Happy 100th Birthday

Girl Scouting turns 100 today. There have been and will continue to be a lot of articles written about what this means. Come with me on a very quick trip down memory lane. Follows are some of the things I learned via Girl Scouts in the 1950s, the 1960s and to this day.

As a Scout I learned:

All folks are equal. They may not start out with the same developed skill sets, but given the opportunity and support they'll do just fine.

Girls are just as capable as boys. Being a girl, any girl, didn't automatically mean you couldn't play kickball with the third grade boys and maybe even beat them at their own game.

What you look like or how you sound is far less important than your actions and what you do with your words.

As a Scout Leader I learned:

Being prepared really does matter. Sometimes that is the only difference between success and failure.

Organizational skills I learned as a Scout are the same skills one uses in strategic planning. Here is an example that was shared by Nan Maples from Pasadena in the 1980s.

#3. About complaining:

A. You may complain to someone who can do something about it.

B. You may complain only if you have thought of at least one possible solution

which you are willing to suggest.

C. If you have to dump, know you are dumping warn me, ask permission, keep it short. Then be willing to engage yourself in searching for a solution.

Girl Scout Laws are fairly practical goals and guidelines. And try to respond to the times.

http://www.epilogsys.com/scoutingweb/SubPages/GSLawHis.htm

Here's to the next 100 years!