At our annual ToGetHerThere Luncheon on Monday, Oct. 30, we will bring together top business and community leaders from across Greater LA, as well as our 80 Emerging Leader Girl Scouts. The experience provides our attendees with the opportunity to meet these up-and-coming leaders, and reflect on the importance of our campaign. Plus, our Girl Scouts meet inspiring role models and network with professionals who can provide them with college and career advice.
Will you join us or support us? Our past supporters and Emerging Leader Girl Scouts tell us why the annual ToGetHerThere Luncheon has been an important, meaningful experience for them.
“Local and national business and civic community leaders who attend the annual ToGetHerThere Luncheon to support programs for girls in Greater LA help support GSGLA in building a new generation with confidence and character. We leave feeling incredibly inspired ourselves that our future is in good hands. It’s a must!”
— Frances Moreno
Co-Founder and Partner, Vaco
GSGLA Board Member
“When I first came to the ToGetHerThere Luncheon, I was completely shocked by the number of people who came out to support Girl Scouts. I had such an amazing mentoring session with some of the nicest, most friendly, and passionate women I have ever met. I have never been treated more maturely and taken so seriously—it was great to establish real business connections and learn how to network from these accomplished women. I was thrilled to be an Emerging Leader last year, and I’m even more excited and prepared this year to return.”
— Elizabeth Bock
Emerging Leader Girl Scout 2016, 2017
“I have been a Girl Scout since the first grade and keeping up with Girl Scouts has been the best decision I have ever made. Girl Scouting has offered me so many wonderful opportunities, like the ToGetHerThere Luncheon. I have become a strong leader because of Girl Scouts. I remember back when I was a freshman in high school, my troop organized a workshop to empower the younger Girl Scouts in our service unit. At the end of the day, we taught them a dance to document all that they had learned that day. It was amazing to see all the Girl Scouts come together and perform the dance for their leaders. Girl Scouts is not just an organization, it is a movement that empowers girls worldwide and gives them the tools to become confident G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders).”
— Kally Mozell
Emerging Leader Girl Scout 2016, 2017
It’s not too late to support the future of our Girl Scouts, and all girls and women. Secure your spot and invite your friends to join us at our ToGetHerThere Luncheon, and also learn how you can support the campaign.
Hanalei Emnace: Being a National Delegate representing GSGLA was truly an amazing experience—despite the lack of sleep and very long days, I had so much fun. From watching democracy in action during the National Council Session to performing in Girls Got Talent [see left] to walking around the city and seeing the multitude of Girl Scouts everywhere, it was apparent that Columbus was bleeding green that week. Furthermore, spending time getting to know my fellow girl delegates and making friendships with girls from all over the nation was so awesome, especially being able to trade SWAPS with Girl Scouts young and old; I even got to meet some cute little Daisies from Ohio! 
But one of the most memorable things that happened for me was meeting a female Lieutenant of the U.S. Navy, who was a Naval Academy graduate [see right]. She gave a talk on managing different aspects of life and her life experience in doing so; since I am looking to attend a military academy, it was such an inspiring meeting and it helped me realize all the opportunities that Girl Scouts has to offer. Throughout my week in Columbus I was able to immerse myself in parliamentary procedure, which coincides with my interest in political science, meet people from all over the country, and appreciate all the hard work that everyone put into putting on the week.
Genetha Cleveland: My experience at the National Convention in Columbus, Ohio was fantastic! I Iearned many parliamentary legislation rules, met many other Girl Scouts, and much more. On Oct. 4, we started with voting on the proposals. Watching other Girl Scouts and delegates going to the panel to speak was interesting and a learning experience. My other Girl Scouts brought up great questions and concerns to the National Board. But my favorite part of our trip were the SWAPS. One time I wanted to trade SWAPS with another Girl Scout from California, and we ended up having a 15-minute conversation about how Girl Scouts has many benefits and give you many learning experiences. 
Asking other people if they wanted to SWAP or if they wanted one of mine was fun. The Hall of Experiences was amazing too. I collected so many free things that I have already started using at school and for DIY crafts. By having three other delegates on my side, I was able to enjoy the experience even more. We all had an instant bond and enjoyed each other’s company. We’ve had so many memories together and I won’t be able to forget them. We all hope to attend the next convention in 2020 in Orlando, Florida. At the end of each event or lecture from other G.I.R.L.s, we talked about how we can relate to them and reflect upon ourselves.
Hana Meroth: I never realized the global impact of Girl Scouts on girls around the world. It was truly amazing to be able to meet girls from across the nation and have an instant connection with them. Everyone we met was so incredibly amicable and welcoming. I had been looking forward to the incredible lineup of speakers, and they all exceeded my expectations. 
After listening to all the National Young Women of Distinction, I was so inspired to grow the impact of my own 
Our day started with some slight bumps. But we made up for it with other plans, and headed to the North Market for lunch. While there, we were able to indulge in a variety of foods. One of our chaperones, Melissa Pepe, even bought us a pound of focaccia to share. We ended our meal with some delicious ice cream then headed to the Convention Center to await a Girl Scouting group chat.
Next, we headed over to a reception to mingle with the other delegates. Afterward, we received GSGLA trefoil headbands as gifts, for which we’ve gotten a lot of attention. ☺
When we arrived in Ohio, we found ourselves greeted by G.I.R.L. volunteers after meeting some of the adult delegates from New Orleans. After picking up our luggage, we headed outside to catch the bus to our hotel. We finally settled into our rooms. With a shared want for food we all met downstairs at the bistro for anything but wings. Our adventure continues tomorrow as we get to explore the beautiful city of Columbus. Make sure to follow our Twitter account, 
Julia Medina, Delegate: “Starting out, I was extremely honored to represent the Greater Los Angeles area, but I was not quite sure what to expect. After attending trainings, meeting the other girl and women delegates, and speaking at my local service unit meeting, I have found my love for Girl Scouts growing more than I thought was possible. Learning more about the inner workings of Girl Scouts, not only on a local level, but also on a national level, has enhanced my appreciation for how much this organization has to offer to build girls of courage, confidence, and character. Attending the National Council Session and Convention has been something I knew I had wanted to do sometime in my Girl Scout career. Since this is my last year as an Ambassador, I am more excited than ever to attend. I am so excited to meet girls from all over the United States who share in my love for this amazing organization. I am also excited to be traveling with the other incredible girl delegates to build lifelong memories with them that we will one day tell our own Girl Scout troops about.”
Hana Meroth, Delegate: “To get a behind-the-scenes look at how a Girl Scout council functions has truly been an eye-opening experience. After attending three delegate trainings and presenting at service unit meetings, I’ve gained an incredible amount of insight into the effects the Movement has had on our community, and will continue to have for many years to come. I’m so grateful for the countless opportunities that Girl Scouts has presented me with, and I’m honored to be representing my council on a national level. I’m already made lifetime friendships, learned invaluable listening and interaction skills, and I know that there are so many more opportunities that are awaiting me. I can’t wait to be a part of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences (especially the Convention) and am thankful for the impact it has already made on me and the impact yet to come.”
Genetha Cleveland, Delegate: “My experience as a Girl Scout delegate has been amazing. It has allowed me to meet other Girl Scouts who have the same hopes and desires that I do, and an opportunity to learn more about Girl Scouts as an organization. Being a delegate has given me a stronger sense of pride about being a Girl Scout. Not only are we sisters to one another, but we are also businesswomen who make a difference. When I first started my delegate experience, I was very nervous about meeting new people and all of the responsibilities of being a delegate; we met over several months and my nerves got better after each meeting. The road to being a delegate has been a learning experience about governance and how organizations and businesses create consensus to continue to move forward. I’m excited for our trip to Columbus, Ohio to see many other Girl Scouts who are just like us: Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, and Leaders!”
Joan Schueller, Alternate Delegate: “Going through the process of becoming a delegate has been a valuable experience. I was able to learn about new projects going on within the council and learn the inner workings and the behind-the-scenes side of Girl Scouts. Not only did I learn about proposals to be voted on at the National Council Session, but also how to relay messages to others and learn which sides people take on the proposals. I thoroughly enjoyed making friends and talking to other delegates within the council and indulging myself in the process of becoming a leader. Leadership, confidence in talking to others, and being able to communicate ideas are just a few of the many traits I have further gained through this process. I hope to continue to keep the bonds I’ve made with fellow delegates and carry the traits I’ve learned into all aspects of my life.”
