Proudly Announcing Our New CEO, Angela Woods!

Girl Scouts Heart of the South is pleased to announce that effective January 15th 2010, Angela Woods will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer. Angela brings with her extensive non profit management experience and most recently held the position of Chief Operating Officer of United Way of the National Capital Area. She received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College, MBA from Clark University and law degree from the University of Georgia. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she has held volunteer leadership positions with numerous community agencies in North Carolina and the Washington, D.C areas. Angela early chose a career that focused on service to the greater community and is now positioned to provide leadership and direction for our council as we deliver the best programming to girls throughout our region. As Chair of the Board of Directors for our council, please join with me in extending warmest of welcomes to Angela Woods, CEO, Girl Scouts Heart of the South.

Sincerely,




Grace Hutchinson
Chair, Board of Directors

December 18th Edition
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ONGOING: STATE OF MISSISSIPPI VETERANS HOME
Service Project Opportunity with The State of Mississippi Veterans Home at 120 Veterans Drive in Oxford, MS is looking for troops or groups who are willing to volunteer at the home.

Volunteers can assist with various recreational activities – reading to those whose eyesight is failing them, delivering mail, walking with them inside or outside, pushing their wheelchairs for a short stroll inside or outside, giving them snacks, playing checkers or cards, writing letters for them, playing or singing music for them or just simply conversing with them.

If your troop is interested in volunteering at the home, contact Janie Lunceford, Recreation Director at 662-236-7641, ext. 24.

__________________________________________________ DECEMBER 26-27 Public Ice Skating 2 sessions 1-3pm and 4-6pm at Bancorp South Areana. Price is $7 per skater which includes cost of skate rental and NO hockey equipment allowed. Call about private parties and birthday parties 662.841.6573 _______________________________________________________ JANUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 27: PRIVET PULL AT LICHTERMAN NATURE CENTER - NEW! Lichterman Nature Center is in need of troops to volunteer in the Privet Pull. You must be 14 years or older to participate. The Privet Pull is to remove the invasive non-native plant from the property. Strap on your hiking boots, put on your outdoor wear and lend a hand. We’ll have hot chocolate and coffee. So pick a date, bring your mug and garden gloves, and come experience the fun and satisfaction of a Privet Pull. Where: Lichterman Nature Center 5992 Quince Road Memphis, TN 38119-7257 When: Every Saturday Morning January 9th – February 27th Time: 9am – 12pm Please call the nature center with your date of choice and for more details (901) 767-7322. ______________________________________________________ PLAN AHEAD MARCH 20 & 21: DAYTONA 500 EXPERIENCE GIRL SCOUT SLEEPOVER Spend the night at one of NASCAR's premiere attractions, the Daytona 500 Experience! This program will accomplish the mission set forth in Girl Scouting by focusing on the following Outcomes of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience: Discover: 1,4 & 5 Connect: 2,3 & 4 and Take Action: 2,3 & 5 CLICK HERE for more information.

Local Girl Scouts Help Decorate the White House!

Head over to The Washington Post to see a gallery of this year's Holiday Decorations at The White House. Keep an eye out for blue ribbons that say rejoice, renew or respect - in multiple languages no less, in pictures: 5, 13 & 14. These ribbons were made and decorated by girls from our very own Heart of the South!

The White House contacted GSUSA to request girls to design 600 ribbons to be used in their holiday decorations. Girls would receive a blue ribbon that was to be decorated with either the words Rejoice, Renew or Reflect in a variety of languages. GSUSA selected GSHS as one of three council to participate in this project!

GSHS troops serving nearly 600 girls responded that they wanted to be part of this project! Our goal was to get as many girls across our council involved, so we divided up the ribbons and most girls will work in teams to decorate them.

CLICK HERE for pictures submitted to GSHS from troops.

COUNCIL COMMUNITY EVENTS

December 11th Edition
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ONGOING: STATE OF MISSISSIPPI VETERANS HOME
Service Project Opportunity with The State of Mississippi Veterans Home at 120 Veterans Drive in Oxford, MS is looking for troops or groups who are willing to volunteer at the home.

Volunteers can assist with various recreational activities – reading to those whose eyesight is failing them, delivering mail, walking with them inside or outside, pushing their wheelchairs for a short stroll inside or outside, giving them snacks, playing checkers or cards, writing letters for them, playing or singing music for them or just simply conversing with them.

If your troop is interested in volunteering at the home, contact Janie Lunceford, Recreation Director at 662-236-7641, ext. 24.

_________________________________________________ DECEMBER 12: BOOKS A MILLION & GIRL SCOUTS Girl Scouts Heart of the South has partnered with Books A Million in Jackson, TN! Volunteers and friends can participate in the following Book Fairs, to promote literacy and have a percentage of the proceeds support our Girl Scouts! All Book Fairs is at Books-A-Million "Columns" in Jackson, TN. You must say you want to support Girl Scouts for the Council to receive credit between the hours of 2-4 PM **Discounts and club memberships will not be applicable during these events. _______________________________________________________ DECEMBER 13 & DECEMBER 26-27 Public Ice Skating 2 sessions 1-3pm and 4-6pm at Bancorp South Areana. Price is $7 per skater which includes cost of skate rental and NO hockey equipment allowed. Call about private parties and birthday parties 662.841.6573 _______________________________________________________ DECEMBER 17 Invites all Girl Scouts, leaders and their families to cheer the Indians to victory on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at the state-of-the-art Davis Event Center on the beautiful campus of Itawamba Community College in Fulton, MS 5:30 PM – Women’s Basketball Game 7:30 PM – Men’s Basketball Game All girls should wear their uniform or Girl Scout t-shirt, and she and her family will be admitted for FREE! Come out and support the ICC Indians and enjoy a GREAT night of basketball! _______________________________________________________ JANUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 27: PRIVET PULL AT LICHTERMAN NATURE CENTER - NEW! Lichterman Nature Center is in need of troops to volunteer in the Privet Pull. You must be 14 years or older to participate. The Privet Pull is to remove the invasive non-native plant from the property. Strap on your hiking boots, put on your outdoor wear and lend a hand. We’ll have hot chocolate and coffee. So pick a date, bring your mug and garden gloves, and come experience the fun and satisfaction of a Privet Pull. Where: Lichterman Nature Center 5992 Quince Road Memphis, TN 38119-7257 When: Every Saturday Morning January 9th – February 27th Time: 9am – 12pm Please call the nature center with your date of choice and for more details (901) 767-7322. ______________________________________________________ PLAN AHEAD MARCH 20 & 21: DAYTONA 500 EXPERIENCE GIRL SCOUT SLEEPOVER Spend the night at one of NASCAR's premiere attractions, the Daytona 500 Experience! This program will accomplish the mission set forth in Girl Scouting by focusing on the following Outcomes of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience: Discover: 1,4 & 5 Connect: 2,3 & 4 and Take Action: 2,3 & 5 CLICK HERE for more information.

Mush, Mush in Minnesota: Dogsledding!

Girl Scout Charlotte Joure was recently selected to participate in Girl Scout destination "Mush, Mush Minnesota: Dogsledding!"

Charlotte will journey in the tradition of the great polar treks -- on cross-country skis, supported by a sled and a team of enthusiastic huskies. She'll explore the Superior National Forest, a land of unique beauty and intense silence, learn to ski expedition-style with a backpack, mush a dog sled over varying terrain, and camp comfortably. Charlotte will also gain a new understanding of how to stay warm utilizing clothing, activity, and food.

Girl Scout "mushers" will join in all aspects of dog handling, including setting out lines, feeding and watering, harnessing, and packing the sled. At the end of each exhilarating day, you’ll enjoy good trail cooking and sharing stories with your new friends from across the country, and you'll marvel at crisp starry skies and the glow of the Northern Lights.

Her adventure will start in Duluth, Minnesota on Monday, December 28.

CLICK HERE for more information on Girl Scout destinations.

CLICK HERE for New 2010 Girl Scout destinations.

December 4th Edition
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ONGOING: STATE OF MISSISSIPPI VETERANS HOME
Service Project Opportunity with The State of Mississippi Veterans Home at 120 Veterans Drive in Oxford, MS is looking for troops or groups who are willing to volunteer at the home.

Volunteers can assist with various recreational activities – reading to those whose eyesight is failing them, delivering mail, walking with them inside or outside, pushing their wheelchairs for a short stroll inside or outside, giving them snacks, playing checkers or cards, writing letters for them, playing or singing music for them or just simply conversing with them.

If your troop is interested in volunteering at the home, contact Janie Lunceford, Recreation Director at 662-236-7641, ext. 24.

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NOW - DECEMBER 7: HOLIDAY MAIL FOR HEROES

The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are excited to be joining forces for the third year to Send a Touch of Home to military service members, veterans, and their families in the United States and around the world. The Holiday Mail for Heroes program will feature the collection, sorting and distribution of holiday cards for service members, veterans and their families.

CLICK HERE for more information.
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DECEMBER 5

Southaven's 11th Annual Breakfast with Santa at Southaven Arena, 7360 U.S. 51. Sponsored by Wal-Mart, Sonic, Campus Kids Learning Center and McDonalds, the Southaven Chamber of Commerce presents a chance to get up close to Santa just before Christmas. Santa photos taken free of charge. 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Register by Dec. 3 at (662) 393-6939 or (662) 280-2489.

The 32nd Annual Olive Branch Christmas Parade. Featuring bands, floats, horses, motorcycles, performers, Santa Claus and more. Parade begins at 2 p.m. in front of Olive Branch Elementary School and runs down Pigeon Roost Rd. past the reviewing stand at City Hall and the South down Cockrum Road, ending at City Park. Free. For more information, please contact the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce at (662) 895-2600.

The 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square on the Courthouse Lawn in Hernando. Sponsored by the Hernando Chamber of Commerce. Free. Starts at 6 p.m. For more information, visit hmscoc.com or call (662) 429-9055.

Southaven Christmas Parade. With bands, floats and Santa. Parade begins at 7 p.m. Route begins at First Commercial Drive, north on U.S. 51 to Main Street; east on Main Street to Northwest Drive, ending at Southaven Municipal Complex (City Hall). For more information, call (662) 890-7275 or visit southaven.org. Free.

Reed's Tupelo Christmas Parade Join us for the 61st Annual Tupelo Christmas Parade presented by Reed’s. Featuring special guest the Express Clydesdales. We will be celebrating 100 years of Scouting. The Boy Scouts will lead the parade as our Grand Marshall’s and will be scouting for canned food items along the parade route. Bring some canned food items and Be Prepared for Christmas. Parade starts at 10:00 am in Downtown Tupelo. For more information call 662-841-6598 or www.tupelomainstreet.com/

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DECEMBER 6
Cookies With Santa. 2 p.m. at the Gale Community Center, 2601 Elm Street, Hernando. Visit and have your picture taken with Santa, make Christmas crafts and watch Christmas movies with refreshments. Free. Call (662) 429-2688 for more information.

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DECEMBER 7
Santa in Old Towne. Santa will visit and be available for pictures in front of the barbershop on Pigeon Roost Plaza in Olive Branch Old Towne every weekday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 10. Free. For more information, call (662) 893-0888 or visit olivebrancholdtowne.com

Hernando Christmas Parade. This year's theme is "a cartoon Christmas." Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at W. Commerce Street near Mt. Pleasant Road and runs down Commerce to the town square, ending on Center Street. Free. For more information, visit hmscoc.com or call (662) 429-9055.

_________________________________________________ DECEMBER 12: BOOKS A MILLION & GIRL SCOUTS Girl Scouts Heart of the South has partnered with Books A Million in Jackson, TN! Volunteers and friends can participate in the following Book Fairs, to promote literacy and have a percentage of the proceeds support our Girl Scouts! All Book Fairs is at Books-A-Million "Columns" in Jackson, TN. You must say you want to support Girl Scouts for the Council to receive credit between the hours of 2-4 PM **Discounts and club memberships will not be applicable during these events. _______________________________________________________ DECEMBER 13 & DECEMBER 26-27 Public Ice Skating 2 sessions 1-3pm and 4-6pm at Bancorp South Areana. Price is $7 per skater which includes cost of skate rental and NO hockey equipment allowed. Call about private parties and birthday parties 662.841.6573 _______________________________________________________ DECEMBER 17 Invites all Girl Scouts, leaders and their families to cheer the Indians to victory on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at the state-of-the-art Davis Event Center on the beautiful campus of Itawamba Community College in Fulton, MS 5:30 PM – Women’s Basketball Game 7:30 PM – Men’s Basketball Game All girls should wear their uniform or Girl Scout t-shirt, and she and her family will be admitted for FREE! Come out and support the ICC Indians and enjoy a GREAT night of basketball! _______________________________________________________ PLAN AHEAD MARCH 20 & 21: DAYTONA 500 EXPERIENCE GIRL SCOUT SLEEPOVER Spend the night at one of NASCAR's premiere attractions, the Daytona 500 Experience! This program will accomplish the mission set forth in Girl Scouting by focusing on the following Outcomes of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience: Discover: 1,4 & 5 Connect: 2,3 & 4 and Take Action: 2,3 & 5 CLICK HERE for more information.