LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION expressing support for designation of 2012 as the
"Year of the Girl" and celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts
of the USA

WHEREAS, For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts of the USA has inspired
generations of girls to lead with courage, confidence, and character;
and
WHEREAS, The Girl Scout Movement began on March 12, 1912, when Savan-
nah, Georgia, native Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low gathered 18 girls to
provide them the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiri-
tually; and
WHEREAS, Daisy Low's goal was to bring together girls of all back-
grounds to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness as well as prepare
them for future roles as professional women and for active citizenship
outside the home; and
WHEREAS, Within just a few years, there were nearly 70,000 Girl Scouts
nationwide, including the territory of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, The first African-American troops were established in 1917,
and by 1920, troops for girls with disabilities were established; and
WHEREAS, Today, more than 50,000,000 women in the United States are
Girl Scout alumnae, and 3,300,000 girls and adult volunteers are active
members; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts live in every corner of the United States, Puerto
Rico, United States territories, and more than 90 countries overseas;
and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts is the largest member of the World Association of
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a global movement comprised of more than
10,000,000 girls in 145 countries worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts' robust program helps girls develop as leaders
and build confidence by learning new skills; and
WHEREAS, The award winning Girl Scout Leadership Program helps girls
discover themselves and their values, connect with others, and take
action to make the world a better place; and
WHEREAS, This leadership model helps girls develop skills such as
crtical thinking, problem solving, cooperation and team building,
conflict resolution, advocacy, and other important life skills; and
WHEREAS, Core programs around Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM), environmental stewardship, healthy living, financial liter-
acy, and global citizenship help girls develop a solid foundation in
leadership; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts' STEM programming, first introduced in 1913 with
the "electrician" and "flyer" badges, offers girls of every age science,
technology, engineering, and math activities that are relevant to every-
day life; and
WHEREAS, These award-winning programs help girls build strong, hands-
on foundations to become future female leaders and meet the growing need
for skilled science and technology professionals in the United States;
and
WHEREAS, Healthy living programs help Girl Scouts build the skills
they need to keep their bodies healthy, their minds engaged, and their
spirits positive and teaches girls about fitness and nutrition, body
image, self esteem, and relational issues, especially bullying; and
WHEREAS, Through the 100th Anniversary Take Action Project, Forever
Green, Girl Scouts is honoring Daisy Low's commitment to the outdoors by
engaging families, friends, and communities to improve the environment
and protect its natural resources; and

WHEREAS, Girl Scouts' financial literacy programming, notably, the
iconic Girl Scout cookie sale, helps girls set financial goals and gain
the confidence they need to ultimately take control of their own finan-
cial future; and
WHEREAS, This beloved United States tradition has a proven legacy,
more than 80 percent of highly successful businesswomen were Girl
Scouts; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts has also helped millions of young girls become
good global citizens through international exchanges, travel, take
action and service projects, and newer programs like "twinning" and
virtual Girl Scout troops; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts has helped girls advance diversity in a multicul-
tural world, connect with their communities, locally and globally, and
feel empowered to make a difference in the world; and
WHEREAS, The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scout-
ing, requires girls to make a measurable and sustainable difference in
their community, assess a need and design a solution, find the resources
and the support to make it happen, complete the project, and also
inspire others to sustain it; and
WHEREAS, The Gold Award honors leadership in the Girl Scout tradition
and Gold Award recipients have already changed the world as high school
students; and
WHEREAS, Two-thirds of the Nation's most accomplished women in public
service were Girl Scouts; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts' research shows that Girl Scouts alumnae have a
positive sense of self, are engaged in community service, are civically
engaged, have attained high levels of education, and are successful on a
number of economic indicators; and
WHEREAS, Beyond its outstanding program, Girl Scouts has evolved into
the premier expert on girls' healthy growth and development; and
WHEREAS, Since its founding in 2000, the Girl Scout Research Institute
has become an internationally recognized center for original research,
research reviews, and surveys that provide significant insights into the
lives of girls; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts' research informs not only Girl Scouts' program
development and delivery, but also helps bring girls' voices to key
issues in the public sphere; and
WHEREAS, By bringing greater attention to girls' health, education,
and developmental needs, Girl Scouts is the voice for girls with policy-
makers, business leaders, educators, and all other stakeholders who care
about girls' healthy growth and development; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts ensures that issues, such as STEM education,
bullying prevention, unhealthy perceptions of beauty as portrayed by the
media, and many other important issues, are brought to the public's
attention, and addressed through public policy at the national, State,
and local level; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy accom-
plishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
youth of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
express support for designation of 2012 as the "Year of the Girl" and to
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Girl Scouts of the USA.