On Saturday, April 21, 2018, the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital had their annual meeting. This meeting was open for all troops in the national capital area which includes Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.  The purpose of this meeting was to award outstanding leaders and volunteers, to announce revisions of the bylaws, and review the audit of 2017. The council announced with glee that the price of cookies will not rise until 2020. They also said that 86% of the money spent was towards programs for the girls emphasizing the phrase, “For Girls, By Girls.” Towards the end of the meeting, they announced the new board members, and they took the pledge. They also introduced the new Girl Advisory Board (GAB) which I have the honor of being on.

“This was our 56th annual meeting for Girl Scouts and probably was one of the largest with over 912 members registered. I am inspired to see so many girl scouts increasing their role in their communities. I believe that our annual meeting shows the power of a movement that is truly girl-led,” Lidia Soto-Harmon, CEO of the GSCNC, said when questioned after the meeting. The event ended with the entire room singing a girl scout rendition of the “YMCA.” After the meeting, attendees had the chance to visit official pop-up shops and troop shops. The attendees could also talk with businesses that offered activities for girl scouts.

I am honored to be a girl scout for nearly 11 years, and I hope to continue being involved long after my high school graduation. Girl Scouts has really changed my life for the better, and I hope it can do the same for billions of more girls in America.