October 2011

Happy new (Girl Scout membership) year!

As we start the new membership year this month with record enrollment, more than 31,000 San Diego girls look forward to new Girl Scouting adventures. Some will create rain gardens, climb Mt. Whitney, bring meals to home-bound seniors or produce movies. Others will lead field hockey clinics, go on GPS scavenger hunts, learn to prevent bullying, build LEGO motors or sing at veterans hospitals.

Many of these girls are brand-new members who joined after “trying Girl Scouting on for size” at recruitment events hosted by volunteers, staff and community partners. Our Girl Scout Outreach Program, for example, participated in the Summer Fun Café series, a San Diego Unified School District/City of San Diego Park & Recreation Department collaboration.

Welcome, new and returning Girl Scouts…and cheers to our 100th membership year!

Jo Dee C. Jacob
Chief Executive Officer

Hollywood, San Diego style
With support from GEICO and other generous sponsors, Urban Campout: Hooray for Hollywood! was a smash hit, with “Joan Rivers” and paparazzi greeting nearly 600 guest stars on the red carpet. “Catwoman” actress/Miss America Lee Meriwether showed off her Girl Scouting-learned archery skills. “Clark” revealed his “S” to “Lois.” The GEICO Gecko cheered “Days of Thunder” slot car racers. Bidding wars broke out over auction items. And “Gilligan” danced with “Mary Ann.” Catch re-runs of this mega-blockbuster ( pictures and video)…and stay tuned for next year’s Urban Campout on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012!

Girl Scouts in the news: Oceanside recycling program
As its Bronze Award service project, Girl Scout Junior Troop 1340 partnered with the City of Oceanside to create and install two permanent, artistic recycling receptacles at Buccaneer Beach. The program will eventually place 90 containers. Talk about using resources wisely and making the world a better place! Get the full scoop in San Diego Union-Tribune and Coast News articles.

Great Escape for older girls: Nov. 4-6
Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors (grades 6-12) can get away for some fresh air and chillin’ with friends at our annual Great Escape camping weekend, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 4-6. They’ll have a blast with Girl Scouts from all over San Diego, choosing their own adventures from a wide variety of activities planned by girls, for girls. To sign up or volunteer, contact Gabby Coburn, (619) 610-0816.

Girl Scouts' World Thinking Day event
KPBS and Girl Scouts San Diego are teaming up to host a World Thinking Day expo on Saturday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido. This free, interactive event puts global issues into “real and relevant” perspective. Junior through Ambassador Girl Scouts are invited to design and run booths embracing this year’s World Thinking Day theme, “We can save the planet.” For information, please contact Leah McFail, (619) 610-0714.

Sharp Health Plan sponsors "New Day"
More than 2,000 people participated in our 5th annual New Day 5K & Sharp Health Expo in Mission Bay. Led by the San Diego Derby Dolls (on roller skates) and Luna Chix (riding bikes), Girl Scout troops and other teams ran and walked their way to greater well-being while raising money for Girl Scouts’ Live Healthy, Lead Healthy programs. Thank you to Sharp Health Plan, exhibitors and our volunteers, including the SDSU women’s basketball team. Check out the action in our photo gallery.

Just in time for the holidays: Girl Scout nuts
Skip the malls and make time to deck the halls: Order specialty nuts from a Girl Scout by Monday, October 17 for mid-November delivery. Purchasing the nuts as gifts or “just because” treats helps troops earn their start-up revenue for the year. Choose from varieties such as Chocolate Covered Raisins, Cranberry Trail Mix, Spicy Cajun Mix or Mint Trefoils. Our Product Sales staff can arrange for a Girl Scout to take your order.

Community action opportunity: Help shape San Diego's future
Throughout November, Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors or Ambassadors and adult volunteers are invited to serve as speakers, leaders of social media forums and community volunteers for Our Greater San Diego Vision. This landmark endeavor empowers San Diegans to create a shared vision for the region. To learn more, please contact Paul Albert, (619) 814-1344.

100th Anniversary membership campaign: Calling all girls and adults
Let’s continue to make history with sky-high membership in this new century of Girl Scouting. Please help us enroll more girls and adults as members or volunteers during our 100th Anniversary year. Tell everyone you know: If there was ever a year to dive into Girl Scouting, this is it! For retention/ recruitment ideas, resources and information about incentives, please contact Heather Mournian, (619) 610-0748.

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