June 26 2014

Wind Map

Ideas    No Comments    ,

Wind MapI know this might be kind of random, but I think it’s kind of neat, and it might fit in with a badge or journey somewhere.  I’m just starting the Junior level in the fall, so I’m not familiar with the older girls’ badges.

This page shows hourly updates about wind speeds across the United States based on data from the National Digital Forecast Database:  http://hint.fm/wind/  How cool is that?  If you don’t think it’s cool, well then….  Just realize it doesn’t take much to entertain me.

I haven’t updated the site in quite some time due to issues still stemming from the sinus surgery (I think.  Who knows at this point).  But dang the torpedoes!  Full speed ahead!

June 4 2014

Chattanooga Trip Itinerary

Experiences as a Leader    No Comments    ,

I haven’t had the chance to recap our Chattanooga trip due to some mega sinus issues that ended in surgery, but I’ve had some asking about our schedule.  First of all, I highly recommend a trip to Chattanooga with your troop if it’s within a decent driving time.  The girls AND the adults all loved it.  Detailed recap later!  Without extreme pain, sinus pressure, and dizziness – hopefully!  And thanks again to Co-Leader Beth aka Julie the Cruise Director! Continue reading

June 2 2014

I’d Need a Time Machine

Opinions, The Grand Scheme of Things    No Comments    , , , ,

After our delegate meeting a few weeks back, I spoke with a board member on the way out.  Board members help bring in the money for Girl Scout councils to put it simply.  I asked about that aspect, and she said that she has to get across to whatever company or organization about how much of an impact Girl Scouts has in this world by creating leaders, women of distinction, etc. (I’m paraphrasing a lot, but you get the picture).  So after we finish speaking, I start thinking about this on the way home.  How do you get across to people what kind of impact Girl Scouts has in girls’ and women’s lives?  Continue reading

May 19 2014

Our Harlem Shake

Experiences as a Leader    No Comments    , ,

Last year, a fellow Girl Scout leader friend of mine was diagnosed with throat and lymph node cancer.  While she was undergoing chemo and radiation, she asked for her friends to make “harlem shake” videos for her when she finished her treatment.  If you don’t know what a Harlem Shake video is, it was a brief but widely popular internet meme.  Here’s Wikipedia’s definition.  Continue reading

May 7 2014

How NOT to Go Hiking

Hikes & Outdoors    1 Comment    , ,

Last week, a father and his two children were rescued from Congaree National Park after their plans for a short hike went terribly wrong.  I would hope most Scout leaders know this information, but when I read this article, some things just slapped me silly across the face.  I don’t post this to make light or fun of this family, but here’s what happens when you don’t know what you’re doing or you just assume you do.  Friends laugh at me when I take along stuff like a knife, fire starter, emergency blanket, etc. on even short hikes (and I probably do go overboard most of the time), but you never know what could happen! Continue reading

May 2 2014

First Camping Trip – Day Two

Experiences as a Leader, Hikes & Outdoors    No Comments    , , , , , , , ,

Here’s Day One.

It takes me forever to go to bed. I have a hard time normally getting to sleep anyway, but so many notes to self are swirling through my head, and I am thinking ahead about how we will handle breakfast in the morning. I finally drift off to sleep (I think) when the first Brownie comes to the flap. ::scratch scratch scratch:: Co-pilot Beth opens the tent flap, and the girl who ate all of the Fritos complains about her legs hurting. Co-pilot Beth tells her to rub them, and if that doesn’t help, she’ll give her some kids’ Tylenol to help (yes, we have the parental permission for this). Continue reading

April 28 2014

First Delegate Meeting

Random Things That Don't Fit Anywhere Else Kinda Like Me    No Comments    ,

Well, I came armed with a basic knowledge of how a meeting should go, and that was about all I had after it was over.  I think.  There was so much information, I didn’t even know what all in the name of Juliette Gordon Low the presenters were talking about half of the time.  I asked to get a copy of the powerpoint presentations, so maybe at some point I can get an idea of what they were referring to.  I felt like Andy Griffith at a football game, except there were no big orange drinks.  We’re supposed to have some kind of new delegate training website up here pretty soon, so maybe that will help.  I’m sure I’ll have an opinion one of these days.  I guess.

Buddy, have a drink.

April 25 2014

Just Some Light Reading

The Grand Scheme of Things    No Comments    , , , ,

Robert's RulesSo hey, what’s on my reading list you ask?  Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 11th edition.  Woo weee!  Side note:  I’m also reading Cat’s Cradle by Vonnegut, but that’s a different topic and has nothing to do with Girl Scouts.  I guess.  I’m serving as a service unit delegate in my council, and while reading through our by-laws and the Girl Scout constitution, I realized that I really had no idea how an official meeting is run and what all of the terms truly mean.  Sure, you kind of act like you do if you have a casual meeting with any organization, but who knows this stuff?  And who trudges through 716 pages of parliamentary procedure?  Apparently I do.  At this point, I’m about halfway through, and the meeting is tomorrow.  I shoulda gotten the condensed or the Parliamentary Rules for Dummies version.  Oh well.  But I did find some online basics that I can at least print out.  I’ve read enough to hopefully have a better understanding than I did before.  Plus, we are supposed to have training in the morning for us newbies, so maybe I’m just being an overachiever. Continue reading

April 22 2014

Former GS CEO pleads guilty to embezzlement

Opinions    No Comments    ,

What is up with this?  I missed this story the first time around.

Carne, 62, pleaded guilty to a single count of embezzlement Monday in Hanover Circuit Court and faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced in July.

Carne, sitting beside defense lawyer Craig Cooley and speaking in a steady voice, calmly admitted embezzlements that totaled $22,979.80 from the 12,000-Scout strong Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which covers 30 counties and six cities, including Richmond.

Was she a GS as a girl or as an adult?  I’m just wondering who we’re really hiring when it comes down to it.  I know there are business decisions that have to be made, but it behooves us as an organization to have people in place that have a history of Scouting and know what it’s really all about.  I’m glad to see though that the GS of the Commonwealth replaced her with someone who has a background in scouting according to the article.