Wow! I can't believe that it's already been a month since we have come home! I recently made a video recapping all of our favorite events at convention! I will put the link below. Hope you all enjoy!
- Nicole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l3qFexpVfY
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Saturday, October 18, 2014
What an amazing day today..quick run down of events then I need to crash.
First we were able to take most of our delegation to our favorite pastry shop…the fancy place wasn't open so early on a Saturday. Everyone enjoyed the relaxed vibe and great discussions were heard.
Chloe, Grace and I were able to sit with some of the girls from the GSLI Girl Lead planning team. Found out that these scouts have been meeting for 2 hours a week for over a year…and yes they all have honors classes, extra curricula's, church, jobs, boyfriends and a social life. What was interesting is that GSUSA really didn't give them a template to begin with just a budget to work with…they were responsible for picking the key issues, finding relevant speakers—and inviting them to GSLI not to mention the million and one other decisions that went into this incredible experience for so many scouts and chaperones. Now take into consideration that this planning team was made up of scouts from Utah-and the surrounding states—lots of Skype meetings.
We all were able to sit in and listen to the outdoor journey discussions, followed up by a talk from Connie Lindsey, the National President of GSUSA….and what do you know our sly GS From GSSNE were able to meet Connie later in the day… selfies and swaps.
Rushed to dress up, walked 3 blocks to the Clark Planetarium—very nice buffet dinner and got to see 2 presentations—6 were available to choose from. We went to a Rock laser show…amazing, then to Exploding Universe..which was very good—but we were very very very tired.
By now it is about 9:15pm—we started our day at 7am—walked out of the planetarium and thankfully there were about 10 Pedicabs—yup all 4 of us piled in and were driven back to the convention center. Never have we been so thankful for a ride.
We decided to make a quick appearance at the dance party, kind of see it, see if they are giving any more goodies and call it an early night.
Walking the 1/2 mile from the entrance all the way to the same meeting space we have been in all week…and who do we see in front of us, complete with an entourage—ANNA MARIA CHAVEZ! So excited that I took a picture of her back-just in case we couldn't catch up to her. Picture this, she is all dressed up for the adult dance—looks beautiful by the way—her secretaries surrounding her and no scouts there. Our selfie searching scouts from SSNE walked right up and asked for a picture with her…pulled out our swaps and got one of the CEO of GSUSA's limited swap patches! We talked with her for a few minutes before a gaggle of other scouts surrounded us…so we slipped away.
in their words…"our mission is complete' to listen to them tell the story—you might think they met a true celebrity, I am very impressed that they hold Anna Maria, and all the other GS Famous people that they met this week in such high esteem. Wonderful role models to connect to.
Well thats it for toning, sorry no photos right now—not even sure if I can send this post as WI fi keeps cutting out.
See you all back home very soon.
Melissa
First we were able to take most of our delegation to our favorite pastry shop…the fancy place wasn't open so early on a Saturday. Everyone enjoyed the relaxed vibe and great discussions were heard.
Chloe, Grace and I were able to sit with some of the girls from the GSLI Girl Lead planning team. Found out that these scouts have been meeting for 2 hours a week for over a year…and yes they all have honors classes, extra curricula's, church, jobs, boyfriends and a social life. What was interesting is that GSUSA really didn't give them a template to begin with just a budget to work with…they were responsible for picking the key issues, finding relevant speakers—and inviting them to GSLI not to mention the million and one other decisions that went into this incredible experience for so many scouts and chaperones. Now take into consideration that this planning team was made up of scouts from Utah-and the surrounding states—lots of Skype meetings.
We all were able to sit in and listen to the outdoor journey discussions, followed up by a talk from Connie Lindsey, the National President of GSUSA….and what do you know our sly GS From GSSNE were able to meet Connie later in the day… selfies and swaps.
Rushed to dress up, walked 3 blocks to the Clark Planetarium—very nice buffet dinner and got to see 2 presentations—6 were available to choose from. We went to a Rock laser show…amazing, then to Exploding Universe..which was very good—but we were very very very tired.
By now it is about 9:15pm—we started our day at 7am—walked out of the planetarium and thankfully there were about 10 Pedicabs—yup all 4 of us piled in and were driven back to the convention center. Never have we been so thankful for a ride.
We decided to make a quick appearance at the dance party, kind of see it, see if they are giving any more goodies and call it an early night.
Walking the 1/2 mile from the entrance all the way to the same meeting space we have been in all week…and who do we see in front of us, complete with an entourage—ANNA MARIA CHAVEZ! So excited that I took a picture of her back-just in case we couldn't catch up to her. Picture this, she is all dressed up for the adult dance—looks beautiful by the way—her secretaries surrounding her and no scouts there. Our selfie searching scouts from SSNE walked right up and asked for a picture with her…pulled out our swaps and got one of the CEO of GSUSA's limited swap patches! We talked with her for a few minutes before a gaggle of other scouts surrounded us…so we slipped away.
in their words…"our mission is complete' to listen to them tell the story—you might think they met a true celebrity, I am very impressed that they hold Anna Maria, and all the other GS Famous people that they met this week in such high esteem. Wonderful role models to connect to.
Well thats it for toning, sorry no photos right now—not even sure if I can send this post as WI fi keeps cutting out.
See you all back home very soon.
Melissa
Friday, October 17, 2014
So here is how things went today.
The girl scouts and I were able to meet up with Neil Stamps, Nina Dash and Trisha Borgia and walked to a beautiful restaurant for breakfast. We may not have had a lot of time there, but had some great conversations with the scouts. Truly wonderful to hear these amazing young women form an opinion on issues that matter to them within our council and have the confidence to talk to our CEO and a member of our Board of Directors. These scouts have learned their lessons well, even though I have just gotten to know these scouts I was so very proud of each of them.
We hustled over to the convention center—delegates went directly into their session while GSLI hiked to the far reaches of the building again.
GSLI today was supposed to have a speaker first thing..not sure what happened as the speaker's bio was presented, she was introduced but no speaker appeared. So what do a room full of 600 GSLI scouts and adults do when this happens….we sing of course. A few songs later and clearly the speaker was a no show.
The scouts broke out into issue sessions based on the topic of their project…chaperones went to learn about how to help scouts achieve their goals. A bunch of teamwork skill activities, more speakers and breakout discussions later and it was time for lunch.
Our delegates joined us for lunch and we were able to listen to Candice Kislack—the co founder of Tom's shoes. Very inspirational, lots of ideas of how to incorporate 'social enterprise'
Our afternoon for chaperones was mini workshops about team building, money matters and measuring impact. I'll be quite honest by hour 6 of GSLI Sessions just about every chaperone was a bit glassy eyed, and more than a bit brain dead. Just so much to take in. Dinner brought us together with the GSLI Scouts again with Elizabeth Smart as the guest speaker. Inspiration on finding the strength from within yourself and the love and support of family.
One more session at 7:00pm to discuss project management and the new TRELLO app…yup its free for everyone. Chaperones had time to sit and talk with their Scouts and start creating a formal take action project.
Dashed out around 8pm, quick stop at the hotel to drop our bags, grab our GSSNE jackets and went out…It is a Friday night after all. We decided to head in the opposite direction and found a really cute gelato shop. Had a very nice time with our treat and some time to chat, laugh, compare notes.
Got back to the hotel by 9:30 or so…we all decided to get busy with our technology and try to work on our blog/photos.
'
Tomorrow night we get to go to the planetarium then back to the convention center for a dance party.
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