News
GSCI Annual Focus Group Meetings
You are cordially invited to join us at one of our 2013 GSCI Focus Group meetings. The GSCI Focus Group is your opportunity to get the latest council updates, ask questions about all things Girl Scouts, and share your thoughts about the status of the council.
Please join us at any one of the following 2013 meetings from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
May 21 - Bloomington Service Center
May 23 - Champaign Service Center
June 11 - Peru Service Center
Girl Scout Day at the Capitol Banner Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the Girl Scout Day at the Capitol banner contest! These troops created the winning entries and earned the honor of kicking off the Girl Scout Day at the Capitol parade on May 3.
- First Place – Troop 4107 from Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Tazewell County - Wendy Maslana & Shannon Thrasher
- Second Place – Troop 70909 from Girl Scouts Greater Chicago/NW Indiana - Ethel Neese
- Third Place - Troop 60059 from Prairie Ridge Girl Scouts - Cynthia Armand
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First Place - Troop 4107 |
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Second Place - Troop 70909 |
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Third Place - Troop 60059 |
'Dear Mr. President' Contest Winner Amanda Breeden
GSCI congratulates Amanda Breeden, a Girl Scout from Normal and a member of the Teen Leadership Board, for being chosen as a winner in the 
“Dear Mr. President” contest! “Dear Mr. President” is part of the Girl Scouts Speak Out series, in which GSUSA asked girls to submit public service announcements on key national or global issues. Amanda’s PSA, titled “What Do YOU See?” focuses on the need for tolerance in an increasingly diverse country.
“My entry embodies the idea of accepting the human race as a whole, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political ideology, age, or ethnicity,” Amanda says. “It sends the message that we could grow so much as a country and as a world if people were to just embrace diversity instead of fear it.” In Amanda’s ideal world, she says, women and men would be paid equally, and women would be allowed to make their own health decisions. “This uses the entire population to its fullest potential, allowing everyone to be happier, healthier, and more prosperous.” She also hopes to see diversity incorporated into government positions, so today’s girls can become even more inspired to grow into the next generation of leaders.
Amanda has been a Girl Scout for ten years, and describes herself as being very passionate about women’s rights, politics, equality, and humanitarian efforts. She, along with her mother and younger sister, have been very involved in Girl Scouts since they joined—along with serving on the Teen Leadership Board, she is a girl member of the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois Board of Directors, a leader-in-training and a program aide, and has previously earned Bronze and Silver Awards. Her favorite Girl Scouting memory is her time spent representing her council as a delegate in the Girls’ World Forum in Chicago last summer, where she met girls from 90 different countries as they learned how to take part in reaching the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. Amanda says was interested in entering the “Dear Mr. President” contest as a way of continuing to voice her opinion—“even though (young girls) can’t vote, we can definitely make a difference,” she says.
To view Amanda’s winning entry, go to speakout.girlscouts.org. Congratulations, Amanda!
Girl Scouts . . . The Studio
Go behind the scenes with your favorite writers and illustrators to find out how they work – and to get a few tips to make your own work shine!
GSUSA's The Studio is a showcase for inspiring storytellers of all kinds, who offer an inside look at how they do what they do. New authors will be added every month, so keep checking back! GSUSA plans to expand the site to include other artists, as well as the ability for girls to upload their own work. Their goal is to create a community of girls who can share their creative work with others and learn from professionals working in a variety of creative careers.
Experience The Studio!
Illinois Residents! Let’s get Girl Scouts License Plates!
Show your Girl Scouts pride wherever you go when displaying specialty license plates honoring the Girl Scouts! But first, 850 residents have to request that Girl Scouts plates be made! That’s easy to do – just complete the form below and FAX it to the state. No money is needed – once enough requests have been made, you’ll receive notification and official ordering and payment instructions. So far, about 100 requests have been sent, so pass this along to friends, family and sister Girl Scouts.
Be the Voice of Girls
The Girl Scout Advocacy Network provides a tool for you to become a voice for girls and to make a difference in your community and across the nation. Together, we can educate policymakers and community leaders on issues that directly affect girls and the Girl Scouts. By being an advocate, you will have an impact on girl policy issues moving through Congress and the state legislatures.
To join the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network and be a voice for girls, log on to www.girlscouts4girls.org.
