I've been a Girl Scout for as long as I can remember. I started as a Brownie Scout and have remained involved in one way or another ever since.
I credit Girl Scout programs for providing an opportunity for a studious, uncoordinated kid to be accepted.
My Mom had been a Girl Scout staff member, and I learned camp songs from her when I was very young. As soon as I was old enough to attend camp, I was among the first to sign up. Camp was all I dreamed it would be, and it became the best part of my summer for more than 10 years. I loved being in an all-girl environment, with strong leaders who let us do most of the planning. I learned to become a leader myself, to trust the things I could do, to realize that I could master skills and be competent in many arenas.
I've stayed connected as an adult because I'm impressed with how the Girl Scouts have changed with the times. Indeed, they are usually ahead of most other organizations.
When I was a Senior Scout in 1956, our troop regularly assisted with a group of younger Girl Scouts who had physical and mental disabilities. More recently I'm aware of the outreach-to many different communities-that is characteristic of the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley, headquartered in St. Paul, serving 11 counties in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Targeted opportunities for Hmong girls, African American girls and older girls grow out of the strong tradition that Scouting should be "for all the girls."
When new CEO, Sondra Rhoades Burnett, who arrived from Atlanta eighteen months
ago, has a background in both the corporate and nonprofit arenas. When
she accepted the position Sondra knew that one of her main challenges would
be to help implement the first major fundraising campaign in 20 years. The goal
of the capital campaign, For all the Girls, is to raise $8 million from
individuals, corporations and foundations. Money raised will be added to the
Council's $3 million investment to expand programs and properties, doubling
and in some cases
tripling capacity at the Council's five program centers. A primary focus is
to support programs for older girls, girls of color, girls at risk and families.
To reach this ambitious goal the Council recruited two community leaders to co-chair the effort. Sarah Andersen and Elizabeth (Sandy) Kiernat accepted the challenge because they believe the cause is extremely important and the need to raise dollars is compelling. Sandy told me she had been a Scout herself.
"The older I get, the more I appreciate the benefits," she said. "I want girls to continue to have the opportunity to interact with each other and with strong female leaders."
At an April 28 luncheon outlining the campaign, co-chair and board member Sarah Andersen, said, "Girl Scouts is one of my passions... Girl Scouting is a very proud heritage in my family." Her mom, her sister and daughters have all been active members. Sarah was a board member and active participant in the more than six years of Council planning.
Although the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley serves 20,000 girls annually, which represents one in seven girls from kindergarten through 12th grade, there is clearly room for growth. I was interested to learn that while girls can learn about science, computer, math, sports and career planning as part of the Girl Scout program, camping remains a favorite. In a recent survey, 81 percent of the girls identified camp as the most rewarding Girl Scout activity.
But without new facilities, many girls are currently denied this opportunity. Members of the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley who want to attend camp participate in a drawing to see who gets to go. Alexa Nichols, a Senior Girl Scout, said, "I was really disappointed when I learned that I was not going to be able to go to camp this year because of the lottery drawing, especially since this was my last chance to go as a camper. Camp is the main reason I stay in Girl Scouts. I wish that all girls who applied to camp could be accepted."
When the campaign was officially launched on April 28 in St. Paul, $3.7 million had already been pledged from foundations, corporations and individuals. Sondra, Sandy and Sarah all described the fun they were having in connecting with old Scouts like me and with educating those less familiar with the impact Scouting can continue to have for all the girls. Their dedication and enthusiasm will help insure the goal is reached by January 2001.
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