Girl Scouts of Nassau County Girlfriends March 2026

message from the CEO

Randell M. Bynum, LMSW Chief Executive Officer Girl Scouts of Nassau County

A New Era for Girlfriends

I am thrilled to unveil the newly reimagined GSNC Girlfriends! This evolution is a direct result of your feedback, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it.

To honor our journey, the outer cover pays tribute to the last eight years of my tenure as CEO. Inside, you’ll find a second inaugural cover debuting our bold new look, featuring a striking masthead and dynamic coverlines.

Launching just in time for Girl Scout Week and Women’s History Month, this issue celebrates our legacy while looking toward the future. As promised, we’ve doubled our impact: issues are now 12 pages and will mail quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1.

Enjoy this look back and leap forward!

—Rande

A NEW WAY OF GROWING TOGETHER

At Girl Scouts of Nassau County, we know that our Movement is powered by people— and people thrive when they know they truly matter. To kick off 2026, our staff took a deep dive into The Power of Mattering, inspired by the work of Zach Mercurio, an author and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership. It’s all about the idea that everyone deserves to feel noticed, affirmed, and needed.

This isn’t just a nice sentiment; it’s changing the way we work for you! We’re officially shifting our focus from “Customer Care” to “Membership Experience.” What’s the difference? While Customer Care is often about reacting to problems, Membership Experience is about building a proactive, holistic relationship with you. We’re moving away from the “transactional” and toward the “intentional.” As Mercurio says, “Hurry and care can’t coexist.” So, this year, we’re slowing down to pay better attention. We want to really get to know our girls, families, and volunteers so we can support you in the ways that count.

When you feel valued, your spark grows—and so does our impact on the community. We’re committed to making sure every volunteer feels elevated and every Girl Scout feels like she belongs.

Join the Conversation

We want to build this new experience with you. Mattering happens in moments. Moments when we feel seen by someone else. Moments when our voice is heard. Moments when someone shows us the difference we make. Think of a moment when you felt truly seen, heard, and needed by someone else in the GSNC community. What did they do? What did they say? How can you become a mattering champion by being that person for someone else in the Girl Scout Movement?

Drop us a note at marketing@gsnc.org. We want to hear your stories so we can make sure every member knows they matter!

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!

This month, let’s take some time to recognize and celebrate our amazing Girl Scout volunteers and their dedication to an amazing Girl Scout experience! Volunteers guide, support, and encourage girls to be the next generation of leaders and to be the best version of themselves!

Not sure how to shine a spotlight on your volunteers? Here are some ways how:

l Express your gratitude in a creative way by making homemade “thank you” cards for your Girl Scout volunteers.

l Plan a party or ceremony to host during one of your troop meetings! Invite adults to join in on the celebration, prepare some treats to share, and offer some words of gratitude to recognize your volunteers’ hard work.

l Create and present your volunteers with an award that celebrates the part they play in your Girl Scout journey. This can be a handmade certificate for Most Enthusiastic Leader or Most Organized Cookie Manager!

Hey, Girl Scouts, we want to hear from you! What makes your volunteers so special?

Share your words of appreciation here: bit.ly/gsnc-whatmakes-your-gs-vol-special Your responses will be posted to the OLC for our volunteers to see!

Here at GSNC, we want to express our deepest gratitude for our volunteers’ strong commitment to the Girl Scout mission and to the lives of their Girls Scouts! We could not make all of this possible without you!

Early Renewal for Girl Scouts and their families begins April 1,

and continues until June 30, 2026.

SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF RENEWING EARLY ARE:

l Get invited to exclusive early bird events like our member celebration, Summerfest.

l Be placed in a drawing for free girl membership and other prizes.

l Receive a discount off a purchase in the GSNC shop.

l Receive an exclusive limitededition patch.

l Peace of mind knowing that your daughter’s spot is secure for another year, ensuring uninterrupted access to adventures, skill-building, and friendships.

Visit gsnc.org/renew for updates, details and important dates.

Hula hooping fun at last year’s member celebration.

Girl Scout Week 2026

Celebrate 114 years of making the world a better place all week long! Check out the activities on the calendar. Once completed, scan the QR code to order your patch.

We asked two of our leaders: Why Do You

Renew Early?

“Early renewal is a great option for the caregivers of all Girl Scout levels. The beginning of the school year is always chaotic, hectic, and overwhelming. Renewing in April is just one less thing you have to do during that busy time. Early renewal is also great for troop leaders. I’m always so excited for a new Girl Scout year. I use the summer to make a rough plan of badges and activities we will work on in the coming year. Having Girl Scouts already renewed and registered is helpful to my planning process.”

—Melinda Geraghty, Leader and East Meadow Service Unit Volunteer Manager (SUVM)

“I renew early for a few reasons! I am committed to Girl Scouting and to my troop. Renewing early allows me to complete the process, so I don’t have to remember to do it at the beginning of the year. Sometimes there are bonuses for renewing early which are a great incentive! Early renewal nights at our service unit are also easy and convenient. And, renewing early sets a great example and encourages the service team, troop leaders, and girls to follow my lead and renew early as well! ”

—Jen Muschett, Leader and Baldwin Service Unit Volunteer Manager (SUVM) Girl Scout Week 2026

Celebrate 114 years of making the world a better place all week long! Share your Girl Scout Week experience on social media by using #BecauseOfGirlScouts and #NationalGirlScoutDay hashtags and tagging @girlscouts.

March 8

kind in the spirit of Girl Scouts.

March 12

11

March 14

Make your plans for a brighter future!

The Girl Leadership Committee (GLC) described the vision of their project using only a few words. See their responses above! No matter how they describe it, they can´t wait for you to join their fun!

We asked the GLC what the Girl Scout Law means to them, and if there was a line from the Law that was particularly meaningful— here’s what they said...

Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

By Maggie T., Troop 3455

Lasagna Love is a volunteer group that anyone can join. Their goal is “to spread kindness one lasagna at a time” and help people who are going through a hard time all across the U.S. and three other countries. Volunteers help make fresh lasagna to give to those who request it, all to provide comfort during a hard time in their lives. One fun fact about Lasagna Love is that they have over 80,000 volunteers!

Speaking of volunteers, in December, some of the Girl Scout Community Service Leadership Initiative (CSLI) contributed to Lasagna Love as a community service project—we enjoyed it very much! We made 13 lasagnas using donated supplies. Layer by layer, we spread kindness, love, and lasagnas to support this organization.

Girl Scouts is known for community service projects, both big and small, that make the world a better place. Lasagna Love represents a simple act of kindness, and that’s exactly what what we as Girl Scouts strive to do.

—Sofia

O.

“The line of the Girl Scout Law that is most important to me is, “[to] be a sister to every Girl Scout.” Since I started Girl Scouts in kindergarten, I have bonded immensely with the girls in my troop and other Girl Scouts through various activities, such as going to Frost Valley, camping at Governor’s Island, and sleeping over at the Museum of Natural History. As a member of the GLC, I want to support the wider GSNC community and make sure that every girl feels welcome and included.”

“The lines “to make the world a better place” and “to be a sister to every Girl Scout” are the most important to me. Through all the programs and awards that Girl Scouting offers, I think they all ultimately aim to make the world a better place. Additionally, during my time in Girl Scouts, I have made so many incredible friendships that have taught me countless lessons. These lines remind me of all the amazing opportunities I have had as a Girl Scout.”

“I enjoyed volunteering with Lasagna Love! It was great to collaborate with and act as a mentor to younger Girl Scouts, while also giving back to the community. ” Madeline C.

—Madison B.

“The Lasagna Love event was amazing to be a part of because I got to meet new girls and hear the story of why they help other people. I also really loved making the lasagna.”

—Nyah F.

We’ll Meet You at the Bay...

Dear future camper,

If you’re thinking about going to camp, just do it! I have an amazing time at Camp Blue Bay every year!! I remember being so scared to leave home my first year, but as soon as I got to camp I realized I was going to have an awesome time. One thing I love about camp is that everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I also love eating dinner after a long day of fun and talking with my friends about our favorite meals. Personally, my favorite is burritos!

Another amazing thing about camp is all the fun activities we get to try. From kayaking in the creek to arts and crafts in the activity building, then to cooling off in the bay—there’s always something fun to do!

Camp Blue Bay is the type of place where you can be yourself, try new things, learn lifelong skills, and make friendships that will last forever. I hope to see you this summer!!

From, Willow Girl Scout Camper

P.S. Make sure to bring envelopes and stamps so you can write home and tell everyone about all the fun you are having!!

Benefits of Summer Camp

If you’re a former camper, you know firsthand the positive effects of the camp experience. If you’ve never had the opportunity to attend camp as a child, you may be wondering exactly what the benefits of camping are, and what your child will gain from the experience. Here are the top ten most important reasons to send your child to camp.

At camp, children:

Make true friends

Explore nature

Learn social skills

Enjoy free time

Gain independence

Develop lifelong skills

Unplug from technology

Experience success

Gain resiliency

Spend their day being physically

We think one of the biggest takeaways from a summer camp experience is the chance for campers to build resilience—which is needed now more than ever. Resilience is learned and developed from facing setbacks and challenges that campers face in nature. Having the tools to learn from these challenges is essential in building character, confidence, and courage.

Cookie Selling Tips ByGirlScout KelseyP.

Tips and Tricks

SELLING GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

is a great way to practice being a business person. You learn how to persuade people to buy a certain cookie, how to deal with customers, and most importantly, how to have fun while interacting with others!

In total, after six years selling cookies, I sold 8,500 boxes. This means I helped raise around $46,500 in cookie sales. The first year that I sold cookies, I sold 500 boxes. Last year I sold 2,000 boxes of cookies. I hope you’ll be able to as well!

Different types of techniques are important when it comes to cookie selling. That’s because you can find the right way to sell for YOU, in YOUR type of neighborhood! The main way I sell is by setting up my own booth sales. Before selling, you need to make sure you have permission to do so. I would wave around a cookie box, smile, and do a few dance moves to get people’s attention. And a tradition of mine is yelling, “GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!” so that people can hear that they can come and buy a delicious box of cookies. Another way that I sell cookies is by selling out in public. You can bring a cart filled with cookie boxes to soccer games, baseball games, and other town events. Of course, we do this when it gets warm. The last trick my troop uses is collecting money for donations while we’re selling, that way, we can use it to pay for cookies that we donate later. We donate to the police, fire departments, and veterans. This method is helpful because then we can thank our heroes, and get rid of a lot of cookie boxes all at the same time!

Ways To Get Customers

Just waving around a cookie box isn’t going to do much. Attitude always matters when it comes to cookie selling, so always smile and be polite. Kindness has the same ripple effect as a smile. The more you spread cheer and kindness into the world, the more customers will be excited to buy from you. I noticed that when I was selling with my family, more customers came. They complimented the fact that we were all having fun together and laughing. That’s what customers love—they love the sight of family and friends working together. I suggest you use that method too!

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned a little bit more about cookie selling, go out with your family and have some fun! You’ll be able to sell a lot more cookies using these tricks. I wish you luck in your cookieselling journey!

How we use our cookie proceeds...

From Troop 1559

We do so many things with our cookie proceeds. We get to buy materials to help earn our badges. We also use it to go on fun trips and activities as a troop. We recently went to Krafty Panda to make crafts and Ryco’s Escape Room. We were able to solve the mission as a troop with six minutes to spare! We also give back to our community. We donated to Canine Companions, used our funds to make snack bags for the Ronald McDonald House, and recently proposed to our board of education in our school district to use our funds to plant water-saving plants at all four schools for our WOW project.

Highest AWARDS

Start with you—build confidence and courage to lead your way.

The brand-new True North award is available for Junior, Cadette, and Senior/ Ambassador Girl Scouts.

The True North award is about discovering what matters to you and staying true to yourself. It’s your chance to follow your values and take meaningful action, even when it feels hard or a little scary. Whether you’re finding the courage to speak up for what you believe in, taking on challenges, or advocating for positive change, this award helps you build the confidence and clarity to chart your own course and take courageous steps toward what truly matters to you.

Bonus feature: Earning the True North award for your program level opens the door to the Highest Awards. Once you earn this award, you’ve fulfilled the prerequisite and are ready to start your Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

We started planning to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award immediately after finishing the Amaze Journey in our first year. As a troop, we discussed different buckets of interests and potential issues in our community. We used the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver

“Cadette Troop 1539 is currently working on the True North award. We chose this award as both a prerequisite to highest awards and so each Girl Scout can customize their plan of action. The girls have chosen goals to boost their confidence and character, most looking to strengthen their values of friendship. They are creating courage plans to speak up in school and at their places of worship, actively engaging in their communities. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments over the next few months.”

—Jessica Cox and Gail Siegel, Co-Troop Leaders Troop 1539

“I learned from the True North award that everyone should set goals. It’s good to have an idea of where you are in life and what you really want to achieve by using goals. Setting goals helped me create a clear path for the year and figure out how to achieve them. Completing this award prepared me to begin working toward some of my short-term goals, and it was a really rewarding experience. ”

—Nyah, Girl Scout, Troop 1395

“The True North award gave Nyah and me direct guidance about the requirements that she needed to complete in order to move forward with her Silver Award. It was very attainable to do for any Girl Scout. Nyah was able to set goals and objectives all within a short period of time.”

Award, particularly pages 12-15, as a guide. These pages helped figure out if the project ideas were viable for a Silver Award and identified areas that needed more thought.

Each of our troop leaders managed two of the girls’ groups to check in on progress, hear their next steps, and give feedback. The leaders also reviewed emails and discussion points with third parties, and leaders were copied on all correspondence. The groups ended every session with a to-do list and timeline to complete tasks.

We knew the girls chose the right projects because they were really excited about their topics and came up with lots of ideas about what they could accomplish while affecting change with measurable outcomes. We dangled a Girl Scout Gold Award “carrot” early on, letting them know that very few girls complete the Gold Award, and it would really distinguish them as thoughtful, engaging female leaders in their community.

—Girl Scout Troop Leader Trina Coviello, (Troops 1609 and 1351)

ISYOUR TROOPBridging this year?

Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout’s life. It’s a time to recognize and celebrate her achievements and the new adventures that lie ahead as she moves onto the next level of Girl Scouting. Celebrating this transition should be fun, personalized to your troop, and most importantly, planned by the girls! Most bridging ceremonies include an opening or flag ceremony, reciting the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law, crossing a bridge, the Girl Scout handshake, presentation of certificates and other awards, and an ending ceremony. Other popular additions include refreshments, songs, sharing memories, and discussing plans for the next Girl Scout year.

If you have any questions about bridging ceremonies, you may schedule an appointment with our Volunteer Training and Resource Associate bit.ly/gsnc-vrc-officehours-2026

Above my desk at home, I have a shelf with a collection of vintage Girl Scout handbooks. I also have a few vintage pieces of Girl Scout jewelry, buttons, an old canteen, and a stamp. When I look at my little collection, I’m reminded of wonderful memories. I’m reminded of quiet Thursday afternoons in a room full of plants on the far side of the community center that was always

In honor of Women’s History Month, we asked some Girl Scouts who inspires them...

“The woman who inspires me is Savannah from Season 49 of the TV show Survivor. Savannah is a confident woman who always tries her best, is never afraid of being strong, and will stand up for herself. I struggle with confidence in myself, so when I first watched her, I thought, ‘I want to be just like Savannah.’ She shows that she is confident and isn’t afraid to demonstrate it. She has used that confidence to help her in many ways, including winning Survivor. Savannah has shown me that even when something is hard or scary, being confident can help you through anything.”

“Every day as I step into my school gymnasium, I gaze up at the inspiring words of Kerri Walsh, a three-time consecutive Olympic gold medalist in volleyball: “I don’t want to be better than you or him or her, I just want to be better than I am right now.” This inspires me to push myself in every sport I play and to overcome any obstacle that is thrown at me. I am very competitive and am always looking to win, but Kerri Walsh has taught me that the true objective is to beat my personal best every single day.”

a bit too hot. I remember kicking a can through the woods to make ice cream while a fire crackled behind us, competing with the salty ocean breeze. But as much as I love holding some pieces of the past, I am most proud to be part of the present and future of Girl Scouts. For me, being a Board Member is like being a part of a Girl Scout troop again—we have regular meetings, we work on community service projects, and we even visit camp once a year. Volunteering is not just a way to help the next generation of Girl Scouts; it’s also a way to continue being one yourself.

So if you are nostalgic for your days as a Girl Scout, take a look at our upcoming events page and join our brand new Girl Scouts of Nassau County alum group on Facebook. If I haven’t already, I can’t wait to meet you and hear your Girl Scout story! Stay connected. Visit gsnc.org/alum

Melanie Pavlidis is a GSNC Board Member, a Gold Award Girl Scout, and Girl Scout Lifetime Member from the Herricks Service Unit. Melanie will be a recipient of Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s 2026 Impact Award this spring at our Legacy Award Luncheon on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

To learn more about Melanie and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/gsnc-legacy-award-26.

Game On!

Girl Scout Word Search

Find the words below searching up, down, or diagonally, and

Girl Scout Word Search

Girl Scout Connect the Dots

Connect the dots in each grouping to form a picture.

Girl Scout Word Scramble

Unscramble the letters to reveal words related to badges, traditions, and Girl Scout Cookie season. Take the circled letters from each clue to solve the riddle.

(An award earned for learning a new skill)

(The official shape of the Girl Scout symbol)

(The most delicious time of the year) 4. H S

(Where you pin your hard-earned badges) 5.

(Your local group of Girl Scout friends)

110 Ring Road West

Garden City, NY 11530

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to Girlfriends, 110 Ring Road West, Garden City, NY 11530

Girlfriends (USPS 135-280), is published quarterly.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc.

110 Ring Road West, Garden City, NY 11530

Periodicals Postage Paid at Garden City, NY 11530.

Melanie Sinesi

President and Chief Volunteer Officer

Randell Marie Bynum Chief Executive Officer

Cassie Colgan Senior Director, Marketing and Communications

Anna Lenz

Senior Creative Manager

Designed by Anna Lenz

Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc., an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Agency, is a member of Long Island’s United Way, Inc. and The Community Chest of Port Washington.

Aleena Asif (Carle Place/ Westbury Co-Leader and Mags & Munchies/Cookie Manager)

Rande Bynum

Regino B. Mallabo (father of GSNC Chief Membership and Innovation Officer Marilou Owens)

Rande Bynum

Maureen C. McPartlan (longest running Girl Scout— 85 years Nassau County)

Dale McPartlan Oswald

Legacy Award Luncheon

Thursday, April 30, 2026 11:00 AM–2:30 PM

This April, we invite you to join us for GSNC’s 5th Annual Legacy Award Luncheon as we celebrate extraordinary women who are making a lasting impact and leaving a powerful legacy for future leaders right here in Nassau County.

We are pleased to announce the following 2026 award recipients:

LEGACY AWARD:

IMPACT AWARD:

Carrie Meek Gallagher

Chief Executive Officer, Long Island Power Authority

Carrie earned her Gold Award, was a National Delegate at the 45th National Council Session, a GSSC Wider Op representative, and a “Conversations with Rande” guest speaker at the 2022 Legacy Award Brunch.

Catherine Azzara

Speech Language Pathologist, Bellmore-Merrick Central HS

Catherine was an inaugural member of the GSNC Chorus, longtime Chorus Director, and a recipient of GSUSA’s Appreciation Pin in 2005, Honor Pin in 2011, Thanks Badge in 2016, and GSNC’s Spirit Award in 2025.

Melanie Pavlidis

Partnership Marketing Manager, Addepar

Melanie is a GSNC Board Member-At-Large and a GS Lifetime Member. She earned her Gold Award, and was Mistress of Ceremony for three Gold Award ceremonies, as well as a member of the Chorus and Media Girls.

Raven Brewington

Information Technology & Services Manager, Northwell Health

Raven is a Girl Scout troop leader in Elmont, National Delegate, Delegate Chair, and designated attendee of the Juliette Low Seminar (a leadership development program) in India.

Proceeds from the Legacy Award Luncheon will support Girl Scouts of Nassau County, with a special focus on enhancing Camp Blue Bay programs, providing essential camp supplies, and expanding gifted campership opportunities so every girl has the chance to grow, explore, and lead.

To order tickets, sponsorships, and/or journal ads, visit bit.ly/ gsnc-legacy-award-26 or scan the QR code.