The cookies are here!

The Girl Scout Cookies have arrived!

This past weekend, troops from all around Western Ohio picked up cases and cases of cookies, and the girls are ready to start delivering your cookies.

Don't think that because the cookies have arrived that the 2011 Girl Scout Cookie Sale is over - it's still going strong! Girl Scouts in Western Ohio are still taking orders, cookie cupboards will be open soon, and this weekend marks the start of booth sales.

So, if you still need to get some Girl Scout Cookies - or if you need MORE cookies (because you can never have too many boxes of Thin Mints), be sure to check out the cookie booth locator to find a sale near you. Click here for the locator.

And if you want to go really 'hi-tech' with Girl Scout Cookies, be sure to download the free Cookie Locator Mobile App for your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or Android device. This mobile app - available in the iTunes Store and Android Marketplace - uses your phone's GPS location to find cookies nearby (or you can use your ZIP code to find booths). The app also lets users discover their "cookie personality" and share fun facts with friends via e-mail, Twitter and Facebook.

Click here for more information on the mobile app.

Booth sales for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio run from March 4 - April 3.

And don't forget - if you want to buy cookies for our troops, you can always donate to the Gift of Caring. The Girl Scouts of Western Ohio's Gift of Caring sponsorship program is a great way for you to send a taste of home to US military personnel serving overseas. The cookies you purchase are sent directly to our military personnel and 100 percent of the proceeds from Gift of Caring stay in our communities. (Gift of Caring ends March 21).

Enjoy those Thin Mints and Samoas!

Take a survey about Girl Scouts!

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio invites you to share your thoughts and feelings about Girl Scouting's benefits for girls!

To give girls the best program experiences possible, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is interested in whether girls are enjoying program activities, if they are understanding new materials, and ultimately if the program experiences are benefitting them.

We'd like you to help us in our research by occassionally completing short surveys about your experiences. We value your honest feedback.

To participate, click this link http://www.girlscoutvoices.org/ to register.

For more information please contact Ms. A.J. Office, Research and Evaluation Director at ajoffice@girlscoutsofwesternohio.org.

Get your Girl Scouts to "doodle for Google"

GSUSA recently announced that Girl Scouts is partnering with Google for their annual Doodle 4 Google contest where kids (and in our case, girls!) in grades kindergarten through 12 are asked to redesign the Google logo according to a selected theme. The national winner will be awarded a $15,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for her Girl Scout council.

This is a great opportunity for your troops to dream BIG, be creative and look toward the future - all values that are central to the Girl Scouts (and Google).

Google is offering a special award for the troop that has the most entries and is able to get to the state finalist round. If one of your Girl Scouts is selected as a state finalist, your council/region would win 20 Netbook computers and a $2,500 technology grant.

Click here for the Doodle 4 Google doodling party kit - scroll down near the bottom of the page, and on the right hand side you'll see After School Program Doodle Kit - Girl Scouts. (It's a pdf you can download).

Register online now and start doodling - the contest deadline is March 2! Mailed submissions are due March 16. Each Girl Scout is only allowed to submit ONE doodle.

For more information and FAQs, click here.

Happy doodling!