Winter 1998 Keeping Your Tl'.r~.aa Safe in ~YIIIelrs~aa•4aJ oa teli11lL New I Girl Scout Volunteer Caroling Patch. NewJ Frog Bean Bag. 11939. 18745. $1.25. $7 .00. She's un-frog-getable! 2" X 3". Now adult Girl Scouts can join Patch is unofficial the craze; this frog coordinates NewJ The Jewish Holiday Craft Book. 28802. $12.95. and cannot to be with the adult uniform. "I love worn in front of Rich colors illustrate this book of 46 different craft projects for every Girl Scout Volunteers" embroi­ recognition sash major holiday. Easy to follow directions. 8 '/4' x 11" soft cover. or vest. dered in ivory. 8 '/2'. Imported. NewJ Christmas Activity Book. 28801. $12.95. Beautifully illustrated, over 20 different Christmas projects are included with detailed instructions. 10 '/4' x 13" hardcover; 48 pages. Imported. NewlThe Children's Book of Kwanzaa. 28800. $6.99. Newl Plastic Book covers the history of Kwanzaa and everything from craft projects, Bookmark. to recipes, to holiday preparations. 7" x 9" soft cover; 160 pages. 28640. 60¢. Cheerful bears bidding "Happy Holidays!" keep your place in a favorite book. -·-Girl Scouts® Newl Polar Bear Pen. ----- Newl Snowman 28610. $3.25. Reindeer Holiday Ornament. Pen. 28611. $3.25. Velvet­ 28631. $6.50. This like to the touch, each sports Newl Holiday Gift old-fashioned snow­ a red vest imprinted with "Girl Bag. 28630. $1.10. Newl Holiday Pencils. man brings a "Happy Scouts". Just squeeze its The snowman design on 28620. $1.25. Fun holiday­ Holidays" greeting , sides and these two "cuties" front and back definitely theme erasers top each of these from Girl Scouts. 6" will attach themselves to your brings forth the spirit of colorful pencils. "Girl Scouts, tall. Burlap loop for clothes or books as well as the season. "Girl Scouts" Happy Holidays" greeting card hanging. Imported. your heart. "Happy Holidays" imprinted on one side. attached. Assorted. We'll select. imprint on the barrel. Clear 8"x4"x10". plastic cap. Imported. Winter 1998 FEATURES 26 Girl Scouting and Girl Power! ~ 11 Thinking Day- A Small Candace White-Ciraco GIRL SCOUTS® World After All Lynn Obee 27 New Leadership President Institutes Elinor Johnstone Ferdon Trina Brooks 12 A Most Rewarding National Executive Director Experience Marsha Johnson Evans Pamela Hannan 28 Cookie Sale- Director of Communications A Family Affair Susan Ferguson Milly Hawk Daniel 14 Troop Safety in Creative Director Cyberspace History of the Future Susan Cuttler Carolyn Kennedy 29 judith Wechsler Permissions Editor 15 Twinkle, Twinkle, Colleen Floyd The Democratic Process Little Star ... 30 Circulation Manager in Girl Scouting Marie Kary-Gargiulo Patricia Paddock (centerfold) Peggy Pruett Girl Scout Leader (ISSN 0017-0577) is published 19 Fun with Simple DEPARTMENTS quarterly by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., 420 Fifth Avenue. New York, N.Y. 1001&-2798. © 1998 by Girl Crafts Scouts of the United States of America. All rights Paula Hrabacek reserved. This publication may not be reproduced 4 President's Message in whole or in part in any form or by any means. electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, 20 Building Cultural recordin g, or by any information storage and 5 Two Precious Gifts retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, Bridges without the prior written permission of Girl Scouts Marianne flaw of the United States of America. Girl Scout Leader Girl Scout Program Q & A cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, 6 photos. or art in its offices or in transit. Third-class 22 A World of Difference postage paid at St. Paul, Minn .• and additional mail- In the News ing offices. Sheila K. Lewis 7 Subscriptions $5 yearly (4 issues); $7.50 for all des- tinations outside U.S.A and possessions; $2 Senior Music Makers with Girl Scouts. Change of address: Write Girl Scout 23 Leader. 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018- a Mission 2798. Include old and new address. as well as coun- cit, troop, and identification number where applica- Laurel Cooley ble. Allow eight weeks fo r change. Vol. 75, No. 4, Winter 1998. 24 Taking Care of GSUSA's Web site address is Women's Health http:/ /www.girlscouts.org janet Lombardi Design: Bowerman & Collins Advertising Cover Photo: GSUSA/Ken Karp American Indian Girl Scout Troop Leader Susan Martinez and her daughter, Alexis President's Message GSUSA's National President Ellie Ferdon embraced by Girl Scouts from the Girl Scout Council of Bergen County (Paramus, N.j.) mid the bustle of the year-end holiday season, Awe can sometimes forget the big picture-that the holi­ days are a time for joy and cele­ bration, for giving and receiving, for reflection and renewal. No matter what holidays we observe, or how we choose to celebrate, we are encouraged to be thankful for what we have received and to share our good fortune with oth­ ers. Regardless of our particular cult)lral, religious, or ethnic her­ itage, holidays inspire us tb renew our connections with each day traditions different from our we think of others, one of the other, our families, and within own. By learning about and shar­ season's greatest joys is to our larger communities. ing in these celebrations, we gain help make the holidays Girl Scouts have The myriad holidays we cel­ a better understanding of what brighter for those less fortu­ ebrate give credence to the idea we all have in common, as well as nate. It is important to remem­ always known that America is not so much a the qualities that make us unique. ber those who have suffered that service melting pot-as some say-as it This is not a new concept in hardship and loss, and it is above self is part is a dynamic, colorful, patchwork Girl Scouting, of course. Ours is particularly important to of a universal quilt. In this American quilt, each a movement that has always remember the children in unique and separate group con­ embraced every girl, no matter these circumstances. language that tributes to the beauty and rich­ where she comes from. Girl Girl Scouts have always transcends our ness of the whole. In the same Scouting's commitment to plural­ known that service above self­ differences, be way, each of the many holiday ism goes all the way back to our acts of caring and kindness-is they cultural, traditions celebrated in America founder, Juliette Gordon Low. part of a universal language that enriches us as a society and Remember, Daisy had something transcends our differences, be · religious, ethnic, strengthens us as a nation. "for all the girls." they cultural, religious, ethnic, or or racial. The holiday season offers In the 86 years since Girl racial. It brings all of us together each of us the opportunity to Scouting's founding, our nation's in the spirit of unity and of hope. reflect on an incredible diversity racial, ethnic, cultural and religious And so, in keeping with that spirit, of traditions. There are celebra­ landscape has continued to shift, I wish each of you and your fami­ tions of Kwanzaa, an African­ creating demographic patterns lies love, happiness, a wonderful American cultural tradition of much different from those that holiday season, and a healthy and reaffirmation; of Christmas, Daisy knew. Yet, because of her prosperous New Year. marked by Christians; of abiding commitment to diversity, Chanukah, the Jewish festival of we can all take great pride in the lights; of the Hispanic-American fact that Girl Scouting is an ideal tradition of Three Kings Day; of place for girls and their families to -Elinor Johnstone' Ferdon the festive and momentous learn about difference, and to grow National President Chinese New Year; the Muslim and learn from the experience. observance of Ramadan; and Of course, Girl Scouting is countless others. Through each also committed to reaching out of these celebrations we can learn to those in need. And since the about religious and cultural holi- holiday season is a time when 4 Girl Scout Leader/Winter 1998 Two Precious Gifts irl Scout volunteers give generously of costs are worth it. Councils want every Girl Scout their time and talents to benefit girls. member to have a qualified and trained leader, G They see firsthand the impact Girl supported by a team of volunteers and staff to ensure Scouting has on its members. A leader can be the health, safety, and effectiveness of the program. proud when a Brownie Girl Scout leads a flag Girl Scouting needs volunteers; they are the ceremony for the first time. An adult volunteer is lifeblood of our organization. There always seem rewarded when a Junior Girl Scout develops self­ to be more jobs than there are people to do them. And confidence after completing a physically challenging Girl Scouting needs financial support from volunteers course at camp; and a troop adviser may be the first and community. There never seems to be enough one to know when a Cadette Girl Scout has made money to offer all the activities girls require. a life-affecting ~areer decision after she attended A large percentage of council funds are derived a Girl Scout event. from product sales-which volunteers support with Volunteers are witness to the success and lots of energy and enthusiasm. But councils are development of girls and young women in Girl dangerously dependent upon this single category of Scouting. Perhaps it's the results volunteers see in funding. Can you imagine a business that relied upon one client for 60 to 75 percent of its income? By diversifying our income, we can ensure a solid foundation for the future of our organization.