SUMMER 2017
Longtime Girl Scout CEO Announces Retirement We believe that girls need to experience the “can hardly sleep because I’m waiting for the next day” feeling by participating in quality program activities that offer them the tools needed to become successful leaders in their communities. Our activities consistently help Girl Scouts become a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader). As my retirement approaches, I'm overwhelmed with pride. The evolution of our girls into women of courage, confidence, and character brings me joy and confidence that my time here has been worth the journey.
As I begin a new journey, there will always be girls with a desire to lead and make a positive impact on our world. We must encourage and provide them with the tools necessary to succeed and follow their dreams. I ask that you share the Girl Scout message
with a friend, co-worker, classmate or family member and ask them to support the girls of central Indiana by participating in Girl Scouts. Invite them to make a difference in a girl's life and to get involved by visiting girlscoutsindiana.org. Warmest regards,
Deborah Hearn Smith Chief Executive Officer
Preparing Girls to Empower Themselves Unleash the G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ in your Girl Scout. Let's make sure she benefits from another extraordinary year of positive energy, excitement, and experiences that will help her build the skills she needs today and tomorrow. And if that’s not enough motivation, research shows that Girl Scouts are more likely than non-Girl Scouts to earn good grades, take an active role in decision-making and feel hopeful about their futures. Visit girlscoutsindiana.org to learn about resources available to make this year the most successful year ever! New resources for leaders, parents and girls The fall recruitment season is just around the corner. Girl Scouts has
developed several tools the help you prepare your girls to show grit like a gogetter, problem solve like an innovator, embrace the new like a risk-taker, and display empathy like a leader. Volunteer Toolkit Have you tried the Volunteer Toolkit? It’s like having a digital personal assistant to support all aspects for your troop. There are also incredible learning tools included so keeping up on the latest G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) ™ is a snap. Go to girlscoutsindiana.org and click on My GS in the upper right-hand corner to get started. (Please note: Volunteer Toolkit, and other enhancements, perform best when launched in Google Chrome.)
Through the Volunteer Toolkit, troop leaders can: • Plan the troop’s calendar year • Email parents with one click • View the troop roster, renew girls’ membership, and update their contact information • Access the Volunteer Toolkit as a multilevel troop • Easily locate resources, such as Safety Activity Checkpoints • Access 18 activities including a “Get Outside” option, which provides alternative outdoor options
Celebrating Girls of Distinction
Congratulations to all of the award recipients.
Let’s Get Outdoors! Girls benefit immensely from time spent outdoors. Girls who regularly spend time outdoors eclipse their peers who spend less time outdoors in environmental stewardship, more readily seek challenges, and are better problem solvers—all important traits in twenty-first century leadership. According to a report from the Girl Scout Research Institute spending time outdoors in nature is different from playing or learning inside. • Outdoor spaces support physical play. Unlike most indoor environments, the outdoors offers open space where children are able
to be messy, make noise, and move in more physically intense ways. • Time in nature promotes attention restoration. Spending time in nature (even just a walk in a park) has been shown to improve concentration and creative reasoning among children and adults, including those with attention deficits. • Nature provides novelty and challenge, which enhance leadership. Outdoor experiences often place girls in new physical, psychological, and social situations that motivate curiosity and foster a sense of 2
discovery. Authentic challenges in nature (starting a fire in the rain or negotiating a set of whitewater rapids) require girls to become more self-aware and to cooperate, communicate, and solve problems more effectively. (More Than S’mores: Successes and Surprises in Girl Scouts’ Outdoor Experiences-A Report from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 2014.)
SUMMER 2017
The Gift of Membership When Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouts, she was adamant that lack of financial resources would never keep girls from joining our organization. Any girl who wanted to be a Girl Scout could and the resources would be found. This mantra has stood the test of time. In 2016, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana provided $263,426 in program assistance. The funds were used to pay girl membership fees, provide camp scholarships and help with uniform components. For some, the annual membership fee may not be a lot, but there are many families that are unable to budget for the fee and
that is where the generosity of our donors is appreciated. Without the support of our many donors, program assistance would not be available for girls. We maintain that any girl who wants to be a Girl Scout, will be. The next time you purchase your favorite designer coffee drink or go out to lunch, think about investing that money in girls in our community who have the chance to become leaders. Visit girlscoutsindiana.org to make your gift today.
Girls at Camp Dellwood retire tattered U.S. flags.
Fall Product Sales
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana launches a new fall product program We are excited to announce a new fall product program. The new fall product program makes it easy and fun for Girl Scouts to participate. Program materials and training opportunities at local service centers will be available in September. Take a look at all the new ways to participate and earn money for your troop.
earn an additional custom avatar patch through the Girl Scout Cookie Program. • Magazine orders will be done online only, so there are no catalogs to carry around. • Nuts and candy will have an order card, but can also be sold online with the option for girl delivery and shipping.
• Girls can go online to create an avatar that looks like them.
• Parents will be able to enter their nut and candy orders online so the troop doesn’t have to collect order cards.
• Girls can complete steps to earn a custom patch with their name and avatar.
• There are new nut and candy products like peppermint bark in a holiday tin and S’mores mix in a Girl Scout jar.
• Girls who participate in the fall product program by sending 15 emails and creating their avatar will be eligible to
Last, but not least, this year’s Girl Scout tin is in the shape of a tent and contains mint Trefoils. 3
The fall product program is not only a great way to earn money for your troop, it’s an excellent opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping for everyone on your list. We look forward to seeing you this fall!
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Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Leadership and Learning Center 7201 Girl Scout Lane Indianapolis, IN 46214
SAVE -theDATE 2017
August 4-20 Indiana State Fair Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis August 22 Women's Equality Day Luncheon Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Service Center, Terre Haute August 24 Women's Equality Day Luncheon Columbia Room at Midtowne, Lafayette September 14 Man Enough Reception CharBlue, Indianapolis
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September 20 Hispanic Outreach Reception Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Leadership and Learning Center, Indianapolis October 14 Latinas Taking the Lead Graduation Embassy Suites North, Indianapolis November 7 Lt. Governor’s Leadership Luncheon Indiana Roof Ballroom, Indianapolis November 11 Kaleidoscope Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Leadership and Learning Center, Indianapolis
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