Don't serve alcohol to teens.

Well that's a no brainer. Obviously you would never serve alcohol to someone under the age of 21, but research shows that teens who drink obtain alcohol from social sources, i.e. your liquor cabinet.

In a 2008 government survey of underage drinkers 12 to 20, 69 percent said they got alcohol without having to pay for it. Some were given alcohol by parents, other family, or friends; others took alcohol without permission.

So before you let your girl head off to the Friday night football game, you might want to read up and have a conversation. Here is an interesting article, from The Tennessean saying that parents can contribute to their teen's drinking and offers simple steps on how to prevent under-age drinking.

The article also mentions the federal "We Don't Serve Teens" campaign and gives a link to a super resourceful website.

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Rachel Simmons Helps TeenVogue.com Users

Rachel Simmons is the author of the New York Times bestsellers "Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls" and "The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence". An educator and coach who develops strategies to address bullying and empower girls, Rachel gives a unique view into girl relationship, along with practical advice on navigating the trickiest of situations.

We've been fans of hers for a long time and now you can read her great advice in her new advice blog, "Ask Rachel" at TeenVogue.com. You should also check out her website, RachelSimmons.com, where she blogs about a multitude of girl issues and offers "Girl Tips" on how to deal with a variety of situations you or your girl may encounter. (We especially like the "Girl Tips" for social media!)

P.S. Congratulations Rachel on "The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence" becoming a New York Times bestseller!

Icebreakers for your Troop

It's the start of a new Girl Scout year! That means troops are forming and this may be the first time some of the girls have met one another. Below are some easy icebreakers you can use to get the girls familiar with each other.


"My Name Is "

How to play: Girls sit in a circle or a number of small circles, depending upon the size of the group. One girl is asked to tell the group her name. She says, "My name is Kelly Green." The girl on her left then says, "Her name is Kelly Green and my name is Maria Lopez." The next girl then says, "Her name is Kelly Green, her name is Maria Lopez, and my name is Shanna Smith." This continues until the last girl in the circle tries to name all the girls in the group. If a girl cannot recall a name, others in the circle may help her.


"Linda Lemon"

How to play: Girls make a circle. Tell the girls they are going to the market to purchase something they like, but it must begin with the same letter as their first name. The first girl might say, "My name is Linda, and I am going to the store to buy a lemon." The next girl might say, "My name is Malia, and I am going to the store to get a mango and a lemon." Player three might say, "My name is Naomi, and I am going to the store to buy a nightshirt and a mango and a lemon." The last girl gets to name everything!

Variation: Play shopping bag upset. Have the girls change places and repeat the process from any place in the circle.


"Toss the String"

You need: A ball of string or yarn. Groups of 15 or less.

How to play: Have the group form one or more circles. The girl with the ball of yarn starts by calling out a girl's name and tossing the yarn to her, being sure to hold onto the end of the string. The girl who catches the ball must call out another girl's name and toss the ball to her. The object is to include everyone and create a spider web with the string. The leader can then ask one girl to pull on her string while everyone else holds on. How many girls can feel the string being pulled? Use this as a starting point for a discussion on the importance of group cooperation and an individual's contribution to the group.

What are some of your tried & true group icebreakers?

Financial crisis is hitting girls hardest - study

Repost from the Sydney Morning Herald

Adele Horin

September 22, 2009

THE global recession is taking an ''inordinate'' toll on girls and young women in the developing world because they are the first in their families to go without food, be pulled out of schools, or lose their jobs, says the chief executive of an international aid agency.

Before the worldwide launch of a report called Because I am a Girl, the head of Plan International, Ian Wishart, said the economic crisis posed a particular threat to girls and women. But it also presented an opportunity to increase investment in girls' education and gender equality.

''Gender equality and investment in girls is pivotal to economic progress,'' Mr Wishart said.

Each extra year of education increased a girl's income by 10 to 20 per cent and meant she was more likely to have a smaller, healthier family, and to start to break the cycle of poverty.

The report says in hard-pressed times families have to make choices: ''In these circumstances girls, whatever their inherent abilities and potential, are worth less to their families.''

What has been called the world's ''first fully feminised recession'' - due to women now being a big part of the workforce - is believed to have stymied progress on girls' education, workforce participation, and gender equality. As well, the recession is predicted to lead to a huge rise in infant mortality, push more girls into the sex trade, and lead to unemployment for another 22 million women.

In a call to action to governments, aid agencies, businesses and civil society, Plan International says girls should be ''right at the heart of a new economic revolution''.

''We know from extensive research that mothers … are more likely to spend their income on the welfare of their household, so creating the conditions for the next generation to move out of poverty,'' the report says.

The report acknowledges gains in the past decade for the 500 million girls and young women living in developing countries - for example, 83 per cent of girls are now in school, and the global economy has brought young women some new job opportunities. But girls' chances of reaching their potential were still ''considerably less than those of their brothers''.

The report shows that the countries with the highest levels of discrimination embedded in their legal, social, and education systems are some of the least developed in the world. These include Mali, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Sudan. It urges national governments to eliminate legal restrictions on girls' right to own, inherit or acquire property and land, to end discriminatory inheritance laws, and to mandate registration of births in order to give girls a crucial legal identity.

Mr Wishart said governments, development agencies, and the UN should design all their programs with a view to improving outcomes for girls.

''It's a slow process because it's about changing values within a community,'' he said. ''There's a long way to go.''

Why Girl Scouts?

Who do you want the girl in your life to become? Whether she is in kindergarten or her senior year, you want her to become self-confident, strong, and compassionate. You want her to respect herself and others, make good decisions, to be open to new challenges, and use her skills and talents to make her world a better place. You want her to build strong friendships, be a leader, and put her values into practice in her everyday life.

You want her to develop courage, confidence & character!

Why are you involved in Girl Scouts?

Or why are you not?

FAQ About Girl Scouting

How How much does it cost to be in Girl Scouts?
All members pay $12 annual membership dues. The Girl Scout year runs from October 1 – September 30. Beyond the membership dues paid each year, the troop may set a dues amount to be collected weekly, monthly, or periodically to help cover the costs of activities, patches, and supplies for the troop. Each troop sets its own budget based on the goals of the girls in the troop. Girls choosing other Pathways may have additional program fees.

What is the $12 Registration fee/ Membership dues for?
The entire $12 membership fee is sent to Girl Scouts of the USA. GSUSA uses the membership fees to support program development and services on a national level. No part of the fee remains with Girl Scouts Heart of the South. A portion of the membership fee paid by every registered member is used to provide a basic accident protection plan.

Does my daughter have to join a troop?
No. While many girls do belong to a troop, many others belong to special-interest groups or are registered as individual girls (called “Juliettes”). Girl Scout Pathways is another way for girls to participate outside of the troop that offers many different ways All registered members may participate in Council- sponsored programs, activities and camps.

My daughter has never been a Girl Scout before. When is she too old?
A girl must be willing to abide by the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and be in kindergarten through her senior year in high school.

Does my daughter have to have a uniform?
Uniforms are NOT required for members to participate in Girl Scout activities, although registered members are entitled to wear them. Girl Scouts wear uniforms to show their pride in belonging to a movement whose mission is held in high regard by the American people. There is a wide choice of uniform components, so that some part of the uniform can be affordable for every girl. The uniform provides visibility and recognition for members, and helps all girls in a group to show they belong, regardless of individual socioeconomic status or family circumstances. It is suitable for all Girl Scout functions and should be wornfamily cicumstances. It is suitable for all Girl Scout functions ans should be worn appropriately. Uniforms are available for purchase from the Council Shops or on-line. Any uniform, past or present, is considered official.

When are permission forms needed?
You will be asked to provide written consent for any activities that are held at a different place and/or time than the regularly scheduled meeting. Permission forms will also be used when activities involve travel, unusual risks or sensitive/controversial issues. If you are not comfortable having her participate in a particular activity, ask questions, go along to assist, or choose not to have her participate.

Does my daughter have to participate in product sales?
Girl Scout Cookie Sales and the Fall Product Sale are neither a focus nor a requirement for being a Girl Scout. It is a group project that emphasizes goal setting, teamwork and financial management. Groups use the money earned to finance trips, equipment and special events.

How will I know what activities are available?
Most troops have periodic parent meetings and/or write their own newsletters to give updates on what is happening within the troop. You can also log on to the GSHS website, www.girlscoutshs.org, for the latest council information. The council also produces a bi-monthly newsletter called S’More News, sends out a weekly email blast titled Girl Scout Weekly Update and is present on Facebook, Twitter and hosts a blog all in attempts to keep you informed.

What type of awards will my daughter receive?
There are several Girl Scout awards available for girls based upon grade level, interest and involvement. The highest award in Girl Scouting is the Gold Award, which offers community prestige, a sense of accomplishment and opportunities for college scholarships.

Who do I call to answer questions? If your daughter participates in a Troop/Group, contact the leader. If the troop/group leader cannot answer your question, or if the question concerns the leader, contact your service unit manager or your area’s membership manager at your regional service center.

What are some other questions out there? What information would you like to share with newbies to Girl Scouts?