout Cookies!
2014 National Convention GSLI: Girl Scout Leadership Institute
Girls tell us they want to make a real difference in the world, so GSLI 2014 will focus on big issues that girls across the country and around the globe are passionate about! The Girl Scout Leadership Institute is part of Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Convention. Girls attending the GSLI will meet with other Girl Scouts from all over the world for classes and learning experiences focusing on everything from fashion to engineering. The GSLI is where a lot of the magic of convention happens! It is a triennial conference that provides girls 14 and older with three days of leadership skill-building activities tied to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). 10 girls from GSNMT can attend the GSLI. To be eligible, girls must be 14 or older at the time of GSLI (by October 16, 2014) and must submit an application by April 28 (application available online: www.nmgirlscouts.org/gsli.aspx).
53rd Convention & 2014 National Council Session
Every three years, Girl Scouts gather together at the National Council Session and Convention to reinvigorate our Movement, celebrate our accomplishments, and chart our future. Our 2014 National Council Session/53rd Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, promises to honor our cherished traditions and, at the same time, propel the Movement forward into the next 100 years of leadership for girls and young women. We hope you will join us in Salt Lake City on October 16-19, 2014. In addition to conducting the business of the Movement, we will engage in important strategic conversations about the future and provide exciting educational opportunities for adults and girls. This exciting event will reunite alumnae and invigorate a global movement of girls, women, and men around the theme, “Discover, Connect, Take Action: Girls Change the World.” Want to learn more about the sessions or logistics for the convention? Check out the Convention webpage for the most up-to-date information: www.convention.girlscouts.org
Want to register for the convention? All convention registration is handled through the local Girl Scout council. Send your request to register to Annette at ALefebre@gs-nmtrails.org Registration fees are posted online. Please note that convention Early Bird registration ends July 15. Attendees will be responsible for their registration fees and for arranging and paying for their transportation and accomodation fees. www.convention.girlscouts.org
Girl Scouts Taking Action Casey Hoyt, Silver Science & Volunteer Expo Training
Casey, a sophomore at Belen High School, recognized that her service unit tended to have troop activities, rather than larger service unit events. She decided that she wanted to create a service unit event based on STEM--she has always loved math and science. Nearly 50 girls attended this event where all STEM activities involved items you could find in your household. The council’s volunteer expo organizers invited Casey to lead a STEM session for our volunteers. The attendees shared that Casey made STEM activities seem so easy to teach; they are now prepared to take some of these activities back to their troop! Congratulations to Casey for embracing the leader within to provide her service unit and volunteers with fun and educational STEM training!
Annika Cushnyr, Prudential Spirit of Community Award
Congratulations to Annika for being selected as New Mexico’s top High School youth volunteer in the 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. She is being recognized for her giving library project she created last year, “Start My Library,” at a local hospital. Annika collected 4,000 new and used books to start this library that allows children and their families who visit a local medical center to take free books home to read and to provide reading material while they are visiting the medical center. She began to pursue this project after learning that New Mexico has an unusually high rate of illiteracy, with nearly 50 percent of the population being functionally illiterate. So far, more than 500 of the 4,000 books have found new homes.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. As a State Honoree in the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, Annika will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and an allexpense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for a series of national recognition events from May 3-6, 2014.
The “Start My Library” project was Annika’s Gold award project. To learn more about “Start My Library”, visit her website: http://startmylibrary.weebly.com
BFF: Be a Friend First Troop 151 Bullying Silver Award Project
Troop 151 in Albuquerque took on bullying with their Silver Award. They shared what they learned on the local news and through two billboards. Want some tips or activities for your troop, family, or friends? Check out the BFF board on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gsnmt/bff/
Clovis BFF Lunch Program
Over fifty 5th and 6th grade girls joined the BFF lunch group in Portales, a group that met every Thursday from October through March. The group’s goal was to help girls develop friendship skills, learn what to do when being bullied or witness bullying, and gain self-awareness. “I saw a lot of kids get bullied last year and I wanted to know how to help them, and BFF taught me how,” fifth-grader Kinzie Davis said. Courtesy Portales News Tribune
Community Partners
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
Located on the old Price’s Dairy property off of Second SW, Valle de Oro is the first example in the Southwestern United States of a refuge located on the edge of an urban area. A consortium of federal and New Mexico government agencies is in the midst of purchasing the property, which is still primarily a working farm growing alfalfa. The newly established refuge currently offers open houses for the public once a month, as well as tours by appointment. If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please contact the Refuge Manager. Eventually the refuge will offer wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, including: wildlife watching and nature trails, environmental education, interpretation, wildlife photography, and special events. To learn more about the Valle de Oro, visit their Facebook page (Valle de Oro National wildlife refuge) or their website (www.fws.gov/refuge/valle_de_oro).
An Oasis in Albuquerque
To date, 431 acres of land along the Rio Grande have been protected for the new wildlife refuge, including significant water rights to address restoration of the Middle Rio Grande. The urban jewel will eventually encompass 570 acres, a place for people to get outside and truly enjoy nature within their own community.
Girl Scout Saturday at High Plains Federal Credit Union On February 15, Girl Scouts from the Eastern Plains had a Girl Scout Saturday at Eastern Plains Federal Credit Union. This financial literacy event prepared our Girl Scouts to learn how to make money count, become smart money managers, and to learn how to be savvy shoppers. This annual event was facilitated by Emily Nail (HPFCU employee and new GSNMT Board Member). The girls learn money counting skills, have the opportunity to explore the bank, work the drive through (a favorite of the girls!), they create a swap, and learn about check writing. GSUSA’s study Having It All: Girls and Financial Literacy reveals that girls need and want financial literacy skills to help them achieve their dreams, with 90 percent saying it is important for them to learn how to manage money. GSNMT recognizes this need; this need is encouraging financial literacy opportunities for all girls.
GSNMT Receives PNM Reduce Your Use Grant
A huge thanks to PNM Resources Foundation for awarding GSNMT with a Reduce Your Use grant. These funds were used to install a film on windows in the council office that will help us reduce our energy usage. This tinting will also protect our shop merchandise from prematurely fading. Next time you are in our Albuquerque headquarters, check out the newly tinted windows. We can already feel a difference with cooler temperatures in the lobby!
2014 Recognition Ceremony April 12, 2014
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
2014 Council Service Awardee AGORA Crisis Center Albuquerque Christian School Albuquerque Sunport Arts Program Patrick Brenner, AlphaGraphics Grace Church Julia Miera, Clear Channel Outdoor Salle Jayson, KRQE/KASA Susan Gomez, Rock Your Body
2014 Community Service Awardees Algodones Elementary School Bloomfield Multicultural Center Bloomfield Senior Center Christy Brundage, TFLOS City of Bloomfield Clover Leaf Solutions Construction Office Clovis Civic Center Community Bible Church Eddie Paulsgrove First Baptist Church of Bosque Farms Flying Star Hastings - Los Lunas Intel Computer Clubhouse Jonathan F Johnson, Network of Intel African Americans Los Vecinos Community Center Made to Order Rubber Stamp Company Mardrea Hyman McGee Park Mountainair Elementary School Naaba Ani Elementary School NMFLL Committee Paradise Hills United Methodist Church Prentiss Jackson, Intel Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community Santo Nino Regional Catholic School St. Jude Thaddeus Church St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church Starbucks Tractor Supply Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Wal-Mart - Belen Wal-Mart-Los Lunas
Thank you volunteers and community partners!
Why we recognize our volunteers. Formal awards for adults are offered through GSNMT to recognize exemplary service of adult Girl Scouts and community partners who go above and beyond expectations of their position. Trails of Leadership Volunteer of Excellence Appreciation Pin Dianne Absher Aaron Brundage Monica Corral Sandra Austin Dara Cordova-Montoya Regina Gallegos Amanda Blackwell Sara Hodges Honor Pin Nancy Cooley Tiffani Lovell Meghan Lyman David Meakin Kim Smith Tiffany Ortiz Sarah Olguin Maggie Wood Jessica Roush Kimberly Ray Thanks Badge Kristen Sillence Circle of Achievement Jennie Barton Teola Artman Award Tanya Gallegos Alice Andresen Mary Hall Circle of Excellence Joy Sypher Amy Beth Hypes
Dara Cordova-Montoya, Volunteer of Excellence
Dara has been an active member of the Santa Fe service unit since 2009. She has served in numerous roles over the past 5 years in Santa Fe, as leader, service unit product sales manager, and now as service unit manager. Dara leads both girls and adults in a positive manner. She truly is a pleasure for all to work with.
Gigi Gallegos, Appreciation Pin Recipient
Gigi devotes innumerable hours to being both a Girl Scout leader and the trainer for the Desert Skies service unit. As a trainer, she annually puts in hours and hours providing classes to new and seasoned leaders, in any service unit in the council where training is needed. Gigi truly is “fired up” about Girl Scouts and her enthusiasm is contagious!
Jennie Barton, Thanks Badge Recipient
Jennie Barton was nominated for her motivational, tireless, and enthusiastic leadership within the council. A member since 2003, she has received the Teola Artman award for her role as service unit manager and she received the Star Trainer award for her efforts and growth as a trainer. This past year, Jennie has taken the impact that has made her service unit the strongest in the council, and expanded that leadership council-wide. She is our service unit manager mentor, currently mentoring service unit mentors across the council. When asked why Jennie is such a dedicated volunteer for the Girl Scouts, she will always say that she does this for her daughter and for the girls!
Cookies Congratulations Girl Scouts, Troops, Volunteers, and Families!!! We finished another great cookie season! Here are just a handul of the highlights ... more to come soon! Top 10 Troops
14,262 Troop 267 from Clovis 12,493 Troop 10230 from Rio Rancho 10,002 Troop 10471 from Farmington 9,165 Troop 10264 from Albuquerque 7,506 Troop 310 from Albuquerque 6,667 Troop 10164 from Albuquerque 6,613 Troop 10473 from Aztec 6,504 Troop 10443 from Rio Rancho 6,492 Troop 10308 from Albuquerque 6,235 Troop 11680 from Albuquerque
310 troops participated in this year’s cookie sale. 2,819 girls sold cookies. The following service units increased their sales this year: Angel Fire, Bernalillo, Clovis, Desert Rose, Desert Skies, Gallup, Jackson, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, and Socorro 133. Congratulations to Aztec Troop 10175 who averaged over 2500 boxes per girl. These girls will receive the sling back pack, movie tickets with concession AND a weekend at Camp Rancho del Chaparral!!!
Top 10 Girls
3,354 Lauren Wasson, Aztec 2,000 Alexandria Van Why, ABQ 1,850 Melia McDaniel, ABQ 1,809 Sterling Lovesee, ABQ 1,750 Josalynn Ferguson, Farmington 1,702 Deborah Witter, ABQ 1,500 Alexandria Burnham, Farmington 1,400 Hannah Hurd, Rio Rancho 1,400 Savannah McSween, ABQ 1,378 Destani Scioli, Clovis
2,640 girls earned GS$ this year. Girls earn GS$ at 50+ boxes of cookies sold. GS$ can be used for camp and program registration, or for items in La Tienda!
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2014 Girl Scout Cookie Challenge! Thank you to our creative chefs, our sponsors, and our fearless judges who tried EVERYTHING! Congratulations to the winners of the awards ... Best Sweet: M’Tucci’s Kitchina! Best Savory: Bravo Cucina Italiana! Best in Show: M’Tucci’s Kitchina! Most Creative - The Sassy Apron! Mina’s Dish - M’tucci’s Kitchina!
2014 Participating Restaurants
ABQ Grill at the Sheraton Uptown, Albuquerque Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Albuquerque Chocolate Cartel, Albuquerque El Pinto, Albuquerque Hyatt Tamaya, Albuquerque La Fonda del Bosque, Albuquerque La Quiche Parisienne Bistro, Albuquerque M’tucci’s Kitchina, Albuquerque
Osteria d’ Assisi, Santa Fe Pajarito Brew Pub, Los Alamos P’tit Louis Bistro, Albuquerque RealBurger, Santa Fe Rebel Donut, Albuquerque Santa Ana Star Center, Albuquerque The Sassy Apron, Albuquerque Smallcakes: A Cupcakery, Albuquerque
2014 Event Sponsors & Supporters Summit Creamland Los Alamos National Bank All American Moving Century Bank New Mexico Bank & Trust New Mexico Mutual Sam’s Club #4938 Walmart #850 AlphaGraphics Sheraton Uptown, Albuquerque
Choose Your Adventure Camp Elliott Barker
Angel Fire, NM I can’t wait to ... go to camp do arts & crafts learn archery be challenged at the ropes course
horseback ride
make new friends
learn new skills make s’mores over a campfire
make memories that will last a lifetime!
Barker Troop Camp Sessions:
Troop Camp offers troops the opportunity to have the camp experience together! At Camp Elliott Barker, camp activities range from hiking to ropes course, arts and crafts to horseback riding. You can also team build at the challenge course and make s’mores. Session 1: July 11-13 ($90 per person) Session 2: July 20-23 ($120 per person)
Other Camp Elliott Barker family & troop camp weekends: Do-It-Yourself Troop Camps
During these Do-It-Yourself sessions, you will be responsible for providing appropriate supervision for your family or troop, food and meal preparation, and your own activities. $45 per person. May 23-26 (Memorial Day Weekend) June 13-15 June 20-22 July 3-6 (4th of July Weekend) July 18-20 August 29-September 1 (Labor Day Weekend)
Big Clean Weekends Help us prepare camp for the upcoming season. A great (FREE!) weekend for families to come to camp to do service projects: (Spring) May 30-June 1 and (Fall) September 26-28
Me & My Gal: June 27-29 Me & My Guy: July 25-27
High Adventure highlight: Raft & Climb This session is offered to 6-12 grade girls. July 6-11
Pack your gear for an outdoor adventure you will never forget. One day you will be rafting down the Rio Grande the next day you will be climbing and rappelling in the Taos Gorge. You will also have time to hang out at camp doing the ropes course, archery and nature programs. Share your adventures with friends around a campfire.
Local High Adventure
We are excited to be teaming up with Angel Fire Resort to provide local, high adventure opportunities for our campers this summer. Just minutes away from camp, the resort offers us the opportunity to add to our camp programming mountain biking and rappelling. Angel Fire Resort also allows us to do a portion of our canoe lessons at Monte Verde Lake, a lake that they own and manage. We are excited to keep these activities local and to support our neighbors in Angel Fire.
Did you know: GS$ can be used for paying for camp!
Choose Your Adventure Rancho del Chaparral
Join our first annual color, fun run at Rancho! During the 2nd session of camp (June 8-13), campers will participate in our fun run! This is part of the Get Fit Club, where we are encouraging campers to incorporate new healthy activities, snacks, and behaviors into their lives.
Big Weekend & 45th Anniversary: July 11-13 Celebrate Rancho’s 45th Anniversary with us July 11-13! This weekend is open to troops, families, and alumnae. There will be special anniversary activities as well as traditional camp activities all weekend. $90 per person.
Rancho Troop Camp Sessions:
Sign your troop up for one of our troop camp sessions and then when you get to camp, you can decide what camp activities to take part in. At Rancho, Troop Camp activities range from hiking to drama, arts and crafts to horseback riding. You can also meet the burros and make s’mores. Session 1: June 20-22 ($90 per person) Session 2: July 8-11 ($120 per person) Session 3: July 25-27 ($90 per person)
Cuba, NM
Other Rancho del Chaparral family & troop camp weekends: Do-It-Yourself Troop Camps During these Do-It-Yourself sessions, you will be responsible for providing appropriate supervision for your family or troop, food and meal preparation, and your own activities. $45 per person. May 23-26 (Memorial Day Weekend) July 3-6 (4th of July Weekend) July 18-20 August 29-September 1 (Labor Day Weekend)
Big Clean Weekends Join us at the Big Clean weekends and help us prepare camp for the upcoming season. A great (FREE!) weekend for Troops to come to camp and do service projects: (Spring) May 16-18 and (Fall) September 19-21
Daisy Day: July 19 (10am-4pm) Join us for a special day, designed only for our littlest campers, the Daisies! Spend the day trying a little bit of everything at camp. Daisies must come with adult supervision. $25.
Me & My Gal: June 27-29 Me & My Guy: June 13-15
Rancho’s 45th Anniversary Big Weekend & 45th Anniversary: July 11-13 Celebrate Rancho’s 45th Anniversary with us July 11-13! The weekend is open to troops, families, and alumnae. There will be special anniversary activities as well as traditional camp activities all weekend. $90 per person. Or join us for the day. Lunch will be $5 per person.
Come celebrate with us!
have fun at camp with your friends
recreate a vintage photo explore camp do arts & crafts
learn about Rancho’s history try archery
hike to the Mystery Tree feed the burros & alpacas
amazing race
scavenger hunt
leave your legacy
make NEW camp memories that will last a lifetime!
Conservation Efforts Conservation projects and forestry education are a part of the Rancho tradition. Over the years campers helped prune trees, lay and mark trails, plant seedlings, and lay rocks and logs to prevent erosion. Campers also learn to identify various flora and fauna. Fire safety is taught and enforced. Instruction about caring for and respecting the forest and its inhabitants has always been a priority at Rancho. This summer, there will be a nature specialist on staff and a US Forest Service staff person who will be at camp to teach campers about ecology and conservation. Our camp nature specialist will use Project Wild activities to help acquaint campers with nature so that they learn to preserve and even advocate for protecting our environment. Once a week, a US Forest Service staff member will come to camp to work with campers, teaching them about fire ecology, wilderness, and Leave No Trace.
June 1969 – Construction of watercontrols at Rancho. Photo credit: USDA Soil Conservation Service
STEM Girl Scout FLL Teams Place at State Tournament!
The New Mexico FLL State Championship Tournament & Disaster Blaster Jr.FLL State Expo took place February 1, 2014 at Albuquerque Academy. Congratulations to all the teams that participated! Among the winners were several Girl Scout teams: The 2nd place Champions team, the Atomic Flying Pickles will be participating in the North American Open, in LEGOLAND® CA, May 16-18, 2014. The 3rd place Champions team, Bloonatics will also be participating in the North American Open. Congratulations!!!
2nd Place: Atomic Flying Pickles 3rd Place: Bloonatics
Best Design: Gear Girls
Taking Action with STEM
Recently, GSNMT STEM Program Manager Amanda Lujan was invited to be an interviewer at the Inez Elementary School Science Expo. At this Expo, Amanda met Amber, a 5th grade Girl Scout and budding scientist who had an interesting project involving zippers on tennis shoes. This budding scientist explained to Amanda that she was at a cookie booth recently when a disabled man came to the booth to buy cookies. While he was at the cookie booth, Amber thought about how difficult some daily tasks must be for him ... was there something that she could do to make a disabled person’s life easier? Her idea? Create a functional--and good looking--shoe that is easy to put on. For Amber’s school project, she took a couple of tennis shoes and put zippers in various locations She put the zipper in a couple of locations on the tennis shoes to test out what design would work best. She thought a zipper would be easier than shoe laces for people with limited abilities. We are so proud that this 5th grader was aware of this stranger’s limitations and then thought to create something that could make his life easier. Kudos to this thoughtful and smart Girl Scout!
Mountainair Elementary Girls Join STEM Lego Program
This winter, GSNMT provided the STEM LEGO robotics program to over 60 girls at Mountainair Elementary School. When principal Janna Crow was contacted about this program, she jumped at the opportunity. “It’s hard to get people to come to rural communities,” she said. Crow worked with teachers and staff to implement the program during the school day. Girls in kindergarten and first grade met for 35 minutes, while the rest of the grades met for 45 minutes. Fifth-grader Aliyah Contreras describes herself as a “Lego freak” and said she really enjoyed learning how to build a motorized airplane with the help of computerized instructions. “You learn how to program it and then you get to attach parts to it to make it move,” she said. The program was grant-funded by Intel Foundation, RGK Foundation, Sandia National Labs, Lockheed Martin, United Way of Central New Mexico, and BBVA Compass Foundation. (from Mountain View Telegraph)
Fund Development
Thank you to our Sponsors & Donors Individual Donors
Anonymous Ackermann, Nancy Armstrong, Ric Asbridge, Karen Asbridge, Marilyn & John Barger, Patricia Benac, Robin Bergren, Kenneth & Karen Bingham, Kimberly & Rodney Callan, Joe, Kathy & Zoe Casey, Paula Cavalluzzo, Virginia Cazares, Francisco Chambliss, Gail Chrissinger, Jill & C M Cochran, John & Carol Cockburn, Alden & Judy Czuchlewski, Kristina & David Dash, Zora Davies, Cindy Davis, Linda DeGuzman, Sonia Dockendorff, Denise & James Donahoe, Patricia Eagle, Stephanie Elliott, Mr. & Mrs. Russell Felsch, Colleen & Robert Frick, Rebecca & Rick Galke, Jacquelyn Gardenhire, Susan Gladney, June Gold, Sandy Graff, Patricia Green, Ed & Jan Grose, Vanessa Haist, Janet Hall, James & Janet Hansen-Hellwege, Pamela Hartson, David & Nancy Hatch, Steven & Annette Haulenbeek, Kimberly Heffron, Dr. & Mrs. Rosalee Hirschfield, Deidre
Hodges, Rebecca Homan, Mary Johnson, Barbara Johnson, Ruth & Robert Jones, Wendy Kaczar, Gregory Kalbfell, Charlene Kendall, Daniel Kennedy, Melissa Koeberle, Janet Koenig, Barbara Krostag, Diane Lefebre, Annette Lyle, John & Robin Maguire, Patricia & Richard Marberry, Karen Maxwell, Trish McGee, Kathy & Larry McInnis, Wendy Mills, Jason Milnes, Esther Moody, Jacqueline Morgan, Christine A. Nordholm, Karlyne Nylund, Barbara Ormerod, Donna & Kevin Parsons, Roberta Lynn Pattillo, Beth Pennington, Marie Peterson, Klaus & Barbara Peterson, Marjorie Pickering, Susan Ponce, Noemy Rogers, Lisa Roof, Tammy Sanchez Mills, Peggy & Jim Sanchez-Godin, Tamara Sayler, Brandon & Angela Schantz, Marny & Joel Schillinger, Leslie Schmidt, Kevin Schoultz, Dawn Schulz, Sherry Lynn & George Sedillo, Dominic
Sieck, Doug Smoker, Linda Snyder, Nancy Stark, Glenn Stowe, Eugene & Diane Strohacker, Conrad & Mary Swiler, Tom & Laura Swinderman, Alisa Tarbox, Maureen Teague, Rebecca & Weldon Thompson, Robert & Susan Thornton, Maribeth & Christopher Trollinger, Russell Ulibarri, Kristin & Ross
Corporations & Foundations All American Moving Services of NM Allied Physicians Clinic, Inc. Bank of Albuquerque BBVA Compass Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NM Burt & Company CPA’s LLC Century Bank Clark’s Pets ClearChannel Outdoor Creamland Dairies CVS Caremark Elephant Bar & Grill Faith & William Pautler Family Fund Harris Jewelers Hinkle Family Fun Center Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa Inquiry Faciliators, Inc. Intel Foundation Isotopes IT’z Jack and Mary Gilliam Endowment Jimmy’s Café Kohl’s Lilly Barrack Linton & Associates, LLC Lockheed Martin/Sandia National Labs Los Alamos National Bank Mark Pardo Salon Spa
New Mexico Bank and Trust Co. New Mexico Mutual Northern New Mexico Gas Co. Northrop Grumman Corporation Perfection Honda Pizza 9 PNM PNM Resources Foundation RGK Foundation Rotary Club of Clovis High Plains Sam’s Club San Juan United Way Shepherd Business Services Studio 9900 Summit Food Service Taos Ski Valley, Inc. Target Ten Thousand Waves Thornburg Investment Management United Way Mile High, Denver United Way of Central New Mexico United Way of Eastern New Mexico United Way of Northern New Mexico Walmart Foundation Weems Gallery Wild Birds Unlimited * The Fund Development staff have made every effort to ensure that this list is accurate. The list reflects donations received from October 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. If you find an error or omission, please contact Charlene Kalbfell at 505.923.2513 or email CKalbfell@GS-NMTrails.org
Questions? Suggestions? Want to be in the next newsletter? Contact the Communications Department at CAShort@GS-NMTrails.org or 505.923.2514
Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails Board of Directors Officers
Marti Fournier-Revo Chair of the Board of Directors Maribeth Thornton Vice Chair Becky Teague Treasurer Marian Wrage Secretary Peggy Sanchez Mills CEO
Members at Large Karen Bergren Delanie Montoya Emily Nail Stacey Niver Susan Pickering Tammy Roof Marny Schantz Doug Sieck Becky Teague Don Welker Connie Wenk