Fall 2014 - Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council

News for Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council supporters
End of Year Giving
Ever wondered how much Girl Scouting costs? On average, it takes
$246 to make Girl Scouting a reality for girls in our Council. Your taxdeductible gift before the end of 2014 can help continue to make
Girl Scouting possible in southeast Texas. Here’s a few ways your gift
can impact girls:
per week for one year: ($104) Seven girls become Girl Scout
members for an entire year
per week for one year: ($260) Two Girl Scout troops (14 girls)
participate in team building activities on the Challenge ROPES course
per week for one year: ($520) 50 low-income families
experience outdoor activities during Family Day at Girl Scout camp
per week for one year: ($1,040) 26 girls experience an
introduction to sailing experience where they learn STEM-related
topics such as weather, harnessing the wind, and aquatic wildlife
per week for one year: ($2,600) 65 girls from low-income
families experience a five-day day/twilight camp
You help girls gain confidence trying
new activities
With donations like yours, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council can
provide programs like archery. Archery is available at six of our camps
all year long. Girl Scout programs help girls turn off their digital gadgets
and find the wonders of the outdoors learning new activities.
Fall 2014
Connections
Benefits of Girl Scouting
As a donor, you know Girl Scouting has a great mission because
you choose to invest in it! But do you know all the positive
outcomes and benefits girls and adults receive as a member of
the premier leadership organization for girls?
Benefits to girls
Results of a summer 2014 pulse poll conducted with more than
3,500 volunteers and parents of Girl Scouts in the K−5 age range
show positive effects on members of all ages.
• 97 % of parents agree that Girl Scouts has been a positive
activity for their daughter
• 95 % say that their daughter has had fun and exciting new
experiences
• 96 % of girls learned or tried something new
• 94 % of parents say that because of Girl Scouts, their
daughter feels special
• 95 % has more friends
• 90% is more confident
• 89% are happier because they are in Girl Scouts
Benefits to adults
It isn’t just girls who benefit from Girl Scouts.
• 94 % of volunteers have made new friends
• 88 % believe their life is better because they volunteer with Girl
Scouts
• 2/3 of adults believe their volunteer experience has helped them
professionally
• 95% of Girl Scout volunteers are happy knowing they are making
girls’ lives better.
Benefit of the program
The variety of experiences and the value for the money the
Girl Scout program provides are also popular selling points for
parents.
• 89% of parents say their daughter gets a greater variety of
experiences from Girl Scouts than she does from other
extracurricular activities
• The majority of parents feel Girl Scouts is a great value for the
money compared to other extracurricular activities.
Overall, parents consider Girl Scouts one of the most beneficial
extracurricular activities for their daughter.
Use the enclosed envelope to help invest in girls today!
For more information contact Beth Shea at
713-292-0321 or at [email protected].
For $15*, Girl Scouts gives her...
…an all–access pass to TONS of fun and amazing new experiences!
8
smiles, laughs
and giggles
new
friends
100
hours of adventure
and discovery
12,000
2,700
360,000
confidence–building minutes
seconds of fun
and feeling great
about herself
Lufkin teacher uses Girl Scout program to prevent
bullying and promote friendship
*Additional fees for program activities, uniforms and materials are separate. Other figures are based on typical troop sizes
and number and duration of meetings and activities. Actual numbers vary.
Imagine if your one-time donation to Girl Scouts helped change an entire generation’s point
of view on bullying. That’s exactly what’s happening in Lufkin, thanks to one ambitious middle
school teacher and a United Way of Angelina County grant.
Sharon Means, a health and physical education teacher at Lufkin Middle School, recognized
this and used program curriculum provided by Girl Scouts of the USA to raise awareness
about bullying prevention at her school. The Be a Friend First (BFF) program, which ties into
aspects of the Girl Scout aMAZE Journey, is designed for middle school Girl Scouts and
guides them through the twists and turns of pre-adolescence to find true friendship and
build confidence, give girls valuable skills to develop healthy relationships, prevent bullying and become peacemakers in their schools.
“The topics featured in the aMAZE Journey are definitely part of these girls’ day-to-day lives, especially in middle school,” said Means.
“When I introduce the activities to my students, they are truly interested and they can apply the information to their personal lives.” In
BFF, girls get to explore thorny issues like peer pressure, stereotyping, gossip and cliques through engaging role-plays, creative writing,
games and discussion exercises. They can also create and lead projects in their schools and communities to tackle bullying issues on
their terms and turf.”
Through a United Way grant and assistance from students attending Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Means was able to
deliver the seven week program for her sixth grade students. “My intention was to make them more aware of their environment and what
impact their choices have on others,” said Means.
By giving to GSSJC, your donations not only have an impact on Girl Scouts; they also impact the community where programs are offered
and help build girls of courage, confidence and character. To donate to GSSJC, visit donate.gssjc.org.
Thank you for your support of Campership
Your generosity made a fun and enriching summer possible for 309 girls, who
would not have been able to attend without your assistance. The GSSJC
Campership Committee reviewed applications and approved $94,490 in
assistance just for this summer. You, and other donors like you, made this
possible. Please continue your support. As you can tell by the thank you notes,
the girls really appreciate the experience. To donate to camperships, visit
donate.gssjc.org.
Destinations:
Journey to Japan
By: Lindsey Donaldson
My journey to Japan would have never even started
without the GSSJC backpacking groups. After a
13–hour flight, I finally arrived in the country I had
been waiting to see and received my first stamp in
my passport in…Japan! Being in Japan gave me the
sense that I was doing something worthwhile and
unique. Meeting the girls and adult volunteers for
the first time gave credit to that thought.
What is a Destination?
Destinations are trips sponsored
by Girl Scout councils or Girl Guide
countries around the world. Girls apply
to the Council for the Destination
of their choice. Girls are able to take
Destinations trips thanks in part to
funds earned during the Fall Product
and Girl Scout Cookie Programs.
Your support of these programs helps
girls use those funds to expand their
horizons, challenge themselves and see
the world – all before graduating from
high school.
Our first meal in Japan tasted amazing. We talked
and laughed at a small local restaurant with ramen
noodles falling into our laps because our skills with
chop sticks weren’t exactly on point yet. The next
five days we toured the must- see sights of Tokyo
including Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, beautiful
Shinto shrines, bright Buddhist temples, animation
museums and, one of my favorites, Harajuku
Street, which was in the shopping district. This
place was full of life, people and clothing!
Lindsey Donaldson models a yukata,
or a casual summer kimono, during her
Destinations trip to Japan this summer.
Destinations allow Girl Scouts to travel
throughout the United States and the
world.
The next day we met our Girl Scout sisters from Japan. We
learned about each other’s cultures and language. Together
we shared machi, which is a cup of thick green tea at a tea
ceremony. Afterwards we got ready for the Nishihara Town
Summer Festival by helping each other put on the beautiful
and complex yukata (a casual summer kimono). The festival
had very interesting food and lots of entertainment from the
dancers, drummers and other outstanding performers.
While in Japan, Lindsey and her fellow Girl Scout travelers spent one
night at the home of a Girl Guide in Japan.
After the festival we departed for our homestay. The girl I
was paired with was named Natisumi. She and her family
were very welcoming, although they spoke very little
English and I speak very little Japanese. We watched the
movie “Frozen” and sang all of the songs! The next morning
Natisumi and I said our goodbyes and promised that if one of
us came to each other’s country, we would visit again.
We left Tokyo and our Japanese sisters and headed for Mount Fuji! Climbing
Mount Fuji was challenging, but I am so thankful that I was able to summit
it. The sight from the top was beyond gorgeous and unforgettable. The bus
ride back to Tokyo gave us all a realization that we had just done something
very big together and that we all relied on each other for support and
encouragement during our climb.
The last two days went by too fast. I went to Fuji Q, an amusement park
filled with Guinness World Record roller coasters. Being the thrill seeker
that I am, Fuji Q was a blast. The last day we had what the adults called
“girl choice day.” My group and I went to “cat café,” where countless cats
dodged our petting hands while we drank tea. Afterwards, we went back to
Harajuku Street to continue my shopping experience.
Meeting the rest of the girls, we ate our last dinner in Tokyo at Sky Tree. We
said our goodbyes, and in the morning we headed back home with minds
filled with new experiences and memories to tell. Traveling to Japan was not
only a Girl Scout Destination; it was truly a life-changing experience.
Supporting Girl Scouts across the Council
Insperity
Each year at Success to Significance, Girl Scouts of San
Jacinto Council honors individuals who have used their
personal and professional successes to make a significant
difference in their communities and the future of girls. Since
the event’s beginnings in 2011, Insperity has served as the
presenting sponsor of this signature fundraiser.
Insperity’s mission of helping businesses succeed so
communities prosper aligned perfectly with GSSJC’s desire
to honor local business leaders. “These business leaders
serve as excellent role models for girls during a critical time
in their lives, encouraging them to pursue their dreams,”
said Insperity Director of Community Involvement Corinn
Price. “At this event, we are able to help honor remarkable
leaders and support GSSJC and its mission to motivate
future leaders to make both Houston and the world a
better place.”
To join Insperity as a sponsor
of Success to Significance in
2015, please contact Emily
Adkison at 713-292-0358 or
[email protected].
Insperity
• Based in Kingwood
• 2015 will be the
fifth year as the
presenting sponsor
to Success to
Significance
• Founded April 1986
• Company has 57
offices in the U.S.
• Insperity’s
Insperity employees at the 2014 Success to
mission is to
Significance luncheon.
help businesses
succeed so
communities
prosper
GSSJC has honored eight individuals for their contributions to the community as well as Girl Scouting.
“GSSJC enjoys highlighting these significant men and women who make our world a better place,” says
Price. “Honoring these individuals is a way for Insperity and the community to say thank you to them for
their efforts, which truly transform lives and communities. We at Insperity know first-hand through our
own community involvement efforts that young women in our area have limitless potential. “
In addition to honorees, each year’s event features a keynote speaker. Insperity Business
Performance Consultant for National Accounts Kimberly Rawson, who has attended the event
each year, says her favorite speaker is actress Geena Davis, who spoke at the inaugural event. “She
is accomplished and notable, humorous and inspiring,” said Rawson.
As a presenting sponsor of Success to Significance, Insperity demonstrates its commitment to Girl
Scouting in southeast Texas. “Supporting GSSJC helps reach even more young women and builds
Why I Give…
As a third-generation Girl Scout, Kay Craig was excited to join Girl Scouting as a
Brownie in second grade and continue a tradition started by her grandmother.
So when her best friend, Terry, called her up one afternoon in 1988 to say her
co-leader was leaving, Kay was just as excited to continue a tradition her mother
had started as her own troop leader and stepped up to co-lead a group of Juniors.
From there, she became involved in Neighborhoods (present-day
Communities) and has held a variety of positions, including two terms on the
GSSJC board of directors. After holding volunteer positions in virtually every
area of the Council, Kay understands how much of a difference a financial
contribution to GSSJC can make in the life of a girl.
Kay Craig with her father, Charles, on the
Craig Family Bridge at Camp Myra S. Pryor.
“I feel GSSJC is THE best organization for girls to discover who they can be and
what they can do with their life. Girl Scouts provides a safe environment with
such a variety of things to learn, things to try, things to do just for fun and things
to do to help other people. I like sharing the available opportunities with my girls
and with other leaders when I facilitate a workshop. I want every parent to know
what their girls can do in Girl Scouts and how it can change their lives.”
“ I think I donate more to GSSJC because I have learned so much and had so
much fun working with the girls and adults, therefore I know how much it can
help other people and I want to help them have that opportunity. For all of
these reasons, I have earmarked GSSJC as a charity in my will.”
Want more information? One of the simplest ways for you to make a future
contribution is to include GSSJC in your will. If you have already made GSSJC
one of your charitable beneficiaries, please share this with us. For more
information, contact Diane Pavey at [email protected] or 713-292-0277.
The future is bright
By Samira Traore
Rewind. It is the year 2005,
and I have just begun my
schooling here in the United
States. Younger than my other
classmates and hidden behind
our language barrier (my family
and I had recently immigrated
from the Ivory Coast), I am
awkward, I am reserved, I am an
outcast.
Fast forward a couple of years. It is now 2008, and
I have no problems with my classmates, with my
schoolwork, with my environment. I speak. I flourish,
surrounded by peers with common goals and
common interests.
What changed in those three years? What so
significantly impacted who I would grow to be? As you
ask yourselves what could have taken place, ponder
this: the only thing that changed in the last three years,
aside from my having grown into myself, is the fact that
I joined my neighborhood Girl Scout troop.
As minor as it seems, joining that troop changed the
course of my entire life. From then on, I was not afraid
to be myself, to be outgoing and expressive, to make
friends as easily outside of the troop as I did within.
But again, how is this important? Had it not been for
that original troop, had I not been welcomed with
open arms and warm smiles, with kindness, the odds
of me sharing my story with you would be next to
nothing.
Girl Scouting has taught me a number of things, from
how to handle rescue animals to how to endure
weeks in the woods, braving the wild. But the most
important lesson I have learned in my time as a Girl
Scout, is that no matter who you are, where you are or
what you face, courage, confidence and character go
a long way.
Skip to today. Now I backpack. I travel all around the
country and get to admire beautiful landscapes – all
the while surrounded by total strangers. I represent
various clubs and organizations, like my local YMCA.
I am one of the nation’s top speakers and debaters.
I do things anyone who knew me in the past would
have doubted were within my limits, all thanks to what
I have learned as a Girl Scout. In the end, whether I am
backpacking with fellow Girl Scouts or volunteering,
the simple fact of the matter is that Girl Scouts instills
values in its members, small and large, that I have
greatly benefitted from.
Your support of Girl Scouting helps girls just like
Samira every day. Through programs, activities and
workshops funded by our generous donors, girls like
her are learning to have confidence in what they do,
the courage to step outside their comfort zone and
are building character that will last a lifetime.
Girl Scouts celebrate the
legacy of Juliette Gordon Low
Isn’t it exciting to know that by supporting Girl Scouts, you’re supporting a
movement that has changed the lives of more than 59 million women over
the last 100 years? When Girl Scout Founder Juliette Gordon Low began
the organization in 1912, she wanted to give women the opportunity to learn
leadership skills that would not only impact their lives, but the communities
in which they live. She went against the grain to address issues that were not
popular, including equal opportunities for women and girls, health, education and
the environment.
On October 31, also known as Founder’s Day, Girl Scouts across southeast
Texas, the United States and around the world will celebrate Juliette’s birthday
and the legacy she left behind.
Juliette, affectionately nicknamed ‘Daisy’ by family and friends, was born in
1860 in Savannah, GA to an affluent family. Due to her socioeconomic status,
she was able to grow up socially and academically in two countries – England
and the United States. In the early 1900s, after the death of her husband and
at a time when older women were expected to stay in the background of life,
Juliette continued to be active in her community and traveled the world. On
one of her many trips abroad, she met Boy Scouts founder Robert BadenPowell who inspired her to start a similar organization for girls.
On March 12, 1912 she held the first Girl Scout troop meeting, and the
organization grew from there. Despite adversities, including hearing
impairment, Juliette always persevered. She cultivated adult volunteers as
active role models, troop leaders and program volunteers. When she was
recruiting adult help, she would use her hearing impairment as an advantage by
not acknowledging people who told her “no.” Today’s Girl Scout leaders share
the same passion as the organization’s founder as they strive to build girls of
courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
Juliette succumbed to breast cancer in 1927. However, she would be proud
to know today’s Girl Scouts are self-reliant and that they have a heart for
community service. Most importantly, Girl Scouts is continuing to address the
needs and issues facing girls.
Juliette
Gordon
Low,
founder
of Girl
Scouts,
right;
with Lord
Baden
Powell
and Olave
Baden
Powell,
the
founders
of Boy
Scouts.
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HOUSTON, TX
PERMIT NO. 6743
3110 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77098-4508
Visit us online at www.gssjc.org.
Thank You, Donors!
Great care has been exercised to ensure the proper recognition of our donors. If an error or omission does occur, we apologize and hope
you will bring it to our attention. Contact 713-292-0273 or [email protected]. Honorariums listed are $25 and above.
$25,000 + Ambassador
The Hamill Foundation
Les and Mary Puckett Children’s Foundation
United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County
United Way Galveston County Mainland
Wells Fargo
$10,000-24,999 Senior
BMC Software
Comerica Bank
Lowrey Community Service Grant
KBR
John P. McGovern Foundation
Montgomery County United Way
Nestlé USA
Shell Oil Company
$5,000-$9,999 Cadette
Fluor
Lubrizol
Texas Capital Bank
Texas Rural Communities, Inc
United Way of Angelina County
United Way of Brazoria County
United Way of Greater Houston
$1,000-$4,999 Junior
Brazosport Rotary Club
Camp Agnes Arnold Camp Bucks
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Mary Louise Dobson Foundation
$250-$999 Brownie
Terrie Bean-Minero
Dawn and Jason Bone
BP Fabric of America Fund
Camp Casa Mare Camp Bucks
Camp Misty Meadows Camp Bucks
Tracy E. Christopher
Sally A. Clark
Mary Cole
Cindy A. Dewstow
Dawn D. Donaldson
ExxonMobil
Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce
Halliburton
Julie Hatfield
Melinda C. Henry
Sheila Hutchings
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
Phillips 66 Company
Deborah E. Pickering
Mary K. Ryder
Safeway Inc US Corporate
Save the Date
Just Desserts “A Night at the Movies”
Thursday, January 22, 2015
6 – 8 p.m.
Magnolia Hotel Houston
1100 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002
(Contributions made March 1-May 31, 2014)
In memory of Penny Harp
Ranvae Baker
Terrie Bean-Minero
Buffalo Trail Community
Chris Dunning
Hope Fletcher
Dorothy M. Goodykoontz
Rosemary Haffemann
Martha B. Hatcher
Honorariums
Leda L. Kliesing
In honor of Buffalo Trail
Irene Liberatos
Community Friendship Skate 2013
Janet Lonvick
Buffalo Trail Community
Nancy McGuire
Theresa Modgling
In honor of Elizabeth Kreuger
Rhonda S. Rice
Mary Cole
Linda M. Ross
Louise Rugaard
In honor of Ellie McVicar
Mary R. Smith
Kathy Rapp
Aimée R. Sproles
Barbara S. Story
In honor of Mary Vitek
Troop 20187
Mary K. Ryder
Wood Group Mustang, Inc.
Memorials
In memory of Sandra Kremer
In memory of Kelly Cassity
Zimmerman
Susan E. Hetherington
Jean McArthy
In memory of Davis Gross
In memory of Anita Nemetz
Nancy Giffhorn
Tracy Snyder
Paul Sorensen
Symetra Financial
Brenda P. Tirrell
Troop 25189
United Space Alliance
United Way of Galveston Inc
Evelyn T. and John Vittone
The Dow Chemical Company
Dorothy M. Goodykoontz
Jeanine Haller-Piskurich
Kroger Company
Nacogdoches County United Way
Rotary Club of North Shore
Texas Comptroller
Truist
United Technologies
Wood Group
Marguerite Woung-Chapman
In memory of Faye Rollins
Deborah E. Pickering
5th Annual Success to Significance Luncheon
Thursday, April 23, 2015
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Downtown
1200 Louisiana St. Houston, TX 77002
Tickets will be available to the public for $30.
Tables starting at $2,500 and individual tickets starting at $150.
Please visit the “events” tab on www.gssjc.org for more information.
We look forward to sharing the latest news and interacting with members, volunteers and alumnae via our
Council’s Twitter account, Facebook Fan Page, YouTube Channel and our blog at www.gssjc.blogspot.com.
If you’d like to join our online Girl Scout community, visit GSSJC’s social media accounts below:
GirlScoutsGSSJC
GSSJC.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/GSSJC
girlscoutssanjacinto

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