Spotlight on Great Girl Scouts

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we’re reflecting on all the women who have changed the world for the better and the girls who will do it the future.

Hareem and Amanda, two teen Girl Scouts from Virginia and Illinois who won the Girl Scouts Speak Out PSA contest “Dear Mr. President,” credit Girl Scouting for making them young women with the training to bring their vision to life and make a difference, and they want more girls to have access to that.

Both girls say they know the power of their own voice and they want other girls to see it can be the same for them too.

“When people say, ‘You’re just a girl,’ it makes me sort of sad. Girls aren’t hearing the right messages,” says Amanda. “Girl Scouting gives you the confidence to believe you can do it and the skills so you know how.”

 “I want to be a marine biologist and a political leader. Girl Scouting will help me do that through the skills it helps me develop, from selling cookies to things like this PSA contest – it’s helped a lot in my every day life” says Hareem.

Learn more about Hareem and Amanda and watch their PSA here.

Video: Indiana Troop Discovers Faith and Sisterhood at Girl Scouts

Check out the video below of Brownies and Juniors in Indianapolis as they discover the meaning of sisterhood while earning their My Promise, My Faith award.

Girls can earn the My Promise, My Faith pin developed by Girl Scouts of the USA. This pin, which girls can earn once a year, complements existing religious recognitions and allows all girls to further strengthen the connection between their faith and Girl Scouts. A girl earns the My Promise, My Faith pin by carefully examining the Girl Scout Law and directly tying it to tenets of her faith. Find more info here!

Scientific American: "On Girl Scouts, glaciers, and great women"

Bonnie Swoger penned a column for Scientific American titled, "On Girl Scouts, glaciers, and great women". It's a must read! An excerpt:

I was a Girl Scout for twelve years.  By the time I graduated from high school, there were four girls in our troop:

Dr. Airani Sathananthan is an endocrinologist and an assistant professor at the Western University of Health Sciences.

Dr. Alice Suroviec is a chemist and an associate professor at Berry College. 

Tina Steger is an industrial engineer at General Motors. 

I started out in geology but shifted gears and am now the Science Librarian at SUNY Geneseo. 

I can’t say that we would all be English teachers or marketing managers without scouting, but we had incredible role models, STEM related activities to broaden our minds and the opportunity to develop life skills that have served us well in scientific fields.

Check it out!

Reminder! Earth Hour is an Invitation to Change the World

Join the Girl Scouts Forever Green – Save Energy Project and tell all of our friends to change out their energy sapping incandescent light bulbs for ENERGY STAR® qualified (or other energy-efficient lightbulbs) and join Earth Hour’s efforts for 2013.

Earth Hour takes place from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 23^rd. Can you imagine looking at a vision of lights going out through each time zone across the world one hour at a time? That’s what happens when we join together to power down. So far, in our efforts to power down and save energy through our relationship with Earth Hour, we’ve saved over 50,433,069 kWh of energy and eliminated 77,666,926 pounds of CO_2. That’s like removing almost 7,000 cars from our busy roads! By turning off your lights for just 60 minutes on March 23 you can take positive action for the environment and inspire others to do the same!

Earth Hour is an invitation to change the world. By carrying out additional ways to conserve and save energy, you can make the symbolism of Earth Hour come alive throughout the year and create significant positive environmental impact.

Girl Scouts in all parts of the world are leading efforts to go beyond the hour while doing activities in It’sYour Planet—Love It!Leadership Journeys. They have found additional ways to take further action. Check out Get Moving! Girl Scouts’ National Leadership Journey for Juniors that’s all about saving energy. Adult volunteers can use the Get Moving! with Girl Scouts Forever Green.

Got great Earth Hour photos or YouTube video links? Send them to gsforevergreen@girlscouts.org.

Girl Scouts Coast to Coast - March 19, 2013

In today's Coast to Coast, Anna Maria Chávez makes a special trip to The White House, Girl Scouts in New Mexico develop financial skills, two entrepreneurial Girl Scouts are celebrated in Iowa and the life of a lifelong Girl Scout is remembered. Check it out!

The White House reports that President Obama welcomed a group of accomplished and inspiring women to a reception in the East Room of the White House. The group, which included leaders like Girl Scouts' CEO Anna Maria Chávez, A&E Networks CEO Abbe Raven, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, astronaut Sunita Williams and WNBA star (and 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist) Tamika Catchings, joined the President, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to celebrate the progress women make in this country each and every day. For her visit, Anna was joined at the White House by a remarkable woman from amongst Girl Scout ranks: Marjorie Crawford-Dunn, Assistant Director of Membership Credentials at GSUSA, whose passion for and dedication to the Movement spans 27 years.

New Mexico's Farmington Daily Times reports that the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest "financial literacy" program run by females in the United States. For some of the girls, the cookie sales will be one of their first chances to really manage money. While the seniors have experience with money, the kindergartners are often just learning.

California's Mercury News reports that the students at Saratoga's Sacred Heart School know a little more about recycling today than they did just a few weeks ago, thanks to a sixth-grade Girl Scout troop that organized a range of activities at the school to raise awareness and inform students about the importance of "going green." The scouts' "Green Week" initiative was part of their journey to "discover special skills and talents, connect with others and take action to make the world a better place."

Iowa's Des Moines Register reports that ten-year-old Girl Scout Katelyn and her 7-year-old sister Laura are the baby-faced sales assassins of the $7 billion cookie industry. The Norwalk sisters and about 1.8 million of their fellow Girl Scouts dominate the cookie industry during the first quarter of each year, then completely disappear from it in March or April, in one of the business world’s most unusual seasonal events. They’re so effective that the Girl Scouts of the USA had five of the 10 best-selling cookies in the United States during the first three months of last year. The Norwalk sisters have sold more than 1,300 boxes so far this year — including six boxes they’ve eaten themselves. They sold 752 boxes during the first quarter of 2012. The LeFleurs work mostly door-to-door, with Mom in the background, and use their share of each $3.50 box sale to pay for Girl Scout summer camp. The story was also picked up by USA Today.

Last but not least, The Record in New Jersey reports that Libbie Lindsay was 12 years old when she put on her first Girl Scout uniform. She treasured the long khaki jacket and coordinated ranger hat and kept them always. Miss Lindsay, a lifelong Lyndhurst resident and North Jersey's oldest Girl Scout, died Saturday at 100 years and 141 days. "Libbie was irreplaceable," said Rosemary Iannone, who had Miss Lindsay as a troop leader in the 1960s. "She was what Girl Scouts was all about."

Guest Post: A Message from Anna Maria Chávez

A special message from Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA

As you probably know, March is Women’s History Month around the world; a month where we pause to reflect on the many contributions women have made to society.

From Marie Curie’s groundbreaking work on radioactivity; to Margaret Thatcher’s history making turn as Prime Minister of Great Britain; to Susan B. Anthony’s tireless campaign for gender equality in the United States; to our very own founder, Juliette Gordon Low; bold, determined women have been at the forefront of the most significant achievements throughout history.

Today, I was privileged to be joined at the White House by a remarkable woman from amongst our own ranks: Marjorie Crawford-Dunn, Assistant Director of Membership Credentials at GSUSA, whose passion for and dedication to our Movement spans 27 years. Together, we traveled to Washington to represent the Girl Scout Movement on this special day, and to meet the President and First Lady Michelle Obama at an event held in celebration of women’s history.

We also made stops to visit the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of American History, to view the exhibit set up in honor of the Girl Scouts’ 100^th Anniversary.  Throughout the day, I reflected on Marjorie’s amazing story of dedication to our Movement, and the touching letter she sent me describing the impact that Girl Scouting has made in her own life and the life of girls across our nation.

For 101 years, we have ridden an incredible wave of inspiration and commitment to serving girls, thanks to the hard work of people like Marjorie and everyone in our Movement.  We have been an indelible part of the history celebrated today by the President of the United States: the history of women in America and across the world, who, through their vision, their willingness to speak out and their determination to be heard, helped make our world a better place.

It’s All About Power!

If we Girl Scouts power up to inspire and lead, is it OK to power down, too?  You bet! Join the Girl Scouts Forever Green – Save Energy Project and tell all of our friends to change out their energy sapping incandescent light bulbs for ENERGY STAR® qualified (or other energy-efficient lightbulbs) and join Earth Hour’s efforts for 2013.

Earth Hour takes place from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 23^rd. Can you imagine looking at a vision of lights going out through each time zone across the world one hour at a time? That’s what happens when we join together to power down. So far, in our efforts to power down and save energy through our relationship with Earth Hour, we’ve saved over 50,433,069 kWh of energy and eliminated 77,666,926 pounds of CO_2. That’s like removing almost 7,000 cars from our busy roads! By turning off your lights for just 60 minutes on March 23 you can take positive action for the environment and inspire others to do the same!

Earth Hour is an invitation to change the world. By carrying out additional ways to conserve and save energy, you can make the symbolism of Earth Hour come alive throughout the year and create significant positive environmental impact.

Girl Scouts in all parts of the world are leading efforts to go beyond the hour while doing activities in It’sYour Planet—Love It! Leadership Journeys. They have found additional ways to take further action. Check out Get Moving! Girl Scouts’ National Leadership Journey for Juniors that’s all about saving energy. Adult volunteers can use the Get Moving! with Girl Scouts Forever Green.

Take a look at this video from Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona which aims to show how easy it can be to save a half million dollars in energy.

Got great Earth Hour photos or YouTube video links? Send them to gsforevergreen@girlscouts.org.

Shout Out to Volunteers!

As we wrap up Girl Scout Week, we must acknowledge the selfless women and men who help make Girl Scouting possible: our volunteers! You all are a shining example of leadership. Many step in after long days of work and/or taking care of their family to help Girl Scouts build courage, confidence, and character. Thank you for all you do in the lives of girls everywhere.

Girl Scouts Coast to Coast - March 14, 2013

Today's Coast to Coast has STEAM, Smart Cookies and much more! Check it out.

Riverbender.com reports that on March 7, 2013, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois hosted a White House Roundtable on Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics). The Women in STEAM meeting was part of the White House Roundtable series “Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics.” Dr. Ann Bartuska, Deputy Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, met with Girl Scouts  and other community members to talk about STEAM and workplace development.  As part of the USDA’s celebration of Women’s History Month, Dr. Bartuska is traveling and meeting with various groups to see firsthand successful STEAM programs, to share ideas and to encourage STEAM workplace development.

California's SFGate has a great look back titled, "Sixty years of Girl Scout cookies in San Francisco".

Oregon's KTVL News 10 asks local Girl Scouts what Girl Scouts means to them. One Girl Scout said the program has helped her come out of her shell and have a lot of fun!

New York's Long Island Herald reports that The Smart Cookies, a local robotics team comprised of 4th and 6th grade Girl Scouts, won an innovation award at the First Lego League (FLL) Long Island championship tournament on March 3 in Middle Island. Three of the Cookies hail from Baldwin, one is from Freeport and one is from Bellmore. The team is sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Nassau County and consists of members from three different troops, said coach Denise Bryne.

In St. Louis, KMOV TV 4 wants you to imagine using a credit card to pay for Girl Scout cookies? AT&T and Girl Scouts introduced a pilot program recently, allowing consumers to do just that!

Last but not least, CANDY INDUSTRY reports that Nestlé Crunch has announced its Girl Scout themed candy bars have been named the 2013 Product of the Year (POY) in the candy category by Product of the Year USA. Launched as a limited-edition product in 2012, the bars give consumers something to tide them over until the next Girl Scout cookie season. In addition, the product marked the first time the Girl Scouts had ever licensed their flavors for use in a candy bar.

AT&T: "Where are the Girl Scout Cookies?"

Head over to AT&T and check out their top story! If you’re looking for last minute treats, download the Girl Scout Cookie Finder App for iOS and Android!

The Girl Scout Cookie Finder App for iOS and Android features GPS-based booth locator to find booth nearest you. The app also teaches the consumers what Girl Scout Cookie Program is all about: the largest girl-led business that teaches 5 essential life skills.

Anna Maria Chávez on TODAY: ‘Anything is Possible’

Anna Maria Chávez,  the first Latina CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, talks to TODAY’s Natalie Morales about her path from being the daughter of a Mexican migrant worker to heading up the 100-year-old organization, saying, “I’m living the American dream.” Check it out!

Today marks the end of the year long centennial celebration for the Girl Scouts of the USA. Natalie Morales, once a girl scout herself, sat down with Chávez to find out what she has in store for the future of the Girl Scouts.

Watch Girl Scouts on The Today Show!

Tune in tomorrow, March 12, to watch Girl Scouts on Today! The segment will air sometime between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Talk about a great way to kick off the 101st anniversary of Girl Scouts! 

Featured will be an interview with Anna Maria Chávez, coverage of the recent leadership breakfast in Washington, and girls from Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey learning about robotics. Today anchor Natalie Morales, who is reporting the story, was a Girl Scout overseas (her father was in the U.S. Air Force) and in Dover, Delaware. Check your local listings!

Guest Post: A Message from Anna Maria Chávez

A special message from Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA

As we prepare to commemorate the founding of Girl Scouts of the USA, I want to wish everyone a joyous and meaningful Girl Scout Week. The week begins with Girl Scout Sunday on March 10 and will run through Girl Scout Sabbath on March 16. And, of course, March 12 will be our 101st birthday. Juliette Gordon Low’s vision was to establish an organization in which any American girl could expand her horizons by having fun, exploring new interests, and contributing to society. The core of that vision was girl leadership and I am immensely proud to note that it continues to be at the center of our mission today.

 In fact, as we enter our second century of service to girls, our focus on girl leadership is more intense than ever. Girl Scouts offers the premier leadership program for girls, and just two weeks ago I had the privilege of joining some truly amazing Gold Award recipients at a leadership breakfast in Washington, D.C. These young women have already accomplished so much as Girl Scouts and as citizens of their communities and their country. Seeing the passion on their faces and hearing their incredible stories, I was reminded yet again of the importance of our mission, and the vital role we play in developing girls who are making our world a better place.

Girl Scout Week 2012 was spectacular, as we united across the country and around the world to celebrate 100 remarkable years. This year will be just as special, as we honor our proud legacy while looking to the future and all that it holds for Girl Scouting. I know Daisy Low would be proud of all that the movement she founded has accomplished, and I am convinced that the best is yet to come. 

So I wish you a very happy Girl Scout Week! And thank you for all you do in building girls of courage, confidence and character.

Girl Scouts Coast to Coast - March 8, 2013

Today's Coast to Coast celebrates many forms of girl leadership. Check it out!

PC Mag reports that International Women's Day Gets the Google Doodle Treatment. Happy International Women's Day!

TODAY has an awesome story on Taylor Godwin, a Girl Scout who is on a mission to donate thousands of cookies to U.S. troops. She is doing just that, despite her battle with pituitary dwarfism and epilepsy.

Minnesota's Echo Press reports that from March 10-16, more than 3.2 million Girl Scouts around the country will celebrate Girl Scout Week and the 101st anniversary of Girl Scouts. Self-discovery and community service were core values that Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low sought to instill in girls from the earliest days.

The Epoch Times reports that Girl Scouts from around the country made a special trip to Capital Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28 to unveil the first U.S. Mint Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar coin. Anna Maria Chávez  CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, said that she was joined by “incredible” young women. “Last week, I was privileged to be joined in our nation’s capitol by more than 20 Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and their council CEOs from across the United States,” Chávez wrote in her column in The Huffington Post on March 5. Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (S. 47) the on same day as the breakfast.

Tech Hive tried the free Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for iOS and Android that's designed for the Girl Scouts of the USA.You can search by distance and then see your destination on a map. Girls Scout cookie season varies by region, so you also can search by date. "The Girl Scout Cookie Finder app also provides videos about the Scouts and does a nice job showing the value of these cookies beyond indulging your sweet tooth: The Scouts learn valuable business and interpersonal life skills from participating in cookie sales."

The Southern Illinoisan reports that inspiring girls to get excited about science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics was the topic Thursday of a White House Roundtable. Hosted by the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois at its regional office in Mount Vernon, the roundtable brought together women who work in the different fields to share ideas and encourage workplace development.

ITVS Documentaries to Help Girls Behind Bars

BEYOND the BOX reports that in 2012, ITVS’s Community Classroom partnered with the Girls Scouts of the USA to create the curriculum “This is a Story You Have to Tell: Women, Girls, and the Criminal Justice System.” The collection features modules from three ITVS films: Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story, Troop 1500, and Girls on the Wall. The Girl Scouts have since adapted the resource to be used as curriculum for their national programs Girl Scouts Beyond Bars and Girl Scouting in Detention Centers, reaching nearly 17,000 women and girls around the country. Here is a video portraying the project. 

Follow the link to read a column by Shalon Maral, the Got Choices Outreach Manager.

"I started out with Girl Scouts 22 years ago as a volunteer and I now have the most incredible job!", writes Maral. "For the last 10 years, working for Girl Scouts as an Outreach Program Manager has opened my heart. Our program, Got Choices, is a nationwide Girl Scouts in Detention Center Program. It is very strong in Northern California and continues to grow. We serve at least 660 girls a year in our council, in 18 sites in five counties."

Girl Scouts Coast to Coast - March 6, 2013

Today's Coast to Coast has everything—Anna Maria Chávez, Rep. Jack Kingston, Honey Boo Boo, Savannah Smiles, a warning to the wise and much more. Check it out!

Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA, has a column in the Huffington Post. "Last week, I was privileged to be joined in our nation's capitol by more than 20 Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and their council CEOs from across the United States," writes Chávez. "At just 16 or 17 years of age, these young women have already done things that most adults could not conceive of and accomplished things few would have the courage to even try."

Washington D.C.'s The Hill reports that Rep. Jack Kingston charmed the audience at the Girl Scouts Leadership Breakfast on Capitol Hill that welcomed the new female members of Congress. The Georgia Republican said he was often forced to go with his sisters to Girl Scouts meetings as a kid, and begrudgingly learned talents like “how to cook a pancake on a potato pan.” Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez echoed Kingston’s thoughts that Girl Scouts have a significant effect on men, from those with “mothers who were Girl Scouts and troop leaders to their wives, sisters, daughters.” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) spoke after Kingston about her experience as a troop mom, and she helped to announce the newly issued Girl Scout Centennial Silver Dollar.

Yahoo! News reports that Girl Scouts have welcomed their newest Brownie: Honey Boo Boo (real name: Alana Thompson). "On Monday, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia welcomed seven-year-old celebrity Alana Thompson to Troop #60373,” the GSUSA tells omg! in a statement. “Alana’s wish to become a Girl Scout came true when she officially joined the same troop in which her best friend, Destiny, is a member. Alana’s Girl Scout Leadership Experience will allow her to discover more about herself, connect in positive relationships with others and take action about the things that matter most to her. She will also be able to participate fully in the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, which teaches key business literacy skills and entrepreneur-ism.”


Washington's New Day Northwest reports that Girl Scouts of Western Washington held a contest looking for the most creative recipe using girl scout cookies, and have chosen this year's winner! "Savannah Smiles" have won two years in a row.  Video below.

CBS Boston reports that The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts took to City Hall Plaza on Saturday in an effort to help soldiers overseas. With support from Boston Duck Tours, the girl scouts packed up boxes of their famous cookies to send to troops along with personal thank you notes. The girls also sold cookies for in an effort to raise money for a local troop.

North Carolina's Winston-Salem Journal reports that As a World War II bombardier, Hank Harris knows a little bit about camaraderie. In his later life, he formed bonds of friendship within a group that may strike some as unlikely: Girl Scouts.  Over the last 30 years, Harris has taught hundreds of young girls how to pitch a tent, tie a knot, bait a hook, start a fire and cook breakfast with a gallon-sized tin can.

Open Letter: STOP DOING THINGS LIKE THIS. Thanks!

Define Perfect: Spotlight on a Gold Award Project

For Courtney Shelton’s Gold Award project, she decided to initiate a positive-image boosting internet movement aimed at highlighting the perfection in others so they may see it in themselves. Courtney’s mission is to redefine perfect.

From her blog, Define Perfect:

“The problem that I want to tackle in the world? People who feel the need to fit molds created for them by society, the people they associate with, or themselves. I want to redefine the word “perfect” so that instead of being some unattainable label, it is something that people can use to describe things that may not be flawless but are exactly the way they should be.”

Not only is Define Perfect an active blog and Facebook Community, Courtney is also spreading the word on Twitter via #defineperfect @defperfect and #defineperfect on Instagram.

“My intention is to get people involved with something that will make them feel more positive about themselves,” says Shelton. “Not everyone who has bad days needs to be part of a rehab center or some sort of online group that sends them encouraging and cheesy emails… I want people to see the cheesiness for themselves, in real life. The goal: That everyone receives a compliment every day.”

There is much more to Define Perfect that is worth checking out, including a built in measure of success. Also very impressive is Shelton’s intent to target everyone, “every demographic. Girls and boys. Young and old.” Definitely check it out!

Breaking News: Selena Gomez Prefers Thin Mints!

The Daily Mail reports that Selena Gomez was out and about in Beverly Hills on Saturday. Part of her shopping day included the purchase of some Girl Scout Cookies. There is photographic evidence!


Gomez is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. She is known for portraying Alex Russo, the protagonist in the Emmy Award-winning television series Wizards of Waverly Place. She is a highly successful film actress and made her starring theatrical film debut in Ramona and Beezus.

Her career has expanded into the music industry; Gomez is the lead singer and founder of the pop band Selena Gomez & the Scene, which has released three RIAA Gold certified studio albums, Kiss & Tell, A Year Without Rain, and When the Sun Goes Down, spawned three RIAA Platinum certified singles, "Naturally", "Who Says" and "Love You Like a Love Song" and charted four No. 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs.

In 2008, Gomez was designated as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Girl Scouts Leadership Breakfast Launches 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar, Celebrates Accomplishments

California's ABC 7 reports that a Bay Area Girl Scout made a special trip to the nation's capital, not to sell Thin Mints, but to pitch silver dollars. Pleasanton Girl Scout Sricharana and Marina Park, CEO of Girl Scouts of Northern California, participated in a leadership breakfast Thursday to highlight the Girl Scout Gold Award - the highest achievement girls can receive in Girl Scouting.

The two were also there for the unveiling of the new U.S. Mint Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar, which represents the first time the Girl Scouts have had an official coin.

Along with Sricharana, Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez and sixteen other Girl Scouts Gold Award recipients from around the country joined Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios, Congressman Jack Kingston, Girl Scout Troop Capitol Hill Co-chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and more than 100 other leaders on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28 to celebrate women’s leadership and the second century of Girl Scouting.

The leadership breakfast brought together outstanding women and men from the public and private sectors  and will include members of Girl Scouts Honorary Troop Capitol Hill, made up of all the female Members of Congress. A key feature of the event was in recognizing Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and five of the 2013 Young Women of Distinction – girls that have earned the Gold Award and were selected by an external committee with representatives from leading nonprofit organizations, Girl Scout partners and funders. Both recognitions require significant planning and project management within their communities, and are awarded at the Girl Scout Senior and Girl Scout Ambassador levels. Zoë Gadegbeku (pictured below), a 2013 National Young Woman of Distinction, was a featured speaker.

Girl Scouts of the USA completes its centennial year on March 12, 2013, and the breakfast served as a launch celebration of the 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar. Beginning on February 28 at noon ET, became available through the United States Mint and in select Girl Scout council shops nationwide. For information on the coin, visit www.fchiase.com/coin or www.usmint.gov, or dial 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).