Ours is a circle of friendships united by ideals.”
Message from Cara Biddlecom, CEO
Warm greetings and Happy Fall, Girl Scouts!
I am honored to be serving you and our girls as CEO, and I thank everyone for such a warm welcome as I joined GSWNY at the end of August. Our theme for this issue is “What Girl Scouts Means to Me” and I appreciate this opportunity to introduce myself and share with you why this organization is particularly important to me. Girl Scouts matters to me on a personal level for many reasons. As a young girl, Girl Scouts gave me the opportunity to experience many things I never would have had the chance to do – I was able to spend time with other girls, learn business skills through the cookie program, learn about conservation (my family and I maintain a compost bin and organic garden to this day), and gain con dence in the outdoors .
I had the gift of spending more time with my mom, who served as one of my co -Troop Leaders. I’m now the mother of a Brownie Girl Scout, and see her interests in the outdoors and STEM ourishing while she makes new friends in a new community. As someone whose work has always focused on social justice, Girl Scouts supports the most important priorities that we have at a critical time for young people. Girl Scouts builds lifelong and intergenerational well-being by connecting youth to critically important, trusting relationships with caring adults and provides leadership opportunities that may not otherwise exist. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic and the in uence of social media and cell phones has had a deleterious e ect on girls’ mental health, and Girl Scouts o ers youth and families a safe and supportive environment to thrive when they need it the most.
I am so thankful to Javeena Edwards and her leadership as the interim CEO, and I am excited to get started on expanding our reach across the entire Western New York region and ensuring that every young person in our community has the opportunity to become a leader in their own right.
My career has always been driven by a passion for supporting individuals and communities in reaching their fullest potential, and I am excited to bring that passion to the Girl Scouts of Western New York. Please read on to hear the inspiring stories of some very special volunteers, donors, and sta .
Cara Biddlecom Chief Executive O cer
What Matters Most to Our Girls: New Adventures
Libby Higgins, Girl Scout & Board Member
This summer my troop spent a week in the Swiss Alps at Our Chalet, a Girl Scout World Centre. This trip was the product of fundraising, budgeting, and planning that started when we were in 6th grade. Over the course of six years, we raised money through cookie sales, clothing drives, selling our own soup and baked goods (which we called “Jars for the Journey”), and working concessions at Highmark Stadium.
Switzerland is beautiful! One of the best parts of the experience was meeting and dorming with other Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world. We hiked, canoed, visited the village of Adelboden, met local artisans, traded pins and friendship bracelets, rode scooters down a mountain, sang songs, and made memories that will last forever.
We owe so much gratitude to the Girl Scout organization who provided our troop guidance each step of the way. We are very proud to have planned, funded, and executed this trip as a Girl Scout led adventure! Helping and guiding us each step in person and in spirit were our brilliant troop leaders, Dr. Karin Provost,
What Matters Most to Our Donors: Making a Difference
In retrospect, the most important part of Girl Scouts for me was having good leaders. I was blessed with dedicated women from Brownies through Seniors! What does that mean to me now? How can I support Girl Scouts through volunteering my time and the monetary contributions I make each year.
I credit Girl Scouting for so much of who I am today. Much of my independence, common sense, and problem solving comes from my years in Girl Scouts and attending Shady Hollow Day Camp and Seven Hills Residence Camp.
“What Matters Most” is all the support we give to Girl Scouts that makes the organization stronger and able to meet the needs of girls and their leaders. I sincerely hope we will have Girl Scouts for generations to come!
—Sheila Flanagan, Niagara County
Girl Scouts holds a special place in our hearts because of the profound impact it has had on our family and community over the past two decades. Our three daughters, who have each earned the prestigious Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, are now proud lifetime members, a testament to the program's enduring in uence. Cathy’s 21 years as a dedicated troop leader, along with Joe’s invaluable support with encampments and troop activities, underscore our deep commitment to Girl Scouts. We believe this organization fosters self-condence, positive self-esteem, and lifelong friendships while o ering girls unique opportunities and experiences they might not otherwise encounter. The personal growth and community bonds formed through Girl Scouts have been truly transformative for us all. We are honored to be supporters of this incredible organization.
—Joe and Cathy Del Vecchio, Erie County
What matters most to me about Girl Scouts is making new friends, keeping the old (as I sang in Brownies)and learning how to be a leader in a world that wasn't ready for women in leadership. This still matters - a place for girls to belong and learn how to be a leader and respectful adult who contributes to society.
As a girl in the 1970's, Girl Scouts was the only organization available to me in my rural hometown - sports were not an option until I was well into high school. Attending the weekly GS meetings was a great way to connect with my friends outside of school. I was proud to be in Girl Scouts! In the last 25 years of my career, I worked with entrepreneurs —having that early sales training really mattered!
Fast forward to my adult years - I missed the camaraderie of the Girl Scout environment - I was focused on my career. By the time I was 29 I realized I needed more - and volunteered to be an assistant leader with a Cadette troop in Amherst. This turned into a 20-year career of volunteering with the GS. I made lifelong adult friends with the other leaders and many of the girls in the troops I supported, and learned that helping Girls Grow also helped me grow!
—Kim
Kohl, Niagara County
Enabling generations of girls with Girl Scout values, skills and friendships matters a lot to me. My mom became a Brownie leader in college in 1955 and was then my Brownie, Junior and Cadette leader. The opportunities scouting provided to develop teamwork, con dence and leadership skills along with lifelong friendships were true gifts.
These served me well as a female in IT in the late 1970's and beyond during my almost 40 year career. I too became a scout leader with our daughters and my husband was the best Cookie Mom ever. Thank you Girl Scouting!
—Karen Schuh, Livingston County
What Matters Most to Our Staff: New Opportunities Michelle A. Martin, Director of Strategic Partnerships
As I re ect on my nine years as an employee I have admittedly been frustrated at times when asked “why can’t my daughter just join your troop.” As I enter this season of recruitment, welcoming new members, volunteers and girls into our organization, I nd it is indeed a compliment. It’s a compliment as my passion, admiration and voice that I project for this organization is not only re ective in my commitment as a lifetime member but in my work in the community - that is an honor and the beginning of my why. There is so much opportunity in Girl Scouts - to travel, to explore the world (locally and internationally), to network and meet new people but also to advance your career. While I have met several people across the years who have shared their story of when they worked, volunteered or was a Girl Scout - I myself can testify to similar experiences.
Girl Scouts provides an opportunity. Girl Scouts provides an opportunity - the dual statement is not a typo but instead a double down on truth.
Girl Scouts has provided me the opportunity to travel—nationally, internationally and up and down the 90 does count—from Rochester to Jamestown exploring the many counties in between.
Girl Scouts has provided me the opportunity to meet new people, share likeminded experiences but to also challenge myself and others.
Girl Scouts has provided me the opportunity to be a presenter in a room with 3, 30 and in some cases 300 people .
Girl Scouts provides another opportunity in which I can give back to my community.
Girl Scouts has provided me the opportunity to introduce girls and families who may not otherwise have heard or experienced our organizations o erings.
Girl Scouts has provided me the continual opportunity to advance my career advancement.
Girl Scouts has provided me the opportunity that I will continuously o er, share and invite others to experience.
What Matters Most to Our Volunteers: In uencing the Next Generation of Girls
Growing up, my mom, Hanna Schwartz, was my Girl Scout Leader for all but one of my Girl Scout years. We did all of the usual Girl Scout things, but my Mom was always the most joyful when we were at camp. My mom took on the Leader role for my oldest daughter’s troop as she entered kindergarten. I helped as I could with the Troop activities until I joined as her co-leader when they bridged to Cadettes and then–I got it. I nally understood. About a month into the new Leader role, the magic of being a Leader just hit me. We choose to help guide these young women working together to make their choices and de ne their goals for each year gives them independence and control that wasn’t a part of the other aspects of their lives. Girl led. Those two words created leadership. Watching them work through journey and badge requirements, some fun, some more learning and clearly future oriented, but always working together. Not every path to the goal was straight. Many zigs and zags occurred. I learned from each meeting how to goad hesitant Cadettes to step out of their comfort zone. Watching them take tentative steps to teaching younger girls, and then getting progressively more con dent and capable. Then as Seniors and Ambassadors, watching them start mentoring the next level of older Girl Scouts to start leading. And then CAMP. Totally di erent as a Leader. I now truly understand the CAMP MAGIC that my mom had felt all those years ago. It is something absolutely magical to be at camp, with all these amazing young women and amazing Leaders, who have made the same choice as you, to help this next generation become the absolute best version of who they want to be. I now understand my mom’s lifelong dedication to Girl Scouts. It is an organization that gives back as much as you give it. There are days things go well, and there are days things absolutely do not go as planned. In both scenarios, we are setting an example for the girls, who will someday tell that story and many others to their own Troop of amazing young women. Empowered women, empowering women.
—Karin Provost,
Erie County
We are beginning our fourth year as Girl Scout leaders in the Spencerport Service Unit. It’s hard to believe we will be bridging to juniors at the end of this year.
We volunteer as leaders to do something fun and engaging alongside our daughters. Although initially this was to nd something for our own daughters to do, we have quickly forged wonderful relationships with our troop members and their families. It’s an honor to create a space where girls can be brave and try new things without a fear of failing. The spark that we see in them when they succeed makes all of the planning worthwhile. We aim to provide experiences, life skills and memories that will last a lifetime. We look forward to
Fall Product Program
Our Fall Product Program is a council-sponsored program that combines educational activities with money-earning opportunities for troops. The Fall Program is directed towards family and friends—those closest to Girl Scouting and enables troops to earn start-up money by selling magazine subscriptions as well as nuts, candy, and more! This year the program runs from October 9th through November 15th.
THREE di erent GS themed BarkBoxes this year!
Mini BarkBox 1: Beret toy & treats! $19.99
Mini BarkBox 2: S’mores Stick toy & 1 treat canister! $22.99
Tervis® provides a wide selection of premium insulated tumblers and water bottles. Check out your favorite MLB®, NFL®, and collegiate sports teams and more! All items will be shipped directly to customers.
To order, nd a Girl Scout near you or scan the QR code
2024 Girl Scout Memories tin lled with delicious Mint Treasures!
Honey Roasted Pecans with vanilla drizzled over top. A tasty treat!
Tervis Tumblers are back!
GSWNY Troop Leader & Woman of Distinction Featured with her girls in cover photos
