Volunteer Connections by Girl Scouts of Nassau County

For this year’s upcoming Girl Scout Cookie Program® we are focusing on goal setting as a tool for each girl to learn valuable business skills that will help her as she moves forward in life, and that will aid each girl and her Troop to become more self-sufficient and able to do more things – with less money from parents .  Things such as trips, activities, and projects that support community action and service.   This year, in addition to earning Cookie Credits, each girl and her family can chose to track funds toward her Girl Scout activities.  – Parents, please speak to your Troop Leader for more info on this option. So now the question is, what kind of goals are appropriate for a Girl Scout Troop, or for an individual girl?  Here are some examples that girls in Nassau County and across the country have set for their goals in recent years… Troops may want to work toward: Travel – A special camping adventure, a visit to a dude ranch, a trip to the Girl Scout birthplace in Savannah, a

In life and in business you need to have “some big hairy audacious goals...,” Jim Collins, in from Good to Great.     If you don’t have a goal, you don’t know where you are going and then the path you take will be incidental…   Goals are so important to all of us in life. Goals provide a measurement. Having goals allows us to experience success, to fail and be disappointed, to try again (and again) and to persevere. These are skills that will benefit a child throughout their school years, in their relationships with family and friends, in their career and throughout every aspect of their life. Without goals it will be hard for a child to know if he or she has succeeded or just coasted to the next stop in the road.   So, this year for my “ big hairy audacious goal ” (BHAG) I am challenging all of the Girl Scouts in Nassau County to raise the bar and meet the challenge to have a Council-wide average of selling 100 boxes per girl for this year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program . (The national

Fads come and go, life begins and ends, but the TIDE is forever...  Did you know that the Theodore Roosevelt Council of Boy Scouts of America, located right here in Nassau County, is under the leadership of David Richardson, a Bama alum? What does that have to do with the Girl Scouts of Nassau County ? Well as you may or may not be aware, I am a Bama alum too! David’s wife Sharon and I even graduated the same year! What are the odds? Okay - quick FYI...Bama is the affectionate name of the sports teams at the University of Alabama, where I earned my undergraduate degree. AKA the Crimson Tide, Tide, Roll Tide. Bama has had some very good football teams. And football is sort of like a religion in the south...and I'm nothing if not a good southern girl! It’s hard be an Southeastern Conference (SEC) fan on Long Island. I mean I know that Hofstra has a football team, but my Bama is 11 and O - as in zero! They have beat 11 other teams over the past 12 weekends and had a bye weekend.  S

On Veterans’ Day I had the privilege of joining the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus at the Veterans Hospital in Northport, NY.  The girls performed in Building 52, the Community Services building, which is also a long-term care building for individuals needing skilled care. Many in the audience were World War II and Korean War vets.  As always, the girls did a great job and received a positive response from the audience. Our Chorus closed their performance with “I’m proud to be an American.” Everyone there was proud to be with them …   As much as the girls gave yesterday, I think that they received even more. They had learned the “theme songs” for each of our military services – “ Anchors Aweigh ,” “ When the Caissons Go Rolling Along ,” as well as the songs for the Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.  Each of these songs were both history lessons and vocabulary exercise.  Where are Montezuma and Tripoli?  What is a ‘caisson?’  And who knew the Coast Guard had their own song. Jus

Jaclyn Libowitz, Delores Swirin, Josie Duckett-Boyd, Laurette Hinkson, Susan Brooks and me I recently meet a group of eleven extraordinary women, all Girl Scouts and all members of the The Golden Eaglet Order of the Hendrik Hudson Region. These women all earned their Golden Eaglet (then Girl Scouts highest award) between 1919 and 1938. I had the privilege of attending a reception in their honor at GSUSA, one of these women; Dagmar Yabsley is a member of Girl Scouts of Nassau  County . My guest blogger today is Josie Duckett-Boyd, Manager, Individual Giving/Stewardship & Alumnae Relations for Girl Scouts of the USA who arranged the event. Here are her impressions of the day. On October 22, eleven women, all in their late eighties and early nineties, from The Golden Eaglet Order of the Hendrik Hudson Region, were honored at a reception hosted by GSUSA.  The Golden Eaglet Order of the Hendrik Hudson Region was formed so that its members could stay connected with Girl Scouting as wel

What an event! This past month the Girl Scouts of Nassau County were very proud to present GIRLFEST 2009 - “It’s Your Planet – Love It!” More than 1500 girls ages 5 to 17 years old celebrated what being a girl and a Girl Scout was all about on Sunday, October 4th at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville, NY. We feel that this year’s event was a resounding success and we could not be happier with the turnout. The fact that we were able to reach so many girls in Nassau County and help educate them on how to make a difference and give back to the community all while having a terrific time only makes it that much better. GIRLFEST attendees had the chance to preview the Fall Products Program and participate in more than 70 tables full of fun and educational activities and workshops focused on healthy living, science and discovery. Girls also learned how to make various arts and crafts while listening to the famous singing voices of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus . This year’s GIRLFEST

At this time of year we look for new and exciting ways to encourage our members to participate in the Fall Product Program and gain the support of our community. This year we are trying a new method…video production. Here is just one of our new videos.   If you enjoyed this video, visit our YouTube channel to see the rest.   You may be asking how I can support the Fall Products Program! Check with the Girl Scouts you know and visit our website to learn more about the Girl Scouts Fall Products Program .    Like our outstanding Girl Scout Cookie Program , this program offers Girl Scouts the opportunity to hone their skills in:  Goal Setting Decision Making  Money Management  People Skills Business Ethics In addition to nuts and candy, our girls offer a wide selection of magazines to purchase or for subscription renewal. This year, the online magazine sale will enable girls to reach out directly to their email connections – friends and family, near and far.  Ordering online is very easy

I used to walk them to the bus stop every morning. On the first day of school I would take a picture of all the children standing there waiting for the bus to come. We always enjoyed comparing this year’s pictures with those from the years before. We could see how friendships may have shifted, how their sense of style was changing by the clothes they chose to wear, even how their interests were beginning to take shape by the musical instruments they toted along with them or by the sports equipment they carried. I’m sure the picture would look very different if I were snapping a picture of my daughters at the bus stop today. I would probably be snapping the pictures from my cell phone, downloading it to my computer, posting it on my Facebook page then sending it off in an email to my family and non-Facebook friends. And, I would probably get it all done before my daughters had even arrived at the front door of their school. Technology has changed everything, especially for our kids, not

At Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Annual Luncheon we once again turn to an outstanding woman in our community and present her with the Juliette Low Award of Distinction. Over the past 22 years our honorees have embodied the best and brightest of the women in our community, women who excel in business, the professions, arts and volunteer service. Beyond individual accomplishments, which are legion, each of these women demonstrates her commitment to the life of the community through service and philanthropy. This year Girl Scouts is proud to salute Emily F. Franchina, Esq.   Emily is an attorney concentrating in Elder Law, Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Estate Administration, and adoption. She is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law. Active in law and the community at large, Emily currently serves as President of the Nassau County Bar Association. Her dedication to the elderly, disabled, and their families is evidenced through her many committee affiliations. She is active

Congratulations to Robyn M. of Troop 3262 whose winning entry was chosen for this year’s GIRLFEST   patch!   GIRLFEST   is Sunday, October 4th! Thanks to the Broadway Mall in Hicksville,  Girl Scouts of Nassau County will once again present GIRLFEST   in its spacious corridors … GIRLFEST  is an opportunity for girls and Girl Scouts of all ages to come together for FUN, friendship and to share program ideas and activities … Last year over 1000 girls came out for the fun! Many of our great vendors who promote their programs through our  Possibilities publication will be giving demonstrations and providing more info on the opportunities available from their companies and organizations.  This is a great chance for Troop Leaders and girls to get a better idea on the program activities available, which will help as the girls plan their year and set their goals.   There will be opportunities to learn more about the Girl Scout Journeys , about the Girl Scout special interest groups, such as

When Girl Scouts of Nassau County was named by AARP to be one of the 50 Best Places to Work in the United States, it merely confirmed what I’ve known for some time—that there is something very special about this place, and I count myself lucky to work here.  But what is it that sets us apart from so many other (the 50 choices came from companies big and small, for-profit, and not-for-profit)? Well, for one thing, there is an incredible team work ethic. [Note: I didn’t say ‘teamwork.’ There’s a difference.] It’s not just that people can play nice together when they work on a project. That’s a given. Staff here sees the entire corporate structure as a team, employees and volunteers alike. But day to day, what is it like to work here?  After all, no place is perfect, people get in a snit with one another sometimes, and there are other kinks too, but still . . .  First (and perhaps most important) is the balancing act where management achieves a sort of equilibrium between the needs of th

How many back to school essays begin just this way…   The Girl Scouts of Nassau County stayed on the move… Summer Camp kept girls and their counselors active and involved.  The new Low Ropes Course at Camp Blue Bay provided athletic challenges, but it is really all about teaching problem solving and teamwork.  Recent upgrades to the Activity Building allowed girls to now be able to hear themselves think while they play. – Although June and July had lots of rain, our Day Campers at Cantiague and Wantagh Parks were able to spend most of their days in the park, with just a few calls to the “rainy day” location.  Each of our Day Camps benefit from the great swimming pools in their respective parks, and the Nassau County Parks Department staffers who extend themselves to the Girl Scouts …I salute our colleagues and our Camp Counselors for all they do to further the Girl Scout Mission, and I thank the parents who trust us with the care and guidance of their girls. GSNC also provided Girl S

On Monday, August 10th, Girl Scouts of Nassau County held its 25th annual “ Go for the Green ” Golf Outing. It always amazes me what golfers will endure for their sport. In the 9 years that I have been supporting this event, weather has always been a factor. If it is not hot, in the high 90’s, there is a chance of rain or the humidity is oppressive. Not to mention the freak hail storm we had last year. Yesterday was no exception. Still the golfers come! Golfers are an interesting breed of athletes. What is so amazing is the passion that they bring with them. The passion for the game of golf and for the cause they are supporting. When I think about our honoree, Jim Adelis of Adelis International Security who brought his own brand of passion to GSNC Operation Cookie and then to the golf outing by accepting the role of honoree, I am overwhelmed. He then reached out to his family, friends and colleagues to support the event and the work of GSNC. Anthony Martillotti and Stephen Grieco of

Recently I received a mailing from a nearby friend about buying Girl Scout cookies, and I had to pause. No, not over the fact that soon I’d soon have some yummy Thin Mints to munch. Instead, I marveled over the realization that Girl Scouts of Nassau County is now in its 97th year. Nearly a century later – in a post-feminist world, no less – the Girl Scouts of Nassau County is still thriving.   Ninety-seven years is a long time. And in that stretch, women have accomplished a lot: Think women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem, the first female Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, designer Vera Wang, Olympic Gold Medal Skater Dorothy Hamill, each of them Girl Scouts alumnus. You get the picture. Women are world-class leaders in virtually every field imaginable, from government to business to sports and beyond.   These days, you don’t have to look far to find inspirational trailblazers. Many moms are busy juggling rewarding careers while also running their homes. The result? Girls c

You may have noticed that we as a Council have warmly embraced a new way of communicating with our supporters, troop leaders, and Girl Scouts of Nassau County past and present. That’s right, we’ve jumped on board the social media bandwagon! Now, you can find us on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter . You’ll see that we’ve tried to be more interactive on these sites and our website by adding video and audio podcasts. And, even more so, we’ve started this blog as yet another way to reach out to our community. As always, thank you for reading! As a fun adventure, we thought it would be entertaining to put together what we have coined, “The Great Girl Scout Trivia Contest.” Each week for 6 weeks, we will announce a trivia question via our Twitter and Facebook Fan Page sites. To play along simply answer the trivia question. If you answer correctly, you will be eligible to win a Girl Scout goodie bag which includes two boxes of our famous Girl Scout Cookies . Answers and wi

Every summer since I was 7 years old has always had one similarity. It isn’t barbequing on the fourth of July or going on vacations with my family, it was spending a few weeks at the Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s camp, Camp Blue Bay . As I am now preparing for my fourth year on staff and my thirteenth summer spent at the camp I can’t believe some girls never get to experience the fun a sleep away camp provides. Memories of this camp are ones that I will always hold dear in my heart.   Camp Blue Bay and the activities that are done there are based on what Girl Scouts wants to build in girls; “Courage, Confidence and Character” and I know I have gained all three plus many other traits that have shaped me into the person I am today. Knowing that last years staff consisted of fourteen women who started out as campers; shows how much of a family atmosphere the camp provides and the best part is; it’s not hard to feel at home there. When girls arrive at the camp they immediately get to kn

The past few weeks have been abuzz with Girl Scout awards events.  In addition to our big Girls Scouts of Nassau County Gold Award Ceremony on June 14th where we honored 74 girls, we were part of County Executive Tom Suozzi’s salute to this year’s Girl Scout Gold Award and Boy Scout Eagle Scouts, and a similar event hosted by Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray.  These were all fun occasions that showcase the best and brightest of our girls. These events give girls the recognition that they know how to start a project and see it through to the end --- even if the “end” turns out to be different from how that project was first envisioned. The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes intention, perseverance and success.    Equally as much fun as the big events, members of the Girl Scout Board and staff have also had a dozen or more invitations to be part of awards and bridging events in Associations and even for a few very polished Troops. Participating in these events gives us a chance

Sunday, I attended the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Gold Award Ceremony. As the Director of Marketing, this event is full of anxiety for me. I worry that everything is going to go right. Are the Gold Award Recipients and their families going to think the day was special? Will all the media presentations run without a hitch? Will enough Chorus members show up so we can do the planned repertoire? These are just details.   This anxiety is always overshadowed by the other emotions I feel on this day. I am filled with pride for all the accomplishments of the girls we honor at this event. Yesterday it was 74 young women. I am filled with wonder at how many people they have helped through their projects. They are the cream of the crop in the Girl Scout world but they represent all the 22,000 girls in Nassau County on this day. I am curious about where these girls will be in five years. At the ceremony Danielle D’Ambrioso answered that question as the keynote speaker and a 2004 Gold Award Re

Take Actio n is where the rubber meets the road. A goal without a plan is just an unfulfilled wish. As girls “Discover” and “Connect” they will see areas in our world that need their attention, problems that need to be solved and wrongs that need to be righted.  If we only bring girls to awareness, then we have not done our job. Girls must be empowered to Take Action to make the world a better place.     Because all of the programs and activities in Girl Scouting are age-appropriate, the action steps are geared to a girl’s capacity.  As an example, let’s take the issue of bullying – something that receives a lot of press these days, and is one of Girl Scouts of Nassau’s County’s priorities in our Critical Issues Initiative .  Action for a girl in kindergarten might be to recognize that someone is being bullied or picked-on, and then just going to an adult to get help.  For girls in elementary school, action might include befriending someone who is the target of aggression or even spe

Connect   - In Girl Scouting girls learn to connect with other girls, adults and even with ideas … Girls who are part of a Girl Scout Troop are often lucky enough to have a built-in set of friends, along with a caring group of adults to support them.  These friendships can go with a girl throughout her life.  -- I’m still friends with Sandy Chojnowski, who was in my Brownie Troop in 1958!    Girl Scouting also takes girls outside their comfortzone and helps them to connect with other girls, and with a wide range of people in their community and beyond. Camping and Girl Scout  destinations! offer great opportunities for expanded connections within the Girl Scout family.  Participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program® can connect girls with the public, and with the world of commerce and business. Providing quality customer service is a prime connection that even a child will understand and value.  Everyone appreciates being treated with a smile and a few kinds words during any busine

Discover, Connect and Take Action are the keys to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Most people know about the fun things that Girl Scouts do, how they hang out with their friends and laugh a lot, how their Troops take on projects to help the community, how girls do crafty things and maybe go to camp.   All of these activities are calculated to help girls build courage, confidence and character so that they can make the world a better place.  So, how does this work together? … All Girl Scout of Nassau County activities and programs use at least one of the three keys.  Some activities incorporate two or even all three … Lots of top thinkers and practitioners in youth development have been part of designing the new Girl Scout Leadership experience, and while we have new books and materials, all of this builds on a strong foundation of Girl Scout programs and activities that have been around for almost a century! The following three blog entries will discuss each of these keys. Le

Over my career, I have worked alongside outstanding volunteers who make time in their lives, careers and families to take on the special leadership role of serving an organization as Chief Volunteer Officer.  The volunteer leadership of any not-for-profit organization has to have a balance of chutzpah and humility, a willingness to put herself in a spokesperson role, to put in time behind the scenes doing the schmoozing  and strategizing.  She has to believe passionately in the work of the organization.  Her reward is not dollars or glory, but the satisfaction of carrying on the legacy of the organization until it is time for the next person to step forward … I am proud to introduce Diane McFarlane, Esq., Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s new President and Chief Volunteer Officer! I have had the privilege of working with Diane for the past six years, first on the Council Nominating Committee, then as Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors and most recently as Executive Vice President