Contact: Laurie Johnsey, 256-883-1020 or laurie.johnsey@girlscoutsofnorthalabama.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 18, 2006

GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTH ALABAMA, INC. JOINS GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA IN HISTORIC TRANSFORMATION

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, (September 18, 2006) – As the 95th anniversary of Girl Scouting approaches in 2007, Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. joined Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) in a historic transformation to modernize the iconic organization and focus on leadership development for girls in the 21st century.

For the past two years, girls and adults in Huntsville have been among thousands nationwide who voiced their opinions and shared ideas to decide the future direction of Girl Scouting. The conclusion: the organization, which since 1912 has inspired 50 million girls and women, must seize the opportunity to revitalize the Girl Scout Movement to remain compelling, contemporary and relevant to today’s girls.

On Aug. 26, 2006, Girl Scouts of the USA’s (GSUSA) National Board of Directors voted to endorse a plan to realign 312 councils into 109 high-performance, community-based councils. The new structure will make the most effective use of resources to better serve the local community and create more opportunities in Girl Scouting for even more girls. As part of this national realignment, Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. will join with Girl Scouts of Cahaba Council (Birmingham), Cottaquilla Council of Girl Scouts (Anniston) and Tombigbee Girl Scout Council (Tuscaloosa) to form one high-performing Girl Scout council serving xx girls by 2009.

“This transformation is so important to the future of Girl Scouting, and Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. looks forward to reaching out to our partners in the local community throughout this process to deliver the Girl Scout experience to more and more girls” says Rosa Kilpatrick, President, Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc Board of Directors. “While the national organization is sheparding these changes, the Board and staff of Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. and councils across the country have been engaged since the beginning. So as we move to a high-performance system, we not only retain but strengthen our ability to serve the local community, but mostly our girls, whom have always been our top priority.”

“In a country as culturally diverse as America, Girl Scouting, and our philosophy of leadership, must be inclusive and respond to the needs of girls from all communities, cultures and walks of life,” commented Patricia Diaz Dennis, Chair, GSUSA National Board of Directors. “Thanks to the collective vision and support of the entire Girl Scout Movement, Girl Scouting has demonstrated what it means to truly listen to girls and react in a way that will most positively meet their individual needs.”
Under the leadership of GSUSA CEO Kathy Cloninger, who took office in 2004, the transformation began by asking girls and adults from throughout the Girl Scout community what they want and need from Girl Scouting today.

“From the very beginning, this process has been a partnership between the national organization and our local councils. Our first step was to reach out to as many people as possible – girls, volunteers, staff members from throughout the organization – to hear their ideas on the future direction of the organization,” says Cloninger. “For the past two years, we have taken those ideas and shaped a strategy that is transforming every aspect of Girl Scouting while refocusing on what, historically, has always been our biggest strength: developing leadership skills in girls.

THE RENEWED GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The National Board of Directors also endorsed a more contemporary leadership philosophy, and renewed an organizational commitment to develop leadership skills based on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. This leadership philosophy is captured by the new Girl Scout mission statement to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

Girl Scouting has identified some core tenets of its leadership philosophy – discover, connect and take action – which will form the basis of all Girl Scout activities beginning in October 2008. “The ideas of discovery, connection and action reflect the Girl Scout view that leadership extends beyond holding a position of authority,” says Cloninger. “In Girl Scouting, leadership is about self, others, community service and philanthropy. You can’t lead well unless you really understand yourself and have your set of values very well in place.”

“Girls across the Tennessee Valley tell us they need Girl Scouting to personalize their leadership experience in a way that’s fun and relevant to their lives,” says Paula Schlumbrecht, CEO, Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. “As a national Movement, we’ve defined the framework for such an experience, and Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. looks forward to engaging with girls to bring this new and exciting leadership philosophy to life.”

Research, conducted from June 2005-2006 by the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), shows most girls see the value of developing leadership skills and that girls define leadership in terms of the qualities a leader possesses and the actions she takes. As part of the organization’s focus on leadership, GSRI will commence a research review in late 2006 to explore how girls and youth define and experience leadership today. This research review is scheduled for release in March 2007, coinciding with the 95th anniversary of Girl Scouting.

About Girl Scouts:
Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. serves members in 12 counties in Alabama. Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s pre-eminent organization for girls, with a membership of more than 3.5 million girls and adults. Today, as when founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA cultivates values, social conscience and self-esteem in young girls, while also teaching them critical life skills that will enable them to succeed as adults. In Girl Scouting — and its special girl-only environment — girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together.

For more information about Girl Scouts, contact Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc. at 256-883-1020 or visit our web site at www.girlscoutsofnorthalabama.org.

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