William Patterson University

Saturday, June 3, 2000

Thank you very much Dana. I am truly honored to be one of the Keynote Speakers to help you celebrate your activities and achievements during the past three days of this first National Conference of Campus Girl Scouts! You are a very special group. You are role models for other Girl Scouts around the country who are part of the Campus Girl Scout program.

Campus Girl Scouts -- has an unofficial history almost as old as Girl Scouting itself.

The enthusiasm, activities and concerns of college students involved in Girl Scouting in the 1920’s were surprisingly similar to those of campus Girl Scouts of the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s, and today -- in the 21^st century, -- Each generation "Shaping the World of Tomorrow" -- in their own way.

You are, -- indeed -- special -- because you are the first of what many hope, -- and some of know -- will become a regular event in colleges all across the country, your responsibilities are many. But – we can get to those later.

Do you remember Alice? Alice in Wonderland? She was not having a good day …. This was not a fun, exciting Girl Scout Troop meeting.

First, she followed a white rabbit, who was more interested in time management than real leadership. Following someone like that is always a danger. They are usually so worried about the appearance of things that they forget what they were trying to do……They are not strong in the desire to make a difference in their communities.

Any way, Alice followed the rabbit with his large pocket watch, and ended up in a deep hole, -- with a whole new array of difficulties, -- which is usually the way that sort of thing works out.

What she really needed was the power and friendship of girls her own age.

Then, she met a caterpillar, who may or may not have been on controlled substances, and who suggested she could solve her problems by trying a bit of magic mushroom. It was the latest trendy thing to do.

Obviously, he did not understand the importance of being strong in body, mind and spirit!

Try it, he said! Everyone else is! It will make everything better.-- Sort of like re-organizing, or following the latest new organizational theory because everyone else is doing it, -- and you don’t want to be left out of the fun.

Unfortunately, Alice did not have the strength and courage to believe in her own self-worth, -- or the strength and courage to cope with the stresses of such situations.

So, she did, -- she tried it! And, the next thing she knew, she was too big for her shoes, -- and frightened everyone around her.

Then, because she was not strong in problem-solving or decision-making skills, she tried another trendy solution, -- and suddenly she was too small to accomplish much of anything.

And, when she turned to ask the caterpillar just what was going on here, he, -- like any good consultant, -- disappeared – and left her to pick up the pieces.

Not like our Girl Scout adults, -- who are there for every girl, -- everywhere, -- every time. Girl Scout adults help build leaders one girl at a time.

Of course, the high point of her day came when she met the Cheshire Cat. Most of us meet a Cheshire Cat sooner or later.

She found him perched in a tree at a cross roads. "Which road should I take?" she asked the cat.

"Where do you want to go?" the cat replied helpfully.

"I don’t know," admitted Alice. "Then, any road will take you there."

His message is one we all know. If you don’t know where you are going, it doesn’t make any difference how you get there. If you don’t have a plan, it doesn’t matter what you do. If you don’t have an objective, who cares if you ever reach it?

If you don’t take responsibility for your actions, then, who will?

Happily for Girl Scouts, we DO know where we are going. Our vision for the future is clear!

In this 21^st Century we are secure in the knowledge … that we have something important, --something vital -- to offer to girls, to their families, and to the nation. And, our Promise and Law will help guide our actions.

We are secure in the knowledge … that Campus Girl Scouts – just like you -- all across this nation -- will be "Shaping the World of Tomorrow."

You bring to Girl Scouts all the values embedded in our Promise and Law, and all that Daisy Low saw for the future of girls and young women:

Honesty…Courage…Friendship…Loyalty…Respect

Compassion…Responsibility…Self-Discipline…

Perseverance…Work…and an ethical code of

behavior to guide all your decisions.

Our Founder had a dream to help girls in America become leaders, -- pioneers -- in a new and emerging world for girls and women. She would be very proud of you!

Not only are you leaders, -- you are helping other girls recognize their own leadership skills through your work with Campus Girl Scouts.

In the pioneering world of this new century, where the competition from an extraordinarily diverse national and international population will only get stronger, -- one thing is certain: The girls and young women of today will be the leaders of tomorrow! –

That’s you, -- each one of you in this room! You will be smart, -- open and flexible, -- willing and able to think creatively, make quick decisions, and take measured risks.

Remember this little poem:

You are your greatest asset.

There is nothing you can’t do.

No one can keep you from dreaming.

Only you can keep them from coming true.

Believe in who you are.

Believe in what you do.

It’s not a quirk of fate,

It’s strictly up to you!

As successful female leaders and role models in the new millenium, there is nothing you can’t do. But, in order to do it well, you must be healthy and fit, -- and you will be!

You will adopt healthy lifestyles, and take good care of yourselves, -- physically and mentally.

You will understand how technology will help you communicate in a shrinking marketplace, and a global community.

You will work in an environment where you will manage multiple careers. You will have learned how to manage your finances. -- You will not be turning over money managing to your husbands, brothers and fathers!

The quality that I see that is perhaps foremost for leaders blazing the trail of the 21^st century is "vision." The women in the new millenium will be leaders who are able to envision the future, -- and stay focused in a chaotic world.

My vision for you -- the women in the 21^st century -- is that you will be passionate, driven leaders, -- people who not only have an enormous amount of energy, but you will energize those whom you lead.

All of us in this room must dedicate ourselves to forging a society in which gender no longer predetermines a person’s opportunities or station in life.

We must shatter the glass ceiling. We must break down the remaining barriers and open wide the doors of opportunity to make the future brighter for women, -- and for all Americans.

The women who came into Girl Scouting in the 1920’s as college Girl Scouts have continued as leaders, committee members, Girl Scout Council presidents, executive directors, national board and staff members, mothers and grandmothers of Girl Scouts all over the country. Campus Girl Scouts has always been, -- and is today -–a vital source of young adult leadership in the movement. My personal hope is that you, too, will continue your involvement in Girl Scouting, and will be our strong, courageous leaders of the future.

Juliette Low, once told an audience that "The pages of history in the future may hold your names in a high and honored place. Do well your part today. The work of today, is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers."

When the world is well into this new millennium, citizens of the future will look back at what we did today, and be proud of the rich legacy left for them.

Through your strong, contemporary Campus Girl Scout programs, You are helping girls develop values for life, -- You are helping girls grow strong in body, mind and spirit, -- You are guiding girls and young women to be the leaders of "generation next." You are … "Shaping the World of Tomorrow."

Girl Scouts: Where Girls Grow Strong!

Thank you!