Girl Scouts of the United States of America started as a group of 18 girls in Savannah, Ga. A century later, it has grown to an organization with about 3.4 million members.

On Monday the organization celebrated its 100th birthday. It was on that day in 1912 that founder Juliette Gordon Low gathered the group of girls for the first Girl Scout meeting. Now women in the U.S. and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas assemble to continue the tradition.

"For any organization to celebrate its 100th anniversary is an important milestone," said Anne Soots, interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland. "It's quite an achievement, especially for a not-for-profit."

Missouri is served by three Girl Scout councils: Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri and Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland. Local troops fall under the jurisdiction of the latter council, which covers 68 counties in central and southern Missouri, southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. There are around 17,000 girls and 5,000 women in the council.

"I see us headed toward a highly capable organization that has the resources available to continue to build leadership in girls and young women," Soots said.

She is hopeful that the organization will be going strong when it reaches the 200-year mark.

"It says we've been through 100 years and can go through another," Cadette Sarene Allen said.

Allen, an eighth-grade student at St. Vincent de Paul Parish School in Cape Girardeau, is part of troop 50215. She became a Girl Scout in first grade because it was a good opportunity to meet other girls.

"They learn a lot of skills they don't always get in school," said Pamela Allen, leader of Troop 50215. Allen has been with the troop since the girls were in first grade.

"I love it," Allen said. "It's been a wonderful experience."

Junior Maria Enderle, a fourth-grade student at St. Vincent, decided to become a Girl Scout after watching her brother go through Boy Scouts.

"It is fun and cool to help out the community," Enderle said.

She is part of Troop 50065 and plans to receive the Gold Award, the highest achievement that a Girl Scout may obtain.

Troop 50336 leader Karen Hann said that Girl Scouts is a fantastic organization.

"They've done nothing but teach girls to be more of themselves," Hann said.

Hann leads a group of Cadettes in sixth grade at Central Middle School. She was a Girl Scout until she reached the level of Cadette in the eighth grade. Hann recalls having fun camping, selling cookies and singing songs during her time as a scout and wanted to bring this to her granddaughter Corri Brown's troop.

"The Girl Scout experience stays with people for years and years," Soots said. "The traditions built over the years is part of what has kept the program strong."

On Monday, Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger signed a 2012 Girl Scout Week Proclamation at city hall to commemorate the anniversary.

The council will also celebrate the anniversary with historical displays throughout the region. One of these displays can be seen at the Cape Girardeau Public Library during the month of March.

The council will host an event March 31 in conjunction with its annual meeting in Springfield, Mo. This event will include the Believe in Girls 5K and Expo. There will also be the Girl Scouts Forever Alumnae Gathering, the One Hundred Fun Hundred Party for younger scouts and the 100 Years of Dreams Party for the older scouts.

The celebration will continue with three regional camporees in September.

"Scouts from all over come and camp together," Hann said.

For more information on the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland and the 100th anniversary, visit www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org.

ajones@semissourian.com

388-3654