Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri received a $70,000 donation from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, to benefit our 2009 Urban Girl Scout program. 

If you are not familiar with this program, it is a membership outreach that provides girls who live in un-served and under-served parts of the council jurisdiction with an opportunity to participate in Girl Scouting. The Urban Girl Scout program reaches 1-in-2 girls in the City of St. Louis. Girl members participate in traditional and untraditional Girl Scout activities and learn valuable lessons on leadership, self-esteem, and how to make an impact in their community.

On behalf of all the girls benefiting from this grant, I thank the Anheuser-Busch Foundation for their continuing support.  Over the past 20 years, the Anheuser - Busch Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million to Girl Scouts in Eastern Missouri.

When meeting with Laura Reeves, senior director, Foundation and Corporate Giving at Anheuser-Busch, here’s what she said to me, “The Girl Scouts have a long history of helping girls and young women develop leadership skills and self-esteem through volunteerism, educational projects and social activities.  It’s important that every girl – no matter her economic background – has the chance to participate in these initiatives and contribute to her community.  Anheuser-Busch is pleased to help fund these opportunities for the Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri.”

Do you know what today is?  It’s 1,000 days before the 100^th anniversary of Girl Scouts, and our national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, is planning to celebrate in a big way!  The planning of 100^th anniversary initiatives is already underway with the goal to:

• Showcase the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
• Advance the brand
• Raise a significant amount of money
• Increase membership numbers and diversity

Some of the specific initiatives are a fundraising campaign, a community action project, a 100^th anniversary commemorative coin (needs congressional approval), a 100^th anniversary cookie, a young women’s world forum, a national gala, etc.

For Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, the 100^th anniversary coincides with GSEM’s “Shades of Green” event slated for 2012.   If you’ve never been to “Shades,” you won’t want to miss this one!  In 2007, about 15,000 participants enjoyed this event, which in a nutshell is like a Girl Scout-A-Palooza, showcasing everything that’s great about Girl Scouting.  Hard to imagine 15,000 people at one event?  Well, you just have to be there to believe it!  The Shades event committee is already starting their planning, which no doubt will include 100^th anniversary themes/activities.

In addition to Shades, other activities will be planned by a council-wide 100^th anniversary committee.  This committee will begin their planning this fall.

I know that wonderful things will continue to happen from now through our 100^th anniversary and well into the next 100 years of Girl Scouting.  And it happens because all 17,000 adult volunteers here in Eastern Missouri who work tirelessly … day after day and year after year … building girls of courage confidence and character.

Thank you

Need a shot of inspiration?  Attend a Girl Scout Reflections Ceremony. 

I did, and am delighted to say that at this year’s Reflections Ceremony on June 7, hundreds of Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors were honored with various awards.  It was an afternoon full of inspiration.

Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, kicked things off by sharing with over 900 audience members how her dream - Build-A-Bear - got its start, and encouraged the girls to reach for their own dreams.

Then, it was on to the awards presentation.

Seventy-seven Girl Scouts graduated from high school this year.  Fifty-four of them have been a Girl Scout for 13 years, which means they started as Girl Scout Daisies while in kindergarten.  Another 128 Girl Scouts celebrated having been a member for 10 years.

This year, over 325 young ladies completed all of the requirements for the Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.

Finally, 76 Girl Scout Ambassadors were honored for earning the highest award a girl may earn – the Girl Scout Gold Award.  Each girl came up on stage with her parent(s), who in turn, presented the award to their daughter.  Each honoree also received a personalized resolution from the Missouri State Senate honoring their individual accomplishments; recognition from the White House, the Missouri Governor and Attorney General; the United States Army; the Military Order of the World Wars; and Girl Scouts of the USA among others.

But what I loved most was hearing what some of the girls had to say about being a Girl Scout:  

“… developed my leadership potential, to expand my horizons, and to help others.”

“… increased my imagination and ability to solve problems.”

“… let me try things I would not have attempted otherwise, has made me a leader at school and in my youth group.”

“… allowed me to explore many areas I may not have been able to otherwise.”

“… has given me the opportunity to meet a diverse group of girls who have all had an impact on my life.”

“… made me confident, outgoing, well-rounded, and prepared me to face challenges with a positive attitude.” 

The Gold Award is quite an accomplishment.  A number of requirements must be met, all culminating in a “Project.” And that “Project” is something that a girl can be passionate about – in thought, deed and action. It should fulfill a need within a girl’s community, create change, and hopefully, is something that is sustainable.

Thanks to all the Girl Scout volunteers, parents and other family members who have helped all these girls grow into successful young women.