[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 31 (Monday, March 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2003-S2004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               90TH ANNIVERSARY OF GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise on this occasion to wish a happy 90th 
Anniversary to the Girl Scouts of the USA, and invite my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing the organization in their 90th year of building 
character, confidence, and skills necessary for success in girls 
throughout the country. Founded on March 12, 1912, when Juliette Gordon 
Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, GA, Girl Scouts of the USA has 
grown to a current membership of 3.8 million, making it the largest 
organization for girls in the world. On March 16, 1950, the Girl Scouts 
of the USA became the first national organization for girls to be 
granted a Federal charter by Congress.
  I am proud to say that Girls Scouts in the State of Mississippi are 
active and growing stronger every day. I recently visited with Kitty 
Mauffray, Dorothy Shaw, Ann Billick, Jean Lee, Dr. Mary Cates, and 
Rowell Saunders, representatives from the Girl Scouts Councils of 
Mississippi. I am pleased to know that at the present time, with 45,000 
girls enrolled, 1 out of 9 girls in Mississippi is a Girl Scout. I am 
sure that these numbers will continue to grow.
  I would also like to recognize the Girl Scouts of Mississippi for 
their commitment to community service. Not only do they routinely visit 
nursing homes, help to beautify our cities and towns, and work to 
improve the quality of life for children less fortunate than 
themselves, but I understand that in the aftermath of September 11, 
Girl Scouts across Mississippi worked to collect donations and created 
many cards of sympathy and support for victims of this national 
tragedy. The Girl Scout Law states that each scout will do her best to 
``make the world a better place,'' and I think that these girls have 
done just that.
  Girl Scouts of the USA recognizes that girls need leadership skills, 
self-assurance, and social conscience to become strong women. I offer 
my sincere congratulations to the Girl Scouts of the USA for fulfilling 
this need, and wish them the best of luck in the future as they 
continue to help girls grow strong and instill values that will last a 
lifetime.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Girl 
Scouts on their 90th anniversary celebration which took place on March 
12, 2002.
  The first Girl Scout meeting took place in Savannah, GA on March 12, 
1912 when Juliette Gordon Low gathered eighteen girls together. Ninety 
years later, with 3.7 million members, the organization continues to 
offer girls of all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds the 
opportunity to grow, develop friendships, challenge themselves, and 
gain valuable life experiences.
  There are 40,000 Girl Scouts in my home state of Washington. These 
girls are among millions nationwide who are preparing themselves to be 
future leaders. By examining high-tech careers, developing money 
management skills, participating in the arts and sports, and learning 
about other cultures, Girl Scouts are making themselves well rounded 
individuals who will no doubtedly lead our country to great things in 
the years to come. Girl Scouts serve to better our environment, our 
community and our country.
  I would like to highlight the accomplishments of one of my 
constituents, Girl Scout Katie Grimes. Katie is one of ten women to 
receive the National Women of Distinction Award which recognizes women 
who have demonstrated enormous courage and strength. Katie, using many 
of the skills she developed in the Girl Scouts, founded the Federal Way 
Autism Support Group in Federal Way. Katie, who herself is autistic, is 
well aware of the acute needs of autistic individuals and their 
families and worked diligently to establish the first support group in 
her community. I am pleased that the Federal Way Autism Support Group 
now supports over ninety families in the area and I am hopeful that 
Katie's organization will serve as a national model to provide comfort 
and assistance to the thousands of people who are afflicted with 
autism.
  I was thrilled to have been invited by my State Girl Scouts Councils 
to join in the first Honorary Congressional Girl Scout Troop. I am 
pleased to join my female colleagues, Representatives Jo Ann Emerson 
and Ellen Tauscher, and Senators Hutchison and Mikulski as a member of 
this troop. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Troop 
Capitol Hill, and Girl Scout troops across the country to identify the 
many challenges facing girls and young women today and ways we can 
assist them to overcome these obstacles.
  Again, I wish to congratulate the Girl Scouts on their 90th 
anniversary milestone and thank them for the important and valuable 
work that they continue to do.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 90th 
anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
  Girl Scouting began on March 12, 1912, when founder Juliette Gordon 
Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, GA. She believed all girls should 
be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally and 
spiritually. Girl Scouts of the USA was chartered by the U.S. Congress 
on March 16, 1952.
  That belief in personal development has evolved into today's Girl 
Scout mission; to help all girls grow strong.
  The Girl Scouts have grown leaps and bounds from that first meeting 
of 18 girls in 1912. There are more than 233,000 troops throughout the 
United States and Puerto Rico available to all girls ages 5-17. Today, 
there is a membership of 3.8 million worldwide, making it the largest 
organization in the world for girls. More than 50 million women are 
Girl Scout alumnae, including my wife, Susan, and our daughter, Tyler.
  We celebrate today the principles on which the Girl Scouts were 
founded: Empowering girls to develop their full potential; teaching 
girls to relate well with others; developing values that provide the 
foundation for sound decision-making; and making positive contributions 
to society.
  Girl Scouting continues to apply these principles to current issues 
with programs that encourage girls to bridge the digital divide; pursue 
careers in science, math and technology; learn how to manage money; and 
to grow into healthy, resourceful citizens.
  Troop meetings take place without regard to socioeconomic or 
geographic boundaries. Meetings take place in homeless shelters, 
migrant farm

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camps, and juvenile detention facilities. There are even meetings which 
assist girls who are relocating, whether across the State or around the 
world, with support and help them adjust to new locations. The Girls 
Scouts mobilized immediately following September 11 to provide 
resources for girls and their families dealing with fear and loss.
  Let us commend this organization for the positive role it has played 
in the lives of million of girls and women in Virginia, across the 
Nation, and around the world. I applaud their efforts and wish them the 
best for another tremendous 90 years of Girl Scouting in the USA.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Girl 
Scouts of America on their 90th Anniversary.
  Since Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912, this 
organization has provided young girls with the leadership skills to 
make a difference in their communities and our world. Girl Scouts teach 
self-confidence, responsibility and integrity at a young age and these 
core values stay with girls throughout their lives.
  Today, more than 3.7 million girls in over 233,000 troops are 
learning new skills, developing talents and building friendships across 
geographic, ethnic and socioeconomic lines. Through scouting, Girl 
Scouts participate in community service projects, cultural exchanges, 
athletic events and educational activities. None of this would be 
possible without the generosity and commitment of parents and community 
members who donate their time to help shape the lives of young girls 
through the Girl Scouts.
  In Nebraska, I represent more than 20,000 Girl Scouts, I am also a 
proud Girl Scout parent.
  I congratulate and thank the Girl Scouts on their 90th year.

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