Author Archives: Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

U.S. Senate Joins House of Representative to Support Girl Scout Councils – repost from GSUSA Blog

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

U.S. Senate Joins House of Representatives to Support Girl Scout Councils

Yesterday, a group of five senior, bipartisan U.S. Senators, led by Senators Harkin (D-IA) and Roberts (R-KS), introduced a bill that would directly help local councils and troops.   This larger bill contains mirror language to a House of Representatives bill introduced in May by Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Ron Kind (D-WI).   Starting in January, many Girl Scout councils across the country are facing a spike of 40% in their pension expenses.   This obligation is diverting funds away from our core mission.   Without prompt Congressional action, approximately 113,000 girls across the country would lose the benefits of Girl Scouting.  The legislation would allow councils to continue to meet their pension responsibilities with no changes to beneficiaries, but it would smooth out the contributions by councils similar to rates used by corporate plans.   Currently, Girl Scouts has tougher funding rules than for-profit plans.  If you want to take action and voice your support of legislation that will help Girl Scouts avoid drastic measures such as staff lay-offs, cutting programs, and serving fewer girls (including at-risk girls), you can do so via the tools found a the Girl Scout Advocary Network.

“Remembering Memorial Day”Twenty-two Collier County Girl Scout troops

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

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“Remembering Memorial Day”

Twenty-two Collier County Girl Scout troops participated in a project to provide hurricane supplies and Memorial Day decorations to the 250 senior citizen residents of the Goodlette Arms apartments.  The project was organized by Stacy Hamburg, leader of Daisy troop 42 in Collier 13.

The total roster of troops participating:

Troop# 657, 389, 22, 873, 266, 114, 371, 737, 378, 369, 426, 368, 771, 686, 287, 772, 42, 410, 635, 143, 442, 274

Below is a thank you letter from one of the residents.

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Junior Sales Specialists Get Pampered!

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Ahhh Refreshing

The Shop hosted a “Mini Spa” morning where the girls learned the importance of dressing for success in business.  While we discussed the importance of appropriate attire and accessories, we spent time providing the girls with proper skin care techniques and the importance of beginning a daily skin care routine. The program was presented by Lisa-Marie Hintze, Sales Director – Mary Kay Cosmetics.  Ms. Hintze did an AMAZING job with the girls and they all came up to me after to tell me what a great time they had.  At the conclusion of the meeting, each girl received a certificate of completion, fun patch and goodie bag.

Immediately following the end of the morning session, we had an Awards Ceremony.  We presented the Service to Girl Scouts Award to Abby Schulte, Bekah Horsely, Emily Mioduszewski, and Emily Mischak.  Since completing the Junior Retail Specialist Program, these young ladies have each worked well over 40 hours in the shop.  These ladies are the first to receive this award from the Shop.  We have two others (Heidi Blitch and Kaitlyn Peters) who are anxiously awaiting their ability to receive the award as they are Juniors and the award is available for Cadettes and above.

Participants w Presenter Lisa Marie Hintze

All attendees elected to stay and assist in the shop after the end of the Annual Meeting.  Sales we a bit off from years prior so we had some down time and were able to discuss Business Ethics as a group.  We discussed scenarios and how the girls felt the scenarios should be resolved.  They did quite well with this exercise and each girl earned a Business Ethics fun patch.

If you would like more information about the Junior Sales Specialist program, please contact Cathy Brown at cathyb@gsgcf.org.

Girl Scouts Help With Hurricane Relief

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Troop 208 with donations to send to NYEnglewood Girl Scouts from 6 different troops recently collected personal care items for people in the Staten Island area of New York who were affected by super-storm Hurricane Sandy. Troop 208 packaged and shipped more than 130 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste, 100 bars of soap, 75 pairs of socks, and many other health and beauty items including hand towels, washcloths, razors, deodorant, lip balm, combs, hairbrushes, hats, scarves, and gloves. This is just a small way that Girl Scouts and their families and friends can serve our country and help others in need. We stand tall and proud to be Girl Scout sisters.   Pictured front row from left: Hannah Amen, Adriana Basile, Brittany Furst, Anne LeVasseur. Middle row: Rena Viele, Samantha Martel, Reagan Moody, Emily Lang. Back row: Brooke Evans, Elizabeth D’Amico, Courtney Botelho, Grace Herr. Missing from photo: Anna Kara Benedetto, Rachael Knapp, and Kaylynn Stiles.

Written by Emily Lang, Girl Scout Cadette and 7th grade student L.A. Ainger Middle School.

Girl Scouts Take Action!

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

This year Girl Scout Junior Troop 371 of Naples Park particpated for the 2nd time in Coastal Clean Up at Vanderbilt Beach.  The girls spent hours picking up trash and cigarette butts and had fun together all while helping their community and the environment. Way to Take Action girls!

Girl Scout Taking Action!

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Girl Scout Troop #433 who recently put their leadership skills to action. They discovered a need while holding troop meetings at the Charlotte Girl Scout House; they connected with others and volunteered with Keep Charlotte Beautiful; and took action on a beautification project at the Charlotte Girl Scout House. This project truly makes their world a better place and benefits all girls using the GS House as well as the surrounding community.