Crain's Detroit Business Op-ed: Women's Success Starts Early

The Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan Blog reports that Crain's Detroit Business (subscription) recently published a special feature titled, "Where are the Women?". The Crain's article examined reasons slower growth rates of women owned businesses, and women not serving as corporate board execs at the same pace as men.

Denise Dalrymple, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, submitted an Opinion Editorial to Crain's. It is published in the June 25-29, 2012 edition of the magazine. She writes:

At a time when our nation needs all the drive and brainpower it can muster—when we need girls to imagine their grownup selves as someday leading a boardroom, or programming the next killer app, or heading up a biomedical research team—something is stopping them. That “something” has much do with a cycle of discouragement and unsupportive environments. An unsupportive environment gives a girl discouraging messages starting in grade school, and continuing for the rest of her life.

I was glad to see your article key in on the importance of women having supportive mentors and proper networks to broaden their focus in growing businesses and achieving corporate leadership positions. In order for girls’ to reach their full potential, a girl must have the same kinds of supportive networks and opportunities to interact with successful women who are leaders in her interest area, long before the girl enters the workforce.

A recent study by the Girl Scout Research Institute shows that 61 percent of girls are either ambivalent about leadership or say it’s not important to them at all. Of the 39 percent of girls who aren’t disaffected, only one in five believes she herself has what it takes to lead.

Earlier this year, Girl Scouts of the USA launched ToGetHerThere, the largest, boldest advocacy and fundraising cause dedicated to girls' leadership in the nation's history. The multiyear effort will seek to create balanced leadership — the equal representation of women in leadership positions in all sectors and levels of society — within one generation.

Healthy MEdia Commission: A Positive Influence on Girls and on Government Relations

Today the Healthy MEdia Commission for Positive Images of Women and Girls was selected as a case study at “ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership” Government Relations Symposium. The Healthy MEdia Commission was applauded as a case study of success during partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill, and for providing a unique opportunity to engage public and private partners from across the political spectrum.

At the event in Washington, Girl Scouts’ Public Policy and Advocacy office joined with Healthy MEdia Commission partners to present “Healthy MEdia, Healthy Partnerships,” presentation outlining the successful working relationships Girl Scouts has to bring significant visibility and success to youth advocacy efforts.

Photo caption:

Healthy MEdia Co-Chair Deborah Taylor Tate, David Pierce of NCTA, Jane Mago of NAB, Jill Bader of GSUSA

For more information: Watch What You Watch (Girl Scouts of the USA)

Lights, Cameras and Robots in Northern California

Marina Park - CEO, Girl Scouts of Northern California, lawyer and mom pens a column in The San Francisco Chronicle's City Brights about Girl Scouting. This week's column reports that Girl Scouts of Northern California has been running day camps in Bay Area migrant farm communities for many years. This year they are bringing Girl Scout day camps to 100 daughters of farm workers who live in Gilroy and San Martin and another 70 in Half Moon Bay. A grant from Dell helping take these summer day camps to a new level.

Park writes:

On day one the girls learned about digital movie making and robotics and explored stereotypes: What are stereotypes? What barriers do they create? What do the girls believe about girls and women in technology? And are their beliefs stereotypes? For day two, each girl chose to continue with either digital movies or robots. The girls who chose movies, explored stereotypes through their movies , for example: “boys are better than girls at things like building robots.” They interviewed the girls who chose to build robots and also interviewed role models who came to visit, including teens on the NASA / Girl Scouts’ Space Cookies robotics team. The conclusion of the “boys are better than girls” movie, by the way, was “no, girls are just as good, because we just built and programmed a robot and it works!”

Day three, they had to edit their movies to 2 minutes or less, and at the final day celebration we got to see all 13 movies. For most of the girls it was their first experience with digital movies, so the movies were pretty basic, but over the course of 26 minutes a story unfolded. A lot of the movies captured fascination with the fact that girls just like them took all these little pieces of Lego, figured out how to follow directions, assemble the robots, use computers to program the robots and get them to work! We also got to see lots of “live action” robot challenges (shown in the photo). Two teams went head to head to with a challenge that required their robots to race against the clock to move forward, turn left, travel up a ramp and “knock down the stereotype.” The “stereotype” was a small yellow submarine. I’m not sure of the significance of that, but I thought it was pretty cute.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute study Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, though a majority of today’s girls have a clear interest in STEM, they don’t prioritize STEM fields when thinking about their future careers.

This latest offering from the Girl Scout Research Institute shows that 74 percent of teen girls are interested in STEM subjects and the general field of study. Further, a high 82 percent of girls see themselves as “smart enough to have a career in STEM.” And yet, few girls consider it their number-one career option: 81 percent of girls interested in STEM are interested in pursuing STEM careers, but only 13 percent say it’s their first choice. Additionally, girls express that they don’t know a lot about STEM careers and the opportunities afforded by these fields, with 60 percent of STEM-interested girls acknowledging that they know more about other careers than they do about STEM careers.

Nhadine Leung Appointed Chief of Staff at Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced today that Nhadine Leung has been appointed Chief of Staff. Leung is a lawyer with experience in organizational change, community economic development, real estate law and investment banking.

“Nhadine brings extraordinary experience and great energy, expertise and vision to Girl Scouts as we enter our second century of service to girls,” said GSUSA Chief Executive Officer Anna Maria Chávez. “We’re poised for great things as we focus on reaching more girls, raising $1 billion and being the best leadership experience for girls, and Nhadine will play an integral role in helping us achieve our strategic and operational goals.”

Most recently, Leung headed her own consulting practice focused on strategic direction-setting for innovative nonprofits. Previously, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Living Cities, a 22-member consortium of the world’s largest philanthropic and financial institutions who invest collaboratively in improving the lives of low-income people and the cities where they live. She also led the Urban Assets Initiative at New Profit, a national venture philanthropy fund that invests in growing high-impact social enterprises.

“As a third generation Girl Scout whose commitment to public service and meaningful change was fostered in this movement, I could not be more thrilled to be joining with Girl Scouts during its 100th anniversary year to help the organization reach its ambitious goals for girls and women,” Leung said.

Leung’s grandmother was one of the first Girl Guides in Scotland and her mother is a lifelong Girl Guide and Girl Scout, who served in key leadership positions in Nebraska. Leung is a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, having been a girl member in Nebraska and a troop leader in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to her nonprofit experience, Leung practiced law at Weil Gotshal & Manges in New York and Warsaw, and was trained as an investment banker, working for Manufacturers Hanover and Chemical Bank in New York.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, and a joint J.D./Master of Urban Planning degree from New York University School of Law and Wagner School of Public Service.

Girl Scout Gold Provides Safe Haven for Queens Turtles

The New York Daily News reports that Katherine Kurre was enchanted by the sight of turtles sunning themselves at a local park in Queens, NY. But she thought there must be a better and safer way for them to relax out of the reach of curious kids and potential poachers.

“I went online and saw these turtle ramps,” said Kurre, an 18-year-old Glendale resident and long-time Girl Scout. “I thought I could put together something like that.”

Kurre’s environmentally minded project recently helped her earn the Girl Scout Gold Award.

“I’m really happy it’s being used,” Kurre said during a visit to the pond earlier this week.

Several varieties of fish, turtles and frogs call the pond home — located just yards from busy Woodhaven Blvd.

Decades ago, the city filled in the kettle pond and turned it into ballfields named for Laurence Strack, the first Woodhaven resident to die in the Vietnam War. But nature reclaimed the perpetually flooded area and it was eventually restored as a pond.

With the blessing and guidance of the Parks Department, Kurre put together a plan and a team of volunteers, including friends and family members.

They designed and built the turtle island out of composite material. And they also embarked on an ambitious clean-up of the pond area which had been battered by flooding and erosion. The group fished paving stones out of the pond and reset them into a patio area. They also reclaimed logs that had washed into the pond and rebuilt the low rustic trail fence. In addition, they removed invasive plants and unclogged some of the streams that feed into the pond.

Kurre, who graduates from the Mary Louis Academy this month, is headed to SUNY Stonybrook in the fall. Scouting has been a part of her life for 13 years.

“This is a great foundation for young women who are beginning to make their way in the world,” said Barbara Murphy-Warrington, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York.

Home Run Event for Girl Scouts 100 in Maryland!

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland are going to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting at the Camden Yards this weekend! In true Girl Scout form, there will be plenty of fun and prizes for all who attend.

If you are in the area, come out and cheer on your favorite team as the Orioles take on the Nationals in a Battle of the Beltways. The best part is that the game is only half of the fun. At the Girl Scouts’ Grand Slam we will:

• Try to make a world record for the most Girl Scouts at a professional sporting event.
• Join in fun Girl Scout activities and programs.
• Munch on green cotton candy.
• Meet new friends.
• Trade SWAPS.
• Dance with the Girl Scout Flash Mob. (You never know where they’ll show up next!)
• March in a parade on the field.
• And much more!
• There will be plenty of fun for adults too, including alumni activities, raffles and more.

Single tickets are available through the Orioles Box office.

Girl Scout Councils of New Jersey Gearing Up for The BIG Celebration!

BSC Kids reports that Joe Jonas will be performing at the BIG Celebration at Liberty State Park on June 23. It is being hosted by the Girl Scout Councils of New Jersey and is open to the public. No word on if Joe will unveil any new music that he is writing or recording for his band. However, he did share these fun tweets about the exciting concert:

"Can’t wait to be back home in #NJ to perform @ the BIG Concert at Liberty State Park on 6/23."

The “Believe In Girls” (B.I.G.) Celebration, a day-long event culminating in an evening concert and fireworks spectacular will feature Grammy nominated artist and celebrity judge on NBC’s “The Sing Off,” Sara Bareilles, and pop star Joe Jonas of the band The Jonas Brothers.

The event will also include daytime performances from “The X Factor” finalist, Rachel Crow and other talented artists.

The day-long event will include 100 activities taking place at the scenic Liberty State Park, which features 1,122 acres of open space and panoramic views of The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the New York Harbor.

NY1 Staten Islanders of the Week: Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients!

Head over to NY1 and check out this week's Staten Islanders of the Week - Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients!

Natalye Paquin, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania to Attend 40th Anniversary of Title IX Event at White House

Yahoo News reports that Natalye Paquin, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, along with Girl Scouts from Pennsylvania and the Washington, D.C., area will attend an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Title IX at the White House today.

The Girl Scouts were invited to attend the event by Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, and Tina Tchen, Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls. At the event, Jarrett and Tchen will be joined by notable women and men from fields that have been affected by Title IX to discuss the past, present, and future of the landmark legislation mandating that both genders have equal opportunities in federally funded education programs and activities.

“We are honored that our council was selected to represent the Girl Scouts of the USA on this national stage, especially in our 100th year of service to girls across the nation and world,” said Paquin. “Joining me at the White House are girls from a cross section of our councils who are all accomplished leaders, athletes and representative of the talented young women who take part in the Girl Scouts. Title IX was game-changing legislation for women and girls. Many girl scouts are athletes.”

The celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX comes amid Girl Scouts’ centennial anniversary. As part of its celebration, the iconic organization has launched ToGetHerThere, a cause campaign designed to create balanced leadership across all sectors within one generation by supporting girls and their leadership development.

A live streaming of the day’s events can be viewed from 2:00pm–4:00pm today, here.

Green Living Arizona Covers Silent Green Army

Green Living Arizona reports that the “silent green army” is how CEO of Girl Scouts Anna Maria Chávez defines her troops from around the world. Mrs. Chávez, an Arizona native, started her troop at a young age. It was here that she embraced the meaning of being a Girl Scout and benefited from all that the program offered. During her troop years Chávez said she learned about goals, self-confidence, caring for your natural resources, the importance of public service and that there are no boundaries to what you can accomplish. Chávez will tell you that the essence of a Girl Scout is “courage, confidence, character – as well as being a public servant and innovator who likes to have fun.”

The Girl Scouts Forever Green project focuses on two main elements, rain gardens (reducing water-borne pollutants running into water supplies, and planting and maintaining rain gardens at the home and school), and reducing waste (switching to reusable bags and bottles). They have also partnered with the EPA to encourage people and companies to take the pledge to improve the environment and protect our natural resources.

What kind of an impact are these girls making? Recent data shows that 5,253 people worked to construct rain gardens, 106,901 new native plants/trees and 30,625 square feet of green space has been planted. For reducing waste, 30,708,832 pounds of waste from plastics have been eliminated from the landfills, and 59,618 reusable bags have been given to others. Go girls!

Chávez shared that because girls in the program are taught about caring for our environment at a young age, they will grow up with more of an appreciation and take action where there is none or lacking.

With over 59 million Girl Scouts alumnae, and the fact that one out of two girls you meet have been somehow a part of the organization, Chávez says the “connectivity and community” reach far beyond our U.S. borders.

As Girl Scouts celebrates its centennial, there is more to see from these ladies for the next hundred years. Chávez recalls many stories about troops and individual girls making strides and achievements in new areas and bringing innovation to the program, and even saving lives. Chávez recalled that 8-year-old Rebecca Hurley “received the Girl Scouts Medal of Honor because she used the Heimlich maneuver to save her brother’s life – a skill she learned just one week prior in her troop meeting.”

Over 2k Appalachian Miles Hiked in Honor of Girl Scouts 100th

In Massachusetts, the Community Advocate reports that a group of local Girl Scouts recently hiked the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts. In honor of the 100th birthday of Girl Scouts, all Scouts are invited to hike the trail in bits and pieces during the year. By the end of the year the whole trail will be hiked. The girls and adults did several prep hikes and camp set ups to prepare for the weekend.

Girl Scouts all over the East Coast have picked a portion of the Appalachian Trail to hike, resulting in over 2,000 miles of trail hiked in pieces.

Anna Maria Chávez Aims to Increase Girl Scout Membership by One-million in the Next Five Years

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Girl Scouts has set out to increase membership by 1 million in the next five years, according to Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, who spoke at a Latino community breakfast that celebrated its 100th anniversary. Hispanic membership has increased 55 percent in the past decade.

“To be here today to talk about where we are now as a movement brings me almost to tears because for 100 years we have taken our mission to heart,” Chávez said, addressing about 300 people at SeaWorld.

“She said that only the girls who meet her get the patch,” said Melanie Kellis, 10, a member of Troop 5260.

Just a week ago, Chávez was in Washington D.C. where thousands gathered on the National Mall to celebrate the scouts’ centennial. She also met with President Obama in the White House with several girls who had earned their Gold Awards, the Girl Scouts’ highest honor.

During the meeting, she said she pointed out to the president that several of his female Cabinet members and 70 percent of the women in Congress had been Girl Scouts. She also told him there were 59 million living Girl Scouts alumni in the U.S., a number that seemed to surprise him.

“Absolutely, Mr. President. Not only that, they vote,” she said she told Obama, a line that drew applause.

She asked everyone at the breakfast to find five new volunteers — and to push for more investments to be made in girls’ causes.

“Today in the United States only 7 percent of philanthropic dollars is invested in girls; more is invested in animal causes in this country than in girls,” she said. “Now don’t get me wrong. I like cats. I like dogs. But the cat is not going to be in the White House one day as president. So we need to invest in girls.”

As part of its advocacy campaign, Girl Scouts hope to spur philanthropic spending for girls and to fund opportunities that enable girls to lead. Called “ToGetHerThere” or “JuntosPorElla” in Spanish, the effort seeks to create balanced leadership in the country in one generation.

Child Advocate, Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart to Speak at Girl Scouts Event

In Oklahoma, NBC News 2 reports that Elizabeth Smart is coming to Tulsa this August to share her story of overcoming adversity as the inaugural guest with the new Women of Character speaker series presented by Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma is introducing the new series to raise funds and reinforce its mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. With the goal of bringing nationally recognized women leaders and role models to Oklahoma to educate and inspire people of all ages, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma chose Smart as its first speaker in the series.

Smart first gained national attention in 2002 when she was abducted from her family home at age 14. She was held prisoner for nine months before being rescued and safely returned to her family. Following her abduction, Smart testified against her captors, who were convicted.

Smart now devotes her time to helping children avoid and recover from traumatic events as founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. She also works as an ABC news contributor and promotes safety legislation like The National AMBER Alert and The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act to help prevent abductions.

Smart's speech not only tells her story but also discusses topics such as overcoming extreme adversity, the importance of maintaining hope and not allowing the past to dictate the future.

Girl Scouts Traversing Kentucky's Wilderness Road in a New Toyota Tundra!

Congratulations to Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road for winning a new Toyota Tundra from Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good national social media campaign. Toyota selected 500 organizations to compete for a car or truck. Each organization creates a profile and 2-minute video for the 100 Cars for Good Facebook page. Each day Facebook fans go to the 100 Cars for Good page and vote for the organization that they want to win the car. Toyota gives away one car each day for 100 days.

Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road serves more than 17,000 girls in kindergarten through high school in urban and rural communities in central, northern and eastern Kentucky, including 45 counties in the Appalachian region of the state. Kentucky’s Wilderness Road takes pride in providing recreational and educational facilities in which Girl Scouting may flourish. Girls enjoy exciting adventure programs like camping, the climbing tower and zip line, backpacking, sailing and caving. In 2011, 3,337 girls and adults visited one of the four camps. The Toyota Tundra will replace the Council’s current camp vehicle, an 11-year-old truck with 172,000 miles that is too small to meet the needs of maintaining the Council’s four camp properties across the state.

“We want to thank our sister Girl Scouts across the country who voted for Kentucky’s Wilderness Road,” said Susan Hansell, CEO. “A Toyota Tundra will help us provide safe and inviting camp facilities for our girls and volunteers as we strive to provide excellent outdoor and adventure experiences that provide physical, emotional and social benefits to girls.”

West Wing Week Celebrates Girl Scouts at The White House, Girl Scouts Encouraged to Develop a Public Service Announcement to Presidential Candidates

West Wing Week reports that The President recently welcomed Girl Scouts into The White House.

The eight Girl Scouts who met with President Obama are Gold Award recipients who hail from across the country, and also had the opportunity to meet with a number of senior advisers to the president. Girl Scouts of the USA National President Connie L. Lindsey and Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez, met President Obama to present him with the Girl Scouts annual report. Check out footage of their appearance below!

Up next in Presidential news - Girl Scouts is calling on girls to tape a video Public Service Announcement to the next president about the importance of supporting girls and their leadership development. So get going on your script and send us your video. You can learn me about the video project here.

The Flying Monkeys, Jet Set

In Iowa, ABC News 5 reports that Girl Scout Lego League Team The Flying Monkeys are in Brazil The Flying Monkeys have been in Brazil to present BOB-1, a uniquely designed prosthetic hand device, at the International Conference on Science in Rio de Janeiro. The girls have been abroad, presenting their project at two different venues and meeting with officials from the Embassy.

The uniquely designed prosthetic hand device was created for a three-year old girl named Danielle Fairchild who lives in Georgia. She was born with no fingers on her right hand.

The Flying Monkeys are some of the only teenagers presenting at the science conference.

Anna Maria Chávez Featured in San Diego-area News Stories About Girl Scouts

Check out this great article in the San Diego Union-Tribune about GSUSA CEO Anna Maria Chávez and Girl Scouts. Chávez is in San Diego to visit the Girl Scouts San Diego-Imperial and to celebrate our 100th anniversary by spreading the Girl Scout message of leadership. Chávez spoke at an event organized by MANA de San Diego, an organization that supports and mentors young Latinas. The event, held at SeaWorld San Diego, drew some 300 people.

The Union-Tribune quotes Chávez as telling the gathering, “To be here today to talk about where we are now as a movement brings me almost to tears because for 100 years we have taken our mission to heart.” Chávez also described ToGetHerThere, the Girl Scouts’ cause campaign for balanced leadership in a single generation by supporting girls and their leadership development, and called on everyone to give to organizations that support girls.

There’s also coverage of Chávez’s visit on public radio station KPBS. Reporter Jill Replogle interviewed Chávez and reports on ToGetHerThere and the efforts of Girl Scouts to grow membership and reach more Latina girls and volunteers.

Anna Maria Chávez Tours Southern California, Delivering the Message of Girl Scouting

California's Rancho Santa Fe Review reports that Anna Maria Chávez, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the USA, will participate in two community events today. Chávez is visiting San Diego to help celebrate Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary. She is the first Latina to lead the 3.2 million members of America’s premier leadership development organization for women.

Hispanic girl membership in Girl Scouts has increased 55 percent in the past decade. In partnership with MANA de San Diego, Chávez will speak at a Latino Community Breakfast hosted by SeaWorld. Chávez will describe Girl Scouts’ Hispanic Initiative, and explore how the Girl Scout Promise and Law reflect fundamentals that Latinos identify as important: family, education, self respect, culture and morals.

The Latino Community Breakfast planning committee includes Deputy Attorney General Marissa Bejarano, president of MANA de San Diego; Lidia S. Martinez of Southwest Airlines, immediate past chair of MANA’s national board of directors; Girl Scouts San Diego Board of Directors member Rosa Robles, Immediate Past President of MANA de San Diego; Danitza Villanueva of Giving Back magazine; Susana Villegas of Casa Familiar; and Berenice Zamaro of Union Bank, a former Girl Scouts San Diego board member.

During a noon luncheon sponsored by Girl Scouts San Diego and Lawyer’s Club San Diego, Chávez will discuss gender equality in the workplace.

During a ceremony on June 16, Chávez will present the Girl Scout Gold Award to 60 local young women who have earned Girl Scouting’s highest honor. Chávez was a Girl Scout while growing up in a Mexican-American family in Arizona. She graduated from Yale University and the University of Arizona Law School, was deputy chief of staff for Urban Relations and Community Development under Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (now U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security). Chávez headed Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas before becoming CEO of GSUSA last November.

Troop 1500 Shines On, Will be Getting a Sequel

According to Yahoo Shine, Girl Scout Troop 1500 does all the usual things: Sells cookies, goes on camping trips, and earns merit badges. But once a month the troop, which is based in Austin, Texas, does something out of the ordinary: The girls take an hour-long trip to Hilltop Prison in Gatesville, so the troop members can visit their mothers behind bars.

The unusual program, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, which exists in 30 states around the country, was the brainchild of a troop leader in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1992, who noticed a need for girls with mothers who had been jailed. The Girl Scouts reached out to the Department of Justice, which in 2003 began providing funding for that program, along with Girl Scouting in Detention Centers.

Christine Brongniart, the Girl Scouts program manager for the two efforts, agreed the program is "a far cry from cookies and crafts." She noted that all the programs from the Girl Scouts, since its origin 100 years ago, "come from a recognition of communal need."

The addition of the Beyond Bars program, said Brongniart, is to "deter girls to make decisions that would land them in prison. To stop the cycle." Both programs have served about 15,000 girls affected by the criminal justice system. Brongniart noted that the Beyond Bars program doesn't just act as a visitation program. It also focuses on developing the mother-daughter bond.

The program was documented in the award-winning PBS film "Troop 1500," directed by Ellen Spiro and Karen Bernstein. Spiro has stayed in touch with the film's mothers and daughters -- now young women as old as 20 -- and is currently at work on a sequel. The Department of Justice grants, which have helped fuel the programs' growth, are about to end. The Beyond Bars troops will continue through private funding, but the efforts will most likely be scaled back.

Following Troop 522 to the Gold in Long Island

Newsday reports that Connie Fratianni-Wysota, mother and adult Girl Scout Volunteer, has watched her troop of girls bloom from Girl Scout Daisies into mature Girl Scout Gold Award winners. As she gathered Troop 522 of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County for a picture, she knew it was going to be an emotional night.

This year, 11 of 12 girls in Manhasset’s Troop 522 received the Gold Award, with the 12th in the process of completing her project. The Manhasset troop was among 121 Girl Scouts from Nassau County who received the award during a ceremony at Adelphi University Tuesday night.

“I watched these girls grow up. It’s an amazing commitment on their part — they have stuck with the program since they were in kindergarten. To watch their progress has been an amazing experience,” said Fratianni-Wysota, whose daughter, Alexandra, a Manhasset High School senior, was one of the honorees Tuesday.

To be eligible for the award, applicants must choose an issue important to them and educate others about their cause. Applicants are high school students who devote time to community service and create a presentation highlighting their efforts.

According to Donna Ceravolo, executive director of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, only 5.4 percent of eligible Girl Scouts throughout the country received the Gold Award last year.

“Most troops don’t stay together; many groups shrink after the girls enter middle school or high school,” Fratianni-Wysota said. “With high school graduation, tests and getting ready for college, it takes a lot of effort to do this.”

The ceremony included a special performance by the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus. Each Gold Award winner was called up on stage to receive her award while her achievements were highlighted.

“It was very rewarding,” said Nicole Kiess, also of Troop 522, who helped run a summer camp for impoverished children in Webster Springs, W.Va. “By the end, we learned a lot.”

Stamp Dedication a Success in St. Louis

In St. Louis, MO, KSDK TV 5 reports that The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts with a stamp dedication.

The USPS issued the Celebrate Scouting Forever stamp as a "sister" stamp to the 2010 scouting stamp. Both stamps pay tribute to scouting organizations and the opportunities they give to boys and girls worldwide.

The Celebrate Scouting Forever stamp features a large silhouette of a girl with binoculars looking into the distance, and within that is a girl in mid-stride with a walking stick, shorts and backpack.

The stamp is issued as a Forever stamp, available in sheets of 20.

Earning Silver Through Historic Art

Via Stars and Stripes - Senior Girl Scout Sarah Kemp looks over the mural Wednesday that she and other senior Girl Scouts painted in memory of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women at the Deutsche Kantine on Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. Other mural painters were Nautica Burden, Abigail Argo and Sabrina Hoffmann. The artists hope their painting will earn them the Silver Award.

“I think even we didn’t realize the extent of what they did for us until we started doing this project,” Sarah said, referring to the military’s sacrifices. “And that kind of shocked ... us I think."

The mural displays the location of American cemeteries around Europe. The Deutsche Kantine, a cafeteria where American and German workers on base dine together, was chosen to house the mural to show the unity of the U.S. and Germany. The Scouts, who will enter ninth grade in the fall, are members of Girl Scout Troop 182.

Girl Scouts of North EastDaisy L. Alford-Smith, Ph.D. Inducted Into the Women of Color Hall of Fame

La Prensa reports that The Women of Color Foundation recently presented their inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Gala at Cleveland Clinic’s Lyndhurst campus. The event is just one of several activities taking place this year as part of the Foundation’s 10th Anniversary celebration. The Gala’s theme was “Celebrating the Brilliance of Extraordinary Women of Color” and honored thirteen women.

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Chief Executive Officer Daisy L. Alford-Smith, Ph.D. has been inducted into the Women of Color Hall of Fame.

Girl Scouts Tech Team The Flying Monkeys Invited to Present at International Conference on Science in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Reuters reports that The Flying Monkeys earned a $20,000 grant, obtained a patent, visited the White House, met the president, changed the life of a little girl, and are now taking their one-of-a-kind invention all the way to Brazil!

There is no stopping the Flying Monkeys, a Girl Scout FIRST® LEGO® League team, comprised of 8th and 9th grade Girl Scouts from Ames and Gilbert, IA, who have been invited by the U.S. Department of State to present BOB-1, a uniquely designed prosthetic hand device, at the International Conference on Science in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The girls say they are thrilled they have been invited to the event, which serves as a lead in to the Rio+20 Earth Conference, and can’t wait to present their invention, which helped a little girl learn how to write after its creation in the fall of 2010.

“The Flying Monkeys are incredibly honored,” Coach Melissa Murray said.

“The girls are very excited and are trying to learn some Portuguese before this rare opportunity to share the BOB-1 Project with the world!”

The team is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, FIRST® LEGO® League and Rockwell Collins, and is one of three youth groups in the entire nation invited to present at this prestigious event.

“The Flying Monkeys are a great example of the wonderful work Girl Scouts can do,” Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA said. “Expertise in the STEM subjects is essential to our nation’s future, and these girls are leading the way.”

The girls have been asked to present their project on June 15 and on June 17 at two different venues and will also be meeting with officials from the Embassy. Murray said the girls plan to do some sight-seeing as well, making for a once in a life time experience for these young women.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute study Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, 74 percent of girls — and even higher percentages of African-American and Hispanic girls — say they’re interested in STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

The Flying Monkeys are a true testament of the amazing feats girls can accomplish and the wonderful opportunities provided by Girl Scouts and FIRST® LEGO® League.

Girl Scouts Host Minnesota Olympics

In Minnesota, The Bemidji Pioneer reports that local Girl Scouts are celebrating the Summer Olympics their way this summer.

The Girl Scouts Olympic Summer Series kicked off Monday night with the opening ceremonies at Bemidji State University’s Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center. The Opening Ceremonies included introducing any new girls to Girl Scouts, splitting into two “countries” and creating national costumes, songs and flags, a parade of nations and a silly Olympics including an obstacle course and javelin throw using swimming noodles.

Clara Anderson, 9, said her favorite part was getting to dress her best friend up in a weird costume for the parade. She said the obstacle course was a learning moment for her.

“Even if you want to win, you can still take your time and do it right,” Anderson said.

Michaela Garbow, 9, Savannah Holleman, 9, and Allison DeClusin, 11, all agreed the costumes were their favorite part of the night, too. DeClusin said the obstacle course also taught her a lesson.

“When you compete, not everyone can always win,” DeClusin said. “Don’t be upset if you lose.”

While the night focused on the Olympics, Garbow said she learned about Girl Scouts, too.

Trisha Andrews, program specialist for Bemidji Girl Scouts, said she hopes the participants can see how each activity incorporates Girl Scouts.

“Each activity emphasizes the three types of learning – cooperative learning, learning by doing and girl-led learning,” Andrews said. “We hope they have fun but are also getting to know each other and learning teamwork and leadership, too.”

The Olympic Summer Series was started as a way for more girls to be able to participate in Girl Scouts without necessarily having to be a member of a troop, Andrews said.

“The national council has created these pathways, and you can choose which one you follow,” Andrews said. “You can be a member of a troop or you can travel or go to camp or participate in these types of series.”

Andrews said a few girls had also joined Girl Scouts when they signed up for the summer series, so it was also being used as a member recruitment tool.

Bloomberg Businessweek Catches up With Anna Maria Chávez, Connie L. Lindsey and Mandy Moore at Rock the Mall

Bloomberg Businessweek reports that selling Girl Scout cookies is the “largest financial literacy program,” according to Connie Lindsey, National President Girl Scouts of the USA and Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Northern Trust.

Lindsey, Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chávez, and actress Mandy Moore joined over 200,000 girls for the Girl Scouts Rock the Mall Saturday in front of the Washington Monument. It was a special celebration marking the organization’s 100th anniversary.

“It’s not just a girl issue, it’s a leadership issue,” said Chávez about the skill set and salesmanship girls learn through scouting.

She cited Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano as prime examples of women using their Girl Scout teachings to achieve leadership positions.

Moore said she learned “what friendship means” during her Girl Scout years, as well as the joys of s’mores.

She came at the invitation of corporate sponsor Dove as part of its Dove Movement for Self-Esteem campaign. Moore introduced women “who should be famous” as role models to the girls, such as mathematician Melanie Matchett Wood and molecular biologist Lydia Villa-Komaroff.

Girl Scouts Rock the Mall!

CNN reports that hundreds-of-thousands of Girl Scouts, former members and supporters swarmed the National Mall on Saturday for the organization's 100-year celebration.

The event, "Girl Scouts Rock the Mall", brought together scouts from around the world, organizers said, to watch performances, to participate in sing-alongs and other educational activities. Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912. She was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama last month.

The Washington Post has a fantastic photo gallery of the events. A few select pics below:

Girl Scout Leaders and Gold Award Recipients Meet with President Obama

Today, Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez, National President Connie Lindsey, and eight outstanding Girl Scout Gold Award recipients from across the country presented President Obama with the Girl Scouts National Report, and met with him on the pressing issues impacting girls everywhere.

At the meeting in the Oval Office, Chávez stressed the urgent needs of girls, and the importance of mentorship ToGetHerThere - to achieve balanced leadership within a generation.

“Our Girl Scout Gold Award recipients who met the president today are the embodiment of girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place,” said Chávez. “It’s critical we continue to inform our national leaders on the urgent needs of all girls across the country, and stress that together, we can achieve balanced leadership within a generation."

In addition to the meeting with the president, the Girl Scouts also met with senior staff at the White House about their Gold Award projects. Below are descriptions of the attendees and their projects.

Lynoris Latham: Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi

Lynoris is a senior attending St. Mount Salus Christian School in Clinton, Mississippi. She plays on the St. Mount Salus ladies basketball team. Her team won the 2012 MAIS State Division A Championship. Lynoris is also a member of the St. Mount Salus Student Government Association. She attends Blacks Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Lynoris Latham's Gold Award take action project “No Bullies in Our Zone" focused on educating kids in K-4 on the concepts of bullying. Through presentations and assignments each class created a poster that illustrated how bullying affected them. Additionally they were given handouts on recognizing and dealing with bullies. With the 5th and 6th graders, she focused on cyber bullying. She is proud to go from being someone who was bullied to someone who represents the saying, “Bullying is NOT ok and bullying must end!"

Lindsay McNary: Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri

Lindsay McNary a recent graduate of Sabetha High School in Sabetha, Kansas has been a Girl Scout for 13 years as a member of Troop #7221. In the fall, she will be attending Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. For her Gold Award take action project, Lindsay tackled the importance of teens drinking and driving. Lindsay pulled her entire community together for an unexpected and powerful reenactment. With support from the local emergency response team, hospital, and even Life Star, medical helicopter service, Lindsay provided a visual demonstration that would affect change in behavior and last a lifetime.

Serina Pack: Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest

Serina Pack, a High School Senior from Cliff, New Mexico, is an honor student interested in addressing societal concerns relating to children’s literacy programs and the environment. She plans to study Environmental Sustainability and Psychology with the long-term goal of completing her PhD. For her Girl Scouts Gold Award take action project, Serina created CLIMB, a literacy program in elementary schools and the APPLE Foundation. APPLE is an acronym for “A Plan to Promote Literacy Everywhere!” Its purpose: Motivate and inspire children to be good readers and encourage teens to become mentors and take up the cause to address the low literacy levels in our country. More than 5000 used books, 1500 reading workbooks, and 2000 new books, with estimated value of over $15,000, have been collected and distributed in southwestern United States and Mexico. Thousands of additional books continue to be exchanged through free “Take-A-Book Leave-A-Book” and “Adopt a Box” locations now established in southwestern United States. With the creation of two websites and a comprehensive manual, the project continues to expand. Through community booths, publications, extensive radio PSA campaigns, T.V. appearances, and numerous presentations, Serina continues to spread the awareness of literacy concerns facing our country, with more than 700 service hours over three years dedicated to this work.

Krystal Shirrell: Girl Scouts of Central Indiana

Krystal Shirrell, a 2012 graduate of Brownsburg High School, will be an honors student at the University of Iowa this fall majoring in Pharmacy and playing Division I softball for the Hawkeyes. Krystal has been a Girl Scout for 13 years participating in various community service activities since the age of 5. Krystal’s Gold Award take action project VET Support is contributing to the White House initiative to support our military and the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs initiative to end homelessness among veterans. Krystal’s passion and desire to serve those who have served has resulted in: over 300 blankets; more than 5,000 supplies collected to help meet needs of the VA Domiciliary; over 10,000 additional items collected resulting in 525 care packages sent to our soldiers in Afghanistan and numerous boxes of items donated to the VA Medical Center, the Domiciliary, and the Veterans House; 107 Christmas trees decorated and sent to troops in Afghanistan, 30 trees to the Veterans House and each resident at the VA Domiciliary received a tree; over 13,500 thank you coloring sheets have been given to veterans, soldiers and wounded warriors; and most recently during a three day collection drive, 1,481 items were collected and shipped to Walter Reed in Bethesda for Krystal to distribute while visiting with the wounded warriors during a trip to Washington, D.C.

Adriana Camille Caban Urena: Girl Scouts of Caribe Council

Adriana recently graduated from San Carlos high school in Aguadilla, PR and has been accepted at the University of Mayaguez where she will pursue a Bachelors Degree in Accounting with a minor in Political Science. She later intends to complete a degree in Environmental Law. Adriana’s Gold Award take action project titled “Green Harmony” was born as a response to environmental enhancement through recycling. She created a “Recyclable Materials Deposit Center” in her neighborhood and held an orientation for local residents on the importance of recycling and its impact on our society/environment. Additionally, she formed an environmental group called “ARENUAM” (Friends of our environment to the rescue) at the neighborhood elementary school. The group composed of elementary school students, teachers and senior citizens is responsible for group discussions and creating campaigns directed at “improving and caring for our environment”.

Neliana Ferraro: Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts

Neliana is a recent Minnechaug Regional High School graduate. Neliana served as a member of the Girl Scout Board of Directors of Central and Western Massachusetts. She has earned her Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award. In the fall, she will be attending Quinnipiac University to study broadcast journalism. Her goal is become a newscaster and possibly dabble in politics. For her Gold Award take action project, Neliana created a remembrance to honor heroes and victims of the tragedies of September 11th. Neliana invited speakers to her high school and made a 16 minute documentary of everything that happened on 9/11 from the Twin Towers, to the Pentagon, to the crash of Flight 93. She feels it is very important for everyone to remember 9/11.

Satomi Honjiyo: Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles

Satomi Honjiyo has been in Girl Scouting since Kindergarten as a Daisy. Satomi Honjiyo has earned both her Bronze and Silver Award. In the fall, she will attend Temple University in Tokyo, Japan. Her studies will continue to support her interest in encouraging positive cross-cultural experiences. As a Japanese American, Satomi was very interested in the Internment Camps for Japanese Americans during World War II. For her Gold Award take action project, .Satomi chose to use the documentary, “Stand up for Justice” a true story about a Hispanic teen that went with his Japanese American friends to the Internment Camps. After showing groups the film she moderated a discussion session to talk about personal experiences and feelings on making unpopular decisions. She presented and led the discussion to different audiences including her local library, a community college, and Girl Scout troops.

Joslyn Simmons-Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Sixteen year old Joslyn Nicole Simmons is from Jacksonville, FL. and will be a junior at Sandalwood High School. A member of Girl Scout Troop 143 at Gateway Council, Joslyn has received the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Inspired by the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, Joslyn’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, Sports 4 Life, addressed childhood obesity by getting children to make more nutritious meal choices and participate in recreational activities. Joslyn used the US Department of Agriculture’s Choose My Plate model for nutritional education and engaged community support to generate donations of sports equipment for local children. Joslyn plans to attend Florida State University and major in Journalism and become a Sports Journalist with ESPN.

Girl Scouts Rock the Mall is Fast Approaching!

Girl Scouts from around the world are gathering on the National Mall, Saturday, June 9, 2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts Rock the Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing-Along will be the largest gathering of Girl Scouts in history. An anticipated 250,000 Girl Scouts, friends, and alumnae will gather at the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC to demonstrate the power of girl leadership.

Girl Scouts Rock the Mall will feature talented girl voices including The Voice finalist Erin Willett, American Idol finalist Thia Megia, the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus, and “I Want to Rock the Mall” YouTube contest winner Dana Marie.

The 17-year-old singer-songwriter, a Girl Scout Ambassador, won the Girl Scouts’ “I Want to Rock the National Mall” YouTube contest for her original song, “Girl Scout Cookie Rap.” Dana Marie will take the stage June 9 to perform her winning composition.

Actress, recording artist, and songwriter Mandy Moore will join Dove, a lead sponsor of the event, to introduce four remarkable women who deserve to be famous for the positive lives they lead and the impact they make. Dove supports Girl Scouts of the USA, as both entities share a commitment to inspiring all women and girls to reach their full potential. Mandy Moore shares the brand's commitment to helping others and improving lives.

Girl Scouts have a strong tradition of using song to celebrate friendship, bridge cultural boundaries, and express a commitment to Girl Scout leadership, the environment, and service to our nation. At Girl Scouts Rock the Mall, traditional and new Girl Scout songs will be led by girls and women performers, with dynamic audience participation.

According to the newly released Girl Scout Research Institute report Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, approximately one in every two adult women (49%) in the U.S. has at some point been a member of Girl Scouts, with the average length of time spent in Girl Scouts four years. There are currently an estimated 59 million Girl Scout alumnae living in the U.S.

For more information about Girl Scouts Rock the Mall and for a live stream of the event, look here.

Girl Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capital CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon Chats With The Washingtonian

Girl Scouts from around the world are gathering on the National Mall, Saturday, June 9, 2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts Rock the Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing-Along will be the largest gathering of Girl Scouts in history. An anticipated 250,000 Girl Scouts, friends, and alumnae will gather at the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC to demonstrate the power of girl leadership.

In advance of Rock the Mall, The Washingtonian chatted with Girl Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capital CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon about the impact of the nonprofit on Washington and how Girl Scouts have remained relevant for a century. When asked to speak of some ways the Girl Scouts have made a difference in the Washington community, Soto-Harmon states:

"Girl Scouts in their junior or senior years of high school have the opportunity to try for a Gold Award, the highest award a scout can receive. The girls have to create a project that solves a problem or meets a need in the community, and they have to dedicate more than 80 hours to implementation. About five girls in 2012 earned their Gold Award working on STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math]-related projects and were welcomed at the White House in April. Another girl won a the award for a project that created a scholarship program for kids whose parents are incarcerated. It’s called ScholarCHIPS, and it gives $10,000 to three high school seniors each year."

Girl Scouts Rock the Mall will feature talented girl voices including The Voice finalist Erin Willett, American Idol finalist Thia Megia, the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus, and “I Want to Rock the Mall” YouTube contest winner Dana Marie.

The 17-year-old singer-songwriter, a Girl Scout Ambassador, won the Girl Scouts’ “I Want to Rock the National Mall” YouTube contest for her original song, “Girl Scout Cookie Rap.” Dana Marie will take the stage June 9 to perform her winning composition.

Charity Auction Benefits Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles

Yahoo published a photo of Alexandre Renoir, and Lise L. Luttgens, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, at a charity auction celebrating the June 1 launch of the new, limited edition Nestle Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars in Beverly Hills, Calif, with proceeds benefiting the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles.

Mark Your Calendars! Vote for Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road on June 14!

For the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road has been selected as a finalist for the Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program. Vote at 100carsforgood.com on June 14th, 2012!

Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez, Others Brief Congress on Girl Scout Initiatives

Today Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez, National President Connie Lindsey, National Board Member Debra Nakatomi and teen Girl Scouts participated in a briefing on Capitol Hill with Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. The briefing was designed to alert Members of Congress and their staff about the robust agenda of Girl Scouting, specifically focusing on Girl Scouts Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives and the Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary.

“Girl Scouts has a 100 year history of providing young women with the tools to be successful, and increasingly, a focus on science, technology, engineering and math education is critical to prepare them for higher education and eventually, the workforce,” said Chávez and Lindsey. “We are pleased to join with Girl Scout leadership from across the country to ensure that our representatives in Washington learn about the outstanding track record of Girl Scouting as we prepare next generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and leaders.”

Recently, the Girl Scout Research Institute released “Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.” The study showed good news - 74 percent of teen girls are interested in STEM subjects and the general field of study, and they are drawn by the creative and hands-on aspects of these subjects. But there is more work to be done - girls are also aware that gender barriers persist as 57 percent of all girls say that if they “went into a STEM career, they’d have to work harder than a man to be taken seriously.”

The study shows that although interest in STEM is high, with 82 percent of all girls seeing themselves as “smart enough to have a career in STEM”, few girls consider it their number one career option. 81 percent of girls interested in STEM are interested in pursuing STEM careers, but only 13 percent say it is their first choice. Girls say that they don’t know much about STEM careers and the opportunities afforded by STEM fields. For example, 60 percent of girls who say they are interested in STEM say they know more about other careers than they do about STEM careers.

“Our research clearly shows that the more girls learn about STEM and the more we support them and mentor them, the higher the chance they will choose STEM careers,” concluded Nakatomi “With the help of our leaders in Washington, we can continue to work together to support all girls, ensuring they reach their leadership potential.”

New York Girl Scouts Compete in Dress Design Project

New York's Nanuet Patch reports that local Girl Scouts recently compete in the second annual Project Girl Scouts Design Competition at the Palisades Center.

One prize-winning dress for each of the four seasons was unveiled at the Palisades Center in West Nyack on May 18 as the culmination of the Center’s second annual “Project Girl Scouts “design competition conducted in partnership with Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Inc.

Members of 14 area Girl Scout troops were challenged to design a dress using materials from “tool kits” provided by the Palisades Center. The 2012 kits were filled with design elements geared to spark the girls’ imaginations as they created their team’s season-themed dress. Ninety percent of each creation was fabricated from shopping bags provided by Palisades Center vendors.

The winter dress was designed by Congers troop 40266 while spring was the inspiration for troop 40018 from Pearl River. The breezy summer winner was the product of troop 40275 of Congers and the fall selection was created by girls from troops in West Nyack and New City —troops 40636 and 40434. The colorful designs each incorporated icons of their particular season, such as seashells, daisies, and snowflakes.

The dresses were judged by marketing professionals from the Palisades Center along with members of Girl Scout Senior troop 40139 of New City. The dress designers were interviewed about their design choices and techniques, and the creations garnering the most points were chosen for display through June 5 in the Palisades Center’s first-floor customer service area.

Musician Dana Marie Rogers Ready to Rock the Mall!

New Jersey's Suburban reports that Dana Marie Rogers will be in good company next week when she joins the likes of Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen on the list of New Jersey musicians who have played for crowds on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The 17-year-old singer-songwriter, an Ambassador Girl Scout in the townshipbased Troop 81893, recently won the Girl Scouts’ “I Want to Rock the National Mall” YouTube contest for her original song, Girl Scout Cookie Rap. Dana Marie will take the stage June 9 in front of an expected audience of 200,000 to perform her winning composition at the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary celebration in the capitol.

Amulti-instrumentalist, Dana Marie has been taking piano lessons since first grade and writing songs since she was 13.

“I write all the time,” she said. “Songwriting is a big part of my life.”

Performing is a big part, too. Dana Marie, a junior, is a lead singer in the Old Bridge High School stage band Cloud 9, and she also sings with the school’s chamber choir and plays flute with the wind ensemble and concert band. Between rehearsals at school and earning her Bronze and Silver awards in Scouts, she somehow found time to teach herself to play both guitar and ukulele.

This versatility with instruments and styles extends to Dana Marie’s songwriting abilities as well. Where “Girl Scout Cookie Rap” is a lighthearted tribute to the time-honored fundraiser, her other entry, the acoustic “On My Honor,” engages with the life lessons Scouting has offered the young musician.

“‘On My Honor’ is basically saying that Girl Scouts has taught me that I can be who I want to be no matter what someone else tries to tell me,” she said.

Her parents and fellow Scouts from Troop 81893 will all be in the crowd when Dana Marie performs the two songs this weekend.

“I’m a little nervous, but mostly I’m excited,” she said.

This summer, Dana Marie will continue her pursuits in both music and Scouting as she works on her Gold Award project, an anti-bullying campaign consisting of a series of coffeehouses throughout the summer.

“Music is of course a big part of my life,” she said, “and I wanted to choose a topic that affects girls my age.”