Updated as of March 15, 8:00 pm (CST)
As you know, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts on our community are changing constantly, sometimes by the hour. Our council team has been engaged constantly in monitoring the situation and planning our response. I have news to share with you.
State officials in both Minnesota and Wisconsin have closed schools and introduced other community containment measures in the last few days and hours. In response, and out of our concern for the safety of our members and our duty to our communities, Girl Scouts will also take additional precautionary measures.
In addition to the cancellation of Girl Scout activities we announced Friday, troop meetings and Service Unit events are now also canceled, as are any in-person cookie program activities. As of Monday, March 16:
- Troop meetings are suspended or transition to virtual meetings.
- Service Unit events are suspended.
- Service Unit volunteer meetings are suspended and should transition to virtual meetings or conference calls.
- Council-sponsored programs are canceled.
- Cookie booths, door-to-door sales, workplace sales, mobile booths, “lemonade stands” and any other in-person activities are canceled; online sales are allowed and returns will be accepted.
- The Girl Scout Shops are closed.
- Facility rentals are canceled.
- Our service centers and camps are closed to visitors.
These measures are in effect until March 30 and/or further notice. There is nothing we take more seriously than the safety and well-being of our members and the community.
An additional email about the Cookie Program will follow this one and be sent to all volunteers in a cookie role. Our staff will also be working remotely, and available to answer your calls and questions. You can reach us at 800-845-0787 or girlscouts@girlscoutsrv.org.
In all parts of our lives right now, there are many unanswered questions and significant ambiguity. We are disappointed, sad, and maybe a little frightened. Girl Scouts is here with you, leading as we have always done, as a force for good in the world. We can be an inspiration to others as we all live through this difficult time, and we can be sisters to every Girl Scout – especially those who are hardest hit by the disruptions of this pandemic, and our Asian American friends and colleagues unfairly treated and targeted by xenophobia and racism.
I’m incredibly proud to be a Girl Scout and of our Movement. I know we will find ways to continue to stay connected, participate, and contribute, as we do the right thing for our community and our country. We will be Girl Scouts and we will help and lead. I appreciate your partnership, support, and membership in the only movement in the world that is by girls, for girls, and includes all girls.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Tish Bolger
Chief Executive Officer
Updated as of March 15, 1:30 pm (CST)
This situation changes rapidly, from day to day or hour to hour. There are significant developments in the Minnesota and Wisconsin state-level responses that we are assessing, as well as guidance from Girl Scouts of the USA regarding programs and in-person troop and other events. We will continue to update you via this page, email, and social channels as we are able.
Throughout our history, Girl Scouts have played an important role in helping to keep our country safe. The work of today’s Girl Scouts is just as essential. Girl Scouts can continue to demonstrate leadership in the fight against coronavirus in many ways, such learning about how coronavirus is spread and sharing that information with others and demonstrating leadership and flexibility by adapting their troop and Service Unit activities to meet these unprecedented times. We can all be a force for good by confronting misinformation about Asian Americans, who increasingly have been the targets of racist attacks and discrimination based on misinformation around the COVID-19 virus.
Please continue to check this page for the latest information.
Updated as of March 14, 3:45 pm (CST)
Yesterday an email was sent out to all recipients of the Cookie Press. Due to a strain on the system which sends these emails, we are aware that not everyone received this email, it was sent again today using a different email tool. You can also find it in the Cookies section. We apologize that some people did not receive this message and for any confusion or uncertainty that this created.
Updated as of March 13, 5:00 pm (CST)
At Girl Scouts, there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety and well-being of our members and the community. As novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be of growing concern in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, Girl Scouts River Valleys is regularly monitoring information from the Centers for Disease Control, local state departments of health, school districts, and other partners.
This afternoon, Minnesota state officials announced new measures to control the spread of COVID-19. While much remains unknown regarding how COVID-19 will evolve locally, we do know the best preventative measures we can take are to maximize individual health practices and to engage in social distancing by reducing social interactions and contact with others.
Therefore, Girl Scouts River Valleys will cancel all activities beginning tomorrow, March 14, until March 30. This means:
- Council-sponsored programs are canceled beginning tomorrow, March 14, through March 30, including the Day at the Capitol, which was scheduled for Monday, March 16.
- Facility rentals beginning on Monday, March 16 will be canceled through March 30.
- Girl Scouts River Valleys will issue refunds for program events and facility rentals, but please be patient due to the volume of processing.
- Cookie booth activities are suspended, and cookie cupboards are closed. There is significant additional detail about the impacts to the cookie program, which are detailed in the cookies section.
- The Girl Scout Shops will be closed Saturday, March 14, through March 30.
Service units and troops have the option to continue to hold their meetings or events. However, we recommend cancelling or postponing events that would be difficult to adapt to the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines. A reminder that if you are ill or believe you have been exposed to a contagious disease like coronavirus, do not attend Girl Scout or other public events.
I know you will have a lot of questions, there are a lot of details to share, and the situation changes quickly. We have created this page on our website where we will post the most up-to-date information as we receive it. Please check this page and bookmark it to review often. We will do our best to get as much information to you as quickly as possible.
We will continue work on plans that allow us to continue to support and offer the Girl Scouts experience to our members, and we know cancellations and disruptions of service are disappointing. The safety of girls and the community is our first priority.
Throughout our history, Girl Scouts have played an important role in helping to keep our country safe. The work of today’s Girl Scouts is just as essential. Girl Scouts can continue to demonstrate leadership in the fight against coronavirus by teaching proper hand washing and other hygiene practices to their peers. They can learn about how coronavirus is spread and how to protect themselves and share this information with others. Girl Scouts can be a force for good by confronting misinformation about Asian Americans, who increasingly have been the targets of racist attacks and discrimination.
On behalf of the Girl Scout movement, I want to thank each of you for being part of our collective action to prevent the spread of coronavirus. We will continue to keep you updated.
Thanks for your understanding.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Tish Bolger
Chief Executive Officer
