A Girl Scout Reflection

By Christiane, a Chesapeake Girl Scout

As I embark on my journey to college, I love looking back on my time as a Girl Scout. I first began Girl Scouts in kindergarten as a cute, little Daisy and have made the full journey to becoming a Girl Scout Ambassador as a high school graduate. Many people tend to think that Girl Scouts is just doing arts and crafts, camping and selling those delicious cookies! Boy, are they good! However, this is not the big picture. Girl Scouts is about working with each other to accomplish a common goal, having fun while learning new skills and having each girl discover who she truly is! Most of all, Girl Scouts is about supporting your fellow sisters and helping them to make the world a better place. 

Being a Girl Scout has allowed me to be a part of adventures and experiences I never could have imagined. Girl Scouts has helped me to develop the confidence to lead, the determination to reach my goals, the perspective to view the world in new ways and the ability to learn from setbacks.

This past year, I revitalized the outdoor classroom at Yorktown Elementary School, completing my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The purpose of the project was to restore the outdoor classroom because it was damaged and in a state of decline. I built benches to replace those that were damaged by misuse, built and planted a flower bed and constructed two interactive work stations. The setback I experienced during this project was a delay due to construction that was occurring around the school. However, as I worked with the school’s administration and used my communication and leadership skills, my team and I successfully completed the project! Honestly, it was difficult, but it is a great feeling to know that I helped make a difference, especially for the students at Yorktown Elementary School!

Through Girl Scouts, I also met some of my best friends! We are not only a troop of sisters, but truly a family. We had so many great laughs as we would stay up at night playing board games during camping trips or singing silly songs and making gooey smores around the campfire. Yum! We also got down to business to make a difference in the world, one Take Action project at a time. Some of my favorite experiences completed in scouting include volunteering with the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team to help set up beds and make lunches for the homeless, learning an Indian dance and making curry for the Girl Scouts’ annual World Thinking Day and traveling to Orlando with my troop for our last trip together before we all part our ways for college.

Girl Scouts has shown me to be more encouraging, braver, stronger, a risk-taker and leader! I believe that every girl should be part of the scouting movement, and I am proud to say that I will always be a Girl Scout!

Take a Girl Scout to Work at WHRO

Isabella and Barbara Hamm Lee

Barbara Hamm Lee, host of “Another View” on WHRV, welcomed Isabella, a Norfolk ninth grader, to WHRO on April 14 as part of the Take a Girl Scout to Work program. Take a Girl Scout to Work Day was modeled after the national Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, where each year more than 3.5 million American workplaces open their doors to more than 39 million employees and their children.

Isabella, accompanied by her mother Dawn Devita, started her day in the production meeting for “Another View.” The hour-long program, during which Lee discusses today’s topics from an African American perspective, airs every Friday at noon. With less than two hours until going live, Isabella joined Producer Lisa Godley and Audio Engineer Victor Bowen in Lee’s office to go over the final plans for the show. Lee shared with Isabella how she is always monitoring the news, looking for topics that would be of interest to her listeners, during the week leading up to the show. During Isabella’s visit, Lee was gearing up for her monthly roundtable episode, where she welcomes regular guests to share their perspectives on the topics that Lee chooses. After reviewin a sound clip and confirming some facts for the topics of the week, Isabella headed to the production booth, while Lee finished preparing for the show and welcomed her guests.

In the production booth, Bowen showed Isabella the equipment that he uses to manage the sound for the program, including adding sound clips from newscasts and letting callers ask questions on air. He also talked about his background and the education needed to become an audio engineer. Right before going live, Godley arrived in the production booth, ready to run the show from behind the scenes. She showed Isabella how she can communicate with Lee via instant message during the live show to let her know about callers and feedback from listeners.

“My favorite part of the day was when Barbara and her guests were on air,” Isabella said. “I liked listening to them and getting a clearer understanding about how they felt about specific topics.”

After the show, Isabella had the chance to meet the roundtable panelists and speak to them about their careers, ranging from college professor to newspaper columnist. Before heading out for the day, Isabella had another chance to chat with Lee in her office about her job. Isabella, who is homeschooled, was excited to learn from Lee that WHRO has an education department with resources for students who are homeschooled. Isabella also had the chance to share her interests with Lee and was excited to share that she has recently earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, which is the second highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

Lee, who is a Girl Scout alumna, signed up to host a girl for Take a Girl Scout to Work Day through the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast alumnae association. Through opportunities, such as Isabella’s experience with Lee, Girl Scouts is able to introduce girls to professionals who show girls that they can be whatever they want to be.

S'mores Cookie Sample

Micky Nye, President of Farm Fresh in Hampton Roads, had a chance to taste the new Girl Scout anniversary cookie – the S’mores cookie. As a Girl Scout alumna who spent many years selling cookies as a girl growing up in New Hampshire, she was curious if this cookie could beat the Thin Mint, one of her favorites.

“I love chocolate, so any cookie with chocolate inside or out will be a winner with me,” she said.

After taking a bite, her head nod was a sure sign of approval. And then came the smile and the “hmmm.” Yes, the S’mores cookie got the stamp of approval from one serious food critic who may not write about food, but she sure knows her stuff when it comes to Girl Scout Cookies.

“I loved being a Girl Scout,” she said. “ I joined as a Brownie and stayed in until I was 16 in high school. My mom became my Girl Scout leader in high school, and I remember going to the council headquarters with her. What I remember most about that time was the fun I had camping and earning badges. I was very competitive and wanted to earn all the badges I could!”

Back then, Micky was part of a troop where every girl was encouraged to try out leadership. The troop operated with the same democratic principles that are used today. Learning to get along within a team and stepping up to leadership roles as unit leaders was what girls did then, and it’s what girls do now.

Those skills of teamwork and leadership have stayed with Micky. Today she is at the helm of a 40-store enterprise that employs almost 4,000 workers. She loves her job and says it’s all about people, helping make sure the grocery shopping experience is satisfactory for customers and the work experience is a positive one for employees.

Micky has been recognized for her leadership skills many times over the years. In 2013, she received an Inside Business award for being a successful woman in business. Several Girl Scouts from our Council had the privilege of attending the awards dinner and congratulating her.

“Having someone like Micky as a role model for today’s girls is so important,” Tracy Keller, the CEO of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast said. “She’ll be the first to tell girls making it to the top is hard work and that it takes perseverance, commitment and a drive to perform at your very best at all times.”

Thanks, Micky, for being a role model for today’s Girl Scouts and for being one of our Girl Scout Cookie samplers this year!

Always a Girl Scout

Since 1912, millions of women have had their lives positively influenced, and sometimes even transformed, by their Girl Scout experience. Girl Scout alumnae are forever connected to a rich and vibrant movement—one that builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. And, that’s why Girl Scout alumnae are so important. They know firsthand how transforming a positive program can be in a girl’s life.

There are so many ways for Girl Scout alumnae to reconnect and rediscover with the organization. And, there’s an easy way to start—introduce yourself! Sign up to join the Alumnae Association and receive updates from Girl Scouts of the USA just six times per year.

Want to be more involved? Become a Girl Scout volunteer! Teach girls outdoor skills, share your talents at a workshop or become a troop leader. You can also volunteer to be part of a committee that plans events, help promote Girl Scouts in the community or lend a hand organizing the cookie program—the possibilities are endless!

We also welcome Girl Scout alumnae to attend special events throughout the year. Save the date for our Samoa Soiree, an adult-only tasting event using Girl Scout Cookies, on March 25 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk!

2016 Girl Scout Famous Formers Luncheon

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast recognized seven local women leaders as Girl Scout Famous Formers today at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. This special recognition given out annually not only salutes Girl Scout alumna who are women leaders making a difference in their communities, but it draws attention to the ongoing need for more leadership opportunities for girls to be molded into our future leaders.

The luncheon’s guest speaker was author and Girl Scout alumna Janine Latus. Her talk was based on her book, If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder and Liberation. Janine travels around the world speaking about the spectrum of relationship abuse and her writing has appeared in O, Parents, Fitness, More, Family Circle and in flights of major airlines.

Barbara Hamm Lee and Janine Latus

Following Janine, Girl Scout Ambassador Savannah Williams from Yorktown spoke about her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which centered on raising awareness about teen dating violence.

“I applaud Girl Scouts for empowering girls, such as Savannah, to take action on issues that are important to them,” Janine said. “It’s good to know that Girl Scouts are stepping up and tackling tough issues like domestic violence, teen dating violence and relationship aggression of all kind.”

Barbara Hamm Lee, host of WHRO’s Another View and a past recipient of the Famous Former recognition, served as the MC for the event and introduced a video which showcased Savannah’s project. She also introduced each recipient who received a certificate from the Council’s Board Chair Cheryle Mack.

Back row: Kirkland Kelley, Esq., Partner at Kaufman & Canoles; Carolyn Tyler, Ed.D., Technical Trainer at ICF International; Middle row: Eileen Livick, Transportation Assistant at Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic; Mariah Rule, Commander in the United States Navy; Front row: Mary Kate Andris, Ed.D., President and CEO of the YWCA of South Hampton Roads; Linda Rice, Ph.D., Vice President of Grantmaking and Community Engagement at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation; and Terri Hathaway, M.A.Ed., Marine Education Specialist at the North Carolina Sea Grant.

Famous Former Girl Scouts

Each year, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast honors local women as Girl Scout Famous Formers. These women have distinguished themselves as outstanding role models for girls and women through individual excellence and high levels of achievement in their professional activities and volunteer efforts. We’re excited to be honoring seven outstanding women this year on November 16 at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. Everyone is invited to attend to honor these influential women, meet like-minded professionals and connect with Girl Scouts, the premier leadership organization for girls.

 

Janine Latus, author of the international bestseller, If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder and Liberation, will be the guest speaker at the luncheon. Latus travels around the world speaking about the spectrum of relationship abuse. She serves on the board of directors of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Her writing has appeared in O, Parents, Fitness, More, Family Circle and inflights of major airlines. Best of all, Latus is a Girl Scout alumna!

Following Latus, Girl Scout Ambassador Savannah Williams from Yorktown will talk about her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which centered on raising awareness about teen dating violence.

This year’s honorees are: Mary Kate Andris, Ed.D., president and CEO of the YWCA of South Hampton Roads; Terri Hathaway, M.A.Ed., marine education specialist at the North Carolina Sea Grant; Kirkland Kelley, Esq., partner at Kaufman & Canoles; Eileen Livick, transportation assistant at Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic; Linda Rice, Ph.D., vice president of grantmaking and community engagement at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation; Mariah Rule, commander in the United States Navy; and Carolyn Tyler, Ed.D., technical trainer at ICF International.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for girls. For more information, call 757-548-3809.

This event is sponsored by WHRO, Coastal Virginia Magazine, Tidewater Women Magazine, Inside Business, Realtor Tricia Hudson with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, and Kaufman & Canoles.

2016 Girl Scout Famous Formers

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast is happy to announce this year’s crop of Girl Scout Famous Formers! While we honor them at a luncheon held in the fall of 2016, they reign as famous formers during the 2017 year. This pattern was started during our 100th anniversary year in 2012 when a calendar of Girl Scout Famous Formers was launched in November of 2011.

Now that you have a little history under your belt, drum roll please… Here are this year's honorees:

Mary Kate Andris, Ed.D.

President and CEO

YWCA of South Hampton Roads

Terri Hathaway, M.A.Ed.

Marine Education Specialist

North Carolina Sea Grant

Kirkland Kelley, Esq.

Partner

Kaufman & Canoles

Eileen Livick

Transportation Assistant
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic

Linda Rice, Ph.D.

Vice President of Grantmaking and Community Engagement

Hampton Roads Community Foundation

Mariah Rule

Commander

United States Navy

Carolyn Tyler, Ed.D.

Technical Trainer

ICF International

Congratulations to these women, who are leaders in their community and have distinguished themselves as outstanding role models for girls and women through their actions. Our hats off to these women of excellence who perform at high levels of achievement in their professional activities and volunteer efforts! You’ll learn more about them at our luncheon being held on November 16 at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club.

Our guest speaker for the luncheon is Janine Latus, author of the international bestseller, If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister's Story of Love, Murder and Liberation. Latus travels around the world speaking about the spectrum of relationship abuse. Her writing has appeared in O,  Parents, Fitness, More, Family Circle and inflights of major airlines. Best of all, she's a Girl Scout alumna who wants to support girls who are taking action through Girl Scouts as advocates against relational abuse and other issues that impact girls and women!

Tickets are $40, and proceeds help the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast provide important service to the girls we serve in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Many thanks to our media partners supporting this event that include Coastal Virginia Magazine, Inside Business, Tidewater Women Magazine and WHRO.

View a list of previous honorees here.

Alumnae Encampment

You’re never too old for fun at Girl Scout camp! More than 30 local Girl Scout alumnae gathered at Camp Darden during the second weekend in July for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s first-ever alumnae encampment. The weekend was an opportunity for women who grew up as Girl Scouts to reconnect with the organization, spend time with old friends, make some new friends and enjoy time in the outdoors.

Amy Godby, Laura Farmer, JoAn Berry, Mary Ellen Fentress

Friday night, campers arrived at Darden, which is located near Franklin, and set up their bunk beds. The evening included dinner and chatting around the campfire. The next morning, the alumnae separated into teams for an Amazing Race-style challenge. The alumnae tested their aim on the archery range, built teamwork skills on the low ropes course and paddled along the Camp Darden pond in canoes. Indoor activities were on the agenda as well for a break from the heat. They included designing a team flag, testing their first aid knowledge and completing a puzzle.

Eileen Livick and Melissa Burroughs

After a lunch of walking tacos, an on-the-go meal, alumnae headed back outdoors to take part in their favorite camp activities, which included revisiting archery, canoeing and the ropes course. They also had the chance to participate in a paint party and make friendship bracelets. Many alumnae ended the afternoon with a dip in the camp pool to cool off.

Frances Carr with her former
troop members: Rosemary, Susan and Dabney

Among the participants for the weekend were three women who were members of Suffolk Girl Scout Troop 435 in the 1970s. Their leader, Frances Carr, attended as well.

“This is the first time in quite a while that we have all been able to get together,” Dabney Carr, a member of the troop, said. “We camped at Darden many times with our troop. It’s always great to come back.”

The weekend ended with foil-pack dinners and s’mores, a traditional Girl Scout favorite. Alumnae also enjoyed songs around the campfire and an eternal candle ceremony, which was started by Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low to encourage girls to pass on their metaphorical light everywhere they go.

Girl Scout alumnae are invited to attend the Girl Scout Famous Former Luncheon, an event to honor local alumnae who continue to exemplify the values of Girl Scouting in leadership roles in the community, on November 16 at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. 

Betty Hoover Receives Dorothy Barber Lifetime Achievement Award

GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller and Betty Hoover

At this year's Adult Awards Luncheon, which was held on February 7, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast honored Virginia Beach resident Betty Hoover with the Dorothy Barber Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given annually and honors a woman who has achieved success in her personal and professional life, contributed to her community and Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and is a role model and mentor to other Girl Scouts.

Hoover joined Girl Scouts at the age of 10 in Portsmouth, Va. in the 1930s. She was the youngest of 17 children, and with five brothers between her and her older sister, Girl Scouts gave her the connection that she needed with girls her own age.

Hoover and her day camp unit in 1957

As an adult, Hoover served in several volunteer roles over the course of 16 years, including troop leader and day camp director. In 1958, her family moved to Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela and there was no Girl Scouting for her daughters. Betty set upon the task of starting Troop 1, and she became instrumental in recruiting and helping more than 3,000 girls become part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in Venezuela. This wasn’t the only place that Hoover went to work to get Girl Scouts started for girls on foreign soil. When the family moved to Mexico, once again she organized troops where there were none.

Upon returning to the United States, Betty eventually became a professional staff member with the Lake to River Girl Scout Council in Ohio—first in volunteer services and later as the executive director. When Hoover retired, she kept active as an alumna and in recent years, has volunteered her time with the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast archive committee.

“Girl Scouting has been a tradition in my family for years and years,” Hoover said.

In fact, Hoover’s family now has four generations of Girl Scouts in it. Her daughter Barbara Tierney is currently a member of the board of directors for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.

Meet Samoa Soiree Participant: The Vineyards

From server to restaurant owner, Shannon McConnell has shown that she can do anything she puts her mind to. This determination, she says, stems from her years as a Girl Scout, where she learned about the great sense of accomplishment that comes from working towards goals to earn badges. She has worked in just about every capacity in restaurants since her college days and has now owned The Vineyards, an Italian restaurant located in downtown Norfolk, for two years.

Shannon, who grew up in Atlanta, joined Girl Scouts when she was in third grade. Going on camping trips with her troop and selling Girl Scout Cookies were two of her favorite activities as a Girl Scout.

“I remember the friendly competition in my troop when it came to selling Girl Scout Cookies,” Shannon said. “Girls in my troop would team up, and we would really encourage each other reach our goals.”

Shannon McConnell and Ross Rogers from The Vineyards

Now, Shannon is excited to be reconnect with Girl Scouts, just in time for one of her favorite times of the year—cookie season. The Vineyards, led by Chef Ross Rogers, will be participating in the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s signature tasting event, Samoa Soiree. At this event, The Vineyards will be one of 20 restaurants competing to make unique desserts and hors d’oeuvres using a Girl Scout Cookie variety as the key ingredient.

Like Shannon, Chef Ross is no stranger to Girl Scouts. His daughters, who are now grown, spent time as Girl Scouts while growing up in the Hampton Roads area, so he knows firsthand the benefits of Girl Scouting. During his years as a Girl Scout dad, Chef Ross helped his daughters throughout the cookie program— hauling cookie boxes, helping them organize all of their orders and supporting their goals. He also took special outdoor and first aid training courses in order to ensure that there were enough volunteers to provide his daughters and their fellow troop members with unique outdoor experiences, including white water canoeing.

Chef Ross, who has been with The Vineyards for 10 months, discovered his true passion for cooking when he lived in Italy for three months while working as a computer tech. He would visit restaurants, enjoy a great meal and then go home to try to recreate the flavors in his own kitchen. With this background experimental and creative cooking, he already has a recipe in mind for Samoa Soiree.

“The training that I’ve gone through in the culinary arts program at Tidewater Community College taught me a lot about taste profiles,” Chef Ross said. “So when thinking about a recipe for Samoa Soiree, I started brainstorming about what foods would pair well with the different Girl Scout Cookies.”

He also says that it takes a lot of experience, research and trial and error to come up with unique recipes. Chef Ross is looking forward to sharing his recipe, which will feature one of the peanut buttery Girl Scout Cookies, at Samoa Soiree.

Everyone is invited to join Girl Scouts for an evening of tasting, live music, dancing and bidding on first-rate silent auction items at the Samoa Soiree on March 7 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Tickets are $60 each and can be purchased here.

Girl Scout Alumnae Reconnect

Whether she grows up to be the CEO of a corporation or the CEO of her home, Girl Scouts prepares girls to be leaders. In fact, Girl Scouts is the world’s most successful organization dedicated to creating girl leaders, with 2.8 million active members and over 59 million alumnae. A girl’s experience in Girl Scouting doesn't end when she graduates from high school—she’s part of a lifelong network of women who serve as role models and mentors for future generations.

Girl Scout Alumnae Amy Godby and her mother Kate Godby

Amy Godby, a Girl Scout alumna who now lives in Virginia Beach, has recently taken on a volunteer role to help reconnect Girl Scout alumnae in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. On December 11, Godby and Girl Scouts hosted a social event at Mermaid Winery in Norfolk as an opportunity for alumnae to hear from Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller and learn about what Girl Scouts are doing today and how they can get reengaged with the organization.

“As Girl Scout alumnae, our experiences in Girl Scouts influenced who we are today,” Godby said. “Being a part of the Girl Scout Alumnae Association is a chance to share our amazing experiences, catch up with old friends and meet extraordinary women who are a part of the Girl Scout sisterhood.”

Godby, who first joined Girl Scouts as a Brownie in Richmond, Va., says that some of her favorite memories from those times were at Girl Scout camp, where she learned how to sail, made friends around the campfire and learned how to live among nature. She also really enjoyed getting to visit the home of the founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, in Savannah, Ga.

For Godby, these fun and meaningful moments in Girl Scouts culminated with earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouting. For her Gold Award project, Godby focused on domestic violence awareness. She created fliers with information about signs of abuse and how to get help that she posted all over the community. She also collected hygiene items for people staying at the Genieve Shelter in Suffolk and hosted a relationship violence seminar designed to teach teenagers about relationship violence and domestic abuse.

“I was more proud of my Gold Award than graduating from high school and going to college,” Godby said. “I had a very personal inspiration for my project, and I put so much hard work into it. I was also really proud that I was able to inspire others in the community to take action for victims of domestic violence through my project.”

Godby, a graduate of Virginia Tech, kept in touch with girls from her troop while she was in college and reconnected with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast by coordinating a corporate sponsorship from her employer Reddix and Associates for the Girl Scout Famous Formers luncheon in November. For Godby, it’s important to stay connected to Girl Scouts because it’s an organization that means a lot to her and a way for her to continue to stay involved in making a difference in the community.

Girl Scout alumnae who would like to reconnect with the organization can register for the Girl Scout Alumnae Association here. To find more information about Girl Scouts in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, visit www.gsccc.org.

View more photos from the event here.

2014 Girl Scout Famous Formers

On Thursday, October 30, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast recognized six local Girl Scout alumna as Girl Scout Famous Formers during a luncheon held in their honor at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. This event is held annually to honor local women who continue to exemplify the values of Girl Scouting through their leadership roles in the community.

Girl Scout Cadettes Lily and Sianna with Laura Contreras-Rowe

During the luncheon, guests heard an inspiring message from keynote speaker Laura Contreras-Rowe, a third generation Girl Scout, author, motivational speaker, philanthropist and real estate agent. Rowe attributes her time in Girl Scouts to who she is today and fondly looks back at her time as a Girl Scout, even recognizing that she started her sales career selling Thin Mints. During her remarks, Rowe shared the story behind her nonprofit organization, The Got Sole Project, which collects and distributes new and gently used shoes.

“When I started The Got Sole Project, I never knew how big it would get and how great of an impact it would have,” Rowe said. “It is in all of us to give back, and I want you to make a difference.”

Guests also heard from Girl Scout Ambassador Lauren Prox, who shared what she learned about leadership and success on her recent trip to the national Girl Scout Leadership Institute in Salt Lake City.

Each Famous Former honorees was presented a plaque by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller and Board Chair Melissa Burroughs. This year’s honorees were: Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey, deputy city manager for City of Chesapeake; Dr. Lucy Gibney, founder and chairman of Lucy’s, an allergy-friendly food manufacturing company; Susan Mayo, president of Susan T. Mayo Consulting; Regina Mobley, news anchor for WVEC-TV 13; Janis King Robinson, vice president of operations for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center; and Jeanne Zeidler, president and CEO of Williamsburg Community Health Foundation and former mayor of the City of Williamsburg.

Nationwide, there are 59 million Girl Scout alumnae. The Girl Scout Research Institute conducted a study among these alumnae and proved that Girl Scouting has tangible benefits. According to the report published by the Girl Scout Research Institute, Girl Scout alumnae display positive life outcomes to a greater degree than women who were never Girl Scouts. Girl Scout alumnae attain higher levels of education, report a higher household income, are more civically engaged and are more like to volunteer than non-alumnae. Girl Scout alumnae know firsthand how Girl Scouts can have a lasting positive impact on the life of a girl, and serve as role models for girls today—the future leaders of tomorrow.

This event was generously sponsored by Inside Business, Tidewater Hispanic News, Ticatch Financial Management and A. Reddix and Associates.

The next Girl Scout event for alumnae and adults in the community is the Samoa Soiree, a signature tasting event that will be held on Saturday, March 7 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk.

Meet Famous Formers Honoree Regina Mobley

So far, we've introduced you to two of the six women being honored by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast as Girl Scout Famous Formers this year. GSCCC will be celebrating these honorees at a luncheon on October 30 in Norfolk. Now, we would like to introduce another honoree, WVEC Anchor and Reporter Regina Mobley.

Mobley, who was born and raised in Norfolk, joined a Girl Scout troop that met at a church in her neighborhood when she was in elementary school. She has fond memories of camping in her troop leader’s backyard and proudly wearing her Girl Scout uniform as she marched in community parades.

One of the most impactful experiences that Mobley had as a Girl Scout was the opportunity to take part in an outdoor event for troops around Norfolk at Camp Apasus, a Girl Scout property on Masons Creek that Girl Scouts continue to use today. Most of Mobley’s childhood was spent at activities in her neighborhood—at church, at school and with family. Mobley recalls that her experience at Camp Apasus was one of her first experiences interacting being in a mixed environment with both black and white people.

“Before we went to camp, we wondered if we would be accepted by the white girls there,” Mobley said. “It ended up being a really positive experience and helped prepare me for what desegregation would mean in my community.”

When she was 17 years old, Mobley became fascinated by the production of World News Tonight and set a goal to become a news anchor. After graduating from Granby High School and then Norfolk State University, she worked at local radio stations before achieving her dream and becoming a news reporter at WTKR. Looking back, Mobley says that the most significant assignment in her career was interviewing President Barack Obama in March 2011 about the No Child Left Behind Act. She was the first local news reporter to interview President Obama while he was in office.

Earlier this year, Mobley was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame, which recognizes communication professionals with exceptional careers in journalism, public relations, advertising and other media fields. Over the years, Mobley has continued to exemplify the values of Girl Scouting, both in her career and in volunteer roles, as a friendly, helpful, responsible role model in the community.

Mobley says that being a Girl Scout gave her a sense of belonging and a taste of accomplishment at a young age. She recognizes how impactful it was for her to be part of a positive and supportive organization when she was a young girl.

In addition to Mobley, five other local Girl Scout alumnae will be honored as Girl Scout Famous Formers this year: Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey, deputy city manager for City of Chesapeake; Dr. Lucy Gibney, founder and chairman of Lucy’s, an allergy-friendly food manufacturing company; Susan Mayo, president of Susan T. Mayo Consulting; Janis King Robinson, vice president of operations for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center; and Jeanne Zeidler, president and chief executive officer of the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation.

This year’s Girl Scout Famous Formers Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 30 at 11:30 a.m. at the Norfolk Yacht Club. Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each and can be purchased online or by calling 757-548-9438.

Meet Famous Formers Honoree Jeanne Zeidler

Earlier this month, we introduced you to Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey, who is one of the six women we are honoring at this year's Girl Scout Famous Formers Luncheon. Now, we would like to introduce another honoree, Jeanne Zeidler, president and chief executive officer of the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation. The Girl Scout Famous Formers Luncheon is an annual event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast to honor local women who continue to exemplify the values of Girl Scouting through their leadership roles in the community.

Jeanne Zeidler

For Zeidler, joining Girl Scouts was a family affair. When she joined the organization as an elementary school student while growing up in Milwaukee, her older sisters were already Girl Scouts and her mother was the leader of her Girl Scout troop. Zeidler has fond memories of her Girl Scout years, from cooking over a fire while camping with her troop to earning badges for her sash, including sewing, childcare and swimming.

“Girl Scouts taught me about the power of working together as part of a team,” Zeidler said. “I was also really influenced by interacting with strong and dynamic leaders, who were both my peers and the adult volunteers in my troop.”

Another thing that Zeidler learned from Girl Scouts is about the importance of serving others in the community. This is a lesson that Zeidler has carried with her throughout her professional life. For 20 years, Zeidler served as the director of the Hampton University Museum, where she helped to develop the collection and move the museum into its current location in the Huntington Building, which allowed the collection to be open for public viewing. Later, during her time at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Zeidler helped open Kimball Theatre, which has since become a center of community activities in Williamsburg. In her current role at the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, she oversees grants that are made to improve the health of people living in Williamsburg and the surrounding counties.

In addition to making a difference through her careers, Zeidler has also made a positive impact on the community through public service. She was the mayor of Williamsburg for 14 years and was the first woman in the history of the city to hold this position. Prior to this role, she served on both the school board and city council in Williamsburg. Over the years, Zeidler regularly spoke with Girl Scout groups visiting the municipal building to learn more about local government.

“It’s so important for girls to be involved in an organization like Girl Scouts because it teaches girls to be self-confident and gives them the chance to learn about interacting with others,” Zeidler said. “It also gives girls insight into how they can be helpful and make a difference in their community, as well as gives them their own little community to be a part of and gain support from.”

In addition to Zeidler, five other local Girl Scout alumnae will be honored as Girl Scout Famous Formers this year: Wanda Barnard Bailey, deputy city manager for City of Chesapeake; Dr. Lucy Gibney, founder and chairman of Lucy’s, an allergy-friendly food manufacturing company; Susan Mayo, president of Susan T. Mayo Consulting; Regina Mobley, news anchor for WVEC-TV 13; and Janis King Robinson, vice president of operations for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.

This year’s Girl Scout Famous Formers Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 30 at 11:30 a.m. at the Norfolk Yacht Club. Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each and can be purchased online or by calling 757-548-9438.

Meet Famous Former Honoree Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey

On Thursday, October 30, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast will be honoring local Girl Scout alumna Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey, deputy city manager for City of Chesapeake, at the Girl Scout Famous Formers Luncheon. This event is held annually to honor local women who continue to exemplify the values of Girl Scouting through their leadership roles in the community.

Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey

Dr. Bailey, who began her career as a social worker, is now responsible for Chesapeake’s, human services department, parks and recreation department, public library services and customer contact center. In this role, she oversees approximately 25 percent of the budget and employees in the City. Her leadership abilities have allowed her to make great changes in Chesapeake to ensure effective community outreach, enhance the quality of life for citizens and connect the City to local organizations in order to better serve members of the community. Looking back, Dr. Bailey links her experiences in Girl Scouts with the ambitions that she has today to make the world a better place.

As a Girl Scout while growing up in Moyock, Dr. Bailey had her first experiences serving the community. She remembers visiting elderly members of her church to help them with yard work or cleaning around the house. Dr. Bailey also fondly recalls outdoor adventures with her Girl Scout troop, including a hiking trip that ended at a pond where the she got to go fishing.

For Dr. Bailey, the biggest impact that Girl Scouts had on her life was the influence of the volunteer who led her troop, Ms. Lucy Walston. Dr. Bailey recalls that her leader was a vibrant and energetic woman who cared for each Girl Scout in her troop. Looking back, she sees how Ms. Walston, who did not even have a daughter, selflessly gave her time to make a difference in the lives of girls and helped give girls the skills and confidence they needed to become leaders.

“She emulated every line of the Girl Scout Law and taught us to be good citizens by setting a good example for us,” Dr. Bailey said.

Since her time as a member of Girl Scouts, Dr. Bailey has continued to be involved in the organization by supporting her niece’s Girl Scout troop with special projects and supporting them each year during the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Dr. Bailey also helped Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast through their strategic planning process.

In addition to Dr. Bailey, five other local Girl Scout alumnae will be honored as Girl Scout Famous Formers this year: Dr. Lucy Gibney, founder and chairman of Lucy’s, an allergy-friendly food manufacturing company; Susan Mayo, president of Susan T. Mayo Consulting; Regina Mobley, news anchor for WVEC-TV 13; Janis King Robinson, vice president of operations for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center; and Jeanne Zeidler, president and chief executive officer of the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation.

This year’s Girl Scout Famous Formers Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 30 at 11:30 a.m. at the Norfolk Yacht Club. Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each and can be purchased online or by calling 757-548-9438.

Leadership Breakfast

On April 23, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast hosted a Leadership Breakfast in Virginia Beach. This breakfast was an opportunity for over 100 community leaders and friends to learn about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and the Girl Scout alumnae who support it, including the guest speaker for the morning, Dr. Lucy Gibney. Dr. Gibney is a physician, board certified in Emergency Medicine, and the founder and chairman of Lucy’s, a gluten-free, allergy friendly food company, in Norfolk, Va.


Dr. Lucy Gibney in New York City with the four GSCCC girls
who attended the Commission on the Status of Women.

At the Leadership Breakfast, Dr. Gibney spoke about how she came to support and become a mentor for four local Girl Scouts who attended the United Nations 58th Commission on the Status of Women in New York City in March. She also talked about the importance of volunteer participation in supporting girls and about ToGetHerThere, a campaign by Girl Scouts of the USA to encourage people to help empower girls to be leaders and show them that when girls succeed, so does society.

Dr. Gibney’s presentation was supported by a study by the Girl Scout Research Institute that found while 92 percent of girls believe that anyone can acquire the skills of leadership, only 21 percent believe they currently have most of the key qualities required to be a leader. This discrepancy can be a real barrier to leadership for girls— if they do not feel that they have the skills needed to be a leader, they may be discouraged altogether from aspiring towards taking on a leadership role. Girl Scouts launched ToGetHerThere to bring this discrepancy to the forefront so that people are encouraged to help girls reach their full leadership potential and become the leaders that the world needs.

“Girls need our commitment, our wisdom and our enthusiasm,” Dr. Gibney said. “They also need for us to respect them and for us to respect one another. Girls will benefit from what we do for them and what we do for each other.”


Dr. Lucy Gibney, Candice George, Pam Northam

Dr. Gibney also spoke about Ban Bossy, a public service campaign that was recently launched by Girl Scouts of the USA and Lean In to draw attention to the trend of girls being less interested in leadership roles than boys. When a girl asserts herself, she oftentimes risked being called “bossy,” which is a precursor to words like “aggressive” and “too ambitious.” The time to start building female leaders is now, and it is important that girls are encouraged to develop leadership skills and supported when they take on leadership roles.



Dr. Gibney’s experiences in leadership, along with her financial and entrepreneurial successes, make her a strong role model for Girl Scouts and women everywhere.

Dr. Lucy Gibney, GSCCC board member Marie Vesely and Bobette Nelson

More photos from the breakfast can be found here.

Camp Reunions Helped Make New Memories

Girl Scouts across the nation have had a busy year celebrating the centennial of Girl Scouting in the United States. Here at the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast, our most popular celebrations for alumnae have been camp reunions. The reunions have given former campers and staff members a chance to reconnect, share memories and participate in traditional camp activities.Generations of Girl Scouts came together and celebrated the tradition of sisterhood in Girl Scouts at these reunions - "Once a Girl Scout, Always a Girl Scout!" Many thanks to the Council's Archive's Committee for supplying historical exhibits for each event.

The camp reunions kicked off on July 25th at Camp Apasus in Norfolk where a thank-you luncheon for the Norfolk Sertoma Club, a long-time sponsor of the camp for over fifty years, also took place. In August, reunions were scheduled at Camp Darden near Franklin and Camp Skimino in Williamsburg. Hiking, swimming and S.W.A.P.S. were all part of the fun. You can see photos and videos from all the reunions on the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast Facebook!

Sing Along at Camp Apasus was led by the Council's Sing-Along Group leader Jo Bazar.

Camp Darden Sing Along on August 4. Favorite song - "Come September"

Camp Skimino Reunion, August 18.

The last reunion was at Camp Burkes Mill Pond on September 22. There was a pirate treasure hunt, outdoor cooking demonstrations, displays, canoeing on Burkes Mill Pond and a camp tour that included the old Mill House.