Tag Archives: Council News

Bronze Award Honorees, Council News, Highest Awards Archive, Silver Award Honorees, Take Action/Highest Awards

2020 Highest Awards Celebration DEADLINE

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Troop leaders and individual girls have until March 1, 2020 to finish their Highest Awards project AND submit their Bronze and Silver Award Notification Form to be invited to the 2020 Highest Awards Celebrations.

Bronze and Silver Award Notification Form: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/girlscoutsofcolorado/en/for-volunteers/forms-and-resources/bronze-and-silver-notification.html

In the first week of March, an email invitation will go directly to all troop leaders and parents who submitted a notification form to RSVP for the celebration events.

Questions? Email Kaitie LoDolce, GSCO Highest Awards Manager, at highestawards@gscolorado.org.

Camp, Council News, Events

Corrections to GSCO’s camp mailer for Summer 2020

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Girl Scouts of Colorado was recently alerted to errors in our camp mailer for Summer 2020.

  • The location for the “Focus on Canoeing” day camp for Girl Scout Juniors is Bear Creek Lake Park, not the location listed on the mailer.
  • The Open House at Sky High Ranch is April 4 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., not March 4.

The GSCO website been updated with the correct information. Thank you for your understanding!

 

Cookies, Council News

New lemon Girl Scout Cookie: Girl Scout Cookies available in Colorado on February 2

A new Girl Scout Cookie is coming! Lemon-Ups are crispy lemon cookies baked with messages inspired by Girl Scout entrepreneurs, such as “I am a go-getter” and “I am an innovator.” This new cookie replaces Savannah Smiles and joins favorites: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Dos-Si-Dos, S’mores, and gluten-free Toffee-tastic. Girl Scout Cookies will be available in Colorado starting Sunday, February 2. S’mores and gluten-free Toffee-tastic are $5/package. All other varieties are $4/package. The 2020 Girl Scout Cookie Program ends Sunday, March 8.

Each and every Girl Scout Cookie purchase is key to supporting the change-makers of today and tomorrow. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls not only discover their inner leadership potential, but also use their earnings to power amazing experiences, including travel, outdoor adventure, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming.

Colorado Girl Scouts sell cookies online, in addition to door-to-door and in front of major retailers. The Digital Cookie program was popular during the 2019 program with 8,069 Colorado Girl Scouts participating and selling 832,182 packages to friends and family across the country. This year, Girl Scouts of Colorado expects even more girls to participate in Digital Cookie, as it creates another fun, safe, interactive way for girls to reach their goals. To purchase cookies online, customers must get an invite to shop at a girl’s personal website.

Each purchase of Girl Scout Cookies supports girls in developing five lifelong skills: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

“Everyone loves Girl Scout Cookies—but the program is about so much more than cookies,” said Stephanie Foote, president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado. “Girls learn about entrepreneurship as they run their own cookie businesses. The important business and financial literacy skills girls learn through the program are proven to build their leadership skills and position them for success in the future. When you purchase cookies you are helping girls power their Girl Scout Leadership Experience and you’re supporting female entrepreneurs.”

Making the world a better place is central to the Girl Scout mission. During the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scouts honor non-profit organizations, food banks, military, and uniformed personnel through Girl Scouts’ Hometown Heroes/Gift of Caring program. Through this program, customers have the opportunity to purchase a package of cookies to donate to Girl Scouts’ heroes – a perfect solution for those who pass on the tempting treats! Girls learn about the invaluable work of their recipients by taking tours, learning about careers in public service and helping with service projects. All Hometown Heroes/Gift of Caring purchases may be eligible for a tax deduction. The 2020 goal for the Hometown Heroes/Gift of Caring program in Colorado is 200,000 packages.

If you are looking for cookies, use the “Cookie Locator” online or the mobile app to search for Booth Sale locations. Once you find a location that works for you, add it to your calendar and/or sign up to receive email reminders about sale locations. Visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org to get started or learn more.

All Girl Scout Cookie varieties contain zero grams of trans fat per serving. Thin Mints are vegan. Do-Si-Dos and Trefoils have no hydrogenated oils. Further information about Girl Scout Cookie ingredients can be found at littlebrownie.com. High resolution images of Girl Scout Cookies and Colorado Girl Scouts selling cookies are available upon request.

About Girl Scouts of Colorado

Girl Scouts of Colorado is 32,000 strong—more than 22,000 girls and 10,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga., she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org.

 

Council News

Girl Scouts of Colorado President & CEO Stephanie A. Foote to retire

Girl Scouts of Colorado President and CEO Stephanie A. Foote announced in December her plans to retire at the end of May 2020. Stephanie has been the President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado since May 1, 2012, and, from 2007 to 2012, she served as Chair of the GSCO Board of Directors.

“I’m so proud of the work we do at Girl Scouts and the impact our program has on girls, the volunteers who guide them, and the communities that benefit from their leadership and service,” Stephanie said. “In my years with this organization, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many amazing girls and dedicated volunteers. I’ve literally watched girls become leaders and witnessed their power when they work together to make the world a better place. I’m confident in our future. We’ve been preparing girls to lead for more than 100 years and that work will go on long after my retirement.”

Stephanie models business leadership for Girl Scouts. She helped to establish an Endowment Fund at Rose Community Foundation to maximize the return on this organization’s investments and support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. In 2015, she established the Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize, which is awarded annually to a Girl Scout who has completed her Gold Award in the current year and whose project is selected by an independent panel as an exceptional example of impact through leadership.

Prior to working with Girl Scouts of Colorado, Stephanie served as an elected member of Denver City Council, worked as Chief of Staff to Mayor Wellington Webb, was the first woman in Denver to serve as Deputy Mayor and the first woman to serve as Manager of Public Works.

Her background in government and her business connections helped Stephanie guide Girl Scouts of Colorado to become one of the most respected non-profits in Colorado and a top-performing Girl Scout council. Stephanie’s ability to navigate regional nuances in mission delivery, fundraising, and local leadership has been instrumental in Girl Scouts of Colorado’s continued success.

Under her leadership, Girl Scouts of Colorado invested in technology, downsized office space to more efficiently use resources, elevated programming for older Girl Scouts, reversed the trend of membership decline, expanded Outreach programs to bring Girl Scouting to girls who need it most, and is in the best fiscal shape the organization has seen since the 2007 national council realignment.

Girl Scouts of Colorado Chairperson of the Board Rae Ann Dougherty said Stephanie has positioned the council well for the future.

“Girl Scouts of Colorado is extremely fortunate to have benefited from Stephanie’s leadership, experience, and expertise over the past 13 years,” she said.  “She has done great things for us and positioned the council to provide the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to an ever-growing number of girls in Colorado.”

Stephanie is responsible for oversight of $28 million in assets, including several camps and lodges, leased office space across the state and a retail shop. In partnership with her executive leadership team, she manages an annual operating budget of more than $12 million and statewide staff of more than 100 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees who support more than 22,000 girls and 10,000 adult members and volunteers in 56 counties in Colorado.

The GSCO Board of Directors has retained Evergreen Executive Source LLC of New Jersey to conduct a nationwide search for a CEO. Evergreen is an executive search firm that specializes in recruiting services for Girl Scout councils.

Board member Shannon Sisler is leading the Executive Search Committee, which will conduct the search process. Shannon is the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Crocs, where she is responsible for human resources globally. Prior to joining Crocs, she held Human Resources leadership roles with Davita, Janus Capital, and Western Union.

Shannon said the Board’s primary goal is to ensure a smooth transition by hiring the best CEO to lead Girl Scouts of Colorado into the future.

“It’s business as usual at Girl Scouts of Colorado right now, as staff and volunteers focus on delivering the best Girl Scout Leadership Experience possible,” Shannon said.

The CEO search process will likely take several months.

“We want this to be as transparent a process as it can be,” Shannon said. “Regular updates will be given and stakeholder input will be included in the process.”

If you know anyone who would be a great fit for Girl Scouts of Colorado, please share the job posting.

Anyone with questions about the process, should reach out to Board Chair Rae Ann Dougherty at raeannd@rrstrategies.com.

Council News

Colorado Gives Day is TOMORROW

Year-round, you support our efforts to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  TOMORROW (December 10, 2019) you can make your gift go even further. Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide effort to celebrate and increase philanthropy through online giving. To make giving even easier, schedule your donation TODAY by using this link:  https://www.coloradogives.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=6854 

By supporting Girl Scouts of Colorado on Colorado Gives Day, your donation dollars go further than they would on any other day of the year. That’s because the FirstBank Incentive Fund increases all donations made on December 10!  Every nonprofit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day receives a portion of the incentive fund, which increases the value of every dollar donated.

Schedule your donation NOW or give TOMORROW at https://www.coloradogives.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=6854. Once you do, share one of these two images on your social media accounts and be sure to tag Girl Scouts of Colorado.

 

 

Camp, Council News, Girl Scout News, Girl Scouts News, Volunteer News

Connections: December 2019

 

 

 

 

Colorado Gives Day is December 10

Year-round, you support our efforts to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. On December 10, 2019, you can make your gift go even further. Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide effort to celebrate and increase philanthropy through online giving. To make giving even easier, schedule your donation today.

By supporting Girl Scouts of Colorado on Colorado Gives Day, your donation dollars go further than they would on any other day of the year. That’s because the FirstBank Incentive Fund increases all donations made on December 10! Every non-profit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day receives a portion of the incentive fund, which increases the value of every dollar donated.

Schedule your donation today or give on December 10.  Once you do, share one of these two images on your social media accounts and be sure to tag Girl Scouts of Colorado.

Donate

Summer Camp Registration opens Jan. 23

Live. Love. Camp! Girl Scout Camp is where your girl is surrounded and supported by girls, where she can go beyond dreaming to actual doing! At camp she’ll try new things, step out of her comfort zone, and embrace her curiosity. Girl Scout Camp is a girl-led, girl-friendly place where everything girls do – whether it’s climbing to the top of a mountain, leading an all-camp performance, or gathering her courage to zip down the zip line – leads to leadership.

Visit camp.girlscoutsofcolorado.org to learn more about the awesome adventures we have in store for summer 2020.

Upcoming events at camp

Brunch and Barnyard with Santa

Sunday, December 15, 10 a.m. or 12 p.m.

Cost: $15 (ages 4 and older), free for kids 3-years-old and younger
Bring your friends and family to Tomahawk Ranch for a delicious brunch, a visit with Santa and a fun visit to his barnyard. You can also savor sweets and lollies a plenty and warm up at the campfire with hot cocoa and cider. Don’t forget your camera for photos with Santa and his furry friends at the barn. When purchasing tickets for this event you will be able to register for your preferred time slot. An event itinerary will be provided after registration. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Deadline for registration is December 9.

Expedition and Mini Expedition Antarctica

January 17 -19, 2020

Cost: $135/person

Are you ready to test your mettle against the elements?! Join us for an introduction to winter camping at Sky High Ranch for you and your guy! This Friday-Sunday excursion will introduce cold-weather tent camping, basic survival skills, and tips and tricks of the trade. Weather depending, we will practice snow skills such as snowshoeing, shelter building, and ice fishing. If we don’t have enough snow, we’ll do more general survival skills and camp activities such as archery and farm. Our special guest instructor this year will be Jessie Krebs, head instructor at SERE Training. This camp is for girls and their significant male role model/guardian (age 18+) in her life. Girls should register with the adult male who will be attending. Adults can come with multiple girls, if desired. Limited accommodations are available for campers who wish to attend with a female adult instead.  Register now. Spaces are limited!

Is your Girl Scout ready to earn one of Girl Scouts Highest Awards

Do you know that Girl Scouts can earn one of Girl Scouts Highest Awards as early as fourth grade? Every Girl Scout goes above and beyond to make a difference in her community and the greater world. And the skills and experiences she gains along the way set her up for special recognition through the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards.

Gold Award: The mark of the truly remarkable
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable—and it’s only available through Girl Scouts! To earn this unique award, Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors don’t just change the world for the better, they change it for good by tackling issues dear to their hearts while driving lasting change in their communities and beyond.

Girl Scout Silver Award

Girl Scout Cadettes flex their leadership muscles by doing research and taking action on issues of their choice. Through their commitment to their communities, girls gain confidence and skills that will catapult them to Gold Award success—all while creating positive change.

Girl Scout Bronze Award

By taking action with others to improve their communities, Girl Scout Juniors gain important leadership skills and learn that even seemingly small actions can make a big impact.

Learn more

2020 Girl Scout Cookie Program begins Feb. 2

When girls participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, they get more than life-changing experiences and adventure. They also develop essential life skills—goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics—all while soaring in confidence and practicing leadership the Girl Scout way to lift one another up and change the world, together.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program runs Feb. 2 – March 8.

Visit our website to find a training or cookie rally near you!

Upcoming Events

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker

December 12, Pueblo

Girl Scout groups of 10 or more (including chaperones, friends, and family) contact Bobbie Fanchini at 800-320-1733 or bobbie@nutcracker.com to learn more about exclusive Girl Scout rates. All Girl Scouts will receive a Moscow Ballet Fun Patch with their ticket, and groups of 25 or more (all GS count as one group) are invited to a day-of-show meet and greet with a ballerina!

Save the Date: Secrets to Success

January 25, Grand Junction

April 18, Greeley

What is your Secret to Success? Girls will have the unique opportunity to ask that question and many more of top local women leaders at the 2020 Secrets to Success events. Every girl has the power to become what she dreams to be. We are helping today’s girls overcome the challenges they face, giving them the tools they need to become successful leaders. Any girl in grades 6th – 12th is invited to Secrets to Success.

Save the Date: Statewide Bridging at the Royal Gorge

May 2, Cañon City

 

Council News

Celebrate the “Holidays the Girl Scout Way”

When Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in 1912, one of her goals was to make Girl Scouts available and open to all. From that first gathering of a small troop of 18 culturally and ethnically diverse girls, Juliette broke the conventions of the time—reaching across class, cultural, and ethnic boundaries to ensure all girls had a place to grow and develop their leadership skills.

This holiday season:

  • Embrace the diversity in Girl Scouts and the world around us.
  • Embrace the Girl Scout value of giving back through community service.
  • Give the gift of Girl Scouts so that all may participate.

Named for our founder, Daisy’s Circle is Girl Scouts of Colorado’s monthly giving program. $19.12 per month can provide nine girls with annual Girl Scout memberships, nine more girls who will become part of this amazing organization with its 107-year history of living and celebrating The Girl Scout Way.

Special “Holidays the Girl Scout Way” Offer

Join Daisy’s Circle any time during December 2019 and receive a coupon for a 40% discount and free shipping from the
Girl Scouts of Colorado Shop! *

Celebrate “Holidays the Girl Scout Way” by joining
Daisy’s Circle: gscodaisyscircle.org

* Discount applies to transactions completed in-person at Girl Scout Shop in Denver, via phone at 1-855-472-7026 or email Retail@gscolorado.org. Coupon cannot be combined with other offers, used on prior purchases, transferred, copied or used online or through Girl Scouts of the USA.  Offer limited to in-stock merchandise only based on availability. Expires 3/31/2020.

DecemberSign2019

Council News

Support Girl Scouts of Colorado on Colorado Gives Day

Year-round, you support our efforts to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. On December 10, 2019, you can make your gift go even further. Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide effort to celebrate and increase philanthropy through online giving. To make giving even easier, schedule your donation TODAY by using this link: https://www.coloradogives.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=6854

By supporting Girl Scouts of Colorado on Colorado Gives Day, your donation dollars go further than they would on any other day of the year. That’s because the FirstBank Incentive Fund increases all donations made on December 10! Every nonprofit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day receives a portion of the incentive fund, which increases the value of every dollar donated.

Schedule your donation today or give on December 10 at https://www.coloradogives.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=6854.  Once you do, share one of these two images on your social media accounts and be sure to tag Girl Scouts of Colorado.

 

Alumnae News, Council News, Girl Scout News, Girl Scouts News

Girl Scouts honors 2019 Women of Distinction for the Denver metro-area

Wednesday, October 30, 2019, Girl Scouts of Colorado honored the 2019 Women of Distinction during the Thin Mint Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. The 2019 Women of Distinction for the Denver metro-area are:

  • Marti J. Awad, Founding Partner, Cardan Capital Partners
  • The Honorable Dianne L. Briscoe
  • Elycia Cook, President and CEO, FRIENDS FIRST, Inc.
  • Helen Drexler, President and CEO, Delta Dental of Colorado
  • Verónica Figoli, President and CEO, Denver Public Schools Foundation
  • Helen Young Hayes, Founder and CEO, Activate Workforce Solutions
  • Vanecia B. Kerr, Regional Executive Director, College Track Colorado
  • Theresa Szczurek, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director, Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology
  • Dr. Sarah Winbourn, Medical Director, Kids First Health Care
  • Robin D. Wittenstein, CEO, Denver Health

A group of nearly 450 gathered at the event, which was chaired by Women of Distinction Tasha Jones ’15 and Michelle Lucero ‘13. The honorees were selected by a committee of their peers led by Selection Chair Kim Bimestefer ‘15. They are shining examples of corporate, civic, and philanthropic leadership and serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow.

New for 2019! Girl Scouts of Colorado recognized the first-ever Corporate Champion – Crocs! This award recognizes hard work in advancing women in their industry, supporting and encouraging women and girls, and working to raise awareness about remarkable women.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Gold Award Girl Scout Emily Kretschmer from Colorado Springs and recipient of the Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize for Gold Award Excellence.

Click here to see pictures from the event! And, be sure to watch Emily’s keynote speech, and listen to the inspiring words from our 2019 Honorees and Corporate Champion, Crocs!

Thank you to all of our generous event sponsors, including Silver Presenting Sponsor, Crocs, and Samoa Sponsors: Arrow, BBVA Compass, Cardan Capital Partners, Delta Dental, Hogan Lovells, and Volunteers of America.

Since 1997 Girl Scouts of Colorado has recognized 446 Denver-area women with this honor. More than $2 million has been raised by Women of Distinction for Girl Scout programs.

For more information on the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction program, visit girlscoutsofcolorado.org/woddenver or contact heidi.books@gscolorado.org or (303) 607-4833.

 

Bronze Award Honorees, Council News, Gold Award Honorees, Silver Award Honorees, Take Action/Highest Awards

Highest Awards deadline

The end of the 2018-19 Girl Scout year is approaching!

Girl Scout Gold Award candidates, who graduated high school in 2019, have until September 30, 2019 to receive final approval for their award. After September 30, girls who graduated from high school in 2019 will be considered adult Girl Scout members and are no longer eligible to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Girl Scouts bridging from Juniors to Cadettes or Cadettes to Seniors this summer have until September 30, 2019 to submit online notification (https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/forms-and-resources/bronze-and-silver-notification.html) that they have earned their Bronze or Silver Award.

The Bronze Award is the highest achievement for Girl Scout Juniors and the Silver Award is the highest achievement for Girl Scout Cadettes. Through earning one of these Highest Awards, girls change their corner of the world and maybe even beyond. Through submitting online notification, you can order letters of recognition, certificates, and pins. Girl Scouts of Colorado honors and celebrates girls in a special way at our Highest Awards Celebrations in the spring. See photos from the 2019 celebrations: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gscolorado/albums/72157677628860017

Questions? Email GSCO’s Highest Awards Manager at highestawards@gscolorado.org.