200+ Girl Scouts and High Profile Women Leaders to Convene at Capitol
Governor Kate Brown will proclaim March 12,
“Girl Scouts empowers generations of girls and women, showing you are never too young to get involved, make a difference, and have your voice heard,” said Governor Kate Brown, who was inducted as a lifetime Girl Scout last year. “By encouraging and mentoring girls at such a pivotal stage, we are showing them a pathway to pursue their dreams and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. I am proud to welcome our Girl Scouts to the Capitol to celebrate their Leadership Day.”
Girl Scout Leadership Day celebrates and recognizes Girl Scouts throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington who positively impact their communities and prepare for a lifetime of leadership, by taking civic action. The advocacy day is part of Girl Scouts’ “G.I.R.L. Agenda”, a nonpartisan initiative to inspire, prepare, and mobilize girls to lead positive change through civic action.
Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington will convene over 200 Girl Scouts as well as more than 100 adult members for their 2019 advocacy day. “Girls benefit so much from connecting with women like Governor Kate Brown, Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, Justice Adrienne Nelson and House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson¾women in the highest leadership positions in Oregon,” says Karen Hill, Chief Executive Officer for Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington (GSOSW). “Exposure to role models like these¾and understanding the importance of women in these roles¾enables girls to envision themselves in similar roles in the future.”
Throughout the day, Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to meet the Governor and Oregon legislators; attend and participate in activities and workshops to earn citizen-themed badges; learn about law-making; and be inspired by prominent women leaders including Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson and Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle.
Girl Scout Leadership Day is co-sponsored by House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson (District 36 – Portland) and Senator Kathleen Taylor (District 21 – Milwaukie).
“As a Co-Sponsor for Girl Scout Leadership Day, I am excited to welcome more than 200 Girl Scouts to the Capitol during Women’s History Month,” says House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson. “These girls indeed represent our state’s future female legislators, business executives, and community leaders. We hope they leave the Capitol inspired and ready to take action!”
“As a former Troop Leader, I can tell you first-hand that Girl Scouts play valuable roles in their communities,” says Senator Kathleen Taylor, Co-Sponsor for the 2019 Girl Scout Leadership Day. “Through their participation in community service projects, Girl Scout programming and experiences like Girl Scout Leadership Day, girls are developing important insights and skills that will help them succeed in life, while continuing to grow as leaders.”
2019 GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP DAY AT THE CAPITOL
- GUBERNATORIAL PROCLAMATION (Rotunda, 10:45-11 a.m.)—Welcome and Opening Flag Ceremony w/ Gubernatorial Proclamation. Governor Kate Brown will declare March 12, 2019 as Girl Scout Leadership Day in Oregon.
- ADVOCACY DAY—Throughout the day, Girl Scouts will be able to attend and participate in:
- Welcome with GSOSW CEO, Karen Hill, Opening Flag Ceremony and Proclamation w/ Governor Kate Brown (10:45-11 a.m., Rotunda, Oregon State Capitol)
- Guided Tours of the Capitol for Girl Scouts (10-10:30 a.m.; 2-2:30 p.m.; and, 4-4:30 p.m.)
- “How a Bill Becomes a Law” Presentation by Sergeant at Arms (Oregon House of Representatives), Brian McKinley (1:15-1:45 p.m., Senate Democratic Caucus Conference Room, S-223)
- Citizen-Themed Badge Activities and Workshops with local Girl Scout partners and Color Guard Training (Willamette Heritage Center, throughout the day 10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
- Speaker Panels¾three (3) robust speaker panels in the areas of civic engagement, government and leadership (with very prominent Oregon women leaders)
- “Behind the Scenes of the Oregon Legislature” Speaker Panel with staff from various legislative offices, including such key offices as the Office of Governor Kate Brown, the Office of the Speaker of the House, the House Majority Office and the Senate Majority Office (11:15-11:45 a.m., Senate Democratic Caucus Conference Room, S-223)
- “Girls Who Make a Difference” Speaker Panel moderated by Gold Award Girl Scout, Victoria Thornton, featuring Girl Scouts who have impacted positive social change, including Girl Scouts who proposed HB 2732 (now a law) and Girl Scouts who advocated before Portland Public Schools for a troop member who experiences disabilities (12-12:30 p.m., Willamette Heritage Center); and,
- “Oregon Women in Leadership” Speaker Panel with prominent Oregon women leaders (3:15-3:45 p.m., Willamette University, Hallie Ford Museum 215 – Roger Hull Lecture Hall)¾panelists include:
- Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries
- Justice Adrienne Nelson, Oregon Supreme Court
- Kelly Fitzpatrick, Director, Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs
- Emily Evans, Executive Director, Women’s Foundation of Oregon (Panelist and Moderator)
- Paige Walker, Chief Operations Officer, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington
- Closing Reception with Oregon Legislators
- CLOSING RECEPTION with Oregon Legislators (4:15-4:45 p.m., Senate Lobby, 2nd Floor, Oregon State Capitol)—a light reception, hosted by Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington, with Oregon legislators as invited guests, will immediately follow the “Oregon Women in Leadership” Speaker Panel. The Closing Reception will feature remarks and a “Call to Action” by Gold Award Girl Scout, Victoria Thornton.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS:
- Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle—Val Hoyle is Commissioner of Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and former Girl Scout leader/volunteer.
- Justice Adrienne Nelson—Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson is a Girl Scout alumna, 2015 Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington Marie Lamfrom Woman of Distinction and former member of the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars advisory board.
Both of these women will be panelists on the “Oregon Women in Leadership” Speaker Panel (3:15-3:45 p.m., Willamette University, Hallie Ford Museum 215 – Roger Hull Lecture Hall) and both plan to attend the Closing Reception (4:15-4:45 p.m.).
ON-SITE INTERVIEWS: Media are invited to interview GSOSW’s spokespeople throughout the day:
- Chief Executive Officer, Karen Hill (Welcome in the Rotunda, 10:45-11 a.m.)
- Chief Operations Officer, Paige Walker (“Oregon Women in Leadership”, 3:15-3:45 p.m.)
- Director of Communications, Sarah Shipe (available throughout the day)
- Gold Award Girl Scout, Victoria Thornton (moderates “Girls Who Make a Difference” Speaker Panel, 12-12:30 p.m., and delivers a “Call to Action” at the Closing Reception, 3:15-3:45 p.m.)
G.I.R.L. AGENDA—GIRLS SCOUTS’ CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
G.I.R.L. Agenda, a nonpartisan initiative powered by Girl Scouts to inspire, prepare, and mobilize girls to lead positive change through civic action. To learn more, please visit: girlscouts.org/girlagenda.
GIRLS SCOUTS’ HISTORY OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Since its founding in 1912, Girl Scouts has emphasized the importance of being civically engaged, by teaching and encouraging girls to create positive change in their communities through advocacy and action. Girl Scouts learn to stand up for what they believe in, identify issues they care about, and develop leadership skills to make the world a better place. Girl Scouts has a century of success which is reflected in the realm of public service by the fact that 74 percent of female U.S. Senators and 100 percent of U.S. Secretaries of State are Girl Scout alumnae.
ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
In partnership with more than 8,000 adult members, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington prepares 14,500 girls in grades K-12 for a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success. GSOSW’s programs in civic engagement, financial literacy, the outdoors and STEM serve girls in 37 counties in Oregon, and Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties in Southwest Washington. The Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. For more information, please visit girlscoutsosw.org.