Keep up to date on our blog with what's going on in Girl Scouting in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Feel free to comment, too, although we do reserve the right to restrict comments or to remove any at any time.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
What's Your Story?
Today is my daughter's first birthday. For those of you that don't know me, a brief introduction--I've been a Girl Scout since 1st grade (before Daisies!), a Gold Award recipient and a lifetime member, and I've been a council staff member since 2001. So, it's inevitable that she'll be a Girl Scout--third generation. My daughter has two "Future Girl Scout" bibs and a "FGS" onesie already. I sing her Girl Scout camp songs each night, ending with Taps, of course. (Blame the recent rain on me, I've been singing Johnny Appleseed lately.)
As fast as this year's gone, I've been thinking that another four years will fly by and then she can become a Girl Scout Daisy. As I edit event guides and camp books, I eagerly think of the fun she'll have and remember the fond experiences I had as a Girl Scout. I'll have plenty of stories to tell her, from bridging to Adult Girl Scouting in Juliette's garden to several involving camping and unexpected water...and the occasional bat and baby mice!
Everyone involved with Girl Scouting has a story – a reason they became involved, a special memory, a skill learned, a friendship forged. While we all share the common thread of Girl Scouting, the great thing is that everyone’s story is as unique as the person telling it.
How has Girl Scouting helped you or someone you know develop courage, confidence and character? How have you made your corner of the world a better place because of the lessons learned through your Girl Scout experience?
Sharing your story can help others learn the real difference that Girl Scouting makes each day to girls, women and men, too! To share your story, e-mail me. Please include your first name, last name, age, county, phone number and number of years involved in Girl Scouting.
Note: By submitting this information, you agree that the Girl Scouts and its affiliates have the right to use it in any marketing or other materials, including print and electronic. Only the first name of girls will be used when their stories are shared.
After you've shared your story with me, check out the stories of Girl Scouts from across the nation on the GSUSA memory board.
Please welcome to our Dubuque Service CenterBrooke Gassman, at left, and Stephanie Carmichael, at right.
Brooke Gassman is from Dubuque and is the new development manager for the Dubuque Service Center.
She is responsible for developing and managing the Girl Scouts’ annual giving campaign, researching and producing funding proposals and providing support to the council’s fundraising program.
Brooke most recently worked as development and marketing director for Opening Doors in Dubuque. She has more than six years experience in fund development.
She is a Dubuque native and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from UpperIowaUniversity in 2000.
Stephanie Carmichael of Dubuque has moved from the council’s Quad Cities Service Center to the Dubuque Service Center as regional membership manager for Cedar, Clinton, Jones and Jackson counties in Iowa.
Steph started as a regional membership manager in May and began working with the Girl Scouts' Quad Cities Service Center as an outreach assistant in October 2007.
As regional membership manager, Steph is responsible for increasing and maintaining girl and adult volunteer participation in planning, organizing and implementing Girl Scouting in her territory in conformity with council goals and standards.
She formerly worked in the newspaper and printing industry for 10 years prior to working for the Girl Scouts. She’s attending ScottCommunity College majoring in psychology and will be attending ClarkeCollege in Dubuque in the fall of 2009.
Her parents, Cindy and Jim Gehn, are from LeClaire, Iowa, and a younger sister, Alysia Gehn, is stationed with the Navy in Florida.
For more information about Girl Scouts in the Dubuque area, check the council’s Web site at www.GSEIWI.org or call 563-583-9169.
Town Hall Meetings are your chance to voice your thoughts, concerns and ideas directly to GSEIWI board members and leadership team members. For those of you who could not attend a meeting, share your comments/ideas here.
