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TO GET HER THERE .ORG To strengthen support beyond the boundaries of Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts of the USA launched the ToGetHerThere cause with the goal of reaching gender-balanced leadership in one generation.
We all have a role to play in helping her reach a successful future. What is yours?
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SHE WAS BORN TO LEAD. BUT SOMETHING HAPPENS.
WHAT MUST WE DO TOGETHERTHERE? Studies reveal that girls idealize leadership qualities and skills, such as being talented, caring, honest, hard-working, confident, good listeners and team players. But only 21 percent of girls believe they have the qualities required to be a good leader, and a whopping 61 percent of girls are either ambivalent about leadership or say it's not important to them at all. In other words, she knows what it takes to lead, but lacks the confidence and encouragement to do so. What is happening? What’s stopping her from stepping up? She’s lacking role models and mentors, especially in highpaying STEM careers. She is confronted by unhealthy images about female beauty. The bullying mentality of peers holds her back. An unsupportive environment gives her discouraging messages, starting in grade school and continuing beyond. If this situation goes unchecked, millions of girls will never realize their full leadership potential. They'll opt out of pursuing their ambitions and never dare to push through their comfort zone. Girl Scouts is uniquely positioned to help policymakers, educators and the public advance girls’ education to ensure the country can access the talents and resources of the next generation of female leaders. To strengthen support beyond the boundaries of Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts of the USA launched the ToGetHerThere cause in 2012, with the goal of reaching genderbalanced leadership in one generation. The campaign is a broad and prolonged effort to break down barriers that hinder girls from leading and succeeding in technology, government, science, business and industry. American leadership can’t be transformed in a year, but expectations can. We all have a role to play in helping her reach a successful future. What is yours? If you work in a high-tech industry where women are underrepresented, show girls how to take their place in the jobs of the future.
If you work in retail, the fashion industry or in media, take a stand for healthy body images and the portrayal of women in advertising and television. Teachers are uniquely positioned to partner with other educators in the community to change the way girls are mentored and how women are represented through reading materials, on career days and in school assemblies. Girls can't be what they can't see, and they need to see female mathematicians, entrepreneurs, superintendents, mayors and CEOs before they'll know that they can be one, too. When girls succeed, so does society. As a girl, she needs confidence, encouragement and support to realize her full potential. As a woman, she needs only the opportunity to lead. Together, we will get her there. To learn more about ToGetHerThere — and to take the pledge to support girls and girls’ leadership — visit ToGetHerThere.org. Want to contribute to the local Girl Scout council’s work to provide leadership opportunities for girls in your community? Visit www.girlscouts-swtx.org/Donate today.
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DO IT FOR HER:
GIRL SCOUT ALUMNAE AND THE MENTOR-EFFECT According to a new Girl Scout Research Institute report, Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, women who were Girl Scouts as children display significantly more positive life outcomes than non-Girl Scout alumnae. Since its founding in 2000, the Girl Scout Research Institute has become an internationally recognized center for research and public policy information on the development and well-being of girls. Not just Girl Scouts, but all girls. According to a new Girl Scout Research Institute report, Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, women who were Girl Scouts as children display significantly more positive life outcomes than non-Girl Scout alumnae. Approximately one in every two adult women (49 percent) in the U.S. has at some point been a member of Girl Scouts, and the average length of time a girl spends in Girl Scouting is four years. There are currently more than 59 million Girl Scout alumnae living in the U.S. today.
More than half of America’s girls hope to have an effect on the world beyond the communities where they live. How do we know? We listen.
The study, which was not identified to participants as a Girl Scout project, surveyed a sample of 3,550 women aged 18 and older, roughly half of whom were Girl Scout alumnae and half drawn from the general population. The sample was chosen to be representative of the U.S. population in terms of race/ethnicity, household income, education, marital status and type of residence. The positive effects of Girl Scouting seem particularly pronounced for women who were Girl Scouts longer, as well as for African-American and Hispanic women. However, there is no Girl Scouting without Girl Scout volunteers.
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COMPARED TO NON-ALUMNAE, GIRL SCOUT ALUMNAE DISPLAY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POSITIVE LIFE OUTCOMES ON SEVERAL INDICATORS OF SUCCESS. • PERCEPTIONS OF SELF. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 63 percent consider themselves competent and capable, compared to 55 percent of non-alumnae. • VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY WORK. Of Girl Scout alumnae who are mothers, 66 percent have been a mentor/volunteer in their child’s youth organization, compared to 48 percent of non-alumnae mothers. • CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 77 percent vote regularly, compared to 63 percent of non-alumnae.
“There is no group of women better suited to mentor our girls than Girl Scout alumnae.” –Rose González Pérez, CEO Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
Four in 10 girls say that they have not had the opportunity to interact with successful women in the last school year. The statistics regarding girls and leadership today have a predicting effect on all our futures. “One kind of support we know a girl needs is role models— successful women she can learn from and emulate,” said Rose González Pérez, chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. “There is no group of women better suited to mentor our girls than Girl Scout alumnae.” More than 95 percent of adult members in Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas are unpaid volunteers who navigate the state-of-the-art Mobile Leadership Center, conduct troop meetings and manage administrative work. Whether you
• EDUCATION. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 38 percent have attained college degrees, compared to 28 percent of non-alumnae. • INCOME/SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. Girl Scout alumnae report a significantly higher household income ($51,700) than non-alumnae ($42,200).
have one weekend a year or several nights per week to contribute to the cause of furthering girl leadership, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has a place for you. With your help, she's one step closer to breaking through barriers and blossoming into her full potential. Your time as a volunteer and mentor will give her the environment she needs to pursue the interests, causes and leadership roles that are most important to her. She'll learn from you that being a scientist, a CEO or a stay-at-home mom are all paths she can take to change the world. With your support, she'll stand up, stand out and stand tall. Calling all Girl Scout alumnae: With your help, we can get her there.
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STORY BEHIND THE SASH: NOTABLE ALUMNAE Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas recognizes that one out of every two women has had a Girl Scout experience. Hear what four San Antonio women have to say about their involvement in the nation’s top leadership development program for girls. These are their stories behind the sash. The Volunteer:
She is a member of your board of directors. She’s an account manager, business executive or information analyst. She edits, audits, creates and discovers. She’s someone who credits Girl Scouting for providing the tools she needed to find her voice. She’s someone who makes a difference. She might even be you.
Liz Zeno
Senior Associate, RVK Architects A background in Girl Scouting and her mother’s active role in her Girl Scout experience laid the foundation for Liz Zeno’s volunteer work with Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas as an adult.
The Professional:
Elaine Mendoza
President and CEO, Conceptual MindWorks, Inc. Elaine Mendoza knows what it takes to shatter the glass ceiling. As founder, president and chief executive officer of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc., a biotechnology and medical informatics company located in San Antonio, Elaine has put the leadership and collaboration skills she learned as a Girl Scout to work. “The fellowship, activities, expansion of your knowledge and creativity, the confidence Girl Scouting builds in you— it will give you more than you know and last longer than you think,” Elaine said. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University, she founded Conceptual MindWorks in 1990 and has grown it into a multimillion-dollar business. “Girl Scouts inspired confidence and showed me there is nothing a girl cannot do. It was a great experience that taught me the importance of teamwork, how to set goals and how to work toward them.”
“My mother was my troop leader,” Liz said. “She was a stayat-home mom and always active in our activities. As a child, I did not like that my mom was always around. Now, I appreciate that my mother took the time to invest in us.” Liz became a Girl Scout volunteer when her daughter entered first grade and led a troop that would stay together for nine years. “We not only completed badge work, but we talked through situations that occurred at school, discussed how to deal with their changing lives, and the girls were a good influence on each other. I am thankful that I was able to be a mentor and a part of their development into young adults.” Liz has since served as a Service Unit Director with the council, and currently functions as a Regional Coordinator for her area, a position that guides other volunteers within the region in their responsibilities. “You have to remember that you are not a product of your environment, but you instead create your own success with the right opportunities and determination. Girl Scouts provides you with mentors of all fields to help you develop the values and confidence needed to be successful.”
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The Grown-up Girl Scout:
Sara Goudge Brouillard Marketing Communications Specialist, Broadway Bank
As a young girl, Sara Goudge Brouillard enjoyed Girl Scouting because of the opportunity to sell Girl Scout cookies and hang out with close friends. As she got older, the role of Girl Scouts in her life changed. “As I reached junior high, many of my friends dropped out of Girl Scouts, so it became about a community of girls who were unique and learning how to work with each other and be friends in a different way,” Sara said. Sara is a third-generation Girl Scout: her grandmother, Sally Cheever, is the namesake of the building that houses the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas headquarters. Her mother, Suzanne Goudge, was named the council’s 2011 Trefoil Honoree for her work as a community leader and volunteer. “Looking back, it’s fun to see how Girl Scouts changed with me and never at any point has it become irrelevant. Even today as I advance in my career, there is always a place for Girl Scouting and how it affects my job, my home life and my future.” The Green Blood:
Adrienne King
Adrienne King has been a Girl Scout for more than 50 years. Like others who have been Girl Scouts for a lifetime, her blood runs green for the movement. “We memorized the Girl Scout Law as girls and I try hard to live my life by it,” Adrienne said. “They are just like my Ten Commandments—I try to ‘do a good turn daily,’ having lived my life in service to others.” Adrienne was a girl member for 11 years and rejoined the organization when her daughter was old enough to join. Adrienne belongs to many national and international Girl Scouting associations, including the Order of the Silver Trefoil, and serves as the volunteer chair for the local council’s 100th Anniversary History Committee. “My girl experience laid the foundation for my love of the organization and helped me take care of myself in travel and accomplishing projects. But the opportunities I've had as an adult Girl Scout have continued to help me grow with speaking, organizing skills and opportunities never experienced as a girl—canoeing, backpacking, rappelling and sailing.”
OTHER NOTABLE ALUMNAE: GIRL SCOUT GREATS In 2012, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas selected 10 local women to highlight as the council’s first-ever Girl Scout Greats. Every leader has a story, and we are proud to feature these women who are former Girl Scouts and serve as inspiration to us all in their respective leadership roles. Sylvia Benitez, Fine Artist, Founder/President, Gentileschi Aegis Gallery Association Jelynne LeBlanc Burley, Executive Vice President, Corporate Support Services and Chief Administrative Officer, CPS Energy Lee S. Carlisle, M.D., Medical Director of the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC) Day Surgery Center, UT Medicine San Antonio Janie Martinez Gonzalez, President and CEO, Webhead Dr. Ana Margarita “Cha” Guzman, Former President, Palo Alto College (President of Santa Fe Community College) Lisa Sanchez-Wong, Owner, Rosario’s Mexican Café y Cantina, Ácenar on The River Walk; and R Sala Bebida Botana Bar at the San Antonio International Airport. Sheryl Sculley, City Manager, City of San Antonio Leticia Van de Putte, State Senator for District 26, Texas Legislature Suzanne Wade, President, San Antonio Food/Drug Division, H-E-B Carri Baker Wells, Chief Operations Officer (San Antonio Office) for Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
TREFOIL HONOREES For 25 years, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has selected an outstanding woman and dedicated community leader who embodies the beliefs and principles of the Girl Scout Movement. This exceptional woman is presented with the celebrated Trefoil Award. Past award recipients include: Cyndi Taylor Krier-1988 Irene S. Wischer-1989 Edith S. McAllister-1990 Mary Nan West-1991 Elizabeth H. Maddux-1992 Josephine Musselman-1993 Sally Cheever-1994 Aaronetta H. Pierce-1995 Amy Freeman Lee-1996 Suzy Finesilver-1997 Janey Briscoe-1998 Charline McCombs-1999 Veronica Salazar Escobedo-2000 Jocelyn L. Straus-2001
Vikki Carr-2002 Rosemary Kowalski-2003 Lila Cockrell-2004 Nancy Zachry-2005 Nancy Loeffler-2006 Jimmie Ruth Evans-2007 Dela W. White-2008 Linda Whitacre-2009 Harriet Helmle-2010 Suzanne Goudge-2011 Esperanza “Hope” Andrade-2012
What is your story behind the sash? Tell us now at www.girlscouts-swtx.org/Alumnae!
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BUSINESS PATCH PARTNERS FOR SUCCESFUL GIRLS
With a combined contribution of $150,000 to Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, CPS Energy, H-E-B, SWBC, Valero Energy Corporation and Wells Fargo have all taken the lead in supporting patch programs for each company’s area of expertise. From standing out in the classroom, to joining top ranks in corporate boardrooms, operating rooms, Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill, girls are backing down. Why? They are constantly fed the message that mind doesn’t matter and image is everything. The strength of the nation is reliant on developing girls’ critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills. To meet the interests of today’s girls, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has partnered with the area’s leading businesses to offer activities focused on what girls need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. More than 10,790 girls in 15 area school districts are currently served through in-school and after-school programs, as are collaborative troops with other youth-serving agencies through these business patch initiatives. CPS ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS For today’s girls, reversing environmental threats and improving quality of life will be the work of their generation. CPS Energy’s Environmental Awareness Initiative combines environmental education and community action on a regional scale. Did you know? For girls ages 11-12, 73 percent reported improving the world around them as their favorite activity (e.g., activities related to the environment or helping others). H-E-B AND HEALTHY LIVING Girl Scout programs recognize that physical health, emotional health and self-esteem are all connected. To further support the “whole girl,” H-E-B’s Healthy Living Initiative educates girls about keeping their bodies healthy, their minds engaged and their spirits alive. Did you know? Over the past 25 years, the percentage of overweight girls has more than doubled. Thirty-one percent of girls admit to starving themselves or refusing to eat as a strategy to lose weight.
SWBC AND ENVISION YOUR FUTURE BUILDING LEADERS Through SWBC’s Envision Your Future Building Leaders Initiative, girls set up their own business and work together as a team to develop entrepreneurial skills. By participating in hands-on activities, they will see that being a leader in their community is possible because they already possess the skills necessary to achieve their leadership potential. Did you know? Companies with more female senior executives consistently outperform their industry peers by 40%. The officers and directors of Fortune 500 companies are 85 % male. Only 15 % have a female CEO. VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION AND STEM Though these fields are traditionally male-dominated, women continue to have a greater impact in science, technology, engineering and math than ever before. Whether they’re building robots, learning the mechanics of a car’s engine or creating a chemical reaction, girls are unlocking unexpected talents through Valero Energy Corporation’s STEM Initiative. Did you know? When today’s girls graduate from college, America will need 3 million more scientists and engineers. However, girls tend to leave science to boys as early as the 5th grade. WELLS FARGO AND FINANCIAL LITERACY Today’s girls are not exempt from the long-lasting effects of economic crises. Wells Fargo’s Financial Literacy Initiative provides girls the resources and knowledge on how to set fiscal goals and become financially accountable when earning and managing money. Did you know? Women-owned funds significantly outperform funds in general, even during tough economic times. Yet women managed only 3 percent of hedge funds and 10 percent of mutual funds in the year leading to the 2008 recession.
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WHO WE ARE Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is dedicated solely to girls between the ages of 5 and 17. For 100 years, we have enabled girls to build character and skills for success. • Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low • GSUSA is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)
• More than 3.2 million members throughout the United States* • WAGGGS is a family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries (*including U.S. territories, and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas)
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas (GSSWT) is chartered by GSUSA to provide programs in 21 counties. We are headquartered at the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center in north central San Antonio.
TO VISIT OR CONTACT GSSWT
Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center 811 N. Coker Loop | San Antonio, Texas 78216 Phone 210-349-2404 | 1-800-580-7247 Fax 210-349-2666
West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center 5622 W. César E. Chávez Blvd. | San Antonio, Texas 78237 Phone 210-319-5775 Fax 210-349-2666
HOW TO BECOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS A GIRL SCOUT Call 210-349-2404/1-800-580-7247 or visit girlscouts-swtx.org to find out about Girl Scouts in your neighborhood! • Be a girl in grades K-12 • Accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law • Pay national membership dues of $12 (financial assistance is available)
PARTICIPATE IN GIRL SCOUTS THROUGH ONE OR MORE PATHWAYS: CAMP. By day or overnight, she can explore nature on two wheels, by the light of the moon or through the lens of a camera. EVENTS. Most girls have more than one passion—maybe storytelling and acting or dancing. Choose events centered on your daughter’s favorites. SERIES. Everything’s more fun when you’re sharing it with others who love the same things. Our series let girls explore interests together in a way that fits their schedules. TRAVEL. Want your daughter to go places? Girl Scouts do. When they see and experience new things, it’s always an adventure they’ll never forget. TROOP. Meeting regularly, girls can share amazing experiences, learn to make a difference in their community and have lots of fun! GIRL SCOUT GRADE LEVELS: GSUSA program at all levels emphasizes development of personal values, appreciation of others, decision-making, leadership and service. Program is adapted for each grade level and for the needs and interests of individual girls. • • • • • •
Girl Scout Daisy—grades Kindergarten-1 Girl Scout Brownie—grades 2-3 Girl Scout Junior—grades 4-5 Girl Scout Cadette—grades 6-8 Girl Scout Senior—grades 9-10 Girl Scout Ambassador—grades 11-12
GIRL SCOUTS OFFERS MORE CHOICES AND MORE REASONS THAN EVER TO JOIN. GET STARTED TODAY!
Q: What happens after a girl becomes a Girl Scout? A: When a girl joins the organization, she becomes a Girl Scout member. All members may choose one, all or some of the flexible pathways to participate in during a single year. Q: How can I support my daughter’s Girl Scout journey? A: Parents/guardians should be familiar with the flexible pathways your daughter can experience. Help her identify her interests and encourage her to participate in various activities. All the information a parent needs to support his or her daughter’s Girl Scout journey may be found at girlscouts-swtx.org. Q: Where do funds come from to pay for books, pins and awards? A: Through participation in product sales, such as the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program, which provides troops or individual girls with proceeds to help pay for books, earned awards, or uniform pieces. Proceeds may also be used to pay for attendance at camp or to travel, as well as various activities offered by the council. Parents/guardians of girls will often pay some of the costs. If a troop is newly formed, a troop leader may request a small amount from the parents to begin the program year. Limited financial assistance for books, membership pins and uniform components is available. Q: Are uniforms required in Girl Scouting? A: Uniforms are not required, but are encouraged for visibility and Girl Scout spirit. The Girl Scout membership pin can be worn with or without the uniform. Girls are encouraged to purchase a sash or vest on which to display earned awards and other official insignia. Q: Is financial assistance available? A: Yes. GSSWT believes no girl should ever be denied the opportunity to participate in Girl Scouts because of financial need. Q: Who can be a Girl Scout volunteer? A: Anyone over the age of 18 and willing to accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law is welcome to volunteer for the organization. Adults go through the following steps when applying to become Girl Scout volunteers: application with criminal background check, appointment for one year, placement and required training. GSSWT offers adult learning opportunities online and in a live-class format to provide volunteers with a solid foundation for guiding the leadership development of girls.
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