[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE MISSOURI HEARTLANDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Girl 
Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, a council in the 7th District of 
Missouri, as Girl Scouts celebrates 100 years of leadership development 
for girls.
  Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland is headquartered in 
Springfield, Missouri, and has a membership of approximately 17,000 
girls living in southwest and central Missouri, southeast Kansas, and 
northeast Oklahoma. Last year, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland 
experienced a more than 17 percent increase in its membership, ranking 
it third in the country for growth out of 112 Girl Scout councils.
  March 12, 2012, marked the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the 
USA. Self-discovery and community service were core values that Girl 
Scouts founder Juliette Low sought to instill in girls from the 
earliest days. In 1912, many girls' paths in life were limited and 
Low's vision was for girls to be able to expand their personal horizons 
by having fun while exploring new interests and contributing to 
society.
  Girl Scouts today benefit from tangible outcomes such as a strong 
sense of self, practical life skills, healthy relationships, and 
feeling empowered to make a difference. In southwest Missouri, Girl 
Scouts are participating in robotics teams, financial literacy 
activities, environmental stewardship campaigns, and numerous other 
initiatives that reflect the continued strength and relevance of the 
Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
  They also give back to their community with thousands of hours of 
community service each year. During this year's Girl Scout Cookie 
Program, many Girl Scouts participated in the Cookie Share program, 
through which Girl Scout Cookies are shared with military organizations 
or food pantries. At summer camp and locally, girls will participate in 
Girl Scouts Forever Green projects to promote environmental 
stewardship. This year, girls have also helped to replenish food 
supplies at local pantries, provide comfort and supplies to families 
displaced by tornadoes, bring joy to residents at nursing homes, thank 
veterans for their service, and much more.
  Folks in Southwest Missouri should be proud to know that the Girl 
Scout program remains strong and provides a significant opportunity for 
girls today to learn and grow safely. I too am proud and honored to 
know that young girls in the 7th District of Missouri are demonstrating 
positive values and strong leadership skills--and will continue to do 
so for years to come.

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