A Quarterly Newsletter from Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
PG. 2-3
SUMMER 2014 EDITION
Connections Gold Award’s
• Leadership Updates • Pencil Us In
ROI (Return on INVOLVEMENT)
• Invest in Girls
PG. 4-5 • Conquering Colorado
PG. 6-7 • Volunteer Kick-Off Convention • Camp Archbald Dining Hall Grand Opening • Cirlce of Friends
ABOVE & AT LEFT: The Gold Awardees were officially welcomed to the elite alumnae of Girl Scouts when they were honored on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Founders Hall at Milton Hershey School in Hershey.
DID YOU KNOW? The number of awardees has increased from 79 in 2013 to 91 in 2014-making it a record breaking year?
Volunteering over $190,000* worth of community service hours, the 2014 Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania’s (GSHPA) Gold Award class made a community impact in a big way. We can calculate the Gold Awardees’ monetary impact; however, it is impossible to truly sum up the impact they had on the people they helped, the volunteers they led, and the communities that they call home. The Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout can achieve. On average, this remarkable accomplishment takes girls about two years from begin-
8,000 hours X $24.91 per hour
$199,280
worth of community improvements ning to end to complete. The Girl Scouts who are “going for the Gold” take an issue that they are passionate about and create a plan to change it that highlights their talents and builds skills like communication and leadership. The girls also inspire others to join their cause!
“Excitement about a project is contagious,” said Laura Steele of Newport in Perry County, “Once you spread the excitement, you wind up with a lot of people willing to help out with their own special talents.” These are just 91 Girl Scouts out of 24,000+! Imagine impact that our Girls Scouts across the entire council is making for Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania! With your help, volunteering, donating or even talking to a Girl Scout about “going gold” we can continue to encourage girls to be the leading humanitarians of their generation. * According to Independent Sector, one hour of community service is valued at $24.91 in Pennsylvania.
Leadership Update
[Pencil Us In!]
Dear Friends, At Girl Scouts, we encourage everyone to live big, give big, and dream big, whether it is trying something new, volunteering in the community, or believing in yourself! From girls to parents and volunteers to staff, we have made tremendous achievements as a council and we’ve done it together! Here are just a few summer highlights of BIG successes.
September 6 - 2014-2015 Volunteer Kick-Off Convention in Grantville (see page 6) September 10 - Inspiring Generations Gala in Hershey (see back page)
• Big Contributions
September 13 - Camp Archbald Dining Hall Unveiling (see page 6)
Ninety-one Girl Scout Awardees contributed over 8,000 hours of volunteer time to their communities.
October 1 - 2014-2015 Girl Scout Year Officially Starts!
• Big Adventures
October 5 - Thin Mint Sprint in Centre County (see page 7)
5 Girl Scouts traveled thousands of miles to Colorado for an unforgettable, outdoor Girl Scout adventure that built courage and fostered new friendships. This was a first trip of its kind for GSHPA, but it won’t be the last! • Big Achievements
November 8-9 - aMAZE Weekend for Cadettes at Camp Archbald (Registration to open October 1) November 22 - Change It Up! Kick-Off in Wilkes-Barre (Registration to open October 1)
GSHPA took a huge step in our Camp Development Plan with the completion of the new dining hall at Camp Archbald. • Big Inspiration GSHPA prepares to honor Senator Patricia Vance and several girls and leaders from every region of our council on September 10th at our Inspiring Generations Gala in Hershey, PA. Keynote speaker for the event is none other than the CEO if Girl Scouts of the USA, Anna Maria Chávez. Please consider joining us. There’s a lot to celebrate! For more information, go to www.gshpa.org. Sincerely,
Change It Up! is GSHPA’s 3rd council-wide signature programming
Carolyn Warman Board Chair
initiative that will focus on teaching every girl about money-the value of it, how to spend it responsibly, how to set goals and save it, and how to use it to
Jane Ransom President & CEO
give back to the community. Are you ready to Change It Up!? Brainstorming. Planning.
2
Creating. Solving. Fun!
JULIETTE GORDON LOW SOCIETY
We invite you to help secure the future of Girl Scouting in our area by establishing a planned gift to GSHPA by becoming a charter member of The Juliette Gordon Low Society*. Through this society, GSHPA recognizes special friends committed to the future of Girl Scouting through planned gifts. You can become a member by doing one or more of the following:
» »
Include GSHPA in your will Name GSHPA as the owner or
»
beneficiary of a life insurance policy
»
retirement plan
Name GSHPA as the beneficiary of an IRA, 401-k or other qualified Include GSHPA in a charitable gift annuity or trust.
For more information or to share that GSHPA is included in your future planned giving, please contact Debra Hess, Director Fund Development at 800-692-7816 EXT 1050 or email at dhess@gshpa.org
Inves t in Girls -
Change t he World
*Charter membership is considered for anyone who has previously made a planned gift to GSHPA or one of its Legacy Councils and notified GSHPA. Anyone who makes a planned gift to GSHPA before September 30, 2015 will also become a Charter member. Gifts of all sizes are important and welcomed by GSHPA. Disclosure of gift amount is not required.
Charter Members of the
Juliette Gordon Low Society will be officially recognized Girl Scouting has had a tremendous impact on women throughout our rich history, and we continue to evolve and remain relevant as our world changes around us. Sustaining our ability to serve future generations of girls requires support from many areas, but the support received through future planned gifts is more important than ever before. Making a bequest in your Will or Trust is an easy and powerful way to make a gift to GSHPA. It also provides for options and flexibility in your giving, enabling you to make a significant contribution that may otherwise not be possible. You maintain control of your assets during your lifetime, and can modify the size or designation of your gift as priorities change.
and “pinned” at the Inspiring
Generations Gala to be held at the Hershey Lodge on September 10, 2014.
3
Conquering Colorado: A SNAPSHOT OF FIRST TIME ADVENTURES “The Colorado Expedition was designed to provide girls with an experience of a lifetime. This exclusive opportunity enabled the girls to test their limits, discover their strengths and develop friendships that will create lifelong memories,” said GSHPA’s Outdoor Program Manager Kelly Benasutti. Travel is just one of many opportunities that GSHPA offers. Together we can inspire more girls to cross state lines and even oceans to broaden their horizons to see the world in a whole new way. To see more snapshots of The Colorado Expedition visit our Facebook page. It was a whirlwind week that gave five Girl Scouts a lifetime of firsts...
4
None of the girls have ever explored the dusty remains of a ghost town before or climbed to the top of a rock formation overlooking miles of mountains. “It was so cool and just before you rappelleD down, you would lean back over the edge with just the ropes holding you and it feels amazing.” - Aislynn
It was their first time in Colorado and for some it was their first time on horseback. “We were crossing streams and riding up, over and around winding trails.” - Joy
They have never set up a camp in the middle of the wilderness. “Our tent was up high, but near the river and it was so awesome to listen to it at night.” - Abby
And they never laid their eyes on the postcard-like landscape of Pike’s Peak - a view they said they will remember forever with their new found friends. “I’ll never forget the views. When you’re on top of the mountain and the sun is setting it is so beautiful.” - Livia
The girls sat by a campfire as they regaled stories from their white water rafting trip down the Arkansas River. “We knew one rapid has the tendency to over throw the boats, but it was thrilling! We were able to steer our way through.” - Aislynn
Your daughter can join in on t he next advent ure in summer 2015!
With over 24,000 Girl Scouts, GSHPA enlists the help of over 11,000 role models, leaders and inspirers, (also known as volunteers) to help give girls a safe and fun outlet to discover new and exciting things and learn valuable life skills.
in Grantville and will include 15 exciting breakout workshops for volunteers to pick from that will energize, educate and connect volunteers with resources to give our Girl Scouts the best scouting experience. Interested in attending*? Visit www.gshpa.org.
As we prepare for the start of another exciting Girl Scout year, now is a great time to create opportunities for volunteers to network, learn about new & exciting opportunities, brush up on things they may have forgotten and get excited for the adventure that is set to begin on October 1 by attending our annual Volunteer Kick-off!
Not already a volunteer? Join our team of amazing volunteers to donate your time, talents, experience, and knowledge to girls ready to look up to someone!
2014 Volunteer Kick-Off Convention* is set for Sept. 6 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center
Learn more about becoming a volunteer online at www.gshpa.org. *The Volunteer Kick-Off Convention is for registered volunteers. If you would like to attend, register to be a volunteer at www.gshpa.org and then sign up for the Volunteer Kick-Off Convention by August 31.
Volunteer Kick-Off Convention
Are you ready to go to camp? Join us at Camp Archbald, the country’s second oldest Girl Scout camp, on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. as we unveil the new dining hall in honor and celebration of Laura Muia, a woman who was a GSHPA advocate, volunteer and camp enthusiast. After the unveiling, take a tour of Camp Archbald and see where thousands of Girl Scouts have and will continue to experience a life changing and unforgettable outdoor experience.
6
Circle of Friends Members
Lace up your sneakers and sprint, trot and dash in the Thin Mint Sprint on October 5 at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, Boalsburg, PA in Centre County from noon -2 p.m. to support GSHPA. We have a race for everyone- invite friends and family to join in on the fun!
C
ir c
d
s
Sunday, October 5, 2014 nsylvania Military Museum at Pen , in Boalsburg, PA
le o f F rie n
Participants are encouraged to register in advance for Early Bird pricing for the timed Thin Mint Sprint 5K (for all ages) and for the ½ mile Tagalong Trot (for participants 6 years and up). The FREE DoSi-Dos Dash is a 20-yard dash for children 5-years-old and under.
Bridge to the Future Society: Individuals who contribute an annual gift of $2,500 or more.
Don’t miss out on our speical Early Bird pricing! Visit www.gshpa.org before Sept. 1 to take advantage of these offers. If you register by Sept. 1 you will also receive a free event t-shirts.
*Catherine Bush *Kate Crowley *Amy DeShong *E. Louise Hepschmidt *Bill and Sharon Hoffmann Elizabeth Ingraham *Heidi Nicholas *Jane Ransom *Natalie Smith
Start warming up and register today at www.gshpa.org.
DONOR RECOGNITION The follow list represents those donors who were inadvertently omitted or listed out-of-place in GSHPA’s 2013 Annual Report of Donors. We extend our apologies and sincere appreciate for their support designated to GSHPA through their local United Ways during our 2013 Fiscal Year (October 1, 2012-Sept. 30, 2013). Giving Level-$100-249 Tamera Balsbaugh Hannah Barrick Michele Beery BJ Bookwalter Jennifer Day Laura Delp Elaine DiRienzo David Distefano Monica Edlis Andria Evans Barbara Eyler Joy Farley Connie Ferraro Betty Fish Crystal Fox Kristin Frederick Wendy Giulivo Teri Goward Alycia Hardy Deborah Hauf Vicki Hench Laura Holahan Jennifer Honeysett Tracy Jackson Heather Jenkins Tiffany Jennings Nancy Karkoska Kevin Kessler Angela Kint George Koontz Katherine Kramer Michele Kreitman Jewell Lester Christopher Logsdon Karen Ludwig David Maberry
Tabatha McNeal Eric Murray Karen Page Suzanne Papson Jeffrey Perry Ronda Peters Kitreena Pifer Barbara Rineholt Cherie Rippetoe Debra Rivera Melinda Roadcap Robin Ronemus-Schuler Douglas Rost Rebecca Roush Kimberly Scholfield Stephany Schulz Jason Sharp Michelle Shry Gail Shull Marisa Shull Barbara Sleeger Deborah Smith Maura Smith-Mitsky Debra Sowers Melissa Stonesifer Joanne Storer Sepia Suchanic Jennifer Sultner Robert Topper Darwin Tyson Stephanie Vest Wanda Wallace Nichole Walters Warrell Corporation Donna Warren Lisa White Hope Williams
Amber Zorbaugh Giving Level-$250-499 Dallas Agerton Bethann Bohn Caroline Burnell Linda Campa Timothy Debes Tiffany Gibbons Henry Harner Christy Hubley John Irwin Cathy Kash Perrianne Lurie Cynthia Page Monica Peng Neera Scarboro Cheryl Sola Sallie Spanswick Mary Thomas Three Mile Island Generating Station Kim Weikert
By joining the Circle of Friends, individuals who make annual gifts totaling $1,000 or more become a part of a select group of leadership donors who are deeply committed to helping today’s girls become tomorrow’s leaders. We thank the following members of the Circle of Friends for their generosity.
Golden Friends: Individuals who pledge to contribute $1,000 - $2,499 per year for 3 years. *Marion C. Alexander Thomas Klinger Joanne Bankos *Susan Kreidler Mimi Barash Coppersmith Veronica Longenecker *Nancy Besch *†Laura Muia Michael Breslin Keith and Joan Mummert *Blake and Linda Gall *Barbara Palmer *Melinda Ghilardi Linda and Neal Rhoads *Ann Hughes *Karen Snider *Betsy Keefer *Dianne Steimling
Giving Level-$500-999 Pamela Funk Melissa Kefauver George Melbert Linda Noggle Jennifer Will David Wyrwas Carolyn Warman Giving Level-$1,000-4,999 Amgen Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Individuals who contribute an annual gift of $1,000 - $2,499.
*Karen Best Katherine Bishop Debra Bowman Thomas and June Brown Louisa Clark *Linda Davis Mary Dearden Galen and Nancy Dreibelbis John and Eleanor Fogarty Carol V. Freer *Virginia Goodrich Sara Hannigan
Bruce and Susan Heim Deb Hess Norman Hoffer Robert and Melinda Inners *Kyle Kauffman Rocky and Dolly Lalvani Mary Root Donald and Alva Roseth *Mary Jane Saras Karen Shustack *Paul Witt Coni Wolf Deborah Wortham
* Denotes charter member of Circle of Friends † Denotes deceased
Non-Proft Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Harrisburg, PA Permit No. 64 Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania 350 Hale Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17104 800.692.7816 www.gshpa.org | general@gshpa.org
The Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania cordially invites you to the
2014 Inspiring Generations Gala to benefit Girl Scouts across our council.
Featuring Keynote Speaker Anna Maria Chรกvez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA
Presentation of the 2014 Inspiring Generations Honorees Wednesday, September 10, 2014 5:30 p.m. Reception AND 6:45 p.m. Dinner
the gala will take place at
The Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA
Presenting Sponsor
Register online at www.gshpa.org