GIRL TALKG I L LT

Cindy Odom,CEO of GSWNY

WINTER 2014

Girl Scout Reflects on Leadership Experience

By Cheyenne Zaremba, Juliette Girl Scout

When faced with public speaking opportunities, most people are frightened, (this is something I can say with statistics on my side) as public speaking is the biggest fear in the U.S.A. From the perspective of a girl who has done a lot of public speaking over the course of her life, I can confirm this. Public speaking causes a certain rush of adrenaline prior to stepping up

and commanding the attention of a group that can make one very nervous. From the perspective of a Girl Scout, on the other hand, I know that I have all the skills and abilities necessary to turn the scary situation of public speaking into a very successful one. Through an event called Women of Distinc-tion, Girl Scouts has given girls like me, who have come to enjoy public speaking, and even girls who are hesitant about it, an opportunity to develop and use our skills as speakers.

Women of Distinction is an annual event that is led by girls and recognizes the amazing achievements of dis-tinguished women in our surrounding communities. Being that the event is girl-run, girls are the ones who are put in the spotlight to kick off the eve-ning, introduce the women being honored, explain to the guests why they are being honored, and keep the event running as smoothly as possible. For the past two years I have had the honor of being a Mistress of Ceremony at this event. The Women of Distinction experience provides not only a venue where I can share my passion for public speaking, but also a supporting en-vironment where I am encouraged to step a little outside my comfort zone and try things like improvisation. The Women of Distinction event teaches more than just public speak-ing skills. I’ve learned how to work under pressure and on a schedule, how to socialize with people of different social standings, organizational skills, and self-motivation, all in the company of an energetic and supportive group of girls, who I always become close friends with over the course of the event.

A resident of Hamlin, Cheyenne is home-schooled and has been a Girl Scout for 12 years. She is a Juliette. Interested in writing a future Girl Column for Girl Talk? Writers are needed! Email communica-tions@gswny.org or call 585-239-7909 for details.

Discover, Connect, and Take Action! Girl Scouts of West-ern New York is on the move with so many wonderful ini-tiatives taking place! Did you know that our Girl Scouts earned a collective $8.4 mil-lion in scholarships toward higher education through our QSP program?

We are proud of the ef-forts of our girls, volunteers,

and staff for making the QSP 2014 a great success. With cookie season here and the Digital Cookie’s grand debut, we are elated that girls are continuing to build their educational tool kits using The 5 Skills: (goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics).  The beneficial skills that girls learn in Girl Scouts are endless. Girls exercised their communication skills during the winter Thank-A-Thon and made calls to personally thank those who contributed to their Scouting experience. During the event, a Girl Scout Cadette spoke by phone to a woman who has

Girl Scout Reflects on Leadership Experience .............................................................1CEO Remarks ............................................................................ 1-2Help girls gain important financial skills ............................2Volunteer Spotlight .....................................................................2Geico to Host Girl Scout Car Care ......................................3Girl Scout uses passion for nutrition and organic living to make a difference ............................3 Girl Scout Camp ...........................................................................3Meet a GSWNY Board Member ............................................3Scholarship Opportunites ......................................................4Hippie Pandas ...............................................................................4Save the Dates ..............................................................................4

CEO REMARKS

IN THIS ISSUEcontinued on page 2

Nominations for Women of Distinction and applications

for girl roles are now available at gswny.org.

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Lori Felt

Lori is a volunteer in the Chadwick Bay Service Unit that includes Broc-ton, Dunkirk, and Fredonia.

For how long have you volunteered with us?Almost 20 years!

Were you a “girl” Girl Scout?Yes, Brownie for one year, then Juniors

for three years, Cadettes for two years for a total of six years.

Do you/did you work outside the home? If yes, what do/did you do?When I first started as Brownie leader, I was a veterinary techni-cian. I worked as a vet tech for 12 years. After the birth of my first child, I stayed home with my kids. My children are 7, 5, and 3.

How did you get involved with Girl Scouts?My sister just turned 26 – and I was her Brownie leader when she was in second grade! (There is a 13 year age difference.) When I returned home after college, the Service Unit Manager called me and said that my sister’s troop was without a leader and did I want to do it? Truthfully, after the busy life of a college student, I was a little bored – so volunteering was a great fit! I was a Brown-ie leader for eight years. Even when my sister moved up to the next level, I stayed with Brownies – I loved working with them!

What is your primary volunteer role?Currently, I have been the Finance Consultant for the service unit for 11 years. I am also the interim Service Unit Manager until a new SUM can be recruited.

What is your favorite part of volunteering with GSWNY?I enjoy the camaraderie with other women. I learn so much from veterans, and teach newer leaders, everybody working together. I really enjoy the service unit meetings and spending time with other leaders. While I liked my time working directly with girls, I also like this time with other adults. I probably will become a leader again when my 3-year-old daughter hits Daisy age.

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! I am the Box Tops Coordinator at School #4. I am also a volunteer in the Kids Club and Children’s Liturgy at my church.

What would you tell a friend who was interested in volunteering with us?Do it! It doesn’t matter how old you are, or if you have a daugh-ter, or your interests. There’s something for everybody!

CEO Remarks — continued from cover page

been a Girl Scout for 73 years and both shared their fondest Girl Scout memories. When a girl is provided with an intergenerational experience, it shows the girl a promising glimpse of who she can become and provides the woman with an opportunity to reflect and share fond memories. These types of experiences and more leave a lasting impression on our girls about the long-term value of being a Girl Scout. As you can see, we are focused on giving girls every opportu-nity to be their best by providing a plethora of opportunities. On March 13, 2015, we will host our annual Leadership Break-fast Series in Rochester, New York, at the Rochester Convention Center. We are honored to have Dr. Liesl Folks to speak about the “Importance of Attracting Young Women to STEM Career Fields.” According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, Girls interested in STEM (“STEM girls”) are significantly better students and more academically engaged overall than girls who are not interested in STEM (“non-STEM girls”). Dr. Folks is internationally recognized, holds

14 U.S. patents, and has collaborated with scientists from universities that include RIT and Oxford University. She is one of only six women who serve as engineering deans at institutes of higher learning. I look forward to seeing you at our Leadership Breakfast Series. Dr. Folks currently is dean of the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. This event is open to both girls and adults. The cost is $45 per ticket and you can register at gswny.org.

Help Girls Gain Important Financial Literacy Skills

In a recent study, 94 percent of girls said they would like to make their own money rather than rely on their parents, but only 12 per-cent of girls said they feel “very confident” in making financial decisions. Girls improve their financial confidence through the Girl Scout Cookie program, which is underway now through March 28. For the first time ever, Girl Scouts will sell cookies on-line through the Digital Cookie platform. This program does not replace the traditional in-person program, as girls will still be required to sell door to door and/or

at booths. However, Digital Cookie adds an additional layer to help girls gain skills that are important to doing business in the 21st century. To learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, visit gswny.org or call 1-888-837-6410.

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Keynote Speaker

Liesl Folks, Ph.D.

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: Kayaking, snowshoeing, knitting

Favorite Book: The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Favorite Movie: Casablanca

Favorite Quote: “A woman is like a teabag – you don’t know how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Are you a former Girl Scout? Yes! And troop leader and “cookie mom”

Why do you volunteer with Girl Scouts of Western New York? To give back for all the fun and learning my family and I have experienced. What would you want people to know about GSWNY? Fun! Growth and devel-opment for all girls.

Why do you support GSWNY with your time, talent, and treasure? To build girls of character and courage and confidence! The world needs them.

Meet the GSWNY Board MembersAdrienne Rothsein Grace

Geico To Host Girl Scout Car Care Program

On Saturday, March 7, 2015, GEICO will host a group of Girl Scouts at the GEICO office in Getzville where they will earn a Car Care badge. This is GEICO’s first year sponsoring a program with GSWNY. Since its founding, GEICO has worked diligently to make driving safer for all citizens. The company has supported several organizations over the years to develop and share research and information about safe driving. GEICO has also been committed to educat-ing teens on road and vehicle safety and is honored to be able to talk to the young adults of Western New York. GEICO will help to carry on the Girl Scouts tradition of empowering young women to be car and road savvy. The four-hour class will teach the Girl Scouts about which vehicles are the safest, how to maintain a safe vehicle, how to handle emergency situations, and how to be a “greener” driver. The program will also include demonstrations of basic car maintenance on a GEI-CO vehicle, including how to jump a car, change a wiper blade, and check necessary car fluids. The Girl Scouts will be actively participating throughout the workshop in order to gain hands-on knowledge. At the end of the workshop, the Girl Scouts will be presented with their Car Care badge. As one of the largest employers in the area, GEICO is thrilled about this new partner-ship with the GSWNY. For more information on this program or to register, visit gswny.org and click the green eBiz icon. From there, search for “Car Care Program” in the search and register from that page. Thank you to GEICO for sponsoring this program for Girl Scouts of Western New York!

Girl Scout Uses Passion for Nutrition and Organic Living to Make a Difference

Discover. Connect. Take Action. Those are the foundations of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and they describe what Girl Scout Senior Kari-Elyssa Cepero of Rochester did for her “It’s Your Planet – Love It! Sow What?” Journey Take Action Project. Having an interest in nutrition and organic living, Cepero consulted experts and partnered with the YMCA of Greater Rochester to offer informational programs in November and January that educated others on nutri-tion, urban agriculture, and organic gardening, among other topics. She hopes to earn her Gold Award by doing a similar project involving

planting community gardens in the City of Rochester. For other Girl Scouts considering a Take Action project, Cepero suggested finding your passion. Take Action projects involve work, but having a topic she liked made the project fun.

At Camp, Girls Get So Much More than Tons of Fun

Everyone knows Girl Scout Summer Camp is tons of fun, but did you know girls benefit in other ways, too? For some, camp is a home away from home while for others it is a community of friends that gather together each year to have fun and share positive ex-periences. At camp, girls develop their confidence and become leaders. They join a com-munity where girls are recognized and they have a great time! Registration is now open for the summer camp 2015. An early bird discount is available for those who sign up by March 31, 2015. Learn more or get a copy of the 2015 camp catalog today at gswny.org or by calling 1-888-837-6410.

sponsored by

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Buffalo Service Center, Headquarters3332 Walden Avenue, Suite 106Buffalo, NY 14043gswny.org | 1.888.837.6410

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBUFFALO, N. Y.

PERMIT NO. 4586

Scholarship Opportunities for Older Girl Scouts

If you’re a Senior or Ambassador Girl Scout – especially one who has earned her Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award – you worked hard and showed determination to get where you are today. Scholarship opportunities are available, and the eligibility criteria for each varies. All applications are due by March 26, 2015. Visit gswny.org/pages/GSScholarship.aspx to learn more or apply today.

Hippie Pandas Create Website to Help in Classrooms

Congratulations to GSWNY’s Hippie Pandas! They took the Champion’s Award at the first Lego League Finger Lakes Regional Championship that occurred at the University of Rochester. Learn more about this year’s competition and the Hippie Pandas’ project at hippiepandas.wix.com/hippiepandas. The Hippie Pandas will venture to St. Louis in April to compete in the World Festival against others from around the nation and world. Good luck, Hippie Pandas!

SAVE THE DATESGSUSA #CookieBoss Twitter Party: February 25

National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend: February 27 – March 1

GEICO Car Care Program: Saturday, March 7

Girl Scout Week: March 8-14

2015 Leadership Breakfast Series: March 13

Girl Scouts Fight Hunger: April 1 – May 1

STEM-a-palooza: April 18

2015 Annual Meeting: May 20

Check out gswny.org for more upcoming programs!

The GSWNY Shops and Service Centers will be closed on: Saturday, April 4, 2015Monday, May 25, 2015

Shop and service center hours may change. Visit gswny.org for updated hours for each location.

Have a story to share about a Girl Scout? Know an agency that would be interested in partnering with Girl Scouts of Western New York? Email your information to communications@gswny.org!

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