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