2017 ANNUAL REPORT GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT A BOARD OF DIRECTORS* OFFICERS Tricia Tilford Board Chair and President Mary Shapiro First Vice Chair Jane Puffer Second Vice Chair TEAM-BUILDERRoc O'Connell Treasurer Diane Longtin CONFLICTSecretary/Clerk RESOLVER MEMBERS-AT-LARGE Elaine Caprio Pat Chadwick Kelly Corwin Mary Crealese Tracy Curley Lynn Saunders Cutter Elizabeth Fitzula ADVOCATEHeather M. Ford Selena Joe Jane Lundquist Marcia Metz Linda Rossetti Carol Sapoznik EMPATHETICLinda Schuller GIRL MEMBERS Sophia (Sage) Estrada Sarah Hutchinson Caroline Lambert Katherine Page BOARD NOMINATING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MENTORKathleen (Kate) Crosby Elizabeth Fitzula BethAnne Higgins Selena Joe Louise Mallette Sue McKay SUPPORTIVELinda Rossetti Omar Saldaña Dr. Brenda Wrigley *Board and BNDC members are elected each year in May. For an updated list, AMBASSADORplease visit gsema.org. CHANGEB GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT MAKER TEAM-BUILDER CONFLICTDEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS, RESOLVER It was a great year to be a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™. In ever-growing numbers, girls and women have been finding their voices and standing up for what they believe in. It was also a year of great accomplishment and significant change, and one that reminded us why A Message from our ADVOCATEGirl Scouting is so important. Chief Executive Officer, Denise Burgess Tricia Tilford We have so much to be proud of—our mission has Board Chair and President a positive and powerful influence on girls’ lives and, I am honored to have through them, on communities. been selected to lead this extraordinary organization At Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, we are uniquely positioned to deliver at this important moment CONFLICT RESOLVER EMPATHETICamazing opportunities for girls to flourish through our unparalleled, safe, all- in history. I have seen how girl, girl-led program, whether outdoors, as part of a troop, or as a Gold Award deeply and authentically Girl Scout. Girls thrive in an environment where they can experiment, take our volunteers and staff risks, and stretch themselves in the company of other girls and female role embrace our mission, and models. Everything we do at Girl Scouts takes into account the unique skills, I have been wowed by the developmental needs, talents, and abilities of girls. We are girl-centric. remarkable leadership After our fiscal year came to a close, our Girl Scout delegation from eastern capabilities of our girls. ADVOCATE Massachusetts traveled to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2017 National Council Beyond the Girl Scout Session/54th Convention, hosted by Girl Scouts of the USA, for an epic community, we have MENTORrecently seen the power celebration of female leadership and action! of young people to Back in Waltham, Massachusetts, we held a truly inspiring ribbon-cutting at spark conversation and our museum at Cedar Hill that was the culmination of a year-long renovation change. Our girls have and expansion project. been doing exactly that SUPPORTIVEAnd we said goodbye to Pat Parcellin, who retired in January 2018 after serving for over 100 years. as the council’s Chief Executive Officer for more than three years. Like a true I am so excited to embark Girl Scout, Pat left the council stronger than she found it, on a solid financial on this journey with all footing, with a talented staff in place, and positioned for growth. of you. Together we will It was a busy and productive year, and there is still much work to be done ensure that Girl Scouting AMBASSADORuntil we can say that every girl has the opportunity to be part of the best remains strong and vibrant, leadership development experience for girls in the world—one that is so that girls have a place where they are encouraged MENTOR designed with, by, and for girls. We thank you for supporting our work. to become go-getters, Together, we will deliver opportunities for every girl to reach her fullest innovators, risk-takers, G.I.R.L. potential, now and in the future. CHANGE MAKERand leaders who make SUPPORTIVE Yours in Girl Scouting, the world a better place. Tricia Tilford Board Chair and President C CHANGE MAKER CONSIDERATE GIRL GIRL SCOUTS SCOUTS OF OF EASTERN EASTERN MA MA 2017 2017 ANNUAL ANNUAL REPORT REPORT 1 1 GOLD AWARDS In June, 60 Gold Award Girl Scouts from across the council were recognized alongside their central and western Massachusetts peers at the Massachusetts State House. The repaired plant beds, weeded the overgrown ceremony areas, planted vegetables, fruits, and honored these perennials, and installed benches and young women for tables to encourage time outdoors. identifying an issue Some Girl Scouts even took their efforts and making a lasting overseas. Linnea from Topsfield organized community impact. a book drive to send to students in Bhutan, And that’s what sets Gold Nikita from Westford created an oral health Award Girl Scouts apart—not program for blind children in India, and Jules only do they spend over 80 hours from Concord organized a network of knitters each working to foster change, but across the country to make blankets, coats, all have plans in place to ensure their hats, and mittens for Syrian refugees. work is sustained for years to come. Emma, a Gold Award Girl Scout from Cristina from Winchester created a middle Sudbury, says, “Girl Scouting has given school curriculum that taught basic code and me the opportunity to make new friends, specific programming languages that students solidify old relationships, and try new used to develop their own two- and then things, and has fostered my desire to three-dimensional games. make an impact in my community. All of Amy from Quincy created a workshop the opportunities I was offered through series that educated students on financial Girl Scouts allowed me to gain a greater literacy, including budgeting, credit cards, sense of myself.” and student loans. Gold Award Girl Scouts are confident Julia from Groton instituted a garden club to community change agents who will build student unity, including those in the continue to make the world a better place. special education program; together they Photo: Felicia Barber, a Gold Award Girl Scout from Bedford, talked about her project, Science is Fun!, at the Donor Appreciation Luncheon. 2 GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 GSEMA Gold Award Girl Scouts. Becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout prepares girls for a lifetime of leadership. Gold Award Girl Scouts earn college scholarships, enter the armed forces one rank higher than other recruits, and demonstrate higher educational and career outcomes than their peers. Gold Award Girl Scout Kira Kennedy of Beverly received an Official Citation from her State Senator for her project, which used art to increase autism awareness. GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 3 In 2017, our summer camps welcomed 6,326 CAMPERS 1,931 NEW CAMPERS 11 SESSIONS SOLD OUT COMPLETELY 4 GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT OUTDOOR ADVENTURES The Girl Scout experience was built around discovering—and respecting—nature. Camping, adventure seeking, and exploring the great outdoors are cornerstone experiences that have shaped our members for more than 100 years. Our year-round programming is always evolving to meet the needs of modern girls. Every year, winter vacation camp provides more sleepaway camp, 12-year-old Lucy arrived at than two dozen girls in grades 6-12 with a week Camp Favorite in June. She tried windsurfing of snowy fun at Camp Wabasso. Girl Scouts and loved it! Riding that wave of success, Lucy spent their February school vacation skiing, filled her week on Cape Cod with new activities snowshoeing, and tubing in the mountains of and great friends, returning home “happily New Hampshire. exhausted,” according to her mother, while yearning for next summer so she can return During April school vacation, Girl Scouts as to camp. young as Daisies enjoy Camp Cedar Hill’s most beloved traditions, including art, cookouts, In September, 70 Girl Scouts attended a and camp songs. Older girls conquer the high Girl Scout Camp Skills Extravaganza at the ropes challenge course and archery range, Dunstable Rural Land Trust, learning about and explore Boston while on field trips. wood cutting and lashing, first aid, fishing, tent set-up, campfire building, and cooking. In 2017, we launched a partnership with More than half spent the night camping Candlewick Press, hosting our first of many under the stars. Meet the Author/Illustrator events for girls in grades K–5 with The Princess in Black. Girl Scouts seize the opportunity to become outdoor adventurers through Girl Scouts of At summer camp, girls learn that big adventures Eastern Massachusetts’ outdoor programming build confidence. After vowing to her mother at our four resident and six day camps in the previous year that she would never attend Massachusetts and New Hampshire. GIRL GIRL SCOUTS SCOUTS OF OF EASTERN EASTERN MA MA 2017 2017 ANNUAL ANNUAL REPORT REPORT 5 5 INDIVIDUALLY REGISTERED MEMBERS It might surprise you that some Girl Scouts don’t belong to a troop. We call these Girl Scouts Individually Registered Members, or Juliettes (named after Girl Scouts founder, Juliette Gordon Low). Being a Brownie in elementary school. In her 10 years Juliette is as a Girl Scout, she watched other girls in her about flexibility, troop drift away from Girl Scouts in favor of commitment to other activities. Sage remained committed Girl Scouting, and to Girl Scouts and took advantage of every a passion for making leadership opportunity available. a difference. These girls As a Juliette, Sage has built a resume that attend council events and would be impressive for someone twice participate in Girl Scout activities her age. She earned the Girl Scout Silver that meet their needs and reflect Award, was awarded the Prudential Spirit their interests.