GSNCA Selected as National STEM Advocacy Champions

Girl Scouts of the USA recently announced that Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA) has been selected as a STEM Advocacy Champion. The honor was bestowed upon 17 councils nationwide by GSUSA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office. This new national initiate equips and empowers Girl Scout councils to lead efforts at the local and state level to increase girls’ involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by addressing and ultimately changing an issue that impacts the lives of girls in our area.

“Girl Scouts is committed to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to explore and build an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” says Trish Coghlan, chief executive officer of GSNCA. “The strength of our nation depends on increasing girls’ involvement in STEM, to develop critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills that are important throughout life. While the percentage of careers that require advanced STEM education increases, an alarmingly high percentage of girls lose interest in STEM subjects early in their development. If the United States is to maintain its competitive advantage in the global economy, we urgently need to ensure that our entire population of young minds, and especially girls, are educated in STEM fields.”

As a STEM Advocacy Champion, Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama will build awareness and educate girls in their 36 counties on the important issue of increasing girls involvement in STEM and look for policy solutions to the problem. Together, STEM Advocacy Champions will help advance the Girl Scout Movement and improve girls’ lives.

American Family Care To Host Soiree@Saks

The Girl Scouts Young Professionals Society will host the second annual Soiree@Saks will be held on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit from 6:30-9 p.m. Being introduced this year is a Role Model Runway. This fashion show will feature professional community leaders wearing some of Saks’ hottest fashions.

Tickets are just $30/individual and $50/couple and include beverage tickets. Tickets may be purchased on the event website.

The event will feature hors d’oeuvres by Café IZ, live music by the Jason Bailey Band, plus a silent auction. Flip Burger Boutique will serve their liquid nitrogen cocktails, while other beverages have been donated by Good People Brewery.

Also, all in attendance will get the chance to shop at Saks Fifth Avenue! With a portion of the sales going back to the Girl Scouts. The first 50 guests will receive Super Swag Bags filled with goodies, and the next 100 will receive regular swag bags. There will also be a door prize drawing for all guests to include a great Saks Fifth Avenue item!

Silent Auction items include baby packages, hotel stays, event tickets, dinner dates, fitness packages, spa days, Saks merchandise and much more!

Participating as models in the Role model Runway are Amy Bailey of MyScoop Media; Courtney Bascom Truss of the Birmingham Business Alliance; Keith Brashier of Gregory, Burns & Brashier; Jason Gardwood of Moore Chiropractic; Tate Maddox of Live Design Group; Audrey Pannell of STYLE Advertising; Mary Potter Cummings of the Frost Cummings Tidwell Group; Marc Raby, a local playwright and author; Juliana Ramirez of the Hispanic Interest Group; Shanon Raine of Protective Life; Janine Smith of Burr Forman; Dafina Ward of AIDS Alabama; Elena White of The Green Way and Coordinator of Green Drinks; and Walker White Dorman of Summer Classics.

Chairing the event is Sarah Moran. Vivian Yeilding is the Co-Chair. Other committee members include Ben Goldman, Stephanie Hutcheson, Lindsey Mann, Melissa May, Rukiya McClain, Rachel McElroy, Colleen Mullins, Wynona Raby, Jen Ruiz, Susan Sheilds and Tiffany Story.

Soiree’s presenting sponsor is American Family Care. Other event sponsors include Hand Arendall, Infomedia and Regions Bank.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the initiatives of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

For more information, contact Liz Furst at 980-4750 x1023 or email lfurst@girlscoutsnca.org. You can also visit the event website at www.girlscoutsnca.org/soiree. Must be 21 or older to attend.

Barber's Dairy Wins GSNCA Fishing Tournament

The second annual Bill Ireland Invitational Fishing Tournament was held June 24-25 on Lake Alice at Kanawahala Program Center (KPC) located in Chelsea, AL. Proceeds benefited the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

The tournament kicked-off Friday, June 24 with a Captain’s Party on the deck of Lake Alice at KPC. The Captain’s Party included appetizers, a Cajun dinner and beverages with a silent auction. Following the 6 a.m. breakfast on Saturday, June 25, the tournament began with a shotgun start on Lake Alice at KPC and other private, local lakes.

Lynn Holt and Brent Suggs of Barber’s Dairy took home the first place trophy for the second year in a row with 24.97 lbs of largemouth bass caught on Strong Lake. Coming in second was Regions Bank team, Gabe Hulbert and David Lewis with 21.1 lbs of largemouth bass on Thompson Lake. Capturing third place was O’Neal Steel team, Henley Smith and John Hudson with 17.06 lbs on Collins Lake.

Bill Granberry of the RICOH team won the largest bass with a weight of 7.92 lbs caught on Lake Alice. Bill Granberry and David Lewis tied for the most bass, each with 17 filling their ice chests. Coming in first for all other species was Bo Pugh and Stevie Robertson with 20.8 lbs caught on Brock Lake.

The fishing tournament, started in 2004, was revived in honor of a wonderful Girl Scout supporter, Bill Ireland, Sr. This year’s event was chaired by Gabe Hulbert. Other committee members include Tahiera Brown, Tom Clark, Phyllis Davis, Marjorie Davis-Trimm, April Deal, Joel Goldstein and Alice Williams. Major sponsors included Alabama Power, EBSCO Industries and Barber’s. Special thanks to Harry Brock, Hank and Irene Collins, EBSCO, Jim Parsons, McDonald Strong and Lucy Thompson for donating their private lakes.

Photo: Brent Suggs, GSNCA CEO Trish Coghlan and Lynn Holt