[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 28 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1852-S1853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNITION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GIRL SCOUTS

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I would like to congratulate the Girl 
Scouts of America on their 90th anniversary. The Girl Scouts began on 
March 12, 1912, when founder Juliette Gordon Low assembled 18 girls in 
Savannah, GA, for the first ever Girl Scout meeting. She believed that 
all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, 
mentally, and spiritually.
  Girl Scouts of America has a current membership of more than three 
million girls and adults, 150,000 of whom live in Michigan. There are 
also more than 50 million Girl Scout alumnae throughout our nation. 
Girl Scouts serve their communities, developing skills in a diverse 
array of activities including sports, media relations, education and 
science while growing into the leaders of tomorrow.
  One of this year's Young Women of Distinction is Ms. Noorain Khan 
from Grand Rapids, MI. To earn this distinction she worked on many 
projects including one with the Islamic Center of Grand Rapids which 
serves a community of 13,000 Muslims. She helped develop a grant 
proposal for a program to educate Muslim youth about their religion and 
culture, and better equip them to make responsible decisions as adults. 
Her grant proposal consisted of a preliminary curriculum outline, data 
on demographics in the Islamic community and a job description for a 
program director. Though the grant has not yet been secured, a 
framework now exists for the Islamic center and for future grant 
proposals.
  All Girl Scout programs are based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law 
and Four Program Goals: developing self-potential, relating to others, 
developing values and contributing to society. To achieve these goals, 
they have established programs in foster homes, homeless shelters, 
school yards and Native American reservations. Further, the Girl Scouts 
of America have established a research institute, received government 
funding to address violence prevention and are addressing the digital 
divide with activities that encourage girls to pursue careers in 
science, math and technology.
  Today, 90 years later, the organization offers girls of all races, 
ages, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities the chance 
to develop the real-life skills they'll need as adults. I am sure that 
my Senate colleagues join me in commending the Girl Scouts on their 
first 90 years and look forward to them celebrating many more.

[[Page S1853]]

  Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, this week, celebrations throughout the 
Nation will mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouts. I 
would like to take a few moments to acknowledge this great organization 
and the profound impact it makes in the lives of girls and young women.
  Ninety years ago, Juliette Gordon Low assembled a group of girls in 
Savannah, GA, for the first meeting of Girl Scouts. Her goal was to 
provide an environment where girls could develop physically, mentally 
and spiritually. Those goals are unchanged today, with nearly 4 million 
girls and adults currently holding membership in Girl Scouts. Even more 
impressive is that more than 50 million women in the United States 
today claim a Girl Scout experience in their past.
  While focused on its goal to help individual girls thrive, Girl 
Scouts has also known that it can make an important difference in our 
Nation's cultural life. From its beginnings, Girl Scouts has maintained 
a commitment to inclusiveness. It has encouraged diversity in its 
ranks, in its leadership and in the broad variety of public service 
programs Girl Scouts pursue.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in acknowledging the anniversary 
of Girl Scouts. I think that if Juliette Gordon Low were to visit a 
Girl Scout Troop today, she would rightfully be very proud of what she 
would see.
 Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, I want to congratulate the Girl 
Scouts of the USA on celebrating its 90th anniversary. Last night I 
attended the anniversary banquet with my wife, Peatsy, who has been 
involved with the Girl Scout leadership for many years.
  It never ceases to amaze me how this organization, with a membership 
of almost 4 million, has maintained the same core values it held 90 
years ago; yet it still has changed with the times to empower girls of 
all races, all backgrounds, and all income levels to meet their full 
potential. Some two-thirds of the women members of Congress are Girl 
Scout alumni, and there is no question that more and more of our future 
business leaders, doctors, lawyers, educators, and community leaders 
will come from the Girl Scout ranks.

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