My Daughter's Feet

I have to laugh sometimes ... my daughter has her own sense of style. Ballet and socks? Not to mention neon leopard purposely "matched" with a solid?

Her little anklet made me think of summer camp. Replace the pointe shoes with tennis shoes and she could be at camp. Then again, replace the pointe shoes with flats and she could be at school. Put them in boots and she's on horseback. The interests of girls can be wide and sweeping, but they are always bringing their personality into their world as it expands. And that makes the world beautiful and interesting.

Naturally, that's another part of Girl Scouting I love. It gives girls opportunities to experience and explore. And ultimately, by building courage, confidence and character, it brings out the unique leader in all ... even leaders in mis-matched leopard socks!

Girl Scouts ... Not Just For Girls

I remember walking into a room of incarcerated women who were waiting to meet their daughters for a very non-traditional Girl Scout troop meeting. Hidden behind the crowd of children were two - a brother and sister - there for the first time. The room quickly filled with chatter and hugs as children were reconnecting with their mothers. But one moment stood out above the others. To hear a mother's emotion filled sobs echoed by her children as they embrace for the first time in years shook me to the core. A Girl Scout, a "tagalong" sibling, and an incarcerated mother ... all joined together and working toward hope. That's powerful.

Reaching out into a girl's life affects far more than just the young girl. I'm thinking about her connections in the world ... and they are significant. Imagine being able to inject courage, confidence and character into her relationships. How would that affect her mother? Her brother? Her schoolmates? Her teachers? Her mentors?

We often talk about the change Girl Scouting makes in the life of a girl, but we don't always talk about the change it can make in the lives of those connected to her. But the impact is exponential.

I remember interviewing a Girl Scout volunteer who is a school employee. As she told stories that went from troop to camp to schoolyard, we laughed and cried together ... and I was humbled by the amazing circle of impact I heard just through one voice.

I remember being introduced to a woman who talked about how Girl Scouting was as much for her as it was for her daughter. The same courage, confidence and character that was building in her troop was also building in her, and she was able to free herself from abuse and finally found she indeed did have a wonderful future and life ahead of her.

I remember hearing about an adventure involving a Girl Scout with disabilities and her troop learning to rappel ... again laughing and crying over the trials and triumphs. And I was so thankful for the man (one of our outdoor trainers) who so gently encouraged and empowered the young girl. Yet talk to him or his wife and their dedicated scouting family (even their daughters are leaders now of troops) and you'll find story after empowering story not just about the girls, but about their families and their futures.

I remember reading a thank you card from a volunteer who never realized she'd need to use her first aid training to save her own son. And to the schoolmates of two young girls I know who have literally saved lives? It's almost beyond words. The impact is immeasurable.
Even I, who am on the lowest scale when I observe these moments from the outside, feel that impact and it changes me. Imagine how making a difference can change the rest of the world!

It Only Takes A Spark ...

This morning, six girls were out making the world a better place. I was there, I took photos, and I had my proud moments again. But you know what made me stop and think today? This young girl.

As we took photos, she had an idea for a picture. Then another idea ... and another. I offered her one of my cameras, and she told me that she liked being in front of the camera but not really behind it (quite the opposite of me). My daughter and I showed her a couple of things about the camera and how it worked. Before we knew it, the photographer had been unleashed!

There were no lack of ideas, and I think we attempted nearly every one of them. There was laughter, delighted squeals when something turned out extra special, and the animated gushing only pre-teen girls can do that makes everything feel like an adventure. So, an adventure we had! All it took was a little spark of inspiration and someone to take note and fan the flame.

(Get ready to sing ... I'm taking you back to my junior high church choir and our favorite song.)

It Only Takes A Spark ... To Get A Fire Going ... The words are more than a song in my head. At least they are when I stop to think about it! As a mom, I think I'm guilty of letting sparks die far too often. I admit it. I'm busy. We have a demanding schedule. And there are opportunities that slide by on a daily basis. I think it's that way for so many of us moms out there. It's probably that way in any realm for ANY of us out there.

I'll admit something else. This adventure was not something I did by choice. It's humbling, but I truly only made the effort because my department made a mistake in posting the information for this particular opportunity. While I probably could have waved a boss wand and sent the situation elsewhere, I decided to personally get involved and try to make it something special. I had to wrestle myself out of the house to go do it!

Roll that all together, and there are several life lessons to toss around. But you know what? I'm just glad I somehow had the patience to let the moments unfold. It really was only a spark. And out of the 441 photos we brought back with us ... less than 100 were mine! Yep, I'd say that was a fire.

Temporary Home

And so it begins ... Camp! This is my daughter's home for the next few days (and an excuse to try out my birthday present - a camera that does those moving panorama shots). This brings great memories to me of my childhood camping opportunities.

Camping For The Future

Which way to go? Sometimes that little question packs the biggest punch of them all. And it's also one of the things I love about the Girl Scout experience. The wide array of opportunities that are at a girl's fingertips give her a taste of what those directions hold. She has the freedom to explore her world.

Camp is just one of those ways to explore. From a specialized focus (outdoor activities like sailing to "S.T.E.M." directions like physics) to a wide array of options (my daughter's choice this summer is a camp where the campers decide what they want to do together), girls are exploring directions that will help them build their answers to the big question: Which way to go? It's not such a scary question if you're a Girl Scout!

A vision for girls ...

As I started re-reading "The Path" by Laurie Beth Jones this morning, I remembered I was going to redo a Wordle for our GSEOK Leadership Message. Sometimes the page of black and white words takes a little investment to get the inspiration behind the words. But that's where my visual side comes in (and my love for things like Wordle, which makes the visual easy). I put in our message and the most prominent references show up visually. Girls. It's all about the girls.

My personal favorite key words come from the mission: Courage. Confidence. Character. That's what I want for my daughter. That's my desire for all girls to experience in life. With those three elements, their path is already built on some pretty solid ground. What a gift to give a young life! And it's something our volunteers, staff, and supporters do every day.

Laurel and Katie and Tattoos ...

Laurel Richie, Chief Marketing Officer for Girl Scouts of the USA takes a peek at a new kind of branding ... literally! Katie's tattoo has branded her as a Girl Scout for life! Katie is one of the many wonderful young women I have had the pleasure to meet in Girl Scouting. I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes another first for women in the NASA space program (whatever that first might be a few years down the road).

One of my favorite media moments was listening to her interview last year with a Tulsa World reporter (regarding her Gold Award) who was rather stunned to hear she had a grade point average of 4.2 and wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. I didn't know that was possible, either, but it was for this Girl Scout!

Girl Scouts are wonderful, diverse, creative and self-sufficient young women. Katie is no exception. As one of the recipients of a Juliette Low Leadership Society scholarships, she attended a recent luncheon where she had the opportunity to meet Laurel Richie.

Actually, all the girls who attended the Juliette Low Leadership Society luncheon (both scholarship recipients and older Girl Scouts) enjoyed a private session with Laurel afterwards. I was impressed by the thoughtfulness of our girls as they both asked and answered questions. They weren't afraid to share how the felt if things (like Journeys) didn't live up to their expectations and why. And they also gave feedback regarding cookies that was more in depth than just "new boxes please!" New photos, sure ... but they liked that the girls pictured were being active. And they requested that the colors of the cookie boxes stay the same (for easier ordering by customers who want "them there orange ones") ... very helpful to know! And Laurel said that was something she could definitely take back to the team.

My favorite part, personally, was just knowing that these girls had a change to both glean from an amazing role model as well as make their voice heard in an arena where they are significantly invested ... Girl Scouts. Thank you, Laurel, for making the girls a priority and hearing what they had to say!

Phoenix Rising

"Phoenix" is Mary Jessup's camp name. "Click Chick" is mine. Our Camp Director is more widely known as "Skipper" than by her given name. This is part of the culture at camp ... and it's fun. But don't let the fun fool you. There is serious business going on as well!

As Channel 6 featured today, Girl Scouts are serious about taking care of girls. Safety is paramount and we take great pride in knowing that our Camp Counselors are fully trained to handle emergencies. Today's feature? Weather. Are Girl Scouts prepared? You bet!

Phoenix is a great example of growing up a camper and rising to the challenge of leading and protecting younger girls ... you can hear her sound byte on http://www.newson6.com/ or read the story. Click here to go directly to the story.

'Tis the Season ...

... for camp! I can't tell you how many times I have heard adults say that they had no idea what they were learning while they were growing up in Girl Scouting. But as real life challenges start to surface in adulthood, the skills they learned as young girls with their Girl Scout troop begin to surface. Teamwork. Cooperation. Determination. Problem solving. Self sufficiency. These young girls may think they are just carrying water. But step by step they are building their future.

Zandra and the United Way

Engaging, gregarious and full of life, Zandra charms everyone she speaks to during a video shoot for Tulsa Area United Way. She spoke about what being a Girl Scout means to her. Born with a rare medical condition, Zandra has to overcome many challenges that the rest of the world never things about. She was born without ribs. While you would think that would keep most people from enjoying life, Zandra has not let it slow her down one bit. In fact, she is one of our top cookie sellers! Zandra admits it is her favorite time of the year, and she thoroughly enjoys selling cookies. But above and beyond the thrill of the sale, she talks about how Girl Scouts is her chance to be around other girls and do all the exciting things Girl Scouts do. Her troop meets weekly (led by her physical therapist) and the three nurses that provide constant care also provide "taxi service" and make sure Zandra is part of everything the troop does.

Zandra's story is heartwarming and challenging, which warms my heart in and of itself. But something surprising melted my heart while we stood in Woodward Park waiting for the shoot to begin. She looked up at me, eyes sparkling, "How is your summer going?" She asked and she really wanted to know. Her pure curiosity broke through the world of busy schedules, no-time-for-others lifestyles, and other adult and work pressures. I stopped and realized that I couldn't recall anyone asking me that question, (and I don't know that I had asked anyone else, either). "Why thank you for asking," I said, "I don't know that anyone has asked me yet!" I can't remember what I mumbled initially, but I tried to tell her what I still feel at this moment ... "My summer is definitely brighter after meeting you!"

Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma!

Girl Scouts throughout eastern Oklahoma, ranging from Bartlesville to Broken Bow gathered in Muskogee to be part of history on Saturday afternoon as the newly formed Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma was officially unveiled. The new council was formed after three councils -- Bluestem, Tiak, and Magic Empire Council -- agreed to merge, providing greater cohesiveness for Girl Scouts throughout the eastern part of the state.

Nearly 1,000 girls and adults celebrated the union in Muskogee on Saturday. Following a celebratory gathering at Muskogee's Masonic Hall and a commemorative group photo, the group walked four blocks to the Three Rivers Museum for the unveiling of a bronze statue celebrating Muskogee as the city with the earliest recorded Girl Scout cookie sales. The Mistletoe Troop of Muskogee first used the sweet fundraising idea in 1917.

The bronze statue, commissioned by Girl Scouts of Magic Empire Council and Little Brownie Bakers, was created by Stillwater artist Phyllis Mantik and will be on permanent display at the Three Rivers Museum.

A Promise To Keep

I wonder if these little girls know that they have made history today?

Beth Burnett Shares Inspiration

Our Gold Award girls had a special treat ... Beth Burnett, a reporter with our local Channel 2 (KJRH). She shared her personal story and encouraged the girls to pursue their dreams. Overcoming obstacles was a way of life for Beth. She made it through some very difficult years in her youth and has become an award-winning reporter. I loved her response when she was invited to speak for Girl Scouts, "I would be glad to speak! That's why I do what I do. I want to be able to make a difference."

Stunned and Stunning

Magic Empire Council held both Gold and Silver Award Ceremonies. It was my first exposure to a taste of what these girls do. It isn't just a "simple project." The list of qualifications just to begin a project is impressive! A minimum number of hours is required when working on these projects, and it's probably more than most adults would ever realize. Not to mention that these aren't girls with extra time on their hands! They are high achievers.

I loved one moment I overheard while a Tulsa World reporter was interviewing one of our girls ... He asked what her grade point average was. "4.2," she replied. There was a moment of stunned silence. "On what scale?" When he found out she held a 4.2 on a scale of 4.0 (evidently advanced courses can earn a little extra!), he was truly stunned. And I loved it. Of course, I believe our girls are simply stunning as it is! But it sure is wonderful to witness a moment where someone else is truly surprised and impressed.

Two Women Who Made History

Today we had the great privilege of having Olympic Gold Medalist, Dominique Dawes, as our guest at the Juliette Low Leadership Society Luncheon. She had the pleasure of being introduced to our own Girl Scout "Hall of Famer" Ann Graves, the woman behind JLLS. If I have my details straight, they both have a common connection ... the National Board of GSUSA. Ann Graves has served (and I believe is on the nominating committee currently) and Dominique is hoping to serve. What a beautiful connection!

Smart Cookies!

Hannah, Kacie, and Rachael are interviewed by intern Nicole Macia for a feature in the March issue of Tulsa Kids Magazine. For those of you in the Tulsa area, pick up a free copy to see the cute photo! While PR can be exciting, there are parts that aren't the most glamorous. I had to laugh at the difference between the fun photos and the body language during the interview.

Brownie Cuteness in Tulsa People Magazine

Emilee, Heather, and Faith are photographed by Michelle Weeks for the March issue of Tulsa People. For those of you in the Tulsa area, pick up a free copy to see the absolutely adorable photo!

Thank you, Channel 8!

While we get media attention from many stations, I just had to post this because I'm so proud! My daughter had to come with me to two morning shows, and wore her uniform because she hoped she could sit on the set (I told her only the older girls were being interviewed). Well, at Channel 8, they asked if she could be part of it and weren't supposed to give her a microphone, but did anyway! When asked on camera what she liked about selling Girl Scout Cookies, I held my breath. You never know what the young ones will say. "I like meeting new people," she said. What an awesome answer! I was so proud!

PR Stars Hit The Set of Channel 6

Hannah's TV debut had the news anchors eating out of her hand (well, at least figuratively). They quickly dived into the cookies we brought along to the set! I have to say, this was a GREAT interview. The value of leadership and the learning involved in the Cookie Sale was highlighted, and that made us all quite happy!

Thanks K95.5 FM Tulsa!

Three of our "pilot" PR Stars girls had their first taste of radio today at K95.5 FM with two gracious hosts, Karla Cantrell and Matt Bradley. Between laughter, giggles, and trying on the blinking nose we managed to say that these cookies help girls go to camp and that we have three new cookies this year - Lemon Chalet Cremes, Sugar-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, and new All Abouts! Personally, I didn't realize until I was a mother of a Girl Scout that these cookies don't just "in general" help girls go to camp ... but each girl earns cookie credit with each box sold. And that's in addition to the all the other ways the cookie "crumbles" to help the troop, council, scholarships, etc.!