Rising to meet girls’ needs
Twenty-five years from now, today’s third-graders will be in their
thirties. What are we prepared to do for them — starting right
now — to make sure they really can get where they want to go?
One of the secrets to the success of Girl Scouting is our
tradition of rising to meet the needs of each generation of
girls. Our council’s structure is like an inverted pyramid. The
girls are at the top of our structure, with volunteers, staff and our board of directors
supporting their needs. This structure drives our council’s priorities and decision
making. We constantly ask what our girls and volunteers need to be successful and make
changes accordingly.
The opportunities and adventures mentioned in this Annual Report are based on our
expertise in youth development and education. Our Girl Scout Research Institute has more
than 10 years of listening to what girls say, and our program draws on their research to create
activities that benefit girls in many ways.
Sure you can see girls selling cookies — but
do you know that they’re learning how to
set goals and manage money? Who
doesn’t want their daughters to know
these practical life skills? When girls plan
for an outdoor adventure — or a
community action project — they’re
seeking challenges and solving problems.
These outcomes of Girl Scouting are
associated with academic achievement.
Of course, we all want girls to do well in
school. That’s why our project-based
learning experiences challenge girls to
work across disciplines and be creative
while they’re having fun.
34,000 +
Girls
6,000
Volunteers
117
Staff
There’s a powerful ripple effect when girls
get our support and encouragement.
21 Board
Multiply that by more than 34,000 girls
of Directors
working toward one mission, and it’s easy
to see how this next generation of girls are an untapped resource. Picture all these girls
when they are grown — helping a school board balance the budget, guiding a project
team at work, or leading wherever they are, at every level — home, job, community,
country and world.
It has been said that the status of women in society is a direct measure of that society’s
success. But it goes deeper than that and starts with girls. This is why we continue, with
sustained passion, the tradition of developing girl leadership.
Patricia A. Burkart
Chief Executive Officer
Stella Somiari
Board Chair
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