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March 2023
you are receiving this email as a supporter of GSWO
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Hello, and Happy March! This time of year is so inspiring to me as we “round the corner” from winter weather to the warmth, growth, and newness of spring. At the same time, in March we celebrate both Girl Scout week and Women’s History Month in honor of women making a difference in the world.
At Girl Scouts, we are changemakers! It’s in our DNA – when a Girl Scout completes a Journey, there’s always a Take Action Activity that is required, which addresses an issue by tackling the factors that cause or contribute to it. As you may expect, these projects have a far-reaching influence. They’re designed to change something for the better—forever.
Girl Scouts believes in girls and supports them through leadership programming to make the world a better place. We see this every day as Girl Scout alums go on to become leaders of their community, activists, CEOs, scientists, and teachers – just to name a few!
We invite you to read more about the change that girls are affecting in our communities. In this issue, you will read about inspiring local changemakers – girls and adults who have overcome barriers to affect change and make the world a better place. And as we recently celebrated World Thinking Day in February, learn more about the day with an international reach.
Your support fuels the growth of future changemakers! Thank you for your investment in girls.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
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Aimée Sproles
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio
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Women of Distinction's Girl Honorees
Meet Gretchen and Sophia
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Women of Distinction presents: Girls Change the World is a celebration of changemakers! We celebrate visionary doers, thinkers, and leaders in our communities who make the world a better place, all supporting our outreach services.
At Women of Distinction, two current Girl Scouts will be honored. These Girl Scouts have overcome obstacles and worked for change in their communities. Of the nominations received council-wide, we are excited to honor the following Girl Scouts:
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Gretchen Clements:
Gretchen ("Gretch") has been a lifelong Girl Scout and a part of the CSA Conference committee for 5 years. This year she was honored to be selected as the Co-chair.
Gretch has always loved helping others, making art, and being a Girl Scout.
She learned to take a stand for what she believes in, stand up for the less fortunate, and overcome her struggles. Joining the CSACon Committee as a young student who was super shy and quiet, Gretch is now the Co-Chair of our committee and was leading other Girl Scouts in developing this year's leadership conference.
Gretchen demonstrates leadership qualities in Girl Scouts and her community. She not only overcame her own struggles with public speaking but she advocates for the quiet ones in the group, getting input from everyone. Gretch is the first to step in and stand up for the under-represented, making sure that all are included.
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Sophia Meadows:
Sophia Meadows has been a Girl Scout for ten years. For Sophia, Girl Scout camp is where she discovered whom she was supposed to be, and how to feel her best. She still feels "at home" when outdoors.
Sophia is a Bronze Award and Silver Award Girl Scout. She is also a Program Assistant and has earned her Service to Girl Scouting and Silver Torch Awards. Sophia loves to assist with canoeing at Camp Whip Poor Will as a PA and finds herself assisting at various camps throughout the central region from spring through fall each year.
Sophia recently convinced her mother to start a younger girls' Girl Scout troop where she helps lead activities and experiences.
Sophia is committed to advocating for a continued focus on outdoor activities and education in Girl Scouts, and uses her lived experiences to ensure inclusive experiences for Girl Scouts with spectrum disorders and difficulties.
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We hope that you will support Girl Scouts Outreach, bringing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls in underresourced communities. You can give every girl the power to change her world! | |
Women of Distinction's 2023 Changemakers | |
For more than thirty years, Women of Distinction has a proud legacy of recognizing strong women who have worked for change on behalf of women and girls. This year, we are thrilled to honor: | |
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Sharon Crall:
Sharon Crall has been an engineer working for GE Aerospace for 31 years, with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She has volunteered with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio since 1999.
In 2012, Sharon started a partnership between GSWO and GE called “Year of the Girl”, referencing a call to action by GSUSA on its 100th anniversary. Since 2012, GE employees have volunteered in afterschool programs, summer camps, instructional videos, and Girl Scout badge workshops, and have contributed over 12,000 hours engaging girls in STEM activities while working alongside role models in STEM fields. The program has been recognized by GE, GSWO, and the United Way.
Sharon is a 3rd generation Girl Scout Leader. Sharon co-led her daughter’s troop from Daisies though Ambassadors, and served for several years as a service unit manager. Sharon supported her daughter and many others in the troop as they earned their Gold Awards.
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Lisa Nolan:
Lisa Nolan is the Executive Director of Dress for Success Cincinnati. Lisa leads the organization in its mission of empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. Lisa is responsible for the strategy and fundraising to support Dress for Success's programs, which include styling services, workforce development and career support programs. Lisa also serves as Executive Director of Portaluca, a social enterprise resale boutique open to the public, from which all proceeds benefit DFSC.
Lisa has been recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier as a 40 Under 40 leader in 2021.
Lisa was Girl Scout beginning as a Daisy, in NW Georgia, and earned the Gold Award in 2003.
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Barbara Turner:
Barbara Turner, CRCP, has more than 35 years of leadership experience in the financial services ndustry. Barbara served as Ohio National Financial Services’s President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2021 – November 2022. She was the first woman and person of color to hold this position since the company’s founding in 1909.
Barbara is a community leader and philanthropist who has served on several boards and has been recognized by more than twenty organizations for her leadership and positive impact on the Greater Cincinnati region. She has been a role model and changemaker improving the quality of life of girls, women, and families in the region.
Barbara has a special passion for mentoring at-risk teenage girls and single mothers, and helping individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency, as well as financial security and independence. Barbara has been a speaker at Girl Scouts’ CSA Conference, a leadership conference for older Girl Scouts.
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During each February since 1926, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world have celebrated World Thinking Day. It is a day of international friendship and an opportunity for girls to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of others around the world.
This year’s theme is “Our World, Our Peaceful Future: The environment, peace, and security”. Girls were encouraged to:
• Experience a global sisterhood where everyone is included, respected, and heard.
• Do activities that help them think about what a peaceful future looks like and how they can be part of that future.
• Learn about different factors that affect the environment such as air pollution, deforestation, garbage and waste, and ocean and water pollution.
On February 11 at Bowling Green State University, Girl Scouts met International Students to experience a global sisterhood. Students from Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, China, Ghana, and several other countries helped girls learn about different cultures from ways of dress, how to say hello, national flags, and other customs.
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Thank you for investing in girls, and supporting the visionary leaders, doers, innovators, creators, and thinkers of tomorrow.
You can be a changemaker - by investing in the Girl Scouts of today, who are the changemakers of tomorrow!
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