I was in the Girl Scouts from first grade all the way to my senior year in HS. I was able to earn my silver award, but due to all my other activities couldn't get my gold award. During my last 4 years in HS we did so many fun things together as a troop like, horseback riding, skiing, and white water rafting. Many of those things I probably would have been able to do if I were not in GS. Our troop was a close knit group, just like a sorority is!!

When I went through rush KD had just picked up the GS as one of their philanthropies. That was something that really drew them to me, along with all their other work with children.

I was asst. GS leader to a local troop that we had in KD. It was so much fun to be connected with them again.

Carnation, I just found out that my home council is being combined as well! Nationals wants Licking Valley to combine with Great Rivers, but we're a Kentucky council and Great Rivers is in Ohio so they're at least trying to get together with another KY council. My camp is being dumped too, I'm completely heartbroken over it. It's been a while since I've been up on all the national politics. Any thoughts on why all the change?

All I can figure is money. Back in the day, practically every little girl was a Brownie and usually she was a Junior as well. Around the late sixties, it became uncool to be an older Scout in many areas.

Anyway, now numbers are really down because girls have all these options that they didn't have before, like sports, and the money coming into Scouting must be way down as well.

I can totally see why the money would be down in Licking Valley, I mean, who has heard of Erlanger, KY? But in Atlanta? When I was involved in that council, my advisor told me they got all their money from Coke, Delta, Home Depot, ... you get the idea. Are they really hurting that much?

Combining councils across state lines is not necessarily a huge issue. The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital includes all of the District, parts of MD and parts of VA. It works for our area.

you're completely right, it's not a huge issue. I just happened to visit my old council's website and read about it from their Spring Annual notes. They were making a big deal about it and trying to combine with a group in KY. Honestly, it has more to do with existing stereotypes from that Northern KY / Cincinnati area. Some people act like you're leaving the country by crossing the river. I wish I were better informed about what is going on, though. It's only been four years, but I feel like I've lost all my contacts there!

There are major socioeconomic, political and other differences between District, VA and MD residents which are mirrored in the Girl Scouts membership. This is not a bad thing, it's just the way it is. I don't know how the GSCNC can meet the needs of its Girl Scouts but it does.

BTW, when I cross the Potomac, I do feel like I'm in another world!

I too have fond memories of Girl Scouts, the camping -the cookies, the badges for community service- ceremonies :) I only made it to the junior level and coveted that cadette uniform ;but it had disbanded before I could get to that level -and still ask my mom why? to this day. I still support their cookie sales annually-love those tag-a-longs, thin mints and trefoils!

I was a girl scout from 2nd to 7th grades. I left in cadettes, when apparently it was still called that. My sorority, Omega Phi Alpha, which is a national service sorority, my chapter each semester does Girl Scout Badge Day where we set up stations and help girl scouts earn 2 badges. Its one of my favorite service projects!

Council realignments
 

The Council realignments really have to do with fiscal responsibility. A Council serving a small number of girls has a much higher administrative cost per girl than a Council serving a larger number of girls does. It will be a struggle for everyone to adjust to the changes, but this may also bring new opportunities to our girls. :)

Wow...the only time I was ever a Girl Scout was when lived near Waco. I was a Brownie back in the day. I dropped it when I moved and never had time to get involved in Girl Scouts again, but now that I'm back in Waco for college, I get to be involved with my old GSUSA council through KD. :)

As for the changes, I'm sad that they went to the khaki uniforms for the older girls. The blue was so much prettier! Oh well.

"As for the changes, I'm sad that they went to the khaki uniforms for the older girls. The blue was so much prettier! Oh well."

The girls who just graduated this year were the last group eligible for the blue uniform. Most of them preferred the color and the cut of the blue over the tan. The blue vest was longer and could fit more IPPs and patches.

Hm, an intersesting analogy.


But doesent one thing lead to another?:confused: :)

Sorority programs with Girl Scouts
 

Do any sororities besides Kappa Delta currently have programs with Girl Scouts? Maybe just something your chapter does?

They changed the uniforms??? Wow, that is a pretty big change too.

I was a Brownie and Junior scout, from 2nd to 6th grade. I almost didn't get to be a GS my 6th grade year, because we couldn't get a troop volunteer the first part of the year. After that, of course, there were no volunteers for a Cadette troop and we were afraid to continue because the Cadette troop leader was kind of a mean lady. :( I really wish I would have found some way to get involved. I later found out that a friend across town stuck with it on her own throughout high school.

Part of me would like to volunteer, but I'm afraid I might have too much on my plate already. But when I have kids, you can bet they'll be trying out Girl Scouts!

We have Girl Scout Badge Day each semester, and we have around 60 girl scouts come, and we set up stations and help them earn 2 badges. It was very cute doing this, and its one of my favorites that my chapter does!

Just as a side note one of my sisters in my alum chapter works with our local council. She has organized a group called "Lady Scouts" to do things like help mentor and work with local troops. Since I was a junior for 2 years she asked me to help, but I was not able to make the time commitment. After reading this maybe I should shoot her an email and make the time.

Nu Chapter has done this before as well. I remember doing Girl Scouts way back in elementary school - we did some fun things, but also some weird things (why do Brownies need a makeup and skin care workshop put on by Mary Kay ladies? Really?) ... I still have some of my gear somewhere.

When OPhiA was first founded, it was a requirement you had to have been in Girl Scouts or Campfire Girls - b/c of APhiO's connection with BSA, and OPhiA's connection with APhiO.

Dreamfulspirit -

I see by your siggy that you're trying to bring OPA to NCSU???? Oooh! Details!!!

New DG/Girl Scout Program
 

:)
I read today of a new DG-Girl Scout initiative that combine service for sight programs with the Scouts. The program is described on the DG website (check under What's New). Scouts earn a special DG badge for completing the program. It sounds like a nice way for alumnae and collegians to get involved in a different spin on service for sight.

http://www.deltagamma.org/dg_news.shtml:)

I do hope you will volunteer for your daughters. The biggest challenge facing Girl Scouts is the lack of volunteers to be troop leaders. So many of us are no longer stay-at-home moms or feel we don't have the outdoor skills needed. There is training. Or we don't have time...you know the answer to that, you make time for what is important.

I really think this is wonderful! If DGM's link doesn't work, try this:

http://www.deltagamma.org/forms/girl_scouts.pdf

I hope Girl Scouts stays around forever...it was an important part of my childhood and who doesn't want to be a Brownie?!

Any group that works with them is A+ in my book

I didn't. I had absolutely no desire to be one.

She was being rhetorical;)

Yup ;)

In college, people often referred to us Gamma Sigs as "girl scouts", because we are a Service Sorority, and have a non-discrimination policy.

I was never a Girl Scout, but I agree that the principles, standards and purposes do mirror those of sororities (whether in theory or in practice).

Dude, I don't know what you're smoking, but it's only polite to share.

I once heard a story about a group of teenage Girl Scouts who made themselves shirts with Gamma Sigma on them--a way to unify their Girl Scout troop without openly revealing their membership. :)