" Daisy "(Juliette Gordon Low)

Although this is November first and I am one day late, I wanted to wish a very Happy 139th Birthday to one of my favorite people; Juliette Gordon Low, or "Daisy" as she was called all of her life.

Juliette Gordon was born on Halloween, October 31, 1860. As a child she was bright, talented, a high achiever, and very mischevious. Juliette had one great cross to bear early on as she had lost part of her hearing in one ear due to illness.

Juliette married William Low on December 21, 1886; the marriage unfortunately, was not what she had hoped for and they were in the process of a divorce when William Low died.

It was then Juliette decided that she needed a change and went to Paris. It was in Paris that Juliette met Sir Robert(later Lord) Baden-Powell. Sir Robert had started the Boy Scout Movement in 1908, three years before he met Juliette Low. The Boy Scouts had become very popular and young ladies were attending the meetings.

Seeing as how so many young women had an interest in scouting he asked his sister Agnes to head up an organization for them. The Girl Guides were established in 1910. The Girls Guides spread outside England and France to Denmark, Canada, Finland and many more countries. This movement of Girl Guides/Scouts was exactly what Juliette had been looking for and she moved to Scotland to head up a troop. However; she realized that the girls in the United States were missing out on a great opportunity.

Juliette Low returned to Savannah and called an old friend saying, "Come right over. I've got something for the girls of Savannah and all America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight." The first troop meeting was held on March 12, 1912 at her home. During this time World War I was approaching and women began to realize their role as active and vital citizens.

Juliette Low was a firm believer in letting the girls run their own troops, adults were looked on as adviser's, not leader's. Girl Scouting has always worked on this concept of letting girls shape their own futures and make their own decisions with adults there to guide. This concept has help to develop strong, competent young women.

As we approach the new millenium, Girl Scouts keeps the same concept but is marching forward with a brand new slogan:

"WHERE GIRLS GROW STRONG."

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