Juliette Gordon Low, Founder of Girl Scouts
Knoxville, Tenn. - On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low of Savannah, Ga. made a historic telephone call to a distant cousin saying, “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we’re going to start it tonight!”
That phone call was a precursor to the meeting that Low (affectionately called “Daisy” by family and friends) held that evening when 18 girls gathered to register the first troop of American Girl Guides. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year.
Girl Scouts of the USA now has a membership of more than 3.2 million girls and adults and more than 50 million women in the United States today are Girl Scout alumnae.
Today, Girl Scouts of the USA declared 2012 the “Year of the Girl” and launched the ToGetHerThere campaign. Girl Scouts is issuing an urgent call for all members of society to place girl leadership front and center on the national agenda. The ultimate ToGetHerThere goal is to break down barriers to female leadership. The details are posted here.
In addition to focusing on the ToGetHerThere goal, Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (GSCSA) will produce several large events for the 100th Anniversary for Girl Scouts, volunteers and alumnae within its jurisdiction. A list of scheduled events along with descriptions is listed below.
Event: Cookies and Cocktails
Location: The Emporium Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Date/Time: Friday, March 16, 2012, 6-8 p.m.
Sample savory appetizers and the sweetest desserts – all inspired by Girl Scout Cookies. Chefs from area restaurants are asked to put a new spin on an old favorite. Sweet or savory, chefs may use any of the eight varieties of Girl Scout cookies to create and serve up their signature item of choice. Live music, cocktails and “celebrity judges.” Adults ages 21 and up only.
Event: Celebrate 100 Years of Girl Scouts
Location: Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge (Oak Ridge, Tenn.)
Date/Time: Saturday, March 24, 2012, 10:15 a.m. – 4 p.m.
A day to celebrate Girl Scouting throughout history. Features stage presentations featuring a special guest, lots of fun activities in rooms throughout the museum, lunch and viewing of the new Girl Scout exhibit.
Event: 100th Anniversary Knoxville Sing-Along
Location: World’s Fair Park (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 28, 2012, 12-4 p.m.
Girl Scout songstress, Melinda Caroll, will headline this event featuring thousands of Girl Scouts singing along to their favorite songs, plus performances, games, crafts and food. Caroll has been the inspirational creative force behind music for Girl Scouts since 1989 and has performed live before hundreds of thousands of Girl Scouts. Currently sponsored in part by B97.5.
Event: 100th Anniversary Chattanooga Bridgefest
Location: AT&T Field – Lookouts Stadium, Walnut Street Bridge, Coolidge Park (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Date/Time: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
A progressive event with Opening Ceremonies in AT&T Field – Lookouts Stadium at 9 a.m., follow by thousands of Girl Scouts crossing the Walnut Street Bridge to symbolically “bridge” to the second century of the Girl Scouting at 10 a.m. Ends with a party in Coolidge Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Lookouts will then host the Girl Scouts at their evening game and hold a camp out on the baseball field. Currently sponsored in part by Sunny 92.3.
Event: 100th Anniversary Rock the Mall Sing-Along Trip to Washington, D.C.
Location: Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City
Date/Time: Thursday, June 7, 2012 – Sunday, June 10, 2012, 8 a.m. on June 7 (may vary)
More than 250 members of GSCSA and their families will travel to Washington, DC for the June 9 100th Anniversary Rock the Mall Sing-Along on the National Mall and spend a few days touring our nation’s capital. Busses are scheduled to leave from the Knoxville, Chattanooga and Johnson City Girl Scout Service Centers at 8 a.m. on June 7 and return late on June 10. This will be a great visual as the Girl Scouts will be extremely excited about attending this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Event: 100th Anniversary Bristol Motor Speedway Overnight
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tenn.)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 29 – Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 (time TBD)
Set to take place at both Earhart Campground and Bristol Motor Speedway. Event attendees will enjoy activities such as “Bling my Campsite,” in which Girl Scouts will compete to decorate their campsite in the most unique, creative and spectacular ways. Activities inside Bristol Motor Speedway include ride-alongs on the track, tours of the spacious suites, relay races, dinner on the “infield,” movies, popcorn and s’mores!
Event: Tennessee Statewide Camporee
Location: Camp Sycamore Hills (Ashland City, Tenn.)
Date/Time: Friday – Sunday, Oct. 12-14, 2012 (time varies by age level)
GSCSA, in conjunction with Girl Scouts Heart of the South and the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, will host the Tennessee Statewide Camporee at Camp Sycamore Hills in Ashland City, Tennessee. Girls and adults will spend the weekend enjoying Girl Scout activities, making new friends, and discovering new adventures. Activities include archery, canoeing, horse riding, rappelling, leather works, hiking, wagon rides, tie-dying jewelry making and much more.
Details for these events will continue to be confirmed in the coming months.
Visit www.GirlScoutcsa.org to learn more about each event and for more information on the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting.
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About Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians serves nearly 20,000 girl and adult members stretching from North Georgia to Southwest Virginia. Service centers are located in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City. The organization’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The council offers financial assistance to ensure that every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout has the opportunity to join this vibrant organization.
Media Contact:
Sarah Pope, Ackermann PR
Phone: (865) 584-0550
Email: spope@ackermannpr.com
