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November & December 2024

Around the Council

All-Staff Holiday Party

Wrapping up 2024, GSCNC had its annual holiday party and all-staff meeting on Friday, December 6th at Maggiano's. We celebrated with a delicious Italian meal, played games, and had a gift basket raffle! Keep scrolling for tons of photos from the fun and festive occasion.

The Property Team showed up in some fun holiday outfits.

Dianna Neely was one of several new hires to win a gift basket!

Corinne Cannon was ecstatic about her winnings.

Elaine Dela Peña with the spoils

Jaca Gooding, known for her iconic hats, took home a gift basket.

Our holiday wrap-off got everyone flexing their creative side. Here are some of the looks we loved.

Charlie Mecklenburg was the undisputed winner of the wrapping paper fashion show.

Caroline Sachdeva Chase's bow hat really tied her look together.

Tré Woods got the bring-your-own-tinsel memo.

Juliette Gordon Low Takes Her Place on the Quarter

Juliette Gordon Low, is about to make her mark on American currency. The United States Mint recently unveiled designs for the final five quarters in its American Women Quarters™ Program, including one honoring Juliette Gordon Low. This special edition quarter will be available in 2025.


These quarters pay tribute to women from diverse backgrounds who have made their mark on suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, the arts, and more. It's a powerful recognition of the incredible impact women have had on our nation's history.


Juliette Gordon Low’s selection for this prestigious honor highlights her visionary spirit and serves as a reminder of the lasting legacy of the Girl Scout Movement, which continues to inspire and empower girls everywhere.


Learn more here.

Making the Most Out of the Holidays

NFP's Wise & Well focused on creating authentic connections during the holidays. The holiday season can often feel overwhelming, with the rush to complete tasks and perfect every detail. This hustle can make us miss the true meaning of the holidays. Genuine interactions, where we focus on others, are more valuable than gifts and help foster deeper bonds that improve our well-being.


These things are linked to better mental and physical health, reducing stress and boosting happiness. To create these connections, encourage meaningful conversations during gatherings and ask thought-provoking questions. These moments help people feel seen and heard, making the holiday season more fulfilling.


Prioritizing relationships, say "no" to overcommitment, and spreading kindness are ways to make your holiday experience more fulfilling for you and others. The most meaningful gift this holiday may be your presence, given with care and intention.




November-2024-Newsletter


November-2024-Infographic

Pets Galore

Olivia's Cat Theo

Meet Theodore, Theo for short. Theo is believed to be around 6 years old and was rescued from the Humane Society of Charlotte in December 2021. He has become a very cuddly cat who follows Olivia around like a shadow. He loves to talk to the birds outside his window, play with his worm toy, and sleep on her lap. 

To have your pet featured in our next edition of Juliette's Journal, email jomestad@gscnc.org.

Mark Your Calendars

JANUARY 1

NEW YEARS DAY

Office Closed


JANUARY 3-10

Pack Office Supplies for Move

DC Office


JANUARY 7

IDEA Committee Meeting

3:00-4:00 PM via Teams


JANUARY 13-17

DC Office Fully Remote


JANUARY 14

All Staff Meeting

1:00 PM via Teams


JANUARY 20

Martin Luther King Jr. Day &

Inauguration Day

Office Closed

JANUARY 21

IDEA Committee Meeting

3:00-4:00 PM via Teams


JANUARY 21

Swing Space Open

DC Office


FEBRUARY 4

IDEA Committee Meeting

3:00-4:00 PM via Teams


FEBRUARY 11

All Staff Meeting

3:00 PM via Teams


FEBRUARY 18

IDEA Committee Meeting

3:00-4:00 PM via Teams


FEBRUARY 19

President's Day

Office Closed

Passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility? Join the I.D.E.A. Committee



Meetings are held at 3pm every other Tuesday. See the calendar above for exact dates.


Everyone is invited to attend!

Ideas

About I.D.E.A.


Short introductions to topics within inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Brought to you by the staff-based IDEA Committee.

Staff Celebrations

Congratulations Courtney

Program Specialist Courtney Bigbee will be closing out the year of 2024 preparing for their January 11th, 2025, wedding! What better way to start the New Year than kicking it off with some Nuptials. Here are some engagement photos.


Congratulations to Courtney and their future spouse!

As a part of their engagement photo shoot, they both have on one sock, which hold their rings with magnetic "hands"!

Baby Monagas

Tierney Monagas of Membership Team 2 and her husband are expecting their first child on February 2nd!


From Tierney: "This photo is from the surprise baby shower that my Girl Scouts family (members of Membership Teams 2 and 6, special shout-outs to Michael Fowle and Jackie Horn for helping organize) helped my husband throw for me!


"We are keeping the baby’s sex a surprise until birth, so there were 2 cakes where folks could vote on whether they thought the baby was a boy or a girl by which slice they took. I am so grateful to work with such amazing people!"


Congratulations to Tierney and her husband!

Poppy the Puppy


Our Director of Membership Zoë Chapman and her husband got a puppy!


From Zoë: Poppy is a beagle/terrier mix (we think) and was adopted from a rescue after being found wandering in rural Virginia.


She’s 7 months old and loves sniffing everything, eating our furniture, and napping in sunny spots.

Share the good news! Send celebrations to Human Resources to be included next time.

My Favorite Things

Here are some of Lisa's favorite things!

1. Parrots. A blue and gold Macaw named ColoColo lives with me. He goes everywhere with us and loves the Cherry Blossom Festival!


2. Disney. Being from Florida, I know the parks like a pro. My favorite princess is Ariel. 


3. DC food scene: I love to cook and eat food from around the world. DC has amazing restaurants and can't wait to try out as many as possible.


4. Kendo (Japanese Martial Art) I have been training at a dojo this past year and will soon earn my armor so I can compete.


5. Languages. I speak a few, French being my strongest and I am currently learning Norwegian and working on certifying my French language level. It is so much fun to learn new language skills.

Lisa Stone is our Camping Support Coordinator. She has worked here since February 12, 2024.


For Cooking & Eating

Crispy Fried Onion and Spinach Artichoke Dip



Ingredients:


  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 cup cooked spinach (drained and chopped)
  • 1/2 cup canned artichoke hearts (drained and chopped)
  • 1/2 cup crispy fried onions (crushed)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste


ChatGPT's Dip Recipe

Did you know that ChatGPT can suggest recipes based on what ingredients you have on hand? To test this out, I used it to determine what dish to bring to a holiday party without an extra trip to the store.


A few tips for success:


You can review the initial suggestions, and refine them based on any criteria, including allergies, foods you don't like, or even textures! I even asked for a recipe that would be a crowd favorite! I also specified what kitchen appliances I had at my disposal (or was willing to use for this).

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese, spinach, artichokes, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, and a bit of salt and pepper.
  3. Stir in half of the crispy fried onions.
  4. Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe dish and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly.
  5. Top with the remaining crispy fried onions and bake for an additional 5 minutes for extra crunch.
  6. Serve warm with chips, bread, or veggies.

Welcome!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new staff who have joined our Council since the previous edition of Juliette's Journal.


We are so pleased to have you on board!

Corinne Cannon is our new Director of Strategic Initiatives. She is based in the DC office. Her first day was Friday, November 1.


Elaine Dela Peña is our new Digital Experience & Operations Officer. She is based in the DC office. Her first day was Monday, November 4.


Tré Woods is our new Annual Giving Specialist. He is based in the DC office. His first day was Tuesday, November 12.


Candice Shakur is our new Team 3 Membership Specialist serving Northern Frederick County, and Eastern Washington County, MD. She is based in the Martinsburg office. Her first day was Tuesday, November 12.


Dianna Neely is our new Team 3 Membership Specialist serving West Washington County, MD, Morgan County, WV, Berkeley County, WV, and Jefferson County, WV. She is based in the Martinsburg office. Her first day was Tuesday, November 12.


Terri Gittings is our new Senior Grants Officer. She is based in the DC office. Her first day was Friday, November 1.


Kasandra Martinez is our new Team 1 Membership Specialist serving District Heights, Upper Marlboro, Landover, Mitchellville, and Lanham. She is based in the Brandywine office. Her first day was Monday, December 2.


Rae Davidson is our new Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer. She is based in the DC office. Her first day was Thursday, December 5.


Jasmine Curtis is our new Team 6 Membership Specialist serving Northwest DC. She is based in the DC office. Her first day was Monday, December 9.

Jessica Hadsell transferred from our Brandywine Office to become a Program Specialist, DC office, effective November 1.


Capriko Robinson has been promoted to Volunteer Development Specialist, DC office, effective November 11.

Internal Growth & Development

Congratulations to these internal hires!

Washington, DC Office



  • Program Specialist
  • AVD Coordinator


Brandywine, MD Office


  • Membership Specialist


Manassas, VA Office


  • Membership Specialist



Click the buttons to the right for more information! →

We're Hiring

Share an Opening
Apply Internally on Paycom

Review the Council's current Respiratory Viruses Guidelines here. Updated March 2024!

Girl Scout Proud

Give it up for Association 11 from Calvert County, Maryland! These incredible Girl Scouts worked together in shifts to collect enough supplies to fill a 15-foot U-Haul for Hurricane Helene relief. They drove it all the way to the closest town in Ashville, North Carolina to distribute to those in need.

Meet Gold Award Girl Scout Mae! Mae created a documentary about women veterans, highlighting their history, experiences, and contributions.


Read more about Mae's Gold Award project and our Salute to Service Initiative here.

Girl Scout Troops 3089 and 2613 made a difference this Thanksgiving one meal at a time as they volunteer at the food bank bagging groceries, sorting products, and helping recipients retrieve their groceries.


Way to go Girl Scouts!

These "Girl Scout Proud" segments are featured from our social media.

Thank you to our Marketing and Communications team!

Click the buttons at the bottom of this newsletter to explore more.

P.S. From HR

Display Your Pronouns on Microsoft Teams


Did you know that you can specify your pronouns in Teams? Doing this helps coworkers know how to refer to you during team meetings!

To add your pronouns to Microsoft Teams, follow these steps:


  1. Open Microsoft Teams and log in to your account.
  2. Click on your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. From the dropdown menu, select "Edit Profile."
  4. In the "Set a status message" or "Add pronouns" section (depending on your version), look for an option to add your pronouns.
  • If this is not visible directly, you may need to click on "Edit profile" where you can manually input your pronouns in the display name section.
  • You can also update your status message to include your pronouns


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