Spring/Summer 2017 The Girl Scout The Girl Scout Hi! I’m Becky, and I’m a Leader. And You? Just since the last issue of Spirit, it has become evident to me that your belief in the power of G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ has always been within you—girls, volunteers, parents, staff members, alumnae, In this issue: everyone reading this issue. I encourage you to take our quiz on page 4 to learn your strongest G.I.R.L. trait. 1 Artist Badge Competition Are you a go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, or leader? I found out I’m a leader, which might seem obvious, but the quiz defines “leader” in terms other than 2 DNA of a G.I.R.L. Poster simply being in charge. It takes more than four simple words to be a G.I.R.L. Go Gold!: Our new head G.I.R.L. champion is Sylvia Acevedo, who was chosen as CEO 3 2017 Gold Awards of Girl Scouts of the USA in May. Before the official announcement, as interim CEO, Sylvia spent time with our Girl Scouts in Lubbock and attended Women G.I.R.L. Quiz 4 of Distinction, recapped on page 5. 5 2017 Women of Distinction Sylvia’s visit was just like a visit with any other lifelong Girl Scout. She was so comfortable creating with the girls that I think they forgot she was the acting 7 C.A.R.E. Recap head of an organization with 2.5 million girls—until she passed out her CEO patch! She was so tuned in that she picked up on the girls interested in STEM 8 Volunteer Spotlight and helped them know what classes they could take, possible careers, Dallas Wings Partnership and tips. 9 Renew Your Membership Desserts First Preview The ambition of our older Girl Scouts always makes me proud. I am just a bit prouder this year because our council had Gold Award honorees from Tips, Tricks, & Secrets every service area: Abilene, Amarillo, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Wichita from Top Cookie Sellers 10 Falls! See page 3 for these G.I.R.L.s’ names. Earning your Gold Award is itself the ultimate accomplishment in Girl Scouting; the icing on the cake is the fact that our Girl Scout community is building a supportive environment for more girls to Go Gold!
Becky Burton
The Girl Scout Spirit magazine GS-TOP CEO is published by the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc.
4901 Briarhaven Road Fort Worth, Texas 76109 800-582-7272 / 817-737-7272 gs-top.org Editor-in-Chief WORK Jessica Lewis ON ART Your Art st Badge! Service Centers i Abilene 325-670-0432 This summer, enter the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains design Amarillo 806-356-0096 competition and work toward earning your Artist Badge! Daisies to Fort Worth 817-737-7272 Ambassadors, you’ll have the chance to showcase your original design. Lubbock 806-745-2855 Daisies, your creative efforts will help you earn your Tula Petal! Follow Girl Southlake 817-281-7578 Wichita Falls 940-723-4336 Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains on Facebook for more information coming June 15: facebook.com/GirlScoutsTOP. 1 The Girl Scout SPIRIT SPRING/SUMMER 2017 SPRING/SUMMER 2017 The Girl Scout SPIRIT 2 One Easy Step to More Confidence:Go Gold! OK, so it’s not easy. Or one step. But it’s so worth it!
Flags from almost every country in the world lined the event hall. The It took a few weeks of international décor wasn’t intentional, but it certainly was inspirational. This year’s Girl Scout Gold Award honorees could imagine their great big trial and error for me to life ahead of them as part of an extraordinary group of women to earn the figure out … that it is not highest award in Girl Scouting. only acceptable, but quite The council’s annual Gold Award Celebration was held in Fort Worth on essential, to ask for help May 12 for all who earned the award this year. These motivated young women completed 3,447 hours of community service through their when needed. projects. They are leaders willing to go the extra mile for what they believe Kate Miller, on what she learned in. They are each a G.I.R.L. through and through! from her Gold Award
Sarah Banchs...... Troop 2111 Cjae Kell...... Troop 5179 Megan Rohmer...... Troop 4657 Lauren Bartleson...... Troop 2039 Rachael Klein...... Troop 6756 Alisha Samnani...... Troop 1563 Bryla Birdwell...... Troop 6756 Sydney Lehman...... Troop 2723 Zoe Schneider...... Troop 3370 Catherine Brown...... Juliette Mallory Mathison...... Troop 1525 Skyler Sinke...... Troop 3422 Christina Brown...... Juliette Kallie Menard...... Troop 91225 Christina Stephens...... Troop 1630 Lili Chambless...... Troop 3370 Rynae’ Miles...... Troop 3215 Melissa Stevko...... Troop 4044 Christen Davis...... Troop 4116 Kate Miller...... Troop 7162 Lauren Tyler...... Troop 4081 Harriet Davis...... Troop 6839 Emily Morris...... Troop 3370 Claire Unruh...... Troop 4081 Julia Dickerson...... Troop 7162 Grace Nguyen...... Troop 1714 Sarah Venesky...... Troop 4044 Raquel Garcia-Geary...... Troop 3323 Anna Phillips...... Troop 5110 Sarah Wenzel...... Troop 3370 Sahar Gokal...... Troop 1563 Kate Reece...... Troop 4018 Caylynn White-Frierson...... Troop 1101 Hailey Hurd...... Troop 2111 Molly Rose Rhymer...... Troop 3370 Brittany Wilhelm...... Troop 5703 Emily Jenkins...... Troop 8570 Abby Rickwartz...... Troop 5110 Katherine Kallinikos...... Troop 3381 Sarah Ritz...... Troop 3371
3 The Girl Scout SPIRIT SPRING/SUMMER 2017 , risk-taker, or leader? Are you a go-getter, innovator Find out what kind of G.I.R.L. you are with this fun quiz!
On vacation, you typically At school or work, you’ve want to: struggled with: Your favorite video games: A) See all the really famous sights in the A) Turning in assignments when time’s A) Challenge you! You want to work for tour book, even if you’re tired! up. You want everything to be perfect! that high score. B) Research what interests you and plan B) Daydreaming. Sometimes you just get B) Feature cool new technology you can your own itinerary. caught up in your own thoughts. test out and play with. C) Forget planning—let every day be its C) Remembering to read the directions. C) Let you switch up scenes and own adventure! You usually want to just dive right in! characters as much as you want. D) Show friends or family around places D) Talking too much, even if it’s about D) Are the ones you can play with other you love but they haven’t seen before. the assignment you’re working on! people as a team.
As far as books go, When there’s a karaoke If you worked for NASA, you love: machine at a party, you: you’d want to:
A) Nonfiction. Who needs fiction when A) Sing the same song every time. You’ve A) Start a program to get even more there’s so much in real life to learn practiced it, so you can hit every note! girls and women involved in space about? B) Tend to perform as a “backup dancer.” exploration. B) Sci-fi or fantasy. Books that aren’t So many ways to bring the fun! B) Invent new, faster methods of space like everyday life help you see things C) Play “dare-oke” and have your friends travel and ways to gather data. differently. pick songs for you that you’re scared to C) Go out in space! How cool would it be to C) Mysteries and thrillers. It’s exciting to sing. see Earth from the moon? never know what’s going to happen D) Pick a song that you know another, D) Run the Mission Control Center, which next. more reserved girl might want to sing handles any problems a space mission D) Stories about relationships. Families and with you. might encounter. friendships are the best things in life!
For Halloween, you: Your room is decorated with: When it comes to exercise, you:
A) Spend weeks thinking of and shopping A) Posters of your idols—all the athletes, A) Stick to the same sport—you’re just for a perfect costume. Your look will be artists, and others who’ve achieved about to perfect that jump shot! on point! your dreams. B) Make up a twist on whatever sport B) Make your own costume. It’ll be just B) Lots of artsy stuff. Collages, paintings, you’re playing. New rules keep things how you want it and you’ll save money and even images of space are inspiring fun! to boot. to you. C) Are always trying something C) Dress as your favorite, but not that C) Different stuff all the time! You’ll put new. Switching things up keeps it famous, character. Who cares if anyone things up, only to get into new things interesting. else “gets it”? and redecorate. D) Love cheering on your friends when D) Coordinate a group costume with your D) Pics of you and your girl squad. You they beat their own best time or high friends so that everyone’s in on the fun. and your friends are inseparable. score.
If You Answered… Mostly A’s: You’re a go-getter! Mostly B’s: You’re an innovator! Mostly C’s: You’re a risk-taker! Mostly D’s: You’re a leader! You’ve got a vision of how you want You’re an original, independent You’ve got an open mind and You’re an advocate for all and are your life to look and you keep going thinker. With your love of learning love the thrill of trying new things. always cheering on the group. for it, even when the going gets and natural curiosity, you’re a Your embrace of adventure will Through empathy, team building, tough. Your can-do mentality and wonder at solving problems in open doors for others who might and humility, you empower those ambition will take you far! creative new ways. not be as bold. around you to be their best.
Your GS-TOP shop has the G.I.R.L. goods! Pins, T-shirts, hoodies, hair ties...Coming Fort in Worth August. & Southlake will have the works; other locations can special order for you! SPRING/SUMMER 2017 The Girl Scout SPIRIT 4 Sharing Our Girl Scout DNA Women of Distinction Through the Women of Distinction event, Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains recognizes and celebrates inspiring women for their service to the community, in particular for their advocacy and motivation to develop the young leadership of tomorrow. These women share our Girl Scout DNA of being go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders.
We recognized our Lubbock-area Women of Distinction on May 2 with the help of emcee Christy Martinez- Garcia, Girl Scout Cadette Lauren Settle, and special guest Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. Sylvia spent extra time with our council’s Girl Scouts, volunteers, and staff over her two-day visit. Everyone who met her went home with the exclusive CEO patch Sylvia designed herself!
Our Fort Worth-area Women of Distinction gathered May 17 for their event. Special guests were J.R. Labbe, Girl Scout Cadette Abi Ward, Girl Scout Senior Brenna Kaplan, and Carolyn Phillips. Carolyn is a Girl Scout alumna who owns local company Alchemy Pops. During her keynote speech, Carolyn surprised the audience by showing us her Junior vest with all of the badges! Her guest at the event was her mother, who was her Girl Scout troop leader.
5 The Girl Scout SPIRIT SPRING/SUMMER 2017 2017 HONOREES DISCOVER CONNECT TAKE ACTION LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AWARD AWARD AWARD FORT WORTH FORT
Paulette Turner Anette Soto Natalie Martin Martha Crawley Mary Helen Horne
Save the Date Amarillo Women of Distinction LUBBOCK Aug. 3 [email protected]
Mary Myers Dr. aretha Cookie Betty E. Wheeler marbley Rainwater-Lewis
We thank these sponsors for supporting our Fort Worth and Lubbock events
GOLD SILVER BRONZE Alan Henry Insurance Ada Rummel Ben E. Keith City Bank FRIEND Frost Bank American National Bank Jane Rector ELS and Fence Lubbock Junior League of Fort Worth Texas Tech Physicians of Lubbock Pediatrics Moritz Dealerships TTU School of Nursing Natalie and Brant Martin Larry Combest Community United Supermarkets Health and Wellness Center
MEDIA IN-KIND BRUNCH Fort Worth Magazine Latino Lubbock Magazine Romelia Duarte Mark Umstot Photography Studio West Pressman Printing
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 The Girl Scout SPIRIT 6 The Truth About Our Volunteers… They Are Energetic, Creative, Open-Minded, and Passionate!
Our Celebration and Recognitions Congratulations 2017 Honorees! Event (C.A.R.E.) travelled to four cities in April to show our THANKS BADGE Christi Baker, Leanne Guhl, Jody Piper, Summer Young appreciation for those who are the backbone of our organization: our HONOR PIN Jill Butschek volunteers! They are those who go APPRECIATION PIN Terri Carey, Renata Caughman, Kimberly Cornett, the extra mile, find opportunities, and Missy Crane, Christy Ealy, Karen Giles, Katherine Kinsler, Nancy Lock, are committed to making the world a Ruth Owen, Lee Perkins, Crystal Rushin, Tracey Ventimiglia better place through Girl Scouting. VOLUNTEER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD Alice Andrews, Charles Baker, Symantha Amarillo, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Baker, Diane Barber, Stacey Beyhmer, Wichita Falls planned for months Nicole Brown, Viola Caldwell, Sandra to host volunteers, girls, family and Dannemiller, Jamie Flaniken, Tracy friends, council staff, and special Gualandi, Isela Hernandez, Stacey guests. The rooms were filled with Leinen, Melissa Lygren, Constance people who know the impact Girl Maikai, Ruth Mares, Charlie Scouts has on the lives of girls and Mayhall, Katie Miller, Janeen young women. Mills, Amanda Renfro Moore, Margie Olivarez, Patricia “I love doing what I can to make a Pierce, Jill Pope, Melissa difference in these girls’ lives,” said Roenbeck, Heather Rudzik, one volunteer. “I hope I’ve been able Debra Shackelford, Kathy to plant a seed that will help them Shepherd, Stephanie Taylor grow into respectful, courageous, and responsible young women.” 7 The Girl Scout SPIRIT SPRING/SUMMER 2017 Volunteer Spotlight Carol Hillhouse they do not get to do in Finds the school, not always just to get a badge.” Complement Business owners and others in Panhandle have been especially to Her Calling willing to share their talents and skills with in Girl Scouts Carol’s Girl Scouts, she says. Many have relatives “The girls call me Dr. Carol. I always do the animal badge and friends in her troops, first!” and in a small town, everyone knows everyone. “Maybe it is hard to tell us no!” she grinned. Carol Hillhouse laughs when asked if her career influences her Girl Scout activities. Carol has been a veterinarian There aren’t many activities for younger girls in for 34 years and a Girl Scout troop leader for nine. She’s Panhandle, Carol says, and Girl Scouts is popular making a significant difference in the entire community of for them. As they get older, she sees other activities Panhandle, Texas, by combining two great passions. compete for their time, but while she has girls in her troops, she likes to think they are learning and growing in Carol has lived in Panhandle for three decades. She is on ways that will serve them as they become adults. the leadership team of three troops—Brownie Troop 5223, Junior Troop 5004, and Cadette Troop 5230—in the “very “I like to emphasize life skills such as communication,” rural” community of 2,300. She and her husband, Joe, she explains, “and all of the Girl Scout Law qualities!” own two veterinary clinics in Panhandle and Borger, Texas. They have two grown sons, so Girl Scouts is Carol’s only girl time. She has made such an impact with that time that in 2015, we honored Carol with our Women of Distinction I’ve come to know and love Take Action Award.
A Girl Scout alumna herself (Brownie in Augusta, Ga.; these girls through the years, Junior in Temple and Wichita Falls; and Cadette in Waco), and it is so gratifying to watch Carol overheard news that there would not be a Girl Scout troop in Panhandle one year because there were no troop them grow up. It has taken a leaders. The thought stayed in her mind until she decided she could be that troop leader! So in 2009, she took that lot more of my time than leap with a Brownie troop. I originally planned, “Of course, this snowballed,” she said. She’s been a leader every year since. but it has been well
“Overall, I am science-oriented and spend worth it. more time on STEM activities than just Dr. Carol Hillhouse, making crafts,” she says about her leader DVM, DABVP style. “I try to do things with the girls that SPRING/SUMMER 2017 The Girl Scout SPIRIT 8 Save GO ON AN these Dates EPIC RENEW YOUR ADVENTURE MEMBERSHIP OCT. 6–8 Believe in the Power of For three days, girls will G.I.R.L. dominate Columbus, Ohio! You are more than a Girl Scout. You’re a G.I.R.L. G.I.R.L. 2017 is a one-of-a- We are everyday optimists. Adventure-seekers. kind gathering of girls and Problem-solvers. Our strength doesn’t come from women from around the how much we can lift but from how often we can lift world. The Girl Scouts of ourselves back up. the USA event Oct. 6–8 will Socks We are girls, troop leaders, mentors, advocates, bring together more than parents, Girl Scouts. We are G.I.R.L.s. And we will not 10,000 people—Girl Scout Score stop. In fact, we’re just getting started. members, supporters, speakers, entertainers, and exhibitors—to inspire Smiles Renew your membership girls to get active in their The WNBA’s newest team, before Sept. 30 at communities and build a the Dallas Wings, invited us www.gs-top.org better world. to get your free patch! to “Sock It to the Lynx” at its game May 20 and collect socks for the Arlington Life Shelter as a service project. The troop to collect the most socks before game tipoff would line up to high- five the Wings players as Sample exclusive culinary creations featuring they entered the court for everyone’s favorite Girl Scout cookies! Desserts First G.I.R.L. 2017 will feature: the second half! is a fundraiser in Lubbock and Fort Worth for adults • Life-changing Girls, troop leaders and only (21 and up) where you can wind down after conversations about volunteers, friends and family, work with friends, enjoy complimentary wine, and of issues affecting girls, and council staff all arrived to course taste local chefs’ best original desserts. women, and all of us • Inspiring speakers cheer on the Wings as they All funds raised directly benefit Girl Scouts of Texas played the Minnesota Lynx. • Chances to learn crucial Oklahoma Plains. For ticket or sponsorship lessons and skills to They dropped off their socks information in Fort Worth or Lubbock, contact Efrain at the Girl Scout booth set up implement in girls’ Duarte at 806-589-5948 or [email protected]. outside before the game. communities Lubbock Fort Worth • Amazing friendships and As a Girl Scout team, we Sept. 14 Sept. 19 connections that will last collected of adult 399 pairs McPherson Cellars The Marquis on Magnolia a lifetime and youth socks to donate • Incredible fun and to the Arlington Life Shelter. excitement! Troop 3501 collected the Mark your calendars for North Texas most with 107 pairs and Giving Day: Sept. 14! Gifts to invest Find information about got to high-five the Wings in Girl Scouting can be made that registration, travel planning, courtside! Nothin’ but net, day at northtexasgivingday.org events, speakers, and everyone. Thanks to all! from 6 a.m. to midnight. 9.14.17 FAQ at girlscouts.org/ powered by GIRL2017.
9 The Girl Scout SPIRIT SPRING/SUMMER 2017 Cookie CEOs, you sold nearly 2.7 million packages of Girl Scout cookies during the Cookie Program 2017 2017 season! C Is for Cookie Counting in the Council That is almost 225,000 cases!
Girl Scout Cookie Program numbers are in! Our girls are really practicing You sold 8.24% MORE packages than their business skills! The new Girl Scout S’mores cookie didn’t hurt, right? last year! We know you worked really hard But who gets those cookies plus our other favorites out there? Y-O-U! to experiment with new ideas and show appreciation for your repeat customers. It pays off to be a G.I.R.L.! How´d They Do It? TIPS, TRICKS, AND SECRETS FROM OUR TOP 3 COOKIE SELLERS EMILY SAMS ALISABETH HATFIELD CALLEIGH BURGESS TROOP: 1288 TROOP: 5702 TROOP: 4016 LEVEL DURING 2017 LEVEL DURING 2017 LEVEL DURING 2017 COOKIE SEASON: DAISY COOKIE SEASON: JUNIOR COOKIE SEASON: JUNIOR PACKAGES SOLD: 3,684 PACKAGES SOLD: 3,033 PACKAGES SOLD: 3,003 Q: How long did Q: Give us your best sales pitch! Q: Which way to sell you spend selling A: “Hello! (You have to be nice and was most successful? cookies? Did you greet people, not just yell at them How did you make it prepare for your about cookies.) Would you like to buy successful? sale before it some Girl Scout cookies? They are $4 A: Cookie booths. I began Jan. 13? a box. Would you like to get five boxes set up so the cookies A: I sold cookies for an even 20? We accept cash, Visa, can be easily seen. every single day. and MasterCard.” Always say thank We try to have the right mix of I got ready for my sale by helping my you even if the customer does not cookies. Girl Scout sisters practice talking to buy cookies; at least they listened to customers. I set goals for myself. I you for a minute. Q: What do you do when someone didn’t reach my goal this year, but I’m says they don’t want to buy cookies? going to try again next year. Q: How long did you spend selling A: I would point out that we have a cookies? new cookie that everyone is going Q: What do you do when someone A: I sell cookies for about three to crazy over. I also ask if they would like says they don’t want to buy cookies? four hours during the week and spend to donate cookies through Project A: If someone just said “no,” I said, all day selling on weekend days—six Troop to Troop. I always say thank “Thank you.” But if they had a reason, to eight hours. It’s hard work, but I get you even if they don’t buy cookies. I had a comeback. If they said, “I don’t to go to camp and win cool stuff with have cash,” I said, “We take checks my Cookie Bucks. The Diva Trip is Q: What are your very best tips, tricks, and credit cards!” If they said they fun, too. and secrets to selling more cookies? couldn’t eat them, I said, “Would you A: 1) Say that cookies are $4/box, but like to donate to our military through Q: What are your very best tips, tricks, if people are buying several boxes, Project Troop to Troop?” and secrets to selling more cookies? try to upsell them to 5/$20. 2) Take A: Ask everyone, sell everywhere, and credit cards! Most people don’t carry Q: What are your very best tips, tricks, keep a positive attitude! cash or a checkbook. 3) Place an and secrets to selling more cookies? order at the beginning of the sale. A: Never stop asking because more I ordered a lot of the new S’mores people say no than say yes. Have fun! because I thought they would be Sing and dance and be friendly. popular—and they were! SPRING/SUMMER 2017 The Girl Scout SPIRIT 10 Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 2277 4901 Briarhaven Road Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth, Texas 76109 800-582-7272 • 817-737-7272 gs-top.org
Girl Scouts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information on how you can support our mission through outright gifts or professional goods or services, please call 800-582-7272 or visit gs-top.org.
Join the Club to Continue Juliette’s Legacy
The Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains 1912 Club opened to members one year ago. Do you believe Girl Scouts prepares girls to lead through everyday experiences and activities, promotes confidence as taking action—not simply having self-esteem—and breaks down success as several stages and not just the positive outcome?
Consider a monthly gift of $19.12. You can easily, quickly, and securely join our 1912 Club at bit.ly/1912Club (URL is case-sensitive).
Because of you, more girls can gain the courage, confidence, and character to make our world a better place.