Find out about Women of Distinction, coming in September 2014! This issue also features articles on our 2014 Gold Award and scholarship recipients as well as news about some of the tremendous community service projects local Girl Scouts have been working on.
4
SUMMER 2014 Girl Talk Fear of public speaking is one of the most common types of phobia, and even many professional adults are a bit hesitant to talk in front of others. However, many Girl Scouts throughout Western New York have had the opportunity to practice important public speaking and communication skills through Women of Distinction, a signature fundraising program hosted by Girl Scouts of Western New York (GSWNY). Women of Distinction is part of the nationwide Girl Scouts of the USA program designed to recognize the achievements of women, provide mentoring opportunities for older Girl Scouts, and fund local Girl Scout educational opportunities and programs for girls 5 to 17 years of age. This year, GSWNY is proud to honor seven women with Women of Distinction Awards. These honorees were nominated by members of the community because of demonstrated leadership in their careers and in their communities through public service. They are considered role models for all girls, and in accepting this award, they commit to mentoring the young women involved with the Women of Distinction event. The 2014 Women of Distinction honorees are: Daisy Algarin, Senior Marketing Specialist, City of Rochester Business Development Kimberly Beaty, E District Police Chief, City of Buffalo 2014 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION EVENT TO BENEFIT GIRLS IN NUMEROUS WAYS IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 • Meet the GSWNY Board Members: Lettie Chilson • Girl Scouts Receive Gold Award Page 3 • Board Members Confirmed, Volunteers Recognized • Silver and Bronze Awards Provide Community Service • Volunteer Profile: Kathryn Rivers Page 4 • Volunteers Enjoy Fun and Family at Appreciation Picnics • QSP Tuition Program Helps Girls Earn Money for College • Hamburg Troop Help Babies in Need • Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight • GSWNY Recognizes the 2014 Scholarship Recipients CEO COMMENTS Cindy L. Odom Chief Executive Officer, GSWNY Summer is a time to relax but also to get ready for a great year of Girl Scouting that will be here before we know it! Most know summer means camp for many Girl Scouts, and we are excited to share that hundreds of girls in Western New York have enjoyed fun and experiential learning at our camps this summer. From horseback riding to archery to arts and crafts to ropes courses – outdoor programming activities help girls develop confidence and allows them to learn by doing. It is a refreshing way for girls to decrease summer learning loss, retain knowledge, and learn new skills, like financial literacy. Did you know that financial literacy is also a top priority for our council? The data shows it is important to our girls. In a recent study, the Girl Scout Research Institute found that 94% of girls said they would rather make their own money rather than rely on their parents, yet only about 12% of girls said they feel “very confident” making financial decisions. continued on page 2 . . . Ann Evanko, President, Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. Uma Gupta, Ph.D., Executive Director, President CEO – STEM-Smart, Planet GPA.us Marcia A. Merrins, former President of the League of Women Voters for New York State and Owner of Kniti Griti Works Jennifer Walter, Corporate Controller, Moog Inc. Lillian Williams, Ph.D., Professor of African- American Studies, University at Buffalo SUNY All are invited to join GSWNY in celebrating these women at the Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony Thursday, September 18, at the Buffalo Marriott Niagara Hotel in Amherst. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets cost $100 each or $75 each for registered Girl Scouts (including adults). The community is also invited to the Leadership Breakfast Series in Rochester Friday, September 19 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center beginning at 8 a.m. The event will feature keynote speaker Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., an impassioned believer in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. She is also a former professor of mechanical engineering at Yale and science adviser to NOVA and other science programs. Tickets cost $40 each. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details or to purchase your tickets for the Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony or the Women of Distinction Leadership Breakfast, visit gswny.org. Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., will speak at the Women of Distinction Leadership Breakfast in Rochester September 19. 1
Transcript
dates to remember
Women of DistinctionDinner & Awards CeremonyThursday, September 18, 2014 Buffalo Marriott Niagara 1340 Millersport Highway, Amherst 6:30 p.m.
Leadership Breakfast Series Friday, September 19, 2014Rochester Riverside Convention Center 123 East Main Street, Rochester8 a.m.
GSWNY Service Centers and Shops will be closed: Monday, September 1, 2014
*Please note the GSWNY Shops and Service Centers have summer hours through August 29. Visit gswny.org/pages/Location.aspx for details.
SUMMER 2014
Girl TalkFear of public speaking is one of the most common types of phobia, and even many professional adults are a bit hesitant to talk in front of others. However, many Girl Scouts throughout Western New York have had the opportunity to practice important public speaking and communication skills through Women of Distinction, a signature fundraising program hosted by Girl Scouts of Western New York (GSWNY).
Women of Distinction is part of the nationwide Girl Scouts of the USA program designed to recognize the achievements of women, provide mentoring opportunities for older Girl Scouts, and fund local Girl Scout educational opportunities and programs for girls 5 to 17 years of age.
This year, GSWNY is proud to honor seven women with Women of Distinction Awards. These honorees were nominated by members of the community because of demonstrated leadership in their careers and in their communities through public service. They are considered role models for all girls, and in accepting this award, they commit to mentoring the young women involved with the Women of Distinction event. The 2014 Women of Distinction honorees are:
Daisy Algarin, Senior Marketing Specialist, City of Rochester Business Development
Kimberly Beaty, E District Police Chief, City of Buffalo
2014 Women of distinction event to benefit Girls in numerous Ways
in this issuePage 2• Meet the GSWNY Board Members:
Lettie Chilson• Girl Scouts Receive Gold Award
Page 3• Board Members Confirmed,
Volunteers Recognized• Silver and Bronze Awards Provide
Community Service
• Volunteer Profile: Kathryn Rivers
Page 4 • Volunteers Enjoy Fun and Family at
Appreciation Picnics• QSP Tuition Program Helps Girls Earn
Money for College• Hamburg Troop Help Babies in Need• Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight • GSWNY Recognizes the 2014
Scholarship Recipients
volunteer opportunityspotliGhtAutumn will be here before we know it, and thatmeans troops are getting ready to begin! Troop leaders are needed, and you don’t have to havea daughter in Girl Scouts to get involved. All youneed is a little extra time and the desire to serveas a role model for girls in your community.
Troop leaders work with girls and partner with other adults to plan and carry out theGirl Scout Leadership Experience – whichencourages girls to discover the world aroundthem, connect with others in the community and world, and take action on something thatmatters to them. This is a great opportunity forthose who enjoy guiding and mentoring youth, organizing activities, and, most importantly, having fun!
Find out how you can lead a troop by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-888-837-6410.
4
A family enjoys lunch at the Camp Piperwood Volunteer Appreciation Picnic.
ceo comments
Cindy L. Odom Chief Executive Officer, GSWNY
Summer is a time to relax but also to get ready for a great year of Girl Scouting that will be here before we know it! Most know summer
means camp for many Girl Scouts, and we are excited to share that hundreds of girls in Western New York have enjoyed fun and experiential learning at our camps this summer. From horseback riding to archery to arts and crafts to ropes courses – outdoor programming activities help girls develop confidence and allows them to learn by doing. It is a refreshing way for girls to decrease summer learning loss, retain knowledge, and learn new skills, like financial literacy.
Did you know that financial literacy is also a top priority for our council? The data shows it is important to our girls. In a recent study, the Girl Scout Research Institute found that 94% of girls said they would rather make their own money rather than rely on their parents, yet only about 12% of girls said they feel “very confident” making financial decisions.
continued on page 2 . . .
Ann Evanko, President, Hurwitz & Fine, P.C.
Uma Gupta, Ph.D., Executive Director, President CEO – STEM-Smart, Planet GPA.us
Marcia A. Merrins, former President of the League of Women Voters for New York State and Owner of Kniti Griti Works
Jennifer Walter, Corporate Controller, Moog Inc.
Lillian Williams, Ph.D., Professor of African-American Studies, University at Buffalo SUNY
All are invited to join GSWNY in celebrating these women at the Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony Thursday, September 18, at the Buffalo Marriott Niagara Hotel in Amherst. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets cost $100 each or $75 each for registered Girl Scouts (including adults).
The community is also invited to the Leadership Breakfast Series in Rochester Friday, September 19 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center beginning at 8 a.m. The event will feature keynote speaker Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., an impassioned believer in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. She is also a former professor of mechanical engineering at Yale and science adviser to NOVA and other science programs. Tickets cost $40 each.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details or to purchase your tickets for the Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony or the Women of Distinction Leadership Breakfast, visit gswny.org.
Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., will speak at the Women of Distinction Leadership Breakfast in Rochester September 19.
volunteers enjoy fun andfamily at appreciation picnicsFor the first time, Girl Scouts of Western New York held a picnic at Camp Piperwood and at Camp Seven Hills as a way to appreciate volunteers. Each picnic included games, arts and crafts, a bounce house, face painting, nature hikes, and more. Family members were invited to attend the picnics along with the volunteers, making it a truly exciting and comfortable way to appreciate and acknowledge all of the efforts of GSWNY’s volunteers. Thank you, volunteers!
Families enjoyed many activities at the Camp Seven Hills Volunteer Appreciation Picnic, including canoeing.
hamburG troop help babiesin needGirl Scouts from Troop 30274 of Hamburg teamed up with Sisters Hospital NeonatalIntensive Care Unit (NICU) to help the “Scentof a Mother’s Heart” program through whichthe girls made “scent cloths” from soft flannel material. Mothers can place these cloths against their hearts and then put them near their babies when they can’t be with them. Babiescan recognize their mother’s scent early in thewomb and many associate it with comfort and security. Because of this, the scent cloths can have a calming affect for the babies, especially for babies who are premature and have to be away from their mothers for long periods of time. Great work, girls!
Girls from Troop 30274 made “scent cloths” for babies who are in the Sisters Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
GsWny recoGnizes the 2014 scholarship recipients
Education Scholarship FundCatherine Boyle Acadia Fairchild Madison Gossell Meaghan Hoitt Christine KuczkowskiKelly Lovell Morgan Paladino Claire RaabGenevieve RuhlandSamantha SummersRachel Wambach
The Kim Welsh Memorial ScholarshipDelaney Dominguez-Salerno Madison Gossel Emily Lord Victoria ManginoDanielle Seier
Hans & Charlene Schoenenberger “GoldenOpportunity” Scholarship Catherine Catapano
Ralph & Mary McLean Wilson Scholarship Melissa Goodman Elise Wilcocks
Scholarship CommitteeRita BabcockLinda BakerLettie ChilsonDawn GilliamShirley JonesCharlene SchoenenbergerJudith A. Maness, Ex-OfficioCindy L. Odom, Ex-Officio
Qsp tuition proGram helpsGirls earn money for colleGeNumerous scholarships exist for girls, andGirl Scouts of Western New York is excited toshare it is making available one more way GirlScouts can save for college: the SAGE TuitionRewards Program, which will be part of the fall2014 Magazines and Munchies (QSP) program. SAGE Tuition Rewards is a unique private collegesavings program through which girls and troopleaders can earn tuition reward points. Pointsact like frequent flyer miles, but for college tuition, and girls participating in the program canearn up to one full year’s tuition to use at morethan 320 participating private colleges and universities.
To learn more, join GSWNY for an informationalwebinar on October 1, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. Detailson accessing the webinar are available at gswny.org/pages/QSPWhatsNew.aspx.
GSWNY is staying connected better than ever! Please take a moment to like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Pinterest, and read our CEO’s blog on WordPress. We're now on Instagram, too!
Whether they lead a troop, mentor a girlworking toward her GoldAward, or give a couple hours helping keepcamps cleaned up, volunteers make possible everything Girl Scouts of Western New York doesfor girls. To explore thevariety of volunteeropportunities with the council and to get to know the volunteers whogive so much, GSWNY will profile a volunteer inGirl Talk.
Kathryn Rivers is based in the Rochester area but volunteers across the council jurisdiction. She was also recently honored as a Rochester Area Administrators of Volunteer Services(RAAVS) 2014 Carol Ritter-Wright Award for Volunteer Service nominee.
For how long have you volunteered with us?Two years.
Were you a “girl” Girl Scout?Just for a year. My family moved around a lot. I did win a prize for selling a lot of Girl Scout cookies!
Do you work outside the home? What do youdo? By training I am an electrical engineer, now retired from Kodak.
How did you get involved with Girl Scouts?I knew Judy Cranston (GSWNY Chief OperatingOfficer) from when we both worked at Kodak. Ihad a thought that I wanted to share what I knew, my skills. I talked to Judy and she gave it some thought. A week later she called me with some ideas and that’s how it started.
3
Girl Scouts of Western New York is fortunate to have a team of board members who truly believe in the mission of Girl Scouting. We’re happy to share what they have to say about their own personal interests and about why they support Girl Scouts.
Favorite book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
meet the GsWny board members: lettie chilson
Favorite movie: The Butler
Favorite Quotes: “In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Theresa
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
Are you a former Girl Scout? Yes. My troop was in Colden, New York, and my mother-in-law, Jean Chilson, was one of my Brownie leaders.
Why do you volunteer with Girl Scouts of Western New York? I believe in giving back to my community and as a troop leader and mom, I was able to see the impact Girl Scouts had on every girl. I also know “many hands make light work.” Volunteering helps GSWNY use their resources to provide as much programming as possible to the girls.
Approximately 200 people attended the 2014 Girl Scouts of Western New York Gold Award Ceremony that honored 46 Girl Scouts for receiving their Gold Award, the highest award a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. At the ceremony, GSWNY also announced 2014 scholarship recipients. (See page 4 for a list of scholarship recipients.)
To achieve the Gold Award, recipients must complete a minimum of 80 hours toward a project that benefits the community or the world. For example, this year, girls’ projects included playing music for patients at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, increasing produce at a local food shelter, and raising awareness of an impoverished orphanage in Jamaica.
Girls who receive the Gold Award can obtain advanced standings in the military and are eligible for certain scholarships. Employers and college admissions officers look favorably upon those who receive the award, knowing the amount of planning that go into making it happen.
The 2014 GSWNY Gold Award recipients and scholarship recipients take a photo with Cindy Odom, chief executive officer of GSWNY, and Judith Maness, chair of the board of directors for GSWNY.
Girls in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade who are
registered Cadettes can achieve the Silver Award individually or with a team. To receive the award, at least 50 hours must be completed toward a
community service project. For example, for a Silver Award project, OliviaHy and Troop 31345 collected retired American flags so they could be disposed of properly. The troop also handed out flyers during their local Fourth of July Parade to provide further information on where to retire American flags.
The Bronze Award is for girls in fourth and fifth grades (Girl Scout Juniors). To receive this award, girls work as a team putting in a minimum of 20 hours toward a take action project that benefits others. Troop 60190 earned their Bronze Award by sprucing up Camp Piperwood. They planted a flowerbed and groomed the Blue Butterfly trail, among other tasks, to help the camp get ready for summer.
Another group, Troop 60727, completed theirBronze Award by assisting with the Ogden
Olivia Hy, Silver Award recipient
What would you want people to know about Girl Scouts of Western New York? I want to share all the things that our girls in Western New York accomplish through Girl Scouting. It is really amazing every day to see how they are helping their communities and taking on leadership positions.
Why do you support GSWNY with your time, talent, and treasure? I want to be part of the small group of committed, thoughtful citizens (GSWNY) that change the world through small acts of great love, and I know by supporting the mission of Girl Scouting to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place,” I can do that.
Girl scouts receive Gold aWard
Congratulations to GSWNY’s 2014 Gold Award recipients!Victoria Allen Emily Bradosky Emily Buckley Catherine Catapano Stephanie Chamot Alyssa Cino Mallory Crane Lillian Cultara Acadia Fairchild Sydney Fallone Sarah Forney Melissa Goodman Madison Gossel Alexandra Gysbers Meaghan Hoitt Shelby Hood Kourtney Hoppel Sarah Humrich Kelly Jasiura Courtney Kelkenberg Sara Keller Sarah Knox Christine Kuczkowski
Charlotte Kurzweil Simone Liano Emily Lord Victoria Mangino Lauren Martinek Rebecca Merkle Elizabeth Miller Allison Mordenga Sarah Morgan Morgan Paladino Emily Pawlowski Margaret Rustowicz Lindsey Spengler Samantha Summers Emma Rose Trolley Rachel Turberg Rachel Wambach Laura Webb Elise Wilcocks Megan Wischerath Katie Yorko Melissa Zakrzewski Tessa Zavislan
continued from cover . . .
silver and bronze aWard provides community service
What is your primary volunteer role?I focus on STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math. I want to give them engineering training in a project environment. I am the volunteer lead on the implementation of the Techbridge program and helped to organize STEM-a-palooza this spring in Rochester. In addition to offering my own skills andknowledge, I have been able to use my industry contacts to find other role models, femalescientists to share their knowledge.
What is your favorite part of volunteeringwith GSWNY? Teamwork! For projects, we sitdown and plan, lots of sharing of good ideas.
Why did you choose the Girl Scouts? I feel strongly about role models andleadership skills for girls. It is important to create a different environment outside of typical situations for girls (like school)and see that there are options. Seewomen who are succeeding in a variety of fields. I also think we need to developtheir leadership skills so they cancompete and succeed.
Do you volunteer with any otherorganizations? Yes, Therapy Dog Internationaland Tail Waggin’ Tutors. I have been working with them for two years as well. I adoptedmy dog, Pi, from a shelter and several people commented that he would make a good therapy dog. We went through the training and now we visit programs for kids at libraries.
volunteer profile: Kathryn rivers
board members confirmed, volunteers recoGnized at 2014 annual meetinG
Girl Scouts of Western New York proudly honored many volunteers and service units for their dedication to helping build girls of courage,confidence, and character who make the worlda better place. Volunteers were recognizedfor their efforts and 13 service units werecelebrated.
Attendees also heard from Julie Brubaker, the Irondequoit Service Unit Manager and leader ofTroop 60570, who talked about her experience with the Ban Bossy program and helping to showgirls they can be leaders.
Elizabeth Moon, a Girl Scout who is part of the FIRST Robotics Hippie Pandas team, sharedher experience with the Hippie Pandas and the excitement of learning and having fun with science, technology, engineering, and math(STEM). This year, the theme for the FIRSTRobotics competition was Nature’s Fury and thegirls created floating concrete beds for peoplein Haiti to use during a flood. With this invention,the team advanced to the World Festival Competition in St. Louis, where they took the second place team work award and met others from around the world, including Turkey and Malaysia.
Cindy Odom, chief executive officer of GSWNY, shared some of the areas the council plans to focus on in the future. She explained that GSWNY will continue to partner with Girl Scouts of the USA on many efforts, especially on the advocacy platforms: financial literacy, healthyliving, environmental leadership, and science,technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
During the meeting, GSWNY welcomed two new members of the board of directors: Jeff Platt and Essie Calhoun-McDavid.
Farmer’s Library Reading Garden. The girls planted, weeded, and maintained the gardenfor approximately a year. To make reading outside more enjoyable, they also added itemslike soft mats for sitting outside, a fairy garden,and hanging tree decorations.
Whether earning her Girl Scout Bronze, Silver or Gold Award, a girl makes a difference with these community service projects. Adults canhelp more girls help others by volunteering, donating, or learning more about what girls have done and spreading the word. Learn more atgswny.org.
Irondequoit Service Unit Manager Julie Brubaker speaks about the Ban Bossy program at the 2014 Annual Meeting.
The GSWNY FIRST Robotics Hippie Pandas team pose with their trophy from the World Festival Competition that took place in St. Louis.
Girls from Troop 60727 work on their Bronze Award project.
We at Girl Scouts are striving to raise that number. We want girls to feel like they can do anything, and that includes being financially independent. Our financial literacy programs help girls gain the knowledge and experience they need to make sound financial decisions today and later in life. The Magazines and Munchies program kicks off in the fall this year and the Girl Scout cookie program will begin in January 2015. Through these programs, girls learn five essential skills: goal setting, decision making, business ethics, money management, and people skills. When you buy a box of cookies or candy from a Girl Scout, you are not just getting a tasty treat. You are helping her gain important financial literacy skills!
Another way we are working to help girls gain important leadership skills is through our Women of Distinction Program. We are excited to honor seven women throughout Western New York for their leadership. Each honoree has agreed to meet with one of our Girl Scouts for a mentoring experience. This always proves to be rewarding for both the honoree and girl. Please join us on September 18 as our great young women demonstrate the benefits of being a Girl Scout.
On September 19 we will also welcome Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. She is an acclaimed science evangelist who believes in educating others on the power of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. Dr. Ramirez received her training in materials science and engineering from Brown University (Sc.B.) and Stanford (Ph.D.). Prior to answering the call to improve science understanding, she was a mechanical engineering professor at Yale. We are excited to welcome her to Western New York for the Leadership Breakfast Series.
Before closing, it is worth sharing some of the exciting partnerships that have allowed us to continue building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Thank you to the United Way, National Grid, Merrill Lynch, and many more who are helping our girls and our council reach new plateaus of success.
2
Whether they lead a troop, mentor a girl working toward her Gold Award, or give a couple hours helping keep camps cleaned up, volunteers make possible everything Girl Scouts of Western New York does for girls. To explore the variety of volunteer opportunities with the council and to get to know the volunteers who give so much, GSWNY will profile a volunteer in Girl Talk.
Kathryn Rivers is based in the Rochester area but volunteers across the council jurisdiction. She was also recently honored as a Rochester Area Administrators of Volunteer Services (RAAVS) 2014 Carol Ritter-Wright Award for Volunteer Service nominee.
For how long have you volunteered with us? Two years.
Were you a “girl” Girl Scout?Just for a year. My family moved around a lot. I did win a prize for selling a lot of Girl Scout cookies!
Do you work outside the home? What do you do? By training I am an electrical engineer, now retired from Kodak.
How did you get involved with Girl Scouts? I knew Judy Cranston (GSWNY Chief Operating Officer) from when we both worked at Kodak. I had a thought that I wanted to share what I knew, my skills. I talked to Judy and she gave it some thought. A week later she called me with some ideas and that’s how it started.
3
Girl Scouts of Western New York is fortunate to have a team of board members who truly believe in the mission of Girl Scouting. We’re happy to share what they have to say about their own personal interests and about why they support Girl Scouts.
Favorite book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
meet the GsWny board members: lettie chilson
Favorite movie: The Butler
Favorite Quotes: “In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Theresa
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
Are you a former Girl Scout? Yes. My troop was in Colden, New York, and my mother-in-law, Jean Chilson, was one of my Brownie leaders.
Why do you volunteer with Girl Scouts of Western New York? I believe in giving back to my community and as a troop leader and mom, I was able to see the impact Girl Scouts had on every girl. I also know “many hands make light work.” Volunteering helps GSWNY use their resources to provide as much programming as possible to the girls.
Approximately 200 people attended the 2014 Girl Scouts of Western New York Gold Award Ceremony that honored 46 Girl Scouts for receiving their Gold Award, the highest award a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. At the ceremony, GSWNY also announced 2014 scholarship recipients. (See page 4 for a list of scholarship recipients.)
To achieve the Gold Award, recipients must complete a minimum of 80 hours toward a project that benefits the community or the world. For example, this year, girls’ projects included playing music for patients at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, increasing produce at a local food shelter, and raising awareness of an impoverished orphanage in Jamaica.
Girls who receive the Gold Award can obtain advanced standings in the military and are eligible for certain scholarships. Employers and college admissions officers look favorably upon those who receive the award, knowing the amount of planning that go into making it happen.
The 2014 GSWNY Gold Award recipients and scholarship recipients take a photo with Cindy Odom, chief executive officer of GSWNY, and Judith Maness, chair of the board of directors for GSWNY.
Girls in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade who are registered Cadettes can achieve the Silver Award individually or with a team. To receive the award, at least 50 hours must be completed toward a
community service project. For example, for a Silver Award project, Olivia Hy and Troop 31345 collected retired American flags so they could be disposed of properly. The troop also handed out flyers during their local Fourth of July Parade to provide further information on where to retire American flags.
The Bronze Award is for girls in fourth and fifth grades (Girl Scout Juniors). To receive this award, girls work as a team putting in a minimum of 20 hours toward a take action project that benefits others. Troop 60190 earned their Bronze Award by sprucing up Camp Piperwood. They planted a flowerbed and groomed the Blue Butterfly trail, among other tasks, to help the camp get ready for summer.
Another group, Troop 60727, completed their Bronze Award by assisting with the Ogden
Olivia Hy, Silver Award recipient
What would you want people to know about Girl Scouts of Western New York? I want to share all the things that our girls in Western New York accomplish through Girl Scouting. It is really amazing every day to see how they are helping their communities and taking on leadership positions.
Why do you support GSWNY with your time, talent, and treasure? I want to be part of the small group of committed, thoughtful citizens (GSWNY) that change the world through small acts of great love, and I know by supporting the mission of Girl Scouting to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place,” I can do that.
Girl scouts receive Gold aWard
Congratulations to GSWNY’s 2014 Gold Award recipients!Victoria Allen Emily Bradosky Emily Buckley Catherine Catapano Stephanie Chamot Alyssa Cino Mallory Crane Lillian Cultara Acadia Fairchild Sydney Fallone Sarah Forney Melissa Goodman Madison Gossel Alexandra Gysbers Meaghan Hoitt Shelby Hood Kourtney Hoppel Sarah Humrich Kelly Jasiura Courtney Kelkenberg Sara Keller Sarah Knox Christine Kuczkowski
Charlotte Kurzweil Simone Liano Emily Lord Victoria Mangino Lauren Martinek Rebecca Merkle Elizabeth Miller Allison Mordenga Sarah Morgan Morgan Paladino Emily Pawlowski Margaret Rustowicz Lindsey Spengler Samantha Summers Emma Rose Trolley Rachel Turberg Rachel Wambach Laura Webb Elise Wilcocks Megan Wischerath Katie Yorko Melissa Zakrzewski Tessa Zavislan
continued from cover . . .
silver and bronze aWard provides community service
What is your primary volunteer role? I focus on STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math. I want to give them engineering training in a project environment. I am the volunteer lead on the implementation of the Techbridge program and helped to organize STEM-a-palooza this spring in Rochester. In addition to offering my own skills and knowledge, I have been able to use my industry contacts to find other role models, female scientists to share their knowledge.
What is your favorite part of volunteering with GSWNY? Teamwork! For projects, we sit down and plan, lots of sharing of good ideas.
Why did you choose the Girl Scouts? I feel strongly about role models and leadership skills for girls. It is important to create a different environment outside of typical situations for girls (like school) and see that there are options. See women who are succeeding in a variety of fields. I also think we need to develop their leadership skills so they can compete and succeed.
Do you volunteer with any other organizations? Yes, Therapy Dog International and Tail Waggin’ Tutors. I have been working with them for two years as well. I adopted my dog, Pi, from a shelter and several people commented that he would make a good therapy dog. We went through the training and now we visit programs for kids at libraries.
volunteer profile: Kathryn rivers
board members confirmed, volunteers recoGnized at 2014 annual meetinG
Girl Scouts of Western New York proudly honored many volunteers and service units for their dedication to helping build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Volunteers were recognized for their efforts and 13 service units were celebrated.
Attendees also heard from Julie Brubaker, the Irondequoit Service Unit Manager and leader of Troop 60570, who talked about her experience with the Ban Bossy program and helping to show girls they can be leaders.
Elizabeth Moon, a Girl Scout who is part of the FIRST Robotics Hippie Pandas team, shared her experience with the Hippie Pandas and the excitement of learning and having fun with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This year, the theme for the FIRST Robotics competition was Nature’s Fury and the girls created floating concrete beds for people in Haiti to use during a flood. With this invention, the team advanced to the World Festival Competition in St. Louis, where they took the second place team work award and met others from around the world, including Turkey and Malaysia.
Cindy Odom, chief executive officer of GSWNY, shared some of the areas the council plans to focus on in the future. She explained that GSWNY will continue to partner with Girl Scouts of the USA on many efforts, especially on the advocacy platforms: financial literacy, healthy living, environmental leadership, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
During the meeting, GSWNY welcomed two new members of the board of directors: Jeff Platt and Essie Calhoun-McDavid.
Farmer’s Library Reading Garden. The girls planted, weeded, and maintained the garden for approximately a year. To make reading outside more enjoyable, they also added items like soft mats for sitting outside, a fairy garden, and hanging tree decorations.
Whether earning her Girl Scout Bronze, Silver or Gold Award, a girl makes a difference with these community service projects. Adults can help more girls help others by volunteering, donating, or learning more about what girls have done and spreading the word. Learn more at gswny.org.
Irondequoit Service Unit Manager Julie Brubaker speaks about the Ban Bossy program at the 2014 Annual Meeting.
The GSWNY FIRST Robotics Hippie Pandas team pose with their trophy from the World Festival Competition that took place in St. Louis.
Girls from Troop 60727 work on their Bronze Award project.
We at Girl Scouts are striving to raise that number. We want girls to feel like they can do anything, and that includes being financially independent. Our financial literacy programs help girls gain the knowledge and experience they need to make sound financial decisions today and later in life. The Magazines and Munchies program kicks off in the fall this year and the Girl Scout cookie program will begin in January 2015. Through these programs, girls learn five essential skills: goal setting, decision making, business ethics, money management, and people skills. When you buy a box of cookies or candy from a Girl Scout, you are not just getting a tasty treat. You are helping her gain important financial literacy skills!
Another way we are working to help girls gain important leadership skills is through our Women of Distinction Program. We are excited to honor seven women throughout Western New York for their leadership. Each honoree has agreed to meet with one of our Girl Scouts for a mentoring experience. This always proves to be rewarding for both the honoree and girl. Please join us on September 18 as our great young women demonstrate the benefits of being a Girl Scout.
On September 19 we will also welcome Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. She is an acclaimed science evangelist who believes in educating others on the power of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. Dr. Ramirez received her training in materials science and engineering from Brown University (Sc.B.) and Stanford (Ph.D.). Prior to answering the call to improve science understanding, she was a mechanical engineering professor at Yale. We are excited to welcome her to Western New York for the Leadership Breakfast Series.
Before closing, it is worth sharing some of the exciting partnerships that have allowed us to continue building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Thank you to the United Way, National Grid, Merrill Lynch, and many more who are helping our girls and our council reach new plateaus of success.
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dates to remember
Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony Thursday, September 18, 2014 Buffalo Marriott Niagara 1340 Millersport Highway, Amherst 6:30 p.m.
Leadership Breakfast Series Friday, September 19, 2014 Rochester Riverside Convention Center 123 East Main Street, Rochester 8 a.m.
GSWNY Service Centers and Shops will be closed: Monday, September 1, 2014
*Please note the GSWNY Shops andService Centers have summer hours through August 29. Visit gswny.org/pages/Location.aspx for details.
SUMMER 2014
Girl TalkFear of public speaking is one of the mostcommon types of phobia, and even manyprofessional adults are a bit hesitant to talkin front of others. However, many Girl Scoutsthroughout Western New York have had the opportunity to practice important public speaking and communication skills through Women of Distinction, a signature fundraisingprogram hosted by Girl Scouts of Western New York (GSWNY).
Women of Distinction is part of the nationwideGirl Scouts of the USA program designed to recognize the achievements of women, provide mentoring opportunities for older GirlScouts, and fund local Girl Scout educational opportunities and programs for girls 5 to 17 years of age.
This year, GSWNY is proud to honor seven women with Women of Distinction Awards. These honorees were nominated by membersof the community because of demonstratedleadership in their careers and in theircommunities through public service. They are considered role models for all girls, and in accepting this award, they commit to mentoringthe young women involved with the Womenof Distinction event. The 2014 Women ofDistinction honorees are:
Daisy Algarin, Senior Marketing Specialist, City of Rochester Business Development
Kimberly Beaty, E District Police Chief, City of Buffalo
2014 Women of distinction event to benefit Girls in numerous Ways
in this issuePage 2• Meet the GSWNY Board Members: Lettie Chilson• Girl Scouts Receive Gold Award
Page 3• Board Members Confirmed,
Volunteers Recognized• Silver and Bronze Awards Provide Community Service
• Volunteer Profile: Kathryn Rivers
Page 4 • Volunteers Enjoy Fun and Family at Appreciation Picnics• QSP Tuition Program Helps Girls Earn Money for College• Hamburg Troop Help Babies in Need• Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight
• GSWNY Recognizes the 2014 Scholarship Recipients
volunteer opportunity spotliGht Autumn will be here before we know it, and that means troops are getting ready to begin! Troop leaders are needed, and you don’t have to have a daughter in Girl Scouts to get involved. All you need is a little extra time and the desire to serve as a role model for girls in your community.
Troop leaders work with girls and partner with other adults to plan and carry out the Girl Scout Leadership Experience – which encourages girls to discover the world around them, connect with others in the community and world, and take action on something that matters to them. This is a great opportunity for those who enjoy guiding and mentoring youth, organizing activities, and, most importantly, having fun!
Find out how you can lead a troop by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-888-837-6410.
A family enjoys lunch at the Camp Piperwood Volunteer Appreciation Picnic.
ceo comments
Cindy L. Odom Chief Executive Officer, GSWNY
Summer is a time to relax but also to get ready fora great year of Girl Scoutingthat will be here before we know it! Most know summer
means camp for many Girl Scouts, and we are excited to share that hundreds of girls in Western New York have enjoyed fun and experiential learning at our camps this summer. From horseback riding to archery to arts and crafts to ropes courses – outdoor programming activities help girls develop confidence and allows them to learn by doing. It is a refreshingway for girls to decrease summer learning loss, retain knowledge, and learn new skills, likefinancial literacy.
Did you know that financial literacy is also a top priority for our council? The data shows it is important to our girls. In a recent study, the Girl Scout Research Institute found that 94% of girls said they would rather make their own money rather than rely on their parents, yet onlyabout 12% of girls said they feel “very confident” making financial decisions.
continued on page 2 . . .
Ann Evanko, President, Hurwitz & Fine, P.C.
Uma Gupta, Ph.D., Executive Director, President CEO – STEM-Smart, Planet GPA.us
Marcia A. Merrins, former President of the League of Women Voters for New York Stateand Owner of Kniti Griti Works
Jennifer Walter, Corporate Controller, Moog Inc.
Lillian Williams, Ph.D., Professor of African-American Studies, University at Buffalo SUNY
All are invited to join GSWNY in celebrating these women at the Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony Thursday, September 18, atthe Buffalo Marriott Niagara Hotel in Amherst. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets cost $100 eachor $75 each for registered Girl Scouts (including adults).
The community is also invited to the Leadership Breakfast Series in Rochester Friday, September19 at the Rochester Riverside ConventionCenter beginning at 8 a.m. The event willfeature keynote speaker Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D.,an impassioned believer in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. She is also a former professor of mechanicalengineering at Yale and science adviser to NOVAand other science programs. Tickets cost $40each.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.For details or to purchase your tickets forthe Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony or the Women of DistinctionLeadership Breakfast, visit gswny.org.
Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., will speak at the Women of Distinction Leadership Breakfast in Rochester September 19.
volunteers enjoy fun and family at appreciation picnicsFor the first time, Girl Scouts of Western New York held a picnic at Camp Piperwood and at Camp Seven Hills as a way to appreciate volunteers. Each picnic included games, arts and crafts, a bounce house, face painting, nature hikes, and more. Family members were invited to attend the picnics along with the volunteers, making it a truly exciting and comfortable way to appreciate and acknowledge all of the efforts of GSWNY’s volunteers. Thank you, volunteers!
Families enjoyed many activities at the Camp Seven Hills Volunteer Appreciation Picnic, including canoeing.
hamburG troop helpS babies in needGirl Scouts from Troop 30274 of Hamburg teamed up with Sisters Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to help the “Scent of a Mother’s Heart” program through which the girls made “scent cloths” from soft flannel material. Mothers can place these cloths against their hearts and then put them near their babies when they can’t be with them. Babies can recognize their mother’s scent early in the womb and many associate it with comfort and security. Because of this, the scent cloths can have a calming affect for the babies, especially for babies who are premature and have to be away from their mothers for long periods of time. Great work, girls!
Girls from Troop 30274 made “scent cloths” for babies who are in the Sisters Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
GsWny recoGnizes the 2014 scholarship recipients
Education Scholarship Fund Catherine Boyle Acadia Fairchild Madison Gossell Meaghan Hoitt Christine Kuczkowski Kelly Lovell Morgan Paladino Claire Raab Genevieve Ruhland Samantha Summers Rachel Wambach
The Kim Welsh Memorial Scholarship Delaney Dominguez-Salerno Madison Gossel Emily Lord Victoria Mangino Danielle Seier
Hans & Charlene Schoenenberger “Golden Opportunity” Scholarship Catherine Catapano
Ralph & Mary McLean Wilson Scholarship Melissa Goodman Elise Wilcocks
Scholarship Committee Rita Babcock Linda Baker Lettie Chilson Dawn Gilliam Shirley Jones Charlene Schoenenberger Judith A. Maness, Ex-Officio Cindy L. Odom, Ex-Officio
Qsp tuition proGram helps Girls earn money for colleGeNumerous scholarships exist for girls, and Girl Scouts of Western New York is excited to share it is making available one more way Girl Scouts can save for college: the SAGE Tuition Rewards Program, which will be part of the fall 2014 Magazines and Munchies (QSP) program. SAGE Tuition Rewards is a unique private college savings program through which girls and troop leaders can earn tuition reward points. Points act like frequent flyer miles, but for college tuition, and girls participating in the program can earn up to one full year’s tuition to use at more than 320 participating private colleges and universities.
To learn more, join GSWNY for an informational webinar on October 1, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. Details on accessing the webinar are available at gswny.org/pages/QSPWhatsNew.aspx.
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