Fee Increase: Message From Our National CEO

Hi, There, 

You may have heard that GSUSA is increasing the cost of membership dues beginning with 2017-2018 Girl Scout Year. Our Girl Scout-In- Chief, GSUSA CEO Anna Maria Chavez, wrote a letter explaining the increase and it help further our mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Before you read it below, here are some things you should know about how it affects us in Central Texas: 

·         This increase is decided on by the Board of Directors of GSUSA.

·         The entire amount of $25 goes to GSUSA. GSCTX has opted NOT to attach any additional fees as some councils across the country have done.

·         Girl Scouts is still the best buy for youth organizations. (Details in FAQ document. A great piece of information for your talking points as well.)

·         The dues increase will be discussed at the Annual Meeting April 30^th at the Kodosky Service Center.

Message from GSUSA: 

A Message From Our CEO: Innovating on Behalf of Girls

At Girl Scouts we are always thinking about the future and how we can best prepare the next generation of girls to take the lead every day. Our Movement has such a rich history of forward thinking and innovation—and now in our second century, as we advance the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, it continues to be important that we keep pace with an ever-changing world. 

As the first and largest girl-led organization in the world, we continue to evolve our unique leadership program and implement new technologies and ways of work to enhance the Girl Scout experience for girls, volunteers, and parents. To ensure we have the resources to support this work, the National Board of Girl Scouts of the USA has made a decision to increase the annual membership fee to $25, starting October 1, 2017, for both girl and adult members. 

While this fee increase will impact many families, we know that a Girl Scout membership is one of the most valuable investments anyone can make in a girl’s life. With unique programs for girls from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to explore new interests and face challenges, form new friendships, and make lasting community contributions. Every dollar of membership dues is sent to Girl Scouts of the USA to cover the cost of fundamental services supporting the Girl Scout Movement including: accident insurance for members participating in approved Girl Scout activities, research, resources, training, and services to councils. 

With the extra funding, we will be able to sustain and develop exceptional leadership programs, implement digital innovations to enhance the girl and volunteer experience nationwide, maintain fundamental services for our 2.7 million members, and better engage our 59 million alumnae. It will enable Girl Scouts of the USA to continue delivering best-in-class service and support to our Movement’s 112 councils, and to provide thousands of volunteers with the relevant resources, tools, and training they need to best serve today’s girls.

Nationally, we are building some amazing programs for girls in the areas of STEM, entrepreneurship, outdoor, and life skills. Locally, girls are empowered with the skills and entrepreneurial know-how to lead and succeed in the industries of tomorrow, as they tackle local and global issues of interest to them, such as poverty, illiteracy, and pollution. The additional funding provided by the upcoming membership fee increase will ensure this important programming endures and thrives.

At Girl Scouts, we remain grounded in the core principles of our founder Juliette Gordon Low—of being an organization that is inclusive, accessible, and innovative—and we are committed to providing a positive and meaningful experience to every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout throughout her life journey. For more information about how this adjustment to our membership dues may affect you, please refer to our FAQ. 

Thank you for your continued support of girls and your investment in our mission.

AMC

Gold Award Spotlight: Keeping Kids Klothed

Keeping Kids Clothed was created by MacKenzie J.  for her Girl Scout Gold Award. With the help of LHS Student Council members, Llano ISD, area businesses, family, and friends, Kenzie built clothes racks, painted and decorated the KKC room, held clothes drives, and collected, washed, sorted and organized new and gently used clothing. Kenzie stated, “I know that I and my classmates have a lot of good clothing that we don’t wear or have outgrown, and I hope to be able to use the clothes closet to share with those in need.” Kenzie has also worked with the school staff to implement an application and distribution process for the clothes closet. LHS Student Council will take over, with Kenzie heading up the program.

Fort Hood World Thinking Day By: Haley-Allexus A.

On February 11, 2016 at the Killeen Service Center, all the Fort Hood Girl Scouts met for World Thinking Day. To start it off the Girl Scouts did the pledge and promise of Girl Scouts. Each Girl Scout Troop made information presentations such as posters, swaps, and even some of food representing their country. The girls did rotations from table to table, grabbed a swap, then they listened as they learned about that country. As each Girl Scout made their journey along they had passports to right down the country, get a stamp, then take notes in it. After everyone made a full trip around everyone gathered together for pizza and discussions.

"World Thinking Day is a fun way for girls to learn about other girls in different cultures,” said Cara.

The last things they did was make a giant friendship circle with everyone, sang a song, then turned out of the circle. “I loved that this was a time to learn about different girls with different pros and cons then us.” said Ms. Deb, our service unit leader of Fort Hood.

Girl Scouts Take Over Red Carpet!

38 Girl Scouts walk the red carpet

By Marie Y., Girl Scouts of Central Texas Media Girl

Kung-Fu-Panda 3 came to Pflugerville early - January 16 the same day in Los Angeles where the cast of Kung Fu Panda 3 walked their red carpet at their premiere of the movie. On that day around the US and Canada movie theaters made their own red carpet for special guests to walk. Thanks to Cinemark Tinseltown in Pflugerville for hosting this event and asking Girl Scout troops around the area to be a part of the event complete with popcorn and drinks.

Troop 1587 participated as special guests walking the Red Carpet along with Salvation Army families.  For most of the girls it was their first time walking the red carpet.  “This is my 3rd time on the red carpet, it is so much fun,"  said Ava. Sometimes a little break and some fun in the day is exactly what a family needs.  As a leader we often know what rough times families are going through and can't always do something about it.  Today we could give one of our families a special afternoon after a rough week,” said Co-Troop Leader Kate Young. 

This movie was great for Girl Scouts all over the US," Michala said. “I think this is a good movie for Girl Scouts because it shows lots of courage and activity in it."  Those who came to the premiere enjoyed it, especially 4th grader, Ella who said “I would rate this a million stars, it’s awesome and funny!”

I hope everyone gets a chance to watch this movie, Kennedy said “it’s better than 1 and 2 combined!”.  Girls from Kindergarten through middle school said they want to see it again and tell their friends all about it.    

Photo by Julie Peters

HACA Gives Back

The Girl Scouts of Central Texas HACA program is named for its partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. The program provides service to girls from low income and low resource backgrounds in order to help them reach their full potential. Girl Scouts of Central Texas’ vision is to deliver programs that focus on leadership development, while also offering provable outcomes that benefit girls, their families and their communities.

Last week, the seven participating HACA troops created sweet treats and holiday cards to donate to the Volunteer Health Clinic (VHC), a nonprofit clinic that focuses on providing medical access to low income and uninsured residents of Travis County. The Volunteer Health Clinic goes above and beyond to deliver the community with high quality health care and prevention education. Just like the Girl Scouts, VHC depends highly on their volunteers as they are the heart of the clinic.

The troops enjoyed being able to make and share Christmas popcorn mix, reindeer candy canes, and Christmas cards all filled with Girl Scout love. 

Hear it From a Girl Scout, Destinations Are The Ultimate Adventure

Hear it From a Girl Scout, Destinations Are The Ultimate Adventure Kianna H. a 17 year old Girl Scout from San Jacinto Council tells us all about the life-changing Destination that took her to Spain. What Destination did you participate in? I participated in Experience Spain in July 2015, sponsored by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. Can you share a brief summary of the trip? We arrived in Malaga, Spain, and explored the beach before making our way by charter bus to Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, and Madrid. We shopped in markets, had a scavenger hunt, visited an olive oil farm, and toured cathedrals and palaces. We had student exchange day, took salsa lessons, went to a flamenco show, ate various Spanish dishes, and enjoyed free time in the cities together. For our final stop we rode the country’s high-speed “AVE” train from Madrid to Barcelona, before returning home to the U.S. I had such a great time! I was very nervous at first. It was my first time traveling outside the United States by myself. After four years of studying international baccalaureate (IB) Spanish, having the opportunity to speak the language, meet the people, and explore the history I’d learned about was priceless. I made some really good friends who I keep up with on social media; I will never forget them! I keep looking at my photos and videos and just want to revisit the experience all over again! The time went by so fast. In thinking about the future, how has the Destinations program inspired you? I would like to travel to more Spanish-speaking countries to improve my Spanish and continue to learn about the many facets of Spanish culture. I am also now considering adding a minor in international business to my business marketing career path. As an experienced traveler, care  to share any insider tips? Even if you don’t know the native language very well, learn a few key words to help you communicate. The people will have more respect for you and be more willing to help you because of your effort. What advice would you give Girls Scouts who are thinking about going on a Destination? GO, GO, GO! Don’t hesitate because you’re scared. Don’t hesitate because you can’t convince other friends to go with you. Don’t be afraid to explore unfamiliar territory. Don’t worry about not making any friends. Just do it. You won’t regret it! [On my trip], all of us came from different parts of the country and all of us were nervous. I’m glad we didn’t go with people we knew beforehand because it made it necessary for us to get to know one another!

Interview with Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chàvez

Anna Maria Chàvez, the national CEO of Girl Scouts (or “Eagle1,” as a group of Brownies named her after visiting her “treehouse” office in a tall building) came to town to have a meet and greet with local Girl Scouts and volunteers. Media Girl Zella M.  (that’s me!) had the opportunity to interview Girl Scouts’ top dog.

Media Girls: What’s your favorite animal?

Anna Maria Chàvez: I’m allergic to both cats and dogs. Kind of a bummer, right? I know, to my chagrin I had a cat my entire life, and now I know why I had such bad allergies! But my son, Michael Christopher, has been wanting a dog for five years. About three months ago, I lost a very dear friend—a member of our national board of directors passed away from pancreatic cancer, and I came home that night and I said, you know, life is too short. And I said to my son, “You can have a dog.” I think he didn’t believe me, because he kept asking me, “What did you say?” And within two weeks we had a Labradoodle in our house. His name is Cody; I call him Codylicious. He’s the cutest dog, I’m a little biased. I love dogs now.

MG: What was GS like when you were a kid? What has changed and what has stayed the same?

Chàvez: We have electricity now. [Laughs.] I lived in a very small farm town – this town is bigger than my town. We had a library and that was about it. There wasn't a lot to do with [other] girls, but there was one troop of Girl Scouts. … I had two pesky brothers, so anything outside the house without them was great. My troop took me camping for the first time, and camping, for me, was huge. I came from a family where I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere without family. We really didn’t camp, because my family were migrant farmers so the dirt was what we did for work, so to think about going and camping in it, was like, “Why would we do that? We’re going backwards.” But Girl Scouts think about camping and the environment very differently. It taught me to think about what I could do, even at the age of 12, to change the world, and because of that … I decided to become a lawyer at the age of 12, which kind of changed my life.

I think what’s different is that you guys live in a digital world; growing up I didn’t have technology like that. But now, the world is your backyard. And that’s what’s changed. So Girl Scouts has to keep up with that, because now you’re global citizens.

MG: How does it feel to lead Girl Scouts after being in it as a child?

Chàvez:To have the honor of representing you, whether it’s in the Oval Office or in the Vatican meeting the Pope, is such a blessing, and for me it’s not only a mission, it is my way of giving back to this great country that gave my family so much. And we’ve got to keep this organization strong for another generation of girls.