This summer, I joined the Girl Scouts’ North Hills Service Unit. As a result, I attended my first state conference last weekend.

I had so much fun!

In 2012, we’ll celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouts. So at the convention, we watched an amazing video montage of elderly women sharing their scouting memories. It was funny and poignant all at the same time.

I also attended several workshops, one of them scrapbooking. I LOVED it. Seriously, I can see an addiction in the making.

Yes, those who know me have permission to laugh. When my longtime friend Melanie saw my Facebook post about how much I enjoyed that workshop, she asked who had hacked into my Facebook account.

So anyway. The conference. And my butt.

I’ve long joked that it has a way of showing up in 80 percent of photographs in which I appear. And yet again, this time at a conference, it’s on display.

It’s like a twisted game of Waldo.

Where is Cathy’s butt in this photo?

 

But … heh, get it? … never fear. You do get a glimpse of my face now and then. Unfortunately, it’s when I’m eating.

 

 

But back to the conference. One of the highlights was getting to see the preview copies of the new books coming out.

Also this fall — new badges!

We’re getting a new handbook: The Girls Guide to Scouting. It’s stream-lined, compatible with Girl Scout Journey books and shiny and new!

And I can’t wait to get my hands on this:

 

These books are designed to teach girls how to become active in their schools and communities, and, ultimately, a leader.

Here’s an excerpt:

In this journey, Brownies have fun learning that stories contain clues that can be used to make the world a better place. In fun, flip-book format, one side is devoted to fictional stories that take Brownie girl characters to diverse places in the world. The other side has stories of real-life Brownies exploring their world closer to home. Through the journey’s many adventures, anecdotes and activities, girls follow through on clues and enjoy a fun and challenging experience that strengthens their confidence and gives them a chance to better the world.

We’re getting close to recruitment season. I urge you, sign up your girls. And mamas, we always need troop leaders. The past year has been such a rewarding experience for me. There’s nothing more inspiring than watching girls accomplish things they never would have imagined doing.