FALL 2018
G.I.R.L.
CONNECTION
Experience G.I.R.L. Power at the B.I.G. Event! There is power in every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ so join us as we unleash it at our Believe in G.I.R.L. (BIG) Event on Saturday, September 29, at the University of New Orleans! You won’t want to miss this huge day of hands-on activities and demonstrations on Life Skills, Entrepreneurship, STEM, the Arts and Outdoors. Girls will meet women like the creator of NOLA Fashion Week Tracee Dundas, veterinarian Priscilla Joyner, female chef Jana Billiot, engineers, scientists, and other role models, as they explore career options, enjoy interactive presentations, and have fun with other Girl Scouts from across Louisiana. The B.I.G. Event is open to all Girl Scouts, grades K-12, registered by September 19 for the 2019 membership year. The cost is $5 per girl and includes a patch to the first 1,500 girls to register. Adults are free. Event registration is easy at www.gsle.org/ebiz. Activities and displays are being provided by nearly 100 different organizations including, the U.S. Coast Guard, Electric Girls, Fit NOLA, UNO’s Biology Department, Jean
NEW Badges focus on STEM and the Environment Whether your girl raves for robots, is mad about science, or cares deeply for her ecosystem, there is a new Girl Scout badge for her among the 30 new badges introduced by Girl Scouts over the summer, designed to help enhance her oneof-a-kind Girl Scout leadership experience. The new and unique programming allows Girl Scouts, grades K through 12, to earn badges in cyber security, environmental advocacy, mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science and space exploration. Visit www.gsle.org/ whats-new for more.
Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, the Louisiana SPCA, Small Fry’s Cooking, the LSU Museum of Natural Science, Delgado Community College’s Automotive Department, Empower Your Cents, the Association for Women in Science, and many more! This year’s B.I.G. Event service project is a donation drive for our local Court Appointed Special Advocates Association (CASA). A wish list of items can be found at www.gsle.org/bigevent
Speak Up, Lead the Way! Fall Product Sale is September 21 – October 21, 2018 Raising money for your Girl Scout troop has never been easier! By participating in this Friends and Family Sale, troops earn start-up funds to support their activities by participating in the council’s fall fundraiser of nuts, chocolates, magazines, and other items. All orders are pre-paid and there are no booth sales. The troop earns $1 for every food item sold, and 15% of the price of magazines sold online. Food products range from $5 to $10 and with the items being delivered in mid-November, they make great holiday gifts for teachers, friends, and family! In addition to troop proceeds, individual girl sellers receive incentives ranging from patches, plush animals, and much more. View the website at www.gsle.org/fallproduct to view recognitions, products, and for additional information.
Happy Birthday, Juliette Low
J. Low Fall Festival and Duck Derby being held at two camps this fall! Join us in October for a Saturday of fun camp activities and friendly competition at one of our J.Low Fall Festivals and Duck Derby. Camp Marydale’s festival is set for October 20 and Camp Whispering Pines’ one is October 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with each Duck Derby beginning at 11 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the GSLE camps of choice and duck adoption donations will be applied to your service unit’s Annual Family Giving goal. Activities include: canoeing, kayaking, archery, face painting, SWAPS, and the Duck Derby. Festival goers will also enjoy pony rides at Camp Marydale and a 40-foot rock wall at CWP.
Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low was born October 31, 1860.
The entrance fee for each festival is $25 for one duck and five fest tickets. Hundreds of plastic ducks will compete with the winner of the grand prize selecting either a $100 American Express gift card or $250 of Girl Scout ‘duck dough’ which can be used for camp, programs, and council shop items. One winner per duck derby and winner need not be present to win. To adopt your ducks and register for the festival go to www.gsle.org/duckderby. For more information, please contact Jill Pollard at 504-3555871 or jpollard@gsle.org.
Join us for Juliette Low Leadership Luncheon Girl Scout alum, volunteers, and friends of Girl Scouting are invited to attend our Juliette Low Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, October 31, at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. All proceeds will go towards programming, uniforms, event fees, camp and travel for underserved Girl Scouts across southeast Louisiana. A champagne reception will begin at 11 a.m. with lunch from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
Tickets for the awards luncheon are $100 per person if purchased by October 15 and $125 per person thereafter. Tickets may be purchased online at www.gsle. org/leadershipluncheon. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Honorees are: Helena Moreno, Councilmember-at-Large, Outstanding Woman; Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Outstanding Man; Shell, Outstanding
Business/Foundation; 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans, Outstanding Business/Educators; and Jackie Daniels, who will receive the Minnie Finley Award which is awarded to a GSLE volunteer who also impacts the greater community. Contact Jill Pollard at 504-355-5871 or jpollard@gsle.org for more information.
Shell Outstanding Business/Foundation
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100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans Helena Moreno Councilmember-at-Large Outstanding Woman
Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Outstanding Man
Jacquelyn S. Daniels Former GSLE Board Chair Minnie Finley Award
Outstanding Business/ Educators
CEO Jackie Alexander to retire at year end Girl Scouts Louisiana East CEO Jackie Alexander has announced her retirement to the council’s Board of Directors and her staff but has agreed to stay on until December 31, 2018 to allow time for the new chief executive officer to be selected. A board selection committee has been formed under the direction of Board Development Committee Chair Betsy Stoner, and a national search firm is undergoing the selection process.
Jackie Alexander has worked for Girl Scouts in southeast Louisiana for 26 years, and had only been CEO of the legacy Girl Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana (GSCSELA) for one year prior to Hurricane Katrina, which severely impacted our region and the majority of our members, families, and council properties. She was instrumental in the rebuilding process following that natural disaster as well as others following, and was named CEO of the newly aligned Girl Scouts Louisiana East in 2008 when GSCSELA and the legacy Audubon council merged. She will leave this council in a sound financial position, and will be sorely missed by those she has worked with. Thank you, Jackie, for your many years of service to Girl Scouts!
Local Building Professionals help Girl Scout revitalize McFadden Cabin in New Orleans City Park McFadden Cabin is getting a makeover. The Girl Scout cabin, which has been closed to Girl Scout groups due to structural issues and an aging septic system, is in the process of being “revitalized” largely due to members of two groups – the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans (HBAGNO) and the Professional Women in Building Council of the HBAGNO.
empower each young girl to literally learn how to build her own future.”
Sponsors, donating their time or supplies, will be recognized in a special display at the cabin. Girl Scouts from the council’s alternative delivery program, will assist with much of the work during a weekend in September, working “hands-on” with professional builders and vendors from around the community, learning their craft and about their careers.
“It is our hope that the McFadden Cabin project will result in girls gaining valuable life and STEM skills, while also providing revenue opportunities for GSLE to offer the cabin as an intimate event space,” said council CEO Jackie Alexander.
Volunteers have already removed the cracked slab of the cabin and will be replacing the floor this fall. Girl Scouts, with the support of local professionals and GSLE staff and volunteers, will put the finishing touches on the cabin. The cabin will be equipped with new plumbing fixtures, interior walls, front doors, and a new paint job. Additionally, the cabin has been taken off a septic tank and tied into the city park’s sewerage system to make it more feasible to hold events at the location.
Located behind the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), the cabin was originally constructed in the 1920’s by William McFadden and given to the local Girl Scout council on February 14, 1931 as a “Valentine gift.” This revitalization coincides with the expansion of NOMA’s sculpture garden, which will be located just outside the back door of McFadden Cabin. The new Louisiana Children’s Museum, which is expected to open in July 2019, is also within view of the cabin. “We are honored that our members are volunteering their time to work with Girl Scouts Louisiana East to revitalize McFadden Cabin in City Park,” said Jon Luther, CEO of the Home Builders Association of GNO. “This project will not only restore a beloved City Park landmark but will
The cracked slap was removed over the summer, and is being replaced this fall.
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Gold Award Girl Scouts shine! When a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award she does not just complete a project, she changes the world! Gold Award Girl Scouts, new and alum, can all agree that earning the Girl Scout Gold Award builds organizational, leadership and problem solving skills that lead to a lifetime of achievement. Congratulations goes our council’s six 2017-2018 Gold Award Girl Scouts who were recognized at a statewide Gold Award reception and ceremony at the Old Governor’s Mansion in June. Gold Award Girl Scouts include: Margaret, Gonzales; Beata, New Orleans; Margaux, Thibodaux; Emily, Jefferson; Margo, Des Allemands; and Haley, Kenner. After Ascension Parish’s Galvez Primary School flooded, Margaret replaced five basketball goals and built a buddy bench to address problems of bullying, and promote inclusiveness for all students. The Gold Award Girl Scout also helped a Junior Girl Scout troop Gold Award Girl Scout Margaret Britton pinned earn their staying by her mother, Janet Britton. fit badge. Britton was also the recipient of the 2018 Kelly C. O’Mahoney $1,000 Gold Award Scholarship Beata formed the Big Sibling Safety project to create awareness about the perils of the social sphere, such as teen drinking and drugs, and educated incoming high school freshmen about appropriate social media use. Upper classmen, who were positive role models, helped the younger students practice making better social decisions with scenarios and hands-on activities.
Gold Award Girl Scout Beata Desselle pinned by her Troop Leader of 40709, Carrie Carney.
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For her Gold Award project, Margaux raised awareness about healthy food choices and educated students about their daily dietary decision. Her school even began to sell yogurt and vegetable trays during breaks and lunch. Emily created 102 Gold Award Girl Scout Margaux pinned by her mother, Catherine. activity and craft packets for Ochsner Health Center for Children patients to enjoy while staying in the hospital. The packets included paint, play-dough, stencils, coloring books, bubbles and more for patients from pre-school to high school. The Gold Award Girl Scout Emily pinned by packets also included her mother, Liz. a note from Emily beginning with “You are loved, you are brave, you are my inspiration.” Margo helped create awareness about a new museum in her community by building and donating a life-size play house, along with sharing information about what the museum has to offer and opening dates. Matherne’s Gold Award Girl Scout Margo pinned by her mother, Denise. Gold Award project also allowed her to win third place for the state’s VFW Scout of the Year Award. Having a love for nutrition and fitness, Haley decided to educate residents at St. Francis Villa Assisted Living about healthy eating and exercising. The residents loved Messina’s mock menu that taught them how to order smarter portions when dining out.
Gold Award Girl Scout Haley pinned by her father, Jeffrey.
In order to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout must demonstrate her ability and skills in goal-setting, planning, implementing Girl Scout values, and relating to the community. Each girl planned and executed a community service project with a minimum of 80 working hours, which reached beyond the Girl Scout organization and provided a sustainable, lasting benefit to the girls’ larger community. Earning this prestigious award enables the Gold Award Girl Scout to distinguish herself in the college admissions process, earn college scholarships, and enter the military one rank higher.
(back row left to right) Gold Award Girl Scouts Margaux, Beata, Emily and Haley; (first row left to right) 2010 Gold Award Girl Scout and emcee, Meghan Stringfellow, Margo and Margaret.
Join the GSLE Recruiter Corps! In the face of the increased competition for girls’ time, we need an army of volunteers and girls dedicated to the movement and willing to share their story. It will take all of us: volunteers, staff, and girls, working together to Unleash Strong! as only girls and women can. Your contribution will be invaluable whether it is “womaning” a GS table at Open House (on your own or with your troop) or taking fliers to the school when you drop your children off. Every girl and adult volunteer can join the GSLE Recruiter Corps and earn recognitions for their efforts. Girls will earn the exclusive GSLE Recruiter Corps patch the first year they complete requirements by “Posting, Promoting and Partying” like a G.I.R.L. and patch bars in subsequent years. It is so simple - just complete two or more requirements from “Promote” and one or more from both “Post” and “Party.” Incentives will be provided free as a thank you annually in January and July after submission of the recruitment report by November 15 and May 15 deadlines. Additional information such as patch requirements and report forms for troops, individual girls, and adults can be found at www.gsle.org/recruiter-corps
Sisters and Laila recruiting for Service Unit 381!
2018 Girl Scout Bronze & Silver Awards Congratulations go to the following Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes for earning the Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards!
2018 Girl Scout Bronze Award Recipients (6/1/18 – 8/31/18) Troop 10027 C’laxia Kelsi Chloe Kristen Gracelyn Kate Ally
Troop 41113 Madelyn Annalise Madyson Audrey Rosalie Ryleigh Rebecca
Troop 10340 Kenzie Claire Abby Troop 30209 Sophia Emily Amelia Jadyn Mackenzie
2018 Girl Scout Silver Award Recipients (6/1/18 – 8/31/18) Troop 40097 Olivia Leia Amyri Emma Ashley Balseba Hailey Individually Registered Cadence Hrilina
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Honoring the Flag Over 50 Girl Scouts, volunteers, and family members honored the flag, by holding the large American Flag on the field during the Star Spangled Banner at the New Orleans Baby Cakes baseball game on June 28.Â
Members of Troop 10340 assisted Blue Star Mothers and other volunteers with planting 11,000 flags at the Louisiana State Capital Memorial Gardens over Memorial Day weekend.
Follow the Girl Scout Network on LinkedIn Girl Scout alum? Then you’re invited! Follow the Girl Scout Network on LinkedIn and join forces with like-minded women to effect positive change, gain career development opportunities, and prepare girls for a lifetime of leadership and career success. Girl Scouts of the USA and LinkedIn began this partnership in April to encourage alums to connect with one another to enhance their career development and to share their experience with the next generation. Go to www.girlscouts.org/GirlScoutNetwork for a direct link to the Network on LinkedIn.
G.I.R.L. Sightings
What do you get when you weave the best all-girl leadership experience with an amazing fabric and craft retailer? A beautiful masterpiece! JOANN and Girl Scouts is helping G.I.R.L.s take their creativity to another level and get ready for another exciting year. From now until September 30, all JOANN stores will host a register campaign with all proceeds going to Girl Scouts. In addition, stores will continue to accommodate Girl Scout events, like recruitment events, cookie booth sales and more. Current Girl Scouts, parents of active members, and lifetime Girl Scout members are encouraged to register for the Girl Scout Rewards Card to receive 15 percent These GI.R.L.s loved our Sew Easy, Sew Fun summer off total in-store and camp in Baton Rouge! online purchases.
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Check out this Super G.I.R.L. in Troop 10340 who runs mini marathons and 5Ks!
These G.I.R.L.s in Junior Troop 10747 explore new heights rock climbing in Baton Rouge.
Girl Scouts: Preparing girls for a lifetime of leadership! Only Girl Scouts brings the expertise, programming, and legacy of success necessary to help girls reach their full potential, preparing them for a lifetime of leadership. Girl Scouts takes the potential of girls, combines it with robust skill-building programming, and adds caring adult mentors and strong female role models. Everything a Girl Scout does centers around STEM, the outdoors, development of life skills, and entrepreneurship, and is designed to meet her where she is now and to grow along with her. Whether she’s building a robotic arm, coding her first app, building a shelter in the backcountry, or packing for her first hike, a Girl Scout has an exciting array of choices to suit her interests at every age. Looking for insects during At Girl Scouts, “Can I?” quickly turns into “I will!” as girls transform their Days of Discovery day ideas into action, turn their questions camp!
into adventure, and grow their
confidence through practice. And with more than 50 million other G.I.R.L.s to cheer them on every step of the way, there’s no limit to what she can accomplish. Girl Scouts works. It’s the best leadership experience for girls in the world for one very good reason: because it’s girl-led! Campers during Days of Discovery learn LEGO robotics programming! At Camp Loblolly day camp, veterinarian Dr. Michelle McKenzie shared how girls can prepare for vet school and female detective, Carli Messina discussed how she solves crimes in a male dominated career. Here she's showing her Brownie vest when she was a Girl Scout!
In Memoriam Girl Scout Jean Fahr, age 64, passed away on August 27, following a battle with cancer. Jean, a former assistant chief executive officer overseeing program and properties at the legacy Girl Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana, was troop leader of Mariner Troop 592 and a positive adult role model to hundreds of Girl Scouts she met over 40+ years in Girl Scouting. She was the quintessential “green blooded” Girl Scout, earning the tremendous respect of countless adult volunteers, camp staff, and colleagues. Jean was a seasonal camp staff member during college and began her professional career with the council in 1978 as a field manager/camp director. Camp was in decline until she took it over and completely turned things around to build a model program. She soon began the process to get the camp ACA accredited and the participation more than doubled under her guidance. She built and expanded year round outdoor programs and adult training; partnered with national organizations, developed aquatic programs, and worked to get Camp Whispering Pines recognized as a certified long leaf forest and Camp Covington as a historic site. In the late 1980s she fought to see that the Tangipahoa River got cleaned up, the council halting all river recreation at CWP, and starting a letter-writing campaign to get state action.
She coordinated large Girl Scout birthday celebrations – with the Great Reunion in 1997 (85 years) and Lift Every Voice in 2002 (90 years) which included producing a 90th Birthday Commemorative Recording sung by Girl Scout alums – as well as conducting special council events which included an annual Arbor Day planting and Covington’s Diamond Jubilee in 2002 (75 years). She was the author and editor of popular, outdoor cookbook, Pocket Stew, which has been published since 1987 for the 75th Girl Scout Birthday and continues to be used and sold to Girl Scouts via council shops across the United States, 31 years later. She left the council’s staff in 2005, becoming executive director of the non-profit Parkway Partners, but remained active in Girl Scouting as a troop leader. She was recognized by the council with the Thanks Badge in 2012. She has touched the lives of so many girls and shared her gifts and passion for Girl Scouts with the adults that she trained, mentored and inspired. She will be long remembered and missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and with all who mourn her passing.
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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW ORLEANS, LA PERMIT NO. 428
P.O. Box 10800 • New Orleans, LA 70181-0800 (504) 733-8220 • (800) 644-7571 • www.gsle.org
G.I.R.L.CONNECTION NEW GLUTEN-FREE cookie joins 2019 Cookie Line-Up When the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie season opens next January, our customers will be offered a new gluten-free cookie, Caramel Chocolate Chip! The chewy rich caramel, semi-sweet chocolate chip, with a hint of sea salt, will replace the Trios cookie at $5 a package, available in limited quantities. All other Girl Scout cookie varieties will remain $4 per package. Since quantities are limited, troop leaders will need to pre-order the gluten-free cookie by September 20, in order to sell them.
Smart Cookie U registration now open What better way to enhance your business savvy than by participating in Smart Cookie U, being held on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. Smart Cookie U is a fun way for girls in grades 4 - 12 to put their newfound skills into practice as they prepare for the largest, girl led business in the country—the Girl Scout Cookie Program! Girls who register before October 31 will receive $10 in Cookie Dough! Deadline to register for Smart Cookie U is December 9.
The 2019 Cookie Season is set for January 11 – March 10, 2019. Pre-orders are January 11 – 28 with booth sales from February 22 – March 10. The Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country, teaching girls important skills like goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.
Senior and Ambassador troops as well as adult volunteers are needed so if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Bethany Washington at bwashington@gsle.org or 504-733-8220, ext. 2252.
Cookies to College! The Girl Scout Cookie Program does more than teach girls entrepreneurship skills-- it helps and prepares them for college. Seven graduating Girl Scouts became the 2018 recipients of our Cookies to College Scholarship. Scholarship recipients include: Bridget, Kenner; Shelby, Mandeville; Ceci, Mandeville; Heather, Mandeville; Desiree, Gretna; Morgan, New Orleans; and Caitlin, Covington. The $1,000 scholarships are awarded, annually, to outstanding college bound Girl Scout Ambassadors whose participation in Girl Scouts, along with the Cookie Program, has led them to success and leadership. The recipients must complete an application process and plan to attend college upon graduating high school.
Scholarship recipients Caitlin, Desiree and Heather were presented with checks at the Membership Kick-Off over the summer.
www.gsle.org