October 31, 2007

Dear Friends of Girl Scouting,

“As one of six children with an overbearing father and overwhelmed mother, Girl Scouting was the only thing that made me feel important. It changed who I was and how I felt about myself. I will never forget my Girl Scout experiences.”
                                                     Karen Harzack-Ashby

October is an important month for Girl Scouts in Southern Arizona. The new Girl Scout year begins and as we celebrate our founder Juliette Lowe’s birthday, we are reminded that it was her vision 95 years ago to give girls the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness by gathering 18 girls to register the first American Girl Scout troop. Since then, Girl Scouts has grown into the country’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls – all girls – where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.

Although the traditions of Girl Scouting, particularly its vast array of outdoor activities and the cookie program which teach girls self-reliance and leadership skills, are still very important to the Girl Scout Movement, Girl Scouting has evolved to address some of the most prevalent systemic causes behind poverty, hunger, homelessness and violence. Women, far more often than men, shoulder the responsibility as single head of household with children and by equipping girls with courage, confidence and character we give them the attributes needed to be tomorrow’s best parents, workers and citizens. Where else but in Girl Scouting can a girl learn about the world, climb mountains, build houses for the homeless and obtain skills that are necessary to be successful in school and life? Girl Scouting is an all-encompassing program that allows girls to experience activities that teach them about science and technology, money management and finance, health and fitness, the arts, the world around them, community service and literacy.

Throughout the next Girl Scout year over 13,000 girls in Southern Arizona will be involved in the rich experience that the Girl Scout journey provides. Five hundred volunteer-led Girl Scout troops will be meeting to learn and grow and serve the needs of their community while 30 outreach programs will be serving the most vulnerable girls in our community. To ensure that every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout has a place in a troop or group or program, SGSC has created new ways for girls to be involved in the Girl Scout journey though community troops. For example, SGSC has created wonderful partnerships with Casa de los Niños and New Beginnings to offer Girl Scouting to girls sheltered in their communities.

Please take a moment and reflect on the difference that Girl Scouting has made in your life and in the lives of young women in your family and throughout the community. Girl Scouting is a solid foundation to grow girls of courage, confidence and character into leaders. Girl Scouts make a difference in our community everyday.

I encourage you to show your support for the Girl Scout Movement by registering today. The stronger our adult membership is the stronger the Movement is for every girl in the community. Every girl is inspired by an adult who says “I am a Girl Scout too.”

Please consider making a donation to sponsor a low-income girl who otherwise would not be able to participate so that she can begin her Girl Scout journey. An additional donation of $220 will provide a year of Girl Scout programming and events and everything a girl needs to participate fully in the Girl Scouting experience such as uniforms, program fees, handbooks and troop dues. As you consider your donation, please remember that a gift of any amount will be greatly appreciated.

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Gail Gurney
CEO, Sahuaro Girl Scout Council

PS: Your $10 registration fee goes directly to our national organization GSUSA; all additional donations remain in Southern Arizona to support local Girl Scouts and programs.
 

Download a Girl Scout Donation Card that you can fill in and mail to us with your contribution.

For more information on giving to Girl Scouts, please call Debbie Rich at 319-3168 or 1-800-331-6782, ext. 3168 or drich@sahuarogsc.org .