What’s your impression of the next generation of adults? Are young people today more moral and ethical than they were 20 years ago?

Popular TV shows and other media regularly depict teenagers making questionable life choices. However, things are much different in reality. In fact, young people today in Eastern Missouri and across the country are more apt to make responsible decisions and refrain from risky behaviors than young people in the recent past.

This is one of the findings in the latest study released by the Girl Scout Research Institute. The study, Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens and Tweens Today, is a fascinating look at how young people’s beliefs and values on a range of issues, from lying and cheating to drinking and smoking, have changed over the last two decades.

The nationwide survey involved more than 3,200 girls and boys in grades 3 through 12 and included focus groups with girls and moms in St. Louis. The study is nearly identical to one Girl Scouts commissioned in 1989, and a comparison of the two shows a clear shift toward more ethical and responsible values among tweens and teens.

Here are some examples from the study:

• Nearly two out of three young people surveyed in 2009 say they would not cheat on a test, compared to about half in 1989.
• Fifty-eight percent say they would refuse an alcoholic drink if offered one at a party; that’s compared to 46 percent in 1989.
• Only 18 percent (compared to 27% in 1989) say they believe smoking is okay if the person finds it enjoyable.

The study reveals that our young people value diversity and civic involvement in a big way:

• Nearly six in 10 say that being around people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds is important to them.
• Eighty-four percent are more likely to vote in the future, versus 77% of their predecessors.
• Seventy-eight percent believe it is everyone’s responsibility to take care of the environment.
• Some 79 percent say they will volunteer in their community.

I find these results to be very encouraging. Today’s generation of tolerant, responsible, civic-minded young people represents positive potential for the future.

Of course, this is not to say all is perfect. While many young people have good intentions about making responsible choices, they need help connecting these desires to action. That’s where adults come in. It is our responsibility to bridge these good intentions into good actions.

Organizations like Girl Scouts can help, by offering opportunities for girls to come together, develop skills and take the lead in projects that serve our community. GSEM’s annual April Showers campaign engages thousands of girls in collecting personal care items to benefit local families in need. Participants in our Challenge and Change program are developing sustainable solutions to specific community problems. Through the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Award projects, girls make the world a better place by championing a cause of their choice.

Opportunities like these help girls express themselves, build leadership skills, and develop the moral and ethical values that will serve them—and all of us—very well for generations to come.

Read the full study or the summary: http://www.girlscouts.org/research/publications/girlleadership/good_intentions.asp

And please share your thoughts with us.

Three thousand Girl Scouts had a great day.  That’s what happened on October 10^th at Troop Round Up.  The weather was nippy but the sun was out and it wasn’t raining!

Over 100 different activities were going on.  You couldn’t possibly participate in everything but you also couldn’t possibly be bored. 

Some girls were doing Karaoke while others were learning about ham radios.  Some girls were doing Pilates while others were making cat toys for the Humane Society.  Some girls were letter boxing while others were catching critters in Mystery Pond.

The biggest challenge of the day was getting everyone into camp.  Because of all the rain for days and days before the event, it was impossible to park cars on the camp fields.  Despite slightly over an hour wait for some folks, smiles, giggles and laughs were predominant.

Planning has already begun for next fall.  If you want to attend, be sure to participate in 2010 spring troop registration, because that is a pre-requisite.   

Last night, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri received a Workplace Diversity Award from A World of Difference Institute of the Anti-Defamation League of Missouri/Southern Illinois. 

This recognition is a tribute to the work of all the volunteers and staff of this council and I was proud to represent the organization in accepting this award on behalf of all of us. 

The diversity of our workplace reflects the diversity of our membership and the community, something in which we take great pride and embrace.  39% of our girl membership reflects the diversity of our region.  Our staff is 91% female, and 28% diverse.  This compares to a 21% diverse population in the jurisdiction we serve.

In just a few years, Girl Scouts will celebrate its 100^th anniversary.  As we continue to grow, we will continue to celebrate the diversity that thrives throughout our organization. 

The award is proudly sitting on the front desk of the St. Louis Service Center.  Be sure you see it next time you are at the center to visit the shop, the Emerson Resource Center or to attend a meeting.

I saw a wonderful video last night.  GSEM girls and adults were featured, discussing why they are members of this great organization.  The title of the video is “You Are the Leader We Want To Be”.  Production of the video was funded by a grant from Girl Scouts of the USA, to help us involve more girls from the African American, Hispanic and Bosnian communities, and to help recruit volunteers, particularly 18-30 year olds.

But last night wasn’t just about watching a video, it was an event!  About 75 people attended the video’s premiere.  As the “stars” of the video arrived, they walked the green carpet and were photographed, just as if they had arrived at the Academy Awards.  Both Miss Metro St. Louis and Miss Metro St. Louis Outstanding Teen interviewed the girls were in the video, autographs were granted, and everyone had a wonderful time. 

The video will be a great visual tool for helping to bring the Girl Scout story to life, showing potential volunteers the impact they too could have on girls, as a volunteer. Anyone is welcome to use the video.  Copies, on DVD, are available from the Hannibal and St. Louis Emerson Resource Centers and from any Membership Development Manager.  A long version and a short version are available, so it can be used in many different situations.  Very short clips are being distributed via movie theaters and used in their pre-movie advertisements.  Watch for them.

Wish you had been there last night!

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri received a $70,000 donation from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, to benefit our 2009 Urban Girl Scout program. 

If you are not familiar with this program, it is a membership outreach that provides girls who live in un-served and under-served parts of the council jurisdiction with an opportunity to participate in Girl Scouting. The Urban Girl Scout program reaches 1-in-2 girls in the City of St. Louis. Girl members participate in traditional and untraditional Girl Scout activities and learn valuable lessons on leadership, self-esteem, and how to make an impact in their community.

On behalf of all the girls benefiting from this grant, I thank the Anheuser-Busch Foundation for their continuing support.  Over the past 20 years, the Anheuser - Busch Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million to Girl Scouts in Eastern Missouri.

When meeting with Laura Reeves, senior director, Foundation and Corporate Giving at Anheuser-Busch, here’s what she said to me, “The Girl Scouts have a long history of helping girls and young women develop leadership skills and self-esteem through volunteerism, educational projects and social activities.  It’s important that every girl – no matter her economic background – has the chance to participate in these initiatives and contribute to her community.  Anheuser-Busch is pleased to help fund these opportunities for the Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri.”

Do you know what today is?  It’s 1,000 days before the 100^th anniversary of Girl Scouts, and our national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, is planning to celebrate in a big way!  The planning of 100^th anniversary initiatives is already underway with the goal to:

• Showcase the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
• Advance the brand
• Raise a significant amount of money
• Increase membership numbers and diversity

Some of the specific initiatives are a fundraising campaign, a community action project, a 100^th anniversary commemorative coin (needs congressional approval), a 100^th anniversary cookie, a young women’s world forum, a national gala, etc.

For Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, the 100^th anniversary coincides with GSEM’s “Shades of Green” event slated for 2012.   If you’ve never been to “Shades,” you won’t want to miss this one!  In 2007, about 15,000 participants enjoyed this event, which in a nutshell is like a Girl Scout-A-Palooza, showcasing everything that’s great about Girl Scouting.  Hard to imagine 15,000 people at one event?  Well, you just have to be there to believe it!  The Shades event committee is already starting their planning, which no doubt will include 100^th anniversary themes/activities.

In addition to Shades, other activities will be planned by a council-wide 100^th anniversary committee.  This committee will begin their planning this fall.

I know that wonderful things will continue to happen from now through our 100^th anniversary and well into the next 100 years of Girl Scouting.  And it happens because all 17,000 adult volunteers here in Eastern Missouri who work tirelessly … day after day and year after year … building girls of courage confidence and character.

Thank you

Need a shot of inspiration?  Attend a Girl Scout Reflections Ceremony. 

I did, and am delighted to say that at this year’s Reflections Ceremony on June 7, hundreds of Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors were honored with various awards.  It was an afternoon full of inspiration.

Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, kicked things off by sharing with over 900 audience members how her dream - Build-A-Bear - got its start, and encouraged the girls to reach for their own dreams.

Then, it was on to the awards presentation.

Seventy-seven Girl Scouts graduated from high school this year.  Fifty-four of them have been a Girl Scout for 13 years, which means they started as Girl Scout Daisies while in kindergarten.  Another 128 Girl Scouts celebrated having been a member for 10 years.

This year, over 325 young ladies completed all of the requirements for the Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.

Finally, 76 Girl Scout Ambassadors were honored for earning the highest award a girl may earn – the Girl Scout Gold Award.  Each girl came up on stage with her parent(s), who in turn, presented the award to their daughter.  Each honoree also received a personalized resolution from the Missouri State Senate honoring their individual accomplishments; recognition from the White House, the Missouri Governor and Attorney General; the United States Army; the Military Order of the World Wars; and Girl Scouts of the USA among others.

But what I loved most was hearing what some of the girls had to say about being a Girl Scout:  

“… developed my leadership potential, to expand my horizons, and to help others.”

“… increased my imagination and ability to solve problems.”

“… let me try things I would not have attempted otherwise, has made me a leader at school and in my youth group.”

“… allowed me to explore many areas I may not have been able to otherwise.”

“… has given me the opportunity to meet a diverse group of girls who have all had an impact on my life.”

“… made me confident, outgoing, well-rounded, and prepared me to face challenges with a positive attitude.” 

The Gold Award is quite an accomplishment.  A number of requirements must be met, all culminating in a “Project.” And that “Project” is something that a girl can be passionate about – in thought, deed and action. It should fulfill a need within a girl’s community, create change, and hopefully, is something that is sustainable.

Thanks to all the Girl Scout volunteers, parents and other family members who have helped all these girls grow into successful young women.

In light of the changing legal environment in the non-profit sector and best practices, the GSEM Board appointed a task force last fall to examine, review and prepare recommendations on the relationship of the Board of Directors to the Volunteer Management System.

More specifically, the group was asked to examine areas such as:

     - Lines of reporting of identified volunteer positions.

     - Accountability for oversight by the board of directors.

     - Existing policies and procedures supporting the volunteer management system.

Other areas, as deemed appropriate by the task force, if falling under the purpose of their work

As Laurna noted in her memo to the board, “It has recently been brought to the Board Chair’s attention that there are inconsistencies in the appointment and reporting requirements for volunteer positions. For example, the position descriptions for the council cookie manager is appointed by and reports to the Board Chair.”

At the January 2009 board meeting, the task force presented recommendations which were approved, and will be implemented throughout 2009. Members of the task force visited many different council committees (field committee, camp committee, volunteer services committee, meeting of learning facilitators, etc.) to explain these recommendations and the changes to come.

Among those recommendations was the establishment of a Membership Connections Committee (MCC). 

The purpose of the MCC is to provide input into major policy issues of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.  It will be the entity within the Council governance system that connects Council governance to members throughout the council’s jurisdiction. 

Board member Gaye Rieschel is the founding chair of the committee, as appointed by board chair, Laurna Godwin.  Members of the MCC will be appointed by the Board of Directors via an application process (due August 15) for girl and adult members.

Click here for more information about this new committee, how it will be constituted and the application.

Membership Connections Information & Application.doc (90.00 kb)

At 10 AM on May 15^th, two Girl Scout Daisies, pounded the gavel and brought to order the general meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis.  It was a great sight to behold, and no surprise that both of the Daisies had to be helped to reach the gavel!

Prior to the beginning of the meeting, Girl Scouts held a reception for the aldermen/women so they could learn all about what we are doing for girls in the City of St. Louis. Hopefully more of the aldermen/women will partner with us so that even more girls have the opportunity to gain courage, confidence and character.  I am grateful to Alderwoman Donna Barringer, who was our hostess.

Alderwoman Barringer also ensured that a proclamation was presented to us at the meeting in the council chambers.  Following the presentation, Alderwoman Barringer asked any of the alderwomen who had been Girl Scouts to join us at the podium, and asked all the other women in the room who had been Girl Scouts, to stand.  As you can imagine, most of the women in the room were either standing or had joined us at the podium.

It showed exactly what I learned many years ago that 40% of American women were Girl Scouts….that 66% of professional women were Girl Scouts, and….that 79% of women who excel in their profession were Girl Scouts.

Last night the district cookie managers had a wonderful end of cookie sale celebration and paid tribute to Judy Brackman for her nine years of service as council cookie sale manager.  During her time in this position, Judy shared some of the changes she saw including more use of technology, the addition of booth sales and cookie cupboards and many tweaks to girl incentives.  The group presented Judy with a number of gifts including a lovely new fishing rod so that she can enjoy her favorite pastime even more and a cookie puzzle signed by all in attendance.

Thank you Judy, for all you’ve done…for the girls!