LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim 2012 as the "Year of the Girl" in celebrating the 100th Anni-
versary of the Girl Scouts of America

WHEREAS, Girl Scouts of the USA was founded by Juliette Gordon Low on
March 12, 1912; and
WHEREAS, In 1913, the first Girl Scout Troop was established in New
York City; three years later the first Girl Scout national headquarters
was located in Washington, D.C.; it was later moved to New York City
where it remains today; and
WHEREAS, In 1918, a black and white silent film, "The Golden Eaglet"
produced by Girl Scouts, premiered in New York's Fine Arts Theater; it
was believed to be the first motion picture produced by a public service
organization; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts was founded "for all girls" and, as early as
1917, had troops for physically disabled girls; there are records of
African-American troop established in 1917 in New York; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1920s, the first Native American Girl Scout
troop was formed with girls of the Onondaga nation in Central New York;
Asian-American troops as early as the 1930s; as well as a continuing
history of innovative special projects involving underserved populations
such as migrant girls, Mexican-American girls, girls in the inner-city,
girls in rural areas, girls with mothers in prison, and girls in Head
Start programs; and
WHEREAS, In 1932, March 12th was designated as the official birthday
of Girls Scouts; and
WHEREAS, In 1939, the Girl Scouts Chalet, a replica in miniature of
Our Chalet in Switzerland, opened at the New York World's Fair; and
WHEREAS, From 1917 until 1979, Girl Scouts published a magazine,
originally called THE RALLY (1917-1920) and then THE AMERICAN GIRL, with
the "The" later being dropped (not to be confused with the currently
published AMERICAN GIRL magazine); at one time, this magazine had the
largest circulation of any magazine aimed at teen-aged girls; and
WHEREAS, In 1948, the design of the World Badge was adopted at the
12th World Conference in Cooperstown, New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1975, The National Council of Girl Scouts of the USA
affirmed that Girl Scout membership would continue to be limited to
girls and elected Dr. Gloria D. Scott as its first Black National Presi-
dent; and
WHEREAS, Since 1926, Girl Scouts has had a national conference and
training center in Briarcliff Manor, New York; it was first called Camp
Edith Macy after an early Girl Scout pioneer and is now called Edith
Macy Conference Center; thousands of Girl Scout leaders and council
volunteers and staff have received training there in its 70-year histo-
ry; the Center has also been the side of international Girl Guide and
Girl Scout conferences, one of which was attended by Eleanor Roosevelt;
and
WHEREAS, On October 28, 1979, Juliette Gordon Low was installed in the
Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York; the purpose for the
Women's Hall of Fame is to honor in perpetuity those women, citizens of
the United States of America, who have contributed to the arts, athlet-
ics, business education, government, the humanities, philanthropy and
development of their country; and
WHEREAS, There are Girl Scout councils throughout New York State: Girl
Scout Council of Greater New York, Inc., New York, New York; Girl Scouts
Hearts of the Hudson, Inc., Pleasantville, New York; Girl Scouts of
Nassau County, Inc., Garden City New York Girl Scouts of Northeastern

New York, Inc., Albany, New York; Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathway, Inc.,
Cicero, New York; Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, Inc., Commack, New
York; and Girl Scouts of Western New York, Depew, New York; and
WHEREAS, From an initial 18 girls in 1912, Girl Scouting has grown to
3.2 million today; it is the world's largest voluntary organization for
girls and has influenced the lives of more than 50 million girls and
adult women and men who have belonged to Girl Scouts; and
WHEREAS, In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power
of girls together; through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as
extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community
service projects, cultural exchange, and environmental stewardship,
girls grow courageous and strong; and
WHEREAS, Further more, Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full
individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding,
skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide
the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to their
improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and
cooperation with others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim 2012 as the "Year of
the Girl" in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of
America; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.