[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 90TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2002

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to pay tribute 
to the Girl Scouts on their 90th Anniversary.
  The Girl Scouts are the world's preeminent organization dedicated 
solely to girls--all girls. In a nurturing environment, girls are able 
to build character and skills for success in the real world. Girl 
Scouting began on March 12, 1912, when founder Juliette Gordon Low 
assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, for a local Girl Scout 
meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to 
develop physically, mentally, and spiritually.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, that small group of 18 girls from Savannah has 
blossomed into 3.8 million Girl Scouts nationwide. The Detroit Metro 
Girl Scouts currently have 32,000 girls involved and it just keeps 
growing. Not only have the Girl Scouts continued their dedication to 
building good citizens and leaders, but their organization has 
established a research institute, received government funding to 
address violence prevention and is addressing the digital divide with 
activities that encourage girls to pursue careers in science, math and 
technology. The Detroit Metro Girl Scouts have set up a program with 
Lawrence Technological Institute in Detroit, Michigan to further the 
involvement of young women in the field of technology.
  In the Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of 
girls together, through a myriad of experiences, such as extraordinary 
field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, 
environmental stewardships and numerous other character building 
activities. They provide young women with the opportunity to build a 
strong mind, body, and spirit through various programs dealing with 
nutrition, diet, exercise and several other health campaigns including 
the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Child Health Day.
  Mr. Speaker, the Girl Scouts are an asset to communities all over the 
United States. I want to thank them for their tireless effort to 
provide young women with the personal, emotional and intellectual 
foundation that is essential for building good citizens and leaders. On 
the occasion of their 90th Anniversary, I would like to ask all my 
colleagues to salute the Detroit Metro Girl Scouts and their fellow 
Girl Scouts across the country.

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