HISTORY OF GIRL SCOUT

For all you history buffs, here is a short history of Girl Scouts in honor of Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, spent several years of her life searching for something useful to do with her life. Her search ended in 1911, when she met the founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Sir Robert Baden-Powell. He peaked her interest in this new youth movement. Less than a year later, she returned to the United States and made her historic phone call to a friend, saying, Ive got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and were going to start it tonight! On March 12, 1912, Juliette Low gathered 18 girls to register the first troop of American Girl Guides. The first registered member was Juliettes niece, Margaret Daisy Doot Gordon. The following year, the name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts. Juliettes development of Girl Scouts, brought girls of all backgrounds into the outdoors, giving them opportunities to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking, but also for the possibility of roles as professional women and active citizenship outside the home. At a time when girls with disabilities were excluded from all activities, Girl Scouts accepted them. This idea seemed quite natural to Juliette, who never let deafness, back problems, or cancer keep her from full participation in life. Girl Scouting has grown from the original 18 girls to over 3.7 million members. Girl Scouts is the largest educational organization fro girls in the world and has influenced more than 50 million girls, women, and even men who have belonged to the organization. By maintaining contact overseas with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts during World War I, she helped lay the foundation for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. On January 17, 1927, Juliette died from breast cancer in Savannah, Georgia. Her friends honored her by establishing the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, which finances international projects for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. In 1994, the Chronicles of Philanthropy, an industry publication, released the results of the largest study of charitable and non-profit organizations popularity and credibility. The study showed that Girl Scouts was ranked as the eighth most popular charity/non-profit in America of over 100 charities researched. Over 40% of Americans over the age of 12 chose Love and Like-a-lot for Girl Scouts. n 1917, there were troops organized by American Army and Navy families in various parts of the Philippines. These were registered directly with the Girl Scouts of America. The organization of these troops led to more lone troops such as the Rose Troop in Davao in

1918, in Capiz in 1926, and the Mt. Province in 1928. Several of these troops were organized by missionaries. The Movement was formally founded by Josefa Llanes Escoda, wartime heroine, through the initiative of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines who sent her to the United States of America in 1939 to take up Girl Scouting courses. She also observed Guiding in Europe and visited the World Bureau in England. 1940's On May 26, 1940, the GSP was chartered under Commonwealth Act No. 542 during the administration of President Manuel L. Quezon. The GSP was not even two years old when World War II broke out. It had to stop its formal operations, but vowed to continue its service to a nation in travail. Helena Z Benitez, Chairman of the first GSP Central Committee, recalled the war years: As Chairman of the emergency Volunteers Social Aid Committee (VSAC), together with some GSP Central Committee members, the Chaplains/Aides and Junior League Presidents, we worked closely with Tony and Josefa in the grim and critical mission of bringing succor and relief to Death March prisoners in San Fernando and Capas. This brief episode in the life of the GSP Founder must not be overlooked nor left untold. The wartime services rendered by women leaders and volunteers under Mrs. Escoda included the following: conveying the messages of families to the war prisoners; compilation of names and addresses of Filipino prisoners-of-war who were confined at Camp ODonnel in Capas, Tarlac; collection of foodstuffs, medicines, used clothing, old leather shoes and even coconut shells for plates; housing and feeding the stranded students in Manila, and later, when the situation got worse in the city, Josefa and her formidable teams of volunteers came up with community kitchens in different districts, serving rice and mongo and other cooked foods to the poor, hungry and jobless residents of Manila. Eventually, the heroic underground work of Mrs. Escoda angered the Japanese Kempetai Military Police. She was arrested together with her husband and both of them were thrown into the dreaded dungeons of Fort Santiago, the infamous prison during the Japanese occupation. In 1946 the GSP was admitted as a tenderfoot member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). It was given the status of full membership in 1948. 1950-1968 The GSP has the distinction and privilege of hosting various international gatherings among which were the Regional Centenary World Camp in 1957, the Asian Trainers Conference in 1961, the International Heritage Camp in 1966, the WAGGGSsponsored Public Relations Finance Seminar in 1971 which was participated in by 13 nations, and the 31st World Conference of WAGGGS in 2002. In turn, the GSP has also been represented at all World Conferences of the World Association, various world training conferences, international camps and girl-level gatherings, among others.

In 1965, to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the Movement in the country, special events and service projects were calendared year round. The World Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden Powell, took the salute of more than five thousand Girl Scouts at the Pasasalamat held at the Luneta Park, a fitting close to the year-long celebration. The GSP was presented the Walter Donald Ross Trophy Award in 1965 for the outstanding service project rendered to the children of evacuees who were victims of the eruption of Taal Volcano. After several years of study, evaluation and research, the program of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines was revised in 1968. The revision was approved at the 11th National Convention. Full implementation of the revised program ensued. It was called the Nine Program Emphases (9E). 1970's On June 2, 1975, Presidential Decree 720 was signed, authorizing the restructuring of the GSP. On March 17, 1976, the new GSP Constitution and By-Laws were ratified and confirmed. 1990's In 1990, GSP celebrated its 50th year. Girl Scouts all over the country centered their activities, services, and projects on the Golden Opportunities along six concerns, namely: Environment, Economic Self-Sufficiency, Family Life, Our Heritage, Preparedness and International Understanding. In the same year, Mrs. Teresita Bermudez Choa was elected member of the WAGGGS World Committee a first for a Filipino. Another first in July 1993 was the appointment of Dr. Amelita Dayrit-Go as Chairman of the Asia Pacific Committee of the WAGGGS. In 1990, a Task Force, composed of experienced Girl Scouts, trainers, leaders, professional staff and consultants started to work on a new program called the 8-POINT CHALLENGE (8-PC) which will help the Filipino girls and young women cope with the fast changes that surround her in this age of technology. While the basic cherished values contained in her Promise and Law make the foundation of this 8-Point Challenge, activities in the new program will equip her with the knowledge and skills she needs to make her truly the person that makes the difference in her home, country and the world community. In 1991, the 16th National Council Convention approved the concept of the revised program. After the approval of the concept, Task Forces fleshed out the concept and their output was pilot-tested in 1992. The new program was launched for full implementation on

September 1993 at the Concepcion R. Gonzalez National Program and Training Center in Novaliches, Quezon City. In 1996 during the 29th World Conference of the WAGGGS in Nova Scotia, Canada, Mrs. Choa was elected as Vice-Chair of the World Board (formerly World Committee) and Dr. Go was re-appointed Chair of the Asia Pacific Committee of the WAGGGS. Dr. Go was elected to the World Board in 1999 and in 2002 was elected 2nd ViceChairman of the World Board, during the 31st World Conference held in Manila. 2000-present In 2001, Dr. Cristina Lim Yuson was elected member of the Asia Pacific Committee and was subsequently elected Chairman in 2004. At the Asia Pacific Committee meeting in Hongkong in May 2004 two members of the GSP Central Board received recognition. Dr. Kathryn Uy Roa, received the Young Woman of the Region Award and Dr. Estefania Aldaba Lim, the Woman of Outstanding Achievement Award. Through the years, the GSP continues to pursue vigorously its character building and youth development programs and is actively contributing to the economic thrust of the country as part of the Movements commitment to nation-building.

Girl Scout History

How many of these historical Girl Scout facts do you know? Girl Scouts was founded by Juliette Gordon Low on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. For the first year it was called "Girl Guides" like the Girl Guides in England, on which it was based. From an original membership of 18 girls, the organization has grown to 3.3 million girl and adult members throughout the country today. The first Girl Scout handbook was published in 1913 and was called How Girls Can Help Their Country. In the early years of Girl Scouting there was one handbook for everyone. Today there are five -- one for each age level in Girl Scouting. Over the years the handbook has been published in Braille, Spanish, Japanese, and German editions. The first Girl Scout uniform in 1912 was actually blue. The color was changed to khaki in 1914. It wasn't until 1928 that the Girl Scout uniform became green -- the color most people associate with Girl Scouts. Today, there are different uniforms for each of the five age levels, as

well as an adult uniform. The colors? Shades of green or blue (or brown and blue for Brownie Girl Scouts), but you should see some of the new styles tapestry vests, patterned tights, shorts and slacks in addition to the always popular sash and vest. The first Girl Scout national headquarters was in Washington, D.C. It was moved to New York City in 1916 and has been there ever since. The first local Girl Scout council charter was issued by the national organization in 1916 to Toledo, Ohio. In the early days, at one point there were as many as 2000 Girl Scout councils throughout the country delivering Girl Scout program to girls. Resources have been organized and consolidated over the years and there are now 324 Girl Scout councils serving girls in all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. A film produced by Girl Scouts in 1918 called "The Golden Eaglet" was shown in movie theaters in the United States. Girl Scouts published a very popular magazine for young girls from 1917-1979 called The American Girl (called The Rally from 1917-1920) It is considered a "classic" of its era and is still available on microfilm from the University of Michigan. Girl Scouts still publishes The Girl Scout Leader magazine for all adult members. It began publication in 1921 as Field News. A fiction series, published by Grosset & Dunlap and featuring Brownie Girl Scouts as main characters. began publication in 1993. GSUSA works with Scholastic, Inc. on G * I * R * L, (Girls for Real Life), a magazine for girls between the ages of 8 and 14. Its first issue was published in 1995. Girl Scouts has had a national conference and training center since 1926. Located in Briarcliff Manor, New York and first called Camp Edith Macy after an early Girl Scout pioneer, it is now called Edith Macy Conference Center. Thousands of Girl Scout leaders and council volunteers and staff have received training there in its 70-year history. The center has also been the site of international Girl Guide and Girl Scout conferences, one of which was attended by Eleanor Roosevelt. Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts in 1912, was deaf from an early age. She was also multi-talented and could draw, paint, sculpt, and forge iron gates. Girl Scouts was founded "for all the girls" and as early as 1917 had troops for physically disabled girls. There are also records of Black troops in New York in the 1920s; American Indian and Asian troops as early as the 1930s and 1940s, probably earlier; as well as a continuing history of innovative special projects involving undeserved populations such as migrant girls, Mexican-American girls, girls in the inner-city, girls in rural areas, girls with mothers in prison, girls in Head Start programs. Girl Scouts have probably sold cookies as an activity since 1912, but the first sale of commercially-baked Girl Scout Cookies took place in

the Philadelphia council in 1936. The two most popular Girl Scout Cookies have always been the shortbread trefoil and the thin mint. Participating in the cookie sale teaches a girl important life skills such as the importance of organization and the need to be responsible. During both World War I and World War II, Girl Scouts served their country on the home front collecting waste fat and scrap iron, growing Victory Gardens, and selling defense bonds. During that time special programs on seafaring and aviation, called Mariner Girl Scouts and Wing Girl Scouts were developed for Senior Girl Scouts. Caring for the environment -- whether called conservation, ecology or environmental protection -- has always been part of Girl Scout program. Early handbooks contained information on conserving materials and protecting nature. In 1945, the first Lou Henry Hoover Memorial Forest, was dedicated by Girl Scouts in honor of their twice former President and later honorary president. In 1970, Eco- Action, a nationwide environmental education and improvement program, began. In 1992 GSUSA launched a nationwide environmental service project known as Girl Scouts Care for the Earth. Girl Scouting has always worked to remain contemporary and fun for girls of all ages by continually studying the development of girls and their needs and using the results to create changes in its program and publications when needed. Major program or organizational studies have taken place at least every ten years since 1925. A major change occurred in 1963 when four separate age levels for girls ages 7-17 were launched: Brownie Girl Scouts, Junior Girl Scouts, Cadette Girl Scouts, and Senior Girl Scouts. In 1984, a new age level called Daisy Girl Scouts, for girls age five or in kindergarten, was introduced. As recently as 1993-1995 contemporary new handbooks were published for all age levels. Over the years, Juliette Gordon Low and the Girl Scouts have been honored by outside organizations in many ways. A World War II Liberty Ship was named in Juliette Low's honor in 1944. In 1948 a three-cent commemorative stamp honoring Juliette Low was issued by the United States Post Office. In 1962 and again in 1987 the US Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Girl Scouts. Juliette Low's portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, and a Federal Building has been named for her in Savannah, Georgia. Girl Scouts of the United States of America was reincorporated under Congressional charter in March 1950. The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, Georgia, restored in the period of the 1880s, was dedicated as a national program center for Girl Scouts in 1956 and was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1965. It was the first building in Savannah to receive landmark status. The Birthplace each year is visited by thousands of Girl Scouts and members of the general public. In 1975 the National Council of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. affirmed that

Girl Scout membership would continue to be limited to girls and elected Dr. Gloria D. Scott as its first Black National President. A redesigned Girl Scout trefoil was officially launched in 1978 and a three-year campaign to acquaint the public with this new, contemporary identity of Girl Scouting was launched. Tune In to Well-Being, Say No to Drugs, the first in a series of program resources on contemporary issues, was introduced in 1985. The following years saw the publication of further books in the series dealing with the contemporary issues of preventing child abuse; growing up female; leading girls to mathematics, science and technology; preventing youth suicide; facing family crises; preventing teenage pregnancy; environmental action; promoting pluralism; literacy; and health. Girl Scouts first used teleconferencing technology in 1989 at the National Meeting of Presidents and Executive Directors by Regions.

In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is not length of life, but depth of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor. Sholom Aleichem Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise. Try not to become a man of success but a man of value. Albert Einstein The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will. What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve. Napoleon Hill

Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach. - Rosabeth Moss Kantor A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves - Eleanor Roosevelt Remember the difference between a boss and a leader; a boss says "Go!" - a leader says "Let's go!" Author: E.M. Kelly