[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION FOR THE PENN LAKES GIRL SCOUTS

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                           HON. PHIL ENGLISH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Mr. ENGLISH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to honor the 
90th anniversary of Girl Scouting, the world's largest organization for 
girls. Juliette Gordon Low founded the organization on March 12, 1912 
in Savannah, Georgia. Through Girl Scouting, girls acquire self-
confidence and expertise, take on responsibility, and are encouraged to 
think creatively and act with integrity--qualities that are essential 
in good citizens and great leaders. In my district in northwestern 
Pennsylvania, the Penn Lakes Girl Scout Council is made up of about 
11,000 girls and volunteers. One in five girls in the five-county area 
served by the Penn Lakes County participates in girl scouting where 
they are encouraged to develop to their fullest potential.
  Girl Scouts can be found in schools, public housing, churches, 
community centers, battered women's shelters, Head Start facilities, 
in-school programs, juvenile homes and international centers. The Penn 
Lakes Council is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of young 
women in all communities. The council's outreach initiative is designed 
to serve girls in underprivileged areas. Individual Girl Scouts are 
mentored in situations where a troop format is not available.
  In the Penn Lakes Girl Scout Council, girls learn by doing, and they 
are encouraged to make contributions to the world around them through 
community service. Since the Sept. 11 tragedy, Girl Scouts have made 
patriotic ribbons, written letters to firefighters and volunteers, 
given their own money to America's Fund for Afghan Children, and 
collected more than 20,000 lollipops for New York City children. All in 
an effort to let the world know that Girl Scouts care.
  The quality programming provided to Girl Scouts in northwestern 
Pennsylvania would not be possible without a dedicated network of adult 
volunteers. These dedicated women and men give their time and energy to 
ensure continued service to the increasing number of girls who want to 
become Girl Scouts.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
Girl Scouts of America for 90 years of ensuring that girls have a 
quality foundation for becoming successful women. May girl scouting 
enjoy another 90 years where girls can continue to grow strong.

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