Featured "Greater Iowa Great"

We have been featuring Greater Iowa Greats on our website - great leaders and adults in our council area that have been nominated by you!   Check out our recent "Great", Jackie Giles, below.  You can also view all our other featured greats on our website.
 

Jackie with troop members

Jackie is the epitome of a Girl Scout.  She commands a troop of Girl Scout Brownies, but started last year with Girl Scout Daisies, most of which were first graders, but included a few kindergartners when they couldn’t find a troop to join.  When her daughter was to bridge to Brownies at the end of the year, Jackie lined up leaders for those girls who would not be able to bridge and continues to assist that troop as much as possible.  Not only is she a great troop leader, but Jackie is also a wonderful mom to 3 children, a very caring daycare provider, and the wife of a soldier who is currently serving in Afghanistan.  She makes sure that her troop is involved in community service projects throughout the year, brings in guest speakers to educate her troop, and fosters independence in her girls.

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Bishop

Molly Bishop is being highlighted as our guest blogger this week.  Molly's experiences span from a young Girl Scout to now as a volunteer. Thanks Molly for your contribution!

If you would like to be our next guest blogger, email us and tell us your story.

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Molly Bishop
Volunteer - Troop Leader

When I think over my time as a Girl Scout (so far!), and all that Girl Scouts has given me, there are many things I could discuss. One theme, however, has held true every year since I started Girl Scouts as a Brownie in first grade: Girl Scouts has continued to help me grow by giving me new opportunities and experiences. 

Growing up in my troop, this was spending time with different people than I did at school, and having the chance to help choose what to do. It was the opportunity to watch a surgery at a vet clinic – also known as the moment I knew I didn’t want to be a vet after all.

I started going to Girl Scout camp after third grade, and that introduced me to a whole new set of experiences. Camp is where I learned how to build a fire, climb the tower, and identify constellations. It is also where new experiences helped me gain the confidence to try things that are a little scary, the ability to trust those around me, and the courage to be myself. My troop didn’t last through middle school, but my love for camp did. After completing the Counselors in Training program, I worked at camp for five summers – my first job! My final two years on staff, I took on roles on the administrative team. This gave me more new experiences than I can count!

Fast forward to last fall, when I contacted my new council (Greater Iowa!) about getting involved. The past year has contained no shortage of new experiences! My first year as a troop leader has been challenging but extremely rewarding – very different from a week-long camp counselor. Also, this summer, I had yet another new opportunity – day camp!

Ames/Gilbert and Roland/Story City community teams partnered up at the end of July to host their second summer Day Camp!  I helped plan and run this event with the help of a wonderful team of volunteers who put on the event last year! Our event was held at the local Izaak Walton League. We included crafts, canoeing, archery, fire building, fishing, outdoor cooking, nature time, games, songs, indoor cooking, and more, all packed into three (very full) days of fun!

Day camp is an amazing opportunity for the girls, especially those that may be nervous about attending resident camp. It is a wonderful stepping stone to going to a council camp. I encourage you to try something new like this in your service unit, or in your troop! It may be a one day event, maybe just canoeing, or maybe a day of archery, but it is not the details that are important – use the skills of the volunteers near you. I learned during the planning process of day camp how many people there are in our service unit with skills in a variety of area. I loved hearing “I caught my first fish!” or seeing the look on a camper’s face when she lit her first fire at day camp! I know that these girls are having those new experiences that Girl Scouting continues to give me. 

The experience of day camp, as well as reflecting over this blog, has me thinking, as I hope you are too: “What other new experiences can I give the Girl Scouts around me?” Good luck!

- Molly Bishop

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100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Derdzinski

We thank our guest blogger, Mary Derdzinski, for her thoughts, involvement, and commitment to Girl Scouts! 

Would you like to be our next guest blogger?  Please email us and let us know.

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Mary Derdzinski
Troop Leader
Service Unit Volunteer

I'm Mary Derdzinski.  I was never a Girl Scout growing up, but I am now a lifetime Girl Scout.

When the second oldest of my four daughters was in second grade, her troop needed a Brownie leader and I agreed. Since then, I have been leader at one time or another for each of my girls, sometimes leading two different age groups in one year.  This year, without a troop to lead, I am assistant to the Senior/Ambassador leaders and the press secretary for our service unit. I really enjoy being part of Girl Scouts and am so glad that this has been something I could give my girls - all of my girls, not just my daughters!

Here’s a quick story I’d like to share from ‘Girl Scout Day Camp’ which several local Girl Scouts participated in:

The Greene Girl Scouts sponsored their annual Girl Scout Day Camp on July 10 & 11, 2012, at the Winnebago Boy Scout Camp.  51 Girl Scouts, 4 younger children (who are too young to be Girl Scouts), and 18 adults came together for two days of fun.  Each day began with a Flag Ceremony presented by the Girl Scouts and announcements from headquarters.  The girls helped cook their own food and earned the Girl Scout Ways badge from the new Girl Scout Badge book for their age group.

The days weren’t all work.  Craft time brought the transformation of old t-shirts into bracelets and necklaces and plastic store sacks into flowers.  Meadow games included “Giant Jenga,” Four foot long “Pick-Up-Sticks,” “Twister,” songs, and relays. This year each unit also made a little craft to swap with the other unit girls. The girls were able to swim in the Winnebago pool each day and finished with a snack and closing Flag Ceremony.  On the July 11th, the girls going into fifth grade or higher had the opportunity to stay for an overnight at the camp.  They cooked their own pie-iron dinners, swam, and made duct tape purses. 

- Mary Derdzinski

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Girls' World Forum - Chicago Part 2

Elaine Kuchkowski has written part 2 of her experience with more than 600 other Girl Scouts from all over the USA and Girl Guides from all over the world at the Girls' World Forum in Chicago - read on! 

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We Are 10 Million Voices, and We Are Singing

600 Girl Scouts and Girl Guides gathered in Chicago, Illinois, with a few goals in mind. I speak collectively when I say we knew we were there to discuss the Millennium Development Goals, meet people from other places around the world, and represent our councils and countries. But the thing that we didn’t know coming in was how much we could change and grow in six short days.

The three Millennium Development Goals (MGD) that were covered during Girls’ World Forum were Ending Poverty and Hunger, Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, and Environmental Sustainability. Participants spent time at the Brookfield Zoo to learn about environmental sustainability, had an “Action Day” where the delegates went to different locations around the community and did service projects related to an MDG, and spent time discussing the Goals and what actions could solve the world’s problems. Near the end of our week together, each girl developed a Take Action plan related to one of the MDGs that will be implemented within the next year.

At the Forum, I learned what it is to be part of the global Girl Guide and Girl Scout community. The Australian Girl Guide that I sat next to at dinner the first night has become an incredible friend of mine. The people in my patrol promised to stay connected, even though we live all around the world, and support each other with our Take Action projects. The past week has been one of sharing experiences, listening to others, learning about different cultures, and growing in ways I never expected. With Girl Scouts, everything is possible.

I’m currently on the way to Camp Tanglefoot for my third year of CIT training, rejoining my GSGI family after meeting my WAGGGS international family in the bustling city of Chicago. It will be a change for sure, but the thing that will be the same is that truly excellent people, committed to making the world a better place, will surround me.

I’m thankful for this opportunity to represent Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa at such an amazing convention. Girl Scouting is not just about Girl Scout Brownies selling cookies, it is girls and women of all ages, working hard to create sustainable change. Encourage younger girls in your community to stay involved with Girl Scouts because there are so many opportunities for them to be leaders, both close to home and far away. Teach them that they are part of an international community of 10 MILLION girls, and that what they have to say matters.

Finally, in regards to the fantastic young women I met at Girls’ World Forum, here are few words from a camp song, “I’ll not say goodbye with tears in my eyes, but I’ll say hello to the friends that I’ll know.”

For more information of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations in 2000, go to www.un.org/millenniumgoals .

- Elaine Kuchkowski

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Girls' World Forum - Chicago

Elaine Kuchkowski joins more than 600 other Girl Scouts from all over the USA and Girl Guides from all over the world (with their chaperones) for the Girls' World Forum, which is taking place in Chicago.  Elaine has been a Girl Scout for 9 years. She is an Ambassador and will be a junior at Ames High School on the fall. Her Girl Scout experience includes leading service unit events, being a CIT at Camp Tanglefoot, and representing the council as a delegate to the Girl Scout Leadership Institute, a part of the National Convention held in Houston last November - read on! 

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Elaine Kushkowski

Oh, you’re a Girl Scout. Can you help me get to Millennium Park?

7/11/12 was the first day of Girls’ World Forum in Chicago. I arrived early at the hotel, intending to drop off my luggage and then explore the city before the Forum started. My mom-and-chaperone’s room was ready, so my bags went there, making the luggage arrangements pleasantly simple. Outside the hotel, on the way to the Chicago History Museum, I passed a group of girls. The smiles of recognition were enough to know that they were Girl Scouts as well, possibly in the United States for the first time, seeing what Chicago had to offer before it was time to officially begin the Forum.

Later in the day, back at the hotel, a girl needed help with her room key. She spoke a little English and, though I have absolutely no working knowledge of German (aside from a few phrases I learned in third grade and have long since forgotten), all hope was not lost. She stored her bags in my room while we went down to the concierge desk, where the key was easily fixed and returned to her. She returned to my room, gathered her bags, smiled, thanked me, and headed down the hall to her now accessible room. Without a doubt she was thankful for the assistance and I, true to my promises as a Girl Scout, had done my good deed for the day.

At the Forum

Dinner proved to be by far the best experience I’ve had yet in my slightly less than a day at the Forum. Organized into patrols, the delegates went through the buffet and found their respective tables. I had the joy of sitting by Jenny, an Australian and fellow member of patrol 40. In an interesting turn of events, we began discussing the differences and similarities between the education systems in Australia and the United States, leading to insights previously unimaginable. I then met her fellow Australians and we parted, with a promise to meet up again tomorrow.

It’s amazing how simple it is to communicate with a smile, a knowing expression, and a willingness to help out when needed. More than anything, it is the pieces of our experience that we share with others that make them feel welcome and appreciated, two of the greatest gifts of all.

At Girls’ World Forum there are about 450 Girl Scouts and Girl Guides representing 89 countries. We have 3 Millennium Development Goals to discuss, 5 days to do it, and infinite experiences to share with one another. Our differences add interest and our similarities tie us together as girls and women dedicated to service, scouting, and sisterhood. As the National President of GSUSA, Connie Lindsey, said in her opening remarks, part of being a Girl Scout is knowing that wherever you go, you will always have sisters there to help you out.

As for directions to Millennium Park, it’s just down Michigan Avenue, on the left.

-  Elaine Kushkowski

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Brown

Thanks to Melissa Brown for submitting this entry to our guest blog.  Melissa has been a long time Girl Scout and is currently the leader of her daughter's Junior Troop. 

If you are interested in being our next guest blogger, let us know by emailing us.  

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Melissa Brown

Hi.  My name is Melissa Brown.  I was a Girl Scout Brownie when I was a girl.  I have great memories of our meetings in the school lunch room. After school we would go down stairs and start our projects, sing songs, and start earning badges for our brown Brownie uniforms!  How special I felt when my dad and I would sew them on my sash.

Then we got to go to Camp Sacajawea!  I was a little scared as we pulled up with our troop and saw all these other girls there.  Then we took the long walk to our teepees!  Yes, we got to sleep in teepees for a whole week of camp!  It was so amazing!  I met so many new friends, and I can still remember the peanut butter song we sang! 

It was probably after hearing my stories of camp and mall sleepovers that my daughter had an interest in Girl Scouts.  I was very excited and encouraged her when she wanted to join.  But I have to admit, I was scared when they told me that they had a group of girls in the area waiting for a leader.  They asked if I would be willing to be a leader.  I was scared because I didn’t know anything about leading a group of Girl Scouts.  My only experience had been my own as a girl.  But I decided to try it and I am so glad I did! 

Our troop was 2nd grade Brownies and they were awesome!  This troop came from all different schools so they didn’t know each other.  We started the first meeting talking and getting to know each other and by the end of the meeting we felt like we had known each other for a long time. They were very patient with me and didn’t seem to notice that I didn’t know what I was doing.  We learned the Girl Scout ways together.  The service unit leader was there for support, meetings, and ideas.  I learned a lot about being a Girl Scout leader, and the girls and I learned a lot about being Girl Scouts together.  We bonded throughout the year with some fun activities and sharing. 

We went on some fun trips to the fire department, the police department, the ice cream store tour, and many more adventures.  We just finished our 2nd year as 3rd grade Brownies and the girls have now bridged to Juniors. We celebrated with an overnight stay at a waterpark hotel.   We went down waterslides, splashed, relaxed in the hot tub, ate some pizza, and made some cool fabric bags in the room. We all had so much fun!  It was a great celebration to the end of our 2nd year together!

Over the past two years we have had meetings, made crafts, and gone on trips.  When I ask my daughter what her favorite part of Brownies the past two years have been she said, “Being with my friends.”  She didn’t know these girls before we started this troop two years ago so these are new friendships.  What a wonderful thing that the friendships made are the best part!

I have enjoyed being a part of these girls’ lives and getting to know them.  I have made connections with them and their families that will last a lifetime!  Thank you Girl Scouts for making this possible!

- Melissa Brown

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Flying Monkeys Present in Brazil

We've been following the amazing progress and impact that the Flying Monkeys, a Girl Scout troop and FIRST Lego League award winning group from Ames and Gilbert, IA for quite some time now.  The troop just recently flew to Brazil to present at an amazing conference.  Melissa Murray, the Flying Monkeys coach, wrote the following update for us.  Way to go Flying Monkeys!! 

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Back in April, the U.S. Department of State  and FIRST contacted the Flying Monkeys to see if they would be interested in presenting at the Rio +20 UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The answer of course was, YES!  Since then it was a flurry of preparation: passports, visas, travel arrangements, preparations for presentations and packing.  Once school was out the girls were working nearly full time to finish everything before we left.

We recently flew to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  For all the girls, this was the first time they had been out of the United States and in a country where English was not the first language.  They worked on learning a few basics of Portuguese before we left, being sure to master “Bom gia!  Bem vindo! Oi!  Como vai?  Tudo bem, tudo legal. ‘Ta bom!  Onde são os servicios?  Obrigada.  De nada e Tchau!”* Armed with some basics, my Portuguese classes from 20 years ago, Spanish and French we were set to take the plunge.  The flight was an overnight flight and while nobody sleeps well on those, the girls managed to get some shut eye. A few of them were awake and able to behold an amazing sight: sunrise at 37,000’ over the Amazon Rainforest.

Truly an auspicious beginning to our trip.  From there, we sailed through customs, onto the van and off to the hotel.  Hotel Marina Palace is located on the beach in Leblon.  Where?  Right next to Ipanema (anyone remember the song The Girl From Ipanema?); just down from Copacabana (remember Barry Manilow's song?) on the upscale south side of Rio.  In spite of the fact that it is winter in Brazil, the weather was in the 80‘s, people were out swimming, surfing, playing volleyball and soccer.   Yes, we managed a visit to the beach! 

BUT, the real reason we were there was for the Rio +20. We presented at the Catholic University, which was hosting the Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation organized by the International Conference on Science (ICSU). 

The Monkeys also presented at the US Pavilion as part of the official Side Events of the UN Conference, showcasing youth and innovations.  We joined Nithin Tumma, winner of the INTEL Science Talent Search and two student representatives of the Gulliver International Team, winner of the Conrad Foundation Award.  These recently graduated high schoolers were amazing with what they have done: portable water filtration systems for Haiti and ground breaking breast cancer treatment research.  Still they were just as impressed with the Flying Monkeys as we were with them.  I noted one thing that all three groups have in common:  they wouldn't accept no for an answer;  they never gave up, looking for other solutions when something didn't work right.  Oh don't forget hard work, ridiculous hours and passion.

While at the Side Event, we did what few ever do (even those who attended the event!):  we took a golf cart tour of the world in 20 minutes!  Chauffeured by CAIXA (a sponsor of the events), we zipped past Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Japan, China, Brazil, Germany, France, Italy and many more countries!  It was fun to see how each country represented themselves!  After our presentation, we headed across the way to Rio Centro, where the UN Conference was being held.  Security was definitely a priority, so it was a good thing we were already registered with an accredited NGO  (fancy terms for a non governmental organization) and could pass with relative ease.  (Note to GS Leaders:  there are reasons you carry copies of all the important documents with you on trips... we needed copies of the confirmation letters as it turns out!)

Accompanied by the US Department of State and FIRST, we met with officials from the US Consulate, UNESCO, and ICSU .  We met professors, students, representatives of corporations and others, even some of the Rockwell Collins folks who sponsored our adventure.    Don't they look smashing with their official Flying Monkey Travel Neck Pillows!?!

While there we also managed to squeeze in a little sightseeing, visiting Pão de Açucar (Sugarloaf),

Corcovado (where the iconic statue of the Redeemer presides over the Rio skyline),

the Jardim Bôtanico,  and even a Flamengo soccer game (they're one of the hometown teams).  This stadium is just their team's stadium.  The Maracanã is being renovated for the 2014 World Cup Finals and the the 2016 Summer Olympics.  That said, this "little" stadium holds close to 100,000 people by my guess.  However, this was not considered an important game so the opposing team's fans did not travel to the game and the stands were only mostly full on the one side.  I'll guess there was still 40,000 people there: drum lines, flags, songs and all.  Yes, Flamengo won the game in the last minutes and the crowd went wild!

It was exciting to see how the girls handled themselves with an ever changing schedule, discussing innovation strategies, even trying new foods.  Hey, it's a UN event, it's okay to try sushi!

The Flying Monkeys learned about navigating airports and cities in a foreign country and working through language and cultural barriers!  It was an amazing, hectic, beautiful, inspiring experience.  It was an honor that none of us will ever forget; one that I am proud to have been able to share with the girls.

*Bom gia!        Good day!

Bem vindo!      Welcome!

Oi!             Hi!

Como vai?        How’s it going?

Tudo bem, tudo legal. It’s all good!

‘Ta bom? ‘Ta bom!  Alright?  Alright!

Onde são os servicios?  Where’s the bathroom?

Obrigada         Thank you

De nada You’re welcome

Tchau!          Bye! 

 - Melissa Murray for the Flying Monkeys