Tag: girl scouts

Girl Scouts cancel summer day, resident camps

The Girl Scouts of Western New York has made the decision not to open its day and resident camps for more than 2,000 girls this summer due to safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus, officials said Tuesday.

The decision also affects some 160 seasonal staff that will not be hired. Families, staff and Girl Scout members were notified of the decision earlier today. Girl Scouts of Western New York plans to offer virtual and alternative camping and Girl Scout programming instead.

“While this is obviously a hard decision, we doubt this comes as a surprise to most people,” Girl Scouts CEO Alison Wilcox said in a statement. “We must put the safety of girls, families, volunteers and staff first, and there’s no way we can see accommodating campers in proximity to each other and staff in camp settings safely during this time.”

GSWNY operates day camps at Camp Piperwood in Fairport, as well as three other day and resident camps in Western New York. Last summer, more than 2,000 Girl Scouts attended those camps through various summer sessions. Piperwood served 338 girls.

All camp property rentals have been canceled through Aug. 31, 2020, and pre-registration fees for campers and rentals will be refunded within 30 days. In addition, the suspension of all in-person Girl Scout activities is extended until at least June 30.

Camp staff last summer included 58 at Piperwood. Camp directors will continue to work this summer, assisting with virtual and other programming GSWNY plans to offer. GSWNY is surveying families to determine what type of summer programming they seek.

“We made the decision now so seasonal camp staff has as much notice as possible to help them make alternate plans for summer jobs, and parents have notice to find alternative child care for the summer,” Wilcox said. “We also understand the disappointment our Girl Scouts and their families will feel without these opportunities. We want them to know Girl Scouting has remained strong for over 100 years and our camp programs will still be here for future summers.”

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
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Girl Scouts practice entrepreneurial skills with cookies

A phalanx of pint-sized salespeople will be reaching out in the Rochester area starting Tuesday, Jan. 7.

It’s Girl Scout cookie selling season, when girls across the area will be selling packages of Thin Mints, Trefoils, Lemonades and several other favorite cookies. The cookie program lasts through March 29, including sales at booths in the area.

The cookies come at a higher price this year: $5 a box. While that represents a 25 percent increase in the cost, each box is at a substantially lower price point than the fundraising items offered by another scouting organization.

It's that time of year when budding entrepreneurs appeal to your sweet tooth. (Photo Supplied)
It’s that time of year when budding entrepreneurs appeal to your sweet tooth. (Photo supplied)

New this year, too, is updated packaging, with new images of scouts canoeing, building robots and installing solar panels, among other activities.

“As the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, the Girl Scout Cookie Program provides girls with an unparalleled experience to hone their entrepreneurial skills and build a lifetime of leadership,” said Allison Wilcox, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western New York.

People who want cookies but don’t know a local Girl Scout to patronize can reach out to the Girl Scouts of Western New York by website or by calling (888) 837-6410.

The scouts’ organizational materials encourage fans of the Thank You cookie – a shortbread cookie backed in a chocolaty coating – to stock up and freeze them, because they won’t be available again after this season.

[email protected]/(585) 363-7275

Girl Scouts honor two local women entrepreneurs

Girl Scouts of Western New York will recognize two local women for their leadership in their careers at the agency’s annual Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony in September.

Linda Clark M.D. and Lori Van Dusen will join seven other Western New York women as 2019 Women of Distinction honorees. Clark is a doctor of preventive medicine and occupational medicine and founder and CEO of Clark Occupational Medicine Services. Van Dusen is founder and CEO of LVW Advisors.

“Our 2019 women of Distinction honorees exemplify the meaning of extraordinary leadership both personally and professionally with a strong commitment to making our world a better place,” Girl Scouts CEO Alison Wilcox said in a statement. “Each of the 2019 honorees serve as inspiration for the type of phenomenal leaders that girls and young women can grow to become.”

The honorees were nominated by members of the community for their demonstrated leadership in their careers and in their communities through public service. The women are considered role models for all girls, and in accepting the award they commit to mentoring the young women involved with the Women of Distinction event.

The program is part of the nationwide Girl Scouts of the USA program and is designed to recognize the achievements of women, provide mentoring opportunities for older Girl Scouts and fund local Girl Scout educational opportunities and programs for girls aged 5 to 17.

The Women of Distinction event will be held Sept. 26 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Buffalo. Proceeds from the event will benefit programming for girls throughout Western New York.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
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Girl Scouts name eight Women of Distinction

Girl Scouts of Western New York
Girl Scouts of Western New York

Eight Western New York women, including three in the Rochester region, will be honored as Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Western New York.

Locally, Lindsay Cray, co-founder and executive director of Earthworks Inc.; Batavia City Council Member PattiAnn Pacino; and Hon. Joanne Winslow, associate justice of the state Supreme Court, are among the 2018 winners, who will be celebrated Sept. 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Buffalo.

The Erie County and Chautauqua County honorees include:
• Roseanne Frandina, president of Frandina Engineering and Land Surveying;
• Althea Luehrsen, CEO of Leadership Buffalo Inc.
• Venus Quates, founder and CEO of launchTECH;
• Dilara Samadi M.D., an OB/GYN with Buffalo Medical Group; and
• Betsy Wright, president of UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital

The honorees were nominated by members of the community for their demonstrated leadership in their careers and in their communities through public service. The winners are considered role models for all girls, and in accepting the award, they commit to mentoring the young women involved with the Women of Distinction event, officials said.

“Our outstanding 2018 Women of Distinction honorees have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and are both personally and professionally committed to making our world a better place, said Judith Cranston, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western New York. “Each of the 2018 honorees exemplify what it means to be a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) and are an inspiration to the next generation of female leaders.”

The Women of Distinction program is part of the nationwide Girl Scouts of the USA program and is designed to recognize the achievements of women, provide mentoring opportunities for older Girl Scouts and fund local Girl Scout educational opportunities and programs for girls aged 5 to 17.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer

Girl Scouts begin 2018 cookie season

Girl Scouts of Western New York
Girl Scouts of Western New York

Forget about that New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Girl Scouts of Western New York has kicked off its 2018 cookie season.

Girl Scouts in the region will again sell Girl Scout S’mores, the most popular flavor to launch in the 101 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies, as well as classics such as Thin Mints and Caramel deLites.

During Girl Scout Cookie season, each G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) strives to sell cookies while also building entrepreneurial and business skills that are imperative for leadership and future success, officials said. Nearly 1 million Girl Scouts participate in the cookie program each year, generating nearly $800 million in sales during the average season.

With 100 percent of the revenue staying in Western New York, councils use cookie earnings to power experiences for girls through their programming, while girls and their troops decide how to invest in effective community projects, personal enrichment opportunities and more.

“The Girl Scout Cookie program offers girls an opportunity to do extraordinary things,” said Judith Cranston, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western New York. “As the largest entrepreneurial program for girls in the world, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is powering the next century of girl entrepreneurs toward greatness, and adult volunteers and girls can still join Girl Scouts.”

This year cookies will be sold door-to-door and at booth sales, as well as through the Digital Cookie platform, an innovative and educational web-based addition to the cookie program that helps girls run and manage their Girl Scout Cookie businesses online.

Girl Scouts of Western New York has kicked off its 2018 Girl Scout Cookie season.
Girl Scouts of Western New York has kicked off its 2018 Girl Scout Cookie season.

Girl Scouts of the USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping all girls develop the confidence, determination and skills needed to thrive in today’s world. Girl Scouts of Western New York serves nearly 15,000 girls and 7,000 adult volunteers across the nine-county region.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer