"Girl Scouts" 100th Anniversary! Celebrate With The Green and Cookies

Don’t forget to wear green this weekend, it is a celebration! Yes, you guessed it, The Girl Scouts USA, are wearing green as it is their 100th anniversary! Oh wait, did you think I was talking about some other celebration wearing green. I can’t forget to mention Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone as well. But in this post I thought I would write about the Girl Scouts.

Girl Scout Cookies

The Girl Scouts of the USA, was started in March of 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low of Savannah, Ga. Her first meeting had 18 young girls in attendance. Juliette Low, who was called Daisy, encouraged girls to prepare for roles as professionals and for becoming active citizens in their communities. There were no exceptions, and called for all girls no matter what color, creed, economic status, or disability for 100 years. The first African American troop was established in 1917. Her values are only reinforced, as this year's theme is called “The Year of The Girl”. Today, the Girl Scout organization says it is dedicated to developing girls in the 3 C’s - Courage, Confidence, and Character.

Juliette Low


 Juliette Low in the early years supported the organization with her own funds. In 1915 it is said, that she sold her exquisite pearls in order have some money to run the organization for another year. She agreed with the board of the organization to establish a membership fee and institute a fund raising plan. Her friend, Mrs. Macy donated $1000 to recognize the power of the Girl Scouts as well as Juliette’s work. This is how the Girl Scout cookie fund raiser sales began, to help support the organization for the girls. 100% of the cookie proceeds stay with the girls and their local charities. Every cookie has a mission which is, “To Help Girls Do Great Things“.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, the US Postal Service will unveil a stamp later this year. In 2012, the Girl Scouts of USA, has a membership of more than 3.2 million girls and adults, spanning 90 countries. There are many living women in the United States today that are Girl Scout alumnae, and I am one of them.

My sash with Badges & Pins

Many years ago, I was a Girl Scout in troop #41, in Queens, New York. I started out as a Brownie, a Junior, and then became a Cadette Girl Scout. I still have my sash which includes all the badges I earned and many pins of excellence.  

I remember when I was a Girl Scout, our troop went camping, in upstate NY. It was in May and I was going to get my Emergency Preparedness Badge. My friends and I were very excited to go on our trip. We planned on hiking, campfires and having fun. That year the weather did not cooperate, as a snow storm occurred in the month of May out of no where. It wasn't just snow, I mean a blizzard! Now remember, we were dressed with shorts, light jackets and camping gear. We all were freezing and had no means to leave the campsite, till the storm ended. So we had to bear with what we had. The pipes to the well water had frozen and there was no water to be had, so I suggested that we get every pot we could find and fill it with snow. Then we put the pots on the fire and it melted. We used the melted water to cook with and keep ourselves warm. Needless to say, I earned my Emergency Preparedness Badge that year with no problems. But it will be a year that I never will forget. 

Girl Scout Uniform /Age 10

I bet you didn’t know that these women were Girl Scouts before they became famous: Vanessa Williams, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Jan Davis (NASA Astronaut), Barbara Walters, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Sandra Day O’Connor (Supreme Court Judge), to just mention a few.

My recipe this week is called “Cookie Sticks” (recipe from “Taste of Home"). These are easy and heavenly delicious. But don’t forget to buy Girl Scout cookies and support your local Girl Scout Troop in your community. Enjoy!!!!


“Cookie Sticks”

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of canola oil
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 - 1/2 cups of all purpose unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 cups) of semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the oil, sugars, egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half. On a greased baking sheet, shape each portion into a 15-in X 3-in rectangle about 3 in apart. Sprinkle chocolate chips over dough; press lightly. Bake at 375 ° F for 6-7 minutes. (Bake for 8-9 minutes for crispier cookies) Cool for 5 minutes. Use a pizza cutter to cut each section into 4 large pieces to make them easy to transfer to cooling racks. Use a serrated knife to cut the cooled sections into 1-inch strips.
Till Next Time………. 
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