GSCCC Offices Closed Dec 25 - Jan 2

Happy Holidays! GSCCC offices are closed December 25, 2017 - January 2, 2018. If you need to reach Council during this time, please call our after hours number: 800 340-7179.

15 Ways to Start the New Year with Service and Community

It’s the New Year’s resolution to end all New Year’s resolutions, and it’s so, so Girl Scouts! This year, do things a little differently, and resolve to give back to yourself by giving back to others. That’s right. We’re calling for a resolution of service! Because when you help others, you just can’t begin to imagine how much good it actually does for your own soul. It’s really the best kind of win-win.

from GSUSA

And it doesn’t have to be anything big. In fact, it’s really the accumulation of all the small ways we can be of service to others every day that can make our lives significantly brighter and more meaningful, while helping us feel more connected within our communities. In 2018, what do you say we all resolve to make the world a better place, together, by committing to practice these powerful and simple acts of service to others as often as possible? 

1. Be kind, particularly to those who are not exactly your cup of tea, so to speak. It might be hard, but it will be meaningful.
2. Be gentle with the environment. Avoid littering, recycle, and regularly sign up for community cleanups. The more we do to keep the outdoors in good shape, the more we can all enjoy it!
3. Show compassion. Sometimes that’s the greatest gift we can offer someone.
4. Practice good manners. “Please” and “thank you” go a long way in making others feel appreciated and respected.
5. Be helpful as much and as often as possible. Help create a sense of community wherever you go.
6. Listen more. Sometimes all people truly want is to be heard, and to know they matter.
7. Volunteer once a month—or more if you can. Learn about volunteering with us—it’s important work and so much fun!
8. Give out lots of compliments, just because. Make someone’s day with the simplest acknowledgement of a great smile, a fun outfit, or an inspiring talent.
9. Speaking of smiling, do it more often. It makes everyone feel good—even you!
10. Leave notes of encouragement for family, friends, and coworkers. The right words can always make a day brighter.
11. Forgive someone who has slighted you, even if you don’t feel they deserve it. It might move them to show the same compassion to someone else.
12. Hold the door open for someone and give them the gift of feeling special, even if just for a few seconds.
13. Strike up a conversation with a shy person and help them come out of their shell a little. Just because they’re not one to initiate conversation doesn’t mean they don’t have a story they’d like to share.
14. Reach out to a friend you know is going through something hard and offer to spend time with them, or just listen. People won’t always reach out for help, but they will often accept it with open arms when it’s offered.
15. Bake some goodies for an elderly neighbor, and hand-deliver them. Sit and chat a while. Let them share stories and feel the joy of friendship.

Look out for Ella in 2018!

 

...With cookie season right around the corner, we are gearing up for Cookie University... and Ella the elephant will be our new cookie mascot for 2018!

 

Cookie U Locations -

1/13/18- Santa Maria CA

1/13/18- Thousand Oaks CA

1/20/18- Salinas CA

1/20/18- Camp Arnaz, Ventura, CA

 

Sign up here and join your fellow Girl Scouts at the 2018 Cookie University. Girls will learn the 5 Skills of the Cookie Program through hands-on and interactive stations.

1. Money Management

2. Decision Making

3. People Skills

4. Business Ethics

5. Goal Setting

Your participation will earn you your 2018 cookie activity pin and Cookie University patch and you will be well on your way to completing your Financial Literacy and Cookie Business badges!

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Troop 60629 Thanks Firefighters in Thousand Oaks!

Troop 60629 from Thousand Oaks paid a visit to Fire Station 34 last week.

The Girl Scouts paid the firefighters a visit to thank them for all their hard work fighting the Thomas Fire these past few weeks. They also gave them a card and basket full of healthy snacks to say "Thank You" for keeping them safe!

Thank you to Troop 60629 and to all the firefighters who keep us safe!

Girl Scouts Perform Flag Ceremony in Thousand Oaks

Last night, Cadette Troops, along with Brownies and Seniors from other troops performed the Flag Ceremony, sang songs and took a moment to thank firefighters at the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks.

The event was for Hospice of the Conejo's The Tree of Life- A Season to remember loved ones and give thanks for family and friends.

The Girls Scouts attending this event included girls from Troops 60437, 60497, 60923, and 64039. Thank you to all the girls and volunteers who participated.

 

GSCCC Girl Scouts Helping their NorCal Girl Scouts Neighbors

D’Angela Leon,  GSCCC Program Coordinator

       Janice Mulvey, GSCCC Regional Volunteer Support Manager

       Molly Schmidt, GSNorCal Membership Director

Before the Thomas Fire and SoCal fires, GSCCC Girl Scouts had been working with several local Service Units on getting items up to Santa Rosa after the fires there. Service Units collected the requested items as their Community Service projects.

SU 250 San Benito collected clothes, toys and food. SU 357 sent gifts that were requested by families through the Adopt A Girl Scout Family that the Santa Rosa Girl Scout office organized.

GSCCC's Janice Mulvey, D’Angela Leon, and one of our Program Coordinators drove up to Santa Rosa on Friday, December 8.

Some of the gifts, including the ones donated by GSCCC troops, ready to be delivered to 

Santa Rosa Girl Scout Families.

They delivered the Adopt a Girl Scout gifts, new toys, books and coats (for their One Warm Coat drive) to  Girl Scouts. They also dropped off the used clothes at a Santa Rosa Distribution Center and delivered  food and water to a Food Bank.

 Thank you team for helping out another Girl Scout Council! :) #GirlScoutStrong

 

Be the Next Face of the Girl Scout Cookie Box!

This January, get ready to enter our national Girl Scout Cookie Pro Contest 2018 to unlock an awesome, limited-edition Cookie Pro 2018 patch and the chance to travel to New York City for an all-expenses-paid Cookie Entrepreneur Experience, including a photo shoot that gets your smiling face on the Girl Scout Cookie box----- SWEET. That's right. YOU could be one of Girl Scouts' top cookie pros! Entering is easy and fun. This cookie season, let's show 'em how the iconic cookie program prepares girls to lead, learn, and succeed, all while embarking on amazing adventures, forming a lifetime of memories, and unleashing the power of G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world together!

Learn More

Entries accepted January 2, 2018, through April 30, 2018. Girl Scout Cookie Program Girl Scouts of the USA Check out the official contest rules. Questions? Contact your local Girl Scout council.     Prizes Grand Prize: Be the Star of a Girl Scout Cookie Box Six girls nationwide, one per Girl Scout grade level, will be named Girl Scouts of the USA’s Top Cookie Pro 2018 and get the epic chance to: •  Be featured on the Girl Scout Cookie box! •  Travel to New York City for an all-expenses-paid Cookie Entrepreneur Experience! Limited-Edition Patch Every girl who enters Girl Scouts of the USA’s Cookie Pro 2018 Contest will unlock this awesome, limited-edition Cookie Pro 2018 patch. You must be an eligible Girl Scout Cookie seller from a participating council to take part.