By SHIRLEY PULAWSKI
OBSERVER Staff Writer
The Barker Library hosted the Girl Scouts Brocton, Cassadaga, Dunkirk, Fredonia Service Unit on Saturday celebrating the 100th birthday of Girl Scouting in America with a special exhibit of Girl Scout memorabilia and opening of a 20-year-old time capsule left by Troop #21 in 1992.
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Girl Scouts
The ceremony opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a flag ceremony in the Girl Scout tradition. Carly Hayes, a third generation Girl Scout, sang the Star Spangled Banner, followed by another tradition of candle lighting.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Virginia Schaefer Horvath, also grew up as a Girl Scout and praised the service the organization provides. Horvath, who has recently come under consideration for president of SUNY Fredonia, said she learned valuable leadership skills as a scout.
On scouting activities, Horvath said she learned skills during her time as a Girl Scout that she uses every day. "There are things you learn here that will help you be successful in whatever you do."
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OBSERVER Photos by Shirley Pulawski
From left to right, back row: Donna Banach, Lori Felt, Pam Barter, Ann Stafford, Dr. Virginia Schaefer Horvath, Denise Beeles-Johnson, Rosemary Hayes, Carly Hayes. Front row, Troop #20267 Junior Girl Scouts: Brooke D’Agostino, Kaitlyn Davis, Lauren Marshall, Katie Bigelow, Paige Supkoski, Morgan Shrantz.
"I'd just like to say to the girls who are here that I'm glad you're in the Scouts. I hope you stay in Scouts, and I hope that it pushes you to be brave, to try new things, to be leaders, and to be helpful to people, because no matter what you do, those are the things that are going to be helpful to you in the future."
Rosemary Hayes, a 50-year member of the Girl Scouts, also spoke. "When people ask me why I'm still involved with the Girl Scouts, I tell that I'm giving back to the community what the community gave my children."
Hayes said she has served on the board and every committee in her time with the scouts. She shared details about the history of Camp Timbercrest, located in Randolph, and praised the others who helped make the camp a reality. "Starting in 1962, we began the Camp Committee, and we met every month for years and years."
"Ask any Girl Scout what she likes best about scouting, and they'll all put their hands up, and 97 percent of them will say it's camping," said Hayes.
A slide show presentation was given on the history of the Girl Scout cookies and the evolution of the successful program since its inception in 1933 when troops made their own cookies to sell. The fund raising initiative also described the activity as a means to teach business acumen to the troop members.
One highly anticipated event was the revelation of the contents of a time capsule assembled 20 years ago by local Troop #21. The leader of that troop, Pam Barter, was present, as well as Ann Stafford, who was a scout at the time and assisted in its creation. Among the items revealed were memorobilia from the time such as newspaper clippings, a cloth cutout of the trefoil logo, photographs of the girls, a letter from the Brownies, and an inflatable globe. Of the globe, a member said, "The Girls Scouts are going places!" in reference to a scout slogan.
The ceremony closed with songs. Guests were invited to view Girl Scout memorabilia, which is on loan to the museum from the Girl Scout Archive Committee at the Jamestown Service Center and from private collections in the community.
Comments on this article may be sent to spulawski@observertoday.com
