Council Highlights

million raised by our girls and their families through the cookie sale. We used those funds to turn the once worn and tattered Camp Sombrero into a statement about how we believe in girls and women and their leadership potential. The Bob and Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women is, in my opinion, the most incredible leadership and camping facility for girls and women in this country. It sits on cherished land that has a history reaching back to the indigenous Hohokam and Pee-Posh people of the Gila. Under our care, it has become a communitybased facility that recognizes the powerful role that women have played in our history and prepares girls to make history and become the leaders that fulfill the Girl Scout Mission – making the world a much better place.

This council has been very blessed to consistently have a remarkable board of directors who were genuinely connected to the mission and ensuring that the council’s assets were invested in serving girls across our jurisdiction, even when the delivery models had to be innovative and, at times, were more costly than the typical models. As a result, our boards have been the envy of many other nonprofits and Girl Scout Councils across this country. I believe they have consistently demonstrated a true commitment to listening to the girls and volunteers who have served with them.

I have always been very blessed to serve in partnership with the best staff teams anyone could hope for. And from the moment I came to Cactus-Pine, I have shared leadership with a team of incredible professionals starting with Eunice DeDios and Marie Edwards and concluding with Carol Ackerson, Mary Mitchell, and Christina Spicer. I have truly loved serving with the staff in this council. They have so much talent and passion that they bring to their jobs, and for most of them, this is not just a job; it is their calling and purpose too. I have been proud of their dedication, commitment, tenacity, and innovation. I have watched so many of them push themselves above and beyond because they care so deeply about the girls and volunteers, we have the honor to serve.

It has been the greatest blessing of my life to serve as your CEO for all these years. I have always felt so honored to work alongside the most dedicated Movement Volunteers I have known anywhere in this country. I started calling that group of women and a few men Movement Volunteers because I do believe they are the heart and soul of this movement. As hard as I worked, and sometimes I did work at the expense of my own health, I always knew that there were hundreds of volunteers working every bit as hard. So, this was always humbling to me. I will miss thanking you for all you do and loving you all as best I can, knowing that LOVE is truly the best thank you I can provide.

There are simply not enough words or time for me to express how much I love and admire this large and diverse Cactus-Pine family - our staff, board, volunteers, donors, and girls. I want you to know I am staying here in this community and this council. While I have served in four Girl Scout Councils, Cactus-Pine is my Girl Scout family and my “home” council, and I am very proud to be an Arizonian.

Much, much love to all of you.

Girl Empowerment Day was a Slam Dunk!

A wave of purple t-shirts painted the top section of the Footprint Center as the roar of hundreds of Girl Scouts was heard when the Phoenix Mercury took on the Los Angeles Sparks this past June. As a 2022 cookie reward option, Girl Scouts were invited to attend Girl Empowerment Day, an event hosted by the Phoenix Mercury celebrating girls and all they are capable of accomplishing. This was a perfect fit as our members celebrated the incredible cookie sellout we experienced this year and represented GSACPC with a limitededition council cookie t-shirt.

In addition to the game, girls were offered the opportunity to participate in the Court of Dreams experience! Girl Scouts arrived the morning of the game to practice their basketball skills, connect with their Girl Scout Sisters, and experience playing on a WNBA court. It did not stop there. Before tip-off, the members of Troop 3559 served as the Honor Guard during the singing of the national anthem. The energy in the arena made the entire experience feel like a GSACPC celebration honoring the incredible work of our Girl Scouts this past member year. We look forward to more milestones and celebrations over the next year.

GSACPC History Committee Corner

Girl Scouts History Quiz

The Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council History Committee is made up of volunteers who are passionate about Girl Scouting and its history. They conduct ongoing research, preserve archives, and run the Barbara Anderson Girl Scout Museum. Look out for a history feature in each issue of GS Connections to learn more about our movement’s and council’s rich history. To join this committee, book a museum tour, or learn more, visit girlscoutsaz.org/history.

It’s pop quiz time! How well do you know early Girl Scouts history? Test your knowledge and perhaps learn a fact or two. To see the correct answers, turn to page 12.

1. Which one of these was not a Girl

Scout Badge offered in 1917?

a. Naturalist b. Cyclist c. Motorist d. Telegraphist

2. The 1913, Signaling Badge required girls to be proficient in what two forms of communication?

a. American Sign Language and Morse Code b. Telephone Switchboard and Morse Code c. Telegraph and Morse Code d. Semaphore Flags and Morse Code

3. Why did Juliette Gordon Low bring an empty tomato tin can to her Girl Scout meetings?

a. To collect dues from the girls b. To keep her Girl Scout pins c. To keep nuts and berries to feed her parrot, Polly Poons d. To spit out sunflower seeds

4. During the first year in 1912, girl members were called:

a. Girl Guides b. Savannah Girl Guides c. Savannah Girl Scouts d. Daisy Girl Scouts

5. In 1921, the first Girl Scout camp opened in Georgia called:

a. Camp Juliette Low b. Camp Edith Macy c. Camp Savannah d. Camp Whatchamacallit

6. The very first handbook published in 1913 is called:

a. What Girl Scouts Can Do b. How Girls Can Help Their Country c. Girl Scouting Handbook d. Scouting for Girls

7. During World War I, Girl Scouts performed all these tasks but one:

a. Collected peach pits for gas masks b. Grew Victory Gardens c. Sold War Bonds d. Gathered stockings to make parachutes

8. What was the color of the first

Girl Scout uniform in 1912?

a. Blue b. Khaki c. Green d. White

9. What was the first sport played in Girl Scouts, introduced by

Juliette Gordon Low?

a. Cricket b. Field Hockey c. Basketball d. Softball

10. Match the 1920’s badge to its name:

1. Civics 2. Scholarship 3. Economist 4. Woodcraft Scout 5. Signaling 6. Ambulance

a.

b.

c. d.

e.

f.