Joie Hain, DBA, began her volunteer adult Girl Scout role when she registered her oldest daughter in a Daisy

troop. Having earned the Girl Scout First Class award, she was committed that her two daughters would have

the wonderful scout experiences that she had enjoyed as a girl. Discovering that there were no working mom

troops in her area, she started a troop that met on Saturdays. This continued with a second troop when her

younger daughter became of age. These two troops were known as “traveling troops.” They traveled to the

Birthplace in Savannah, Pax Lodge, Our Chalet and Our Cabana, which resulted in 11 Gold Award Recipients.

Later, her oldest daughter became a volunteer at Our Chalet. Having helped establish the Gold Award Wall in

her local council, Joie has been honored with the Thanks Badge and Woman of Distinction. Joie volunteers as the

WAGGGS liaison for the Rotary International, International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians.

“I am a better person for the broadening experiences and global friendships that I have and continue to

develop, through the world of Girl Scouts and WAGGGS. It is my goal to unlock opportunities for others

through our work with the Friends of WAGGGS USA. I hope you will join in our support!”

bers, goals and opportunities. Networking, sharing

ideas and learning from each other helped to

shape an incredible event! By meeting new people,

sharing a common Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting

spirit, we realized we are more alike than different.

,

There was much excitement as the Uganda Girl

Guides Association won the bid to host the World

Conference in 2020.

Briana Taylor and Renee Meade from Friends of

WAGGGS USA had the privilege and pleasure to

attend the Conference. In the words of Briana,

"The World Conference was AMAZING! We were able

to discuss critical issues, and get to know members

from other countries. Countries are very grateful for

the funds we raise, and as a committee we need to do

even more fundraising to support them.”

Supporting the Mission

of WAGGGS

To enable girls and young women to

develop to their fullest potential as

responsible citizens of the world.

Friends of WAGGGS USA

Newsletter

More than 500 people came together in Delhi,

India for the 36th WAGGGS World Confer-

ence hosted by Bharat Scouts and Guides. It

provided an incredible opportunity for Member

Organizations and individuals to build internation-

al connections, to share learning and to work

together towards common goals. Sixteen repre-

sentatives of the World Foundation were in at-

tendance.

The week started with huge celebrations as Syria,

Aruba, Azerbaijan, Palestine, Albania and Nige-

ria joined to make WAGGGS an organization of

150 countries.

The 5-day conference included several relevant

discussions, debates and expert panels to develop

governance, management and sustainability sys-

tems and further increase the diversity of mem-

Unlocking Opportunities for Girls!

Inside this issue:

UN 61st Commission on

the Status of Women 2

Helen Storrow Seminar 2

Handwashing Heroes 2

New Leadership 2

G. I .R .L .

Conference 3

A Message from the

Board 3

World Thinking Day 4

Support WAGGGS vital work by making a donation today!

You may now donate online using a credit card.

Go to:

www.worldfoundationgggs.org

Support Us

Click on Donate

or

You can now donate while shopping at Amazon online,

log on to smile.amazon.comand 0.5% of your eligible purchases go to the World

Foundation.

Start here: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-

7147834 to select

the World Foundation For

Girl Guides And Girl

Scouts, Inc.

February, 2018

Page 2 Friends of WAGGGS USA

For more information on these stories and more, go to: www.wagggs.org,

www.worldfoundationgggs.org and www.girlscouts.org,

If you would like our newsletter sent electronically, email Amy Baker at amcasler@aol.com

WAGGGS Vision 2020… to create a future in which “all girls and young women are valued

and take action to change the world”.

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Helen Storrow Seminar

The Helen Storrow Seminar was the first event in 2017 to introduce WAGGGS’ new

leadership model to reach more girls and young women from Member Organizations. This

included a series of “pop up” events in 12 countries alongside the main seminar at Our Cha-

let in Switzerland. 562 participants took part in the pop-up events, and participants travelled

from 21 countries across our five Regions to be part of the event, including Peru, Ecuador,

Argentina, Greece, Lebanon, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and at our

World Centers in India and Mexico. Grants from the World Foundation helped girls learn

about leadership and how to leverage their skills and resources in order to better protect

the environment.

Handwashing Heroes

WAGGGS supported a youth delegation of 11 young women from across the world to

speak out and be part of the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on the

Status of Women (CSW61) in New York last March. With the world one year into the

15-year journey of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the urgency of women’s

economic empowerment is gaining momentum. “I truly believe we are responsible citizens’

worldwide ready to work at all levels (community, national, international) for a better world. Let's do

what we know how to do.” Candela González. Pictured attending CSW61 are : Danae Fredes-

Toledo (Chile), Candela Gonzalez (Argentina), Zoelisoa Rokotomana (Madagascar), Emma

Guthrie (Scotland), Anna Spencer (New Zealand).

Ana María Mideros was elected as new chair of the WAGGGS World Board at the

36th World Conference. Ana María is a member of Guías Scouts del Perú, and served as

National President from 1997-1998 and 2007-2009. On her election, Ana María said: "Girls

and young women deserve to live amazing Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting experiences and transform

their lives and their communities. I am delighted to work with you all and keep the conversation

going on how we can work together to achieve our Vision and Mission."

Sarah Nancollas was appointed as the new WAGGGS CEO. She has a wealth of inter-

national and corporate leadership and strategic experience. For the past 19 years she has

been Chief Executive of a number of high profile charities and has a very successful track

record in leading successful complex change and development.

Bharat Scouts and Guides promote handwashing with soap in their communities.

New Leadership

In India, many children under the age of five die due to preventable diseases such as diarrhea

and pneumonia. The simple act of handwashing with soap can avert many of these deaths.

Handwashing with soap is one of the most cost-effective ways to save a child’s life. Through

a partnership between WAGGGS and Lifeboy, Unilever’s leading health soap brand,

Guides have become handwashing heroes teaching the lifesaving habit within their local com-

munities. “We know that every girl has the power and potential to learn, lead and make a positive

change in her community and the wider world. Working with Lifebuoy, Girl Guides and Scouts are

driving change, improving hygiene and changing lives,” says Ana Maria Mideros, WAGGGS’

World Board Chair.

Ana María Mideros Sarah Nancollas

The delegation spoke out demanding a better future for girls and young women.

“One of my favorite parts of the week was the bond I created with fantastic young women.”- Niamh Ní Thaoiling

Page 3 To enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.

Celebrating the G.I.R.L. in All of Us

Friends of WAGGGS USA 2017 Committee Amy Baker, Chair Michigan

Barbara Bonifas Ohio

Sandy Craighead Minnesota

Roz Greene Washington

Joie S. Hain Georgia

Kaela Hoskings Arizona

Gail Lamotte California

Kandi Lancaster, Vice Chair California

Joanne Loritz California

Martha Manley New Hampshire Kate Marx Texas Kris McCann California Lisa McDermott Arkansas Renee Meade Colorado

Angelica Podias Texas

francy Shreve Pennsylvania

Briana Taylor California Betty Trivisone New Jersey Lucy Wathen Maryland

Honorary Members Wanda Armstrong Iowa Ranvae Baker Texas Deb Finney Texas Lofi Hirschman NC Yvonne Lowrie Texas

A project committee of the

WORLD FOUNDATION FOR GIRL GUIDES AND GIRL SCOUTS, INC.

420 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10018-2798

Lisa Hinshaw , President Robin Yuschak, Administrator

Donations may be sent to:

World Foundation for Girl

Guides and Girl Scouts, Inc.

P.O. Box 6457—Dept. 276

Indianapolis, IN 46206

Thank you; Merci; Danke; Gracias; Mulțumesc! Every donation to Friends of WAGGGS USA is greatly appreciated, whether it is big or small. These donations are combined and used to fund grants submitted by WAGGGS and/or GSUSA that support global experiences for girls and young women.

WAGGGS Mission is “to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as re-sponsible citizens of the world” and their vision is that “all girls are valued and take action to change the world”. Girls and young women are at the center of WAGGGS’ work, including education, leadership, and advocacy.

Thank you again for your generous donations! The Friends of WAGGGS USA Committee

Thank you for your generous donations . . .

On behalf of the 10 million girls in 150 countries around our globe who are Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, thank you for making a difference! Your financial contribution to the World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Inc. allows us to provide girls and young women with life-changing experiences in the areas of leadership, advocacy, climate change, and literacy. It allows us to ensure that we have safe, well-maintained places in Mexico, Switzerland, the UK, India, and Africa where girls can meet to build international friendships, to learn from one another, and to serve the local communities. It allows us to ensure that girls, all girls, have the opportunities to make their dreams for a better world and a better life. Because of you, our world is a better place for each of us. Thank you!

More than 8,000 Girl Scouts of all ages gathered in Columbus, Ohio

last October for the 54th National G.I.R.L. Conference

More than 115 of these Girl Scouts were

Friends of WAGGGS. Within the Hall of

Experiences, the World Foundation brought

the world centers to life with interactive booths,

tons of information, the International Market and opportunities for girls and adults to talk with the

world center managers (whose trips to Columbus were funded by the World Foundation).

Friends of WAGGGS USA

World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Inc.

2095 Poplar Court

Grand Blanc, MI 48439

friendswagggsusa@aol.com

World Thinking Day 2018: February 22

Celebrated since 1926, World Thinking Day is a day of international friendship, speaking out on issues

that affect girls and young women, and fundraising for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the

world.

World Thinking Day 2018 is completing this triennium theme Connect-Grow-Impact, by celebrat-

ing the Impact that the Movement has on the lives of members and their communities. As part of the

World Thinking Day challenge, girls are encouraged to understand the meaning of impact, the power

and positive change they can bring.

For the first time ever, the World Thinking Day challenge will become a global mosaic of change-

making ambassadors. Girls can earn their World Thinking Day 2018 badge in three simple steps:

Go Outside! Hold the activities somewhere outdoors in your neighborhood or among nature.

Make an Impact! Understand the power you have to bring positive change. Choose and complete

one activity from each of the three sections: flame, two stars and the compass.

Leave your mark: #ThisIsImpact! How is your group leaving a positive mark in your neighbor-

hood? Capture this impact and share it with WAGGGS to create one global Impact mosaic!

To donate to the World Thinking Day Fund 2018 visit http://bit.ly/2eWS5QS

Every penny, paisa and cent makes a difference, help provide more life-changing opportunities for girls

everywhere.

This newsletter was published by Briana Taylor, Friends of WAGGGS USA Newsletter Editor

It may be reproduced for distribution to Girl Scouts and friends.

Photos are reprinted courtesy of WAGGGS

The cost of printing and mailing this newsletter was paid by individual donations

of the Friends of WAGGGS USA committee.