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Girl Scouts of the USA
420 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10018-2798
www.girlscouts.org
Chair, National Board of Directors
Patricia Diaz Dennis
Chief Executive Officer
Kathy Cloninger
Editorial Development Team
Bettye Bradley, Vice President, Corporate Administration
Pamela Cruz, Director, National Historic Preservation Center
Yevgeniya Gribov, Archivist
Meghan Seki, Records and Archives Analyst
Inquiries related to Highlights in Girl Scouting 2002–2008: Years of Transformation
should be directed to the National Historic Preservation Center, Girl Scouts of the USA,
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018-2798.
© 2008 Girl Scouts of the USA
2007
2002
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5
page
2003
page
page
2008
7
2004
8
page
Introduction
page 4
page 14
National Honorary Presidents
page
9
2006
page
10
12
More Fascinating Facts
Chairs, National Board of Directors
2005
11
Chief Executive Officers
National Conventions and Themes
World Conferences
Changes in Program Age Levels
introduction
In the 96 years since Juliette Gordon Low began the Girl Scout journey by
gathering together a small group of girls in Savannah, Georgia, Girl Scouts
has grown into an organization with 2.6 million girl members. Through the
years, it has shown remarkable resilience in meeting the changing needs of
girls while remaining faithful to our founder’s vision of a safe and supportive
environment in which girls can learn and have fun in an informal setting and
develop the courage, confidence, and character to become leaders today as
well as tomorrow.
In 2004, to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, every facet of
Girl Scouting underwent review, from Girl Scout program to funding to our
governance structure. The Core Business Strategy that emerged is a blueprint
for continuing our strong role as the premier leadership experience for girls.
Just as Juliette Gordon Low transformed her vision of leadership development for girls into reality, the Core Business Strategy will ensure that Girl
Scouting continues to strongly influence the lives of girls and women
during our second century.
Highlights in Girl Scouting 2002–2008: Years of Transformation presents
significant events in this momentous first decade of the new century and
builds on Highlights in Girl Scouting 1912–2001. Closer to our centennial
celebration in 2012, a comprehensive edition of Highlights in Girl Scouting,
encompassing our first 100 years, will be released.
4
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
2002
2002
Delegates to the 2002 Girl Scout National
Council Session/49th convention 2
(October 17–20) in Long Beach, California,
elect Cynthia B. Thompson Chair of the
National Board of Directors. To conform with
standard corporate practice, the titles Chair,
National Board of Directors, and Chief
Executive Officer replace President and
National Executive Director respectively. The
assembly increases dues to $10 and also
changes the name of groups designated
“lone troops” to USA Girl Scouts Overseas.
The Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI)
STUDIO 2B, an innovative program approach
publishes Net Effect: Girls and New Media,
for girls ages 11–17, is launched, setting the
strengthening Girl Scouts’ position as a lead-
stage for more girl-centric programs.
ing authority on girls. GSRI unveils a Web site
featuring all its research.
Uniquely ME! The Girl Scout/Unilever
self-esteem program is launched to address
Junior Girl Scout Group Experience:
the critical nationwide problem of low
Outcomes Measurement Guide is published.
self-esteem among girls ages 8 to 14.
Measuring the outcomes of Girl Scout pro-
Dominique Dawes, gymnast and Olympic
gram is essential in order to meet the needs
gold medalist, is the national spokesperson
of girls in the twenty-first century.
for the program. 3
The Hispanic Initiative hits its stride with
Dominique Dawes
the 2002 Latinas in Girl Scouting National
Conference in San Antonio, Texas, which
draws participants from 56 councils across
the nation. New resources in Spanish are
added to the growing list of translated and
bilingual materials. These include Aventuras
en Lectura (Follow the Reader) family reading
booklets sponsored by the SBC Foundation,
¡Nadie como yo! por dentro y por fuera
(uniquely ME! Inside and Out) and ¡Nadie
como yo! La realidad del asunto (uniquely ME!
The Real Deal).
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
5
Technologies, and Intel Foundation to confront the gender divide in science, math, technology, and engineering. Innovative Girl Scout
2002
program reaches girls in rural and public
housing communities at risk of being drawn
into the juvenile justice system thanks to crucial funding from the United States
Departments of Justice, Agriculture, and
Housing and Urban Development, and the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
4 At the Girl Scout 90th anniversary gala
New volunteer recognition awards for
on March 12 at the Building Museum in
episodic and progressive volunteers are
Washington, D.C., more than 1,100 guests
available as of October 1. An episodic
honor GSUSA’s first-ever National Women of
volunteer is an adult who gives time to Girl
Distinction. Copies of Every Girl Tells a Story:
Scouting at the council or national level on a
A Celebration of Girls Speaking Their Minds
sporadic basis. A progressive volunteer is an
are available at the festivities. Published by
adult involved in Girl Scouting on an ongoing
Simon and Schuster, the book is a collabora-
basis at the council or national level.
tion between GSUSA and photographer
Carolyn Jones and features inspirational testi-
The 31st WAGGGS World Conference is held
mony, in their own words, by a diversity of
in Manila, Philippines, June 18 to 24.
girls ages 12-18 about the adversity they have
overcome.
Three hundred sixteen Girl Scout councils
deliver program to nearly 2.8 million girls
The first Congressional Lobby Day, on
nationwide. Hispanic membership increases 6
March 13, 2002, reinforces Girl Scouts’ role
percent. Adult volunteer membership stands
as an authority on and advocate for all girls.
at 951,216.
Nearly 350 Girl Scout representatives meet
with members of Congress to educate them
about the powerful work of councils and
about the accomplishments of the Girl Scout
Research Institute.
Funded projects with valued partners grow,
setting the groundwork for an organizationwide cultural swing to create avenues for
greater external funding. These include partnerships with Lockheed Martin, Lucent
6
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
90th anniversary gala
2003
The Online Council Network’s Idea Exchange
The By Girls, For Girls National Advisory
councils and GSUSA staff a way to swap
Committee, composed of Girl Scouts from
information and discuss pertinent issues with
across the country, is formed to
make sure girls’ opinions are heard
and incorporated into all aspects of
one another, anywhere, any time.
Feeling Safe: What Girls Say is
published. Conducted with Harris
Interactive, Inc., this GSRI study of
New GirlSports (Fit& Fun)
more than 2,000 girls pinpoints
program materials are published
specific situations in which girls feel
with a grant from NFL charities. 2
unsafe, the consequences, and how
2003
STUDIO 2B.
launches in June 2003, giving Girl Scout
they handle these challenging situaVoices of Volunteers 18-29, a GSRI study of
tions. The booklet offers guidelines to adults
more than 1,100 female volunteers conducted
for helping girls cope.
with Partners in Brainstorms, Inc., is published.
The resource explains how and why young
The “It’s Her Future. Do the Math” ad
women volunteer and offers a “road map” for
campaign, developed by GSUSA and the Ad
action.
Council, receives the Grand Good Award. It is
the first nonprofit ad chosen for this honor by
A GSRI outcomes study on GirlSports gives a
the Advertising Women of New York.
resounding “Yes!” to the question “Is Girl
Scouting really making a difference in the
b The Hispanic Initiative succeeds in bring-
lives of girls?” The national evaluation, con-
ing the Girl Scout message to more Latinas.
ducted with Social Program Evaluators and
Latina Style, El Vocero, El Nuevo Día, Guía
Consultants, Inc., proves that the outcomes of
Práctica para Mamá, Vista, and Hispanic Times
this program are enhanced basic motor and
feature articles on Girl Scouting, and local
locomotion skills in girls ages five to eight.
radio and television stations air Spanishlanguage public service announcements.
National Board Chair Cynthia Thompson presents
President's Patch to girls at 2003 Latina Conference.
Hundreds of teen Latinas and adults from all
over the country gather in Oakbrook, Illinois,
from July 24 to 26, 2003, at the third annual
Girl Scout National Latina Conference.
Total girl and adult membership in September
2003 is 3,854,202.
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
7
2004
Girl Scouts officially launches the Core
Business Strategy to reinvigorate the Girl
Scout Movement. It enlists the services of
Willie Pietersen, a professor at Columbia
Business School, to help define strategic priorities: program pathways, volunteerism,
brand image, funding, and governance and
2004
organizational structure.
The Girl Scout Research Institute publishes
Weighing In: Helping Girls Be Healthy Today,
Healthy Tomorrow, a report that focuses on
health, nutrition, and physical activity as they
relate to child obesity and weight issues.
Girl Scouting’s visibility at the United
Nations increases when GSUSA actively participates in briefings of the United Nations
Association of the USA Council of
Organizations as well as meetings of the UN
Commission on the Status of Women and the
Non-Governmental Committee on UNICEF
Working Group on Girls.
Girl Scouting makes its mark online. The first
national online fundraising initiative, Commit
to a Girl, launches in June. STUDIO 2B offers
a redesigned Web site, the first Spanishlanguage GSUSA Web site goes live, girls
ages 5 to 11 get their own online space, and
interactive games using math and science go
up on a separate Web site. Use of the Online
Council Network (OCN) increases 278 percent
from the previous year.
9
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
4 Major renovation of the Juliette Gordon
Low Girl Scout National Center, in Savannah,
Georgia, is completed, with many rooms
restored to their original 1886 appearance.
The Hispanic Initiative expands its impact
and outreach to councils and the Hispanic
community through partnerships and
collaborations with nationally prominent
Hispanic organizations, a Spanish-language
Web site, and a comprehensive list of
bilingual resources. Conexiones, a
membership development tool kit to help
volunteers and staff connect with Hispanic
communities, is published in March.
More than 2.8 million girls are served by 315
councils. Lifetime memberships grow by 12.8
percent.
2005
Six Gap Teams, composed of Girl Scout volunteers and staff at all levels, get feedback from
members about how to achieve corporate
strategy goals. The teams focus on the brand,
Voice for Girls, a 12-page booklet delineating
the organization’s advocacy platform for girls,
is published. It explains an action plan to
engage volunteers, staff, parents, and girls, in
identifying and advocating for the public policy issues most important to girls.
the culture, funding, organizational structure
GSUSA continues to strengthen its relation-
and governance, the program model and path-
ship with Hispanic organizations, notably the
ways, and volunteerism. The Organizational
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the
Structure and Governance Gap Team develops
Texas Migrant Council, the National Latino
plans for council realignment, a major consolidation effort to reduce the number of councils
from 315 to 109 in order to strengthen the
organization’s capacity to deliver Girl Scout
Sorority (Las Madrinas Program). The fifth
National Latina Conference, in July 2005, is
the largest ever, with 500 participants from
44 councils.
Pathways Gap Team creates a program model
More than 25,000 girls are served by grant-
with “discover, lead, and take action” activities.
funded initiatives that include Girl Scouts in
2005
program to girls. The Program Model and
Children’s Institute, and the Omega Phi Beta
Detention Centers, Girls in Public Housing,
Girls in Rural Outreach, and P.A.V.E. (Project
Anti-Violence Education).
A new recruitment kit targets volunteers
ages 18 to 24 and is pilot-tested by 15 councils through national ads at colleges, on bus
shelters, and other places.
Web site hits increase dramatically. The corPatricia Diaz Dennis addresses delegates at
2005 National Council Session/50th convention.
porate Web site sees 400,000 users monthly,
up 74 percent during its peak month over the
previous year. The average time a user
Delegates to the 2005 Girl Scout National
spends on the girl sites increases from 6-8
Council Session/50th convention, in Atlanta,
minutes to nearly 12 minutes.
Georgia, October 7–9, endorse the Core
Business Strategy and attendees contribute
The 32nd WAGGGS World Conference is held
ideas via “Strategy Cafés” in the Exhibit Hall.
in Amman, Jordan, from June 19-24. It is the
Patricia Diaz Dennis is elected Chair of the
first world conference in the Arab Region.
National Board of Directors. More than
WAGGGS launches a new tagline at the con-
13,000 people attend, and the 1,700 delegates
ference, “10 million girls, 1 voice.”
adopt a new mission statement and update
the Preamble to the Constitution.
Girl membership in 2005 is 2,734,280; adult
membership is 927,984.
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
9
2006
Other funded programs include
The National Board approves a
Scouts Beyond Bars, and Girl
nationwide map of new council
Scouts in Detention Centers, as
jurisdictions. Fifty-two percent of
well as a Healthy Living Project
councils are slated for realignment,
supported by Pepsi-Co.
Girl Scouts in Public Housing, Girl
a process that will bring the number
1 The Girl Scout Research
of Girl Scout councils from 312 to
Institute publishes The NEW
109 by the end of 2009.
The New Girl Scout Leadership Development
Healthy Living, an original report on the atti-
Model defines what girls do in Girl Scouting
tudes of girls ages 8 to 17 toward health,
and lays the groundwork for program devel-
body image, diet, weight, and exercise.
opment that helps girls “discover, connect,
2006
and take action” and to lead with “courage,
confidence, and character.” Grade level, not
age, now determines membership groupings
because research conclusively shows that
girls learn best and have the most fun when
they are with the right developmental/
social grouping. A new level—Girl Scout
Ambassador, grades 11 to 12—is created.
Girl membership becomes more diverse.
Hispanic membership increases 22 percent,
Asian 17 percent, and American Indian 1 percent. Another high point of membership is
the ratio of one adult volunteer to every
three girls.
More than 50,000 girls participate in funded
program initiatives. The uniquely ME! program, sponsored by Dove, provides 11,814 girls
from diverse backgrounds with opportunities
to build self-esteem. GoGirlsGo, a collaboration with the Women’s Sports Foundation,
helps 6,118 girls ages 10 to 14 years old with
nutritional education, physical activity, and
self-esteem workshops to combat obesity.
10
NORMAL? What Girls Say About
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
What Works. What Doesn’t: Girl Scout
Volunteers Speak Out, a focus group research
project report, is published. Sixty percent of
volunteers say they would like to access training online.
“Defy the Stereotype,” “Defy the Ordinary,”
"Defy Self-Doubt," and “Defy Peer Pressure”
are themes of the award-winning public
service ad campaign. 3
2007
A flexible new entry system for volunteers is
launched. Volunteers are now welcomed,
interviewed, and screened for assignments
online through the Single-Entry System (SES).
The New National Volunteer Radio Public
Service Ad campaign highlights active Girl
Scout women volunteers ages 18 to 58 from
Mexico, Chile, Cuba, Guatemala, the
Dominican Republic, the United States
(including the U.S. territory Puerto Rico) and
other countries.
Girl diversity increases overall to 2.1 percent,
Entrepreneurs Vanessa and Angela Simmons
partner with Girl Scouts.
or by 14,882 girls of Asian, Black, Hispanic,
Girl Scouts; the two sisters become
and other racial/ethnic backgrounds.
spokespersons for Girl Scout
entrepreneurship and financial
literacy programs. In an episode
registering and reconnecting the estimated
of Maya & Miguel, a Scholastic
50 million former Girl Scouts.
Studios production appearing on
PBS, Maya joins the Girl Scouts.
The Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity
(IMPACT) Act (H.R. 2677) is based on and
Exploring Girls’ Leadership, a
quotes from The NEW NORMAL? What Girls
review that analyzes literature
Say About Healthy Living (Girl Scouts of the
from the youth development and
USA, 2006), solidifying Girl Scouts’ reputation
leadership fields, is released by
as a key advocate for girls.
the Girl Scout Research Institute.
The review contrasts continued
One hundred forty-eight councils complete
realignment and 34 new councils are created,
which represents 41 percent of the councils
set to realign.
The Girl Scout brand advances through the
popular culture via new partnerships. Girl
Scout-inspired Groovy Girls Dolls produced
by Manhattan Toy win the National Toy Award
of the Year. MTV’s Run’s House features
Vanessa and Angela Simmons meeting with
2007
The Girl Scouts Alumnae Association begins
misperceptions with youths’ realities and community approaches to leadership
in the field. The contribution of single-sex
environments to girls’ leadership is also discussed.
In the first-ever Global Citizens Essay contest,
girls tell how their Girl Scout experiences
increase their cultural awareness. The top 18
winners receive free trips: twelve of the 12- to
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
11
2008
Transforming Leadership: Focusing on
Outcomes of the New Girl Scout Leadership
Experience introduces 15 leadership outcomes for each leadership key—Discover,
Connect, and Take Action—for each Girl Scout
level. Its intent is a national program with
measurable results.
The Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie is not only
the key ingredient in Blizzard of the Month at
Dairy Queen stores nationwide during July, but
it’s also the inspiration for a shoe and back14-year-olds win a four-day, all-expense
pack collection by Pastry, a division of Run
paid trip to Washington, D.C., with
Athletics.
2007/ 2008
Smithsonian Student Travel, and six 15- to
17-year-old winners are awarded a seven-day
The first series of the Leadership Journeys
adventure to Paris and London with EF
program for all age levels premieres at the
Educational Tours.
2008 National Council Session/51st convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, in October-
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is 90 years
November. "It’s Your World—Change It!" is
old and holding strong as America’s leading
the theme of the six books: Welcome to the
business and economic literacy program
Daisy Flower Garden, Brownie Quest, Agent
for girls.
of Change!, aMAZE!, GIRLtopia, and Your
Voice, Your World. 3
12
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
Change It Up! What Girls Say About
and khaki pants with an official sash or vest.
Redefining Leadership is published.
Girl Scout Brownies wear a sash or vest and
This nationwide Girl Scout Research Institute
Girl Scout Daisies wear a tunic or vest. The
study reveals that more than half of American
official uniform for adults is navy blue busi-
girls are turned off by the conventional com-
ness attire; it is worn with a Girl Scout scarf
mand-and-control style of leadership. The
and membership pins for women and the Girl
study found that 39 percent of girls want to
Scout tie for men.
be leaders, and that the desire for leadership
is higher among African American (53 per-
The Girl Scout Research Institute wins the
cent), Hispanic (50 percent), and Asian
first ever National Research & Scholarship
American (59 percent) girls than among
Award from the National Council for Research
Caucasian girls (34 percent). Yet a majority of
on Women for the research review Exploring
girls (52 percent) are deeply ambivalent
Girls’ Leadership, the original study Change It
about leadership, saying that being a leader is
Up! What Girls Say About Redefining
not that important to them.
Leadership, and the evaluation and outcomes
The number of Girl Scout councils nationwide is 166 as of September 2008.
guide Transforming Leadership.
The 33rd WAGGGS World Conference is held
in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 6 to 12. A
Kiely Williams, Sabrina Bryan, and Deepti
new Global Action Theme—“Together We
Daryanani, team with members of Girl Scouts
Can Change Our World”—is announced and
of the USA on location in Mumbai, India, to
an innovative WAGGGS HIV and AIDS training
celebrate community service, diversity, and
toolkit is launched. 3
2008
The Cheetah Girls, actors Adrienne Bailon,
friendship. The Cheetah Girls: One World
premieres on the Disney Channel.
Girl Scout Daisies take part in the Girl Scout
Cookie Program for the first time, selling
cookies among friends and families. For the
African music and dance enliven the 33rd WAGGGS
World Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
youngest Girl Scouts, America’s leading financial literacy program emphasizes leadership
and teamwork more than the quantity of sales.
New uniform components are required whenever girls or adults participate in ceremonies
or officially represent the Girl Scout
Movement. Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes,
Seniors, and Ambassadors wear white shirts
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
14
More Fascinating Facts
Chairs, National Board of Directors
October 2002
•••••••••••••••••••
October 2005
•••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••
Cynthia Bramlett Thompson
Patricia Diaz Dennis
National Honorary Presidents
June 2001–2008 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Laura Bush (Mrs. George W.)
Chief Executive Officers
July 2002
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
October 2003
Jackie Barnes, Interim
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Kathy Cloninger
National Conventions and Themes
49. October 2002 Long Beach, California
90 Years: Girl Scouts Still Growing Strong
50. October 2005 Atlanta, Georgia
For All Girls: Soaring Beyond Greatness Since 1912
51. October 2008 Indianapolis, Indiana
Girl Scouts Can Lead Anywhere
World Conferences
31. 2002
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
32. 2005
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
33. 2008
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Manila, Philippines
Amman, Jordan
Johannesburg, South Africa
Changes in Program Age Levels 2006
Girl Scout Daisy
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Girl Scout Brownie
Girl Scout Junior
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Girl Scout Cadette
Girl Scout Senior
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Girl Scout Ambassador
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
15
14
HIGHLIGHTS IN GIRL SCOUTING 2002-2008
Grades K–1
Grades 2–3
Grades 4–5
Grades 6–8
Grades 9–10
Grades 11–12