Meeting #4: Holiday Party

Our holiday party was a success!  Special thanks to our troop parents who went above and beyond the call of duty by donating snacks, food, drinks and desserts!  Another special thanks goes to our friends and colleagues at Nike, Atlantic Records, Nickelodeon and Polo/Ralph Lauren who donated gifts to our girls.  Each girl received a bag filled with items like toys, books, candy, t-shirts, stickers and purses.  Happy Holidays!

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Meeting #3 - Making the World a Better Place

Ms. Judith, Harlem Goodwill Store Manager, gives Troop #3027 a tour and information about the organization.

At our recent meeting, members of Troop #3027 made a large donation to support the Goodwill of NY/NJ!  The girls participated in their first service learning project for the year by bringing more than 15 bags and two carts full of clothes and shoes to the Harlem Goodwill on 135th Street and 5th Ave.   Store Manager, Ms. Judith, gave members of the troop a tour of the facility.  The girls also learned that Goodwill Industries supports adults with disabilities by providing them with jobs and support.

Special thanks to Ms. Judith, the staff of the Harlem Goodwill Store and Customer and Donor Service Director, Martha Gotwals for providing our girls with a great service learning experience and a lesson in giving.  Click here to find out more about Goodwill and take a look at the photo/video collage below for highlights from this special field trip.

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A Successful Spring Fling!

The leaders of Troop #3027 would like to express their sincere gratitude to the many friends and family members that came out to support our first fundraising event!  To our dedicated parents and volunteers, thank you for spending an afternoon with us and donating your time and talents.  To the vendors, thank you for providing your skills, talents and services.  We really appreciate you all!

Although our financial goal was not met, you showed us more love and support than we could ever imagine!  Donations of all kinds put the smiles on the faces of the nearly fifty children that participated in our Spring Fling!  Special thanks to The Kennedy Center directer, Rodney Beckford, for being our biggest fan. Thank you, thank you and thank you!

Take a look at the scrap book below, to see some highlights from the event. Videos are included!

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Thanks For Your Support, Ms. Candace!

Recently, our troop coordinator (Miss Jodi) read a letter to the troop members that she received from a woman that has been supporting our troop.  On behalf of the girls and leaders of Troop #3027, thank you to all the family members and friends that make donations of materials, gifts and money.  We appreciate you.  Special thanks to Ms. Candace! 

Troop #3027 Fundraiser on May 24th

Our Girls Are Considerate And Caring

Our girls have made a promise to help people at all times and they are learning ways to be considerate and caring.  "For the next six weeks, until December 14th, we're going to support a very good cause - cancer research, patient support and advocacy", announced Miss Donna.  "So, start collecting pennies at home and at school".

Each year we participate in service learning projects!  We learn by helping.  The girls were asked to bring in pennies to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Organization!  Many of us have family members who have been diagnosed with cancer.  Last year, we supported a local school in donating more than $400!  Click here to see a blog post from the Duke Ellington School!  With so much success, we decided to do it again this year.

Click here to go to our donation page!  Watch the video below to see how the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society helps children with cancer.

World Thinking Day!

Each year on February 22, World Thinking Day, girls honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts by taking time to give thanks for their international friendships and remember that Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community—one of nearly 150 countries that are members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).



This year's theme, girls' worldwide say "together we can save children's lives," gives girls a chance to take action on issues affecting children's lives in other countries. This theme is based on Millennium Development Goal 4, which is focused on reducing child mortality rates around the globe.  During the months of February and March, Troop #3027 will be collecting donations of pennies to give to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  This organizations supports cancer research.

Holiday Party - 2012

Thanks to a generous donation from B'Cause It's Mimi and Nike, members of Troop #3027 were given a backpack full of gifts during the troop's annual Holiday Party!  "We really appreciate the donations that we receive for the girls each year", said Miss Jodi who founded the troop in 2009, with her sister Stacey.  "It's important to show the girls how special they are".   Happy holidays to the parents, girls and supporters of Girl Scout Troop #3027!

Take a look at the slideshow below for highlights from our festive party!

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Troop Coat Drive

In a normal year, 90% of homeless adults need a new, warm coat each winter because they have no place to keep one over the summer months. But this year, it's not just homeless people who need our help; thousands of New Yorkers have been displaced and left out in the cold or in shelters as a result of the storm, creating unprecedented demand for warm coats.

Troop #3027 will be partnering with New York Cares collect winter coats for victims of Hurricane Sandy.  At the next meeting, we will accept coat donations.  Please bring in any new or gently used coats you would like to donate.

Special thanks to Troop #3027 members Candace and Madison C. who who have already made a coat donation!  Click here for more information about New York Cares.

A Letter From Our CEO

Dear Girl Scout family,

As Girl Scouts, we make the unshakeable promise to help people at all times. We encourage compassion and teach girls that they can be leaders in making the world a better place. This is our Law and our Promise.

So many of you responded quickly to aid us in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and we have been proud to be part of such a tremendous sisterhood.

Your efforts are a clear demonstration of your leadership ability and compassion.

If you follow our Facebook page, you can read about the volunteer work of Girl Scouts from across the city. However, you might not know about all the offers for help that have come in from Girl Scout troops across the country.

In Lanesville, Indiana, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Troop 239 created Operation: Be a Sister, a program where Girl Scouts across the United States work together to purchase new uniforms for their sister Girl Scouts who were victims of Hurricane Sandy. Registered girls who have lost their uniforms can go to www.facebook.com/OperationBeASister to submit a request form; a uniform will be assembled and mailed to them directly. Troops from North Carolina, Alabama, Massachusetts, Eastern Pennsylvania and many other places are collecting donations to ship to troops in need and are offering to help.

The outpouring of love and support has been amazing. If your Council, Service Unit or Troop would like to support the disaster relief efforts in our area, we are suggesting the following:

• Donate by partnering with a disaster relief or a local community based organizations. A few sites that will assist you in identifying organizations that are taking donations and the specific items they need include:
• www.nycservice.org
• www.newyorkcares.org
• www.cityharvest.org

• Support a local Troop – We are asking our volunteers to post specific needs that they or girls in their troop have on our Facebook page. Please connect with them to assist them directly. 

• Be a sister to every Girl Scout – Encourage your volunteers and girls to post encouraging messages to others on our Facebook page. Being connected to each other in the days and weeks will help us as we all recover and rebuild.

We have dozens of offers from Girl Scouts who, like you, are living up to the Girl Scout Promise. Please let us know of your efforts on behalf of those affected by Sandy. Again, we are touched and so proud to be part of such an amazing movement. Thank you for your generosity and support!

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Barbara Murphy-Warrington
CEO

Hurricane Sandy

The leaders of Troop #3027 want to express our deepest sympathy for those effected by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.  We hope that you and your families are safe and well.  If there is anything that we can do to support you, please do not hesitate to contact us by sending an e-mail to harlemgirlscouts@gmail.com or calling our Troop Coordinator.

For kid-friendly information, articles, games and activities about the hurricane, feel free to use the following websites:

• Scholastic News Interactive
• New York Times Learning Blog
• BrainPop - Floods

Girl Scout of the Week

Kaelyn is a Brownie with a passion and she is our Girl Scout of the Week!  She recently brought nearly fifty pounds of pennies to donate to Pennies for Patients; a campaign that supports individuals with leukemia and lymphoma (blood cancers).  "I'm so proud of her", said her Mom.  "She did this all by herslelf".  As Kaelyn called her family members and friends to inform them about the cookie sales, she also told them to bring her pennies. 

Not too long ago, a family member close to Kaelyn, was diagnosed with cancer.  This motivated Kaelyn to make this cause a priority.  Statistics state that 1 in 75 men and women will be diagnosed with leukemia during their lifetime.  With the help of Kaelyn, Troop #3027 is doing their part to support those that have been affected by this disease.

Kaelyn with her donation to help cancer patients.

For more information about leukemia and lymphoma, click here.  To make a donation to Pennies for Patients, go to the troop's homepage by clicking, here.

This Week's Theme: Donate Your Time, Talents & Treasures

Inspired by President Barack Obama, our troop began with a spirit of making change in our community.  We've continued that spirit by renewing our philanthropic efforts.  As philanthropists, we donate our time, talents and treasures for the common good.

Daisies

Brownies

Juniors & Cadettes

Today's lesson reminded us that just as each star in the sky makes up the universe, each Girl Scout is a shining star and can make a positve difference through contributing to the common good.  With Miss Donna, the Daisies worked together to draw a picture that represented how each girl can come together to do something beautiful.  With Miss Regina and Miss Stacey, the Brownies read the lyrics to Katy Perry's song Firework and decorated stars to represent the many ways they help their community.  With Miss Jodi, the Juniors/Cadettes discussed issues that they care about and ways that they can improve their world.

We're Collecting Pennies!

Since 1994, millions of dollars have been raised in pennies and other spare change by more than 10 million elementary, middle and high school students throughout the country. The funds benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  The Pennies for Patients campaign began in the Society's North Carolina Chapter in 1995.

Troop #3027 is proud to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by collecting pennies.  Many troop members have family members that have been effected by cancer and we would like to do our part to support research and prevention.

For more information about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, click here! For information on the Pennies for Patients campaign, click here!

Thank You, Parents!

This week Troop #3027 collected nearly 40 items of clothing and shoes to donate to Dress For Success!  We are still collecting business-appropriate clothing to support women entering the workforce.  Thank you for supporting us as we support Dress for Success.

For more information on the Dress for Success Organization, click here.

Image taken from Dressforsuccess.org.

A Message from the GSA National CEO

A Message from Kathy Cloninger, National CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA:

"We are devastated by the catastrophe in Japan and, on a personal level, are deeply concerned about our sisters there, the Girl Scouts of Japan. USA Girl Scouts Overseas has served American military and civilian families in Japan for many years, and has extremely close ties with Girl Scouts of Japan. In fact, many of our overseas troops and Girl Scouts of Japan are sister troops. We have received many calls from Girl Scouts around the country asking how to help and are happy to report that the policy that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations has been temporarily suspended. To contribute to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts, you can make an online donation to the newly established Girl Scouts of Japan Relief Efforts. CLICK HERE TO DONATE. At times like these, Girl Scouts throughout the world come together in sisterhood to help those in need. We have seen our Movement rally in support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters over the years, and will continue to do everything we can to help our sister Girls Scouts of Japan in the weeks and months ahead."

In the next few weeks, Troop #3027 will be collecting donations to support the relief efforts in Japan. Click here to see the Girl Scouts of Japan website.

Our Holiday Party!

On December 18, 2010, Girl Scout Troop #3027 celebrated the holidays and practiced table etiquette at Settepani Mediterranean Restaurant in Harlem! Along with many family members, Ms. Saundra (Miss Regina's Mom) joined us for our holiday party. At our last meeting, Ms. Saundra gave the girls a lesson in table etiquette and promised them that she would join us at our holiday party. We were very happy to see her!

Special thanks goes to the owner and staff of Settepani for providing us with great service, tasty food, and a beautiful place to meet. A big thank you also goes out to the many parents who brought coats and toys to donate to Angel Tree. On behalf of all the troop leaders, Happy Holidays! See you next year!

This Week's Theme: Life Lessons

This week, the girls learned a very important lesson...how to set the table! Instructed by Miss Regina's Mom, Ms. Sandra, the girls got a better understanding of proper table etiquette.

Ms. Sandra is not new to teaching etiquette to children. For 37 years, she taught high school students, among many other things, the proper way to set the table. As she taught the girls about where to place the knife, fork, spoon, and napkin, it was clear that they were paying close attention to this life lesson. After all, there was a quiz to follow and each girl passed! Now, our girls can't wait to use what they have learned. Winter, one of our more vocal girls asked, "will we be able to do this at a restaurant with REAL food". Miss Jodi responded by announcing that we will be taking a trip to a restaurant in two weeks! Ms. Sandra told the girls that she will be joining us on that trip to see if they use what they have learned. So, it's a good idea to practice setting your table at home!

Towards the end of our meeting, the girls had time make some additions to their journals. Miss Donna reminded them that their journals have room to grow. "As you learn more life lessons, you can add them to your journals". The girls were also reminded to bring in a gently used coat to donate to the Kennedy Center's charity and a new toy (wrapped and in the original box) to donate to Angel Tree.