I can’t believe it’s already November. While I love the crisp autumn weather, the fall colors, and the gratitude that comes this time of year, it always seems to come around more quickly than I anticipated!

In our Girl Scout world, not only is November a time when our girls get out into their communities and perform community service, but it’s also when we celebrate National Entrepreneurship Month. In just a few months, girls all over our council will open their own cookie businesses as they learn essential business skills, like ethics, customer service, and goal setting.  Therefore, it's fitting that we take time in November to recognize female entrepreneurs, connect them with our girls and provide a spark to the next generation of business owners.

In this issue, we’ll share a story about a fellow donor who combines her love for the outdoors and Girl Scouts to provide new opportunities for girls. You will learn how the Cookie Program and Girl Scouts' Entrepreneurship programming give girls the skills they need to think about becoming the next generation of female business owners in our community - and how you can be involved.  You’ll also read about how Girl Scout adventures fueled one girl's dream through our travel program, Destinations.  

Thank you for all you continue to do to champion girls’ ambition in western Ohio and southeastern Indiana.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Roni Luckenbill

Chief Executive Officer

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio



A Love of Girl Scouting and a

Lifetime of  Leadership

Investor, volunteer, and Juliette Gordon Low Society member Beth Wyckoff's love of the outdoors helps Girl Scouts transform through amazing opportunities.

Beth recalls exciting experiences and awesome opportunities as a young Girl Scout which continues as an adult.

As a camp counselor, outdoor skills instructor, adventure guide and so much more, Beth has seen girls challenge themselves, get excited, do new activities, and live and work together as a group. Beth has seen a shy girl become comfortable doing presentations, watched girls fail and try again, and has seen them get really excited when they do something new. She has led summer camp adventures like a llama trek in the Smokey Mountains, white water rafting trips, and a caving trip to Mammoth Cave. The girls choose the food, where to go, and what to do while setting the budget. 

She says, “people worked hard to enrich my life and gave me the courage to grow strong. Girl Scouting gave to me, and now I am giving to others. It is very satisfying helping others discover themselves, create memories and enrich their own lives.” 

Thank you Beth!

Beth (far left) on a llama trek! These trips are fun, full of surprises, and exciting for the girls and for the counselors.

Business Bosses supporting Cookie Bosses

Ask any new business owner which support is most important to them, and they will probably say a mentor to guide them! It is no different for our Girl Scout troops.

Girls have shown the desire to be business leaders but often lack the essential resources, practice, and role models. Girl Scout studies have found that girls need additional support and encouragement in the entrepreneurial space. They’re clear about what they want: more learning opportunities and real-life access to role models.

That is where the Girl Scout Cookie Program comes in: giving girls practical skills they can use in the real world. And YOU can help support them by becoming a Business Boss Supporting Cookie Bosses! Learn how to host a booth, provide coaching or simply purchase cookies.

Thank you for fueling the dreams of girls in Western Ohio! Without you, we couldn't support the changemakers and future leaders in our communities without you!

An Adventure Fueled by Passion

Girl Scout Destinations are the ultimate adventure for individual Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Girls push past their comfort zone by applying for a trip on their own and making friends from all over the country as they travel with new Girl Scout friends. It's a unique, life-changing experience for everyone.

Allison Irey attended the Hollywood Dreamin’ Destination in the summer of 2019. Here is her story:

“Ever since I was four years old, I have dreamt of a life living in Los Angeles, working somewhere within entertainment. It had always been a dream of mine to go to LA growing up, but due to my family's financial situation, we were unable to easily pay for a flight across the country and hotels - everything that goes into a huge vacation... and then I found out about the Hollywood Dreamin' Destination.

"I attended this trip in Summer 2019, right before my senior year of high school. At my school, we didn't have a lot of opportunities for students to learn about the process of filmmaking. However, my Destinations trip taught me all the basics I needed to know moving forward and had an immediate impact on me.

 

"There are SO many skills I learned on my Destination that I still use today. I now know how to network with people in the industry, how to work with paid actors on set, I learned how to operate cameras before any of my peers did, how to use screenwriting software, how to use specific equipment that I haven't even used at my university... the list could go on and on! But, most importantly, it gave me a glimpse into Los Angeles life before I moved out here. 

"Out of everything I've done in Girl Scouts, I would say that my Destinations trip has been the most beneficial thing to my career so far. Without it, I would not have gotten a start to my career as easily, I wouldn't have the contacts that I do, and I think I would have been a lot more scared to live in a big city. Attending the Hollywood Dreamin' Destination truly changed my life in a way I could not have imagined."

To read more about Allison’s Hollywood Dreamin' Destination adventure click here

Thank you for investing in girls, and supporting the visionary leaders, doers, innovators, creators, and thinkers of tomorrow. Together, we can help girls discover their untapped potential and build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Every donor who reaches $1,000 in donations annually is a member of the Leadership Circle. Make their bright future possible as an investor, advocate, networker, and mentor today!