100 Years, 1 Organization - Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania

100 years
1 organization
Find out how we’ve been celebrating

GSEP 2012 GIRL AWARDS
GSEP ALUMNA DARRAGH FRIEDMAN,
2012 YOUNG WOMAN OF DISTINCTION
2012: The Year of the Girl
For 100 years, Girl Scouts has done more than any other
organization to provide leadership opportunities for girls.
as we celebrate a century, We are making a promise to girls
Every girl in this generation will reach her fullest potential. Wherever she lives. Whatever challenges
face her. However great the journey to what she can become. We will give every girl the opportunity
to be the leader she wants to be, and the leader the world needs her to be.
Outcomes of The Girl Scout
Leadership Experience
DISCOVER Girls develop a strong sense of self.
+
CONNECT Girls develop healthy relationships.
+
TAKE ACTION Girls advocate for themselves and
= LEADERSHIP
others,and feel empowered to make
a difference in the world.
GSEP GIRLS AT THE EXPO

GSEP HISTORY MUSEUM AT THE EXPO
GSEP 2012 GOLD AWARD CEREMONY
PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER GSEP EXPO
100th Anniversary Celebrations
have been taking place throughout
the year. Here are just some of
the inspiring activities our council
has led and participated in.
RELAXING AT THE DELL LOUNGE
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS WITH JULIETTE GORDON LOW
gsep.org • spark • fall/winter 2012 15

OPENING SESSION WITH CLOSE TO 2,500 PEOPLE! GROOVIN’ AT THE GIRL PARTY WITH VERONICA BALLESTRINI
OPENING CEREMONY AT THE GSEP EXPO
KEYNOTE SPEAKER,ACTOR AND ACTIVIST, SOPHIA BUSH
WITH GSEP GOLD AWARDEES AND TINA WELLS
century of the girl expo
MEET A 4-LEGGED FRIEND AT THE HALL OF EXHIBITS
april 21–22, 2012
Over 3,500 attendees from nearly every corner of our
council and beyond joined us on the path to Discovery
at the Century of the Girl Expo. It was truly inspiring to
gather our council and community to celebrate girl
leadership! Our goal was to demonstrate leadership in
action by providing a weekend full of notable speakers,
interactive workshops and thoughtful experiences to
engage girls and adults who care about girl issues.
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By Katie G.
The Expo: a Real Girl’s Experience
If you didn’t get a chance to go to GSEP’s Century of
the Girl Expo this past April, then you missed out on
an awesome experience!
>
2012: year of the girl | discover
I went with my friend that I met a few
summers ago at Camp Wood Haven.
We are both in high school and are
not in troops, but go to Girl Scout
events together. The event was held
on the weekend of April 21–22 but
we only went on Saturday and from
the flag ceremony that included
every flag in the world where there
are Girl Scouts to the Diggy Simmons
concert that night we had a great
time!!!! In between the flags and
the concert we attended the Real
Girls Conference where we got to
work with other girls to create public
service announcements that raise
awareness about issues we all care
about. I chose ‘hunger.’ The girls I
worked with all had cool ideas about
what our PSA should include as well
as how we can work to end hunger.
After the Real Girls Conference, we
saw Scott Harrison talk about how he
founded ‘charity: water.’ He showed
us pictures of kids and people in
Africa who were sick because of the
contaminated water they use. He
described how the women have to
walk for miles to get clean water and
then carry huge, heavy containers
back to their villages. Because of this,
many girls and women never attend
school because they are needed to
make the long journey to bring water
into their village. Scott Harrison saw
this, and founded his charity, focused
on raising money to create access to
clean water in places all around the
world, which results in people being
healthier and having time to go to
school. Between this and the Real Girls
Conference, I learned soooooo much!
After dinner, we went to the girl party
where Veronica Ballestrini performed,
DJ Diamond Kuts mixed it up for us
to dance and finally, Diggy Simmons
came out and performed! It was a
great ending to an even better day!
GIRL PARTY HEADLINER
DIGGY SIMMONS
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN... AT THE GIRL PARTY!
If you didn’t get a chance to go…you missed
out on an awesome experience!
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girl scouts forever green initiative:
10,000 trees
February–May, 2012
Forever Green offered Girl Scouts the opportunity to
take action in their communities to positively impact the
environment and show commitment to environmental
stewardship. Girl Scouts of Eastern PA in collaboration
with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the two
other Girl Scout Councils in PA joined forces to plant
10,000 trees statewide. Every registered troop in the state
had the opportunity to receive a sapling to plant in honor
of Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary. Scouts, volunteers and
sponsors came together to bring this initiative to fruition.
UPS, pictured here, sponsored tree delivery services
within our council.
GSEP SUPPORTER, UPS, HELPED US PLANT 10,000 TREES!
DIPPING TREES TO BE PLANTED ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA THE BABY DELIVERY TEAM AT PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL
WITH NATALYE PAQUIN
troop 2012
March 12, 2012
To commemorate the official Anniversary of Girl Scouts
and celebrate the honor of founder Juliette Gordon Low,
all girls born on March 12, 2012 in hospitals throughout
our council’s nine-counties were offered Lifetime
membership to Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
OUR NEWEST GIRL SCOUT AND MEMBER OF TROOP 2012

Calling all Girl Leaders…
Celebrate, Meet and Be Inspired by the
Women Heroes of your Community!
For more information on how YOU can be an
Emcee, Presenter, Advocate or Host, contact
kstrause@gsep.org or call 610.791.2411 ext. 1513.

ttl 2012 Philadelphia ttl 2012 Philadelphia
take the lead
Outstanding women from communities across our
council were honored for their breakthrough leadership
in the 100th Anniversary year of Girl Scouting. This
entirely girl-led program highlights Girl Scouts poise,
maturity and leadership while offering them a unique
opportunity to develop public speaking, networking and
presentation skills.
We couldn’t have done it without
some help from our friends.
See p.32 for shout outs.
Lynne & Harold Honickman, Co-Chairs
philadelphia
March 6, 2012 at The Hyatt at the Bellevue
2012 Honorees:
Bonnie Camarda, Director of Community Partnerships,
Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia
Jean Chamberlin, General Manager, Mobility, Boeing
Shelley Smith, Esq. City Solicitor, City of Philadelphia
Lynn Yeakel, Director Institute for Womens’ Health &
Leadership, Drexel University College of Medicine
ttl 2012 Philadelphia
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ttl 2012 berks
ttl 2012 berks
P. Sue Perrotty & Meg Shields, Co-Chairs
berks county
March 13, 2012
at Sovereign Performing Arts Center
2012 Honorees:
Mary Kay Bernosky, Executive Director,
Berks Women in Crisis
Heidi Masano, Esquire, Partner, Masano Bradley
Lenette Wells, Architect, Entech Engineering
Nancy Xavios, Chief Adult Probation Officer,
County of Berks
Patricia Beldon & Nancy Conrad, Co-Chairs
lehigh valley
March 27, 2012
at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks
2012 Honorees:
Carmen Twillie Ambar, President, Cedar Crest College
Shelley Brown, President & CEO, State Theatre
Susan Kubik, Executive Director NCC Foundation,
Northampton Community College
Dr. Donna Miller, Private Practice
Centennial Award: Carolyn Holleran
Centennial Award: Frances Hesselbein,
CEO, Leader to Leader Institute
ttl 2012 lehigh valley ttl 2012 lehigh valley

SLEEPOVER
AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE
AND JOIN US ON A
DESIGN QUEST
TEST YOUR CREATIVITY WITH DESIGN
CHALLENGES USING RECYCLED MATERIALS!
November 2012 - May 2013
Your overnight stay includes:
• Time to explore all of the museum’s
exhibits like Sports Challenge, Changing
Earth and Electricity. You can even sleep
next to The Giant Heart!
• An out-of-this-world ride on the Adventure
Flight 4D Simulator.
• A planetarium show, a live science
demonstration and a film in the 5 story tall
IMAX® dome theater!
Camp-Ins offer one-of-a kind opportunities
for Girl Scouts to work towards the
requirements for a variety of achievements!
FOR CAMP-IN DATES & PRICING: www.fi.edu/camp-in· 215.448.1200 (option 5)

“rock the mall”
grand mystery tour trip
GSEP Girls at rock the mall
June 9, 2012 | National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Girls who reached their goal of 1,000 or more packages
of Girl Scout cookies sold were invited to join Girl
Scouts across the nation on a trip to the world’s largest
Girl Scout Sing-Along at the National Mall in Washington,
D.C. This was one of the biggest anniversary celebration
events on the east coast!
rock the mall 2012
GSEP National trails day
national trails day
June 2, 2012 | valley forge national park
Over 450 members and friends of GSEP partnered with
Valley Forge Park for “National Trails Day—America’s
largest TRAIL-gating party!” This annual event is a long
standing celebration of the magnificent trail systems in
our country and the many supporters and volunteers
who care for them. Everyone enjoyed guided hikes,
outdoor educational clinics and gear demos, recycling
games, camping activities, Leave No Trace crafts,
‘SWAPS’ at every stop, great music and a birthday cake
party with our own ‘Juliette Low’ (Peggy Labosh)!
juliette gordon low
cutting the birthday cake

ob-ps at shelly ridge Princess beneditke
Olave Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS)
Annual Meeting
May 17–20, 2012
The OB-PS, which supports the mission of the World
Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)
to enable girls to develop their fullest potential as
responsible citizens of the world returned to the United
States for the first time in 15 years for their annual event
May 17-20 in Philadelphia. More than 230 members of
the OB-PS, representing 21 different countries, joined
the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and Girl Scouts
of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) in celebration of the
Centennial of Girl Scouting in the USA.
gsusa ceo anna maria chÁvez
A day of programming offered at our council headquarters
where girls spent the day outdoors participating in
workshops creating lasting works of art and celebrating the
100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting with members of the
Olave Baden-Powell Society. HRH Princess Beneditke of
Denmark took time to plant a tree and interact with the girls
while she visited!
Featured guests through out the weekend included
Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, GSUSA, Sharon Matthews,
GSUSA Board Member and International Commissioner,
Natalye Paquin, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Eastern
Pennsylvania, Mary McPhail, CEO, WAGGGS, and Vibeke
Riemer, president, OB-PS.
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Olave Baden-Powell Society:
My International Experience
in Pennsylvania by Alexa I.
>
2012: year of the girl | discover
I recently participated in the best
event of my Girl Scout career. I am a
Senior Girl Scout from the Emmaus
Service Unit and a freshman at
Emmaus High School. I participated
in the events sponsored by the Olave
Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS)—an
international society of wealthy
dignitaries who support the work of
the World Association of Girl Guides
and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The
women (and men!) in the society are
amazing. They are so inspiring!
During the events that took place on
May 17 and May 19, I met women from
all of the continents, except South
America. I met women from Canada,
Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, the
UK, Ireland, Nigeria, Australia, New
Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, and many
from the United States. The events
that took place occurred because the
OB-PS held their annual meeting in
Philadelphia this year. Let me tell you
how awesome this opportunity was.
As many of the readers know, this year
is the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts
in America. Therefore, almost any
event that I am involved in this year
is awesome. This was the first time
in fifteen years that the OB-PS held
their annual meeting in America. While
some of the women could not speak
English it is awesome that they were
even here in our 100th Anniversary
year, let alone in Philadelphia, which
is in our council. These events were
beyond cool.
On Thursday, May 17, the OB-PS
welcome reception took place at
the National Constitution Center. I
was one of about ten girls there and
I came with my best friend, Maura
B.. All of the girls were given the same
assignment: greet and entertain the
international guests as they arrived
at the National Constitution center
from their buses. We were to speak
to them as we escorted them to the
entrance of the National Constitution
Center. Maura and I were chosen out
of the ten girls there to personally
greet Princess Benedikte as she
arrived at the center. We were thrilled
when we received this assignment.
Even Eddie, the National Constitution
Center guard whom we befriended,
can testify that we were thoroughly
freaking out over meeting the princess
of Denmark. Princess Benedikte is the
main patron and social face of the
OB-PS. The society is the main charity
that she supports. Maura and I were
trained on the protocol for greeting
the princess. We were to curtsy and
politely say, “Pleased to meet you,
Your Royal Highness.” It was surreal.
We did not know that the President
of the Olave Baden-Powell Society,
Vibeke Riemer, was also arriving with
the princess. It was such a pleasure
to meet both of these women. We
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discover | 2012: year of the girl
met them at their special, secret,
discreet entrance then, we walked
them inside, made a little small talk,
and directed them to their secret
elevator on the far side of the center.
After that we went back outside to
greet the other OB-PS members.
They were all very friendly. They were
as eager to speak to us American
girls as we were to speak to them.
All of the guests were interesting and
were such a pleasure to speak to. I
met an American woman named
Sue who spoke to me about my gold
award. I also met a woman from
Australia. Her name is Dallas and she
was very friendly. She introduced me
to Michiko who is from Japan. Michiko
was wearing a kimono and she gave
us swaps that she made. They were
small paper kimonos with her name
on it. She was short, very cute, had an
interesting haircut, and a funny laugh.
The Scottish women were very friendly
and fun. One was very interested
in my vest. I enjoyed speaking to
all of the women, especially those
who wanted to look at my vest. They
knew right where to look —where the
Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards are
pinned. Most average people look
straight to the patches, which are far
less interesting to me than the bronze,
silver, and gold.
Once all of the guests were inside and
getting settled, all of the girl greeters
took a picture with the princess, then
we ate dinner in the café. Maura
and I met a very sweet girl named
Geeta. She was very friendly and
she reminded me of girls Maura and
I had met together at Camp Mosey
Wood over the summers. Even if we
do not keep in contact with them, we
still talk about them and treasure our
memories with them.
When we walked back up to the main
part of the center, we had signs from
the sponsors with us and we were
instructed to walk with them and
display them while the speaker was
announcing them. Mayor Nutter spoke
and the group of us took our picture
with him. The CEO of WAGGGS spoke
also. I have to mention the Nigerian
women. They were just stunning. Their
outfits and headdresses were like
nothing I had ever seen before. Not
to mention, they were all naturally
gorgeous as well. While we held up our
sponsor signs, the Nigerian women
took their pictures with us.
Maura and I met one particular
woman from Nigeria named ‘Toyin
Phillips who had a beautiful headdress.
She runs a couple of schools with
her husband in Nigeria. She told us
that they call ‘high school’ ‘college’ in
Nigeria! She earned her PhD from
Penn State. It was cool to learn that
because Maura and I have relatives
that attend Penn State.
While the experiences I had on
Thursday were irreplaceable, they did
not hold a candle to the experiences
I had on Saturday. On Saturday,
there were different workshops that
were run by older Girl Scouts at the
Shelley Ridge Service Center. The
younger girls participated in those
activities. There were many more
girls in attendance on Saturday
compared to Thursday. I ran a poetry
unit with a girl named Rachel. We
taught the girls how to write a type
of poem called a Windspark. I was
surprised at the diversity of girls
that I met just from our council.
We ran three of those sessions.
Between the second and third
sessions, all of the girls greeted
the members of the OB-PS as
they came to Shelley Ridge. I met a
woman from the UK who gave me
a 100th Anniversary patch from
her country. I also met a woman
from Canada. I took my picture
with the president of the society. I
also met the CEO of GSUSA, Anna
Maria Chávez. Princess Benedikte
planted a tree at Shelly Ridge and
all of the girls took their picture with
her again. While the members were
eating lunch, all of the girls did the
Ignite flash mob for them. While we
were waiting and preparing for the
flash mob, I met another Australian
woman named Janette. We spoke
about her home in Australia and my
home in Pennsylvania. At lunch, I met
an American woman named Sapreet.
She was very enlightening. She
represented America for a month in
New Zealand during her senior year of
26 gsep.org • spark • fall/winter 2012

high school through destinations. She
opened up my eyes to so many new
opportunities with Girl Scouts.
During our third session, some of
the OB-PS members came up to
see the activities we were doing
and to speak to us. I met another
woman from Denmark. I met
another few people from the UK
and another Australian woman who
gave me a pen from her country.
After the events at Shelly Ridge were
finished, the girls from my troop and
I attended the flag ceremony for the
OB-PS’s Presentation Ceremony at
the Hyatt at Penns Landing. All of the
members of the OB-PS and the girls
who participated in the flag ceremony
were in the conference room of the
Hyatt. I was the Girl Scout in charge, so
I announced all of the commands for
the color guard. Before the ceremony,
I met the CEO of WAGGGS, Mary
McPhail, and took my picture with her.
Speaking with her was very pleasant. I
was originally instructed to leave the
conference room after I commanded
everyone to sit down. Then, I met
the Vice President of the OB-PS. Her
name is Ginny Radford and she is
from New Zealand. She asked me if
I would stay for the duration of the
meeting to help the members up and
down the steps leading to the stage. I
gratefully accepted. I was thrilled!
The flag ceremony consisted of
singing the World Song and posting
four flags: U.S., WAGGGS, 100th
Anniversary, and Danish. The princess
came into the conference room after
the procession of flags came in. After
the flag ceremony, the president, vice
president, and princess spoke. They
were all very enlightening. I did not
realize that 6 out of 10 women are still
being physically or sexually abused
throughout the world. I sat down
next to the stage. The princess sat
on the stage. There was also a very
good women’s choir called the Anna
Crusis Women’s Choir there. It is one
of the oldest women choirs in North
America and they were trained to sing
special songs for this event. Some of
the songs were “A Song of Peace,”
“Our Chalet Song,” “Our Cabana Song,”
“On My Honor,” and “Make New Friends.“
The Presentation Ceremony
consisted of inducting new members
into the society. Each new member
received a pin and a certificate. They
also had their bio read to the society
and had their picture taken with the
princess. Sapreet and ‘Toyin were a
couple of them. The ceremony was
very interesting and enlightening.
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about
the OB-PS events. I met so many
wonderful women. I also grew a little
bit as a person. I am now considering
adding international studies as a major
when I attend college. I learned about
so many other cultures. I’m sure all
of the girls who participated in any of
these events feel similarly. Thank you
to everyone who helped make the OB-
PS events possible. Thank you, OB-PS,
for holding your annual meeting in
Philadelphia this year! Thanks to you
I have made many irreplaceable and
priceless memories.
gsep.org • spark • fall/winter 2012 27

2012 wawa welcome america parade 2012 wawa welcome america parade
wawa welcome america parade
july 4, 2012 | philadelphia
GSEP was honored to participate in the opening
festivities with Mayor Nutter at Independence Hall.
The girls of Teresa Brown’s Junior Girl Scout Troop
from the Buttons & Bows Service Unit in West Philly
presented the Nations colors. 225 Cadettes, Seniors
and Ambassadors led the parade’s grand finale. Our
Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts, their families and
onlookers cheered from the sidelines in support of the
Girl Scouts walking the historic route through old city.
It was a proud day for us all!
Celebrations Still To Come…
gsep joins the great girl scout hike
Fall 2012
Girl Scouts in Eastern Pennsylvania join sister Girl Scouts
from Maine to Georgia to hike the Appalachian Trail.
trips to juliette gordon low’s birthplace
Year-Round | Savannah, GA
juliette gordon low’s birthplace
Girl Scouts from around the world, and from Eastern
Pennsylvania will be visiting the birthplace of GS Founder
Juliette Gordon Low.
photo credit: landmarkhunter.com
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discover | thank you to our sponsors
Shout
outS
Special thanks to our generous sponsors
who helped to make this year of Girl Scout
programming and special events possible.
Century of the Girl Expo
Take the Lead 2012 Sponsors
Top sponsors of $5,000 or more.
Philadelphia
Juliette: $25,000
PECO
Lynne and Harold Honickman
Ambassador: $15,000
Exelon Generation
Senior: $10,000
Boeing
Comcast Family of Companies & NBC 10
Cozen O’Connor
Cadette: $5,000
BioClinica, Inc.
Health Partners
Independence Blue Cross
Leslie Anne Miller, Esquire
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young
Wells Fargo Bank
berks
Senior: $10,000
In Memory of Gertrude K. McGonigle
Ginger and Marlin Miller
Carole & Ray Neag
Cadette: $5,000
East Penn Manufacturing
Fulton Bank
Wells Fargo Bank
lehigh valley
Cadette: $5,000
Air Products
Capital Blue Cross
Crayola
PPL Corporation
Wells Fargo Bank
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