VCC Magazine Spring 2018

V irginia C apitol C onnections , S pring 2018 31 You couldn’t miss the Girl Scouts in the hallways of the Pocahontas Building on Feb. 15. With Girl Scout Cookies in hand, delegations from several Girl Scout councils that serve girls in the Commonwealth visited delegates and senators to talk to them about supporting policy efforts. These efforts invest in STEM education programs, strengthen girls’ financial literacy skills, and support policies that invest in bullying prevention. Girl Scouts were representing Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth ofVirginia, Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital, Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline and Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. Girl Scouts also hosted an open house on the 5th floor of the building, where legislators and their staff stopped in to be updated on Girl Scouts and, of course, to pick up a sample of Girl Scout Cookies! Many of the Girl Scouts who earned the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, the Gold Award, shared information on their community service projects with legislators. The girls explained how their take-action projects, such as the promotion of literacy and awareness of how to deal with bullying, impacted individuals and communities. Following the open house, Girl Scouts were introduced in the House of Delegates by DelegateMarcia Price and in the Senate by Senator Janet Howell, a former Girl Scout who spent her girl years as a Mariner Girl Scout. Delegate Price’s introduction which stressed the need for more women leaders received a standing ovation. “Girl Scouts is recognized as a national leader in providing the best leadership development experience for girls,” she said. “Girl Scouts is continuing a legacy of providing girls with the tools to become leaders dedicated to making this country a better place. At all grade levels, they offer hands-on, girl-led, girl-centered learning in STEM, the outdoors, through entrepreneurship, and abundant opportunities to develop invaluable life skills, helping girls take the lead early and often.” The afternoon included a meeting with Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni and Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring, also a Girl Scout alumna, who talked to the girls about her years in the program. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam scheduled time to drop into the meeting to meet the Girl Scouts and to ask them about their Girl Scout leadership experience. When talking to the girls about their future plans, he told them not to limit themselves—“You can be anything you want to be,” he said. Tracy Keller, the chief executive officer for the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, a council in southeasternVirginia said the message from the Governor resonated with the girls. “ It’s been an amazing day. These girls—young women—have met so many new women legislators who are eager to serve and make a difference. They leave a little bit more inspired and I hope we, in return, leave our legislators a bit more inspired knowing that today’s youth truly care. It’s important for girls to see women leaders in action because you can’t be what you can’t see. These legislative visits are a positive experience for all.” Girl Scouts ended their day with a tour at the Governor’s Mansion hosted byVirginia First Lady Pam Northam. Marcy Germanotta is Communications & Marketing Director for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. Girl Scouts Inspired by Virginia Leaders By Marcy Germanotta V