[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 30 (Friday, March 15, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1970-S1971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GIRL SCOUTS

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the Girl 
Scouts of America who are celebrating their 90th anniversary. As the 
largest organization for girls in the world, the Girl Scouts promote 
self confidence, values, integrity, and leadership. Through this 
worthwhile organization, girls are able to build character, skills for 
success, and have fun while doing it.
  For a moment, I would like to brag about the Girl Scouts of Kansas. 
With over 40,000 girls and over 10,000 adult members in Kansas, the 
Girl Scouts are an active and necessary presence in my home State.
  Throughout Kansas, the Girl Scouts are involved in various volunteer 
and community activities. Some programs include: Promoting anti-
violence education; helping children of parents who are going through 
divorce; reaching out to immigrant children; organizing activities 
between girls and their incarcerated mothers; partnering with the Boys 
and Girls Club of America on various projects.
  I am proud of all our Girl Scouts, most especially the ones in 
Kansas. Through the promotion of science, technology, health, fitness, 
and friendship, these girls will grow up to be outstanding young women. 
I commend all the Girl Scouts on their success and their commitment to 
this organization.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 90th 
anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts, and congratulate the 
organization for its outstanding and unflagging efforts to make a 
positive impact on America's girls and young women for the past 90 
years.
  While the Girl Scouts Organization has successfully adapted to the 
changing times since its founding in 1912, thankfully its core values 
have remained the same, to teach young girls about their physical 
health and well-being, provide a place for them to acquire self-
confidence and expertise, help them achieve their full potential, 
encourage them to act with integrity and character, and instill in them 
the importance of contributing to society and their community.
  The Girl Scouts of Maine exemplify these values. In addition to 
fostering the programs that are at the core of girl scouting, the Girl 
Scouts of Maine have been visionary in creating an initiative to 
provide young girls, ages 9-12, education on bone health awareness. 
Considering that the National Osteoporosis Foundation recently found 
that 30 million women over the age of 50 have some form of 
osteoporosis, it is critical that girls learn to foster these healthy 
habits during their formative years.
  In another example of the innovative work of the Girl Scouts of 
Maine, the Kennebec Council has launched the Women Investing In Girl 
Scouts, or WINGS, program. This effort strives to link Maine's 
vulnerable young girls with successful working women to provide these 
young girls with guidance and mentoring through their most pivotal and 
difficult years, in the hopes of decreasing the numbers of Maine girls 
who fall victim to eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and 
illegal activity and providing a positive influence at a crucial time.
  I was heartened to recently learn that one in every seven girls in 
the State of Maine participates in the Girl Scouts. That's over 12,000 
girls, a remarkable level of participation in a State of just one-and-
a-quarter million people. Worldwide, the Girl Scouts boast a thriving 
membership of 3.8 million strong, and this membership continues to grow 
and prosper.
  I again want to congratulate the Girl Scouts for 90 years of success, 
and wish the organization all the best as it embarks on its next 90 
years.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to enthusiastically commend the 
good work of the Girl Scouts of the USA, on this week of their 90th 
Anniversary. For nine decades, this organization has been instrumental 
in the nurturing and development of millions of American youth in all 
communities, reaching beyond racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic 
barriers. Today, Girl Scouting has a membership of 3.8 million, making 
it the largest organization for girls in the world. In my home State of 
Wisconsin, there are 77,000 girls, one in five, who currently 
participate in Scouts.
  One cannot quantify the positive impact the Girl Scouts have had on 
this country and our youth. Countless girls have emerged from this 
wonderful organization with the qualities and values we hope our 
children will embody. Countless girls have left Scouts strong and 
confident; thoughtful and creative; dedicated and involved; responsible 
and trustworthy. Countless girls have used their experiences in Scouts 
to develop a deep sense of justice, honor and integrity. Countless 
girls have matured into role models, leaders and public servants in 
their communities. I have had the pleasure of talking with numerous 
Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts alumni who have described the positive role 
Scouts has played in their lives. There are so many more stories that 
have, and can, be told about the extraordinary impact this organization 
has had.
  I believe the best example of what the Girl Scouts represent is the 
Girl Scout Gold Award Young Women of Distinction. Each year, 10 young 
women receive this achievement, the organization's highest, for their 
exemplary sense of community service. I am proud to recognize one of 
those women: Elsa, a 17-year-old, who hails from Shorewood, WI. Elsa 
established the Avenue Store, a clothing ministry for low-income 
individuals in the Milwaukee area. As chairman of the board of the 
store, Elsa worked with a board of adults, established guidelines for 
the store, and designed and implemented a voucher system for obtaining 
clothes. She also worked with more than 60 schools and agencies in her 
community and trained over 50 volunteers. In the project's first year, 
the Avenue Store

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served over 500 people from several homeless shelters. Elsa is a fine 
citizen, who embodies the profound impact Girl Scouts have on their 
community and society.
  Today, Girl Scouts of the USA continues to flourish, helping millions 
of girls grow strong. Girl Scouts continues to empower girls to develop 
their full potential; to relate positively to their peers; and to 
develop values that provide the foundation for good decision-making. It 
is my great honor to congratulate the Girl Scouts for 90 years of 
strengthening America's youth, and I wish them all the best as they 
extend this tradition for 90 years and beyond.

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