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Each year, Girl Scout representatives from various Girl Scout

councils in Virginia gather in Richmond to hold an annual Girl Scout

Legislative Day at the State Capitol. The day helps raise awareness

of the issues important to girls and young women and helps educate

legislators on what Girl Scouts are doing to address challenges

girls face today. Another important goal is to help demonstrate to

policymakers that Girl Scouts is a resource and an authority on issues

affecting girls and welcome being part of community discussions

where their expertise can truly be considered the voice of girls.

This year, a Cookies and Milk reception was held in the General

Assembly Building where legislators were able to meet council

leadership members and several Gold Award recipients. Information

from the

State of Girls

study conducted by the Girl Scout Research

Institute was shared and specific information from the study applicable

to girls from Virginia was of particular interest. Each council

also shared what each were doing in focus areas of the Girl Scout

Leadership Experience: Increasing Girls’ Involvement in Science,

Technology, Engineering and Math; Strengthening Financial Literacy

and Entrepreneurial Skills; Promoting Safe and Healthy Living—

Reducing Bullying and Relational Aggression, and successful

partnerships that support a thriving nonprofit community.

Smart Cookies Visit Virginia Capitol

Girl Scout representatives from throughout the state traveled to Richmond to

speak to legislators during their annual Girl Scout Legislative Day.

By Marcy Germanotta

Part of the day’s schedule for the Virginia Girl Scout delegation

included a tour of the Governor’s home where they were greeted by

Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe who proudly told the girls

she was a Girl Scout alumna. Girl Scout Council of the Colonial

Coast Tracy Keller joined other council CEOs, Jean Ann Hughes

from Girl Scouts of the Virginia Skyline, and Viola Baskerville

from the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia in afternoon

meetings with Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Maurice

Jones, and Virginia Secretary of Administration, Nancy Rodrigues.

Rodrigues, who lives in Surry, Virginia and who is also a former Girl

Scout, discussed ways to help make policy makers and leaders in the

community more aware of the leadership aspect of Girl Scouting.

She was eager to hear how women in government could help mentor

the next generation of leaders and brainstormed ideas for next year’s

promotion of the Gold Award anniversary.

“We’re more than cookies, crafts and camps,” GSCCC CEO Tracy

Keller said. “We’re about helping girls build courage, confidence and

character to make the world a better place. When we accomplish that,

we accomplish giving the world more responsible and caring leaders.”

Marcy Germanotta is the Communications Director,

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. Photos by Marcy Germanotta.

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