Council Report Newsletter for Girl Scout Council of Vermont Volunteers and Adult Members April/May 2008 Your Support Ensured a Successful GS Cookie Season! Iwanted to take a moment to write to each of you to thank you for your patience, support, and perseverance through this 2008 cookie season. Some of you had cookie sale success from start to finish. Others faced delivery delays and case shortages that made this year's cookie sale a challenge. Just before our sale, ABC Bakers discovered that one of the large warehouses they contract with had suffered water damage from a roof leak. The warehouse did not let ABC know, but instead began shipping product to councils. As soon as the baker learned about the problem, they stopped all shipments and went to the warehouse to inspect the cookies. Rather than take a chance, they decided to destroy the cookies and begin baking again and shipping as quickly as they could. That meant that some cookies were being shipped in a very tight timeframe, including those for the Girl Scout Council of Vermont. Then a snowstorm hit the weekend of our deliveries, compromising the shipping time even more. For some of you it meant cookie orders were delayed or incomplete. I can’t begin to thank you and our incredible girls for the patience you have displayed in the face of this challenge. I have worked in many Girl Scout councils over the last 30 years and I have been blessed to work with ABC Bakers in each. Throughout those years, we alway had very successful cookie programs and I can assure you these challenges are the exception. ABC is a company that is principled and honest in their work with Girl Scouts. I am so appreciative that ABC Baker made the ethical decision to divest of product and bake and ship new cookies to correct an error that was not theirs. ABC worked around the clock to get cookies out quickly; and, as a result, our customers received incredibly fresh, just-baked cookies! And, here's the good news! We have had an very successful cookie sale. Girls will have more cookie credits to use and troops will have more money to fund their activities. All around, this year's cookie season has had a very positive outcome! Thank you for being part of this success. We could not do the work we do without your energy, creativity and dedication! Sincerely, Sharon A Baade, GSCV CEO What Vermont Teen Girls Say about Health & Wellness On Wednesday, March 12, during a press conference at the State House in Montpelier, the Girl Scout Council of Vermont and the Vermont Commission on Women officially released the results of their third annual statewide survey, "What VT Teen Girls Say About Health and Wellness." The results reflect responses from over 100 Vermont girls, ages 11 to 18, from 51 Vermont middle and high schools. The press conference was held as part of National Girl Scout Week and Girl Scouts in Government Day. This year’s survey covered such topics as healthy lifestyle, body image, dating, and the influence of parents and peers on healthy choices. It included a number of open-ended questions for girls to voice their concerns on the issues most important to them. Significantly, 91% of VT teen girls are concerned with the way women and girls are portrayed in the media. An 8th grader from Orange County noted: "Any advertisements are, in my opinion, bad. They tell girls that they need something else, that they are not good enough as they are." Unfortunately, 60% of respondents also said they compared their bodies to celebrity bodies and two-thirds of those surveyed admitted to having negative thoughts about their bodies every day. For most girls, healthy living has more to do with being comfortable and feeling "normal" than diet and exercise. "Healthy is more being comfortable with yourself than anything else," said a junior from Washington County. "I mean, ‘good health’ and habits like eating right and exercising are very good, but as long as a person isn’t too overweight (or too thin) and is happy with their body, that’s healthy for a teenager." In fact, 55% of Vermont girls surveyed indicated that their lifestyle was "healthy enough for my age and I’m happy with that." Although girls surveyed demonstrated a basic knowledge about healthy behaviors, they do not always put this knowledge into practice. For most girls, good health had more to do with fitting-in and being accepted than actually being healthy. Many of those surveyed had distorted ideas about healthy living, with 21% of total respondents skipping breakfast everyday and an additional 18% skipping this important meal more than once a week. While emphasis on looking and behaving like the rest of their peer group is developmentally appropriate, it often does not encourage behaviors that promote good health. In fact, "fitting-in" can be a mask allowing behaviors that require outside support to go unnoticed. And, while the percentages are still small, several "at-risk" behaviors are high enough to be cause for concern. Based on the survey results: 1 in 20 Vermont girls considers suicide everyday; 1 in 33 girls binges and purges to lose weight; 1 in 25 girls cuts themselves intentionally everyday; and 1 in 8 girls suffers from a daily struggle with feeling sad and hopeless. These behaviors span all demographics. A 12th grader from Caledonia County summed it up: "Even the smartest teens, the ones taking AP classes and involved in extra-curricular activities, are engaging in risky behaviors. These are the kids who don’t get caught because nobody suspects they would do these things, but they are." Adults can help. The issue of healthy living is difficult terrain for girls to navigate and they need help in making connections that will form their attitudes and lead to healthy lifestyle choices. In general, girls who belong to youth organizations and who regularly volunteer in their communities have a better self-image than girls who do not. With appropriate support and guidance, "normal" health can be healthy enough. Parents play a significant role. Even though teens may act like they don’t care what their parents think or do, the survey demonstrates that they do. Overwhelmingly, 71% of those surveyed said that the health and health habits of family members were very important to them and 55% said that family dinnertime was important to them. Eye-rolling aside, 69% of girls surveyed noted that they were concerned to very concerned about getting along with their family. "Mom" scored high with Vermont girls. Over half listed their mom as the person they go to most often for information on health and healthy living and as the person after whom they pattern health decisions. Two-thirds of those surveyed said their mom would be the one most likely to compliment them. And, although not by much, girls perceive that their mothers are more concerned about their daughters’ health and well-being than fathers are. Words matter. How frequently parents compliment their daughters’ appearance and praise good behavior has a powerful positive effect on self-esteem, which, in turn, impacts self- perceptions and healthy choices. Similarly, parents who regularly criticize their daughters’ appearance and focus on negative behaviors have a powerful negative impact. You can view the full executive summary of "What VT Teen Girls Say about Health and Wellness" on our homepage at www.girlscoutsvt.org/. GSCV Recognizes Vermont Women for Championing Girls On March 12, the GSCV hosted a "Breakfast with Champions" recognition event. The morning was a celebration of girl leadership and those adults who "champion" on their behalf. Approximately 75 legislators, community leaders, and Girl Scouts gathered to pay tribute to those women who work diligently to change the future for girls by opening doors and breaking down barriers, and to say thank you to the many women who support, mentor, and advocate for girls aspiring to leadership positions. The GSCV recognized three outstanding women and twelve Vermont legislators for their outstanding work in support of girls: The Honorable Madeleine Kunin (former Vermont Governor, US Deputy Secretary of Education, Ambassador to Switzerland, and author) for her lifelong dedication to issues important to girls, her belief in the untapped power and potential of women, and her efforts in a global society paving the way for a better world for girls; Judith Irving (business owner and director of the Vermont Women’s History Project at the Vermont Commission on Women) for advancing initiatives that directly impact the Vermont landscape as a good place for women and girls, and founding both the Women in Technology Program and the Vermont Academy of Science and Technology at VTC; Denise Barnard (Vermont State Representative, business owner, and member of Women in Government, a national, nonprofit, bi-partisan organization of women state legislators) for her work to provide leadership opportunities, networking, expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues impacting girls and women, and for providing significant leadership in efforts to develop a bi-partisan bill to improve education about cervical cancer and the HPV virus that causes it. The following Vermont legislators were recognized for their participation as 2008 mentors in the Girl Scout Council of Vermont’s teen legislative internship program: Senator Ann Cummings, D-Washington County Senator Sara Kittell, D-Franklin County Senator Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden County Senator Jeanette White, D-Windham County Representative Anne Donahue, R-Northfield Representative Deb Evans, D-Essex Representative Sue Minter, D-Waterbury Representative Ann Mook, D-Bennington Representative Denise Barnard, D-Richmond Representative Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington Representative Alison Clarkson, D-Woodstock Representative Rachel Weston, D-Burlington National Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day is April 22, 2008! Many sincere thanks go to all our Leaders and Co-Leaders across the state for your hard work for girls and dedication to Girl Scouts. We would never be able to fulfill our mission and provide the quality support for girls through Girl Scouting without you. You are amazing! The Girl Scout Council of Vermont’s 2008 Girls Rock the Capitol Legislative Internship incorporates training and experiential learning for girls who are mentored by female senators and representatives in Vermont Government. The internship is designed to immerse teens in the democratic process, promote leadership and team building skills, and to provide a forum to discuss ideas and issues that are important to Vermonters. The experience provides the opportunity for girls to experience the parliamentary process in action, observe party caucuses, sit in legislative committee meetings, listen to testimony, and experience how this dynamic process shapes the direction of life in Vermont for the coming years. What follows are the reflections of a 2008 intern on just one day in Montpelier: A Day in the Life of a Legislative Intern Friday, February 23, 9:30 am. We sat in the Senate chairs on the Floor, watching the various representatives take their seats and wondering out loud why one desk had a carton of eggs sitting on it. A man stepped up to the podium; the voices died away. He read that day’s passage from the bible and moved aside for the Speaker. She had a somber look on her face. Representative David Clark had passed away, she informed us. Silence descended, muffled, wrapped her wide arms about the room. I could feel her. The creaking of the floor ceased softly, and my own breathing seemed too loud. A representative across from me wiped her eyes. The rest of the room barely seemed to be breathing. The Speaker tapped the gravel softly, a whisper of wood against wood, and sound flooded back into the room as the representatives returned to their creaking chairs. Silence retreated back to the wings, drawing her skirts around her the world started up again. A representative rose and requested permission to speak. It was granted. He pulled a microphone from its place in his desk and spoke, softly, sadly, about his colleague David Clark. I noted: "He didn’t say very much, but when he did it meant something, he’d look over at me, give me a wink to show he was okay, a gentle giant... a tough exterior but with a heart of gold." A cell phone rang, and he continued speaking over the oddly upbeat electronic tones. The sound cut off suddenly as its owner pressed a button. He pretended he hadn’t heard a thing. The Girls Rock girls were introduced; first the six going to the UN Commission, then the rest of us. We rose, stood for a moment in the applause, and sat down again. Somebody began talking about a new bill. A man at a desk in front of the podium was stamping papers. I looked closer. There were two racks of stamps. They were placed, carefully, symmetrically, between two identical lamps sporting little black figures like a miniature version of park statues. Each stamp rack had two wobbling tiers laden with hand stamps of all sizes. Periodically, one of the men at the desk would reach forward, spin a rack, and select the desired stamp. After use, it was replaced, setting the whole structure to a creaky wobble before it regained equilibrium at approximately the same time the man reached for another. They were now talking about bills. About half of the Speaker’s job appeared to be moderating the votes. "All in favor say aye" ... "aye," said the collected crowd - "all opposed say nay" - silence - "the ayes have it"... I always have to fight the urge to yell out "nay." Friday, 10:45 am A stiff white poster hung over the Chair’s seat at the end of the table. "House Government Operations" rolled in capital letters across its top, and beneath the Vermont seal was printed in forest green. Below "Ken Atkins, Vice-Chair," a new rectangle of paper sporting a new name was taped: Pat McDonalt. The name "Cola Hudson" was just visible underneath; a shadow below his replacement. That chair had been empty last time. Now it was occupied by a woman with short brown hair and gold wire earrings. A large framed photo of a balding man in a striped shirt sported a scrap of paper by his hand that read "Representative Cola Hudson of Lindon, Vermont. 1926-2008." The poster still had the name "David Clark," right beneath "Debbie Evans, Clerk." His chair was empty. Friday, 12:30 pm At lunch we had a speaker who discussed women’s place within government. We listened carefully, or tried to; her voice was hard to hear over the noise of the cafeteria. Friday, 1:00 pm Today, is Girls Rock the Capitol day in honor of the girls going to the UN. There was applause and much picture taking. Friday, 3:45 pm The snow had been drifting down all day, and served only to camouflage the ice. We slipped our way out of the state house and Carmel pulled up in the Snowdrift on Wheels, also known as the Girl Scout's giant white van. We piled in. The topic of conversation in the van turned from music to religion, and stayed there. We had a mix of religions and opinions in that van, but we were content to debate and discuss peacefully. Talking continued for most of the trip back until the Snowdrift on Wheels pulled into the Girl Scout parking lot. Bridget Iverson Underhill Vermont teen participants with Girl Scout Council of Vermont Board Member Carol Story, South Burlington (the girls are from left to right - Ellie Beckett, Hallie Washburn, Kate Bull, Alexis Lounsbury, Brittany Wieland, and Courtney Mattison. Six Vermont Girl Scouts recently returned from New York City where they participated in the 52nd United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women. These girls were part of a select group of only 18 teen Girl Scouts nationwide invited to attend the commission based on high quality work they have done as part of "Girls Rock the Capital," a Vermont legislative internship program where participants spend a year immersed in the democratic process working with women mentors who are Vermont Senators and Representatives. Their trip was sponsored by Girl Scouts of the USA. The article that follows represents the impact this trip had on just one of our teen partipants: Reflections on a Trip to the UN I was extremely excited and honored to travel to the UN and represent the 10 million Girl Scouts worldwide and girls everywhere that have not had equal opportunities compared to their male counterparts. The 52nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in the World at the United Nations showed how far we as girls and women have come and need to come in order for equality among genders to be established. As delegates of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and GSUSA, we worked to give a voice to Girl Scouts and girls worldwide when it came to financing for gender equality. This was the overall theme for the 52nd session and we discussed the topic thoroughly even before taking off for NYC. The more we learned the more we realized that action needed to be taken. So we traveled to New York City eager to make a difference. Every session we attended we gained new insight. One session that enlightened me was the US caucus. I always had assumed that my country was doing well with regard to the rights of women and children. I was surprised to learn that the United States of America had not supported the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), who developed a crucial document granting rights to women and children that has been signed by every other developed nation in the world. This woke me up to the fact that even in the most developed nations women and girls can still be under represented. We learned about CEDAW and a variety of women’s issues throughout the week at parallel events. We were also honored that one of our responsibilities at the UN was to run an event entitled "Girls Worldwide Say We Have the Right to Live in Peace." We each chose a peace project done by Girl Guides all over the world to present. I focused on the "Building Peace Among Children" projects that were established in 11 African nations. The project sponsored by WAGGGS and Soroptimist International recognized the power young female leaders have to make a difference and educate their communities. Reading and then presenting these stories at a WAGGGS event was truly inspiring. This project instilled in me that, as young women, we have the ability to promote and advocate for change in our communities, solidifying that I would take all that I learned at the UN back to Vermont and educate my community. I was also asked to help plan and organize an event for girls attending the CSW to help allow girls to weigh-in on financing for gender equality. These games and activities open girls’ eyes to situations other than their own. At the conclusion of the night we asked participants to share what they felt girls worldwide need. Their thoughts were compiled into a "girls’ statement" that was presented to NGOs and foreign leaders, giving girls a voice at the 52nd session of the CSW. As a "Girls Rock the Capital" intern in the Vermont Legislature, I have seen how powerful women can be and it pains me to know that there are so few in leadership positions. As a result of my attendance at the 52nd Commission on the Status of Women in the World, I have decided that the only way to make sure women and girls are represented in policy is to have females sitting at these policy tables worldwide. From Parliaments to Congresses, females need to have an input into both the discussions AND the decisions. We make up 51 percent of the population but studies show that women in leadership positions and policy positions cap at about 16 percent. This is a large discrepancy that I hope to address. Vermont is lucky to have not only a female speaker of the house, but the largest percent of females in the legislature. However, there is still room for improvement and I intend to make a difference by educating my community on the need for female leadership. So far I have written an article for my school newspaper and have been talking to students at my school, but I hope to be able to do much more. Courtney Mattison Rutland Funding Bronze, Silver, & Gold Projects (2nd in a Series on Troop Finances) One of the challenges facing girls planning Bronze, Silver, and Gold projects is financial. On the one hand they are asked rules to follow outlined by the Council and in "Safety-Wise" that impact what girls are able to do. Ok. The reality first and then some possible solutions: 1. Girls cannot ask for money as a member of the Girl Scouts. They are not allowed to ask for materials or services either. The solution: Since adults can solicit money, work with an adult partner. Girls can write a letter or prepare a Power Point to describe the project, BUT an adult has to do the actual ask and sign on the dotted line. ALWAYS clear the solicitation with the Council first, via your Membership Marketing Director. 2. Girls cannot raise money for another organization as a Girl Scout, for example they cannot ask for pledges for a walk-athon and they can't hold a benefit to sponsor a needy family. The solution is a bit tricky. Your troop/group CAN hold a bake sale or approved event to earn money for troop/group activities. However, the leader/mentor must first get Council permission. That money can be used toward the purchase of materials that will help support a project, BUT the decision to allocate funds MUST be a group decision. Things operate a bit differently for Juliette Girl Scouts. Juliettes cannot earn money as an individual Girl Scout for themselves. Money earned must go to a special Juliette account held by the Council. Juliettes must present their needs for funds to the Council for approval. For additional information, contact Colleen Campbell at 800/639-3055, x112 or ccampbell@girlscoutsvt.org. Here are some great group money-earning ideas: • Sell Girl Scout Cookies!!! • Provide childcare, face painting, another service at special events in the community. • Hold a bottle drive or giant garage sale AND sell refreshements! • Have a gift wrapping table at a local holiday fair or bazaar. • Provide classroom or home birthday parties "to-order," baking cupcakes and coordinating games. PLEASE remember to meet all "Safety-Wise" and Council guidelines when planning activities and get pre-approval before holding any money-earning activity using GSCV Form #366, Troop Money Earning Project Application. DO NOT sell ANYTHING on the Internet as a Girl Scout. There are many safety concerns around such activities that preclude such activities. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions: Can girls use their own money to fund award projects? Yes, if girls wish to use their own money, they can. They can get help from family, too. However, the Council encourages girls to work with others to earn the money ~ that's part of the process. Award projects are not intended to be a hardship on any family or individual. Can they ask friends and neighbors for help? Girls should not ask for donations of money, but they can ask for donations of time and goods, such as clothing for a clothing drive or a pile of bricks left over from a backyard project. IF a neighbor wishes to use any donations of materials as a tax deduction, he or she will need to make the donation to the Council for IRS purposes and get a signed receipt. If this comes up, contact Operational VP of Advancement Dannah Beauregard, at 800/ 639-3055, x 103 or dbeauregard@girlscoutsvt.org. What if what girls want to do costs too much? Encourage girls to be realisitc. While it is intended that Bronze, Silver, and Gold projects become sequentially more demanding with regard to complexity, time committment, and expense, it is better for girls to succeed with a smaller project than to be unable to complete a project because of funding challenges. What’s New with Merger? Our work with the Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council to forge a new Council for January 2009 continues. Perhaps your girls have already enjoyed the expanded program offerings and have eagerly inspected the wider variety of camp opportunities. But, we’re sure you have many questions as well. Visit our website at: http://www.girlscoutsvt. org/leaders.php for the latest on merger. Do you have an idea for a new Council name? We’d like to give adults and girls the opportunity to send us their ideas for a new council name. All the details and guidelines are online. Get to Know Your Swift Water Sisters and earn the new "Sister to Sister" patch! Make new friends and learn about what is unique and similar between our two Councils. All the forms are online for your convenience or you can contact Janet Francis at jfrancis@girlscoutsvt.org for more information! Don't Miss a Single Issueof the VolunteerNews! Make Sure The Council has Your Most Current E-mail Address. Contact Registrar Colleen Campbellat ccampbell@girlscoutsvt.org or800/639-3055, x112 to update! Check Out the NEW Girl Scout Party Packs! Only $25 - Order Yours Today! Make your Girl Scout parties, events and celebrations even more special with new Girl Scout tableware. Are you planning to celebrate a special troop success, having a Badge Ceremony, or getting ready for Bridging?The NEW Girl Scout Party Pack is the perfect addition! Items sold separately, too. Create a fun, colorful "Girl Scout" table with these festive and decorative cups, napkins, plates and table cover. Your party pack comes in a colorful bag filled with supplies to host a party for 24! It includes two packages each of napkins, cups, and plates ~ plus one table cover and plastic ware! Lot's of other new items at the shop as well. Stop by for a visit! GIRL SCOUT SHOP OF VERMONT 79 ALLEN MARTIN DR ESSEX JCT, VT 05452 www.girlscoutsvt.org/shopping.php OR BY PHONE AT 802-878-7131 ext 117/800-639-3055 Have You Completed All Required Trainings? The GSCV will be offering Mega Trainings in early spring. Check out the dates at http://www.girlscoutsvt.org/calendar/ month.php. To register or find out what you need, contact Paulette Petelle at ppetelle@girlscoutsvt.org or 800/769-7451.