2011 Annual Report - Girl Scouts of Central Illinois

Dear Girl Scout members and friends,It is official! Girl Scouts is 100 years old. As we prepare for the annual membership meeting that reflects on ouraccomplishments of 2011, we have already begun to celebrate the centennial of the Girl Scout movement along withGSUSA and our 111 sister councils from across the nation. We have much to be proud of locally as well as nationally as wereflect on the twelve months that comprised the 2011 membership year. In the words of our illustrious founder, “The workof today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” These words have never been more true than in membershipyear 2011.We have advanced our long range property plan according to the schedule developed three years ago with input fromour girl and adult members and the community members who serve on the property committee. We have grown ourmembership to the point of being the 11 th largest council in the nation by market share! We continue to increase ourprogram offerings in STEM, environmental awareness, health and wellness, and the arts, reaching more girls via a varietyof pathways from troop and camp to travel, series, and events. Through the largest all-girl financial literacy programin the country – the Girl Scout Cookie Program – we continue to stimulate the business minds of our next generation ofleaders.We launched a 26 month capital campaign with individual community goals designed to help us raise revenue tosupport the properties that serve the programmatic needs of our membership. Expect to see more about this in thecoming months.In May of 2011, we watched the smiles and enthusiasm of Girl Scouts of all ages as 2500 of our closest Girl Scout friendsfrom across the state gathered for a day of advocacy at Girl Scout Day at the Capitol.We installed a phenomenal challenge course including high and low ropes, zip line, and a variety of ground elements atCamp Widjiwagan, courtesy of a grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. If you haven’t yet visited, make it a priority for 2012.Thirteen elected delegates and an additional dozen visitors attended the triennial Girl Scout National Council Session inHouston, Texas, and enjoyed a forum focused on furthering the mission of creating tomorrow’s leaders today. We alsosent 10 girl members to Girl Scouts University at the convention, and we joined the likes of Frances Hesselbein, RobinRoberts, Katie Couric, and our newly positioned National CEO, Anna Maria Chávez, as we renewed our promise to buildgirls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.Finally, we began our own preparations for a year-long celebration honoring the legacy which is Girl Scouting. It hasnever been a better time to be a Girl Scout, and we are looking eagerly forward to stepping into the next century of GirlScouting and continuing the history of a truly iconic organization as we move our mission forward and give our membersthe power to shape the future.Please join us in renewing the promise. Take the pledge ToGetHer There in the Year of the Girl 2012!Yours in Girl Scouting,Pam Kovacevich, CEOElaine Young, Board Chair2