GSHS - The Promise Magazine - Spring/Summer 2017

Courage Confidence Character

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 Volume 3

The Official Publication of Girl Scouts Heart of the South

No. 1

2016

G.I.R.L. EVENT

GSHS hosted over 1200 girls and adults at this first-of-its-kind council event.

2016-2017 Higher Award Recipients Recognizing girls earning their Bronze or Silver Awards, 10-Year Members, Community Service Bars and more.

Women of Distinction Lafayette-Oxford-University Area and Golden Triangle Region

Stand Beside Her National Stand Beside Her Week Events & Activities Highlights

GSHS Heritage Center New Exhibit Opens Featuring the 5 World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Centers.

Courage Confidence Character

Incredibll PPzz Lovee Girr Scoutt!

The Official Publication of Girl Scouts Heart of the South

The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law. Girl Scouts Heart of the South Promise Magazine Team Chief Executive Officer Melanie Schild Editor, Senior Art Director Alison Coons Associate Editor, Art Director Kristen Posey-Russell Contributing Editors Ebony Archie, Cosette Hawkinson, Lori Gilmore, Jenny Jones Advertising Sales Representatives Lori Gilmore, Greater Memphis Area Jenny Jones, North Mississippi & West Tennessee

P.O. Box 240246 | Memphis, TN 38124-0246 | (800) 624-4185 www.girlscoutshs.org 2016-2017 GSHS Board of Directors Kathleen Webb, Chair Dr. Pamela Evans, 1st Vice Chair Lori Patton, 2nd Vice Chair Claire Barnett, Secretary Nancy Cochran, Treasurer/Finance Chair Rosemarie Fair, Board Development Committee Chair

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Ahsaki Baptist Sulee Blansett Cathy Fitzpatrick Deborah Harris Pat Moody Abi Rayburn

Laurie Thornton Mary Kay Wegner Sharon Younger David Vance Melanie Schild

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The Girl Scout Mission Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Go-Getters Kristen Posey-Russell, GSHS Chief Marketing Officer, and local Girl Scout, Emma Coons, encourage others to write down and post how they plan to promise to Stand Beside one another at the 2016 G.I.R.L. Event.

Learn more about this outstanding council-wide celebration and all its fun activities on page 9!

the Promise | CONTENTS program Profiles

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Spring/Summer 2017

22 council Cares

2016 G.I.R.L. Event Highlights Inaugural Event Attracts Over 1000 Visitors

of Distinction Luncheons 15 Women Lafayette-Oxford-University & Golden Triangle Region Treats Foster Financial Literacy 19 Tasty The Girl Scout Cookie Program

membership Moments

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Today's G.I.R.L. GSHS Parent Engagement Initiative

13 achievements & Awards Want to see your troop featured in a future edition of the Promise?

Get creative! Send a picture of your group making the Girl Scout Promise to news@girlscoutshs.org. See page 29 for guidelines.

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GSHS Heritage Center New Exhibit Features World Centers

stand Beside Her

7

2016 National Stand Beside Her Week Highlights & Events

33

2017 Stand Beside Her Event Planning Calendar

26 troop Tales iss on’t m and dur fun o side” “flip

Courage Confidence Character

for

G.I.R.L.s!

The Official Publication of Girl Scouts Heart of the South

Cover Photo courtesy GSUSA

GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH

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Empower girls.

Change the world.

It takes a lot of drive to push past boundaries and limits to change the world.

We’re proud to support Girl Scouts Heart of the South and everyone who works to give girls the confidence they need to make their communities a better place. We’re glad they’re a part of our global community.

©2016 FedEx. All rights reserved.

saturday agenda Please join us for the Girl Scouts Heart of the South Volunteer Leadership Summit and Grand Celebration.

Saturday, May 20 Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center Olive Branch, MS

8 a.m.

Registration Opens

9 a.m.

Annual Meeting

10:40 p.m.

CEO’s Welcome

11 a.m.

Session One - Daisy Track - Brownie Track - Junior Track - Cadette Track - Senior & Ambassador Track - Service Unit Track

12:30 p.m.

State of the Council Luncheon

2:15 p.m.

Session Two - Personal Development Tracks

3 p.m.

Session Three - Daisy Track - Brownie Track - Junior Track - Cadette Track - Senior & Ambassador Track - Service Unit Track

4:45 p.m.

Closing Remarks

6 p.m.

Grand Celebration Banquet

This day is designed with our Girl Scout volunteers in mind and features informative sessions including tracks for individual Girl Scout Grade Levels. This is a perfect opportunity to get both ideas for next year and a jump start on your planning.

The variety of sessions will offer unique and interesting topics designed to increase knowledge, help you to practice new skills, provide valuable networking opportunities, and - most importantly - give you the chance to meet your fellow volunteers, make new friends, and have fun!

We’ll share exciting council plans, programs and news at the State of the Council Luncheon and celebrate our outstanding volunteers at the Grand Celebration Banquet. This awards dinner will recognize individual, troop and service unit volunteers for their service to Girl Scouts. Family, friends and troops are invited to attend and can purchase tickets online.

Specially priced hotel rooms are available at Whispering Woods for Girl Scout volunteers and members (promo code GIRLS).

Service Unit Managers are invited to a Managers’ Meeting and Breakfast on Sunday morning.

Summit Tickets

tickets $25

(includes (includes Summit Summit and and State State of of the the Council Council Luncheon) Luncheon)

State of the Council Luncheon $20 (luncheon (luncheon only) only)

Grand Celebration Banquet (includes (includes dinner) dinner)

$32

For more information and tickets please visit, www.girlscoutshs.org/summit

council Cares GSHS is Leading the Way - The Girl Scout Way Thoughts from our GSHS Council CEO

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am often asked, “Why Girl Scouts? What’s Girl Scouts all about?” Sometimes when those outside our movement think about us, they simply picture smiling little girls in cute uniforms selling cookies. What they might not realize is that each of those badges and insignia on that sweet child’s uniform represents a valuable life skill she has learned or something unique she could only accomplish through Girl Scouts. The self-confidence and financial literacy experience she gains through selling cookies is preparing her for her future.

She is learning to lead the Girl Scout way. So when people ask me, “Why would my daughter need Girl Scouts?” I say that, simply put, this world needs more G.I.R.L. leaders, and no organization prepares girls to lead better than Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely,

Girl Scouts prepares girls to lead by practicing the skills that many of today’s leaders lack - the four key “G.I.R.L.” leadership skills - grit and goal setting, innovation and real-world problem solving, risk taking, and leading others with empathy. We believe deliberate practice is the key to reaching one’s full leadership potential, and we do this by preparing girls to lead—deliberately and consciously— through everyday experiences and activities. Girls can only reach their full potential when they practice leadership the Girl Scout way over a lifetime, not just during a specific life stage. Girl Scouts is for every girl, at every age, every day.

And at GSHS we are taking this concept out of our troop meetings and into the world at large. Now in its fourth year, our Stand Beside Her movement is inspiring women of all ages all over the country to reach out to one another in friendship and solidarity, encourage women to stand up for one another, lend a helping hand, and to find ways to recognize the women in their lives who have stood beside them in ways large and small. Through this movement, GSHS is encouraging girls and women of all ages to lead the Girl Scout way. I encourage you to find out more about the inspiring Stand Beside Her activities of the past year (found on page 7) and to use the planner on page 33 to plan how you’d like to get involved.

All Girl Scout experiences are dedicated to helping teach girls the core G.I.R.L. leadership skills, but girls will become even more effective G.I.R.L. leaders if they are encouraged to practice these skills at home. To this end, GSHS is dedicated to integrating parents and families into our programs by providing valuable takeaways from all events aimed to help foster a dialogue between families and girls about what they learned. As the premier leadership organization for girls, we also hope to help educate parents about how to handle the challenges facing today’s G.I.R.L.s. You can find out more about GSHS’ commitment to parent engagement, and helping parents lead the Girl Scout way on page 21.

make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

In closing, I want to invite all leaders and volunteers to join us May 20 at the Second Annual Volunteer Leadership Summit. As a leader or volunteer, you are key to helping your girls lead the Girl Scout way, and GSHS wants to help you do just that. It’s going to be a “Great Day to Do Something Great and we want to share it with you! Join us!

All my best,

MELANIE SCHILD | Chief Executive Officer Girl Scouts Heart of the South melanie.schild@girlscoutshs.org 6

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2016 Stand Beside Her Movement

Highlights & Events

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irl Scouts Heart of the South celebrated the third annual National Stand Beside Her Week October 30 through November 5, 2016. This initiative - begun right here in our council - is now a nationwide phenomenon encouraging women of all ages to be a champion for other women!

(Top and middle left) Planned and executed by FedEx through their Women’s Initiative program, the 2016 Stand Beside Her Celebration (pictured top and middle left) was full of activities focused on confidence building, STEM, and overcoming adversity. The event was hosted at Belle Forest Community School and ended with a Dream Walk where girls and women were invited to parade all the possibilities for girls!

(Lower middle left) The 2nd Annual Stand Beside Her Forum was held Tuesday, November 1 at Hutchison School. Each year, the National Stand Beside Her Forum features honest discussions on ways we as women can support one another, end competition and comparison, and create more collaboration. Leaders from boardrooms, classrooms, and dining rooms gather to talk about the challenges they have faced and how we can do better for the next generation. The 2016 panel included Anjelica Hardin Hall, Nichole Thomas, Melanie Schild, Kathryn Jasper and Jenny Koltnow.

(Bottom Left) The Lee County Service Unit held its first Stand Beside Her banquet in October 2016 as a fund raiser for their Service Unit’s activities and the Second Annual National Twitter Chat (#StandBesideHer) was held Wednesday, November 2 and included conversation discussing the various ways we as women and organizations can support each other.

It’s time to start planning your 2017 Stand Beside Her event! See page 33 for a handy 6-month Event Planning Guide, and begin thinking about how you and your group can Stand Beside Her this year!

Stand Beside Her Memphis Every day thousands of Memphians work tirelessly to improve the lives of girls and women. Each of us making a difference in our own way. Now imagine if all of us were at one table discussing how together we can collectively serve our community. Stand Beside Her Memphis believes we are better together, and that by collaborating, sharing opportunities, referring services, and connecting people we can produce monumental change in our city.

www.standbesideher.org

Stand Beside Her Memphis, the local effort of the National Stand Beside Her Movement, aims to end competition and comparison and create more collaboration and support among girls and women. When women connect with one another, and with girls, to freely share their knowledge and experience, and form positive relationships, everyone succeeds. Mentoring leads to girls having higher academic aspirations, increased community involvement and seek leadership roles. Women benefit professionally and personally by having a female mentor to guide them through their careers and help them in reaching their goals. Stand Beside Her Memphis’ goal is that by 2020, every girl and woman in Memphis has the opportunity to secure mentorship. In order to make this possible we are building a community of support that connects girls and women to resources that educate, expose and equips them to become successful, empowered and resilient.

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council Cares A Final Farewell from our Board Chair

w

hat this council has accomplished during these past few years has been nothing short of amazing! I am so proud of the hard work and dedication of our outstanding council staff and the tireless work of our wonderful volunteers. Your efforts have elevated GSHS to national acclaim, and my heart is so full thinking back on all we have accomplished.

With Stand Beside Her we have built a national movement to encourage girls and women everywhere to LIVE our Girl Scout mission and BE girls and women of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place by rejecting the norms of competition and comparison and - instead - encouraging, mentoring, and building each other up. We have recognized numerous women throughout our council jurisdiction for their outstanding example and contributions through both our Women of Distinction and One Smart Cookie events. I am especially proud that we have increased our number of Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and have inspired more girls to participate in efforts to earn Higher Awards. By doing what it takes to earn these awards, more girls in our council are doing more good in their communities and are truly making their world a better place!

But, as you know by now, my mission as Board Chair has always been to celebrate and uplift our amazing volunteers. I know I say it all the time but these hard-working, dedicated volunteers are the real-life role-models our girls look up to, learn from and aspire to become. Even after my tenure as your board chair ends in May, I will continue to encourage men and women everywhere to get involved in Girl Scouts. No matter what your interest, there is a place for you in Girl Scouts! And I will be ever-grateful for my place in Girl Scouts as your board chair these past four years. Serving this council and these girls and these volunteers has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I will dearly miss it. Thank you for allowing me to give back to an organization that has given me so much. I am humbled and honored to have served alongside you.

Thank you, and best wishes,

KATHLEEN WEBB | 2015-2017 Board Chair Girl Scouts Heart of the South www.kathywebblaw.com If you would like more information on how you can volunteer or how you can help financially, please call Girl Scouts Heart of the South at (800) 624-4185. There’s no place like Girl Scouts, and there’s a place for YOU in Girl Scouting. Join us, won’t you?

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n Saturday, November 12, 2016, Girl Scouts Heart of the South hosted over 1,200 girls and adults at our inaugural G.I.R.L. Event! Held at the Memphis Cook Convention Center, this free event celebrated the power of a G.I.R.L.! Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, and Leaders throughout our council jurisdiction were treated to a day of fun, friendship, live performances, inflatables, challenges, a photo booth, crafts, games, a dance party and more!

Designed to inspire girls find their inner Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, and Leader, this all-day event featured interactive booths from both local vendors and council representatives offering participants the opportunity to engage in activities to help them spark the G.I.R.L. within!

At the center of the event was an enormous display from our partners at Auto Zone where attendees were encouraged to their hands dirty while learning about automotive engineering. An outstanding group of volunteers from Auto Zone’s Women Initiative Network encouraged girls to learn more about careers in STEM by showing them - hands on - just how science, technology, engineering, and math factor into our daily lives - we couldn’t build (or fix) cars without it!

Representatives from Discovery Park, Graceland, The Memphis Pink Palace Museum, Memphis Fire Department, Pinot’s Palette, Playhouse on the Square and other local businesses and organizations welcomed girls and adults into their booths to participate in a wide-range of fun activities and crafts geared to inspire one of the four G.I.R.L. attributes. At GSHS council-sponsored booths, attendees were invited to explore ways to find the G.I.R.L. within and give back to others by decorating “Giving Plates,” writing down how

they plan to Stand Beside each other, learning about financial literacy through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and many other exciting events hosted by GSHS council staff and members of Kappa Delta Sorority.

Live entertainment continued on the main stage throughout the day. Local singer Terrian Bass and Angel Street, a group that provides music education and mentoring opportunities to North Memphis girls ages 8-18, kicked off the festivities followed by performances by Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group, local singer Taylor Horton, the Tiger Cub All-Stars Pom & Dance Team, Ballet on Wheels, Cause Play, and the Red Hot Lindy Hop swing dance group. 2016 Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess was also on hand to sign autographs, pose for pictures and perform for the crowd. Members of Kappa Delta and local Girl Scouts then treated the audience to a trip down memory lane with a fashion show modeling Girl Scout uniforms through the decades. After a full day of fun celebrating all things G.I.R.L., attendees and council staff took to the stage for an epic dance party!

The inaugural G.I.R.L. Event was a thrilling success, and we look forward to seeing you at the second annual G.I.R.L. Event Saturday, November 4,, 2017 at The Landers Center. We can’t wait!

GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH

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GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH

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DNA of a G.I.R.L. She’s a go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader!

Sets goals and sticks to them

Has an imagination that knows no limits

Works hard to bring positive change to the world

Seeks new adventures and experiences Listens to opinions and feelings different from her own Takes action on issues dear to her heart Handles conflict with compassion and clear communication Falls down and gets back up

Sees new solutions to old problems HELLO

My name is

Leader

Speaks up for herself and others

Takes pride in her abilities and successes Builds team spirit and brings people together Runs for leadership positions

achievements & Awards GSHS Proudly Recognizes 2016-2017 Higher Awards and Significant Milestones

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he Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. A girl and her troop find and research a problem in their community. They plan a Take Action project that addresses the root cause of the problem, and ultimately make a positive difference in their world. In the process, girls develop confidence, meet new people, and build relationships with their Girl Scout sisters.

Troop 13244 Anna Kate Wright Troop 23009 Summer Coggins Makayla Doss Sierra Dow Emily Hamilton Elizabeth Long Alexis Moody Shaylee Moody Adrianna Robbins Kaylyn Yarbrough

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Troop 13377 Mary-Therese Hinkle Gabrielle Miller Merielle Yergeau Troop 13274 Sarah Cousyn Hashi Dhaliwhal Emma James Abby Grace Johnson Carrington Jones Michelle Lin Zoe Marsh Emi Joy Matochick

Presley Moore Kyfong Pai Addy Palmer Peyton Phillips Alex Smith Victoria Vaughn Abby Wheeler Heidi Wills Troop 23806 Kacey Radtke Ciara Smith Chelsey Thrasher Dayla Wright

he Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. The Silver Award gives a girl the chance to show that she is a leader who is organized, determined, and dedicated to improving her comunity. Girls work together in small groups to achieve their goal, and each girl is responsible for a specific part of the project.

Troop 40105 Carson Lewis Troop 43016 Jassmine Cooper Mary Cooper Shelby Foster Katie Howell Arianna Jackson Morgan Moore Troop 10677 Hannah Farist Rachael Lander

Troop 20371 Lynsie Burns Haylee Cristo Anna DeVaughn Mary Ivy Meg Michael Alyssa Rich Troop 43025 Cynthia Craig Troop 20009 Jasmine Chaney Sarah Cooley Sophia Cornelius Melanie Dunn Caroline Grisham

Rachael Hayes Olivia Knight Mattie McGrath Taylor Robinson Troop 33016 Katie Bruce Elsie Buskes Nicole Goulet Brittney Jackson Eva Reynolds Chloe Sharpe Mhari Wilson Troop 20009 Sara Hailey Cullen

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achievements & Awards 2016

2017

(continued from page 13)

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he Community Service Bar is earned by making a difference in the community and practicing the values of the Girl Scout Law. It is also a way for girls to get involved with a cause they care about.

Sarah Kirk, Ambassador Carson Lewis, Senior Amanda Smith, Cadette

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en year pins are awarded to those marking their tenth year as members of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Kristen Bradley Rena Burchett Jasmine Chaney Sarah Cooley Caroline Grisham Rachael Hayes Hannah Holt Katie Holt Sarah Kirk Olivia Knight Shelia Little Mattie McGrath Kimberlee Roberts Taylor Robinson Joely Turner

2016-2017 Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients will be honored at the 2017 G.I.R.L. Celebration and recognized individually in the 2017 Fall/Winter edition of The Promise.

Let’s Celebrate!

Join Girl Scouts Heart of the South for an afternoon honoring those who have earned their Girl Scout Bronze, Girl Scout Silver, and Girl Scout Gold Awards, top product sales winners, those who are receiving their 10-Year Pins in 2017, and our Graduating High School Seniors!

Together, let’s recognize them for their outstanding dedication and hard work!

Saturday, April 29 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Hutchison School 1740 Ridgeway Road, Memphis, TN Girl Scout Gold Award recipients will receive their pin, certificates, and have an overview of their Take Action Project shared with the audience. All Girl Scouts, families and troops are invited to attend this free event.

RSVP: http://bit.ly/gshs_GIRLCeleb17

We hope to see you there!

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GSHS Continues Tradition of Honoring Women of Distinction in Mississippi 2016 LOU WOD Committee Members Jennifer Eastland, Vicki Sneed, Kyle Still, Jenny Jones, Molly Meisenheimer, Katie Naron, Mary Haskell, Abi Rayburn, and Margaret King

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irl Scouts Heart of the South continued our long-standing tradition of honoring Women of Distinction in several of our Mississippi regions during the 2016-2017 membership year.

On Wednesday, November 9, 2016, GSHS hosted our 6th Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon in the Lafayette-Oxford-University Area. Mary Haskell served as Master of Ceremonies again this year with LOU Area Women of Distinction Committee Chairman Vicki Sneed helping to present the awards. During a lovely lunch provided by area sponsors, guests were treated to an inspiring talk from Edith Kelly Green, partner/owner of the KGR Group, one of the most successful Lenny’s Sub Shop franchises in the country.

2017 GTR WOD Committee Members Melinda Lowe, Diane Godwin, Caroline Skelton, Cate Robinson, Reneé Sanders, and Jenny Jones.

This year’s Lafayette-Oxford-University Area Women of Distinction Luncheon honored ten outstanding nominees from the LOU area and also LOU Area Girl Scout of Distinction Nominee, Mattie Harwood. After presentation of all the nominees, Dr. Gloria Kellum was named the 2016 LafayetteOxford-University Area Woman of Distinction. Read more about each of this year’s deserving nominees on page 16.

On Friday, March 31, 2017, GSHS hosted the 2nd Annual Women of Distinction luncheon honoring women in the

Edith Kelly Green

(continued on page 16)

After graduating from the University of Mississippi, Edith Kelly Green earned a master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University. She began her career as a Certified Public Accountant and retired after 30 years with FedEx, only to purchase and develop one of the most successful Lenny’s Sub Shop franchises in the country.

Edith is a founding member of the Ole Miss Women’s Council and the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis. She has been inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame and established several scholarships at the university. She has served as co-chair of the Pyramid Re-Use Committee, the board of directors for the Center City Commission and the Memphis Zoo, and on the advisory board of Baptist Women’s Hospital. She provides leadership on the board of directors of the University of Tennessee Medical Group and Applied Industrial Technologies. A breast cancer survivor, she also helps promote opportunities to communicate and reduce the risk of cancer.

Dr. Kate Borsig Dr. Kate Borsig is the director of Global Connections, a Columbus-based non-profit. She serves as a graduate faculty member in Women’s Studies at Mississippi University for Women. Since 2005, Kate has offered leadership development, project development, and professional training to school districts, corporations, government agencies, and non-profits through her consulting company.

Having begun her career in middle school education, she spent twelve years in administrative roles at Mississippi University for Women including director of the Roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning, director of the Mississippi Governor’s School, and director of Outreach and Innovation and has taught numerous graduate and undergraduate courses in leadership, education, and women’s studies.

Committed to developing strong communities at the local, national, and international levels, Kate has served on the boards of the Golden Triangle Regional Homeless Coalition, Columbus-Lowndes Boys and Girls Club, Columbus Main Street, Columbus Rotary Club, Parents for Public Schools, Mississippi Association for Gifted Children, Mississippi Future Problem Solvers, and National Council of Governor’s Schools. In 2007, she made her first trip to Kenya and for the past ten years has been actively engaged in community development work in rural Kenya. Kate also served as an assistant GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH | the Promise Girl Scout troop leader from 2002-2008.

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(continued from page 15) Golden Triangle Region. Tammie Tubbs, a 2016 GTR WOD nominee served as Master of Ceremonies assisted by GSHS Chief Community Engagement Officer Jenny Jones. As guests enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by area sponsors, Dr. Kate Borsig, director of Global Connections in Columbus, addressed the crowd.

2016 LOU Women of Distinction Nominees (l-r): Dr. Judith Thompson, Pam Swain, Elizabeth Randall, Wanda Poole, Janis Miller, Dr. Gloria Kellum, Brittany Gilleylen, Shannon Ferguson, Shirley Crawford

The Second Annual Golden Triangle Region Women of Distinction luncheon honored seven outstanding nominees from Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha Counties. Read more about them and their exemplary accomplishments on page 17.

2016 Lafayette-Oxford-University Area

Women of Distinction Nominees

shirley crawford

Janis Miller is and has always been a strong and courageous woman exhibiting her abilities to adapt, sacrifice, educate and inspire everyone with whom she comes in contact. Over the years she has volunteered her talents for philanthropies and schools and has served as a mentor for younger women who are connected to military families. All of these words describe Janis—inspirational, loyal, honest, volunteer, leader, artist, humble, wise, strong in her convictions and faith.

shannon ferguson

wanda poole

brittany gilleylen Oxford Police Officer Brittany Gilleylen has been a valuable asset to hundreds of Oxfordarea children—elementary through high school—each year as she mentors them, providing a sounding board of opportunity for success. She is an exceptional role model for young girls! Brittany also works as a liaison between troubled kids and youth court personnel, always looking out for the best interest of the child, resulting in a positive impact for change.

dr. gloria kellum In 1966, Dr. Kellum began at Ole Miss helping to re-establish the Speech and Hearing Program. She quickly became a national authority in treating individuals with craniofacial birth defects that impact speech, language and hearing. She helped b egin the Cleft Palate Team in Nor th Mississippi that provides services for children and their families. The recipient of numerous awards and accolades, she inspires others with her zest for life and her daily greeting, “Life is grand!” the Promise |

SPRING/SUMMER 2017

janis miller

“The neighbor next door” to everyone in the LOU community, Shirley’s love and support are steadfast—from first jobs, weddings, births to retirements—she is there! Having lived her life committed to helping young women obtain their goals, no one has left Shirley Crawford feeling like they couldn’t conquer the world. Honest, sincere to a fault, and the most encouraging person, the leader in her will not quit.

Shannon Ferguson has the opportunity to serve in the community, teaching financial literacy to students in elementary schools through college. Shannon has served on the United Way Board and is presently an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce and is serving as a mentor for Ole Miss Women’s Council Scholars in addition to numerous other philanthropic and civic activities.

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Dr. Gloria Kellum, 2016 LOU Woman of Distinction, congratulates 2016 LOU Girl Scout of Distinction Nominee Mattie Harwood.

Compassionate! That describes Wanda Poole. She can often be found visiting h o m e b o u n d re s i d e n t s a n d t h o s e i n retirement homes. She is generous with her time, a friend to all. Her past life as a football coach’s wife propelled her into roles as a mother to all players and younger coaching wives—helping in any and every way possible. Wanda is a true ambassador and remains highly active in Oxford University United Methodist Church.

elizabeth randall

Elizabeth Randall developed a passion for serving others at an early age, working to make life better for others. Chair of St. Jude Taste of Oxford and a trustee for the Clint and Ellen Ann Johnson Foundation, Elizabeth serves as Projects Chair for the Junior Auxiliary as Event Chair for Tailgate for Palmer. In 2008 she received the Outstanding Young MBA Alumnus Award and in 2014 Elizabeth was named one of the Top 50 Leading Women in Business.

pam swain

As Senior Vice President of the OxfordLafayette County Chamber of Commerce, Pam Swain is responsible for the creation and management of many successful programs—Leadership Lafayette, Junior Leadership, Double Decker Run, Shop O x ford , a n d m a ny m ore. As a school volunteer, Pam works tirelessly to promote Lafayette County schools. She is PTO President of the Lafayette Upper Elementary School and was recently honored as Parent of the Year.

dr. judith thompson

rosie vassallo

Dr. Judith Thompson is a University of Mississippi Assistant Professor of Teacher Education. This is her job, and it’s also her life’s work, her passion and her love! Judith is a retired educator, having served as Principal of Oxford Elementary School and Bramlett Elementary School. She is Chair of the LOU Excel by 5 Steering Committee and a member of the Lafayette County School Board, she also serves on The Board of Directors of the Oxford Boys and Girls Club and is a past president of that board.

Rosie Vassallo is known throughout the State of Mississippi by her professional colleagues as an accomplished, talented, creative leader who always finds a way to successfully improve the communities where she has lived. A talented artist and philanthropist, she as served as a mentor to UM School of Journalism Interns and was named Kiwanian of the Year. Time and time again she has demonstrated that she and her volunteer teams will find a way to create a workable solution for reaching their goals.

2017 Golden Triangle Region

Women of Distinction Nominees michelle amos

Michelle Amos is a woman who knows how to bring people together to affect change.

Quick to get involved, Michelle has worked with numerous initiatives and committees in the Golden Triangle Region. Michelle is a Broker/Owner with Coldwell Banker and serves as the current chair of the Golden Triangle Development LINK executive committee. She is also the current chair of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership and a past-President of the Starkville Rotary Club.

melanie busby

Over nearly a 20-year career with the West Point School District, Melanie was devoted to not only the district but her students, as well. Melanie helped to win the West Point community millions of dollars in federal, state, and private grant funds. Now with Arbonne International, Melanie has built an extremely successful organization and teaches and trains others (primarily women) to build their own businesses that help them provide for their families and encourages them to give back to their communities.

laurie chilcutt Laurie Chilcutt earned a degree in elementary education from the Mississippi University for Women. Laurie has been very involved in the community including volunteer substitute teaching, directing and organizing the children’s programs, including Vacation Bible School, leading Cub Scouts and serving on the Heritage Academy school board, of which she is a Past President. She is currently the state vice president and president-elect of the the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO).

jordan ramsey

A graduate of Mississippi State University, Jordan completed the International Business Dual Degree Program, with a bachelor of business administration in marketing and a bachelor of arts in Spanish. After beginning her professional career at FedEx Services, she is currently the associate director of internal audit at Mississippi State University.

As president of Junior Auxiliary of Starkville, she is responsible for managing the group of nearly 70 ladies and their volunteer efforts in Oktibbeha County.

dr. donna reese While still serving as Associate Dean and more recently in her role as Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Dr. Donna Reese has served as the faculty advisor for the Society of Women Engineers to promote having more women in engineering. Not only does she contribute greatly to the mission of Mississippi State University, but she also gives back to her community in a variety of ways.

susan tomlinson A re t i re d A s s o c i a t e P ro fe s s o r f ro m the Mississippi State University Retail Management Program, Susan helped to bring the Backpack Meals Program, which is part of Feed America, to Oktibbeha county.

The program serves children who may be nutritionally deficient on the weekends.

Susan’s leadership and organization shine through this program of support for children, inspiring others to give back in their own way.

brenda lathan A Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Brenda is Vice President of Economic Development for the Golden Triangle Development LINK in Columbus, MS and serves as Administrative Assistant for the Lowndes County Industrial Development Authority. The first African American business professor at the Mississippi University for Women, she has broken many racial and gender stereotypes working in a mainly male dominated industry of economic development.

2017 GTR WOD Nominees (back row: l-r) Melanie Busby, Michelle Amos, Susan Tomlinson, Jordan Ramsey; (front row: l-r) Dr. Donna Reese, Brenda Lathan, Laurie Chilcutt GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH

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Members of Troop 10390 had a great time learning about the Girl Scout Cookie Program and the five skills - goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics - at the 2017 Cookie Kickoff at the Memphis Leadership Center. These girls are well on their way to becoming their own Cookie CEOs!

program Profiles Tasty Treats Foster Financial Savvy

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he world’s current economic challenges have made one thing clear: Financial literacy skills matter now more than ever. To be successful, financial education must begin early, continue throughout elementary and secondary education, and be relevant.

Financial literacy has always been an integral part of Girl Scout programming and activities. Our financial empowerment program developed for grades K-12 is designed to foster economic responsibility and leadership in girls. We offer all girls the opportunity to build their business savvy and hone their financial literacy skills.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is often a girl’s first introduction to business planning and entrepreneurship.

The 800-million-dollar Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country and generates immeasurable benefits for girls, their councils and communities nationwide.

Through the Cookie Program, girls develop five lifelong financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. When a girl has learned these skills, she is equipped with the basics necessary to be financially savvy now and for the rest of her life.

Girls are quite clear that they want and need financial literacy skills to help them achieve their dreams. A higher percentage of girls are attending college and must find ways to underwrite their college eduction. Additionally, most women live longer and earn less than men and are responsible for their own financial self-sufficiency at some point in their lives.

Let’s make sure this generation of girls is financially empowered and independent!

Leaders and Parents: Make sure your girls participate in both the Cookie Sale and the Fall Product Sale each year.

Not only will their involvement help to fund their troop’s activities but - more importantly - you will be giving them vital financial experience that they cannot get anywhere else but in Girl Scouts!

And to the wider world, when you see a smiling Scout out there asking if you would like to buy some Thin Mints or a box of our signature Trefoils, remember, she’s not just selling cookies, she’s gaining skills to last a lifetime!

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program Profiles

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GSHS Kicks-off the 2017 Girl Scout Cookie Season with Events Throughout the Council

017 marked the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts selling Girl Scout Cookies!

Girls all across our council marked this momentous occasion by kicking off the 2017 Girl Scout Cookie Season at Cookie Kickoff Events held around our council area.

Girls could choose to come to the Memphis Leadership Center, Jackson,

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TN Leadership Center or Camp Tik-A-Witha for a fun-filled day of games, snacks, photobooths, cookie-themed crafts, and hands-on financial literacy learning opportunities to help them on their way to becoming their own Cookie CEO! The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country, and GSHS strives to set our girls up for success! Events

like the 2017 Cookie Kick-offs help buld girls’ confidence and educate them about personal responsiblity and how to apply themselves to set and meet a goal.

Join us in January 2018 as we kick off the NEXT 100 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies and making their world a better place! Stay tuned for more info!

5 Ways Girl Scouts Builds G.I.R.L.s Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Since 1912, girls have explored new fields of knowledge, learned valuable skills, and developed strong core values through Girl Scouts. Today Girl Scouts is, as it always has been, the organization best positioned to help girls develop the important 21st Century skills they need to become successful adults.

At Girl Scouts, guided by supportive adults and peers, girls develop their leadership potential through age-appropriate activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them; connect with others in a multicultural environment; and take action to make a difference in their world. These activities are designed to be girlled, cooperative, and hands-on processes that create high-quality experiences conducive to learning. Studies show that the development of attitudes, behaviors, and skills, like confidence, conflict resolution, and problem solving, are critical to well-being and rival academic and technical skills in their capacity to predict long-term positive life outcomes.

CHALLENGE SEEKING Girls take appropriate risks, try things even if they might fail, and learn from mistakes.

STRONG SENSE OF SELF Girls have confidence in themselves and their abilities, and form positive identities.

membership Moments GSHS is proud to introduce...

today’s Raising your 21st Century Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker and Leader.TM

Girl Scouts Supports Your Efforts to Raise Today’s G.I.R.L.

g

irls today are growing up in a time of rapid demographic, social, economic and technological change. These trends are important not only because they may affect how girls are faring today, but also because they will soon be entering the workforce and starting families of their own.

The State of the Girl, a report released earlier this year by the Girl Scout Research Institute, shows girls have made some progress in the past few years in education and involvement in extracurricular activities. However, more girls today are living in low-income households, obesity rates are still rising, and girls have more emotional health problems. These factors mean girls are more likely to face challenges that affect their health, happiness, and achievement.

Girl Scouts believes all girls deserve access to educational and enrichment activities in a safe space away from pressures at home and school. They deserve mentors who also believe in helping each girl discover the world around her, find her passion and voice, believe in herself, and make a difference.

POSITIVE VALUES - Girls act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show concern for others.

Sylvia Acevedo, interim CEO at Girl Scouts of the USA, said, “Girl Scouts has truly been, and will always be, a Movement for ALL girls – a place where girls can, must and will feel safe to explore their potential, learn new skills, make lifelong friends, and tap into their potential for the leadership that our world so desperately needs.”

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS - Girls develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings and resolving conflicts constructively.

When your girl is a Girl Scout, she’s a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™. Through exciting G.I.R.L.-led experiences, Girl Scouts prepares girls to empower themselves for the big and small moments when they overcome failure, face their fears, try new things, and make their dreams a reality. And we know you want to be there encouraging, celebrating, and learning with her.

COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING Girls desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, and create “action plans” to solve them.

That’s where Today’s G.I.R.L. (formerly The G.P.S. - Girl & Parent “Stuff”) comes in. As part of Girl Scouts Heart of the South’s Parent Engagement Initiative, we help parents better understand the benefits girls gain by being part of Girl Scouts and how they can help their girl find the G.I.R.L. within.

We want you to brag about your girl!

Tell us how she discovered something new, persisted through a challenge, made a positive choice (especially if it wasn’t an easy choice), or was proud of herself. Email us and share your daughter’s G.I.R.L. moments at news@girlscoutshs.org

Whether she is making new friends, developing healthy habits, speaking up, managing a budget, or addressing a problem in the community, she is becoming a leader with the courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place.

Today’s G.I.R.L. is emailed to all member households on a bi-monthly basis.

Look for the next issue of Today’s G.I.R.L. in your inbox in April!

Previous issues of Today’s G.I.R.L. and The G.P.S. can be found on our website at www.girlscoutshs.org/publications. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, email your request news@girlscoutshs.org.

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council Cares

38126 Girl Scout Initiative Sponsored by the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis Girl Scouts Heart of the South is committed to giving every girl the opportunity to have a Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Supported by the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, Girl Scouts Heart of the South is participating in their Vision 2020 strategic plan designed to reduce poverty and create pathways to economic self-sufficiency for the residents in the 38126 zip code area by one percent per year. As a partner we are agents of change, committed to a community of well-being and prosperity, where women live in sufficiency, strength, and safety; sharing their leadership and empowering their children. Through this initiative GSHS has been able to engage mothers, care givers, and their children when planning for the long-term prosperity of their families. Additionally, we have been able to increase the number of Girl Scouts and re-establish a presence in the 38126 community.

Throughout the year, the troops meet at Emmanuel Center, Legends Park, and University Place with over 60 girls in attendance, who are developing skills to be young women of courage, confidence, and character while having tons of fun. Using a two generation approach to building sustainable troops, we provide adult development trainings for parents of the girls to prepare them for troop roles while also providing useful tools to navigate adulthood, like marketable job skills, soft skills, and activities that assist them with building good professional and personal relationships.

⏶ top left: GSHS Recruitment Specialist Ebony Archie takes a little break from sorting and counting and stuffing cases of cookies in cars at the 2017 Cookie Count-n-Go! ⏶ top and middle right: GSHS held our First Annual Dessert First event on Tuesday, February 14 at the Double Barrel Restaurant in Tupelo, MS. The event raised over $8,000 for Girl Scouts Heart of the South which will continue the support of girl programs, volunteer training and development, as well as property development at our camp facilities.

Thank you to our participating restaurants - Anthony’s Pizza, BBQ By Jim, D’Casa, Double Barrel, Forklift, KOC - Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen, Park Heights, South, Steele’s Dive, The Stables, and Thirsty Devil.

⏶ middle left and bottom: On Thursday, March 23, High Cotton Brewery in Memphis, TN hosted our Third Annual Cookies on Tap event. With live music and tasty pairings of craft beer and Girl Scout Cookies, this event has become a highly- anticipated evening for our adult volunteers and Girl Scout Alumnae including our friends Pat Moody and Claire Barnett who enjoyed their Samoas paired with a tasty dark brew!

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Most recently, troops at Legends Park and University Place hosted successful cookie booths, which sold out by the second day! Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn entrepreneurial skills like financial literacy, goal setting, and business ethics.

The Cookie program also offers positive exposure to the community and fosters support behind a common goal of supporting girls who have dreams and goals.

As the troops continue, we are establishing Girl Scouts as a useful resource in the 38126 community helping to build strong families and providing positive extracurricular activities for girls while giving parents an awesome opportunity to mold visionary leaders.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is created to develop our next go-getters and innovators, who don’t mind taking risks to make the world a better place.

RENEWAL SEASON IS HERE! Renewing your Girl Scout membership (or memberships) early is important for lots of reasons.

Registering early not only secures your spot - whether you’re planning to participate in the same way or in a new troop/role - but also, early renewal allows the volunteer leadership in our service units and troops to make plans, knowing just how many girls they will have returning for the upcoming year.

Renewing in the spring also helps council staff to make plans to help support all families that are interested in participating in Girl Scouts. Whether you are renewing to your existing troop, taking on new pathways to participation, or seeking out new volunteer experiences, this can all be done in early renewal. And this year - it can all be done ONLINE! We know you have questions, so GSHS has compiled a comprehensive Renewal Guide to help you with the process of renewing your Girl Scout membership for the upcoming year. Visit our website at www.girlscoutshs.org/renew to access this informative guide and renew your membership today!

GSHS CUSTOMER CARE TEAM MEMBERS

customercareweb@girlscoutshs.org | 800.624.4185

While we have worked to include most scenarios and provide steps and answers to a variety of renewal questions, we are always available to help at any point in time. Please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our Care Team at any point by email, web or phone.

We’re so excited about next year that we’re offering some incredible incentives to renew! Visit our website at www.girlscoutshs.org/renew to learn more about these awesome perks - but don’t wait!

Offers end May 31!

Every girl who renews by May 31 receives an “I Believe in the Power of G.I.R.L.” Patch! RENEW today! www.girlscoutshs.org/renew

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If she can see it, she can be it.

At Girl Scouts, we’re all about practicing everyday leadership and preparing girls to empower themselves, because girls who lead the Girl Scout way are more likely to reach their full potential. Again, Girl Scouts doesn’t empower girls— by providing positive role models and mentors for girls of all ages, Girl Scouts prepares girls with the skills and experiences they need to empower themselves for life.

Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place, and through your continued support, Girl Scouts Heart of the South strives to do just that, right here in our area, where girls need us most.

Recently, the esteemed Girl Scout Research Institute released some shocking findings in their The State of Girls 2017: Emerging Truths and Troubling Trends report. The State of Girls is a first-of-its-kind research report by the Girl Scout Research Institute that focuses on girls’ health and well-being in the United States. The most recent data from The State of Girls show that economic conditions affecting girls in the United States have not recovered from the Great Recession that began in late 2007. In fact, they have worsened. More girls are living in poverty and low-income households today than ten years ago. And the report found that 30% of school-aged girls in Mississippi are living in poverty - the highest percentage in the nation - with Tennessee and Arkansas girls not far behind.

Our region’s girls also fare among the worst in the nation in areas of well-being such as physical health and safety, economic well-being, emotional health, and participation in extra-curricular activities.

These are key social, economic, and health issues that affect all girls, and are areas that Girl Scouts seeks to directly address by becoming a positive force for change in girls’ lives.

As the premier leadership organization for girls, Girl Scouts is committed to ensuring that all girls develop to their fullest potential.

And we at Heart of the South are committed to helping solve these troubling issues, but we need your support. For the cost of just one fast food lunch or a specialty coffee each month, you can change the life of a girl today so she can change her community tomorrow.

Help us provide the Girl Scout Leadership Experience – and be an instrumental agent of change - to all girls in our area.

To donate, visit our website – www.girlscoutshs.org - or complete the information on the attached envelope and return with your donation to Girl Scouts Heart of the South. It’s that easy to help us prepare girls for the future and truly change their lives.

Thank you for your continued support of Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts Heart of the South.

Change a G.I.R.L. and you will Change the World!

troop Tales

⏶ above left: Congratulations, Tess Hinkle from Girl Scout Junior Troop 13377 for being the first winner of the GSHS Cookie G.I.R.L. Challenge! Each week during the 2017 Girl Scout Cookie Season, the council offered prizes to girls who showed they're go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leaders! Tess' goal this year was 2,017 boxes. Go Tess Go!

⏶ above right: Shout out to Shelby Central Service Unit for participating in the 2016 Germantown Holiday Parade!

⏷ below: Troop 13922 Science Badge: "The Science Badge has been, by far, the girls' favorite badge! They loved making dinosaur snot and ice cream!"

⏶ above: Girl Scout Brownies celebrated our Founder Juliette Gordon Low's birthday with a nature hike and picnic complete with cupcakes and Happy Birthday singing at the Lichterman Nature Center. In honor of Juliette the girls built this amazing "Daisy" Scarecrow that will be on display at the center for all the visitors to see.

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troop Tales ⏴ left: 2017 Miss Tipton County,Madison Butler worked on a STEM project with Munford Girl Scout Daisy Troop 13045!

They made bracelets using binary code and built a structure using toothpicks and gummy candy, and measured it.

⏷ below: Tennessee North Suburban Service Unit 171 is ready to march in the Arlington Holiday Parade!

⏷ below: The Benton Bots 2.0 FIRST Tech Challenge robotic team competed in the Velocity Vortex qualifier in Vicksburg on Saturday, December 17, 2016! They won the Finalist Alliance Award being the overall 2nd place Alliance, the Connect Award and Katelyn McCallum became a SemiFinalist for the Dean's List award! Congrats, Ladies! Way to be INNOVATORS in your community and set the stage for future generations.

⏶ above two: Girls from all around the council gathered in Tupelo for Cupcake Wars! Kate Herndon, from Katering, taught the girls how to use piping bags, decorate cupcakes and each girl left with her own Wilton kit. After the class, girls became innovators as they created a themed table for judging. Every team walked away a winner; check out their displays!! A special thanks to the judges and planning team for putting on this awesome council program!! We can't wait for next year!!

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troop Tales

⏶ above: Real world issues such as homeless animals, homeless people, childhood hunger, teen suicide, and adoption - these are just a few of the issues sparked at the Go Gold Overnight training at Camp Fisherville!

⏵ top right: Memphis Tiger great DeAngelo Williams posed with Girl Scout Troop 10186 at the Memphis-MidSouth Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

⏵ immediate right: Girl Scout Troop 10068 has been selling Christmas Trees for over 50 years to support their Troop Adventures....in recent years the girls have been able to travel to Mexico, England, France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany, New York City and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area!! Girls sell live trees, wreaths and more to fund their travels!

⏵ bottom right: Girls enjoyed the ScienTastic program sponsored by Kappa Delta Sorority

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⏴ top left: A Tupelo Police Department officer showed his silly side with the girls of Girl Scout Troop 20130 as he purchased 5 boxes from their booth.

⏷ below left: New to her Girl Scout Troop, Karalyn told them how she and her family likes to make gift bags for the elderly on holidays. Her troop thought this was such a great thing to do they joined in and were able to make 300 cards for residents at a local nursing home. Way to spread the love, Girl Scout Troop 10381!

⏷ below: Zoom Pop Wow - We want to give a HUGE thank you to the Mississippi State University Student Chapters of the American Institute for Chemical Engineers (ALChE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Girls Engineering Change (GEC) for hosting such an exciting STEAM field day for our Girl Scouts!

Save the Date for the 2nd Annual ONE SMART COOKIE luncheon celebrating women who make it happen in Memphis and the Mid-South!

Girl Scouts Heart of the South cordially invites you to join us for this inspiring event!

Thursday, August 31, 2017 11:30 AM Hilton Memphis Tennessee Grand Ballroom for more information visit our website at www.girlscoutshs.org/onesmartcookie

Want to see YOUR Troop in the Promise?

GSHS encourages you to submit professional quality, “printworthy” photography for use in The Promise, Heartstrings, The GPS, the GSHS website and Facebook page and other media campaigns. Photographs should be sent in JPG, TIFF or PDF format, 300 dpi at 2550x3300 pixels (at least, preferably), to news@girlscoutshs.org. Photographs should not be date-stamped OR cropped in any way. Please note that submitted photographs may be chosen for use in a variety of publications and without advance notice. Please be sure to have a signed copy of the Girl Scout media/photo release form on file for each girl pictured. Submissions should include a brief but detailed description of the event pictured in the email body. Submissions may be saved and published at a later date. Not all submissions will be chosen for publication. Have questions about photography?

Need some help? Contact Alison Coons, GSHS Chief Communications Officer, at (901) 334-3473 or alison.coons@girlscoutshs.org.

council Cares A World of Possibilities Exhibit Opens at GSHS Heritage Center Artifacts on display in the Memphis Leadership Center Lobby

a

fter many months of hard work and dedication, GSHS’ Heritage Center Committee proudly opened the World of Possibilities exhibit in the Heritage Center at the Memphis Leadership Center on Thursday, January 26. The exhibit highlights each of the five World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Centers through photography, international uniforms, cultural items, and hands-on activities.

World Centers offer Girl Scouts and Girl Guides a comfortable and safe place for short stays or long-term accommodations, seminars, training sessions, and international events.

Members and their families are encouraged to visit the centers, meet girls from other countries, and build lasting friendships. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has World Centers located in United Kingdom, Switzerland, Mexico, India, and Africa.

Heritage Center Committee Members (l-r) Nancy Cochran, Barbara Arnold, Pat Moody, and Claire Barnett.

Members of the Heritage Center Committee worked tirelessly with other Girl Scout councils and World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts representatives around the world to collect artifacts and assemble this museum-quality exhibit.

GSHS would like to thank the members of the Heritage Center Committee, Barbara Arnold, Claire Barnett, Nancy Cochran, and Pat Moody for their outstanding work on this inspiring installation.

The Heritage Center Committee wishes to thank each of the individuals from WAGGGS, the World Centers, GSUSA, Girl Scout Council of Southern Appalachia, Pat Rouse, GSHS staff and volunteers for their guidance, expertise, contributions, donations, and materials loaned for this educational exhibit.

We invite you to experience A World of Possibilities and learn more about the exciting travel and educational experiences available to Girl Scouts at the World Centers! The Heritage Center is located at the Girl Scouts Heart of the South Memphis Leadership Center, 717 South White Station Rd., Suite 2, Memphis, TN 38117, and is open from Monday - Friday during regular business hours and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Heritage Center Committee members are available for “guided tours” by appointment.

Contact Lori Gilmore at 901.334.3459 for moderated visit.

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Artifacts from all 5 World Centers are on display.

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GSHS Alumnae, spouses, friends, and staff enjoy opening night.

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of

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Barbara Arnold points out some interesting facts about Pax Lodge to fellow Heritage Center Committee member Nancy Cochran.

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2017 Stand Beside Her Movement

EVENT PLANNING GUIDE 4-6 Months Ahead of Event– Get excited! It’s time to plan ★ Decide on everyone’s role for the day.

• EVERY girl has something unique to bring to the table, so your very own Stand Beside Her event!

October is National Stand Beside Her month and we will be celebrating supporting girls and women all month long. ★ Discuss what type of event you would like to host.

• Will it be just a troop event? Will you work with other troops in your community? Or make it service unit wide?

• What type of activities will you have? SBH Project?

Community service? Guest speakers? Mother – Daughter event? ★ Choose a date that works best for your troop!

• It could be your normal troop meeting night, or a weekend! ★ Select venue...

• Where you will hold your Stand Beside Her event will depend on who you want to invite and how many you will expect to attend.

• October is a great time of the year to consider a local park or outdoor location, but make sure you have a rain plan just in case. ★ Create a budget • Will you provide refreshments? Need supplies? Identify how much money you may need and how much money is in your troop/service unit bank account that you can spend on your event. ★ Form committees!

• Each girl and volunteer can help plan an area. This is a great team building skill for girls to learn.

• Committees may include: set-up, clean-up, budget, food, activities, decorations, invitations, etc. ★ Spread the world!

• Share the date now with troop members, parents and volunteers so everyone can mark their calendar.

• It is also a good time to secure any guest speakers.

3-4 Months Ahead of Event—Now it’s Time to Take Action! ★ Share it on social media! Ask adults to share a post on their page inviting people to attend the event. ★ Create a Facebook event for your troop and invite all the go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leaders in your school, church and community! ★ Finalize budget.

• Determine any food or beverage you’d like to offer, decorations or supplies you may need. ★ Create an event agenda or timeline.

• Map out the entire event so you will know what happens when and where. Also add who is responsible for what so everyone knows what they are responsible for. ★ Schedule a venue walk-through to map out your event.

• How many tables and chairs will you need? Do you have outlets to plug in a computer and projector?

build on your troop’s strengths!

1 Month Before Event— Your event day is almost here! ★ Resend invitation to community guests and partners.

• If there is an agenda, share this with them so they know what to expect from the event. ★ Write a press release to send to your local newspaper, television or radio station and invite them to your event.

• Make sure to give them all the details (date, time, location, description and a contact person’s information) • Need help? Email cosette.hawkinson@girlscoutshs.org for assistance in drafting a press release. ★ Have a committee meeting so everyone can report on what they have finalized, and what they still need help doing.

• Verbally walk through the entire event. Start with who is setting up, who is brining refreshments, what activities you will be doing and who is leading those, and end with who is cleaning up and breaking down the event. ★ Print anything you may need.

• Will you hang posters? Need name tags? Handing out information or tickets?

1 Week Ahead– ★ Continue to advertise your event on social media and in the community! ★ Finalize your head count.

• One advantage of creating a Facebook event is getting a good idea of who is coming. This will help you finalize food and supply numbers. ★ Create a “packing list” and make sure all details are finalized - get ready for a successful event!

Day of the event ★ Arrive on time. ★ Remember you are working as a team! Help others, and ask for help when you need it. ★ Smile and welcome guests.

• If you have community guests, make sure to greet them at the door and show them to where they need to be.

• Make sure to talk to new people and guests. This is a time to welcome people and make them feel comfortable at your event. You can always talk to your friends after the event. ★ Have fun!

• You’ve worked hard. Now enjoy your hard work.

Week After the Event

★ Write Thank You cards • Include any community guests, volunteers, or people who might have donated food or supplies to your event. ★ Start inviting your community! ★ Recap the event while it is still fresh in everyone’s head.

• Most areas have newspapers that will post, or print, • What worked? What could have been better? What would community activities for free. Also check with local radio you change for next year? and television stations for online calendars that you may be ★ Send the council pictures! able to share your event information on.

• We love sharing all the great things our girls are doing. ★ Send event details to the council!

Email us pictures and event details so we can share with • We would love to share on our website and social media the rest of the council. Email them tocosette.hawkinson@ pages. You can email cosette.hawkinson@girlscoutshs.org girlscoutshs.org your details and where you would like them shared. ★ Finalize event details with the venue.

• What time can you arrive? What is their clean-up policy?

Can you use balloons? ★ Purchase any supplies you may need.

• Make sure to use your troops debit card, or check, and bring your tax exemption letter from the state.

• Keep receipts! This will help balance your budget, and allow you to return items that you may not need.

2 Months Before Event—Are you ready?

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GIRL SCOUT TRADITION:

SWAPS

“SWAPS” is a clever acronym for “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.” SWAPS are small tokens or keepsakes that girls (and adults) trade with other Girl Scouts that serve as a reminder or a memory or special event. They made their first appearance at national Girl Scout Senior Roundups in the 1950s and 1960s.

One of the best things about SWAPS is that girls get to know other Girl Scouts in an easy, comfortable way – plus they are participating in an over 50 year tradition!

Next time you and your troop are attending a camporee or large council event make plans to create some SWAPS to share!

above: GIn 2016, Girl Scout Junior Troop 13039 sold 2,653 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and set a goal of 3,000 for this year. The crushed that record by selling 3,325! Way to go girls! They plan on doing lots of fun outdoor activities, including kayaking down the Wolf River.

above: Girl Scout Brownie Troop 10007 represented the country of France at their Service Unit’s annual World Thinking Day celebration!

above: Girl Scout Cadette Troop 13347 sported plaid skirts for World Thinking Day representing Scotland.

above: Multi-level Girl Scout Troop 13137 celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a day of service! Girls served a full meal, including dessert, to hungry guests at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, TN.

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Ready for a Trip?

TWO NEW TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES ANNOUNCED! Girls love to travel, and being a Girl Scout gives her the opportunity to explore the world. Girl Scouts Heart of the South offers two unique travel series designed for Girl Scouts.

The Let’s Explore travel series are short, regional trips designed for Girl Scout Juniors to venture out beyond their city. Previous Let’s Explore trips have included Let’s Explore: Rocket City in Huntsville, AL. Through the Girl Scouts Go travel series girls get to visit locations all around the world during weeklong trips that are designed for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors. Previous Girl Scouts Go trips have included Girl Scouts Go: To the Capitol is Washington, D.C. and Girl Scouts Go: Sun and Service to Costa Rica.

Both Let’s Travel and Girl Scouts Go trips are announced a year or more in advance so girls can save their money, participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program and host other fundraising activities.

We are excited to announce our 2018 trips! Find out more information online at www.girlscoutshs.org/travel

Let’s Explore: Great Smoky Mountains

Gatlinburg, TN May 31-June 2, 2018 Kick-off your summer with a weekend road trip to the Great Smoky Mountains! This all-inclusive trip gives Girl Scout Juniors the opportunity to explore scenic east Tennessee.

Girls will get to learn about the 520,000 acre Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and take in some of the breathtaking views. This weekend also includes some of the area’s most popular attractions including Dollywood and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Trip Highlights: • Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Ripley’s Aquariam of the Smokies • Ripley’s Believe It or Not! • Dollywood • Dollywood Splash Country • Downtown Gatlinburg

Girl Scouts Go: Birthplace to Beach

Savannah and Tybee Island, GA June 2018 Girls will get an exciting look into the history of our remarkable founder, and take in the beauty of the Eastern Seaboard in this week-long, all-inclusive trip to Savannah, GA! A tour of Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace will help girls discover the unconventional life of Juliette “Daisy” Low - the first Girl Scout. Girls will get to tour Daisy’s childhood home, play her favorite games, and look closely at how she challenged expectations for women in her day to become a confident leader.

In addition to the birthplace, we’ll explore the beautiful and historic city of Savannah, and head over to Tybee Island to enjoy fun in the sun!

Trip Highlights: • Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace program and tour • Savannah Riverboat Cruise • Tybee Island Dolphin Tour • Tybee Island Marine Center • Tybee Island beach • Oatland Island Wildlife Center

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017

2017 GSHS Council Calendar of Activities, Programs & Events

Take your First Aid skills to the next level at this Wilderness First Aid weekend!

Fri., June 2, 7:00 PM - Sun., June 4, 2:00 PM Location: Camp Fisherville

Get ready for an awesome girls’ getaway at Kamp Kiwani!

Fri., May 5, 5:00 PM – Sun., May 7, 11:00 AM Location: Kamp Kiwani

The Great Getaway is a chance for Adult Girl Scouts (18 & older) and Alumnae to "get away from it all."

Fri., Apr. 21, 6:00 PM – Sun., Apr. 23, NOON Location: Kamp Kiwani

Wilderness First Aid Basics

Me and Mine

Great Getaway at Kamp Kiwani

JUNE 2017

MAY 2017

LATE APRIL 2017

Trail Riders Giddy up Girl Scouts! Ready for more time in the saddle? Get ready to take your skills out on the trail.

Sat., Apr 29, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Kamp Kiwani

Travel with a purpose to tropical Costa Rica!

Mon., June 19 - Mon., June 26 Location: Costa Rica

Explore the great outdoors as you race to complete your photography scavenger hunt!

Sat., May 06, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Kappa Delta House at Union University

World Changers: Costa Rica Sun and Service

Digital Photographer Badge Workshop

Girl Scouts Space Out Space explorers will enjoy science-based interactive activities.

Sat,. Apr 29, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Pink Palace Museum

Cowgirls Hey there expert Girl Scouts! You passed the 3rd level of our horse program and now you are ready to take those skills and fine tune them.

Sat., Apr 29, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Kamp Kiwani

Atmosphere and Beyond Learn about the atmosphere and the air around you during this hands-on workshop.

Thu., May 11, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Location: Memphis Girl Scout Leadership Center - Possibility Place

AUGUST 2017 2nd Annual One Smart Cookie Luncheon Save the date for this inspiring luncheon honoring women who "make it happen" in the Mid-South!

Thu., Aug. 31, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Hilton Memphis

Girl Scouts at Jackson Generals Work on your Athlete Badge while enjoying the ball park!

Sat., May 13, 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM Location: The Ballpark at Jackson

G.I.R.L. Celebration Join GSHS as we celebrate G.I.R.L.s earn- Volunteer Leadership Summit and ing Higher Awards, 10-Year Pins, and our Grand Celebration Banquet 2017 graduating high school seniors!

Please join us for the Girl Scouts Heart of Sat., Apr. 29, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM the South Volunteer Leadership Summit Location: Hutchison School, Memphis, TN and Grand Celebration.

Sat., May 20, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Location: Whispering Woods Hotels and A Taste of Camp What's summer camp all about? This is Conference Center your chance to come out and enjoy a day of fun-filled camp adventures!

State of the Council Luncheon Sun., Apr. 30, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Enjoy lunch and exciting council plans, Location: Camp Tik-A-Witha programs and news at the State of the Council Luncheon.

Sat., May 20, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Girl Scout Olympics!

Ready, Set, Game On! It’s time for the Girl Location: Whispering Woods Hotel and Scout Olympics!

Conference Center Sun., Apr 30, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: The Grove, University of Mississippi

facebook.com/girlscoutshs

SEPTEMBER 2017 3rd Annual HERo Day Save the date for the 3rd Annual HERo Day with the Memphis Fire Department!

Sat., Sep. 23, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Chester Anderson Fire Training Center

OCTOBER 2017 National Council Session | G.I.R.L. 2017 2017 Girl Scouts of the USA National Convention!

Wed., Oct. 4 - Sun., Oct 8 Location: Columbus, OH

pinterest.com (girl scouts heart of the south)

youtube.com/user/girlscoutshs

instagram.com/girlscoutshs (@girlscoutshs)

twitter.com/girlscoutshs (@girlscoutshs)

flikr.com/photos/girlscoutshs

For more information, visit our website at www.girlscoutshs.org/calendar!

Check back often! We’re adding great new events and adventures for G.I.R.L.s all the time!

AMP GET READY FOR CORITES! WITH THESE FAV

One of the best parts of camp is singing around the campfire with our Girl Scout One of our favorite camp actvities is around the campfire, at the end of thewe’re day, singing songs with our Girl Scout friends. Some friends.

Some of our songs are super silly, and some are really sweet, and of our songs super and some really sweet, and sharing some with you to learn them before you get to camp! sharing someare with you silly, so you can learnare them before you getwe’re to camp!

Sing loud Girl Scout and we’ll see you at the campfire!

Chorus: Oh a milkshake, A sticky sticky waffle, A mozzarella pizza Oh all the plates, All the plates are broken

I said a boom chicka boom, I said a boom chicka boom, I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom.

Uh- huh, Oh yeah, One more time, A little bit faster (do next verse faster)

A circle is round, it has no end.

That’s how long, I want to be your friend.

Oh A Milkshake

Boom Chicka Boom

Make New Friends

Make new friends, but keep the old.

One is silver, the other is gold.

A fire burns bright, it warms the heart.

We’ve been friends, from the very start.

You have one hand, I have the other.

Put them together, We have each other.

A little bit slower (do next verse slower) A little bit softer (do next verse softer)

Silver is precious, Gold is too.

I am precious, and so are you.

You help me, and I’ll help you and together we will see it through.

The sky is blue. The Earth is green I can help to keep it clean Across the land, across the sea Friends forever, we will always be

A little bit louder (do next verse louder) Valley girl style (put “like” in front of “a,” and “like” after the “chicka” in the long line) Maid style (boom = broom, rocka= mopa.

Pretend to sweep/mop when you say it) Underwater style (do it while moving your finger up and down on your lips)

Well that was really nothing!

We can do it jumping!

(Repeat chorus while jumping) Well that was really nothing!

We can do it spinning!

(Repeat chorus while spinning) Well that was really nothing!

We can do it with our tongue out!

(Repeat chorus with tongue out) Well that was really nothing!

We can do all three!

(Repeat chours while jumping, spinning, and tongue out) Well that was really something!

GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH

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Hello! My name is...

MEET THE WOMEN LEADING THE WAY Emilie “Chicken” Hutcheson (Top photo, right) is the Director of Outdoor Leadership Experience for Girl Scouts Heart of the South, and manages the council’s summer camp program. If you’ve been to any of the council’s outdoor activities you’ve probably met Emilie. Serving on council staff for 5 years, Emilie enjoys taking girls on adventures and introducing them to all the fun in the great outdoors. She is most passionate about summer camp, having served as a counselor for 10 years, along with serving as an assistant camp director, art and crafts director, and wranglers in training director.

Emilie graduated from The University of Mississippi with a Bachelors of Education. When Emilie is not at camp, she is spending time with her husband, Ryan, and son, James, cheering on the Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears.

Ashley “Lyric” Pruitt (Top photo, left) steps into a new role this summer as the Girl Scouts Heart of the South Camp Director.

Having grown up a Girl Scout, and spending her summers at our camps, she has been on camp staff for four years - serving two as a counselor and two as the counselor in training director. Ashley is dedicated to giving every camper an outstanding experience, and fostering her love for the outdoors.

Ashley’s “regular” job as the Assistant Music Director for Milam Elementary School lets her sing her favorite campfire songs year round. Graduating from The University of Mississippi with a Bachelors of Music Education, Ashley spends her free time listening to music, reading, hiking and hanging in her hammock.

Laura “Dixie” Boyd (center photo) begins a new phase of her camp career as the Girl Scouts Heart of the South Assistant Camp Director. Laura grew up at camp, completing the Counselor in Training Program and serving as the Waterfront Director and Lifeguard for the past 6 years. In this new role she hopes to combine her love of teaching and camping to help girls discover their love for the great outdoors.

When she is not at camp, Laura is a Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Tyler, which allows her to be creative and use her passion for chemistry to teach her students. Laura holds a Doctorate in Chemistry from The University of Mississippi.

Julie “Chaps” Kirkpatrick (bottom photo) has been our faithful Equestrian Director for Kamp Kiwani for the last 19 years and at Camp Tik-A-Witha for 9 years. She has been and continues to be an integral part of the historical Rancheros program at Kamp Kiwani.

Julie graduated from University of Memphis with a Bachelors in Education. When Julie isn’t working at camp she teaches 4th grade English Language Arts at Ripley Elementary School. Julie has a beautiful daughter Laura, and has been married to her husband for 15 years. Julie loves riding her horses and also loves to watch Laura play softball!

G.I.R.L.s! | SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Summer Camp Sessions

Whether this is her first time at overnight camp, or a girl looking to push her limits, we’ve got a camp session just right for her.

With activities like swimming, hiking, stargazing, campfire cooking and conquering that challenge course, she’ll have a summer full of fun, friends and lifelong memories. Grades listed are for the grade your girl will be entering in the fall.

See complete session descriptions and to register online at www.girlscoutshs.org/camp

KAMP KIWANI

Grades: 12th

WRANGLERS IN TRAINING (WIT II) June 4 - 24

Grades: 11th - 12th

WRANGLERS IN TRAINING (WIT I) June 4 - 24

Grades: 7th - 12th

June 11 - 24

RANCHEROS *FULL*

June 11-16

CHILL OUT

June 11 – 16

KAMP ON!

June 4 - 9

HORSIN’ AROUND

June 11 - 16

HOGWARTS EXPRESS

June 4 - 9

BITS AND PIECES

June 4 - 9

KAMPTASTIC

June 11 - 16

BROWNIE BLAST

June 4 - 9

BROWNIE BLITZ

Grades: 1st - 3rd Grades: 1st - 3rd Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th – 6th Grades: 6th - 8th Grades: 7th - 12th Grades: 7th - 12th Grades 7th - 12th

Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $750 Cost: 400 Cost: FREE

Limit: 25 Limit: 25 Limit: 50 Limit 16 Limit: 25 Limit: 16 Limit: 50 Limit 25 Limit: 20 Limit: 4 Limit: 4

CAMP TIK-A-WITHA

July 9 - 14

ADVENTURES UNLIMITED

July 2 - 9

PACK-N-PADDLE

June 18 - 25

RIVER WILD

July 2 - 7

ROPES AND REINS

Grades: 7th - 12th

June 25 - 30

HAPPY TRAILS

Grades: 7th - 12th

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT June 25 - 30

Grades 6th - 8th

June 25 - 30

CAMPFIRE CAFE’

July 2 - 7

HOOFPRINTS

July 2 - 7

OUTDOORS AND S’MORES

July 2 - 7

IN-SPA-RATION

June 25 - 30

CAMPAPALOOZA

June 25 - 30

FILLY FUN

July 9 - 14

SPORTS SPECTACULAR

July 9 - 14

PAMPER ME, PLEASE!

June 18 - 23

JUNIOR JAM

July 9 - 14

CUPCAKE BOSS

June 18 - 23

WATER MANIA

June 18 - 23

MASTER CHEF

July 9 - 14

OUTDOOR ADVENTURER

June 18 - 23

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

July 2 - 7

FANTASIA

June 25 - 30

WATER BUGS

June 25 - 27

DAISY DAZE *FULL*

June 21 - 23

WEE BIT 2 Mini Session

June 18 - 20

WEE BIT I Mini Session

JUNIOR COUNSELOR IN TRAINING

July 2 - 14

June 17 - July 14

COUNSELOR IN TRAINING

June 17 - July 14

COUNSELOR IN TRAINING

Grades: 1st - 3rd Grades: 1st - 3rd

Cost: $200 Cost: $200

Grades 1st - 2nd Cost: $200 girl/ $100 adult Grades: 1st - 3rd Grades: 1st - 3rd Grades 1st - 3rd Grades: 1st - 3rd Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th Grades 4th - 6th Grades: 4th - 6th

Grades: 7th - 12th Grades: 7th - 12th Grades: 7th - 12th Grades 7th - 12th Grades: 9th - 10th Grades: 11th - 12th Grades: 11th - 12th

Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost : $400 COST: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $500 Cost: $450 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: $400 Cost: FREE GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH

Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 20 Limit: 16 Limit: 20 Limit: 12 Limit 16 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: 12 Limit: Limit: 10 Limit: 10 Limit: 10 Limit: 10 Limit: 16 Limit: 16 Limit: 16 Limit: 16 | the Promise for G.I.R.L.s!

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Earn Some Badges This Summer Girl Scout Brownie Outdoor Adventure Badge What happens when you invite a friend to climb the tallest hill you can find, or buddy up to take a walk around your neighborhood at night? Who do you see?

What do you hear? There as so many amazing adventures waiting for you. So hang on, jump in, and get ready to explore the great outdoors during the Outdoor Adventurer session! Girls will work towards the Outdoor Adventurer Badge by learning about campfires, tying knots and using a compass. She’ll also have the opportunity to take part in nature activities, a cookout and climbing wall. * Most requirements, but not all, will be met during this session.

Girl Scout Brownie Making Friends Badge Friends are another kind of family. They’re the people you have fun with and who help you when you need it. Try this badge to learn how to make new friends, keep old friends and be the best Brownie friend you can be. What are everyday ways you can practice friendship? In the Circle of Friends session, girls will work towards the Making Friends Badge by learning how to meet friends, share their favorite activities and explore camp together.* Most requirements, but not all, will be met during this session.

Girl Scout Junior Horseback Riding Badge Riding a horse is one of the most exciting things you can do. But ask any good horseback rider her secret to success and she’ll say that understanding a horse is as important as learning to ride one. Get clued in to horses and get ready to ride as you work towards earning this badge at Bits and Pieces, Filly Fun or Hoofprints! * Most requirements, but not all, will be met during this session.

Girl Scout Junior Camper Badge Plan a camping adventure, watch a sky full of stars, cook a meal on a stick, share silly stories around the campfire and learn outdoor skills as you take part in this favorite Girl Scout tradition. Girls can work towards their Camper Badge during Kamptastic, Junior Jam or Campapalooza. * Most requirements, but not all, will be met during this session.

Girl Scout Cadette Night Owl Badge Night has captured the imagination since the dawn of time. But with modern-day electricity, it’s easy to overlook the mysteries and beauty of the world after the sun goes down. So grow your imagination and expand what you know (or think you know!). Turn out the lights, tune in your senses and step out into the night during Horsin’ Around. * Most requirements, but not all, will be met during this session. the Promise

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G.I.R.L.s! | SPRING/SUMMER 2017

92 percent

say that camp helped them to feel good about themselves.

-ACA

72

percent of girls say that Girl Scouts gave them the chance to build their skills or try new outdoor activities.

- GSRI

96 percent of campers say that camp helped them to make new friends.

- ACA

Kamp Kiwani and Camp Tik-A-Witha are both ACA Accredited!

We know it can be hard to send her to camp for the first time, but you can feel at ease that, while she’s having the time of her life discovering all the wonders of the great outdoors, trying new things, playing games, making friends, and so much more, she’s well taken care of, happy, and learning critical life skills every step of the way.

For over 20 years, both Kamp Kiwani and Camp Tik-A-Witha have been American Camp Association Accredited, meaning we undergo a thorough (up to 300 standards) review of our operation — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management to ensure we provide a safe and nurturing experience for your girl.

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Camp Life is the Best Life...

Camp builds character! Girls with more frequent outdoor experiences are more likely to seek challenges and are better at solving problems —qualities that will help them both academically and personally in the future.

Camp gives her cool new experiences! High-adventure activities like canoeing or kayaking, challenge/ropes courses, and backpacking and climbing, in addition to playing and walking outdoors and taking outdoor field trips, help girls by giving them an avenue to improve health, practice cooperation and teamwork, flex their leadership muscles, and try new, exciting things while having tons of fun—all in the company of great, supportive friends and caring, trained camp counselors.

Camp makes everything better! Spending time in nature improves concentration and creative reasoning.

Outdoor experiences also help promote healthy social development and increase her self-esteem.

check out sessions, register and pay online at www.girlscoutshs.org/camp

A Taste of Camp AN OPEN HOUSE & SO MUCH MORE! Come see for yourself all the fun you’ll have during summer camp at our Taste of Camp! We’ll be playing games, learning camp songs, and hosting a miniarchery session! This is a great opportunity for girls and parents to see camp facilities, meet camp directors and counselors, take a tour of the property and much, much more!

These are FREE events and open to everyone.

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KAMP KIWANI 1880 Sandy Springs Lane Middleton, TN 38052 Sunday, April 23 2 - 4 p.m.

CAMP TIK-A-WITHA 365 County Road 117 Van Vleet, MS 38877 Sunday, April 30 2 - 4 p.m.

G.I.R.L.s! | SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Council Shop

cate

Bridging Certifi Awarded to:

!

Congratulations

entures Girl Scouting adv ld filled with new A wonderful wor other side! is waiting on the Date Awarded by

Girl Scouts Heart of the South Bridging Certificate Commemorate her achievement with a Bridging Kit! This kit includes a commemorative certificate, official Bridging badge, membership star and disk, Bridging fun patch and pencil. $5.50

Girl Scouts Heart of the South Table Cloth The perfect addition to any cookie booth, recruitment table or court of awards banquet! Polyester green table cloth with white Girl Scouts Heart of the South imprint on the front. $15-$20 Available in 60” x 60” and 72” x 120”

Girl Scouts Heart of the South Latex Balloons Get the party started with these multi-color latex balloons with a white Girl Scouts Heart of the South imprint on the front. $2 6 per pack

Starter Kit – built for you!

Get ready for your next Girl Scout year with this Starter Kit. We’ve eliminated the guess work and included The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, American Flag Patch, Insignia Tab, World Trefoil Pin and Membership Pin. Just select your Official Uniform Item (tunic, sash, or vest), Troop Numerals, Council ID Set, and your FREE BAG! You’re all set and ready for an awesome year!

Girl Scouts Heart of the South Gift Bag A thoughtful added touch when presenting her awards at the end of the year. $1 8.5” x 5.5”

three convenient locations or online at www.girlscoutshs.org/ shop Memphis Service Center & Council Shop 717 South White Station Rd. Ste. 2 Memphis, TN 38117

Jackson Service Center & Council Shop 1007 Old Humboldt Rd. Jackson, TN 38305

Tupelo Service Center & Council Shop 1140 West Main Street Tupelo, MS 38801

GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH

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She’s a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innvoator, Risk-taker and Leader) TM and we can help her unleash that greatness again next year.

Now is the perfect time to commit to another year of Girl Scouts! Think of all the fun you’re having and just imagine what you’ll do next year!

Are you ready for another year of adventure, earning badges, camporees, laughter and giving back? By renewing now, you’ll let your troop and leader know to count you in for next year’s fun!

Together, let’s make sure she benefits for another extraordinary year of positive energy, excitement, and experiences that will help her build the skills she needs today and tomorrow. She is the future, and we can help her build it.

We’re so excited about next year that we’re offering some incredible incentives to renew!

Visit www.girlscoutshs.org/renew to see the incentives, including this “Beleive in the POWER OF G.I.R.L.” patch! the Promise

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G.I.R.L.s! | SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Courage Confidence Character

for

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 Volume 3

No. 1

G.I.R.L.s!

Get ready for the best summer ever!

See why Camp Life is the Best Life.

Save your spot for another year of adventure, fun and friends! Renew before May 31 and get this fun patch for FREE!

Ready for another year?

CALLING ALL TRAVELERS

ADVENTURE AWAITS! NEW TRIPS ANNOUNCED.