Girl Scouts ready for change in '07

As the 95th anniversary nears, the organization will undergo a transformation to modernize.

By JENNIFER FREEZE

Southeast Missourian

When Kay Azuma was a Girl Scout troop leader in 1987, issues affecting a girl's life are a lot different than today.

The Internet was an unfamiliar world. E-mail was non-existent. Chat rooms, online dating and instant messaging wasn't in the vocabulary.

Drug education warned against tobacco, alcohol and maybe marijuana -- but there was no mention of Ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine or "date rape" drugs.

There weren't many pictures of extremely thin Hollywood stars plastered on the covers of magazine. Eating disorders existed, but weren't something Azuma's Girl Scouts were dealing with.

"Life seemed to be less busy and less complicated then," she said.

As the 95th anniversary of Girl Scouting approaches in 2007, the Girl Scouts organization nationwide will undergo a historic transformation to modernize the iconic organization and focus on leadership development for girls in today's society.

The transformation means troop leaders will focus more intensely on personal development and self-esteem issues among members, said Denise Stewart, CEO of the Girl Scouts Otahki Council.

The Girl Scouts organization determined it needed to focus on issues such as bullying, especially over the Internet, self-mutilation and teen pregnancy.

Girl Scout volunteers will be trained to recognize the signs of stress and emotional difficulties that girls are facing in today's world, Stewart said.

"Every generation of girl faces different issues -- we are just adjusting to cover those issues," she said.

The changes come after a two-year survey in which thousands of girls, members and nonmembers, were asked how the organization could provide girls what they want and need from Girl Scouting today.

"In a country as culturally diverse as America, Girl Scouting and our philosophy of leadership, must be inclusive and respond to the needs of girls from all communities, cultures and walks of life, said Patricia Diaz Dennis, chairwoman of the Girl Scouts USA National Board of Directors.

Harleen Bowers of Scott City is a troop leader for Brownies, which includes third-and fourth-grade students. She has seen the changes young girls are facing in today's world as compared to 15 years ago.

"All of my girls know the word diet. Half of them would probably think they should be on a diet," Bowers said.

A few weeks ago, her Brownies talked about nutrition and eating healthier foods. Bowers has asked a dietitian to speak to the girls at an upcoming meeting.

"All of my girls are definitely in tune with Hollywood's skinniest stars, and the media plays a large role in exposing young girls to these images," Bowers said. "I'm trying to encourage them to look at different standards of beauty and not focus on the skinniest stars at their smallest."

Lynn Karnes is a troop leader for girls in the Senior Cadets -- juniors and seniors in high school.

By the time girls reach high school many drop out of Girl Scouts, Karnes said. "So many things are pulling on them at that age," she said. "I believe this transformation will encourage girls to remain in the organization."

As a former troop leader, Azuma believes the transformation is necessary. "Youths are exposed to so much more at increasingly younger ages today," she said. "No time is too soon to address their curiosity and increase their knowledge and awareness."

The transformation also means the eight-county Otahki Girl Scout Council headquartered in Cape Girardeau, as well as four other existing councils in southern and central Missouri, will be eliminated. The new council will extend from the Mississippi River to the western boundary of Missouri and include the cities of Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Joplin, Jefferson City and Columbia.

Reorganizing the council will provide increased resources and a high capacity base for the council to serve girls, Stewart said.

More than 2,400 girls are in the Otahki Council; its office at 1432 Kurre Lane. The council is celebrating its 90th anniversary next year.

"As far as our presence in the community, we plan on being here another 90 years," Stewart said. "This transformation is nothing more than changing with the times."

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246