The Lowdown Alum Newsletter // Summer-Fall 2020
STAYING CONNECTED WHILE APART
98 Years Along the Shores of Cayuga Lake New Date & Venue: Women of Distinction Torchbearer Profile: The Late Marie Hepworth Solar STEM Lab/Classroom Grand Opening
A GSNYPENN Brownie bridging to Junior
Dear Friends of Girl Scouting,
Torchbeare
I hope this letter finds you well despite the challenging times we’re facing. When we first began putting our Winter-Spring 2020 issue together, we had such great plans—as did so many across our council and the nation. As Girl Scouts, we’re taught to be prepared, to rise to the challenge, and to lead and help. Our response to our present public health crisis is no different. We decided to hold off on our first issue of the year and reconnect with you when the time was right. Our “new normal” has forced us to re-think how we deliver and support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. I think you’ll be excited to hear what we’ve accomplished to support our girl and adult members during this time. First, I’d like to share a few updates since our last issue and a few event changes. In November 2019 at our annual council recognition event, we celebrated the 18 young women who earned Girl Scouting’s highest achievement—the Girl Scout Gold Award. Scholarships totaling $12,000 were awarded to three girls in honor of special Girl Scout sisters we lost in 2019: the Marie Hepworth Scholarship ($5,000), the Kelly Perkins Scholarship ($4,000) and the Kerrie Black Scholarship ($3,000). You can donate to this scholarship program at any time throughout the year! In December 2019, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of Amahami Adventure Center. A special reception was held at Roberson Museum and Science Center in Binghamton. Our staff joined 40 guests (many of them GS alums) to share in this special celebration. A few guests attended Amahami as campers many years ago and regaled us with wonderful stories. The evening included a beautiful Girl Scout exhibit in Nature Trek, complete with a holiday tree (decorated by our very own History and Archives Committee) highlighting Amahami’s rich history. The evening concluded with a Girl Scout song led by Friends of Amahami. January through May was, of course, the Girl Scout Cookie Program. It was a longer than usual season due to COVID-19. Our booth sales were canceled almost immediately after they began due to social distancing. Our members rose to the occasion (no surprise) and helped us work to find homes for the thousands of cases of cookies that otherwise would have been a financial loss for individual troops as well as council. Our Women of Distinction breakfast is rescheduled for September 15 and includes a venue change to Traditions at the Glen, Johnson City. (See inside for details). This offers a safer outdoor space under an event tent. Our 2020 honoree is Diane L. Brown, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for South Central New York serving Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga counties. A lifelong resident of the Binghamton area, she has been involved in nonprofit and community service for over 40 years. We hope you can join us! The pandemic has brought many challenges. The greatest is our need to stay connected to our members. Our staff quickly deployed a robust online presence for girls and families across our council. These virtual programs are entertaining and engaging. Girl Scout sisters from across the nation are also taking part—truly the highest praise! Additionally, during the height of social distancing, our CEO Julie Dale provided virtual town hall-style weekly updates. This allowed members to ask questions and hear how council decisions were being made concerning COVID-19 response. And thanks to the always supportive Friends of Amahami, girls and alums attended virtual campfires complete with Girl Scout songs. Thank you for your continued support of our council! We need it now more than ever. Sharing all the great things our girls, troops and staff are doing goes a long way in keeping Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways in conversations across our 26-county service area. Please save the important dates in this issue and take a look at some new endeavors on the horizon. We’re always interested in your feedback.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
JoAnne Morak Development Director GSNYPENN
MARIE HEPWORTH
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To explore this possibilit Partnership Outreach M 1.855.213.8555 x2990 or
er Profile: Marie Hepworth (1931-2019)
The late Marie Hepworth began her Girl Scout journey during the Great Depression era as a member of Johnson City Girl Scout Troop #77. Throughout her life, she continuously credited Girl Scouts for giving her leadership skills would not have otherwise
human resource management. She decided to return to the place that relished her skills and gender, volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader and Service Unit manager.
ts of Girl Scouting, with e was one of the Senior as junior counselors at HikeIt. Counselors hiked h on Main St. in Johnson above where present-day and back down at the end
After marriage and 15 years raising a family of four children; and inspired by her Girl Scout volunteer roles and former troop leader, Dorothy Canfield; Marie began her professional Girl Scout career in 1970. She served as Field Director, PR Director and Acting Executive Director before becoming Executive Director of Indian Hills Council (a GSNYPENN legacy council) in 1974. She held this position through her retirement in 1995.
Marie was selected to l meeting of Girl Guides n Cooperstown, NY, in he impact of Girl Scouts life—including her choice College (then a women’s helor’s degree in 1954. She ily to attend an institution
ustration post-college s she was asked over and type,” despite having a nternship experience in
According to her daughter, Julia Hepworth Jurena, Marie found lifelong comradery and friendship through Girl Scouting. This was something she heard from her mother many times over. Marie learned to be independent and was not afraid to take risks. “She didn’t have to sit back while boys were encouraged to take the lead,” Julia says. She says her mother credited Girl Scouts for giving her a place to learn without fear of failure and opportunities to see the world outside her community. Opportunities and experiences her mother considered “gifts.”
Marie’s leadership positioned the council at the forefront of serving girls—girls at risk; girls from diverse neighborhoods and communities; five-year-old girls through the then-new Daisy program; all girls through career exploration programs discovering the era’s changing opportunities for women and through camp experiences, outdoor education and environmental programs. Her leadership positioned not only Girl Scouts, but communities throughout five counties, to take the lead for girls into the 21st century.
In 2012, Marie was honored as the GSNYPENN Woman of Distinction. Before her passing on March 2, 2019, she worked through her church program, Fresh Start. The service provides employment and job readiness for those recently released from incarceration. In late 2019, the council’s largest annual Gold Award Girl Scout Scholarship was designated in Marie’s name and honor to assist a deserving young woman with the opportunity to pursue higher education or training post-high school. Another “gift,” as Marie might say, to shape today’s girls into tomorrow’s leaders thanks to the shining example of a lifetime Girl Scout. It comes as no surprise that Julia Hepworth Jurena followed in her mother Marie’s footsteps, working in a “helping” capacity during her career. When Julia retired from Broome County Department of Social Services, she offered these words of encouragement to her colleagues, inspired by her mother’s work: • My mother and others like her paved the way for women today to choose any career they want. • Never forget the women that came before you—their hard work, persistence, and strength have made it possible for you to be anything you want to be. • Always keep a level head. • I’m thankful I was mentored by my mother— an amazing businesswoman and leader. • Everyone has a voice. My mother taught me to be an advocate for those who didn’t have a voice and to listen to all the voices at the table and to seek out the voices that were silent. Special thanks to Julia Hepworth Jurena and Rita Chirumbolo Ernstrom for their contributions to this profile.
Opportunities for Girl Scout Alums
ou know) interested in your expertise, skills or Scout troops? This could sson or an experience.
ty, please contact Manager Reenie Dailey at rdailey@gsnypenn.org.
Make New Friends: Kindergarten Readiness Virtual Series Our recruitment team is hosting “Make New Friends: Kindergarten Readiness Delivered by Girl Scouts” a free, four-part virtual series to introduce non-Girl Scouts entering kindergarten and their families to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The series gives girls the chance to strengthen four core competencies before they enter kindergarten. The series is held via Zoom and allows girls to connect with the same friends each week while our staff and volunteers lead them through sessions around language and literacy, cognition, approaches to learning,
and social-emotional learning. We encourage our alums to help spread the word to your communities! Want to get involved? Contact Senior Director of Community Recruitment Aletha Rollins at 1.855.213.8555 x2521 or arollins@gsnypenn.org.
Save the Date!
History and Archives Corner
Solar STEM Lab/Classroom Grand Opening
98 Years Along the Shores of Cayuga Lake
Thursday, August 27, 2020 | 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Amahami Adventure Center 434 Page Pond Rd. Deposit, NY 13654 Cost: Free Join us at Amahami Adventure Center (434 Page Pond Rd., Deposit, NY) on Thursday, August 27 from 3-6 p.m. for a tour of our new state-of-the-art facility, presentations on how the lab works, and to learn how our members and the community can rent the space. We will also acknowledge those who have supported this capital project. Opening welcome and refreshments will be provided. Attendees may also tour the camp property. All COVID-related safety protocols will be followed, and we do ask that you have a mask to wear if you can’t maintain appropriate social distancing. There is no cost to attend, but those interested are asked to RSVP to JoAnne at 1.855.213.8555 x2052 or jmorak@gsnypenn.org.
Women of Distinction Breakfast (Rescheduled) Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Traditions at the Glen, 4101 Watson Blvd., Johnson City, NY 13790 Cost: $45 per person Register now at gsnypenn.org/WOD Join us as we honor Diane L. Brown, Executive Director, Community Foundation for South Central New York. A lifelong resident of the Binghamton area, Diane has been involved in nonprofit and community service for over 40 years. Women of Distinction are an exceptional group of women who exhibit outstanding leadership through mentoring, community service and/or business; leadership that embodies the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Proceeds from this celebration support scholarships for GSNYPENN Gold Award Girl Scouts. The Gold Award is Girl Scouting’s highest achievement.
Comstock Open Camp Reception for Alums & Community Spring 2021 (date TBD) Comstock Adventure Center, 1419 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, NY Cost: $35 per person Interested in attending? Contact JoAnne at jmorak@gsnypenn.org to be added to the invite list GSNYPENN and Girl Scout alums Mary Maxon Grainger of Ithaca and Marty Davis (Retired, Assistant Executive Director, Seven Lakes Legacy Council) of Geneva invite fellow alums, lifetime members and the community to the council’s historic camp located just outside of Ithaca. Named after naturalist Anna Botsford Comstock (first female professor at Cornell University), the property has deep ties to the Cornell-Ithaca community and a “million-dollar view” of Cayuga Lake. Enjoy a presentation on potential future improvement projects (including a proposed multiuse space with green/sustainable elements), cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the main lodge, in addition to a tour of the property. We hope you’ll come see the beauty of our camp, be immersed in its rich history and be inspired to help us reach our goals! We’re still exploring ideas for additional alum activities for 2021. Please check our website and social media channels regularly for updates. You’re also always welcome to call or email JoAnne.
When the Ithaca Council of Girl Scouts opened summer camp on Cayuga Lake in 1934, it was the 12th season of Girl Scouts camping along its shores. Prior to 1934 (starting PHOTOGRAPH OF JOHN HENRY AND ANNA in 1922), Girl Scouts camped BOTSFORD COMSTOCK MADE FROM A on land along the shores of the PORTRAIT PAINTED IN 1920 BY PROFESSOR OLAF BRAUNER lake made available by people willing to share their property for the opportunity for girls to experience living in an outdoor setting and studying nature. “Friends of Girl Scouting” in the truest sense! Land that would become part of present-day Comstock Adventure Center was given by Professor and Mrs. Ernest T. Paine in 1926, to be used by Girl Scouts from Ithaca and Tompkins County. Mrs. Paine was the second deputy commissioner for the Ithaca council. This camp included about one mile of lakeshore, with woods and small glens. It was described as one of the most beautiful points along the lake. Once again, “Friends of Girl Scouting” in the truest sense! The Cornell Daily Sun, October 6, 1926, reported, “At the annual Girl Scout Mother/Daughter Dinner, Mrs. A.C. Durand announced that the new camp of the Girl Scouts at Crowbar Point on the West Side of Cayuga Lake had been named Anna Botsford Comstock in honor of the famous naturalist.” Anna Comstock was the first female professor at Cornell University. A leader in the nature study movement, she was also a member of the national advisory committee on Girl Scouts nature work. A fundraising drive for Camp Comstock was held in the spring of 1927, led by the Zonta Club of Ithaca, a business and professional women’s organization. Funds were sought for road construction, tents, latrines, wells, a dock 1937 CAMP COMSTOCK STAFF and boats, tables and benches, dishes and kitchen equipment. A lodge was also funded and built, including a dining and recreation room with a large stone fireplace. These efforts one could say marked the earliest beginnings of the “Friends of Comstock.” Camp Comstock was formally dedicated on July 17, 1927. Summer 2020 will mark the 98th season that Girl Scouts will be camping on the shores of Cayuga Lake. This summer, unlike all of the summers before, Girl Scouts won’t be able to carry away camp memories of their time at Comstock due to the pandemic. We remain hopeful that summer resident camp will once again resume in 2021. Memories, and the place they were made at, are made possible by the vision and commitment of people. Friends they are called, who care and believe in the magical setting called camp, and the Girl Scout outdoor experience. Thank you to the earliest “Friends of Comstock,” and here’s to all the “Friends of Comstock” yet to be!
Finding Creative Ways to Stay Connected During Social Distancing Service Unit 448 Valley Hills (Steuben County, NY) held a drive-by bridging to celebrate this achievement. Girls were driven by a homemade bridge of balloons and crepe paper. Leaders presented them with their earned badges for the year and bridging packets. The SU also held virtual troop meetings on Zoom so the girls felt connected and could interact. Leaders from SU 445 Maple Valley (Steuben and Allegany Counties, NY) made goodie bags for their girls with activities to work on while at home. They knew the Internet is spotty in their area, so they made sure girls had resources to continue their badge work and to keep them connected to their troop. These SUs also join a monthly Zoom meeting with their Regional Support Manager, Renee Rivera, so they can share what they’re doing to ensure their leaders remain connected. They now host their usual monthly in-person meetings through Zoom to remain connected and engaged.
A GSNYPENN Daisy bridging to Brownie
Amahami’s 90th Anniversary Celebrated at Roberson In December 2019, 40 guests enjoyed a reception and time to reflect on the impressive 90year history of our council’s Amahami Adventure Center camp property located in Deposit, NY. This special gathering was held during Roberson Museum & Science Center’s Home for the Holidays—Roberson’s largest annual event. A tree in the holiday display was decorated in honor of Amahami’s 90th by our GSNYPENN History & Archives Committee.
About GSNYPENN Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA to administer the Girl Scout program in 24 counties of New York and two in Pennsylvania. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. We offer every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.
St. Lawrence
Jefferson
Lewis Oswego
Oneida
Wayne
New Hartford Little Falls
Cicero
NY
Auburn
Seneca
Ontario Yates
Allegany
Steuben Corning
Schuyler
Tioga
Building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Syracuse
Chemung
Madison HOOVER
Cooperstown
Chenango
Otsego
Ithaca Cortland
Tompkins
Horseheads
PA
Onondaga
Cayuga
COMSTOCK
Contact JoAnne Morak: 1.855.213.8555 x2052 jmorak@gsnypenn.org gsnypenn.org
Rome
Rochester
Herkimer
Watertown
We are dedicated to serving our council membership. Your support stays local and gives girls across our region the opportunity to experience the magic of Girl Scouting. Questions, comments, news, donations or suggestions? We would love to hear from you!
TREFOIL
Harrisville
Tioga
Bradford
Norwich
Broome AMAHAMI
Johnson City
Delaware
Meet Lisa Kaminski, Community Recruitment Manager A Girl Scout alum originally from Amsterdam, NY, Lisa began her Girl Scout career at legacy council Mohawk Pathways in 1998. She moved to the Finger Lakes region in 2001, taking a position with legacy council Seven Lakes and has been working in membership recruitment ever since. Her educational background in communications and education provides her with excellent skills to share the message of Girl Scouting in all the communities she serves. Lisa loves the work she does. Each day, she connects with girls, potential volunteers, parents and community members to educate them on why Girl Scouts is the right choice for female leadership development. Planning and implementing recruitment events allows her to showcase the many Girl Scout activities that help girls become leaders—seeing a girl’s excitement about joining is an added benefit! Lisa looks forward to continuing to grow Girl Scouts and bringing more opportunities to participate to all of the girls and adults residing in her service area. Lisa resides in Seneca Falls, NY, with her twin sons Alex and Landon, beagle Annie, and cat Sheubert.
Juliette Gordon Low Society
Have you made a planned gift to Girl Scouts? Through your planned giving, you’re part of the Juliette Gordon Low National Society. Please let us know so that we can honor you with this beautiful Juliette Gordon Low Society pin.
If you haven’t made a planned gift yet, it’s so easy. Did you know you can leave any amount or percent of your life insurance, retirement account or estate to Girl Scouts? Now more than ever during these challenging times, even the smallest bequest can make a huge difference in the future of our girls! To discuss options, call our Development Office at 315.698.9400 x2052.
Yolanda D. Peterson has joined the Juliette Gordon Low Society by leaving a gift to GSNYPENN. Yolanda is an Armament Systems Maintenance Warrant Officer at Fort Drum in Watertown, NY. She has been a leader of her daughter Skyler’s Girl Scout troop since being stationed in Watertown two years ago. Yolanda says Girl Scouts is a great way for girls to develop leadership skills. Her favorite leadership quote is: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more you are a leader.” - John Quincy Adams
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