Monday, November 28, 2011

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Kennedy

We welcome Mary Anne Kennedy, a prominent business owner in our community, to our guest blog. Thank you, Mary Anne, for your thoughtful words and for being a proud supporter of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa!

If you are interested in being our next guest blogger, email us and let us know! 
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Mary Anne Kennedy
Owner
Primary Source, Inc.

Girl Scouting made me the business & community leader than I am today!

Among the crafts, songs, games, badges and camp, there were other things going on….  Seeds were planted that I could succeed at anything I put my mind to.  Leaders encouraged me to be brave to show a project in front of a group.  Fellow Girl Scouts challenged me to see what I could accomplish in a game or a mission.

Looking back, that was the start of what would eventually help me fill a role as a business owner.  I didn’t hesitate when I had the opportunity – I knew I could lead a company and employees to be successful, profitable, and still have fun at work!

I also saw how we, as Girl Scouts, were a respected and relied upon part of the community.
I think that feeling stayed with me.  When I was sought to be president of a local chamber of commerce, I accepted the responsibility and challenge to lead that group and improve the business climate as much as possible.

I also felt very comfortable to run as president of an area chapter of the American Business Women’s Association.  This was yet another opportunity to encourage other business women to be leaders in their companies and communities, as we focused on education and professional development in addition to raising scholarship money for young women.

The love of Girl Scouting and their purpose is in my heart.  I grew up to be a Girl Scout troop leader!  I hope I showed the girls to be leaders themselves, to not be afraid to try new things or to meet new people.  I trust my positive encouragement helped my Girl Scouts think BIG about what they could achieve in school & in life.  I know it laid the groundwork for fantastic possibilities, just as my young experience with Girl Scouts did!


- Mary Anne Kennedy
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

I'm a Rock Star: A Rockin' Good Time

“I’m a Rock Star” events have been taking place all through the month of November throughout our jurisdiction!

Girls had a blast in Yale, Iowa getting "glammed up".  25 new girls registered to be Girl Scouts that night (brought to the event by their 16 friends!)  Girls learned what true teamwork means as they decorated a banner that read, “I’m a Rock Star!”

I'm a Rock Star!
Volunteers helped the girls get pizza and decorate paper bags for them to take home. Together, everyone recited the Girl Scout Promise before breaking off into five groups to begin their glamorous transformation!

At various stations, girls decorated microphones, had their faces painted, and received Girl Scout tattoos that read, “GIRLS ROCK!”  Girls made gorgeous jewelry out of duct tape and rhinestones, made lip gloss and glitter lotion, and polished off their look with dress-up items!  They transformed themselves into Rock Stars, full of glitter,  sequins, and even some cowgirl hats!  (NOTE: Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa staff members say they already knew the girls were Rock Stars—they just helped glam them up a little!)

Finally, in all of their Rock Star glory, girls got their pictures taken in front of the banner they had decorated!

Of course, girls were able to take their microphones, handmade custom jewelry, lip gloss, and glitter lotion home with them!  It was a great night and the girls had a ROCKIN’ time!


Check out our Rock Star photostream

December's themed events are just around the corner!  It'll be ArtRageous!   


Monday, November 21, 2011

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Tuttle

We welcome our own Girl Scout Retail Shop Manager, Julie Tuttle, to our guest blog this week.   We thank her for her positive attitude and continued passion for Girl Scouts – it serves as an inspiration to us all!

Let us know if you would like to be our next guest blogger by emailing us your story.

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Julie Tuttle
Retail Shops Manager
Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
Girl Scouts has been a big part of my life since I was a Daisy (we won’t mention how long ago that was).  I remember spending time with my friends, marching in parades, selling cookies, collecting pop tabs to take to the Ronald McDonald house, and probably causing our Leaders a little more trouble than they anticipated.  (We paid the price for it later because our Troop Leaders were my Mom and my best friend’s Mom)! 

Making time for Girl Scouts was also a priority for me growing up.  Once I got to middle school and then high school all these other activities started to present themselves.  But, between softball practice, golf and volleyball practice, youth choir, basketball games, football games, having fun with my friends, and eventually working, Girl Scouts was always there for me!  Somehow I managed to find time to earn both my Silver and Gold Awards (there wasn’t a Bronze Award yet), and I can remember getting ready for the Awards Ceremony with the rest of the girls in our troop.  We all tried to do each other’s hair and pick outfits out for everyone (ha ha - somewhere there is a scrapbook with all of that chaos in it)!

By having Girl Scouts as a constant in my life, it has helped me to gain the confidence and courage that I have today to run all five of our council shops and our online shop.  To now be working for the Girl Scouts adds a little more character every day, and I’m thankful I learned how to respect both the people and things around me, as well as organization, time management, and appreciation for the little things that make a big difference!

I am located in Des Moines, so, if you are in the area, feel free to stop in to our shop and chat with us sometime!


-Julie Tuttle
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Monday, November 14, 2011

I00th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Hernandez

We are happy to feature the executive director of Chrysalis, Terry Hernandez, in our guest blog series.  Thank you, Terry, for everything you do for women and girls in our community and for writing up such a thought-provoking message! 

Let us know if you would like to be our next guest blogger by emailing us your story.
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Terry Hernandez
Executive Director
Chrysalis

(a public
foundation

supporting girls
and women)
This is the world we live in.  Scouting is one of the ways girls learn to navigate through it.

In the 4+ decades since my days as a [Girl Scout] Brownie, the world has changed dramatically.  What we learn and the way we learn it – especially for young girls – may not always be through the preferred teachers.

For example, in today’s world:

American teenagers spend more than 10 hours a day consuming media, most of it filled with content that objectifies women and distorts their bodies.

  • 53% of 12 year old girls feel unhappy with their bodies, 78% of 17 year old girls feel unhappy with their bodies, and 65% of women and girls have an eating disorder.
  • Rates of depression among girls and women have doubled between 2000 and 2010.
  • Girls are learning to see themselves as objects.  The American Psychological Association calls self-objectification a national epidemic: Women and girls who self-objectify are more likely to be depressed, have lower confidence, lower ambition, and lower GPAs. 
  • Women respond to advertisers' messages of never being good enough:  American women spend more money on the pursuit of beauty than on their own education.

Is it any wonder?

For me, and for girls today, the most important place to be outside of the family is with other girls and supportive adults.  Research proves it and I concur.  Girl Scouts provides just that.

As I remember the excitement of wearing my uniform to school (beanie and all!), I recall the knowing look I shared with other Girl Scouts as we proudly walked the hallways.  We felt we were part of something larger – part of a trusted group of friends that was doing good.  We were excited about what our adult leaders had planned for our troop meetings (especially the overnight and summer trips to Camp Sacajewea) and about being with a group of girls with whom we shared a strong bond.

Girl Scouting today shares a strong position in enriching girls’ lives in the out-of-school hours, the time when we’re often alone, online, or possibly influenced by other kids and risky behaviors.

Much like the work we do at Chrysalis today, Girl Scouts provides a safe place for girls to be.  Scouting builds strength and resilience that girls need to mitigate the effects of media, peers, gangs, and a society that often presents the wrong image of what a girl or woman should be.  Thank goodness for scouting.

 
 - Terry Hernandez

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Monday, November 7, 2011

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Lucci


We are excited to celebrate our 100th anniversary and how 100 years of Girl Scouting has affected and impacted the lives girls lead. If you are looking to be inspired by life lessons, heartwarming stories, the history of Girl Scouts, and/or thoughts on what Girl Scouting has meant to so many in Iowa, and across the nation, then this guest blog series is just right for you.

We'll feature stories/quotes by Girl Scout alumnae, prominent leaders in the community, troop leaders, and some who have soared to stardom!

Our first guest blogger, and former Girl Scout, is from the star of “All My Children,” Susan Lucci.  Thank you, Susan, for your positive contribution! 

Please let us know if you would like to be our next guest blogger by emailing us and sharing your story. We would love to hear from you!
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Susan Lucci
Actress
"All My Children"


I just loved being a Girl Scout! I have always loved learning things and having new experiences - then and now. Girl Scouts gave me the opportunity to set goals - achieving merit badges on my sash by learning skills in such a wide variety of areas - from life saving to bird watching to baking! 

Clearly, "Erica Kane" was never a Girl Scout, but I'm really glad I was! 

Love, Susan Lucci



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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Masquerade Madness: Celebrating the ‘Inner Ghoul’ of the Girl!

Masquerade Madness (our October 2011 theme) was a huge success! Thanks so much to everyone who attended one of our events or helped out at one! We’ve had a great time hearing stories and seeing photos of the ‘ghouls,’ which is why we want to share some of our most memorable Masquerade Madness moments with you all!  Ghouls from all over Iowa took part in these awesome events! 

Awesome Mask!
In Guthrie County, about 25 girls were dressed to impress.  They were sporting witch hats, princess crowns, and true masquerade masks at their Masquerade Madness event! There was also a vampire in attendance, a bumble bee, and even Punky Brewster! (What a great T.V. show that was!)

Before the event started, girls made their own name tags, picked out super-cool bat rings, and showed off a few of their dance moves before the party started!  After bustin’ a move, the girls recited the Girl Scout Promise.  Girls were soon painting pumpkins, taking part in a new and improved version of Bobbing for Apples, drinking Ghoul-Aid, and dancing to monster music!

The Halloween Olympics followed. What a treat that was! Girls batted bats, rolled eyeballs, and raced plastic spiders to the finish line. The girls were having a blast cheering their teammates to victory.

Girls then used their creative juices to make special Girl Scout banners for their home towns… they turned out great!  The Skeleton Scavenger Hunt topped off the event! Girls had to gather several scattered skeleton bones and piece them together to create… you guessed it, a skeleton!!!

As the event wrapped up, the witches, pirates, and princesses gathered in a circle.  They chatted and passed treat bags around, giving each and every ghoul the chance to meet tons of other new ghouls! It served as an awesome opportunity to make new friends and have fun with old ones!

Thanks again to everyone who attended the event! We hope you all had as much fun as we did!

Click here to view our Flickr photostream for Masquerade Madness events!

You go ghouls!