Recognize Girl Scout Day

May 23, 2017, as Girl Scout Day; Girl Scouts from Staten Island and Brooklyn will visit Albany, New York, and meet with elected officials, tour the Capitol and go to the New York State Museum where they will be able to view the World Trade Center exhibit; and WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts and their Troop Leaders from Staten Island include: Scouts-Erica Breen, Michaela Duenas, Mattea Farfan-Narcisse, Areba Ghafoor, Meghan Haddad, Kaitlyn Lutz, Aislinn Pratt, Nicole Renzetti, Giavanna Schrecker, Brianna Taliento, Samantha Wilkinson, and Victoria Yzaguirre; Troop Leaders-Christine Battaglia, Debbie Dennis, Kathryn Duenas, and Suzanne Lutz; and WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts and their Troop Leaders from Brooklyn include: Scouts-Jasmine Abdelkarim, Angelina Caputo, Samantha Diaz, Adriana Dorner, Leanne Foster, Avianca Marshall, Jadalynn Millington, Samantha Mosquera, Tahirah Moses, Ciara Quinones, Briana Redrovan, Amelia Sambone, and Hayley Singh; Troop Leaders-Amarilis Casanova, Yolanda De Leon, Deborah Dennis, Angel Figueroa, and Denorah Marcial; and WHEREAS, On March 12, 1912, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low assembled a group of 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, to register the first troop of American Girl Guides; Margaret "Daisy Doots" Gordon, her niece and namesake, was the first registered member; the name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year; and WHEREAS, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low believed that all girls should have the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually; with the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and open air, Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid; and WHEREAS, Within a few years, her dream for a girl-centered organization was realized; today, Girl Scouts of the USA has a membership of over 3.2 million girls and adults, a significant growth from its modest beginnings nearly a century ago; currently, there are more than 59 million women in the United States who are Girl Scout alumnae; and WHEREAS, In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together; through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardship, girls grow courageous and strong; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to their improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others; and WHEREAS, Juliette Low died at her home in Savannah, Georgia, in 1927 from breast cancer; and WHEREAS, On July 3, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill authorizing a stamp in honor of Juliette Gordon Low; the stamp was one of the few dedicated to women; in addition, on October 28, 1979, Juliette Low was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State of New York, takes just pride in recognizing and celebrating all that Girl Scouts of the USA has done for local communities across the country, and wishes them continued success in all their future endeavors; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to recognize May 23, 2017, as Girl Scout Day; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the aforementioned Girl Scouts and their Troop Leaders.