Thursday, October 19, 2017, Girl Scouts of Colorado celebrated 20 years of Amazing Women of Distinction during the 20th Anniversary Thin Mint Dinner at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. This year, we had the unique opportunity to honor all 426 Women of Distinction who have been recognized since the program began in 1997, and awarded a very special group of Women of Distinction with a 2017 Award. The Awardees were selected through voting by Women of Distinction, and are shining examples of corporate, civic, and philanthropic leadership who serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow. The 2017 Awardees were: Advocacy for Youth – Elaine Gantz Berman ’02, Former Member, State Board of Education Progressive Community Leader – Juana Bordas ’03, President, Mestiza Leadership International Accomplished Philanthropist – Arlene Hirschfeld ’97, Community Volunteer Dedication to Girl Scouts – Jean C. Jones ’07, Former CEO, Girl Scouts Mile Hi Council Lifetime Achievement LaRae Orullian ’97, Retired National President, Girl Scouts of the USA Advocate for Women & Girls – Jill S. Tietjen, P.E. ’97, President and CEO, Technically Speaking, Inc. Commitment to Public Service – Hon. Elbra M. Wedgeworth ’04, Chief Government and Community Relations Officer, Denver Health Nearly 500 guests gathered for the celebration chaired by Women of Distinction Maria Garcia Berry ’97, Jean Galloway ’97, and Arlene Hirschfeld ‘97. The evening’s speakers included Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Sylvia Acevedo, Gold Award Girl Scout Emma Albertoni, and event host Theresa Marchetta ’10. Since 1997 Girl Scouts of Colorado has recognized 426 Denver-area women with this honor. More than $2 million has been raised in 20 years for Girl Scout programs by Women of Distinction. Thank you to our Silver Presenting Sponsors, DISH and MDC Richmond American Foundation, and our Bronze Presenting Sponsor, Colorado Business Bank. For more information on the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction program, visit our website: http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/woddenver. To see videos from the event, visit: https://youtu.be/IFyQ2LQdLyI, https://youtu.be/eC7ykrGd_mU, and https://youtu.be/1WwnPsECfWg To see photos from the event, go to:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/gscolorado/albums/72157688994787751 #ThinMintDinner #Denver #funddevelopment #MetroDenver #WomenofDistinction

Submitted by Sharon Manning Northern & Northeastern CO Longmont Troop 73392 is eagerly anticipating the Fourth Annual Girl Scout Holiday Bazaar in Longmont on December 2, 2017. In addition to baked good items and beautiful handmade gift bags, the girls have been working to create Girl Scout Cookie jewelry. The holiday bazaar in Longmont started four years ago with a total of six booths. The ensuing years have seen this unique event grow to almost 20 booths with troops or individual Girl Scouts from the Front Range selling a variety of hand-crafted items from jewelry to pet treats and everything in between. This event allows girls to showcase both their artistic and entrepreneurial talents while working towards individual and troop goals. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #GSCOevents #HolidayBazaar #Longmont #NorthernampNortheasternCO

From Girl Scouts of the USA Studies have predicted that within the next decade, the U.S. workforce will need 1 million more STEM professionals than it can produce. Girl Scouts has already been expanding opportunities for girls to explore STEM and today we announced the Girl Scout STEM Pledge. This groundbreaking national initiative pledge seeks to reduce the STEM gender gap by raising $70 million, impacting 2.5 million girls by 2025. Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, announced the pledge during Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual gathering and the largest software conference in the world. GSUSA was honored to be selected as a “Trailblazer” and nonprofit of choice at this year’s conference. By selecting the organization, Salesforce acknowledged Girl Scouts’ work in STEM and its ability to transform the lives of millions of girls across the country, in virtually every residential zip code, preparing the next generation of female leaders. “Girl Scouts has the largest pipeline of future female leaders available, and no place is this more important than in STEM fields,” said Acevedo. “By working with individuals and companies that understand the importance of investing in all girls, we can fundamentally change the STEM pipeline and the future of its workforce. Girl Scouts is the only organization for girls with the expertise and reach to help pave the way for any young girl—no matter if she lives in Middle America or a major city—to break barriers and achieve any dream she may imagine. For millions of girls, this means excelling in STEM—and I’m incredibly proud that the Girl Scout STEM Pledge will make that dream a reality and change the dynamics of women in these exciting fields.” Our commitment to encouraging girls to discover and excel in STEM fields is already yielding real results: Girl Scouts are almost twice as likely as non–Girl Scouts to participate in STEM activities (60 percent versus 35 percent), and 77 percent of girls say that because of Girl Scouts, they are considering a career in technology. To support the Girl Scout STEM Pledge through individual and corporate donations, visit www.girlscouts.org/STEMpledge. Read more about Girl Scouts’ STEM programming and initiatives. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GSUSA #STEM #STEMpledge

Submitted by Mallory Wolff Northern & Northeastern CO Fort Collins Saturday, November 11, 2017, Kappa Delta Sorority invites you and your Girl Scouts to join our last workshop of the fall semester from noon -3 p.m. Kappa Delta Sorority created International Girls Day (IDG) as both an initiative and national holiday. With the theme “She Can Do Anything,” it’s a day to build confidence in girls and help them realize their potential (more information about IGD can be found at http://www.kappadelta.org/initiatives/international-girls-day/). Our International Girls Day celebration will be held at our chapter facility (412 W. Laurel Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521). At this workshop, we will host several confidence-building activities. Girl Scouts will also have the opportunity to work with Kappa Deltas on writing their own stories based off the children’s book “When I Was A Girl… I Dreamed” by Margaret Baker. We will also provide tea, lemonade, and sandwiches for Girl Scouts, troop leaders, and guardians in attendance! This event is open to Girl Scouts of all ages! If you are interested in joining us, please email me (phiepsilonvpcs@gmail.com) before Thursday, November 9 at 5 p.m. with the name and age of your Girl Scout. She will also earn an International Girls Day patch for participating in the workshop (link to the patch can be found at https://www.kappadeltaboutique.com/details/category/initiatives/girl-scouts/product/round-international-girls-day-patch/). We look forward to having you join us, and thank you for your support of the Kappa Delta/Girl Scout collaboration! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #GSCOevents #ColoradoStateUniversity #KappaDelta #NorthernampNortheasternCO #CSU #FortCollins

Submitted by Carla Kia Northern & Northeastern CO Erie A growing number of Girl Scouts are thinking about traveling abroad and for good reason! Traveling is a fun experience, provides the opportunity to learn about new cultures, allows you to see some amazing sites, and provides a plethora of experiences for growth and self-improvement, so all people need to travel is to be ready for it, which they can prepare using quality calpak suitcases buying guides and sites to find the best travel rates. You might be telling yourself it is way too big of a goal to travel; many travel trips with a professional touring company can cost over $4,000 after all. I am here to tell you it IS achievable. With budgeting, money generating opportunities, and careful planning you can make it happen! I am planning a trip for July of 2019. You can check out the details at this link: https://girltrips.eftours.com/tour-website/2041619BW To plan for this trip, for example, you would need to save about $250 a month beginning now. It is a good idea to break this up into thirds. So, let’s say you will need $83 a month to earn through babysitting, pet sitting, or other self-employed opportunities. That is an earning potential of around $21 per week. Think about ways you can “earn” that amount. Helping neighbors with yard work, helping around the house through “chores,” and of course, you can also babysit, pet sit, or even tutor. Are you a MATH genius? So many students struggle with this subject. Do you know a second language? Maybe you can teach that language to school age children, many parents want their children to learn a second language. The second “third” can come from family support. You can write letters asking for sponsorship to your families and friends. Ask for donations each year in lieu of Christmas or birthday gifts. See if your parents are willing to pledge a support of $83 per month. The last “third” is your opportunity to utilize your Girl Scout Credits earned with cookies and nuts toward travel, perhaps work as a camp counselor to earn monies over the summer and also to seek outside employment like a part-time job. Perhaps planning a kid camp over the summer is your thing. Invite neighborhood kids to your summer adventure camp. If you are a STEM girl the camp theme could be science experiments, or an ART camp or even cooking. You could host a learn a language camp! So many parents would encourage their younger children to come to a 2 or 3-hour camp for a week. My daughter did this one summer and it was a big hit! I hope I have given you some ideas to dream BIG. And I hope you decide to join me for Italy-Greece and a Greek Island cruise July 2019. You may contact me at 720-273-4889 or carlalkia@gmail.com with any questions. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #travel

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project, I created an enjoyable program for the elderly at a nursing home. I developed a resource book of painting and craft activities. Also, I conducted and coordinated classes once or twice a month for all levels of care such as skilled nursing, independent, and assisted living. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I knew my project made an impact because of the constant increase in participants and the strong desire to have more classes for different levels of care throughout the facility.  Also, many families began to schedule their visit in order to come and participate in the classes.  Due to the popularity of the classes, the nursing home began to offer more variety of activities for the elderly. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project will be sustainable because the nursing home I volunteered has added more resources, such as Programs Director and Assistant Direct, who will carry out and plan activities for the elderly to enjoy. Also, the nursing home’s community room, which is where most of the activities for the elderly take place, is now equipped with more supplies than before. The nursing home has many different volunteers, some of which who have visited my classes and even partook in classes. In this way, my project will continue to impact after my involvement because the volunteers have seen how an arts and craft class is carried out. Along with my resource book, the volunteers and Programs Director and Assistant Director will be able to conduct classes and activities for the elderly. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? My project has expanded beyond one nursing home. There are currently four other nursing homes interested in my resource book. I have reached out to different nursing homes through friends and the volunteers at the current nursing home. Also, I plan to give some of my resource books to other facilities in Colorado Springs and out of state. What did you learn about yourself? Through my Gold Award project, I have learned a great deal. I have learned that I am able to take on tasks that may seem difficult and terrifying. I know I can take charge of a project and keep it on track until it is complete. This experience has strengthened my love for the elderly. It has shown me that I have the ability to teach others. Ultimately through my project, I have gained a new sense of self-confidence. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? The Gold Award will impact me in the future because it has made me more aware of my community and issue within. It has also given me the confidence to take on an issue and make a difference. As a result of my Gold Award project, I hope to always have time to volunteer and give back to others. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel the Gold Award was an important part of my Girl Scout experience. It gave me the ability to take on a community issue and make a difference. I was able to take my love of art and share it with others. The Gold Award was truly a highlight of my Girl Scouts experience. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? By earning my Gold Award this helped me to become a go-getter. I identified an issue in nursing homes and developed a plan of action. By implementing my plan I was able to make a difference in the lives of others. My classes brought joy and new creative activities to the lives of the elderly, their families, friends, and the facility. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org. #GoldAward #HighestAwards #ColoradoSpringsChristianSchool #Monument #TakeAction #PikesPeak

Submitted by GSCO Volunteer Support Specialist Rebecca Lipman Metro Denver Brighton Girl Scouts in Brighton’s Harper’s Ferry Service Unit gathered to celebrate the birthday of Girl Scout Founder Juliette Gordon Low and Halloween. In addition to the regular Halloween fun of dressing up, the girls decided to honor Juliette’s legacy and birthday by creating birthday kits that were donated to a local food bank! Knowing that birthdays can often be a difficult time financially for families, the birthday kits can be given to families in need to help relieve this burden. The birthday kits contained all the supplies needed to make a birthday cake, as well as cards made and signed by the Girl Scouts. The girls also celebrated Halloween by dressing up, learning the Thriller dance, and having fun with some spooky science! To make your own birthday kit you will need the following ingredients: Cake mix Icing Candles Disposable pan Single serving applesauce A gift bag it will all fit into Happy Birthday Juliette Low! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #FoundersDay #JulietteGordonLowbirthday #JulietteGordonLow #GirlScoutFoundersDay #MetroDenver #Brighton

Submitted by Rae Ann Dougherty, GSCO Board Chairperson Metro Denver Golden Girl Scouts are found in all corners of the globe.  It is special to be a part of a Movement since it supports every girl and any girl. What is the largest number of Girl Scouts you have had the privilege of being with at one time?  Your troop? Your Service Unit? A Camp?  Imagine being with 10,000 “sister” Girl Scouts at the National Convention!  It is powerful and inspirational.  As a member of Girl Scouts of the USA we are amongst 3 million American Girl Scouts.  Furthermore we are amongst 10 million, and counting, Girl Guide and Girl Scout “sisters” from 150 countries around the world.  As we work together #ForHerWorld, we witness budding leaders being developed as they make the world a better place.  It is phenomenal and potent! These were the aspirations and dreams of one of our sister Girl Scout Leaders from Grand Lake in Grand County, Colorado, Eloise Montoya Golden, before she suddenly passed away in May 2015.  Eloise become a devoted emissary of the importance of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), as well as the value of that instant international fellowship that comes with being a Girl Scout.  While I worked closely with her, she often expressed a yearning to become a Member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS), but never had a chance to formalize her plans.  One of her dreams was finally fulfilled when she was posthumously presented the international Girl Scouting recognition of an OB-PS Membership in Memoriam by Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Patron of OB-PS, at an international Girl Scouting meeting in London, England. Eloise began Girl Scouting early in life as a member of USA Girl Scouts Overseas. Later she became a mother and was thrilled to watch her daughter, Tanya, and friends develop and mature through the Girl Scout program just as she did herself. (Tanya is a Gold Award Girl Scout.)  Eloise had a lust for life and loved reaching out, encouraging people everywhere to feel the same way.  In addition to her magical singing voice, she will be remembered for her happiness, inclusiveness, and loving spirit.  Once the Global Girl Scouting bug bit she made a lasting impression on thousands of girls and young women from over 50 countries, staying in contact with many of them until her passing. I estimate that she personally touched or connected with over 15,000 of our Girl Scout and Girl Guide sisters from all five WAGGGS regions during her 50 years as a member of our Movement. Internationally Eloise served on the Friends of Our Cabaña Committee, volunteered at the Young Women’s World Forum (YWWF) 2011; she was Girl Scouts of Central California South (GSCCS) Chaperone to the Girls’ World Forum (GWF) 2012; she chaired the GSCCS World Thinking Day events, and served as USA representative to the inaugural Arts exChange program at Sangam in 2014. The capstone was when she was able to co-host Gillian Clay, the granddaughter of Lord and Lady Olave Baden-Powell (First World Chief Guide of WAGGGS) at the 2014 Girl Scout National Convention.  Eloise felt the work to advance the Movement is an honor and joy as it is so rewarding.  All proved to be special times for her! As one of the most fervent ambassadors for Girl Scouts, Eloise would passionately and spontaneously speak about how important Girl Scouting is and how much it has changed and improved the lives of so many young women.  Along the way she witnessed the magic and significance of Global Girl Scouting.  The importance and value of an international sisterhood caught her like an uncontrolled wildfire.  She wanted everyone to understand the importance of it all. Are you interested in discovering our international sisterhood through Girl Scout travel?  Opportunities abound whether it is to travel to one of the five World Centers maintained by WAGGGS or attend an international event hosted by one of the member countries.  Furthermore if you are a young Colorado women traveling independently in the Girl Scout world, the Look Wider International Travel Scholarship is available to assist your exploration. Eloise Golden’s OB-PS Membership in Memorial recognition ensures her aspiration that WAGGGS the long term sustainability of Girl Scouts umbrella entity continues.  Eloise would wish that the understanding of different cultures, leadership development of girls and women (of all ages), peace through the international sisterhood of Girl Guides / Girl Scouts would continue while advancing girls and women of all ages to achieve their dreams, #ForHerWorld. Sky Hi News from Grand County shared news of Eloise’s recognition with the local community. http://www.skyhinews.com/news/eloise-golden-gets-posthumous-honor-at-worldwide-scouting-event/ *** The Olave Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS) supports and promotes the development of girls and young women through the global Girl Guide and Girl Scout Movement.  The OB-PS is to the World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides (WAGGGS) as the Juliette Gordon Low Society is to the Girl Scouts of Colorado.  Becoming a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society is an easy way to support the Girl Scouts of Colorado.  While a planned gift of any amount enrolls you in the Juliette Gordon Low Legacy Society, undesignated bequest of $10,000 or more automatically becomes part of Girl Scouts of Colorado permanent endowment—a truly lasting legacy! http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/support-us/planned-giving.html *** “Look Wider” International Travel Scholarships are made possible by the Rae Ann and Richard Dougherty Look Wider International Travel Fund Endowment at Rose Community Foundation. Thanks to this generous commitment, Girl Scouts of Colorado will award scholarships to girls every year. Learn more about Girl Scout destinations and other international travel at forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel. Applications for destinations travel are due before Thanksgiving each fall. The application for the “Look Wider” International Travel Scholarship is available from November through February and is meant for individual girl travel. Read more about Global Girl Scouting and how to get involved at girlscoutsofcolorado.org/global-girl-scouting. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #LookWiderInternationalTravelScholarship #WorldAssociationofGirlGuidesandGirlScouts #LookWider #WAGGGS #OlaveBadenPowellSociety

From Girl Scouts of the USA Calling all troop leaders! Through your dedication to the girls you serve every day, you’ve already shown us that you believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to stand up, speak out, and accomplish amazing things. Help us unleash that power in even more girls today by pledging to add one or more girls to your troop by March 1, 2018—and you’ll qualify to win some fantastic prizes! Take the pledge between November 1 and November 15, 2017, and tell us how your troop is working to advance the G.I.R.L. Agenda in your community. The agenda is our nationwide initiative to elevate every voice in the advancement of girls’ leadership and status in the world. By pledging to add at least one new girl to your troop, you’ll help even more girls spark positive change through civic action! Taking the pledge is easy: What Your Troop Can Win Once the pledge closes, 600 prize winners will be randomly selected to receive a FREE limited-edition G.I.R.L. Agenda patch for their troop. In addition, four grand prize winners will be randomly selected to have GSUSA share their story on Facebook (on Thanksgiving!), as well as receive the patch for their troop. SWEET! Pledges must be submitted by November 15, 2017 by an adult 18 or over. One entry per troop. See the official rules for full details. Need Help Recruiting Girls for Your Troop? Don’t sweat it—we’ll give you the tools to make it happen. Once you complete the pledge, check your email inbox for some articles and resources you can share with your friends and family to introduce them to the power of Girl Scouting, and spread the word that you’re looking for more girls to join your troop! Still have questions? Review our FAQ for more information. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #VolunteerNews #GIRL #GSUSA #recruitment #GIRLAgendaPledge #TroopLeaders

Submitted by Jenny Miles Northern & Northeastern CO Estes Park Girl Scout Troop 70455 has spent this year working on their Bronze Award. The Bronze Award project is a team effort by a Girl Scout troop undertaken to benefit the local community and is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. These girls from Estes Park worked to develop their idea, research, earn the money, and implement the project. The troop hopes to make a difference by helping dogs and cats that are looking for forever homes. Troop 70455 worked to make adoption bags for dogs and cats that are up for adoption through the Estes Park Pet Association. The bags include toys that the girls made and received from donations, homemade treats, and other essential pet supplies. The girls also made the bags out of t-shirts purchased from Elizabeth Guild. Adoption bags will be provided with each dog or cat adoption. The Girl Scouts were proud to be able to donate more than 50 bags to the Pet Lodge at the Animal Medical Center and the Animal Hospital of the Rockies for the adoption of dogs and cats through the Pet Association of Estes Park. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #HighestAwards #NorthernampNortheasternCO #GirlScoutJunior #EstesParkPetAssociation #BronzeAward #EstesPark #Juniors #TakeAction

Submitted by Rebecca “Zap” Lankford Metro Denver Broomfield Troop 3572 of Broomfield hosted a scouts only event on Sunday, Oct. 29 at CU Boulder’s Fiske Planetarium. With the help of Claire, the presenter, and Spencer, the pilot, girls were shown a number of constellations and nebulae, went flying by the International Space Station, learned how to find the North Star, and floated in Saturn’s rings. The planetarium was almost full with 195 scouts and family members present. The ooohs, aaahhhs, and general excitement about space made for an exhilarating afternoon. The visit to the planetarium fulfills some of the requirements for badges for Cadettes and Seniors. Great job, girls! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #seniors #STEM #oldergirls #GirlScoutSeniors #Cadettes #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Broomfield #boulder #space #GirlScoutCadettes #UniversityofColorado #MetroDenver #FiskePlanetarium #badges

From Girl Scouts of the USA Juliette Gordon Low’s desire to make the world a better place was evident early in her life. When she was just 16, she convinced her cousins to start the Helping Hands Club with her, to make clothing for families who had recently immigrated to the U.S. This was Juliette’s first foray into civic action, organizing in the community, and inspiring girls to take the lead for the greater good. Fast forward to 1912, when Juliette, affectionately known as “Daisy” by her family and close friends, gathered 18 girls in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, to share what she’d learned abroad about a new outdoor and educational program for youth. With this, the first Girl Scout troop was formed—and the Girl Scout Movement was born to serve all girls nationwide. Our earliest Girl Scouts, along with our pioneering founder, blazed trails and redefined what was possible for themselves and for girls everywhere. And ever since, Girl Scouts has provided girls with transformative experiences that set them up to lead in their own lives and the world. Because of Girl Scouts, millions of G.I.R.L.s (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ have been prepared for a lifetime of leadership—from hiking under the stars to accepting a mission to the International Space Station; from lobbying the city council with their troop to holding a seat in Congress; from running their own cookie business to tackling cybersecurity. Here are three things you can do to honor Juliette Gordon Low and her remarkable legacy on Founder’s Day: Proudly shout out what Girl Scouts has done for you! Share your story on social using #becauseofGirlScouts—and be sure to tag @girlscouts on Instagram and Twitter. You might even be included in our collection of #becauseofGirlScouts stories. Elevate the legacy of Girl Scouts’ founder—sign our petition to support renaming the Talmadge Memorial Bridge in Savannah after Juliette Gordon Low. There are so many reasons this iconic bridge should honor our go-getting founder! Share your #GIRLagenda by posting on the civic issues and causes you’re passionate about and taking action to impact—in the process, you’ll motivate others to act, as you honor our founder and shared mission to make the world a better place. Need a little inspiration? Tips for leading positive change through civic action? Check out our G.I.R.L. Agenda resources, which include materials for girls ages 5–17—and adults, too! #FoundersDay #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GSUSA #JulietteGordonLow