Leadership Opportunities
for Girls 11-17

Teen girls invited to apply for CEO 2010-2011 Kitchen Cabinet -- Deadline to apply is Friday, August 27
 
My mission is to empower girls of all backgrounds to lead the way -- in their own lives and for others. In order to accomplish this mission, I need your help.
 
Last year, I formed a "kitchen cabinet," a small group of Girl Scouts in high school to advise me on the needs, dreams, hopes, and passions of girls in our communities. The term "kitchen cabinet" was first used to describe the meetings in the White House kitchen between President Andrew Jackson and his friends to discuss government business. This small group of close advisers informally met to talk about matters surrounding government policy. 
 
I truly enjoyed working with my 2009-2010 Teen Kitchen Cabinet members to examine issues impacting teen girls in our community. In this same way, I am looking for a new group of girls in high school who wish to communicate and advise me on the needs of girls. (2009-2010 members are welcome to apply again.) The Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas CEO "Kitchen Cabinet" will be comprised of up to 12 Girl Scouts in high school. The cabinet will meet four times a year at locations throughout the council and will communicate with me and each other in-between meetings through e-mail. Saturday meetings scheduled for the 2010-2011 school year will take place on September 25 (10 a.m.-12 noon), December 4 (10 a.m.-12 noon), March 5 (12:30-2:30 p.m.) and May 14 (10 a.m.-12 noon).

If you are in high school, have an e-mail account that you check often, and want to help set the future direction for Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, then this is the team for you. Sound interesting? If you would like to serve on the CEO's "Kitchen Cabinet," e-mail me no later than August 27. Be sure to include in the e-mail your name, grade, school, service unit, mailing address, phone number, and answer to the following question: "What is the most important quality in a leader?"

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Anna Maria Chávez, GSSWT Chief Executive Officer

Girl Scouting provides an excellent forum for girls to learn the skills needed to become future leaders. In addition to the values learned through Girl Scout program, an all-girl environment enhances the sense of being safe and supported as girls develop their skills. Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas offers many leadership opportunities for girls including: Program Aide, Leader-in-Training, Service Unit Teen Organizer, and Girl Member of the Council Board of Directors.

The Girl Scout Program Aide (PA) is designed to enable girls to develop leadership skills by working with younger girls in a troop/group setting. As a PA, you'll learn problem-solving techniques, teaching methods, and basic outdoor skills that you can share with younger girls or troops.

Eligibility: Any girl who has completed 6th grade is eligible to take PA Core training.
Training: The core training course is approximately six hours and is designed to help girls build basic leadership skills and give them a basis for working with younger Girl Scouts. Upon completion of the PA Core class girls receive their PA Pin during a special closing ceremony.

Program Aide Patch: 25 hours of service with a younger Girl Scout troop, group or day camp are required to earn the patch.

The Leader-in-Training (LIT) project was created by GSUSA so that older girls would have the opportunity to acquire the skills and confidence needed to guide a group of younger girls, and to hold future leadership positions within and outside of Girl Scouting.

Requirements of a Leader In Training:
1. Attend Girl Scout Orientation and Basics.
2. Determine the grade level you would like to work with.
3. Observe a troop of the grade you will be working with. This may be a different troop than the one you will be doing the internship with. You will spend 3-5 hours observing the girls.
4. Internship with one troop on an ongoing basis. You will spend 25 hours planning and working directly with the troop to earn the LIT patch. These hours may be spread out over some months.
5. Execute the following responsibilities:

a. Lead with the mentor/Troop leader in planning troop/group activities and facilitating troop/group management. You should be responsible for planning, implementation, and evaluation as well as the mentor/Troop leader.
b. Implement activities while adhering to the principles of girl/adult partnership.
c. Exhibit exemplary behavior and act as a role model for the younger girls in the troop/group.
d. Be punctual and attend the meetings to which you have committed.
e. Give advance notice of your inability to fulfill any commitment.
f. Maintain a record of the time you spend with the assigned troop/group.
g. Provide the mentor leader with a signed parent/guardian permission slip when you plan to travel with the troop/group.

Leader-in-Training Pin and Patch: A girl will earn her LIT pin upon completion of her training, and an LIT patch is awarded at the end of her internship period.

The Service Unit Teen Organizer is a teen Girl Scout between the ages of 12-17, appointed by the Service Unit Director for a term of one year and is subject to reappointment. The Service Unit Teen Organizer is responsible for identifying, coordinating, and communicating to the service unit and council the needs of teen troops/girls. The Teen Organizer will actively participate in service unit meetings to inform and communicate with Leaders, identify and coordinate representatives to attend Prometheus Club meetings.

SU Teen Organizer Responsibilities:

• Identify the needs/interests of the Studio 2B Girl Scouts and communicate these needs/interests to the service unit.
• Maintain communication with council Teen Program Manager to receive, discuss, and distribute information about teen activities and resources.
• Promote an awareness of the national and international aspects of Girl Scouting including encouraging girls to participate in Studio 2B destinations. 
• Has knowledge of all aspects of the Studio 2B program including destinations, Silver Award, Gold Award, Focus Books, Interest Project Awards, teen news via e-mail, and teen leadership opportunities.
• Attends or has received appropriate training.
• Attends and participates in service unit meetings and service team meetings.
• Supports and promotes council product sale programs and SHARE Campaign.

Girl Board of Director Ex-Officio Members

Each association selects a teen Girl Scout (14-18 years old) to serve as an ex-officio girl board member. As ex-officio members, these eight girls do not vote, but attend all board meetings, providing valuable input on a variety of issues.

How does the selection process work?

• Interested girls must submit an application to the council office by Friday, December 11, 2009. 
• Each association's nominating committee will meet to interview the girls who applied and present their nominee at the winter association meetings.
• The names of the girl nominees are submitted to the council nominating committee in February.
• The eight girl nominees are voted in at GSSWT's annual meeting with the other incoming board members.
• Each association's girl representative will serve a one-year term, beginning immediately after the annual meeting. Girl board members may be nominated for a second term.

All teen Girl Scouts, ages 14-18, are encouraged to apply for this exciting leadership opportunity. Serving as a girl board member is an excellent way for teen Girl Scouts to become involved at the council level and experience the democratic process first hand! Apply today! 

For more information, contact:

Wanda Wehmeyer, 210.349.2404 ext. 225

Mentorship Program

Calling ALL Girl Scout Ambassadors (grades 11-12)
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas presents ...
Community Partner Mentorship Program

This program partnership is designed to give girls a real-world inside look into the profession they wish to learn more about. Girls will be partnered with professional women in their chosen career field for one semester to learn more about the career path, assist in work-related duties, engage in honest conversation about the field, network and make contacts, and gain practical field-related skills.

• The girl may assist the mentor in a super-internship capacity including, but not limited to:
  • Field/virtual research if working with a PhD or Professor
  • Attend meetings with community partner
  • Be a part of planning and executing programs/plans
  • Attend conference calls and provide feedback
• Some of the mentorship programs may only require virtual communication. Others will require face-to-face interaction/meetings.
• Girl Scout Leadership Experience Outcomes:
  • Discover
    • Girls develop a strong sense of self.
    • Girls gain practical life skills.
    • Girls seek challenges in the world.
    • Girls develop critical thinking.
  • Connect
    • Girls promote cooperation and team building.
    • Girls feel connected to their communities, locally and globally.
  • Take Action
    • Girls can identify community needs.
    • Girls are resourceful problem solvers.
    • Girls feel empowered to make a difference in the world.

Questions? Contact Wanda Wehmeyer (210.349.2404 ext. 225).

Get the application now! For fall 2010 program, applications must be submitted by July 20.

Enrichment Program for African-American High School Students!

ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders; to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. There are 26 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing arts, visual arts and business. Get more info here: Fact Sheet, Category Guidelines, Student Application