GIRL TALKG I L LT

Women of Distinction & Leadership Breakfast Series Promote Girl Scout Mission and benefit future Girl Scouts programming

Cindy Odom,CEO of GSWNY

FALL 2014

I am part of Girl Scout Ambassador Troop 30889 in Orchard Park, New York. This year is my 11th year in Girl Scouts. This past summer, I worked at Camp Seven Hills (a Girl Scout camp in Holland, New York) as a camp aide. It was my ninth summer at camp but my first on staff. We had a staff training week and then six weeks of campers. As a camp aide, I worked in the program cen-ter but I was also in a unit. The program center houses all cookout equipment and cleaning kits plus tents and

packs for overnights. A typical week for me went like this. Sunday I helped out with check-in then meeting my girls before going to dinner and opening campfire. Most of the mornings I spent in the Program Center with the other camp aide get-ting recs (a list of equipment the unit will need to make their cookout meal over the fire) together and doing laundry for the infirmary and kitchen. Then I spent the afternoon with my unit. Monday and Wednesday nights were camper’s choice. Tuesday was cookout night. Thursday was closing campfire. On Fridays in the afternoon, we had an all-camp activity and Friday follies, which is like a talent show. I learned how to roll a tent and how to cook over a fire on a Dutch oven. I was able to help others in lots of ways. I had girls that weren’t confident in themselves, but by the end of the week, we had them bubbling with self-confidence. All in all, it was an amazing experience.

Elizabeth is in the 10th grade at Orchard Park High School. She belongs to Troop 30889 and has been a Girl Scout for 11 years. Interested in writing a future Girl Column? Writers are need-ed! Email communications@gswny.org or call 585-239-7909 for details.

SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENTS:

Can you believe that sum-mer is over and fall is here? Fall is one of my favorite times of year because of the oppor-tunity to see transformation. The culmination of sum-mer left us with enjoyable memories of summer camp and two successful signature fundraising events. With each season change I get the privi-

lege to see our girls transform into stronger leaders, as they travel the road of self-discovery and become more in-tune with their own voice and dare to push beyond their own boundaries. The comprehensive leadership experiences that we provide are essential pieces to helping girls rec-ognize their full potential. Three in four girls say that because of Girl Scouts they have become a leader in more activities with their friends, classmates, as well as in the community, according to the Girl Scout Re-search Institute. Girls will get to experience their possible future careers in a fun and exciting way at ‘I Can Be’ Career Day on November 8. Industry professionals will vol-

Girl Scout reflects on her experience working at Camp Seven Hills ..................................................1CEO Remarks ................................................................................1Irondequoit Girls Support their Girl Scout Sister ...............................................................2Volunteer Spotlight ....................................................................2Meet a GSWNY Board Member ...........................................3Local Girl Scouts at the National Convention .............3Great Girl Scout Sign Up Day ................................................3Volunteers Needed! ..................................................................3Girl Scout featured on United Way Website .................3Signature Fundraising Events: Women of Distinction & Leadership Breakfast Series ....................4Save the Dates .............................................................................4

Girl Scout Reflects on her Experience at Camp Seven Hills

CEO REMARKS

IN THIS ISSUEcontinued on page 2

see page 4

By Elizabeth Kaforey

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Joyce WeemanFor how long have you volunteered with us?About 10 years, starting in the Girl Scouts of Buffalo & Erie County.

Were you a “girl” Girl Scout?No, I was a Campfire Girl! My mom was my leader, which taught me a lot about how to balance it when your own daughter is in your troop. It can be tricky!

Do you/did you work outside the home? If yes, what do/did you do?Yes, I work as a Benefits Specialist at the UB Foundation. I’ve worked in HR for pretty much my entire career.

How did you get involved with Girl Scouts?I started when my daughter Kathryn was going into third grade. I stayed her leader for six years, until she decided to focus on some other extracurricular activities. I rejoined as a leader six years later for my younger daughter, Maureen.

What is your primary volunteer role?I am the leader of a fifth grade Junior/sixth grade Cadette troop in North Buffalo.

What is your favorite part of volunteering with GSWNY?It could have been the worst day at work, but as soon as you get to the meeting place, and the girls are so happy to see you, it’s energizing. Nothing is better than the sound of giggling girls. I love watching them try new things.

Why did you choose the Girl Scouts?Girl Scouts chose me! I wanted to do it for my daughter and for the other girls.

Do you volunteer with any other organizations?Yes, at my church. I teach Sunday School to kids slightly young-er than my Girl Scouts.

What would you tell a friend who was interested in volunteering with us?Just do it! It is so rewarding. It can be a lot of work, but watching the girls grow is great!

Irondequoit Girls Support Their Girl Scout SisterLooking at her GoFundMe page, Avrie seems like any other second grader, full of smiles and silly faces despite facing a scary situation. At 4 years old, she was di-agnosed with Leukemia and then shortly before being “cured” she found out she had cancer again. She is in Troop 60272 and although she will miss second grade while she is receiving treatment, she does plan to go to Girl Scout meetings when she is able to. To show their support and to show solidarity within the community, Girl Scouts from the Irondequoit Service Unit purchased orange (for Leukemia) ribbons and decorated trees at every Irondequoit Girl Scout’s house and public space they could find. Right now, Avrie’s family has said what they need most are prayers and monetary dona-tions to help the family find relief from financial burden as they focus on getting Avrie healthy. Learn more about Avrie’s story or donate at gofundme.com/HelpForAvrie. Your Girl Scout Sisters across Western New York support you, Avrie!

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unteer their time to talk to girls about what they can be in the future and the steps to take to get there. A key aspect to leadership is knowing the importance of altruism. Through the kindness of Girl Scout supporters, young Girl Scout leaders are able to give back and make an impact on local veterans with the QSP - Magazines and Munchies Project Share Program. During the Magazines and Munchies program, supporters were asked to donate to the Project Share Program by making a special purchase of magazines and/or nuts. For the fourth year in a row we were proud to supply the Niagara Falls Air Base and local veterans hospitals with donated magazines and munchies for veterans. The skills that girls acquire through QSP and our upcoming cookie program equip girls with the financial literacy skills that they need and want. These programs teach and improve girls’ goal setting, deci-sion making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. According to the Girl Scout Research study Having It All: Girls and Financial Literacy  reveals that girls need and want financial literacy skills to help them achieve their dreams, with 90 percent saying it is important for them

to learn how to manage money.  We are also proud to know that while girls were learning through active partici-pation in the QSP program that they were also earning rewards to help them pre-pare for higher education. Girl Scout par-ticipants of the QSP program were able to earn points toward college through the SAGE Tuition Rewards savings program, a program that can help girls be eligible to receive up to 2,500 points per year with each point equaling $1. This month we will celebrate National Philanthropy Day on November 15. Here at Girl Scouts we know how important that is. Thanks to the philanthropic help of kind donors, GSWNY is able to provide four types of scholarships to eligible Girl Scouts to pursue higher education. Through giving and volunteerism, we extend our gratitude to our donors and supporters who put our words and mission into action and bring change to our communities and world! I also would like to mention that Girl Scouts of Western New York was well represented at the 2014 Girl Scout Con-vention. The conference theme was “Dis-cover, Connect, and Take Action.” We had six Girl Scouts and 11 national delegates at-tend. We were able to lend our leadership expertise as we discussed and took action on the issues that are important to the growth of Girls Scouts locally and abroad.

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Girls can change the worldtoday! That was the theme of the Girl Scout Leadership Insti-tute (GSLI) that took place at the GSUSA National Convention in October. Seven Girl Scouts and two chaperones from Western New York ventured all the way to Salt Lake City, Utah, to represent Western New York. At the GSLI, the girls met other Girl Scouts from across the nation! They learned about issues impacting

our society and what they could do at home to make a difference in areas such as teen violence, body image, poverty, homelessness, and more. We are so excited to see how these Girl Scouts take what they learned to start some awesome, inspiring Take Action Projects here at home!

Great Girl Scout Sign Up Day helps girls try Girl ScoutingLet’s all jump for joy to welcome approximately 140 new Girl Scouts whoregistered during the Great Girl Scout Sign Up Day held throughout Western New York in September! The Great Girl Scout Sign Up Day gave girls a chance to find out about the fun for themselves - by giving it a try! Parents could also easily ask questions of staff and volunteers on the spot. It is never too late to register, though! Learn more about signing up at gswny.org.

Volunteers Needed! Exploring an unknown city! Tasting an unfamiliar food! Experiencing exciting enter-tainment! Traveling is so much fun! GSWNY needs adult volunteers to share their pas-sion for traveling with Girl Scouts. By volunteering for GSWNY’s travel groups, you can help girls plan, fundraise, and have a blast on a trip of their dreams! Learn more by emailing volunteer@gswny.org or calling 1-888-837-6410.

Wyoming County Girl Scout featured on United Way of Livingston County WebsiteGirl Scouts loves to show girls how to be confident and be themselves! The United Way of Livingston County generously featured Misty, a Girl Scout Cadette from Wy-oming County, on its website recently. Before joining Girl Scouts, Misty was shy and quiet; she hardly ever “put herself out there”, as her mother described. Now, after being a Girl Scout for a few years in a troop with 15 other girls, Misty has blossomed! Her mother said she has developed her leadership abilities and brainstormed about community needs. Way to go, Misty! Thank you to organizations like the United Way who support Girl Scouts of Western New York and make stories like Misty’s possible.

Girl Scouts of Western New York is fortunate to have a team of board members who truly believe in the mission of Girl Scouting. We’re happy to share what they have to say about their own personal interests and about why they support Girl Scouts.

Favorite Hobbies: Docent at the Darwin Martin House Complex, entertaining, cooking, active in-volvement in various not-for-profit boards in the Greater Buffalo area

Favorite Book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz

Favorite Quote: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” — William Shakespeare

Are you a former Girl Scout? No, unless you count previous board experience with the for-mer legacy council, Girl Scouts of Buffalo and Erie County (former Treasurer, past President of the Board of Directors)

Why do you volunteer with Girl Scouts of Western New York? I began with Girl Scouts be-cause the Board of Directors at the time were try-ing to diversify the board; I was only the second male (and first officer) to sit on the board of the Buffalo council. I stay with Girl Scouts because I have become a firm believer in the motto Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

What would you want people to know about GSWNY? I think people need to know that Girl Scouts is more than camping and cookies; it is helping to prepare tomorrow’s leaders.

Why do you support GSWNY with your time, talent, and treasure? Over the many years I’ve been involved with Girl Scouts, I’ve had the op-portunity to become well versed in many of our programs. I’ve had the opportunity to attend many Gold Award events and am constantly blown away by the work our girls do. I am always impressed by our girls who introduce the award winners at Women of Distinction. Girl Scouts provides an important opportunity for girls to be themselves. Our troop leaders act as mentors and help young women deal with current issues like bullying. We provide an important role in to-day’s world.

Meet the GSWNY Board Members

Mike Osika, Treasurer

Local Girl Scouts Represent WNY at the National Girl Scout Convention

Do you have a story about a Girl Scout who has been greatly impacted by Girl Scouting? We want to hear from you! Stories are needed for use in Girl Talk, social media, and elsewhere. Email your ideas to communications@gswny.org throughout the year for consideration. Pho-tos from Girl Scout programs are also encouraged.

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Signature Fundraising Events promote Girl Scout Mission and benefit future Girl Scouts programming Approximately 30 girls par-ticipated in the girl-led Women of Distinction event, which honored seven Western New York women and helped to fundraise for pro-gramming for girls. Girls ran the event, working as greeters, flag pre-senters, mistresses of ceremony, and presenters of the honorees’ awards. More than 250 guests attended the event. The following morning, GSWNY hosted the Leadership Breakfast Series with keynote speaker Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D. She discussed the history of girls in science and also encouraged girls to embrace whatever they are passionate about. Using humor and entertaining stories, Dr. Ramirez showed the audience science is fun and inspired us all to encourage the next generation of girls to live their dreams. Approximately 150 people, including Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, attended this event which also featured four Girl Scouts who spoke about the impact Girl Scouting has had on their lives. These girls are: Jalisa Egues of Roch-ester, Elizabeth Moon of Chili, Madelyn Sherrill of Rochester, and Cheyenne Zaremba of Hamlin. Way to go, girls! Thank you to all donors, sponsors, attendees, staff, and members of the community who made both of these events possible. Save the date for the 2015 Women of Distinction on September 17, 2015, and the next Leadership Breakfast Series on March 13, 2015!

SAVE THE DATESROC the Day: December 2

Money Matter$: December 6

Girl Scouts Go to Med School:January 3

Cookie College: January 10

Winter Carnival: February 13, 14, 20, 21

GSUSA #CookieBoss Twitter Party: February 25, 2015

National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend: February 27 – March 1, 2015

2015 Leadership Breakfast Series: March 13, 2015

Check out the Program Guide at GSWNY.org for details and more upcoming programs!

The GSWNY Shops and Service Centers will be closed on the following days: December 12, 2014 December 25, 2014 - January 1, 2015 January 19, 2015

Find more event photos on our Facebook page!

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