[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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