[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5294]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                 IN HONOR OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                             April 22, 2002

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to recognize and 
congratulate the Girl Scouts of the USA. Today, they celebrate Girl 
Scouts National Leaders Day--an important day for Girl Scouts in which 
they honor their role models and volunteers who so selflessly devote 
themselves to educating and mentoring the young girls of America.
  On March 12, the Girl Scouts celebrated another important day--the 
90th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. For ninety years, the Girl Scouts 
of the USA has been dedicated to building character and developing 
real-world skills for girls in America. Few other organizations are as 
committed to the strong values and social conscience held by the Girl 
Scouts.
  In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low formed the first Girl Scout Troop in 
Savannah, Georgia with just 18 girls. By 1915 the organization was 
incorporated and holding national conventions. One of the Girl Scouts' 
best-known campaigns to the public started in 1937 when Girl Scout 
Cookies were first sold. In 1950, the United States Congress officially 
chartered the Girl Scouts of the USA.
  Today, there are over 3.5 million Girl Scouts in America and 10 
million Girl Scouts in 140 countries around the world. Juliette Gordon 
Low's vision of an organization that would bring girls out of their 
homes and serve their communities has developed into the single largest 
organization for girls worldwide.
  Through Juliette Gordon Low's strong influence and enthusiasm for the 
Girl Scout movement, Girl Scouting has given many talented and educated 
girls and women the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and 
spiritually to their fullest potential. They learn about science, 
technology, finance, sports, health, the arts, current events, 
community service, and much more. It is an organization of which we can 
truly be proud.
  I am especially proud of Hemlock Girl Scout Council, the Council 
contained within my Congressional District. Hemlock Girl Scout Council 
was formed in 1963 with the merger of ten independent Central 
Pennsylvania councils. However, Girl Scouts have had active troops in 
Central Pennsylvania since 1917.
  Hemlock Girl Scout Council is a very successful council boasting 
14,000 Girl Scouts in 1,200 troops. This number represents one in six 
girls between the ages of five and seventeen in Central Pennsylvania. 
The council owns and operates four separate program centers throughout 
Central Pennsylvania. These centers provide a wide range of 
educational, athletic, and community activities and programs 
exclusively for Girl Scouts year-round.
  Again, I'd like to offer my sincere congratulations to the Girl 
Scouts of the USA--and particularly to all the current and former Girl 
Scouts and leaders in the Hemlock Council--on their 90th anniversary. 
This remarkable organization has made a lasting contribution to 
millions of girls and has produced generation after generation of 
strong and capable women. They deserve our genuine thanks.

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