Happy Girl Scout birthday!!!

One hundred years ago today, Juliette Gordon Low of Savannah, Georgia, went to the phone in her home, called her niece, and proclaimed:

"I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"

And Girl Scouting was born!

And since that time literally millions of girls and young women and been a part of this movement.

In the early days, women could purchase a handbook, learning about the program, register with the national headquarters, and establish a troop in their hometown. Girl Scouts arrived in Dexter in 1934 and Mrs. Francis Strickland was the leader.

Day camp, Round-Up, First Class and God and Community ceremonies, Camp Latonka, troop meetings and trips ... they have all been a part of the Girl Scout experience in Dexter and Stoddard County.

Some industrious Girl Scouts have sent the ShowMe Times their memories of Girl Scouting - in photo form A very special Girl Scout Memories photo gallery has been created, and will be added to throughout Girl Scout Week. Take a peak at what all the Girl Scouts have accomplished!

A very special thanks to June O'Daniel Lawrence for a number of photos from the 1960s and 1970s from the Bloomfield Girl Scout program.  Leader June Welborn knew the power of photographs - and so did June's father, JR O’Daniell, who was publisher of the Bloomfield Vindicator.

“This special anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the long and proud history of Girl Scouting and to engage our girls in making our communities and the world a better place,” said Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland’s interim CEO, Anne Soots. “It is also an opportunity to thank the countless committed volunteers in our community who give so much to Girl Scouting all year long. The encouragement, coaching and resources from adults are crucial for girls to be able to develop their leadership skills.”
 

Girls will be celebrating through the end of 2012, including at the Believe in Girls 5K and Expo in Springfield, Missouri on March 31, 2012 and Camporees in Sikeston, Sedalia, and Nevada in September. They will also, as always, give back to their communities in big ways. During this year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program, many Girl Scout troops have participated in the Cookie Share program, through which Girl Scout Cookies are shared with military organizations or food pantries. At summer camp and locally, girls will also be participating in Girl Scouts Forever Green projects to promote environmental stewardship.

Photo Above: Girl Scouts love flag ceremonies - and a very special one was held in 2004 when the Girl Scout Service Center in Dexter was dedicated. Members of the patrol included (from left) Malinda Mayo, Lynn Plummer, and Britney Bagby (Archive photo from Annabeth Miller)

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ShowMe Times Photo Gallery

Girl Scout Memories

Two Dexter FFA members were notified this week that they had been selected to perform with the Missouri State FFA choir. The choir is made up of approximately 150 FFA members from across the state. They filled out an application earlier this year and were recommended by their local choir directors. The two members from Dexter were Christin Sitzes and Jackson Hubbard. They will practice and perform at the Missouri State FFA convention before over 8000 FFA members in Columbia, MO on April 19-20. Ronnie Shipman is the Dexter FFA advisor. Congratulations, Christin & Jackson!!! (Submitted photo from Dexter FFA)

The senior private piano students of MaryRuth Boone of Dexter have been preparing this spring for Missouri District Music Contest, and traveled recently to Cape Girardeau for a special step in preparation. The students performed their piano solos for Dr. John Shelton, Professor Emeritus of Music at Southeast Missouri State University. Shelton critiqued each student's performance and offered suggestions and recommendations as they prepare for contest. Shelton taught at Southeast Missouri State University for 36 years, and was Boone's piano professor at the University.  Students participating were (from left) Brooks Probst of Dexter, Lauren White of Poplar Bluff, Colton Becker of Williamsville, Shelton, Joe Foster of Essex, and Malinda Mayor and Leah Noyes of Dexter. (photo submitted)

It was just short of a year that the waters started to rise in Southeast Missouri and then the Corps of Engineers blew up the Birds Point Levee.  Debra Tarver and Twan Robinson, of the Village of Pinhook, visited the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City to give a presentation to state leaders on how the flooding impacted their lives.  Pinhook, population of 54, was wiped out by the engineered breach of the levee.  Flood waters swallowed their houses and left irreparable damage to all houses and structures.  Once the water subsided and residents were allowed to return, they found their homes looted and some destroyed by fire. Tarver and Robinson shared with legislators their goal to keep the Pinhook community and their terrible loss in the minds of lawmakers.  After ten months without aid, the community is patiently dedicated to seek funding in order to rebuild their village outside of the flood zone and reunite their community. Tarver and Robinson shared a moment with State Rep. Terry Swinger of Caruthersville following their presentation. (Photo submitted) 

The sun has been shining and the temperatures creapng up on the gauge and trees all over the area are begging to bloom and bud and flowers beginning to brighten the area with their colors.