HR0646 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0646 LRB103 39799 LAW 70393 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is an organization dedicated to helping girls of all backgrounds and abilities discover their full potential, find lifelong friends, develop leadership skills and new talents, and make the world a better place through a wide variety of enriching experiences, including field trips, skill-building sports clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships; and

WHEREAS, GSUSA was founded by Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia on March 16, 1912, when the first Girl Scout troop was established and consisted of 18 girls who all shared a sense of curiosity and a belief that they could do anything; at a time in United States history when women could not yet vote and were expected to adhere to strict social norms, such an organization encouraging girls to embrace their unique strengths and create their own opportunities was game-changing and quickly spread across the country and around the globe; and

WHEREAS, GSUSA troops are led by troop leaders, a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer who meets regularly with their troop to help members achieve the purposes of the organization, building girls of courage, confidence, and character, and these troops are further led with the assistance of other volunteers, mentors, and alumnae; and

WHEREAS, GSUSA consists of six membership ranks across various age levels, and these include Daisies for Kindergartners and first graders, Brownies for second and third graders, Juniors for fourth and fifth graders, Cadettes for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, Seniors for ninth and tenth graders, and Ambassadors for eleventh and twelfth graders; and

WHEREAS, GSUSA members contribute to their local communities through programs and service projects, and countless alumnae have become capable leaders in their respective communities and career fields, such as the arts, education, science and technology, and state and federal governments; and

WHEREAS, GSUSA continues to promote experiences in the great outdoors while evolving to meet members' needs in this advanced technological age; to do so, the organization has expanded programming to include more STEM subjects, including robotics and space science badges, launched Digital Cookie, through which Girl Scout Cookies were made available for sale online starting in 2014, and partnered with Google for Made with Code, a program encouraging girls to get an early start in computer science; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, GSUSA is represented by tens of thousands of girls across the State and led by five regional councils, the Girls Scouts of Central Illinois, the Girls Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, the Girls Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, the Girls Scouts of Northern Illinois, and the Girls Scouts of Southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, GSUSA will celebrate its 112th birthday on March 12, 2024; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the members and leaders of the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the citizens of Illinois to join in appreciation and celebration of the GSUSA for the organization's work on behalf of girls across the State and the country.