[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      A TRIBUTE TO THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 19, 2002

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the Girl 
Scouts of the United States of America. Earlier this month, the Girl 
Scouts celebrated their 90th Anniversary, and it is appropriate for us 
to take time to honor their contributions to our nation.
  The Girl Scouts were founded by Juliette Gordon Low on March 12, 1912 
in Savannah, Georgia and were chartered by Congress on March 16, 1950. 
Today, the Girl Scouts boast 3.7 million members, 2.7 million of whom 
are daisies, brownies, junior scouts, cadets, and senior scouts. And 
they are supported by almost one million adult volunteers. The Girl 
Scouts is a truly worldwide organization partnering with the World 
Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to create a family of ten 
million girls and adults in 140 countries.
  As the former State Superintendent of North Carolina's public 
schools, I understand how important the Girl Scouts are to the 
development of our young women. The Girl Scouts are working to 
encourage young women to pursue careers in science and technology 
through a number of innovative science and math education initiatives. 
These initiatives provide girls with mentors, role models, and the 
technological resources to prepare them to succeed in the 21st Century.
  Through Girl Scouts girls become strong women and good citizens. They 
participate in a number of activities that are designed to foster 
friendship, and build character. They learn leadership skills, 
teamwork, and core values that will guide them throughout their lives. 
These values are outlined in the Girl Scout Law:

       I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and 
     helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and 
     responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and 
     others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the 
     world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

  More than 50 million women in the U.S. have been Girl Scouts. Today 
these women are America's doctors, lawyers, teachers, and mothers. The 
lessons they learned in their childhood from their field trips and 
projects are still being applied today. Our nation is stronger today 
because of the Girl Scouts. I am proud to join my colleagues in 
saluting the Girl Scouts and look forward to what the next 90 years 
will bring.

                          ____________________