Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois will join millions of Girl Scouts and alumnae across America in celebrating 100 years since Juliette Gordon Low first gathered together a group of girls and began what is today the largest organization providing girls a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE).
With more than 3.5 million members worldwide and 50,000,000 alumnae in the U.S., the impact and role of Girl Scouting is undeniable and far reaching. Girl Scouting’s impact in southern Illinois is also significant. GSSI serves 14,000 girl members and 4,800 adult volunteers with a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) that encourages girls to DISCOVER, CONNECT and TAKE ACTION to make her family, her community, her state, her country and the world a better place for everyone!
GSSI is planning many events and activities to celebrate this incredible and historic milestone. We invite everyone…girls, volunteers, parents and community members to join in the celebration and take an active role in one of the events below. We need many, many girls and volunteers so don’t forget to sign up on GSSI’s website.
Click here to see our 100th Anniversary Committee Members!
Girl Scout Flag Run across 40 ½ counties in southern Illinois: Much like the Olympic torch run, GSSI will have girls and volunteers carrying and passing a Girl Scout flag from one community to another. The flag run will start in Edwardsville on Mar. 12, 2012, make a tour of our 40 ½ counties and return one year later back to much fan fare in Edwardsville. We will track the flag’s progress on GSSI’s website.
GSSI’s 100th Birthday Celebration Bash: We want all Girl Scouts and Girl Scout friends and supporters to join us in a huge celebration on March 12, 2012. We want all Service Units to plan and hold a Birthday Bash in your communities which include girls, volunteers, singing songs, cup cakes and punch and of course inviting the news media and local dignitaries.
Girl Scout 100th Anniversary Quilts:GSSI girls and volunteers from each Service Unit designed quilt squares that are being assembled into 3 different quilts. One quilt will be dedicated and hung in the GSSI Corporate Service Center, one quilt will be dedicated and hung in the GSSI Regional Service Center and one will be used to raise money to support GSSI’s financial assistance outreach.
Council Wide Community Service Project: GSSI will conduct a Hands for the Hundredth community service project where troops will collect personal care items that will be donated to needy families in Service Unit area food pantries, shelters, churches, etc.
Invite local media to cover girls delivering donations to agencies.
Council Wide all age level Girl Scout Century Celebration program event: GSSI is planning a huge Century Celebration program event for all girls which will include swap making, badge activities, cup cake wars (similar to the television program), a fashion show of past uniforms and many other activities. The Century Celebration will be held at Gateway Center in Collinsville on April 15, 2012.
We have reached our maximum capacity. This event is full and closed
Bandy’s Corn Maze and the Girl Scout Trefoil: The Girl Scout Trefoil will be the center of attention at Bandy’s Corn Maze in Johnson City in October of 2012. Through the use of GPS technology, a huge corn maze will be sculpted into the shape of the Girl Scout Trefoil. Visitors to Bandy’s can see the maze, walk through it, collect clues to earn a badge and have a great time participating in other activities.
Girl Scout Historical Displays: GSSI will put together historical displays featuring uniforms, books, badges, patches, cookware, etc…that will be on display possibly at SIUE and SIUC.
Displays can also be reserved and featured in your community (library, museums, etc.)
We need girls and volunteers to assist in planning, organizing and putting together these displays for the public.
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Alumnae Society: Once a Girl Scout, Always a Girl Scout. Girl Scout alumnae are invited to join the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ alumnae association. We hope you will join us, reconnect with Girl Scouting, share your ideas, volunteer and have fun! For more information click here or call Rebecca Hildebrand at 618.692.0692 or e-mail her at Rhildebrand@gsofsi.org.
Juliette Gordon Low Society: Help Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois continue to be the premier leadership development organization for girls by becoming a Founding Member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society. For more information click here or call Rebecca Hildebrand at 618.692.0692 or e-mail her at Rhildebrand@gsofsi.org.
