Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: Girl Scouts of Maine Hosts Annual Transforming Leadership Conference in Orono with 200 Attendees
November 14, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2023
Contact: Helen Ruhlin
hruhlin@gsmaine.org
(207) 252-9212
BANGOR — Two
hundred attendees took part in the 15th Annual Transforming Leadership
Conference (TLC) hosted by Girl Scouts of Maine (GSME) at the
University of Maine at Orono on November 4th. TLC is an opportunity
for Girl Scout members and non-members alike to connect with one
another, engage in hands-on activities, and build leadership skills
through various 60-minute workshops led by topic experts.
“This year’s ‘Confidently You’ themed Transforming Leadership
Conference was the Girl Scout mission in action! Girls leading the way
in every way. I left feeling so optimistic and confident that these
girls will certainly make the world a better place,” says Donna
Watson, Chair of the GSME Board of Directors.
The
conference was open to all adults, Girl Scout members and non-members
in grades 6-12, looking to broaden their interpersonal and
knowledge-based skills. Over a dozen workshop topics ranged from
subjects such as STEM, self-care, financial literacy, global issues,
outdoor navigation, meditation, cooking, and so much more. At the
conference, GSME also successfully trained 14 adults in Youth Mental
Health First Aid, contributing to a total of 83 adults trained and
certified by GSME in 2023.
During the adult workshop,
“Raising Amazing Girls: Navigating Feelings,” co-facilitator and GSME
troop leader, Courtney Evans focused on teaching volunteers how to
maneuver various emotional responses within troops and service units,
especially within high stress environments.
“I cried at
the Transforming Leadership Conference. After facilitating a lecture,
which opened with checking in on everyone to see how they’re doing
after the horrifying events in the last week, we ended on journeying
to joy. […] What a beautiful, inspirational, and powerful event. Our
leaders are amazing—and they are all volunteers,” says Evans.
For one attendee, Molly Graham, Transforming Leadership is a
place for career path inspiration. Graham, now Girl Scout Adult who
has attended the conference since she was in sixth grade, says she
decided on her major and college only after attending a financial
literacy workshop at the very same GSME event years ago.
“I found my passion here […] My second time coming to the leadership
conference, KeyBank offered a personal finance course and after
talking to the presenter, I went home, looked into it, and really
liked what I was reading. Now that’s what I’m going to UMaine for,”
says Graham
To
stay up to date with other exciting GSME events on our website,
and don’t forget to mark your calendar for next year’s Transforming
Leadership Conference.
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We Are Girl Scouts of Maine
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs across the state of Maine and beyond, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscoutsofmaine.org. For the latest updates, follow us on Facebook @GirlScoutsofMaine and Instagram @girlscoutsofmaine.
Photos courtesy of Girl Scouts of Maine
