COMMUNITY NEWS
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Are You a Young Woman Who Is Totally into Tech?
If so, apply for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. Applications are due Sunday, Nov. 15. For more information, check out the flyer.
Scholarship Opportunity: The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards online registration is open and you can fill out an application form online. The online application process is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS). The deadline for submitting your application to GSWCF is Thursday, Oct. 29.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The program was created in 1995 by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to honor middle level and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state and national levels.
The program’s goals are to applaud young people who already are making a positive difference in their towns and neighborhoods, and to inspire others to think about how they might contribute to their communities. Over the past 14 years, more than 260,000 young Americans have participated in the program, and nearly 90,000 of them have been officially recognized for their volunteer work.
Who is eligible? Any young person who:
- is in grades 5-12 as of the last weekday in October during the applying year;
- is a legal resident of any U.S. state or Washington, D.C.;
- has engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred at least partly during the 12 months prior to the date of application; and
- submits a completed application to GSWCF by the last weekday in October.
For more information and to download application, visit the website.
We Need Girl Scout Success Stories!
How has Girl Scouting made an impact on you, your life, your future? Girls – we are looking to you to tell the Girl Scout story! Please e-mail the chief marketing officer to share your story!
Go high tech by spreading the Girl Scout message virally! Create a video of your Girl Scout story and why you’re involved and send it to the chief marketing officer – you may end up on our new YouTube channel!
Vote for GSWCF!
If you
love our work then tell the world! You have an exciting opportunity
to help GSWCF make even more of a difference for youth in our
community. GreatNonprofits - a site like Yelp for all you foodies -
is conducting a contest to find the top-rated youth-focused
nonprofits around the country.
Won’t you help us gain visibility by posting a review of your experience with us? All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes three minutes! Go to this website and search for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida to post a review to our page!
Plus, if you write a review, you have a chance to win great prizes such as a certificate to Birkenstock, Cliff Bars, Wild Planet Toys, delicious treats from Greyson Bakery and more! With your help we can gain greater visibility in the community.
Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk – Tent Donation and Volunteer Opportunities
Once
again, GSWCF will be the beneficiaries of the entire donation of
tents from the Tampa Bay Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. We are expecting
800 tents!
In order to receive tents, you must be
available to pick up on Sunday, Nov. 1 between noon and 3 p.m. in
St. Petersburg. Confirmation and more information will be sent via
e-mail one week before pickup.
If you are interested in receiving tents, please e-mail your request
to the
director of outdoor programs. Those who did not receive tents
last year will be given first preference. Please request between one
and 5
tents only. Your request needs to include an e-mail address for
confirmation and cell phone number for the day of pickup.
Tent Descriptions:
- Pink – 2 shades
- Two-person dome tents
- Packed up dimensions: approximately three feet long and eight inches in diameter.
- Custom made for the three-day event; no brand name affiliation
- Flame resistant
- Water resistant
- Fiberglass Poles
- No tent stakes
- All of the tents will be used the two nights prior to the pick up date and taken down by the participants. Any cleaning of the tents will be up to the receiving organization/group/individual.
Interested in volunteer opportunities? Check out the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in your area; click on information, volunteers, specific city.
Last Chance to Help Mint a Girl Scout Commemorative Coin!
A grassroots network that provides a collective voice for girls is growing nationally and throughout Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.
By joining the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network, Girl Scout teens, volunteers, staff, alumnae and parents are working together to champion legislation and educate policy makers about issues affecting girls. Topics of interest include healthy living, increasing girls’ involvement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), financial literacy and leadership.
As the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary approaches, the network is advocating passage of the Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation will direct the U.S. Mint to produce 350,000 silver coins honoring the achievements of Girl Scouts and the 50 million women across the nation whose lives have been influenced through Girl Scouting.
Girl Scouts will receive $10 from the sale of each coin to help develop and deliver Girl Scout programs and to fund much-needed renovations at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah.
Girl Scouts needs your immediate assistance to advocate for the coin celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouting. We need to act quickly to send messages to our Senators and U. S. Representatives, since Congress approves only two coins each year and we have aggressive competition.
We urge you to take the first step today by logging onto www.GirlScouts4girls.org to join the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network. You’ll become part of a collective voice that responds to policy issues impacting girls and Girl Scouts. The Advocacy Network also provides a simple way to encourage your Congressional representatives to co-sponsor the commemorative coin legislation.
Use your voice to help Girl Scouts celebrate our 100th anniversary! For more information about the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network, contact Girl Scouts’ Public Policy and Advocacy Office at advocacy@girlscouts.org.
Your Purchase of Dove Products Can Help Girl Scouts
In conjunction with its partnership with Dove, GSUSA is launching a new campaign to continue communicating the importance of building positive self-esteem in girls, and you can help!
The purpose of the campaign, entitled, “Thank You for Making a Difference,” is to show the positive effects self-esteem programs have on girls, and to thank consumers for making a difference. Dove is partnering in the campaign with three charitable organizations who have programs designed to build and support girls’ self-esteem—Girl Scouts of the USA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Girls Inc.
Girl Scouts of the USA and the uniquely ME! program will be featured on www.Dove.com, and Dove will celebrate individuals who are getting involved and making a difference for girls.
Dove is running a special promotion this October in which anyone who buys Dove products can have $1 from their purchase donated to one of the three partner organizations.
To participate, when you buy Dove products, go to www.dove.com, indicate the Dove product purchased via UPC code, and select the charity to receive the donation – choose Girl Scouts! All donations directed to GSUSA will go toward funding additional uniquely ME! programs at the council level. You have until Dec. 15, 2009 to donate to the charity of your choice.
Volunteer with the Animal Coalition of Tampa
The Animal Coalition of Tampa is hosting a fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 31 to raise money for dogs/cats to be spayed/ neutered. They are looking for volunteers to help assist the walkers and pet-sit. For more information on how you can help, please contact Edith.
Is Your Troop Interested in Learning How to Crochet, Knit, Embroider or Sew?
Ronni Levy, project coordinator with the Central Florida Chapter of the Crochet Guild of America and former Girl Scout leader, would like to visit troops and share her knowledge by teaching girls how to crochet, knit or even sew. She is available and willing to travel to troop meetings. Please contact Ronni directly for more information: (863) 529-6533.
Host Your
Next Event at a GSWCF Facility!
GSWCF camps and office locations provide affordable resources for
the entire community. Contact
Adul Yates (813-262-1690) for
information on facility rentals for your next family reunion,
birthday party, wedding or business retreat – or – forward this
message to your friends and business associates who may be
interested. We have affordable rates and beautiful facilities, plus
it’s a great way to support Girl Scouts in the local community. For
more information, visit our
website.