1. Note from Rachel
   
2. Girlstart Events and News
   
3. Volunteer Spotlight
4. Did You Know?
   
   

Happy February, everyone! Aaahh... love is in the air. Girlstart has a soft spot for this Valentine month. We want to encourage all girls to love what they do, love learning, love their friends and families and especially to love themselves. When we provide opportunities for girls, we are opening doors to all possibilities for their futures. This means they may be inspired to find out early-on what they truly love to do. That's what we call lovely!

For the 4th and 5th grade girls in your life, there is still time to register for this Saturday's "Cupid's Secrets," workshop from 1-3 pm here at Girlstart. And for the grown-up girls, register now for our Lunch and Learn workshop "Wall Street Women" on February 12 to find out how to invest smart and retire early.


Rachel Muir
Executive Director, Girlstart

Out of this World Event on February 28th!
Explore the science in the sky at Girlstart's Starry Science Extravaganza on February 28th from 1-4pm at Casis Elementary School. The entire family is welcome! Come out to gaze up at your favorite constellations in Girlstart's StarLab, discover gravity from new heights, and make your own space ice cream. Admission is FREE and NO registration is needed! Visit http://www.girlstart.org/index.asp for more information.

Attend Expanding Your Horizons with your friends!
Register today with a friend to attend Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) on March 28th! The day-long program will be jam-packed with exciting and inspiring workshops presented by approximately fifty professional women. The workshop topics range from food engineering to veterinary medicine. Registration open to all 4th thru 8th graders until March 18th.

Want to Find Out Cupid's Secrets?
A few spaces are still available for this weekend's Cupid's Secrets Parent/Daughter Saturday Workshop on February 7th. Girls and parents learn the power of math in hidden messages using cryptography, chromatography, and invisible ink. Spend a few hours with your daughter ciphering cupid's code!

Girlstart in Lights this Summer!
Girlstart's $50 Summer Camp registration discount ends Thursday, February 5th. Take advantage of this opportunity now! This summer, campers will examine vet secrets in Girlstart's Pet Hospital, mix-up the perfect recipe for fun, explore the unexplainable, and more! Payment plans and full scholarships are available based on financial need. Contact camps@girlstart.org for more information.

Smart Women! Smart Money!
Let the industry expert from South Texas Money Management tell you have to invest smart and retire early at Girlstart's Wall Street Women Lunch and Learn workshop on February 12th. Senior Investment Advisor, Lisa Fox has over 14 years experience with financial planning management.

Check out Girlstart's new blog!
Get behind the scenes of Girlstart by visiting our brand new Girlstart blog. Our blog features articles on girls empowerment, cool innovations in science and technology, interviews with local women with inspiring STEM professions, as well as Girlstart news. Visit our blog today at http://girlstartblog.wordpress.com/!

Girlstart featured in SXSW blog!
Girlstart was recently featured in the official South by Southwest Interactive News blog. The post, which discussed forming a community through technology, was inspired by the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr., and features Girlstart as one of the 2009 SXSW Interactive panelists that embody this dream. Check it out here: http://sxsw.com/node/853.

Upcoming Events Calendar
Feb 7 Saturday Workshop: Cupid's Secrets 1st-3rd grade 10:00am-12:00pm at Girlstart; 4th-5th grade 1:00pm-3:00pm at Girlstart
Feb 12 Lunch and Learn Grown Up workshop: Wall Street Women, 11:30-1:00pm at Girlstart
Feb 28 Starry Science Extravaganza, 1:00pm-4:00pm at Casis Elementary School
Mar 12 Lunch and Learn Grown Up workshop: Get Your Blog On!, 11:30-1:00pm at Girlstart
Mar 16 Gaming as a Gateway Drug: Getting Girls Interested in Technology panel at SXSW Interactive Festival, Time TBA, Austin Convention Center
Mar 18 EYH registration closes and $25 Summer Camp discount ends!
Mar 28 Expanding Your Horizons, 4th-8th grades 9:30am-3:30pm at UT Austin
May 16 Saturday Workshop: Junior Vets 6th-8th grade 12:30pm-3:30pm at Girlstart

Current Volunteer Opportunities
Listed below are Girlstart's current volunteer opportunities. Click the links below to let a staff member know you are interested in helping with these projects!

Technology Internship
Intern at Girlstart this spring! Girlstart is looking for a Technology Intern who will assist us with our computer lab, help us prepare for summer camp, and other duties like implementing and maintaining technology systems/procedures and troubleshooting staff computer issues. This technology-savvy person should be flexible, organized, and work well in a team environment. Contact Dee Kapila, Technology and Program Coordinator, if you are interested in this 40 hour (4 hours a week) volunteer internship position.

Google AdWords Help
Girlstart recently was granted free Google AdWords though the Google Grants program. We are seeking 1-2 committed volunteers with experience in Google AdWords to assist with: planning campaigns, using effective keywords, managing an AdWords account, navigating the AdWords website, and creating a campaign planning calendar for 2009. This new grant will allow Girlstart to use AdWords to promote Girlstart programs, fundraising campaigns, and events. Please contact Nicole Martinez, Office Assistant, if you are interested in this opportunity.

Volunteer at Starry Science Extravaganza!
Volunteers are needed to help with set up, run activity booths, and tear down for this community science event for the whole family at Casis Elementary on February 28th. Sign up online at http://www.formsite.com/girlstart/form559920193/index.html

Volunteer at Expanding Your Horizons!
Volunteer at Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) on March 28th! Girlstart is currently recruiting workshop leaders to lead fun, engaging activities and general volunteers to help throughout the day. Sign up online at http://www.eyhaustin.org/volunteer.html