News is Spreading about the 100th Anniversary!

News is spreading about Girl Scouts celebrating our 100 year anniversary!

The Frederick News Post included vintage photos and a timeline history of Girl Scouting in Frederick, MD.

Want to see more vintage photos and timelines?

On display from Friday October 7, 2011 until Friday, October 14 at the Frederick County C. Barr Artz Public Library are the Girl Scout Museum Traveling Exhibits.

Want to see the Traveling Exhibits in your community? Reserve them by clicking here.

National Women’s History Month

It is the Scouting Spirit [which] rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best. ~Juliette Gordon Low

Lidia Soto-Harmon is the Deputy Executive Director for GSCNC.

Each month there is a special reason to celebrate, and March is especially poignant for Girl Scouts and women everywhere. This month we honor the establishment of the Girl Scout movement by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912; it is also a time when we look back at the achievements of women in celebration of National Women’s History Month.

This is a time to reflect on the accomplishments of great women leaders such as Union Organizer Dolores Huerta, Human Rights Advocate and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and our first female Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. As Girl Scouts, we know the importance of learning the lessons of our past, so that we can forge a greater future.  In doing so, this month we should commit ourselves to re-examining the contributions of women in history like Rosa Parks, Clara Barton, and Anne Frank. Their perseverance in the face of adversity created a stronger future for girls and women today.

Just this Monday, March 8^th, I had the honor of escorting five our Girl Scout Ambassadors to the White House for International Women’s Day.  They all received hugs from our First Lady Michelle Obama, but most importantly they heard about the struggle of women and girls around the world and learned about how our Girl Scouts hold in their actions the future of our communities.

Click here to view video coverage of the White House International Women’s Day Event, including a “shout out” from First Lady Michelle Obama to the Girl Scouts.

I encourage you to take the time to honor the inspirational women who surround us each day—our mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and especially our Girl Scout leaders. Girl Scout leaders are dedicated to helping girls discover fun, friendship and their inner strength. As the preeminent leadership organization dedicated solely to girls leadership, our mission at Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. We celebrate all the women past and present who help us achieve that goal.

Join us in celebrating Women’s History Month by taking a moment to tell us your Girl Scout HERstory at www.gscnc.org/herstory.html

Below are some simple resources on National Women’s History Month that can be incorporated into your Girl Scout meetings.

• Scholastic: Women Who Changed History
• National Women’s Hall of Fame
• White House Council on Women and Girls
• Learn about the importance of the Lilly Ledbetter Act
• Women in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Women in Sports
• Women in Art

Guest Blogger: Celebrating Girl Scouting Past and Present

Julie Lineberry is the Chair of the GSCNC Archives Committee. Pictured here in 1965, Julie and her Girl Scout "patrol" wait for the bus that will take them to the Girl Scout Roundup.

As we approach the 98^th Birthday of Girl Scouting on March 12, 2010, Girl Scouts, leaders, and alumni will become reacquainted with the lives of strong, brave and self-determined women and Girl Scouts of the past. The GSCNC History and Archives Committee has various ways that troops can explore and appreciate the history of Girl Scouts and the activities of each generation.

What did “Be Prepared,” our motto, mean for girls in the last century? Girl Scouts of every generation face many of the same issues including war, epidemic, economic flux and natural disasters. But, by knowing where Girl Scouts have been, today’s girls can find inspiration and ideas to evaluate the current needs in their communities, and take action on today’s challenges.

Some troops borrow our vintage uniforms and often take them on visits to retirement homes – senior residents love seeing “their” uniforms and can remembers words and melodies better than the girls who have recently learned the songs. Check out these other great projects available for download on our website:

• With age-appropriate program boxes, Girl Scouts can create uniform fashion shows, learn the history of Juliette Gordon Low and download online activities.
• Learn about Marian Corbin Aslakson, a member of Juliette Low’s first troop.
• Discover early camps, where girls really roughed it!
• Become acquainted with early African-American women who founded Girl Scout troops.

Here are a few History and Archive Committee Projects that you can include in your programs:

• View a collection of photos of the first Girl Scouts participating in the first Presidential Inauguration (1917)
• Discover a detailed patch and badge collection
• Review early photos and stories of local African- American troops (some formed as early as the 1920’s)
• View the architectural detail of the Stone Lodge and other early buildings at Camp May Flather
• See part of the GSCNC collection on display at the Alexandria History Museum – The Lyceum—as part of the “Tramping and Trailing” exhibit.
• Review digital copies of Teen Girl Scout 1920’s camp photos

If you have historic Girl Scout memorabilia to share or are interested in taking part in the History and Archives Committee, contact me at Julie.lineberry@verizon.net.

Editor’s note: Girl Scout Week begins on March 6 with the exhibition of the Portraits of Girl Scouting art collection at the National Portrait Gallery. Don’t forget to visit our Girl Scout Week page for information.