100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Sears

For this week’s guest blog entry, we are honoring Sue Sears, a Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa staff member who just celebrated her 25th Anniversary with our council.  Dozens gathered together to celebrate with Sue on Friday, where she read (actually had Ruth Hamilton read) the following ‘Anniversary Speech’.

Throughout the years, many of us have laughed, cried, and shared very special memories with Sue Sears. Today, we can’t thank her enough for the humor, kindness and *sparkle* she has brought to Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa.  Thank you, Sue, for the commitment that you have shown to the mission of Girl Scouting! 

Would you like to be our next guest blogger?  Email us and tell us your story!

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25 years ago I began job hunting after staying home with my kids for 5 years. 

It was on a Monday when I applied for an office job at the Post Office and a receptionist job that was advertised at an address of 10715 Hickman Road (it didn’t say what the name of the business was). The Post Office interview went well and they were to call back by the end of the week.

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa

The Girl Scout interview was a bit different. I was asked to take a timed typing test. I didn’t type. I locked the typewriter and Sandy Stotts, the person giving me the test, was on the phone so I’m thinking, “This is not good.” A few minutes later she came, took the test, and went to her desk.  As I heard the snickering, I was wishing I could just slide out the door I came in. 

I was asked to come with her and she would take me where I was to have my interview. I knew the big old smile on the interviewer’s face was not because she was happy to see me. Both women were trying to refrain from laughing out loud. 

Turns out this interviewer’s name was Ruth Hamilton. She started off with, “Well you got 9 words a minute on your typing test…” and by now she felt the urge to “chuckle” out loud. She proceeded to say, “Fortunately, this job will not require any typing!” We continued to chat as my red spots were creeping up my neck and out of my shirt!  We laughed and talked about the job a bit more and she said she would call me by the end of the week. 

Both places called me on Wednesday. It was a huge dilemma for me. I had to decide where I wanted to work. When Ruth called me back she told me she wasn’t offering me the job for my typing talents but for my sense of humor – she told me I would fit right in. That must have won me over because it certainly was NOT the salary! I thought after typing just 9 words a minute and she still wanted me… well that was the place I wanted to be.  I started that next week. 

The first day I started, the bookkeeper was to show me what to do. Her name was Carolyn. My first encounter with Carolyn was short and sweet. To sum it up, she basically told me, “There is the phone and you need to answer it. She, too, chuckled and went back to her office. How hard can it be? I tried answering the phone a couple times, “Good morning Moingona Girl Scouts.” I butchered the name so bad I decided to drop Moingona and shortened it to, “Good morning, Girl Scouts.” That worked much better for me. It sure seemed strange to me that everyone in the place was always laughing at something. 

In my second week, the CEO, Sharon Powell came up to me at the front counter. As she was hitting the counter with her pointer finger, she kept telling me, “Under NO circumstance at any time am I to accept collect calls.” Trust me, she made it perfectly clear. That was a mistake I would never make. By now I’m thinking to myself and wondering what the Post Office job would have been like. 

Well down the road a few days I answered the phone to an operator asking if I would accept a collect call? Hearing those two little words I immediately said “NO!” and hung up. The phone rings again, same operator, same question. I again said “NO!” The reds spots were out hot and heavy and I couldn’t wait for the day to be done. 

The next time I saw Sharon, she said, “I want you to know that was me calling ‘Collect’ the other day.” I’m thinking oh, no! At that very moment, I learned there was ONE exception to that rule! 

Here’s another good one. I had a lady come to the front counter asking to check out a bridge…? There was nobody around to ask, so I took it upon myself to take her out back and show her the only bridge I knew of. She got a very puzzled look on her face and says, “I was going to use it for my bridging ceremony tomorrow and I was under the impression it was something I could check out and take with me.” Needless to say, she left without a bridge. Becky in the shop seemed friendly so I told her the story. About 20 minutes later, she stopped laughing hysterically and explained to me there was a “check out book” under the front counter and how it all worked. She became my best friend for life at that point! 

I have accumulated so many fun stories and made so many lifelong friends, I couldn’t have picked a better place to work! I had the best bosses in the world. We were family here and truly cared about one another. We laughed every day and still did our jobs and did them well. Everything always got done. We also had the best volunteers who, too, became lifelong friends. It was and still is an organization I am proud to be a part of. I have gone through the best and the very worst times in my life right here. 

So thanks Ruth for not holding those 9 words a minute against me. I loved my job back then and I love it still today!  And you too, Chuckie.  I could write a book and a best seller at that of my past 25 years here. 

- Sue Sears

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100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Cira

Julia Cira, Camp Director at Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Camp Tanglefoot, is our guest blogger this week.  Julia's lifelong dedication to Girl Scouts continues today as she uses her passion to help girls as they travel on their own Girl Scout journey. Thank you for this fantastic guest blog entry, Julia!

If you would like to be our next guest blogger, email us!

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Girl Scouting has been an integral part of my life since I became a Brownie Girl Scout in (at that time) 1st grade.  It has provided me with opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and now has given me a chance to be a “Professional Girl Scout” at a place I love, in my role as the Camp Director at Camp Tanglefoot in Clear Lake, IA. 

Julia Cira
Camp Director
Camp Tanglefoot
Clear Lake, IA

I am who I am today
because of Girl Scouting
and because of Girl Scout Camp. 
It is a gift that was
once given to me,
and it is now my chance
to pass that gift along
to as many
Girl Scouts as I can.

Most of my memories in Girl Scouting revolve around spending part of my summers at Camp Tanglefoot.  I loved everything about being at camp – meeting new people, staying in a cabin or tent, swimming in the lake, going canoeing, sailing, singing at the top of my lungs…. It was so neat to go to a place, even once a year, where I always felt like I belonged.   To go back each summer and see familiar counselors, and of course, our wonderful Camp Director at the time – Cindy Findley – made it exciting to return.   

Currently, at the end of each week of camp, we have a really cool ceremony for the girls that involves an all-camp campfire in a place at camp called “Final Council Fire”, listening to a story we tell only at camp, and then we have a beautiful candle ceremony down at the lake.  It is truly magical.  At the campfire, girls share the special song their unit has been learning all week, with the rest of the camp.  Occasionally I get to play guitar with the groups, or Cindy Findley will play with a group.  When I see girls up there really singing and giving it their all – I know in that moment that they are courageous and strong, because nothing about their performance tells me that they’re timid, shy, or self-conscious.  That’s how I remember my Final Council Fires as a camper – as if in that single moment of performance I could show the world how much the week meant to me.    

Three years ago, I became the Camp Director at Camp Tanglefoot.  It is a dream come true for me.  I am reminded daily that I have the privilege of walking in the footsteps of the great Camp Directors before me – Cindy Findley and Gertrude Fick.  What a privilege it is!   Mrs. Fick passed away in 2001, when I was still a young camper.  She, just as Cindy does now, returned each week for Final Council Fire.   My strongest memory of Mrs. Fick was on the night of a Final Council Fire.  After supper you could sit and talk with her if you wanted to, and we were encouraged to stop by and say hello.  So, I plucked up the courage, waited until there was an opening, and sat down next to her on a bench.  We chatted for just a short time, but it has left me with an impression that will remain in my heart for my entire life.  Whatever it was that gave me the courage to sit down next to her, I’ll never know.  But especially now, to have a memory like that, is priceless.   

Prior to becoming the Camp Director here, I had been a camp counselor for six summers.  In that time I held various roles, from counselor to waterfront lifeguard to assistant camp director.  (As I still believe, however, everyone who has a role at camp, regardless of what that role is, is first and foremost a counselor – there for the girls first, always.)  In that time, and especially through college, I had family, friends, and mentors not only ask but tell me that I should “branch out” and experience other camps to see how they were run.   I acknowledge that it was good advice, but I never took it, because coming back to Camp Tanglefoot each summer provided me with knowledge I didn’t have before.  Even if I were in the same role as I had been the year before, it was never the same.  In hindsight, I wouldn’t change a thing.   I am so proud to be able to say to campers, parents and everyone else that I have literally been here every year since the summer before 2nd grade.  How cool is that??  

I believe in my heart that resident camp is the epitome of the Girl Scout Mission: “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”   If you’ve ever attended resident camp, there is a great chance that you remember your week away from home.  Camp today provides a safe environment for girls to learn, grow, gain skills, meet new people, and make new friends.  Yes, girls will learn activity skills – like archery – but what often happens is that campers learn, gain, and practice life skills – like independence, living in a community setting, confidence, a chance to make decisions, among others.  Girls develop their character and learn more about who they are as an individual, and strengthen their courage as they try new activities, step outside of their comfort zone, and challenge themselves to be a better person.   

I am who I am today because of Girl Scouting and because of Girl Scout Camp.  It is a gift that was once given to me, and it is now my chance to pass that gift along to as many Girl Scouts as I can.   

I invite and encourage every Girl Scout to attend one of our remarkable resident camp sessions this summer at Camp Tanglefoot (Clear Lake, IA), Camp Sacajawea (Boone, IA) or Joy Hollow (Westfield, IA).   

Check girlscoutsiowa.org for summer resident camp information at our three camps!

- Julia Cira

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Governor's Luncheon for Scouting 2012

Governor's Luncheon for Scouting

“Hi! Wow! 

Look at all these smiles! 

How ya doin’?”

As guests entered the Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting, the enthusiastic greetings exchanged between uniformed Scouts and suited business and civic leaders illustrated the real purpose of the event – to bring together a community of Scouting supporters to celebrate the impact Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have on Iowa kids.

The 2012 Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting, chaired by Wendy Waugaman, CEO and President of American Equity, was the biggest on record. Here is a quick run-down of the numbers:
·        602 guests
·        18 sponsors
·        50 Scouts involved in the day, representing 40,000 Scouting families

We all know that today’s Scouts are tomorrow’s leaders. And when we look at the hundreds of pledge cards from the event, it’s obvious that many of today’s leaders were yesterday’s Scouts, as well. (More than one Girl Scout alumnae brought her sash with her to the Luncheon!)

The Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting, a collaboration of the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa and the Mid-Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America, is the only one of its kind in the nation.  At the Luncheon,  Iowa Governor Terry Branstad a former Boy Scout, recognized the thousands of boys and girls who participate in Scouting and the role they have in the future of the State. If Scouts that spoke yesterday, Brianna, Grant, Shelby and Nick, are an example, the State is in good hands. These Scouts are poised and accomplished young leaders.

On behalf of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, our thanks to Wendy Waugaman, Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, the sponsors, vice chairs, table hosts, donors, guests, Scouts, and staff for a great event.

(written by Pat Grote, Vice President of Fund Development for Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa)

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Goebel

We are excited to feature multi-grade level troop leader and inspiring role model, Kiane Goebel.  Thank you, Kiane, for the work you do in the community and your willingness to help build bright futures for Girl Scouts in Iowa!

Are you interested in being our next guest blogger?  Email us and tell us your story!

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Kiane Goebel
Troop Leader

I became a Girl Scout Leader, like many others, because my Mom had been my leader.  I fondly remember doing different activities with her and it was a special time.  As a Mom of three girls, I wanted to share this with my daughters.  For seven years, I have lead a multilevel troop - Daisy through Cadette. 

As my girls have grown, I have had the opportunity to share many unique experiences with them and watch them grow and mature.  Unlike many of the other parents, I am there, watching, leading, advising, and guiding.  As the girls have grown, it has been an awe inspiring experience to go from planning and leading all the activities to having some activities that are now completely planned and coordinated by the girls. 

As they have gained skills, I have as well. When you think you have to 'be in control", you learn you are wrong.  On the "L" subway system in Chicago, I had a girl with special needs watch the subway signs and tell me where our exit of the train was.  She was exactly correct - and only in third grade.  Who would have thought?  The whole rest of the trip, I'd tell her where we were to get off, she'd watch the maps and we didn't miss a stop.  I got a chance to sit and rest.  Taking 19 Girl Scouts to Chicago is no small feat!!

I have learned that girls with a little experience can quickly teach their peers.  From helping with reading, to making posters and maps for World Thinking Day or to making a craft or fishing, give them the instructions and they can fly.  I have found you need to give them enough room to soar, knowing that they will at times fall.  The best part is helping them figure out how to troubleshoot to avoid the same pitfalls down the road. 

We have taken several trips as a troop.  Chicago to the Shedd Aquarium overnight was a neat experience.  My Girl Scout Cadettes bridged in Estes Park, Colorado, an experience I am sure they will never forget.  We have had overnights at the Science Center of Iowa, Strategic Air Museum in Nebraska, and Disney on Ice.  We have shopped ‘till we dropped at the Mall of America and lived like a pioneer at Living History Farms. 

Service to our community is an integral part of our troop.  Each month this past year, we have participated in service projects.  We sent WWII Vets off on an Honor Guard flight.  We placed flags in the cemetery with the American Legion.  Annually, we donate at Christmas to the local "adopt a child" program.  We have donated warm weather things to Hope Charities for the homeless.  Christmas cookies to elderly shut-ins and Easter egg dyeing with the nursing home residents is a fun event.  We sponsored a community 4th of July carnival and had a blast!!  We collected books for the Cedar Rapids flood victims and prom dresses with the Junior League of Des Moines. We collected and donated Halloween candy for our military troops overseas and participate in the "cookies for troops" campaign. 

Every year, we take a troop camping trip somewhere.  Whether it's the top of the mountain or the campground in town, getting into nature is always a good time.  Making s’mores out of Thanks-a-lots is a sweet Girl Scout treat.

Some people say what I do as a leader is "old fashioned".  Even the New York Times had an article saying Girl Scouts was "getting away" from the craft and campfire stigma.  I couldn't disagree with those statements more.  Everyday, we have kids wanting to be Girl Scouts.  This IS what they want. 

Where are we headed this year to celebrate 100 years?  Well, we are off on a whirlwind adventure to the Mall of America with 50,000 of our closest Girl Scout colleagues in March.  We will be at the Camp Sac Jamboree in May.  And will be spending five days camping near the lakes in Minnesota in July. 

People say, "How do you have the time" or make excuses like "I'm too busy" to be leaders. They truly are the ones who lose out. Yeah, I "donate" a lot of time to Girl Scouts but the relationships that I have with my daughters is so much better because of it. The imprints I have left on the lives of the girls in my troop will last a lifetime. I guarantee you.  Pledge yourself to set aside one hour a month.  Contact a local leader to partner with or become a leader yourself.  Give that hour to a group of girls and watch your world change!

- Kiane Goebel, Troop 10072

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100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Cartsonis

This week we are honored and privileged to feature Ms. Susan Cartsonis, both Film Producer and President of Storefront Pictures. Ms. Cartsonis was a ‘Conversations of Consequence' Speaker at the Girl Scouts National Convention and has a world of knowledge to share with both women and girls alike. Thank you, Susan, for this wonderful piece! 

Email us and tell us your story!  You could be our next guest blogger!

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Susan Cartsonis
Film Producer
and President of
Storefront Pictures

I’m a Hollywood Producer, which means I bring all the elements of a movie (the script, the director, the actors, and the money) together to make a movie happen.  My last movie was called BEASTLY, a modern day retelling of "Beauty and the Beast".  I’m Chair of the Foundation Board of Women in Film, which gives grants to female filmmakers internationally and scholarships to directors and cinematographers.  We document female icons in front of and behind the camera. This foundation is important to me because there aren't enough women in front of or behind the camera and there aren't enough movies made specifically with the female audience in mind.  I know that it is good business to make movies for the female audience - because that's what I've done for over 20 years—as an executive and as a producer. But it's frustrating, because not enough movies are made for this audience and women buy half the tickets! 

In all my films I try to make conscious creative decisions because women and girls are looking at the images portrayed on the screen closely - projected to 100 times the size of real life. I’ve learned that through storytelling, decisions we make we have the capacity to empower through entertainment and bring about positive personal and social change.  How do I know?  Because I have been inspired myself by the movies that I have seen - since I was a Brownie Girl Scout!  When I saw THE WIZARD OF OZ I saw a girl from a small town (like me!) who went on an adventure and overcame her fears, including intimidation, and fear of the unknown, to become a braver and better person. She also gained an appreciation of her own home town.  FUNNY GIRL was another favorite movie of mine.  The odd girl who didn't fit in became the biggest star in the world!  It sent the message that it's ok if you don't look like everyone else and if you're an original.

When I was making AQUAMARINE, the director and I came to a conscious decision that we would dress the mermaid in a dress made from an old t-shirt that she tied in a bunch of different ways.  The character who originally wore the t-shirt and gave it to the mermaid, played by Jojo Levesque, was a tomboy who didn't think much about clothing. Through the mermaid's originality and creativity, she essentially took an old rag and turned it into fashion. Thorough this, the tomboy learns to enjoy having a little style and sees how beautiful her old t-shirt could be.  The message was that you don't have to have money to have style - which I think is true.  Both the (female) director and I thought that too much emphasis was placed on labels rather than creativity, and we wanted to share that message with the girls who watched our film.  

I know that through storytelling, we can actually change the world.  After I made the movie BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER as an executive, many girls told me that it got them through difficult times in high school because even though Buffy is a fictitious character, she's pretty, powerful, and smart all at once.  

In BEASTLY we tried to show the importance of knowing that one must be beautiful on the inside, and that it is more important than being beautiful on the outside.  We made our leading lady, Vanessa Hudgens, a girl who is smart in school - even though she's battling a lot of problems at home.

I want to make movies that feature women as scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, while doing other things like falling in love and having adventures, because I know that if we have the images of strong powerful smart and interesting women on the screen who are in the STEM subjects, it will inspire more girls to be scientists and engineers and mathematicians!  My friend, the actress Geena Davis, has founded a whole institute that examines how we are influenced by how women are portrayed on screen and how to improve things by making relatively minor changes in the way that women are shown on screen (www.seejane.org).  She's taken her research to the big studios to ask them to do things differently.  She's inspired by her own children to do this work and I think she's great.

We need more women OWNERS of film and media companies to really shake things up.  I'm hoping a lot of Girl Scouts will go into entertainment, help Geena and me, and be the next generation of change-makers and leaders in entertainment!  We need the next generation of storytellers to help change things.

Here's an idea for a romantic comedy:  I want my next movie to be about a woman mathematician who is single and decides to take matters into her own hands by using discrete math to find a great guy.  Or maybe a female superhero?  This is my passion, this is my business, and telling stories on screen is what I live to do and what I love to do.  It's so much fun.

- Susan Cartsonis

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ArtRageous: Let your inner artist shine!

We're Artrageous!

Girls from across Iowa got ready for the holidays in an ‘Artrageous’ way! Girls created fabulous holiday pieces of art throughout the month of December while tapping into their artistic sides!

Girls from the Redfield/Dexter area had a fantastic time at their event! When girls first arrived, they got together to say the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise. Many of the girls knew each other, but there were a couple of new faces, so Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa staff members had everyone introduce themselves. The real fun began soon after - staff members set one ground rule to kick things off… The girls were required to waddle like penguins as they switched groups!

The girls divided into three groups. The first group got creative using pieces of foam to create penguin ornaments! Some didn’t stop there, adding more than two googly eyes, scarves and hats to their penguins. They were all very unique!

Waddle, waddle, waddle…

The second group made a gift for someone at home. They stuffed tube socks with newspaper, decorated the socks with toothpicks, googly eyes and whatever else they could find to make snowmen! It made for the perfect decoration for their house or a gift for their parents.

Waddle, waddle, waddle…

The third group created holiday cards! They learned how to cut out snowflakes and used white crayon on black paper. After they were done, some of them had several to hand out to family, friends, and teachers.

Lastly, everyone waddled to the snack station and enjoyed a few holiday cookies and took some group photos!

Check out our Artrageous photostream.

January's theme is Forever Green!

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Wason

We want to thank Lisa Wason, a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and leader of South Story Daisy Troop 92, for her thoughts on the Girl Scout experience!

If you are interested in sharing your story, please email us - you could be our next guest blogger!

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Lisa Wason
Lifetime Member
Girl Scout Leader

Girl Scouts has been a part of my life since I became a Brownie in 1990. After getting my first few Try-its, I was hooked. We had some amazing leaders who could handle all of us girls. I was able to be in plays, parades, service projects, and overnights. I continued to be in Girl Scouts even until I finished high school. After graduation I decided to become a lifetime member. I was able to go to South Korea in 2004, where I did find their country office but wasn't able to get involved. Now, I'm a mom to a little boy and decided that I needed to get back involved with Girl Scouts. I'm in my first year of being a Daisy leader.

While thinking about how Girl Scouts has impacted my life, it’s about respecting others. Everyone is different and no matter what those differences are, respect is needed. Cultures, values, beliefs, and perspective of everyone are different. I work with people with mental illnesses and have learned very quickly that when you show a person respect and understanding, they will share most of their experiences, good or bad.  When people are treated with respect, it creates a better environment.  Everyone is different and that is one great thing about Girl Scouts, learning to respect those differences and learning how each girl is great.

- Lisa Wason

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