[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 35 (Thursday, March 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2385-S2386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ADDITIONAL STATEMETNS
                                  ____

                        NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT WEEK

 Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, this week marks the 89th 
anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of America. What began 
with a single troop of 12 girls in 1912 has grown into a 3.6 million 
member organization. Missouri alone has nearly 100,000 members. Over 
the last 89 years Girl Scouts of America has helped to instill in 
countless girls strong values, a social conscience, and the conviction 
of their own potential and self- worth.
  Earlier this week, I cosponsored a resolution to designate this week 
as National Girl Scout Week. I thank my colleagues for unanimously 
passing that resolution. The Girl Scouts of America has become a 
national institution. The organization has held a Congressional charter 
for more than 50 years, and spread to nearly every city in the nation. 
Girl Scouts learn to be, as the Girl Scout Law says, ``considerate, 
caring, courageous and strong.'' They develop a strong sense of 
community responsibility along with a sense of self worth. These girls 
serve as role models in their communities and become tomorrow's 
leaders.
  Community service is a bedrock principal of the Girl Scouts. Every 
year, each troop conducts a service project to assist their community. 
The Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis is about to start their 
annual April Showers project. Every year they collect and

[[Page S2386]]

distribute personal care items like shampoo, toothbrushes, and diapers 
to families in need throughout the area. Last year they collected 
nearly one million items, helping countless families.
  On the other side of Missouri, Kara Dorsey, a member of Troop 706 in 
Warrensburg, recently won her Girl Scout Gold Award for creating a 
library at the new Warrensburg Veteran's Home. Kara organized two 
fundraising events then purchased books, tapes and magazine 
subscriptions with the proceeds. Because of Kara's work, the veterans 
in Warrensburg have a recreational and educational outlet they might 
not have had otherwise.
  Girl Scouts may be most famous for Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs, 
but those cookies are more than delicious snacks. Cookie sales teach 
the scouts about money management, selling skills, and give the girls a 
chance to give back to their community. Junior Girl Scout Troop 59, in 
Odessa, Missouri, voted to give a percentage of the money it earned in 
January to the House of Hope, a shelter for victims of domestic 
violence. When someone asked Rachel Kopp, a member of the troop, why 
they had donated the money, she said, ``It was the Girl Scout thing to 
do.'' Indeed it is. That is what makes the Girl Scouts so unique. Girl 
Scouts provide an environment where girls are challenged and guided to 
become capable, self-reliant, ethical women who make a difference.
  On this, their anniversary, I want to thank the Girl Scouts of 
America for enriching so many young lives, and once again thank my 
colleges for unanimously calling for the recognition of National Girl 
Scout Week.

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