Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Tressa Jukes in the Southwest Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Tressa to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a volunteer so that my daughter and I could experience things together and so I could be a part of something bigger than myself and have it impact girls in the most significant ways. It is very important to me that they have positive role models to emulate as they grow and flourish into tomorrow’s leaders.  It is also important that we, as leaders and volunteers, expose our girls to the most meaningful and positive opportunities today so that they experience all the world has to offer. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. Over the past 9 years, I have been a parent volunteer, cookie mom, leader, SUCM, cupboard manager, an SU leader, and a co-director for a volunteer run camp. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? By being a volunteer, I have learned oodles. Patience and improvisation are the 2 biggest things, because let’s face it, nothing ever goes according to plan. Understanding and thinking outside the box are huge aspects of my roles as well. I’ve learned to embrace all of these and use them to the fullest. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I would sincerely hope that girls, mine especially, have learned that standing up for what you believe is not always popular and is more important than appeasing people; that empathy and knowing when to use it are important tools; and that hard work and helping people are not always recognized, but never go unappreciated.  One of my favorite quotes is “I won’t be remembered as a woman who keeps her mouth shut. I’m okay with that.” Nominate an exceptional volunteer for a Volunteer Award! Nominations are open April 1-June 30, 2022 https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-appreciation/adult-recognition-nominations.html

Girl Scouts of Colorado is now taking applications from girl members and volunteers interested in representing GSCO at, the National Council Session in Orlando, Florida from July 18-20, 2023. The deadline to submit your application is July 31, 2022. A delegate must be: · a United States citizen · a registered member of Girl Scouts · 14 years of age or older · available to attend the National Council Session (July 18-20, 2023) in Orlando, Florida The delegate must commit to: · participating in delegate training sessions offered by the council · a three-year tenure as a delegate · participating in National Council Session follow-up activities engaging members Girl Scouts of Colorado will send selected delegates covering the cost of registration, housing, transportation, and meals. Three of the delegates will be the following: 1. President & CEO of GSCO 2. Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GSCO 3. Chairperson of the Membership Connection Committee (MCC) of GSCO Three delegates must be MCC members pursuant to GSCO Bylaws Section 8.3.3.d.: “At least 20% of the National Council Delegates shall be…from among Members-at-Large of the MCC” During the application review process the GSCO Board will be looking for candidates that are familiar with the delegate role and GSUSA governance process. They are interested in delegates that are ready to share the experience with other members, helping the GSCO delegate position grow while brining awareness to the National Council Session. GSCO Delegate Application: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/girl_scouts_of_colorado_2022_national_council_delegate_application General timeframe for GSCO delegate position: April 01 until July 31, 2022- GSCO delegate application is open August 01 through September 30, 2022 – Board reviews applications By end of October 2022 – GSOC delegates are notified of position decision Early December – First meeting to prepare for GSCO delegate role January 2023 to June 2023– GSCO delegates prepare for the NCS session July 16 – 23 – 56th GS Convention in Orlando, Florida July 18 -20 – 2023 National Council Session in Orlando, Florida August 2023 to September 2024 – GSCO delegates engage members on the NCS decisions and prepare for the next triennium.

Troop 66767 delivered their hometown hero cookie packages to the Children’s Hospital North Campus nurses! We also brought blankets and gift bags to give patients. We’re so thankful for our heroes!!

The cookie entrepreneurs of Multi-Level Troop 65659 celebrated the contributions of two Hometown Heroes in 2022. Cadette Kennedy and Daisy Summer were happy to deliver donated cookies to Black Lives Matter 5280. Since 2015, Black Lives Matter 5280 has received several community awards for its work in the areas of justice, peace, and civil rights. BLM5280’s #BlackIsBeautiful Facebook series in 2020 was published in the academic journal Visual Studies. BLM5280’s Freedom School teaches students from ECE-8th grade to become racially literate and civically-minded by centering Black knowledge, people, and principles. When meeting with BLM5280’s Branta to present the cookies, the girls were happy to network about new Take Action ideas especially in the area of education. Cadette Julianna also delivered donated cookies to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth so that all youth achieve their full potential. Julianna says she chose Big Brothers Big Sisters as her hometown hero because they help at risk youth including kids in foster care to have more success in the future. The volunteer mentors known as “Bigs” are taking their “Littles” on a ski trip and the cookies we donated will be served to these volunteers at that event. Pictured are a few of the volunteer Bigs. Julianna also met Haley Fried and Amy Stapleton (not pictured) who is a former Girl Scout. Julianna’s older brother benefited from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado as a Little, so the organization has special personal meaning to her. A big thank you to these non-profits from Troop 65659!

11 Extraordinary Women Honored Each year, Girl Scouts of Colorado bestows the Women of Distinction honor upon 10 exceptional women in our community. This year, the new Woman of Distinction Gold honor will also be given to one extraordinary woman, who has not only exemplified the qualities of a Woman of Distinction but whose lifetime achievements have made a significant, lasting impact on our community. This year’s honorees were selected by a committee of their peers and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. These women join a network of more than 500 alums. They are shining examples of corporate, civic, and philanthropic leaders, who serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow. 2022 Woman of Distinction Gold Anna Jo Garcia Haynes, Founder & Former Executive Director, Mile High Early Learning Centers- Anna Jo is both a product of and a champion for Colorado education and has dedicated her life to serving others, especially Colorado’s youngest and most vulnerable children and their families. During her 40-year tenure as the executive director and co-founder of Mile High Early Learning, Anna Jo played a key role in creating programs and policies designed to meet children’s developmental needs. The Mile High Early Learning centers across Denver serve more than 500 children each day, approximately 92% of families served live at or below the Federal Poverty Level. As president emeritus, Anna Jo continues to advocate for universal and quality early childhood education and care. She also co-founded the Colorado Children’s Campaign and is a founding mother and the third president of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado. Her achievements have been recognized in Colorado and across the country. In 2015, she was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. She has also made a national impact as a consultant to the White House Conference on Children and Youth and as an advisory member of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. In 2021, Gov. Jared Polis signed an unanimously supported bill named in Anna Jo’s honor for her lifelong advocacy for Colorado’s children and youth. This bill will create a Department of Early Childhood, revolutionizing the state’s early childhood education and care system as well as creating a statewide universal childcare system, including at least 10 hours per week of preschool for every child in their final year before kindergarten. Mile High United Way created an award named for her– the Anna Jo Haynes Caring About Kids Award– that honors community leaders who make significant contributions on behalf of children. Class of 2022, Women of Distinction Angela Baier, CEO, CollegeInvest– Since she was a young woman, Angela has been breaking through the barriers and biases of age, gender, and traditional career tracks to pave her own unique path across industries. As CEO of CollegeInvest, Angela has a top position in the male-dominated financial industry. Under her leadership, CollegeInvest is now the fastest growing 529 college savings program in the country serving more than 375,000 families and managing more than $12 billion in assets. Prior to CollegeInvest, Angela served as the first female vice president at the Denver Zoo and was the City of Denver’s first marketing director, the second job of its kind in the country. Gloria Schoch, Director of Global Impact, VF Corporation & Executive Director, VF Foundation- Gloria is a social impact strategist with 15 years of experience at Fortune 500 companies leading corporate social responsibility, community relations, government relations, and communications. Gloria oversees the Foundation’s strategic vision to help create a more equitable and sustainable world. She works across VF’s brands, enterprise, and with community partners to innovate, problem-solve, and measure social and environmental impact in collaborative ways to drive transformative, systemic change in the communities where VF operates around the world. Judy Regensteiner, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Director of the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research at CU Anschutz Judy directs the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research, which focuses on conducting cutting edge research in women’s health and women’s health research, on mentoring the next generation of scientists in these fields, and on educating the public and health care providers about women’s health and sex differences. Her research expertise is in the cardiovascular effects of diabetes with a specific focus on women with type 2 diabetes since they appear to have more significant cardiovascular abnormalities than men with diabetes. Her lab has been funded for more than 30 years and her more than 170 publications have influenced the field.Judy is also the Judith and Joseph Wagner Chair of Women’s Health Research. Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, President & CEO, Rose Community Foundation- At the Rose Community Foundation, Lindy leads efforts to advance inclusive, engaged, and equitable Greater Denver communities through values-driven philanthropy. Through leadership and advocacy, grantmaking, donor engagement, and stewardship of philanthropic resources, the Foundation supports strategic and innovative solutions to enduring challenges and emerging issues in seven-county Metro Denver across a wide range of issue areas while also stewarding donor-advised funds for individuals, families, and businesses and endowments for nonprofit organizations. RCF manages $370 million in assets and has granted more than $350 million since it was founded in 1995. Prior to Rose Community Foundation, Lindy served as executive director of the Civic Center Conservancy and communications director for then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Lori Fox, Principal, Taloma Partners- Lori is a principal and founder of Taloma Partners, a consulting firm providing public affairs, issues management, and strategic communications consulting to a wide variety of corporate and non-profit entities. Through Taloma, she also served as the interim executive director of the Prosperity Denver Fund, assisting the board in standing up the newly voter-approved taxpayer-funded entity to provide additional resources to nonprofits supporting Denver students’ access to post-secondary education. Lori began her career in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Capitol Hill, at two cabinet agencies, and in the White House. Lorii Rabinowitz, CEO, Denver Scholarship Foundation– In concert with her colleagues, Lorii manifests her passion to foster equitable opportunities and outcomes for all through her work at the Denver Scholarship Foundation, which helps to make college possible for thousands of Denver Public Schools graduates each year. Lorii’s commitment to community service is a guiding force in all she does; as such, she actively serves on numerous nonprofit boards, advisory boards, and committees. Her prior professional experience includes executive roles with the entrepreneurial venture Denver Center for Arts & Technology, local consulting firm Rebound Solutions, and 9NEWS. Marcela de la Mar, President of the Board, Mexican Cultural Center– Marcela is widely recognized as a collaborator, connector and community leader. Over her impressive 23 year career as executive director of the Mexican Cultural Center, Marcela dedicated herself to the advancement of Mexican art and culture in Colorado. Officially retired, her connection with MCC continues as she currently serves as the president of the board. Under Marcela’s leadership, the MCC was able to build sustaining partnerships with some of Denver’s well-known cultural organizations to pursue common goals that benefit a broad and more inclusive community. These collaborations have increased the awareness, appreciation, and importance of Mexican arts and traditions while also building a bridge between the Latino community and mainstream arts organizations. Because of her work, the MCC received the Mayor’s Award for Cultural Impact in 2017. Maureen Tarrant, President & CEO, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center & Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children– Maureen is an experienced senior executive within HCA’s HealthONE system of care.With a deep commitment to community organizations, Maureen serves on many boards and committees. She is currently a member of the board of directors for Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. Prior to her role at P/SL and RMHC, Maureen was president & CEO of Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, where she led the planning, design, and development, construction, and opening of HCA’s HealthONE seventh hospital. Monica Liley Skok, Managing Director & Intermountain Region Manager, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking– Monica is a results-driven financial services executive, CEO, and board director with more than 25 years of repeated success leading strategic vision, building teams and organizations, and delivering financial and operational results in investment and commercial banking, healthcare, and family office businesses. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Monica launched MLS Advisory to provide C-level services to families, businesses, and their trustees to define and execute strategic and financial objectives. Rosemarie Allen, Ed.D, Founder, President and CEO, Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence – Through IREE, Rosemarie has worked with the U.S. Department of Education and other organizations to provide training on implicit bias, microaggressions, anti-racism, and racial equity. IREE is contracted with the State of Colorado to monitor and license early childhood facilities using a model she created called Culturally Responsive Community Based Licensing. Rosemarie also serves as an associate professor in the School of Education at MSU Denver and has been an educational leader for nearly four decades. Her life’s work is centered on ensuring all children have access to high quality early childhood programs that are developmentally and culturally appropriate. Girl Scouts of Colorado will welcome the Class of 2022 honorees from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., August 25, at the Denver Botanic Gardens. “I am honored to welcome this year’s class of Women of Distinction. They are strong, bold, empowered women who represent the leadership and excellence that powers today’s world, and they are outstanding role models for our girls,” said Leanna Clark, CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado. Proceeds from the event will support Girl Scouts of Colorado’s crucial leadership development programs in entrepreneurship, outdoors, STEM, and life skills for more than 15,000 members across Colorado. Event chairs are Elaine Torres, Woman of Distinction ’09, and Marti Awad, Woman of Distinction ’19. For information regarding tickets and sponsorships, visit girlscoutsofcolorado.org.

On April 10, the Home Depot Foundation and Girl Scouts of Colorado teamed up to host a construction workshop for local Girl Scouts. In 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported data showing only 11% of construction workers are women. The Path to Pro Construction Workshop is part of The Home Depot Foundation’s mission to fill the skilled labor gap and diversify the workforce. The workshop provided hands-on carpentry experience and insight into meaningful construction careers for more than 50 local middle and high school Girl Scouts. Skilled tradeswoman, CJ Clark and Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, lead the participating Girl Scouts as they built ADA-compliant picnic tables. The completed tables will be strategically placed around Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Tomahawk Ranch property in areas which will benefit from the additional table space and seating. “My favorite part of this workshop has been working together as a team and having a fun time. We’ve done a good job communicating together throughout the process,” said Girl Scout Cadette Charlotte from Highlands Ranch. “I’m very proud of us for building something from scratch and am excited to be able to visit Tomahawk Ranch and see the picnic tables we built being used.” The Home Depot Foundation’s skilled trades training program, Path to Pro, launched in 2018 with a $50 million commitment to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople, diversify the trades industry, and address the growing labor shortage in the U.S. “Learning to build and use tools inspires confidence and we see great pride in the completion of a goal,” expressed Emily Speck, Girl Scouts of Colorado’s program director. “Girl Scouts is about trying new things, and hands-on learning. This opens their eyes to all kinds of future possibilities.” This pilot workshop is the second of three that will engage local troops and provide introductory trades training experience, nationwide.

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Robyn Metcalf in the Northern and Northern Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Robyn to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? In the beginning, I became a volunteer so that my daughters would be able to participate in GS. When we first started about 15 years ago that was the only way to join a troop. I loved what the GS law could teach my girls and wanted them to have all those characteristics.  As I continued in my GS journey, I volunteered more and more because I enjoyed spending time with and teaching all the girls. The bonds I made with girls, parents, and other leaders warmed my heart and taught me new things. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I first offered to be the troop cookie Mom for a troop in Colorado Springs just to get my oldest daughter into a troop. Then as I learned more about GS, I became more involved with the troop and the service unit there. When we moved to Loveland, I jumped right into a troop leadership role for my older daughter and helped lead cookies in my younger daughter’s troop. I ended up being the leader for both troops for several years. During this time, I was also very involved in a team to lead the Loveland service unit as well as helping Amber Book organize the Loveland day camp for about 6 years. As part of the service unit, I helped mentor new troops getting started and helped out with PA training. I was also very active in helping out with cookies sales in Loveland. I would go to local businesses and help set up cookie booths for all the Loveland troops. Then we were introduced to the GECCCOs troop at the canoeing portion of day camp and I knew this was the troop we had to join. Jean, Connii, and their team of parent volunteers were full of adventure!  I soaked up every bit of knowledge I could and then began to lead activities like Reach for the Peak, Happy Campers, the annual Holiday Tea, meals for the homeless, and canoeing. I was the treasurer of GECCCOs troop for about 6 years and then joined the troop leadership team for the past 4 years. I am now in the process of handing over my years of experience to the other leaders in our troop. I am so thankful to have been able to be involved in such an incredible troop and have made so many amazing adult friends as well. I look forward to seeing the troop continue to live on for many more years to come and continuing the friendships I have built! What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? My daughters and I immersed ourselves in the programming and loved it. I learned so much about outdoor adventure just by being with the girls and letting them lead. Now I love hiking, camping, canoeing/kayaking, biking, and anything to do with the outdoors. I also learned to be more confident in myself. The girls look up to you as a leader. Sometimes, I had to push myself to make sure to keep up with them or learn new skills so I could help them be safe. Canoeing was not something I did prior to joining the troop but I am now a certified L1 trainer with the ACA and I am so proud to say I completed the Manitou Incline, hiked to the top of Bunderspitz to see a sunrise in Switzerland, got to chance to experience paragliding and even learned how to do a backflip from the water to get back into my canoe while in the BWCAW! All of this is because our girls had dreams and I wanted to make sure they could be successful. Before GS I didn’t know that international travel was possible for me. When the girls in the troop started talking about their trip to Peru I knew this was another experience I had to have and wanted my daughters to get the travel bug. This was one of the harder lessons for me to learn. Being in another country and still letting the girls lead was a little nerve-racking.  Letting failures happen was even harder. But I am so glad I did because it has been so much easier to work on planning our latest trip to Italy. The girls are so much more confident now and I get to sit back and watch. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope the girls I have worked with over the years have learned to believe in themselves more. I want them to reach for more, be successful, and preserver even if they endure a few hiccups along the way. I hope that they have learned to be more adventurous and have a special new bond with the outdoors. I want them to continue to be active and to teach others how amazing it is to explore nature. And above all else, I hope they know they are loved and can show the same kindness and compassion that I tried to show them. I want them to learn that the world needs them. They can always give back in some way. I have tried to show them how to live by the GS law and hope they continue to lead by example! Nominate an exceptional volunteer for a Volunteer Award! Nominations are open April 1-June 30, 2022 https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-appreciation/adult-recognition-nominations.html

Finally after 2 very long years, troop overnights can happen again! Troop 720 visited Tomahawk Ranch over the weekend. We enjoyed the sagebrush cabin. Played games, went on a off site hike, visited a local coffee shop, had a campfire and more. It was a fantastic bonding weekend.

Girl Scouts from troop 720 went and tried out a rage room! They smashed cups, plates, chair, VCR, and more with sledge hammers and baseball bats. Who knew such a thing existed? Thanks to another older Girl Scout leader for sharing their adventures so we knew to check this out as well. Everyone had a blast!

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is the nation’s most experienced space launch provider with more than 145 consecutive launches and a record of 100% mission success. ULA rockets have launched technologies that protect our country, enable GPS navigation and weather monitoring, connect families across the globe, and expand our understanding of our solar system. At this Inspiring Futures program on April 19, we will hear how ULA is harnessing the potential of space for humankind to break barriers, broaden horizons and realize possibilities not yet imagined. Like Girl Scouts, ULA staff are dreamers about the future! Our guests will discuss the various careers at ULA as well as the esteemed internship program. Girl Scouts that attend this session will receive a custom special patch from ULA! Register today: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/sf-events-repository/2022/-inspiring-futures—space-science—csa.html

Girls of Troop 77827 reflected on the difficult time that was brought by COVID-19 and voted to use their Bronze Award as an opportunity to spread kindness and spark smiles to others. After reaching out to a nursing home, girls made Thanksgiving cards for every member of the nursing home and provided bingo prizes. Next, they worked with A Precious Child in Broomfield and donated birthday kits. Finally, they made no-sew blankets and donated art and toy supplies for Children’s Hospital. Through the Bronze Award process, the girls had fun learning new ways to spark smiles and make the world a better place.

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Sheri Coy in the Southwest Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Sheri to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a Girl Scout volunteer because the troop my daughter was in lost their leader so I stepped up as a troop leader, knowing I would get more bonding with my daughter and get to help other girls  experience all Girl Scouts has to offer instead of the troop disbanding. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I started as a troop leader, then I got in to the service unit leadership team as many active roles including treasure and side manager, then I went to SU cookie manager, and also in to fall sales SU manager. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? What I have learned as a troop leader is how to manage a multi-level troop. How to have lasting relationships, as well as how to deal with conflict resolution. I have learned that there as so many aspects to leading and so much that goes on behind the senses. Time management is a huge part in running a multi-level troop. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope the girls have learned patience and cooperation and the willingness to not give up. To remember we all have limitations and we are all special in our own ways. To be proud of themselves and celebrate the little things in their lives. Nominate an exceptional volunteer for a Volunteer Award! Nominations are open April 1-June 30, 2022 https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-appreciation/adult-recognition-nominations.html