2013 Annual Report THESTATEOF Girls C1 The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: Following Girl Scouts THE STATE OF To serve God and my country, of the USA’s 100th Girls To help people at all times, anniversary celebration The State of Girls: Unfinished Business is a groundbreaking report And to live by the Girl Scout Law. from the Girl Scout Research Institute (GRSI) that stakes out key issues and in 2012, 2013 signaled major trends affecting girls’ healthy development in the United States today. A report of this magnitude and breadth has never been conducted, making it Board of Directors the continuation of our a much-needed resource in the field, especially as Girl Scouts of the USA in partnership with local councils looks to inspire the next generation of leaders Officers Directors important business at with cutting-edge programs, access to mentors and role models and interactive President Josephine (Jodi) Bahl, activities that open their eyes to the possibilities of tomorrow’s world. (March 18, 2013 to present) Ernst & Young hand, the business of Karen Layng, Scheck Industries *Maureen Beal, Unfinished Business National Van Lines inspiring girls with (through March 17, 2013) *Cheryl Beebe, Ingredion The motivation for The State of Girls report is to ensure that every girl has the Jeanne Reynolds, Incorporated opportunity to become a healthy and productive woman who can be a leader in FirstMerit Bank courage, confidence, Amy Best, Exelon Corporation her own life and in the world at large. *Adela Cepeda, First Vice President and character, so they A.C. Advisory, Inc. While there has been progress for many girls, an overall story emerges that Maryann Waryjas, Great Lakes Phyllis Cochran, Retired shows there is still “unfinished business” to attend to—especially for girls from Dredge & Dock Corporation can make the world a Sidney Dillard, low-income and black/African American and Hispanic/Latino backgrounds— Loop Capital Markets Second Vice President better place. regarding gaps in education, physical and mental health, and economic James Dimitriou, Tatum Monica Weed, well-being. Dr. Karen Eng, CSMI Navigant Consulting, Inc. *Jolanta Gal, Our hope is that these findings will continue to drive local conversations about Gartner Executive Partners Third Vice President the consequences for girls, families, and communities that will inspire supporters *Jennifer Garr, Hackworth Lee Christine Montenegro McGrath, who will make it their business to invest in girls and their futures. Incorporated Mondelez International, Inc. Maureen Jamrock, Retired Each section in this annual report covers a different dimension of girls’ lives, Maryann McNally, Treasurer summarizing key findings and implications for girls. These findings are brought Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (March 18, 2013 to present) Tamara Meyer, Health Care to life through the words and images of our local Girl Scouts and highlights from Kathy Scherer, Deloitte Tax, LLP Service Corporation fiscal year 2013. Carla Michelotti, (through March 17, 2013) Though their actual words and images are Janet Gibbs, CPA, Retired Leo Burnett Company, Inc *Meg Murray, The Hillshire captured here in print, we invite you to Secretary Brands Company bring these stories to life by listening Ann McAloon, Bank of America Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, Neilsen STATEOFGIRLS to the girls tell their own stories on Merrill Lynch Marlena Peleo-Lazar, video. McDonald’s USA, LLC Findings: Chief Executive Officer *Kimberly Reome, To access their stories, scan (through Dec. 31, 2013) The Kenrich Group The motivation for The State the QR code pictured here Maria Wynne Scott Saunders, with a mobile device or HAVI Global Solutions of Girls report is to ensure visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org/ Girl Representatives Karen Schillings, Retired Violet Sistovaris, NiSource Inc. that every girl has the support. to the Board of *Margaret Stender, Chicago Sky Directors Eileen Sweeney, opportunity to become a Ashley Benson Tampa Bay Buccaneers Elise Bowler *Genevieve Thiers, healthy and productive woman Sheila Evans Contact Karma who can be a leader in her own Anika Ranginani Hear Aleksandra, Zyrienae and Kiersten Rasberry *Denotes directors who life and in the world at large. Ava tell their stories. Use your Carley Washa served part of 2013 fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2012-Sept. 30, 2013) mobile phone to connect to their videos using this QR code or link to girlscoutsgcnwi.org/support. C2 1 Leadership Aleksandra Sheridan Girl Scout Junior My mom is a diabetic, and one day we were driving home from a basketball game and all of a sudden she started “Girl Scouts has taught me about sweating. Like a bucket of water just got poured on her. I got being brave and having confidence. a little scared because whenever she sweats, that always And being prepared. I’ve learned “means her sugar is low. I kept telling her to pull in – we how to have confidence, be passed a McDonald’s and, like, five gas stations. Forty-five minutes after we started driving home, my dad had called considerate and caring.” to ask us where we were. We kept talking on the phone and five minutes after he had called us we ended up going off the road, into a ditch. There were trees in front of us, and we were about to hit them so I turned off the key and the car stopped. I know what happens when her blood is low, To honor Aleksandra’s act so I fed my mom some chocolate. When the paramedics of courage, she received showed up, I had told them what happened and that she Girl Scouts of the USA’s was a diabetic for 37 years. I said, “I’m Alex Sheridan, this is Lifesaving Award, the my mom Jennifer Sheridan. She’s a diabetic. She’s been a Medal of Honor. diabetic for 37 years.” I didn’t realize at the time what I had done, because I just stopped the car and gave her chocolate. What’s so big about that? But later on I realized what happened. If I hadn’t turned STATEOF off the key, we both could have died. If she hadn’t gone off the GIRLS road, we could have went the other way and hit more Findings: drivers. Girl Scouts has taught me about being brave and having Leadership is not a top goal for confidence. And being prepared. I’ve learned how to have confidence, be considerate and caring. girls, as only 39 percent say they – Aleksandra Sheridan want to be a leader. Girls value a Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ social and collaborative approach healthy development, and builds girls of ” to leadership, as opposed to courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The Girl Scout the traditional top-down, Leadership Experience (GSLE) sets forth an command-and-control style. aspirational model of leadership that encourages girls to discover their values, interests, and skills; connect with others locally and globally; and take action to create sustainable solutions to issues of concern to them. The GSLE, as delivered to girls through National Leadership Journeys, specifies15 benefits to girls—the behaviors, attitudes, skills, and values of courageous and confident girl and women leaders. Recent GSRI studies show that Girl Scout participation has a positive impact on girls’ development of these leadership attributes. Feature photography by John Terendy 2 3 GirlSpace During the summer of 2011, Sara Filipek Leadership I suffered a concussion. In an attempt to prevent others Girl Scout Alumna from enduring the struggles “Taking this risk was Girl Scout Samantha “I encountered as a result of difficult, but the improper management of a head Mallet increased her leadership challenge made me injury, I decided to utilize my skills by interacting with successful Gold Award project as a platform more determined and role models in our Girl Mentor to a to educate coaches, parents increased my level of Board Member Initiative through and athletes on how to properly confidence.” GirlSpace. Samantha was paired assess, evaluate, and manage concussions. with board member Sidney Dillard, Photography Renee Lynn My project had a significant impact on the basketball who shared her leadership insights Three members of Girl Scout Troop 4590 celebrate earning their Congratulations to our and soccer community in Northwest Indiana affecting as a professional, a Girl Scout Girl Scout Gold Awards during the 2013 Gold Award Ceremony. 2013 Gold Award recipients over 2,000 young people. I, with the help of my physical alumna and current member of Pictured are Danielle Zigulich, Shannon Layng and Abigail Louthen, therapist, an expert in the field, gave a presentation Anna Marie Aguirre Abigail Grace Louthen educating over 200 coaches on proper concussion the GSGNCIW Board of Directors. along with their mothers and troop leaders, Deb Gardiner, Karen Alex Antonetti Saoirse Lucy prevention, treatment, and management. Since the Layng (GSGCNWI Board President) and Cathy Louthen. Ashley Webster Babcock Clarissa Marie Elizabeth Karyn N. Baldwin Magley presentation, all “travel” coaches participate in an annual, Zoë Blackburn was nominated Amy Baniewicz Michelle N. Mann on-line, concussion education course in order to compete Debra Bethany Barnish Danielle McCormick to receive the Prudential Spirit Girl Scout Gold Awards Create Impact at any level. I also acquired 300 free baseline ImPact tests Emily Rose Bartusiak Miriam Judith Zurbriggen and 100 post injury tests. At the primary practice facility for In 2013, the teen girls from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Tara Caitlyn Beere McKee Community Award. This award 79 the TBC, I was able to have padding permanently installed Indiana who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a girl can Elise Bowler Eleanor Joyce McKnight applauds young people who are on the concrete walls, and at the location of primary league receive, collectively provided more than 6,240 hours of service that Becky Breuer Jennifer Meyer LaTira Brown Lauren A.