January 2012

Welcome to the "Year of the Girl!" Girl Scouts everywhere are off and running – literally! – with creative and inspiring girl-led projects to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting. Many Girl Scouts, like Troops 6626 and 6659 of Alpine (pictured), are teaming up during the “Year of the Girl” to run or walk 100 miles, donate 100 pounds of food to the homeless and stop watching television for 100 days. Other troop projects range from sending thank you cards to the military and beautifying parks to reenacting 1912 Girl Scout badge activities.

Local Girl Scouts and alumnae can join the excitement by registering their own 100th Anniversary projects. In addition, we're celebrating our centennial with special events throughout the year. Join us for any (or all) of them!

Happy 100th Birthday, Girl Scouts!

Jo Dee C. Jacob
Chief Executive Officer

Sharp Heath Plan sponsors 100th Anniversary
We’re thrilled to have Sharp Health Plan on board as a $10,000 Pearl Level 100th Anniversary sponsor, providing key support for our year-long salute to the first century of Girl Scouting. To learn more about 100th Anniversary sponsorship opportunities, contact Jody Sims at (619) 610-0724.

Daisies delight in adventures
Girl Scout Daisy Melissa recently got an up-close look at earthworms in a compost bin, met Denali the shelter-rescued dog, made placemats for seniors and learned about tactile sensory by imitating an octopus. It was all part of Daisy Big Adventure Day, designed to introduce kindergarteners and first- graders to the three Girl Scout journeys: It’s Your Story – Tell It, It’s Your Planet – Love It! and It’s Your World – Change It! Presenters included the San Diego Zoo, SEA LIFE™ Aquarium at LEGOLAND and the SDSU chapter of Delta Sigma Pi.

Check out the pictures, and consider starting a troop of your own!

Coming soon: Cookie season!
America’s number one entrepreneurial program for girls is back! Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn about goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. (See the What can a cookie do? video for the full scoop.) Beginning Sunday, Jan. 29, you can buy America’s favorite cookies, including the new Savannah Smiles, a lemon cookie that pays tribute to the city where Girl Scouting began in 1912.  

Girl Scouts kick off cookie season at SeaWorld Jan. 20
Girl Scouts of all ages will ignite their cookie energy at the biggest event of the 100th Anniversary year: Cookie Kickoff at SeaWorld, set for Friday, Jan. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

In a sea of green glow sticks, thousands of girls will fill the Shamu Stadium stands to “own the night like it's the Fourth of July.” In a spectacular launch to this year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program, the night-time show will start with a splash and end with a pyrotechnic bang. Current Girl Scouts:  Register now to save a spot.

Girl Scouts go global
KPBS and Girl Scouts San Diego invite the public to a World Thinking Day Expo on Saturday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido. Held in partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the event encourages participants to celebrate global sisterhood while learning how to help others. Admission is $5. Junior through Ambassador Girl Scouts can gain free admission by hosting booths tied to this year’s World Thinking Day theme, “We can save the planet.” To learn more, contact Leah McFail at (619) 610-0714.

Girl Scout fencer in the news
Nationally competitive saber fencer Taylor Walsh found a new way to improve her form: advancing opportunities for other youth to engage in the sport. To earn her Girl Scout Gold Award – our organization’s highest honor – the Cathedral High School junior established a foundation to help other students learn to fence. Get the full story in a U-T San Diego article.

PHOTO COURTESY U-T SAN DIEGO

Girl Scouts honored for serving veterans
From sending “a taste of home and a note to show we care” to deployed service members through Operation Thin Mint_®… to serving veterans through Meals-On-Wheels, local Girl Scouts have always had a heart for the military. In response, the San Diego Military Advisory Council recently honored Girl Scouts San Diego with a 2011 Achievement Award. (See the Daily Transcript  article for details on the award, and Rancho Bernardo News Journal and Tierra Times stories on the Meals-On-Wheels/Girl Scouts service project.)

"Most Admired Companies" include Girl Scouts San Diego
Citing our ongoing dedication to building girls of courage, confidence and character, San Diego Metropolitan Magazine named Girl Scouts San Diego one of its “Most Admired Companies in San Diego County in 2011.” The annual compilation highlights companies and organizations that have earned the trust and loyalty of their constituencies by adhering to high standards of professionalism, integrity and accountability.

Marines give Balboa cabins a facelift
Generations of Girl Scouts have loved camping at our Balboa campus. That tradition continues, now in nicer digs! After many hours of hard work by a crew of Marine reservists and other volunteers, the 53-year-old cabins on levels 1 and 2 got much-needed upgrades, including  new roofing, windows, carpet, paint and bathroom fixtures. Troop 8851 cut the ceremonial ribbon debuting the newly spruced up facilities (see pictures), then spent the night.

Chief Jarman, Girl Scouts hoop it up
Celebrity spotting: We had the opportunity to salute retired San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman at her alma mater during Girl Scout Night at SDSU. At half-time of the Aztecs vs. USD Toreros women’s basketball game, Troop 5173 presented Jarman with Girl Scout Cookies to thank her for serving the community and our council. One of our 10 Cool Women of 2007 and a member of the Urban Campout: Hooray for Hollywood honorary committee, Jarman made history in 2006 by becoming San Diego’s first female fire chief.

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