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HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL SCOUTS!

Dear Friends,

March is a very important month for Girl Scouts. It is the time of the year that we celebrate the founding of Girl Scouts in the United States by Juliette Gorden Low and this year is our organization's 94th birthday!

It has become a tradition for Buckeye Trails to honor our own very special women during national Girl Scout Week. On Friday, March 10th we will induct nine inspiring women into our Hall of Fame at our annual WINGS luncheon. The women are being honored for the many outstanding contributions that they have made to the Council. The inductees this year have demonstrated expertise in all aspects of Girl Scouts including a love for the outdoors and camping. They have shared their special gifts and served as wonderful role models for hundreds of girls throughout their many years of service. Please join me in saluting and thanking our new Hall of Fame inductees. Register online now to join us.

Later in the month, we will celebrate our "Young Women of Distinction". On Sunday, March 26th, we will be recognizing over 150 young women who have completed their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award projects. We are so very proud of each girl and their family for making a commitment to an important community service project and for making the world a better place. I am always amazed and humbled by the girls' achievements and know that they have learned so much about themselves that will stay with them as they go out into the world.  We will also be including our Girl Scout scholarships presentation during this ceremony. This year, seven of our graduating Senior Girl Scouts will receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $2000 and one lucky young woman will receive a four year renewable scholarship from Wright State University. Register online now to join us.

Sincerely, Ann Granger, CEO

ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING

The Annual Meeting for Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council will be held at 6:30 pm on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at the James S. Trent Arena, 3100 Shroyer Road, Kettering, Ohio. Cost is $18. Register online...

GIRL SCOUT -  CAMPAIGN FOR REAL BEAUTY

Thanks to Girl Scouts of the USA's national collaboration with Dove, you can download free copies  of true YOU! , a workbook specially designed for mothers and daughters. Why mothers and daughters? Because research shows that a mother's attitudes about her health and body image influence her daughter's ideas about her own sense of self and appearance.

The ten activities in the workbook on such things as sharing feelings, tracing one's heritage, puberty, and aspirationsare designed to raise self-esteem by encouraging mothers and daughters to embrace their own inner and unique beauty.

CHECK OUT THESE FUN ACTIVITIES

Science Night at Wittenberg

Walk for Women's Wellness

Ohio State Fair

HIT THE LINKS AT THE NINTH ANNUAL COOKIE CLASSIC

Summer is almost here – so grab those golf clubs, practice your swing and save the date for the 2006 Cookie Classic golf fundraiser, Monday, June 19th at Walnut Grove Country Club. Our annual golf scramble is a day of golf and fun to benefit Girl Scout programs and services. All proceeds will be used for Girl Scout programming in sports, career development and mentoring initiatives.

Spend a day on the greens with friends! There are many ways to participate in the Cookie Classic as a golfer or sponsor. Please contact Michelle Raleigh at 279-6550 or michelle_raleigh@btgirlscouts.org for more information

VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECKS

All day camp staff are required to go through a background check, per board policy that was passed in 2005.

Policy:  Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council is committed to providing a safe and quality program for girls in the community as they participate in the program. In order to continue safeguarding the girls in our care, our Council will conduct criminal background checks for new and re-registered volunteers who will be serving in the following positions: Board members, leader/advisor, assistant leader/advisor, day camp staff, service team members, and any volunteer with financial responsibilities, effective Girl Scout membership year 2005-2006.

The simplest way is to go to the Buckeye Trails website, and click on Volunteers and then the link to complete the background check. After you complete the authorization for the background check, you will be routed to Intellicorp, a secure website.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ARE HERE!

The Cookie Sale is going great and girls are busy delivering cookies to customers. Girls will continue taking orders and holding booth sales at many locations on the weekends through March.

Troop leaders – if you have not received an update on the cupboard locations please contact Lindsay_ehlers@btgirlscouts.org with your troop number and she will send you an updated listing of cupboard locations. 

Look for the Girl Scout Cookie Booth this year when visiting the Dayton Home and Garden Show.

IAMS CONTINUES OUTSTANDING SUPPORT

The Iams Company has been supporting Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council for over 24 years. This year they continued their commitment to the organization with a $7,500 grant in support of In School Scouting violence prevention programming. This brings their total contributions to the In School Scouting program to over $90,000 over the past 10 years. Without their generosity we would not have been able to grow the program into its current breadth and depth of serving more than 7,200 girls and boys in 45 schools in 5 counties of the Miami Valley.

In addition, they have provided funding for Pet First Aid programs and a generous gift of $100,000 to our Capital Campaign. The Iams Company has demonstrated a commitment to helping girls grow strong. Our sincere thanks to Iams for helping us extend the benefits of Girl Scouting to more girls each year!

SUMMER CAMP 2006!

We are celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Camp Whip-Poor-Will! Join us for a week full of fun. Check for special new sessions scheduled for Week 4! 

Check our website for the 2006 Summer Camp listings or call or email Patti Davy for a brochure…937-279-6521 or patti_davy@btgirlscouts.org.

cAMPING IN ACTION

DATE:  April 29, 2006    Time:  2-4   WHERE:  Camp Whip-Poor-Will

If you and your child want to learn more about Summer Camp – this is the time for you to visit Camp Whip-Poor-Will. Please register so we will be ready to give you a tour of camp and you will see girls doing what they do best – having a BLAST at camp!

For more information call or email Patti S. Davy at 937-279-6521 or 800-233-4845, ext 521 or patti_davy@btgirlscouts.org

COUNCIL OPERATED TROOP CAMPING- COTC

It's just around the corner, April 28–30! Camps Whip-Poor-Will, Rolling Hills and Greene will be swarming with troops taking advantage of Council programs and meals! What a way to camp!  Register now! It's going to be a blast!

HORSEBACK RIDING AND CHALLENGE COURSES

Don't get left out – book your troop for a horseback riding or a team building session on one of our 3 challenge courses! Challenge Courses open April 1 and runs through November 30. Horseback Riding begins May 1 and runs through October 31. Registration forms are on the website or in the Just Us Girls and Totally You program books.

 NEW CABINS AT CAMP WHIP-POOR-WILL

There is a unit of new cabins at Camp WPW. The Beechwood Unit now has 6 small cabins that hold 6 people each. This accommodates the same number of people as the tents did! You will love them. Check them out the next time you are at Camp WPW.