Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday                                    (return to top)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr�s Birthday is on January 21. The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who, through his actions, changed America and the world. His birthday celebration is the only celebration of its kind that connects people of all races, cultures and nationalities in a unified voice of nonviolence. Dr. King is the first and only African American to have a national holiday celebrated in his name. Connect with his story by visiting www.thekingcenter.org or plan a troop visit the Civil Rights Museum to learn more about Dr. King�s life.

Some additional ways to connect with the Dr. King celebration:

• Visit the library to learn why Dr. King came to Memphis in 1968

• Ask someone who was involved in Dr. King�s visit or the civil rights movement to talk with your troop

• Talk about how things have changed since 1968

• Download the nonviolence pledge at www.thekingcenter.org

World Thinking Day                                                             (return to top)

World Thinking Day, February 22, is the day we celebrate our sisterhood with Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world.  It is also a great time to discover how girls in other parts of the world live and play. This year�s World Thinking Day theme is �Think About Water,� focusing on water�s importance to health and the issues of access to clean water and water conservation. The three sub-themes for �Think About Water� are:

• Provide Access to Clean Water

• Drink Water for Health

• Conserve Water for the World

Some ideas of the ways to celebrate World Thinking Day are:

• Select one  of the WAGGGS member countries to focus on to discover the culture and customs of the girls there.

• Connect with a person in the community who was either born in that country or has lived there long enough to experience the culture and customs of the girls in the country.

For more activities and World Thinking Day information visit, www.wagggs.org

Black History Month                                                              (return to top)

In 1926 one week in February was chosen to celebrate the contributions of African Americans. Now, the entire month of February has been nationally proclaimed as Black History Month. Use February as a time to celebrate diversity and connect with history and to discover historical facts about African American scientists, engineers and educators. Introduce troops to Black History facts they may not know, like: G.F. Grant who in 1899 patented the golf tee or Dr. Charles Drew whose medical research lead to discovery of plasma in blood separation.  Discover how Memphian Ida B Wells, part owner and editor of a Memphis newspaper, became a renowned activist and one of the founders of the NAACP.  For Black History facts and games to share with your troop, visit www.biography.com/blackhistory

Girl Scout Week                                                                    (return to top)

Girl Scout Week begins March 9, with Girl Scout Sunday and continues through Girl Scout Sabbath March 15. Girl Scout Week includes the Girl Scout birthday March 12. Use this week to discover ways to connect and celebrate Girl Scouts.

Here are a few ways your troop can celebrate:

• Attend a religious service together

• Schedule a service project during this week

• Plan a birthday party for Girl Scouts and invite some Girl Scout alums to teach you some of their favorite activities

• Introduce friends to Girl Scouts by inviting them to a meeting

• Learn more about the history of Girl Scouts

The council will not provide bulletin covers and inserts this year. However, we will provide Word and PDF files for those troops who are interested in using them at their place of worship. You can download the files from the council Web site or contact Janis Hightower at the Girl Scout Service Center.

Tips for Girl Scouts Planning Trips                                 (return to top)

Planning a Girl Scout trip is an opportunity for girls to work together and brainstorm ideas of places to go, adventures to see and to have fun while making memories.

The process for planning a trip is the same for all age levels:

• Where are we going?

• Why are we going?

• When are we going?

• How will we get there?

• How much will it cost?

• How will we pay for the trip?

• How do we get ready?

• Will everyone be able to go?

• Where is emergency help available?

• What safety guidelines must be considered?

• What will we do along the way?

• What will we do when we get there?

• What will we do when we return?

Throughout the planning process, the girls will come together as a team to learn how to develop plans, make arrangements, compromise, budget, handle money and accept responsibility for personal conduct and safety.

Upon their return home, the girls should evaluate the experience so they can reflect on what worked well, and what they will want to be sure to do differently, next time.

Use Safety Wise as a check point for specific activities and the safety policies outlined in the Council Guide for Volunteers.  Submit all required paperwork (Intent to Travel forms and Traveling Troop forms) before the deadlines.  Make sure you have persons in your troop that have completed traveling troop, first aid and CPR.  This is a must for your troop travel to be approved.

Safety Wise Chapter 5, �Planning Trips with Girl Scouts� pages 44- 47, will give you the details of what is needed and will provide important help in determining what trips are appropriate for each age level. Traveling with your troop is an exciting part of the Girl Scout program, follow the guidelines, use your sources wisely and make this a fun and exciting time for the girls to remember.

Troop Camping                                                                         (return to top)

Camping at one of our outdoor campsites or an overnight with your troop at the Girl Scout Program/Training Center is a wonderful way for troops to discover the beauty of the outdoors and connect with other Girl Scouts and the world around them.

Camp Annemeekee is open again and is fully air-conditioned and heated!!!  The trails were renovated and seeded with a field grass mixture at the end of the logging process. There are plenty of service projects remaining to clean-up and fully renovate the site.

Campsites may be reserved up to four months before the intended camping trip.  To get the best choice of dates, reserve your site as soon as allowed. Contact Janet Stone Wade at the Girl Scout Service Center to get more information about a particular site or the amenities offered.

The Site Reservation Form also has a description of amenities available at all campsites.  Remember, the site is not reserved until the site fee has been paid. You can request a Campsite Host, volunteers who are willing to meet you at Girl Scout camps Annemeekee or Fisherville as you arrive.

This can be extremely helpful if you are unfamiliar with the site. Just check the appropriate box on the Site Reservation Request form if you would like to take advantage of this service.

While your troop/group is at camp; how about doing a service project? There are several projects available for troops/groups. If your troop is interested in doing a service project while camping or a day only project, contact Jack Edwards at the Girl Scout Service Center.

Camping                            (return to top)

Camping at one of our outdoor campsites or an overnight with your troop at the Girl Scout Program/Training Center is a wonderful way for your troop to discover the joy and beauty of the people and world around them. Our facilities have openings for this fall and winter.

 Worried about it being too hot or too cold?? Remember, Camp Annemeekee is now open again and is fully air-conditioned and heated � come check it out!!!  The trails were renovated and seeded with a field grass mixture at the end of the logging process; but, plenty of service projects remain to clean-up and fully renovate the site.

Council facilities may be reserved up to four months before the intended trip. To get the best choice of dates, reserve your site as soon as allowed. Contact Janet Stone-Wade at the Girl Scout Service Center to get more information about a particular site or see the amenities for each site listed on the Site Reservation Request form. A site is not reserved until the site fee has been paid. You can request a Campsite Host, volunteers who are willing to meet you as you arrive at Girl Scout camps Annemeekee, Fisherville, or Yataka , especially if you are unfamiliar with the site. Just check the appropriate box on the Site Reservation Request form if you would like to take advantage of this service.

How about doing a service project for one of our sites? We have several projects that troops/groups can do during an overnight or just for a day-only project. Please call Jack Edwards at the Girl Scout Service Center for more information.

Council Realignment News Reported to Members at Annual Meeting

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Those who attended the annual meeting on December 6 heard a report on the progress being made with the realignment planning. The 16-member Council Realignment Committee, made up of representatives of the four merging councils, is providing the overall leadership until the new council is formed, which is expected to be May 1, 2008.

One significant change in the proposed bylaws is to switch from our current delegate system to a one voice-one vote system. We expect to host 2-3 Association Meetings in March, to share the details, answer questions and concerns before the voting members come together for a special meeting in April to vote to approve the plan to merge, proposed articles of incorporation and bylaws, and elect the new board, nominating committee and National Council delegates.

The council realignment is one aspect of Girl Scouts of the USA�s Core Business Strategy. Work is also progressing to build the world�s best leadership experience for girls that ties activities to outcomes, provides differentiation for girls from kindergarten through high school, and offers flexible pathways for today�s diverse and busy girls.

There were several displays at the annual meeting that highlighted some history and reminded us of some of the changes that will be phased in during the coming months. We learned about age levels/grade levels; uniforms; program designs and accompanying resources.

One thing for certain:  Girl Scouts has always been looking forward and making the changes that are needed to be girl-centric, and relevant.

Beginning in January 2008 you may visit Girl Scouts Heart of the South�s Web Site for frequent updates: www.girlscoutsheartofthesouth.org

New Girl Scout Leadership Experience                                 (return to top)

The new Girl Scout Leadership Experience is being debuted this spring at national program conferences around the country.

We will be sending a team of seven people from the four councils that are combining in the spring to form Girl Scouts Heart of the South. Once they have a chance to take a look at the Leadership Journeys that have been developed for every grade level and the accompanying �pick up and go� facilitator guides, they will begin preparing the recommendation for how our multi-year transition period, beginning in fall 2008 and extending through 2010 will be designed. It will also allow us to balance the program transition with the other changes that will be occurring.

Meanwhile, we encourage you to have fun using our current program materials and using the Outcomes Trackers to help you intentionally engage your girls in outcomes based activities and observe the impact of integrating outcomes into your troop�s plans.

Be assured, during the transition to Leadership Journeys, GSUSA will maintain a wide assortment of exiting materials to supplement the roll out and phasing in of new materials.

 We will continue to update you as information becomes available. If you have any questions, contact your field executive.