Congressman Mike Ross discusses Girl Scout anniversary

This year marks the 100^th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA.  The first Girl Scouts troop was founded by Juliette Gordon Low on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia and began with just 18 girls. However, this small troop quickly grew into a movement that today encompasses more than three million members and 50 million alumnae. What is especially important about the Girl Scouts’ rich history of supporting women’s leadership is their insistence on being a voice for all girls, regardless of their background or neighborhood.

From its beginnings, the Girl Scouts sought to be inclusive. The first troop was comprised of a diverse assortment of young women from across Savannah including girls from influential families, as well as girls from the Female Orphan Asylum and the local community. As early as 1917 the first African-American troops were established, as well as troops for disabled girls. One of the earliest Latina troops was formed in Houston in 1922. Girl Scout troops supported Japanese-American girls in internment camps in the 1940s, and by the 1950s, Girl Scouts was leading the charge to fully integrate all of its troops. In 1956, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called Girl Scouts “a force for desegregation.”

To honor this historic anniversary, I was proud to help introduce H. Res. 460, the Girl Scouts Centennial Resolution which recognizes the importance of empowering girls to lead with courage, confidence, and character; expresses support for the designation of 2012 as the “Year of the Girl,” and celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Today, more than 50 million women in the United States are Girl Scout alumnae, and 3.3 million girls and adult volunteers are active members. Girl Scouts are active in every corner of the United States, Puerto Rico, United States territories, and more than 90 countries overseas.

Recognized as the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ healthy development. Their programs help girls develop as leaders and build confidence by learning new skills, advancing diversity in our multicultural world, connecting with their communities, and discovering themselves and their values.

The invaluable qualities this organization instills in young women have inspired leaders such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, tennis star Venus Williams, singer Taylor Swift, and more than 20 of NASA’s career astronauts.

While we have made tremendous progress in fostering women’s leadership over the past century, there is still much more to be done. Democracy works best when the perspectives and voices of all its citizens are heard. Whether it’s gender, race or socioeconomic background, by having more diversity in leadership our country will make stronger, more representative choices, and will ensure that the interests of all of our citizens are heard.

I’m proud to congratulate Girl Scouts of the USA on their 100^th Anniversary and join them in their continued commitment to building girls of courage, confidence and character who will make the world a better place.