Girl Scouts was founded by Juliette Gordon Low on March 12, 1912. Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, for a local Girl Scout meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and the open air, the country’s first Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid.

Girl Scouting in the state of Missouri began in 1918, when the St. Louis City and County Council of Girl Scouts (now Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri) was established. In 1923, the Kansas City area council was formed; and in 1954, additional councils formed in the central and southern areas of the state, including those that are now Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland. Today, more than 88,000 girls, supported by 25,500 volunteers in the state of Missouri join a membership of more than 3.4 million Girl Scouts across the United States. On March 12, 2012, Girl Scouts will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Girls in grades K -12 join for fun and friendship, but they also benefit from clear developmental outcomes that will serve them for the rest of their lives. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls discover a stronger sense of self, connect through healthy relationships with others in an increasingly diverse world, and take action in their local and global communities – these are just a few of the many ways that Girl Scouts empowers girls to become leaders. All Girl Scout experiences are intentionally designed to tie to one or more of the 15 national leadership outcomes, or benefits.

For more information about Girl Scouts, please visit www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org, or call 877-312-4764.

Unfortunately, even the good can have an unfortunate side.

If you use Facebook (or if you’re considering doing so), you should take a look at these two articles:

“Facebook’s High Pressure Tactics: Opt-in or Else” : http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebooks_high_pressure_tactics_opt-in_or_else.php

“How to Delete Facebook Applications (and Why You Should)” : http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/how_to_delete_facebook_applications_and_why_you_should.php

Facebook has slowly been loosening their standards on how user information gets shared. A year ago they made the default new profile info from private to public, they then made it so that not only is your profile information open to any of the Facebook applications (like the quizzes and games) but also the information of your friends, and then recently they turned on by default an “Instant Personalization” feature which shares your profile to external Web sites. (See: “How to Opt Out of Facebook’s Instant Personalization”  http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/how-opt-out-facebook-s-instant-personalization)

Now, as the first two articles describe, Facebook has made it so that all your profile info is connected to other FB pages and groups or else you can’t have references to those subjects in your profile, and they’ve expanded the amount of information third-party applications can have on you and how long they can have it.

What’s the bottom line in this cautionary tale of creeping personal information leakage? Should we abandon the social media ship? Well, the pros and cons have to be weighed on an individual basis. But what it comes down to, what it always has and always will come down to, is educate yourself on how your personal information is being used and consider carefully what information you put out on the ‘net. As one of the articles states: “In fact, it may be best if you just assume that everything on Facebook will be public from now on and act accordingly.” That’s good advice not just for Facebook, but any and all Internet use.

And we need to be good models for the youth. We need to show them, in practice as much as telling them in cautionary instruction, that personal information is a commodity: there are people who want it; will buy, sell and trade it; and exploit it if it profits them. Personal information is to be given out sparingly, carefully, and in an informed manner.

Unfortunately, our youth are getting very mixed messages about the value of their personal information. On the one hand we tell them (rightfully so) to be careful and miserly about their information, but on the other hand we’re living in an increasingly surveilled culture where we, and our kids, are watched by cameras, monitored online, scanned by detection devices, and asked left-and-right to give over more of our information at retail and even grocery stores.

One component of the solution must be that we model for our kids the proper way to value our personal information online. Be careful and judicious with your own information. Teach through your own online interactions that what you put online is about yourself is valuable enough to be protected, and what you do put online should never be presumed to be private.

I love the Internet, I love social media and all the positive potential it has. As the council’s E-Media Specialist, I love being able to use the skills and knowledge I have and continue to develop helping our girls and adults alike to use social media. Social media is a tool. It can be used for good, as we use it every day to promote and enhance the Girl Scout experience — and it can be used for ill. The proper response isn’t fear and avoidance, in my opinion, any more than one should fear and avoid a hammer, knowing it could build a house or smash a thumb. The proper response should be education and information.

Embracing social media isn’t for everyone, and you may never ever use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or any of their cousins or descendants; but online social media is becoming increasingly an integrated part of modern life. It may not directly affect you, but I would bet you directly affect someone who does embrace it! Help pass the proper education along.

Thank you for reading.

Liam Watts

E-Media Specialist

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland

Self-discovery and community service were core values that Girls Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low sought to instill in girls from the earliest days. When the organization was founded in 1912, many girls’ paths in life were limited and Low’s vision was to establish an organization where any American girl could expand her personal horizon by having fun while exploring new interests and contributing to society. Low was determined to help expand opportunities and learning for the average American girl, and founded Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912.

“Girl Scout Week is an opportunity to celebrate the long and proud history of Girl Scouting and to engage our girls in making our communities and the world a better place. It is also an opportunity to thank the countless committed volunteers in our community who give so much to Girl Scouting all year long. With your support, we are able to continue to offer girls of the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland council the encouragement, coaching and resources they need to develop their leadership skills.”

Girl Scout Week projects are part of a broader initiative by Girl Scouting to help girls lead by example in their communities and in the larger world around them. With leadership development at the organization’s core, today’s Girl Scouts take part in a vast array of activities from extreme sports to international travel and science and technology projects, as well as gain knowledge about such things as business and economics.

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Tragedy in Haiti
The Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland joins the world in expressing our condolences to the millions of Haitians affected by the recent earthquake. It is at times like these that Girl Scouts throughout the world pitch in to help in many different ways. We know, however, that after natural disasters like these, sending funds is often the best way to help.

The Girl Scout Cookie program is one such way. Girls can choose to contribute a portion of their troop proceeds to the Haiti relief efforts. This is an opportunity to educate girls about how their generosity and acts of kindness can make the world a better place, especially in times of such extreme tragedy.

Additionally, the Executive Committee unanimously adopted, and the National Board ratified a special rule of order allowing girl members to support emergency relief for the January 12 earthquake disaster. This temporary suspension makes it possible for Girl Scouts to raise much needed funds for relief efforts in Haiti and remains in effect until September 8, 2010.  Some suggestions for money-earning projects include bake sales, car washes, collecting and recycling cans, babysitting night, etc.  Please take note that the money our girls raise can be contributed only to those agencies on the list below.
List of Agencies

• The American Red Cross
  The American Red Cross is accepting donations through its International Response Fund.

• Pan American Development Foundation
  The foundation is encouraging people to donate through its Web site at www.PanAmericanRelief.org.

• UNICEF
  UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.

• Oxfam
  You can donate to online at Oxfam America at www.oxfamamerica.org.

• Save The Children
  Save the Children has launched an emergency relief effort for Haiti. Donate to Save the Children.

• Mercy Corps
  Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to:
  Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund
  Dept NR
  PO Box 2669
  Portland, OR 97208

• Doctors Without Borders
  Doctors Without Borders has set up clinics to treat people in Haiti. Donate to Doctors Without Borders.

• The UN World Food Programme
  The UN World Food Programme is gathering all available resources to deliver food to the recently homeless and impoverished in Haiti. Donations can be made through https://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti

• CARE
  CARE is deploying emergency team members to Port-au-Prince to assist in recovery efforts. It’s focusing its efforts on rescuing children who may still be trapped in schools that collapsed. Donate to CARE

• The International Rescue Committee
  The International Rescue Committee is deploying an emergency response team to Haiti. Donate to the IRC Haiti Crisis Fund.

• World Vision
  World Vision has more 370 staff members in the Haiti. Donate to World Vision.

• United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
  This fund is used for emergencies like the earthquake in Haiti. Donate online.

Each honoree spent one to two years on a community action project that has had far-reaching effects in her community and beyond. Among the honorees this year are authors, advocates, and environmentalists with projects based in a wide range of locations—from India, Africa, and China to neighborhoods in Louisiana and California.

The young women will be honored at a special awards ceremony on February 27 during the Girl Scout National Corporate Leadership Meeting in St. Louis.

“Earning the Young Women of Distinction designation is truly a remarkable achievement, and these young women exemplify leadership in all its forms,” said Kathy Cloninger, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. “They saw a need in their communities and around the world and took action. Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership, is making the world a better place.”

To learn more about these girls and their great accomplishments, read the official Girl Scouts of the USA release.

Since its inception more than ninety years ago, the Girl Scout Cookie Program has empowered girls by teaching them skills for life and business and by growing their self-confidence and independence. “The Girl Scout Cookie Program may only last a few months of the year,” says Jennifer M. Orban, Chief Executive Officer for Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, “but girls benefit for a lifetime. The Girl Scout Cookie Program activities help them realize their potential to become productive and self-sufficient citizens.”

Of course, the Girl Scout Cookie Program also encourages girls to give back to their communities. Many Girl Scout troops participate in a “Cookie Share” program, in which customers may purchase cookies for a local organization of the girls’ choosing. In addition, girls are encouraged to utilize some of their proceeds for community service. Last year, Girl Scouts throughout Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland made a difference through projects such as holiday “adopt-a-family” programs, park beautification, visits to nursing homes, blanket-making for emergency facilities and school recycling programs.

Girl Scouts will be knocking on doors through January 24 and hosting Girl Scout Cookie booths at local merchants from February 13 through mid-March. This year, eight delicious cookie varieties are available in Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland: Thin Mints, Caramel deLites,

Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread, Thanks-A-Lot, Lemonades and Daisy Go Rounds. All proceeds directly benefit the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for girls. For more information about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, please call 877-312-4764 or visit www.girlscoutcookies.org.

Some of the good news the GSRI study determined about teen behavior?

• Youth today intend to make responsible choices and refrain from risky behaviors.
• Youth today value diversity and acceptance.
• Young people today appear to have a stronger sense of civic engagement.

Help these girls of proven courage, confidence, and character take action and encourage them to become positive leaders in their communities, families, future careers, and in their lives — support the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Council whether it’s with your time, effort, or donations. You can help ensure these beliefs and values are life-long!

• Video: Why volunteer with the Girl Scouts
• Contribute to the Council