New Website!

GSNI is happy to announce that we have a new website. This site is also the new home of our blog. You can see the new site at www.girlscoutsni.org and keep up to date with the news at http://www.girlscoutsni.org/about-us/news. Please join us at our new website!

GSNI Trains over 40 People in USA Archery Training

GSNI has successfully trained over 40 people in USA Archery Training! These people are now certified in Level 1 Archery Facilitating, so they can facilitate archery training in any location. If you are interested in participating in our next Archery Training visit our website. The next training date is May 5 at Camp Far Horizons.

Congratulations to the newest  Level  1 Archery Facilitators:

Aimee Van Cleve	Denise M Mercuri	Louise Catheryne Glon
Amy Goze	Donna L Riggs	Michelle A Grossman
Angela J Mcmeel	Elizabeth Casanova	Nancy Kownick
Angela M Rankin	Elizabeth K Molyneaux	Noel Ikow
Anne Victory	Heike Volkhart	Sandra A Tegel
Annemarie Hocking	Jennifer J Hoffmann	Sonia Haase
Becca A Ketter	Jennifer Lynn Foust	Suzi Zinzer
Betty Szwankowski	Jill M Smith	Verenice A Flores-Toledano
Brenda K Carlson	Jolea Kalvin	Vicky Ann Kosydar
Carol S Ayars	Kathryn Kuecker	Victoria L Kilgore
Carolyn Wolf	Katrina Hallam
Carrie Miller	Kelly Kading
Cathleen Fritts	Krista Kooistra
Danette A Whyte	Linda M Strohschein

Having it All: Girls and Financial Literacy

In our ever-changing global economy and world, financial skills are leadership skills. As the premier leadership organization for girls, Girls Scouts helps girls build financial experience, confidence, and independence by providing them with resources focused on everything from saving money, developing strong credit, and minimizing debt, to philanthropic giving and financing their dreams.

Girl Scouts is committing to the financial empowerment of American girls. Our shift from simple fundraising to financial education has been underway for some time and continues to bolster the relevance of Girl Scouting to today’s girls. The current economic recession and resulting awareness of how important financial literacy is for all youth—especially girls—has given our approach a real charge.

Recently, the Girl Scouts Research Institute conducted a study, titled Having it All: Girls and Financial Literacy, to see how this shift from fundraising to financial education has impacted girls. Here are some quick findings:

• Girls see little difference between genders when it comes to financial capability, with seven in ten saying that both men and women are equally likely to be financially responsible (73 percent) or in a lot of debt (72 percent).
• The vast majority of girls (94 percent) would rather make their own money than rely on their parents, and 80 percent would rather make their own money than marry someone who would support them financially.
• Nearly all girls say it is likely that they will have jobs or careers they enjoy (98 percent); be able to provide for their families (96 percent); and own their own homes (95 percent) one day. They are similarly optimistic about obtaining college degrees (96 percent); being able to retire comfortably (92 percent); being able to save a lot of money (90 percent); and making a lot of money (87 percent).
• Girls primarily say they learn about money and finances from their moms (85 percent), dads (61 percent), teachers or guidance counselors (20 percent), financial classes in school (14 percent), and friends (12 percent)
• Nine in ten (90 percent) girls say it is important for them to learn how to manage money, and 88 percent say that it is important to set financial goals.

The financial education girls receive through the Girl Scout program empowers girls to become financially sound and successful women. Thank you for your support of these programs; be it through volunteering, by supporting a Girl Scout or by purchasing Girl Scout Products. For a full look into this study visit the Girl Scouts Research Institute.

Meet a Camp Director – Laura Bumba

We want to introduce you to GSNI’s Camp Directors! We will be posting these introductions to help you meet our camp staff. Meet Laura “Chai” Bumba, Camp Director at Camp McCormick!

Hi! I’m Laura “Chai” Bumba, Camp Pathway Specialist for Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois and Camp Director for the 2013 resident camp season at Camp McCormick. This will be my second summer as camp director for GSNI and I am truly looking forward to another stellar summer. If you know only one thing about me, remember this: I LOVE camp! Camp combines adventure, independence, responsibility, teambuilding, and so much more in an atmosphere of pure FUN! While I still consider myself a camper at heart, it is my greatest pleasure to have found an occupation that allows me to share this experience with others. Beyond the image of campfires and s’mores, summer camp offers the opportunity for people of all ages to disconnect from technology and reconnect with others in the great outdoors. Nothing compares to the camaraderie of making new friends or the sense of accomplishment after creating your first fire!

Interested in signing up for camp and spending some time at Camp McCormick? Visit our website for more information!

GSNI’s LEGOlettes on WGN

This past Thursday, April 11, GSNI LEGOlettes team was invited to appear on WGN’s Morning News Show to talk about their experience competing with robots during National Robotics Week. You can watch the entire LEGOlettes segment on WGN’s site. Congratulations girls!

2013 Bling Your Booth Contest Winners!

Congratulations to the following troops for winning this year’s Bling Your Booth Contest. All winners will receive gift certificates to our Council Store.

	Elgin	Freeport	Rockford	Sugar Grove
First Place	Troop 1195	Troop 5242	Troop 3399	Troop 4801
Second Place	Troop 1141	Troop 5043	Troop 3223	Troop 449
Third Place	Troop 201	Troop 5033	Troop 3398	Troop 4137

Here are photos of the First Place Winners. You can view photos of all of the winners

on our Facebook Page.

Rockford Service Center – First Place: Troop 3399

Sugar Grove Service Center – First Place: Troop 4801

Freeport Service Center – First Place: Troop 5242

Elgin Service Center- First Place: Troop 1195

Don’t Miss These Great Camp Opportunities!

With warmer temperatures beginning to be the norm in the forecast, there is no better time to think about camp. Girl Scout Camp can be a wonderful experience. Just ask Emma, who recently submitted her entry for our “Top Ten Reasons I love Girl Scout Camp” contest. Here’s her list:

1. meeting new girls
2. the helpers… No-name, shrimpy, lizard, rainbow
3. writing on t shirts at the end
4. campfire fire making
5. repeat after me songs
6. camp names
7. playing frogger
8. taking a midnight hike with our leader to the fridge
9. road trip
10. swaps

Take a look at a list of programs available for you or your Girl Scout! GSNI offers a wide variety of programs for every girl. Registration is available online, by clicking on the session title or by visiting our website.

Session Name	Camp	Dates	Grade
Counselor-in-Training I	Dean	June 23-July 3	10-12
Six Days: Five Camps	McCormick	June 23-28	9-12
Taste of McCormick	McCormick	June 23-26	4-6
Cowgirl Up!	Dean	June 30-July 3	6-8
Creek Stomping	Dean	June 30-July 3	2-4
Taste of McCormick	McCormick	June 30-July 3	2-4
McCormick or Bust	McCormick	June 30-July 3	4-6
On Belay!	Dean	July 7-12	7-9
Splash ‘n Sports	Dean	July 7-12	5-7
Night Owls	McCormick	July 7-12	6-8
On Belay!	Dean	July 14-19	6-8
Camp Dean Day Camp	Dean	July 15-19	1-5
Have Backpack, Will Travel	McCormick	July 14-19	8-10
Mission H2O	McCormick	July 14-19	3-5
Canoes, Kayaks, and Rafts	Dean	July 21-26	8-10
Night Owls	Dean	July 21-26	5-7
Survivor	McCormick	July 21-26	7-9
Artist Delight	McCormick	July 21-26	3-5
Survivor	Dean	July 28-Aug 2	5-7
Artist Delight	Dean	July 28-Aug 2	3-5
Outdoor Sampler	McCormick	July 28-Aug 2	3-5

GSNI’s 2013 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Event

Information for this year’s annual meeting has been sent out. The event will be held on April 27, at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center on the campus of Northern Illinois University. For more information CLICK HERE to download the Call to Meeting booklet. (Note: the Call to Meeting Booklet has been revised since it was originally posted and mailed. Please download for the latest version. Thank you.)

Online registration is also available by clicking HERE.

We hope to see you there!

Change in Membership Fees for 2013-2014 Membership Year

Girl Scouts of the USA’s (GSUSA) National Board of Directors has voted to increase annual Girl Scout Membership Dues to $15 beginning in 2013–2014. Every dollar of the membership dues is sent to GSUSA and provides accident insurance covering members participating in approved Girl Scout activities, program development, research, resources, training and services to councils.

The updated fee will be incorporated into the online registration process with 2014 early registration beginning on April 1, 2013. The slight increase will allow GSUSA to provide higher-quality services and resources to members via more efficient learning and tools for delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, as well as technology that makes joining Girl Scouts fast and easy! At $15, membership remains a great value!

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is sensitive to the continuing economic challenges that affect many in our council, and realize that this $3 increase may be a hardship for some. No girl will be denied access to Girl Scouting for financial reasons. Financial assistance is available and provides confidential, need-based support to individuals seeking Girl Scout membership.

International Opportunities to Connect with Girl Scouts

GSNI recently received e-mails from Girl Scouts and Girl Guides requesting connecting with Girl Scouts in our council! Please read the emails below and contact the writer, if you are interested in the opportunity!

Good Morning,

My name is Jennie Barton.  I am a Troop Leader in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails).  I have a Daisy Troop and a Brownie Troop.  We are working on Flat Daisy and Flat Brownie project.  We are looking for Daisy and Brownie troops in your area that might want to participate in this adventure with us.  Could you please forward this information to troops in your council?  We would like to get troops from all Councils to participate.

The Flat Daisy and Flat Brownie come from the children’s book “Flat Stanley”.  It is the story of a young boy who gets flattened and mailed around the world.  Our troops have made a Flat Daisy doll and a Flat Brownie doll.  We will mail the doll and her journal to the troops interested in participating.  They can do activities with her, then place pictures, badges, and stories into her journal.  She is then mailed to the next troop.  Troops will be able to see what adventures she has had along the way.

Troops that are interested would need to contact me.  The best way to contact me is by email.  Here is my contact information:

Jennie Barton, Troop 1680
Email:  belongajennie@gmail.com

Thank you for helping us to meet our goal of reaching every council,

Jennie

—-

Hi! I am a Girl Guide from Rugeley in England. My town is twinned with Western Springs in Cook County. I would like to find a Girl Scout Unit that I could get in contact with – my guides are interested in making friends from around the world. I recently went to the Centenary camp in New Jersey, which was absolutely amazing. I would really like to get in contact with a troop from there.
Thank you!

Cara Rees
marie.cat@hotmail.co.uk