The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.”
Message
from Lynn Lubecki, Board
Chair
Happy New Year Girl Scouts!
I recently had the pleasure of attending the GSUSA Board Chair and CEO Conference in Detroit, it was an inspiring gathering of our movement’s leaders from across the United States. It was also an incredible reminder that when you are a part of Girl Scouts, you are part of something so much bigger than yourself. From our local troops, volunteers, and donors, to the board of directors and sta , across the county and around the world, we are truly a sisterhood dedicated to building girls of courage, con dence, and character who make the world a better place.
Our theme for this issue is Envisioning 2025 and we are thrilled to welcome two members of our Girl Advisory Board as guest editors: Cyrene Blackley, an Ambassador Girl Scout in Troop 70085 and Stella Adsit, a Senior in Troop 30317. Cyrene and Stella helped shape the issue, conducted interviews with board and volunteer members, and wrote all of the articles. Read on for some exciting news about our strategic planning work, the launch of Cookie and Camp season, and why it is so important to invest in our girls, now and into the future.
Thank you for all the ways you contribute to our Girl Scout movement. Our future is bright, because of you!
Lynn M. Lubecki, Ed.D. GSWNY Board Chair
Strategic Planning for 2025 and Beyond
- By Cyrene Blackley, Girl Advisory Board Member
On a late November morning, I had the privilege of interviewing the new CEO of the Girl Scouts of Western New York. Cara Biddlecom was a Girl Scout herself and therefore brings a unique perspective in her role as CEO. We had a lovely conversation about what Girl Scouts means to her. She felt passionately that Girl Scouts is a place where girls can belong together and build trust. It is also her way of getting her chocolate and peanut butter x with a Peanut Butter Pattie cookie.
We then discussed the development of Girl Scouts of Western New York’s Strategic Plan in 2025. Ms. Biddlecom stated the new strategic plan is important because “coming out of the pandemic, we know that the world has changed, and engaging youth and families in Girl Scouts is more important than ever”. She believes the plan is a perfect opportunity for GSWNY “to take a pause, look at what our girls are looking for and need, and be able to respond with programming to meet these needs”. What this means to us is that our voices are being heard. She thinks the opportunities for girls are endless and it is time that the local Girl Scout Council listens to the community and has programming that re ects our needs. So, what does this mean for us as GSWNY members? She says she really wants to hear from the girl membership to share what our needs are today.
Ms. Biddlecom believes that 2025 will be more critically important than ever before for our girls and families. She is hoping to have exciting ways with high energy to engage the girls in Western New York. She is looking forward to celebrating the anniversaries of two of our camps: Camp Piperwood is turning 55 and Camp Seven Hills is turning 95 years old! She camped at Seven Hills as a Girl Scout and loved her time there, which fostered her lifelong love for the
55 years at July 25-27, 2025 June 21, 2025
events and register here: bit.ly/3OulDHA
A Passion for Girl Scouts and the Outdoors
By Cyrene Blackley, Girl Advisory Board Member
One Sunday night during Bills halftime, Kaitlin McCormick called me for a great discussion about her role as a Board Member and former camp counselor. Kaitlin had a bubbly personality and was full of energy. She was engaged and full of information.
I asked Kaitlin why she had decided to join the GSWNY Board. She said she joined because she felt her success in life was a direct result of being a Girl Scout. She felt Girl Scouts gave her an amazing foundation that has provided her with a pathway to success. “Girl Scouts gave me the inspiration for my career. I started my career doing environment work and Girl Scouts inspired that.” She then reminded me it is really important to nd a way to contribute in the community you live and work in. She said she “couldn’t think of any organization that better aligns with my values of how to support the next generation and really make the world a better place”.
After we discussed why she joined the board, we talked about the outdoor pillar of Girl Scouts. Kaitlin was a former camper, and as I mentioned, she was a camp counselor at Camp Sky High. She knows that there are tons of studies that show the bene ts of being outside, connect and realigning with nature. She believes the outdoors allows people to get out of their own heads and reconnect with themselves. She is a strong supporter of camp. I asked her what piece of advice she would give to girls and families thinking of signing up for camp this summer. Kaitlin responded, “just do it!”. She then elaborated and said, “I can’t think of any organization I would trust more with my kids and who would give girls a better foundation to try new things and take small risks and challenges in a supportive environment than the Girl Scouts.” She let me know her daughter is going into 2nd grade and will be going to overnight camp this summer for the rst time. She has loved doing troop camping at Camp Timbercrest as well as camping at the other Girl Scout camps.
When asked about her favorite camp songs, she couldn’t narrow it down to just one. Her favorite camp re song is either “On My Honor” or “On the Loose” but her favorite action song is “The Princess Pat”. I didn’t ask her if the Princess Pat lived in a tree or was part of the infantry – Google the original lyrics based on a historical gure for some fun info on this popular camp song!
Kaitlin McCormick
Investing in Our Future
- By Stella Adsit, Girl Advisory Board Member
Joanne Nelson, a dedicated Girl Scout and volunteer of 75 years, is making a lasting impact by planning a generous gift to the Girl Scouts, ensuring future generations of girls bene t from her lifelong commitment. Beginning with her earliest experiences, Joanne has always made it her mission to help the girls thrive and have fun. Throughout her Girl Scout career - from being the director of Camp Timbercrest to helping to open our Horton Hill Service Center for girls in her community - Joanne makes sure that no matter where a girl lives, she always has access to the opportunities that Girl Scouts provides. However, Joanne explains how though she has given a lot to the organization, Girl Scouts has given her more than she could ever ask for. The endless memories, life-long friendships and welcoming community that Girl Scouts has been able to give her is one of the main reasons she says she decided on giving her planned gift. Some of Joanne’s biggest advice for anyone else thinking of giving a legacy gift to the Girl Scouts is to start funding early. She says that one of the greatest things about giving this planned gift is being able to see it working towards helping the future of the girls.
For more information about planned giving or to join Joanne as a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Planned Giving Society, please contact Heather Bailey at 716.935.6068 or
Stella Adsit
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
- By Stella Adsit, Girl Advisory Board Member
Jana Darlington
Jana Darlington, a successful business owner and esteemed board member of the Girl Scouts of Western New York, is a shining example of the positive impact of entrepreneurship experiences for young girls. One of Jana’s core values is that exposure is the key to empowerment. Allowing girls to learn about how to run a business and di erent ways to be successful is an important way for girls to know that entrepreneurship is an option. She also explains how though it's going to be scary, and messy at some times, the worst thing that you can do is not try at all. Though we may make mistakes,
it's the way we bounce back from them that truly shows who we are as someone running a business. A big thing that stood out to Jana when deciding to start her own business was autonomy. The ability for her to control what goes on and be her own boss is an extremely empowering part of her business. With a daughter who is a Girl Scout herself, Jana explains how being on the board for GSWNY she feels that she has a connection with her daughter’s future and how she can help open doors for girls in the business world. Like entrepreneurship, Jana says that she believes Girl Scouts is important for every girl to be a part of. It helps to fuel girls' passions and drives them to reach their full potential!
http://www.gswny.org/
Purchase from your local Girl Scout Entrepreneur or nd cookies here!
GSWNY Board of Directors
As a volunteer organization, Girl Scouts of Western New York has a volunteer board of directors composed of community leaders and professionals who provide our organization with leadership. These women believe in the value of Girl Scouting and its ability to develop girl leaders. The combined expertise of these community members provides leadership to the council by establishing the policies and bylaws that guide us.
