News from Girl Scouts: It’s Back-to-Troop Time!

Thank You, Sylvia, and Welcome, Judith! [View in Browser]( [girl scouts]( August 29, 2020 Girl Scouts, This time of year is always full of transitions, from hot summer months to the chill of fall, from adventures at camp to adventures with troops. This year Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has been going through a [transition of our own]( as our former CEO, Sylvia Acevedo, stepped down as of August 15. We are so appreciative of the legacy that Sylvia, a former rocket scientist and a lifetime Girl Scout, leaves behind. She helped propel the organization forward to be more relevant in the 21st century. During her four years as CEO, Sylvia transformed the organization and inspired millions of girls to dream big and reach for the stars. Fortunately, Judith Batty seamlessly took the reins to serve as our interim CEO. Judith is the first Black CEO of Girl Scouts, a lifelong Girl Scout, and a trailblazing leader with a decades-long career as an executive of a Fortune 500 company championing women’s leadership. She will lead the organization as we launch a search for our next CEO. Judith grew up as a Girl Scout with Girl Scouts of Nassau County in New York and went on to serve two terms on the GSUSA Board of Directors, most recently serving as international commissioner and as a member of the Executive Committee. Few individuals are as familiar with the goals and operations of our organization as Judith is. During her time on GSUSA’s board, Judith not only led the taskforce that successfully reimagined the entire Girl Scout Cookie Program, from baker to Girl Scout, but also co-led the team that developed our strategy for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. Judith’s experience makes her uniquely qualified to help Girl Scouts transition into our next chapter and continue to serve our enduring mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Through this work, she will create an inclusive, supportive organization that stands ready to help every girl learn and thrive. (And, as we embark on a new year, now’s a great time to [renew]( your girl’s membership, [sign her up]( or join yourself as a [volunteer]( In the coming months, Judith will meet with Girl Scout members, council leaders, and staff from around the country to hear what girls need to be successful as we continue to chart the path forward for our Movement together. And, as we “go to press” with this edition of the newsletter, my heart goes out to those who have been impacted by Hurricane Laura and the wildfires in the west, and to those who are hurting in the aftermath of the recent shooting of Jacob Blake. If you have not done so already, I invite you to sign our [anti-racism pledge]( and join us in committing to take action to make the world a more equitable place for all. Yours in Girl Scouting, Kathy Hopinkah Hannan Chair of the National Board of Directors Help Your Kid Manage Their Major Back-to-School Feelings What comes at the end of the least-typical summer ever? You guessed it: the strangest and, for many, the most difficult start to a school year most of us can remember, especially our kids. However, there’s one fairly simple thing all families can do to help their kids through this tricky time. [READ MORE]( Leveraging Girl Scout’s Expert Programming with Girl Scouts at Home When the COVID-19 pandemic caused many activities to stop, Girl Scouts launched [Girl Scouts at Home]( to ensure that girls get the tools they need to become our world’s ambitious change-makers. This online platform allows all girls and families—not just Girl Scout members—to access free activities, live events, and service projects from GSUSA’s expert programming. Whether the girl in your life wants to protect wildlife (see our upcoming event, [Awesome Girls: Take Action for Wildlife]( sponsored by the [Elliott Wildlife Values Project]( spread the word about the importance of voting, or explore space science, we have something perfect for her! [CHECK OUT THE LATEST]( ¿Quiere actividades para su hija y su familia en español? [Lea más sobre Girl Scouts en su hogar™ »]( Go Back to Troop in #GSStyle [##]( Make room in your closet—the must-have collection for game-changing girls has arrived! We partnered with the Fashion Institute of Technology to bring you innovative designs for all seasons. Inspired by today’s Girl Scouts, the collection was designed in coordinating colors and silhouettes so you can mix, match, and make it your own. Preorder and save 10% with code NEWGSSTYLE now through September 8*. [SHOP NOW]( All You Need, All-in-One My Girl Scout Kit is perfect for new and bridging Girl Scouts! Choose from the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, select insignia, uniform items, badge requirements, Journey books, and much more. Purchase $60 or more from one grade level and receive a FREE drawstring bag! Limit of ten free bags per transaction. [MAKE YOUR OWN KIT]( Calling All Older Girl Scouts—Join Us for G-TEAM TV! TV is a new weekly online talk show created by girls, for girls. Made for middle and high school girls, the show is run by a group of Girl Scouts called the G-Team, which is dedicated to creating a community where girls feel connected and accepted while able to discover new ideas and empower one another to change the world. Each episode features interviews and segments focused on issues important to girls, with content linked to our program areas (STEM, the outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship). Starting August 27, episodes will launch every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET on Girl Scouts’ [IGTV](. Episodes will also live on Girl Scouts’ [YouTube]( channel, so girls can watch at any time! And because G-Team TV is all about community, the G-Team is providing discussion guides for every episode that will encourage girls to hang out and talk about the show and its topics. That way everyone can be a part of the action! [JOIN THE FUN]( Powerful Lessons from Three Change-Making Gold Award Girl Scouts! Over the past few years, we’ve followed the inspiring journeys of several alums who are Gold Award Girl Scouts and [recipients of the Arconic Chuck McLane Scholarship](. The scholarship honors the 40-year career of Chuck McLane, a retired executive vice president and chief financial officer of Alcoa and Reynolds Metals Company, as well as a former GSUSA board member who championed young women pursuing an education in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). Want to be inspired and learn how three of these scholarship recipients have continued to pursue their STEM dreams in ways that make the world a better place? [READ ABOUT AKSHITHA AND MORGAN]( [READ ABOUT AMBER]( Lifetime Membership Gift with Purchase Offer Available Through August 31! Become a lifetime member of Girl Scouts through August 31, and you can select your choice of a special gift: a [lifetime membership scarf]( a [lifetime membership baseball cap]( or a [Girl Scout graduation stole!]( Or, in lieu of a gift, you can donate $10 to your local council. [BECOME A LIFETIME MEMBER]( Update on Our 55th National Council Session—You’re Invited! [##]( As excitement grows for our history-making, first-ever virtual National Council Session (NCS), Girl Scout members are invited to participate in the following events over the next two months before and during NCS: - Stewardship Report Webinar—Wednesday, September 9, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. ET - Keynote Presentations by Girl Scouts’ National Board chair, interim national CEO, and founding chair of the Juliette Gordon Low Society—Saturday, October 3, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET - 55th National Council Session—Friday, October 23, through Sunday, October 25 [LEARN MORE]( *Terms and conditions: Code is valid until September 8, 2020, to receive 10% off new fall 2020 Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador uniform collection items on [girlscoutshop.com](. Offer cannot be combined and is valid only on [girlscoutshop.com]( until September 8, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Girl Scout Partners Girl Scouts of the USA would like to thank the many corporations and foundations that support our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. To learn more about how each of these organizations supports Girl Scouts, please see [Our Partners]( page. Want to get involved with Girl Scouts? [Join]( | [Volunteer]( | [Become a Lifetime Member]( Have a question? Don't be shy! [Contact us]( for more information. This email was sent to: {EMAIL} You are receiving this e-mail because you have requested to receive information from Girl Scouts of the United States of America. [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( Our address is 420 5th Ave., New York, NY 10018 © 2020 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. All Rights Reserved.