February 2018 meeting for GEMS-Girls Empowered and Motivated to Serve at Portage High School, Portage, WI.

1. GEMS
Girls
Empowered and
Motivated to
Serve
FEBRUARY:
Empowerment, self
worth, image

2. Upcoming Events
● Next meeting is FRIDAY, MARCH 9 (A WEEK EARLY)
● Teen Movie
○ Friday, Feb. 16th - 4:00-5:45PM at Public Library
● Humane Society Collection
○ ALL MONTH LONG at VIBE Salon & Spa
○ Donate items to CCHS, get a coupon, and win prizes
● Pin Down Cancer Bowling Event
○ Saturday, Feb. 17th - 11:00AM-7:00PM at J&J Fireball Lanes
○ Contact 608-742-6638 to see if you can help
● Teen Paint Night
○ Friday, Feb. 23rd - 4:00-5:30PM at Public Library
○ REGISTRATION REQUIRED at www.portagelibrary.us/node/820/register

3. Upcoming Events
● Free Theatre Classes
○ Saturday, Feb. 24th - 10:00AM-Noon at Portage Center for the Arts
○ Also April 7th and 28th; info@portagecenterforthearts.com, 608-742-5655
● Portage Sharing Supper
○ Monday, Feb. 26th - 5:00PM-6:30PM at Bartels Middle School
○ Free food, help in the Kids Corner with crafts and reading
● Endeavor Sharing Supper
○ Wednesday, Feb. 28th - 5:00PM-6:30PM at Endeavor Elementary
● Family Fun Event at the Library
○ Saturday, March 3rd - 10:00AM-11:00AM at Public Library
○ Call 608-742-4959 to volunteer

4. Activity: Part 1
● Find a partner
● Face each other, examine your partner for 30 seconds (try to
remember every detail you can about them!)
● Turn around, back to back, and write down a description of your
partner
● DON’T SHARE RESULTS YET

5. Activity: Part 2
● TEST: How many of you wrote down EXTERNAL traits?
○ Example: long curly hair, brown eyes, nice skin, small nose
● Turn around again and write down a description of your partner,
using only INTERNAL traits this time (See Positive Traits handout)
○ Example: how this person acts, the way they make you or others
feel, things they do or are good at
● SHARE WITH EACH OTHER!

6. Discussion
● Self-worth: otherwise known as self-esteem or self-respect, this term describes the sense
of one’s own value or worth as a person
● Empowerment: the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in
controlling one's life
● Why should we empower others?
● We are often stuck focusing on our PHYSICAL qualities as a sense of worth
○ Example: My hair isn’t straight enough, I am not thin enough. Therefore, I am not
good enough.
● HOLD UP… When is the last time your hair or makeup helped you do well on an exam? IT
DIDN’T! Your knowledge and hard work helped you do well, INTERNAL qualities are what
lead you to success.
● How can empowerment help us reach our goals?

7. Discussion continued...
● Lose the EXTERNAL sources of worth.
○ Example: academic performance, appearance, approval from others
● Focus on INTERNAL sources of worth.
○ Example: treat yourself with kindness and compassion, recognize that
imperfection is something we all share, add meaning to your life by
doing things you enjoy, practice generosity
● Find a goal that is bigger than yourself
○ Invest your energy in activities that extend beyond self-interest (GIVE
BACK to a cause you enjoy)

8. Closing Announcements
● Next meeting is FRIDAY, MARCH 9 (A WEEK EARLIER)
○ TOPIC: SURPRISE… Girls choice
● LIKE and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS for GEMS Facebook page!!!
○ Updates, surveys, meeting changes, announcements