Girl Scout Week Will Be March 7–13

During the week of March 7–13, Girl Scouts across the United States will be celebrating Girl Scout Week. The week traditionally surrounds March 12, the day Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by an American woman named Juliette Gordon Low. The week starts on Girl Scout Sunday, which this year is March 7, and ends on Girl Scout Sabbath.

The Girl Scout Promise begins with, “On my honor I will try to serve God and my country….” Every Girl Scout says this pledge at every troop meeting, at every Girl Scout gathering, and at every ceremony to recognize when a deed has been well done. The statement complements the moral commitment, respect for others and the planet’s resources, and the sense of personal service on behalf of others and the Earth that are such basic elements in all that a Girl Scout believes and supports.

Local Houses of Worship frequently recognize the girls and their leaders in their services. Town Selectmen and city mayors usually acknowledge the good Girl Scouting has done for individuals, local communities, and charitable and service organizations by proclaiming the week as Girl Scout Week or the day of March 12 as Girl Scout Day.

Saturday, March 12, will be the 92nd anniversary of Girl Scouts. On that date in 1912, Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon Low invited 24 girls to the home of Louise Porter in Savannah, Ga., for tea and to talk about Scouting for Girls.

(While Juliette Gordon Low is credited with founding the Girl Scouts of America, it is important to know Mrs Low actually adapted a program, British Girl Guides, which in turn was an offspring of Boy Scouts.)

Two troops were formed at that meeting. Daisy Gordon, Mrs Low’s niece, was the first registered member.

Newtown First Selectman Herb Rosenthal presented a proclamation to Newtown Girl Scouts on March 1. A certificate presented to Newtown service unit manager Donna Mangiafico and three Girl Scouts who met at Edmond Town Hall last Monday afternoon included Mr Rosenthal’s urging to “all good citizens of Newtown give Girl Scouts their continued interest, cooperation, and support in the coming year, so that increasing numbers of girls may benefit from the Girl Scout program.”

Girl Scouts of the USA is the largest voluntary organization in the world for girls ages 5 to 17. It has continued to develop leadership ability, personal and career development, and self-esteem, and prepares the young women of today to become the leaders of tomorrow.

In the 15 towns served by the Girl Scout Council of Southwestern Connecticut (Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton), there are more than 9,250 girl members ages 5 to 17 — making one out of every five girls in that age group a Girl Scout. There are also more than 5,400 adult volunteers, many of whom serve in council or service-unit support positions or as leaders or trainers.

This year, many Girl Scout adults and girls will be wearing pearls during Girl Scout Week. The council is trying to start a tradition where people everywhere can realize the impact Girl Scouting has on their local communities.

The council chose pearls because Juliette Low reportedly sold her necklace of rare, matched pearls to fund the early days of Girl Scouting in the United States. She made Girl Scouting her mission and her priority, but had to turn to less traditional financial resources to make the movement possible.