Girl Scouts Team up with One Warm Coat
In 1992 Lois Pavlow, a concerned citizen of San Francisco,
had a coat she wished to donate to a person truly in need
of a warm coat for the winter. Lois did not want the person
to pay for the coat – she wanted it provided free. When
she could not find a way to make the donation, she founded
Operation: One Warm Coat. Since its inception, the program
collected more than 75,000 coats in the San Francisco area.
It is the organization’s dream that One Warm Coat
becomes a part of the American lifestyle. That when a coat
is no longer needed, people will automatically think of donating
it to a One Warm Coat drive, knowing that men, women and children
in need will receive the gift of a warm coat.
GSSJC and the national service project One Warm Coat are
partnering in a Council-wide service project for Juliettes,
troops/groups and service units to collect clean, new or gently
used coats and jackets in all sizes to donate to their local
United Way agencies, schools, faith communities, police/fire
stations or refugee groups who will distribute them free of
charge (not to be resold).
Procedure:
- Check out your closets for clean, new, or gently used
coats you no longer need.
- Search in your community for groups that give (not resell)
coats.
- Collect the coats and donate them to your selected location(s).
Please do not bring coats to any of the Council offices.
This would disqualify girls from earning this particular
patch program since the focus is for girls to learn about
the needs of their local community.
- Complete and turn in GSSJC form F-269, Troop Service
Project Report Form.
- Online (www.onewarmcoat.org) complete the One Warm Coat
report form, to receive a certificate for your troop’s
participation.
- Online (www.onewarmcoat.org) order (optional) patches
for $1.50 plus postage. One Warm Coat patches are a product
of the national program only, and aren’t available
at Council Shops. Rockers may be available for troops participating
their second year.
- This service project may be counted towards the GSSJC
Council Service Project Program Patch, GSSJC form F-834,
or other appropriate service projects listed in GSUSA awards.
Troops, be creative. You could invite other local groups
to participate in this endeavor; incorporate a troop tour
at the location when you donate the coats; learn about other
service opportunities available at your donation location;
or incorporate the project with your next faith community
or school activity.
Remember, GSSJC troops cannot write or submit publicity
releases. All publicity for GSSJC is generated from the Council
office.
Many thanks to GSSJC volunteer Diana Artale for coordinating
this effort. Questions may be directed to Melinda Gaskill,
713-292-0232 or mgaskill@sjgs.org. |
How High Seas Interest Project Patch
was born
by Carol Berry, volunteer
I am a Marine personnel administrator and attended
a Mariner Recruitment/Retention Seminar in May 2002.
I brought up the subject of Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts to
one of the attendees, Christopher Krusa, maritime training
specialist at the Maritime Administration in Washington,
D.C. (marad.dot.gov). Why not promote our wonderful
industry to the young women and men in those groups?
Mr. Krusa agreed that this was an excellent idea. Since
that time I have tried to come up with creative ideas
on how this could be promoted. I’ve worked within
the industry for 20 plus years and am also a Girl Scout
leader. Why not use the resources we already have in
place, i.e. our wonderful Council Camp Casa Mare, and
show girls how they can use the skills they are currently
learning to develop into a career?
My first idea for a Career Fair was to show the girls
opportunities within the industry. To enhance this idea,
Leader Linda Reid helped develop a new Council’s
Own Interest Project on aspects not currently covered
in the GSUSA awards program. After additional input
from others within the industry it was submitted to
the Girl Scouts for their review. The Program Department
volunteers and staff reviewed, enhanced and gave it
a form number, making it official! I offered design
ideas for the patch, which were voted on by girl members
of the Council Mariner program. GSSJC sends the design
to GSUSA and voila, a Council’s Own Interest Project
patch is born! This has really been a fun and exciting
project which hopefully will help the girls with future
career opportunities. See the next page for the new
High Seas Interest Project Patch requirements. |
Event Planning for Girls
Event Planning for Girls is now available to all Girl Scouts
as a home study course. In the near future, the Event Planning
Home Study will be available to download from the GSSJC Web
site. Until then, please contact Julie Deeter, Program Manager,
directly via telephone or e-mail to access the home study
at 713-292-0203 or jdeeter@sjgs.org.
Note: If you are a Senior Girl Scout who wants to plan an
event for a Gold Award project, please contact Julie Deeter,
Program Manager at 713-292-0203 or jdeeter@sjgs.org for more
information. |