The Conference Has Officially Started!!

The rain poured but spirits were high when the conference was declared open. Ninety-six girls and young women from the 95 Girl Scout Councils trooped to the Philippines' City of Pines, Baguio City, for a 4-day conference with the theme "LEAD THE CHANGE" Uplifting Young Women's Potentials to Break Boundaries and be Effective Leaders.

The Opening Ceremony was graced by the presence of the National Officers of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Baguio City's political leaders, and members of the mass media.

An orientation then ensued, where concerns were clarified and house rules were laid down. Participants were then given a chance to get to know each other and make new friends.

After refreshments, the girls had a chance to know all about leadership. They listened well as key concepts on the topic were revealed.

The day ended with a talent audition for the Senior Girl Scouts and a separate session for the Cadet Scouts. The Seniors started the preparations for their Night-In, while the Cadets talked about improving the Cadet Girl Scout Program.

The day was certainly packed, but each moment was definitely an experience of a lifetime!

NATIONAL SENIOR-CADET CONFERENCE
MAY 21- 25, 2002

Opening Remarks of Mrs. Teresita Choa

National President

Today, we are truly blessed. We have a beautiful morning. We are in the company of beautiful Girl Scouts and I can feel this place reverberating with the enthusiasm and vibrance of an organization that is propelled to succeed.

In this triennium 2006 to 2009 I have several dreams. One is to make all Girl Scouts realize that change can be their friend. Second—that technology can be a solution, not the one and only solution. Third, that developing girls to be strong, coping women—equates with a strong community and nation.

The future of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines depends greatly on you, our emerging leaders. You are the reason for today’s conference of Senior and Cadet Girl Scouts. To provide continuity to GSP’s legacy of service to girls and young women worldwide. To cascade the imperatives and benefits of our 8-point challenge to present and future Girl Scout generations. To develop and nurture Girl Scout leaders of GSP’s six regions and 95 councils.

Indeed leadership and leaders are the operative words for this 4-day interaction among Senior Scouts and Cadets. A leader has myriads of roles. Let me mention some, in the context of Girl Scouting:

Navigator-Strategist
Mobilizer
Captivators
Communicator
Fund Raiser
Guardian
Catalyst
Servant Leader

The Navigator-Strategist plans the journey and steers the ship to arrive at the destination of a just and humane organization whether at International, National, Region or Council Level. She has foresight and definitely an analytical mind.

The Mobilizer knows how to implement and execute well. She builds alliances with concerned sectors to achieve complex objectives and builds consensus.

The Captivator inspires unity, trust, enthusiasm, and optimism among the people, and moves them away from complacency and cynicism. She has charisma. She motivates and is proactive.

The Communicator articulates what the organization does and what it expects the members to do and achieve. She knows when and how to project her organization effectively.

The Fundraiser has the ability to source funds both from outside and inside the organization. She has the connections, the creativity and the credibility to mount revenue generating programs.

The Guardian is the protector of the organization’s secrets, its integrity, its image, its culture, values and ideals. She is the staunch proponent of good governance.

The Catalyst initiates and innovates. She is the risk-taker. She will dare to venture where angels fear to tread. She sees the big picture and anticipates change before it happens.

The Servant Leader is the most unique role of all and the most challenging. To be a servant leader is to know how to be a follower and comply with rules and policies. At the same breath, she knows how to lead and serve one’s flock with humility and a caring heart. Service is second nature to her. The Servant Leader is one of the crowd, yet shines the brightest.

Which of these roles do you identify with? One young woman perhaps, could not possibly be all that I have described. And that is why we have various levels and positions within GSP—to assume each of these roles, and to assure that the leader of each troop, council, region or nation is surrounded by experts with individual skills, attitudes and leadership styles to produce a collective energy for the organization and come up with ONE TEAM. For we are One Team as we are ALL leaders of GSP. Leadership and Teamwork go hand in hand. Good leaders inspire outstanding teamwork.

There are at least five qualities of an excellent leader. Character, competence, conviction, honest and hard work ethic and a deep sense of fellowship or community.

It is my hope that in this Senior and Cadet Conference, every girl and young woman will take the bull by its horns. We are hoping that this leadership training will help you realize your own potentials and intensify your desire and commitment to shape a productive world for girls and young women in marginalized communities.

If you so wish, you have the power to help eradicate poverty in your local communities. You have the capacity to lead the fight against trafficking of girls and young women. You have the facility to promote a safe and healthy environment for your community, and establish educational programs for GSP beneficiaries. If you accept the shared challenges and responsibilities of being a Girl Scout Leader—all these are within your power.
It may seem overwhelming to see oneself as a vital part of a whole—but that is what you truly are. You are a rare grain of sand destined to become a pearl. I’ve always felt that God is biased. He created Girl Scouts to become that special grain.

We at GSP are truly fortunate to have an overwhelming number of outstanding leaders. I pray that you—Senior and Cadet Leaders, pass on the torch of leadership to your successors. Pass on to them the GSP ideals and traditions embodied in our Promise and Laws.
And always remember—the heart of Leadership and the soul of Girl Scouting is Service.
Good Morning!

NATIONAL SENIOR-CADET CONFERENCE
May 21-25, 2007

M E S S A G E

Ma. Dolores T. Santiago
National Executive Director

It is always a welcome respite from the routines of my job as National Executive Director when I come to an event where I see our girls in action. This year’s National Senior Cadet-Conference unleashes our girls’ potentials to be leaders at this stage of their lives which will prepare them for greater responsibilities and challenges in the future.

I salute the planning team of this conference composed of very talented, creative, innovative and articulate young girls who have shown excellent leadership skills. I can see in them the future young Members of the Central Board of the GSP.

To all the participants, I urge you to learn as much as you can in this 5-day conference. You have been chosen from amongst the thousands of girls in your Councils and I trust tat you will make the most of your time to benefit from this learning experience.

When you return to your respective places, tell your families, friends, classmates and neighbors about the wonderful time you had in Baguio and how Girl Scouting is making an amazing difference in your lives. Encourage other girls in your community to join Girl Scouting so that they too will be transformed into dynamic girls like all of you.

You go girls!