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Agency Spotlight:
Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
by Lisa Adams
What does it mean to be a Girl Scout? Ultimately, it means living a life that honors a simple and straightforward promise: "On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law." Since its founding in the United States on March 12, 1912, millions of girls have uttered that promise. This year during Girl Scout Week, which was March 9-15, the organization celebrated a century of scouting! Today, Girl Scouts of the USA is one of the 145 member countries in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Guided by caring leaders, locally driven programs rely on extensive experience and focus on age-appropriate learning grounded in outcomes-based research to provide the girls rich experience that help them grow as individuals and as leaders.
Locally the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians work every day to empower girls. The Girl Scout Law reflects the meaningful ways scouting can empower them: I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and a sister to every Girl Scout.
Girl Scout Cookies are as iconic as the sash that holds girls' pins and badges. Who hasn't bough them? It's more than a clever, tasty way to raise funds. According to the Girl Scouts it's also the most comprehensive business, entrepreneurial, and financial literacy training program available for girls today. It requires goal setting, communication, budgeting, managing money, working as a team, and planning a strategy to achieve goals. The money earned goes to the local Girl Scout council to supply essential services, and the troop decides how to spend it.
Girl Scouts value inclusiveness, and membership is open to any girl in grades K-12 who made the Girl Scout Promise, accepts the Girl Scout Law, and pays annual membership dues. Financial assistance is available.
Volunteers play an important role. The application process includes a written application, a reference check, a face-to-face interview. Both women and men are welcome as volunteers. All adult volunteers and staff who work with the girls are carefully selected and periodically evaluated.
If you are interested in membership for your daughter or in becoming a volunteer, contact Kelsey Kinzy .
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