Senator Farley Announces Girl Scouts Celebrate Anniversary In March

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C - Schenectady) informs constituents that March 12th is the 95th anniversary of the Girl Scouts organization.

"Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, the Girl scouts was established to help girls build character and skills for success," Senator Farley said. According to the Girl Scouts website, www.girlscouts.org, the original membership of 18 girls in 1912 has grown to 3.6 million girls worldwide in 2007.

"There have been many famous women who were once Girl Scouts," Senator Farley said. "Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, one of this year's inductees into the Senate's Women of Distinction Program, is a former Girl Scout who grew up to be the first woman Space Shuttle Commander astronaut."

Collins used her good grades, flying experience, and a letter of recommendation from her ROTC supervisor to go straight from college into Air Force pilot training and then on to achieve one of the most recognizable accomplishments of our day: Ms. Collins was the first American woman to pilot a spacecraft, the space shuttle Discovery. A native of Elmira, Collins graduated from Corning Community College in 1976 and Syracuse University in 1978. She learned to fly when she was 20, earning her pilot's license in 1977.

To learn more about Collins, contact Senator Farley's office to obtain a free copy of the historical Women of Distinction booklet at 455-2181 (Albany), 843-2188 (Amsterdam), 762-3733 (Johnstown), or toll-free at (800) 224-5201. To view the historical Women of Distinction exhibit, visit the website www.senatorfarley.com. To learn more about Girl Scouts, or discover other famous women who were once Girl Scouts, visit the website www.girlscouts.org.