Girl Scouts Honor 100 Women Of Influence

TOLEDO — Girl Scouts of Western Ohio paid tribute to 100 local leaders Thursday for their contributions and influence to the organization.

The awards reception took place at Owens Corning Headquarters in downtown Toledo. The event coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Honorees were nominated in the categories of Trailblazers, Advocates, Leaders of Promise, and Honor Keepers. The distinguished 100 were selected based on how they exemplify leadership, diversity, and spirit of the Girl Scout Movement.

Honoree Kristine Hoffman said, “It’s been a great long-term experience for me with the Girl Scouts.” Hoffman, who has served on the Girl Scouts Board of Trustees for 15 years, added, “Tonight is just a wonderful celebration of a hundred women who have all made a difference in one way or another in our community.” 

CEO for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Roni Luckenbill offered statistics to highlight the reach of the Girl Scouts. “Eighty percent of female business owners in the United States were Girl Scouts,” she exclaimed. Luckenbill continued, “One hundred percent, every female astronaut, who has ever flown in space, was a Girl Scout.”

Board of Directors Chair Jody Wainscott said, “The long term goal in this effort is ambitious and urgent. To create gender-balanced leadership in the United States in a single generation.” She added, “Together, we will get her there.”

Those honored wore green ribbons along with “100” pins to celebrate the event. Along with 15,000 adult volunteers, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio serves nearly 50,000 girl members in 32 western Ohio and southeastern Indiana counties.

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Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary Exhibit

FAIR PARK — One-hundred years have passed since Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Georgia, and this fall, Dallas will play an instrumental role in propelling the organization into its second century. The State Fair of Texas will provide a hub of education, preservation, and empowerment by hosting the Girl Scout 100th Anniversary Experience in the Hall of State from September 28 through October 21.

Free with general admission at the fair, the tech savvy exhibit was conceived by the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and is sponsored by Dallas-based AT&T. Uptown’s Corporate Magicdesigned and produced the interactive exhibit, sparing no bells or whistles for its glimmering electronic campfires, computer-generated virtual troops, and brightly designed giant cookie boxes. But, the future-focused organization has not forgotten its past. Well-aligned to the overarching Girl Scouts ethos, the exhibit melds historical artifact with digital information, emphasizing the group’s sense of resourceful independence and progressive attitude toward the role of science and technology.

To this end, visitors are encouraged to download a special Girl Scout app, compatible with both iPhone and Android. With it, they can scan QR codes found not only throughout the exhibit, but also around Fair Park. The adventure – the “Big Texpediation” – is available in both English and Spanish and can be customized for varying age-levels. It leads guests all around the fairgrounds to solve riddles, find clues, learn trivia, and connect through social media. Upon completion, participants are awarded a special patch for their courage and cleverness.

Commitment to science and technology is particularly crucial to the future of the organization. GSNETX Chief Program Officer Gwyneth Lloyd said, “Girl Scouts encourages and empowers young women to visualize themselves as tomorrow’s leaders. That’s where the careers of the future are, so we want girls to know they don’t have to sit at the back of the classroom and be shy anymore.”

As such, a room in the exhibit dedicated to the ToGetHer There program allows guests to literally visualize themselves as astronauts or at the head of a boardroom with green screens and virtual reality. “We don’t always know what we can achieve until someone tells us that it’s within our reach,” Lloyd said.

On a national level, the organization has created programs like the STEM Center of Excellence which provides access to science labs and art studios. An acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, STEM activities include extracting DNA from bananas, creating their own compost, examining with microscopes, playing around with cameras, and even learning to clean up oil spills.

Declaring 2012 the “Year of the Girl,” the organization has refocused its emphasis on courage and personal ownership, with a reinvigorated push toward financial literacy, healthy living, and the environment. “In the 21st century, we want girls to finally own the language of leadership,” Lloyd said. “More than 80 percent of women small business owners are Girl Scout alumnae, and we want those numbers reflected in engineering, mathematics, and medicine.”

The organization has even revamped its most prominent symbol: the cookie box. New boxes will show young women kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking – images that evoke a sense of owning one’s space and owning one’s life more than the retired boxes’ less proactive and more seemingly docile images. But, not everything has changed; guests will be offered complimentary cookies each day at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., while supplies last, and vendors around the park will offer a special treat: deep fried Samoas.

While the centennial celebration at Fair Park is comprised primarily of items from North East Texas – Lloyd tells us that more than 99 percent of the historical items displayed are from private collections that had been preserved locally, and all of the images and voices used throughout the exhibit are of actual North Texas scouts – it has already garnered buzz nationwide.

The national board chair visited early in the week and was so impressed that talks have been initiated about the practicality and logistics of bringing the exhibit, which wasn’t originally designed for travel, back to headquarters in New York.

On the local level, Lloyd tells us that State Fair organizers have predicted that the exhibit will break all attendance records. “They’ve said the State Fair really hasn’t seen anything as elaborate before and that we should expect a home run,” Lloyd said.

She added, “We’re thrilled to have new audience that we haven’t been able to reach before, and that the information is accessible for 24 days. Girl Scouts is in it for the next 100 years! We’re not going anywhere.”

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Girl Scout Centinnal Coin – 2013

Obverse and reverse designs for the 2013 Girl Scouts USA Centennial Silver Dollar

On Saturday, September 22, 2012, Girl Scouts of the USA unveiled the designs of the United States Mint’s commemorative 2013 Girl Scouts USA Centennial Silver Dollar.

The event took place in Dallas, Texas, in front of a party of approximately 500 at the 100th Anniversary Experience Exhibition Preview and Dinner Under The Stars hosted by Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. Making the presentation were Girl Scouts of the USA National President Connie L. Lindsey and Chief Executive Officer Anna Maria Chávez.

“And Connie and I, because you guys are from Texas, wanted to unveil a major, major milestone in the Girl Scout history. Connie and I have the pleasure of officially unveiling our commemorative coin that will symbolically launch us into our new century of service to girls. Officially, it’s known as the Girl Scouts USA Centennial Silver Dollar.” Chávez stated.

Public Law No: 111-86, the Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, instructs the Secretary of the Treasury, and thus the U.S. Mint, to strike the commemoratives in celebration of the establishment of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. The act was championed by Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) andsigned into law by President Obama on October 29, 2009 in front of Connie L. Lindsey and five other Girl Scouts. The organization celebrated its 100th anniversary on March 12, 2012.

Designed by Barbara Fox and to be engraved by Phebe Hemphill of the U.S. Mint, the obverse depicts the faces of three girls, each representing different ages and diversity of Girl Scouts, with the 100th anniversary Trefoil symbol below them. Surrounding the girls are the inscriptions COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER, 2013, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

A depiction of the Girl Scouts’ iconic Trefoil symbol with female profiles within will be found on the reverse of the commemorative coin. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $1 and GIRL SCOUTS. The reverse was designed by Chris Costello and will be engraved by Joseph Menna.

Upon the end of the design presentation, Lindsey proclaimed, “As I said, it’s a beautiful coin, so it’s going to be a great keepsake, and you’ll certainly want one because once the supply is gone … there will never be another one like it. Our movement will benefit greatly from the sale. So thank you again for your support of Girl Scouts.”

Up to 350,000 silver coins will be sold next year under the program, but an exact launch date has not been announced. Buyers will have the choice of collector proof and uncirculated qualities. All surcharges, $10 per coin, will be given to Girl Scouts of the USA to further the Girl Scout program development and delivery.

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Girl Scouts of Connecticut Centinnal Celebrations

Natalie Hardy of Hamden, 94, was the first African-American girl Scout   to receive the Golden Eaglet Award in 1935 when she was a member of  the first  African-American troop, New Haven Troop 24 in New Haven.

In honor of its 100th anniversary, Girl Scouts of Connecticut recently honored 100 area individuals and organizations for embracing and living Girl Scout values.

One of the honorees is Hamden resident Natalie Hatcher Caple Douglas Hardy, who was recognized in a special ceremony held earlier this month in Hartford. She already received a Distinguished Alumnae Award.

Hardy, 94, was a member of Girl Scout Troop 24, one of the first African-American troops in the country. She also holds the distinction of being the first black woman to earn the Golden Eaglet Award — now known as the Gold Award — and the equivalent of the Boy Scouts’ Eagle Award.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Hardy said as her friends and fellow residents gathered around her.

“As we looked to celebrate our 100th anniversary we looked collectively at the power of these 100 individuals,” said Shannon Sullivan, chief development officer for Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “We felt we wanted to do something to celebrate the accomplishments of 100 years of Girl Scouts.”

Thus, to include current Scouts, alumnae and groups, organizers came up with five categories for recognition: Community Champion; Trail Blazer; Woman of Promise; Girl of Promise; and Distinguished Alumnae.

Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.

“As we looked to celebrate our 100th anniversary we looked collectively at the power of these 100 individuals,” said Shannon Sullivan, chief development officer for Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “We felt we wanted to do something to celebrate the accomplishments of 100 years of Girl Scouts.”

Thus, to include current Scouts, alumnae and groups, organizers came up with five categories for recognition: Community Champion; Trail Blazer; Woman of Promise; Girl of Promise; and Distinguished Alumnae.

Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.

Thus, to include current Scouts, alumnae and groups, organizers came up with five categories for recognition: Community Champion; Trail Blazer; Woman of Promise; Girl of Promise; and Distinguished Alumnae.

Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.

Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.

The anniversary ceremony brought more than 300 current Scouts, former Scouts and Scout supporters from across the state. Organizers said they’re looking forward to the next century of scouting.

Girls of Promise are current Girl Scouts between the ages of 12 and 18.

Distinguished Alumnae have demonstrated commitment, service and dedication to the Girl Scout Movement.

Other honorees who received Distinguished Alumnae recognition include: Loretta Paul Goldin and Sally Onofrio of Milford; Agnes Farrar of Hamden; and Margaret Jerrell of West Haven.

Community Champion honors went to: The Latina A.R.M.Y. in Milford, whose mission is to celebrate and empower young Latinas by providing inspiring role models; Patricia Scussel

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Girl Scouts Centennial

ST. LOUIS • Saturday was billed as the Girl Scouts’ BIG Day downtown, and the hour-long parade celebrating their centennial attracted thousands of participants and spectators.

“A hundred years. Wow!” said Jane Emanuel, a leader of Cadette Girl Scout Troop 51 in the Affton area. She watched the parade move along Market Street with fellow troop leader Kathy Floyd and four of their Scouts, each girl 11 years old.

Emanuel said the staying power of the Girl Scouts as an organization was worthy of a giant celebration. But she also said she wasn’t surprised that the Girls Scouts had lasted so long.

“They’re teaching young ladies to be strong and independent. That’s an enduring message,” she said.

Plus, the four Cadette Scouts added, it’s a lot of fun.

“I like the flag twirlers” in the parade, said Ryleigh Gagen, one of the Troop 51 Scouts. “I really didn’t know the parade was going to be this big.”

Rissy Emanuel, Jane’s daughter, said she liked “the giant stuff, like the giant (inflatable) birthday cake” filled with helium that led the floats.

Jenna Floyd, Kathy’s daughter, said, “I like those people in the little cars and motorcycles,” referring to the Moolah Temple Shriners performing stunt driving routines along the parade route.

And Alyssa Bennett, the fourth Scout in the group, added, “I’d have to say the marching bands are my favorite part of the parade.”

In an unexpected bonus, the girls and their two leaders got to meet St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, who had left his place in the procession to work the crowd. He stopped long enough to pose for a photo with the Troop 51 contingent.

“He was very friendly,” said Kathy Floyd. “It’s just a beautiful day and a great parade.”

The BIG Day, short for Believe In Girls, was organized by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri to observe the 100th anniversary. When the parade was over, the girls and their leaders moved on to refreshments, information booths, rides, games and musical entertainment in the park setting around the Soldiers Memorial.

Still, it was the parade that formed the day’s most enduring memories for many.

Featured floats included a model of the City of St. Louis steamboat, a patriotic float decked out in red, white and blue and emblazoned with a large “100,” and a float carrying tropical plants along with Scouts and their leaders, bearing the words “100 years of fun in the great outdoors.”

There were dozens of cars and other vehicles, ranging from antique and classic cars and hot rods to late model Chargers and Camaros. A modified bus called the Bubblebus used a large wind machine to blow soap bubbles over the crowd. Another specially painted Metro bus carried the sign, “A Century of Courage, Confidence and Character.”

One more highlight was a float with huge models of toasted marshmallows on sticks saluting one of Scouting’s campfire favorites — s’mores.

The Girl Scouts trace their beginning to March 12, 1912, when Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled 18 girls in Savannah, Ga., for a meeting of what Low started calling the Scouts. She said she wanted all girls to get a chance to develop physically, mentally and spiritually. So her original Girl Scouts hiked, played ball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars and studied first aid, among other activities.

Girl Scouts of the USA today claims a membership of more than 3.2 million girls and adults. Its records also show that more than 59 million women in the U.S. today are Girl Scout alumnae.

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