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Juliette Gordon Low created an organization that has stayed true its mission for 100 years. Girl Scouts allows girls to get out in their community and learn what's going on. Learning life-long skills and working with one another as sisters. Girl scouts is for girls to learn to lead and make the world a better place. In the first 100 years girl scouts made a difference during WWI, the Great Depression, WWII and improving environmental awareness. To open the girls up to new experiences is still the mission today. Girl Scouts inspires girls to dream big and gives us an opportunity to advance.

What will the next 100 years be like? I will be a grown up. I want my daughter to grow up to be successful and have the grounding of Girl Scouts. I want her to be able to problem solve and to dream big. I believe by the time I am an adult we will have our first lady president who was also a girl scout. I believe participation in Girl Scouts will increase because little girls will want to be like her. She will probably be a strong supporter and have her own group meetings with girls about Girl Scouts.

Hi, my name is Press Rep Jamie. In the next 100 years I think Girl Scouts will be doing the same things they are now but different, selling cookies to good people and having even more fund raisers. I think that not much will change. Girl Scouts is a grand thing and I don't know why anyone would want to change them. The reason I joined Girl Scouts is to help people. One hundred years ago Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts. She wanted to help girls of all ages become leaders. In the next 100 years I think the Troop leaders will teach the girls how to become Girl Scout leaders and/or unit leaders. We will give extra cookies or money to charities or the needy.

Girl Scouts may make a movie, race go carts on a track for $15.00 a person. We may get to put our hands in the cold water where the Titanic sank to the bottom of the ocean. We may even get to go bowling and earn a new patch. Being a Girl Scout has taught me so many different things that I would not have been able to learn on my own.

I also enjoyed participating in opening the Alabama House of Representative session on April 5^th by leading the pledge. I also enjoyed getting to meet the Speaker of the House, Senate Pro Temp, members of Honorary Girl Scout Troop 1912 (the year Girl Scouts was found in the U.S.) and members of the North Central and Southern Alabama Girl Scout Boards. After Susan and I opened with the pledge, Rep. Terri Collins, one of the members of Honorary Girl Scout Troop 1912, announced a proclamation recognizing the 100^th anniversary of Girl Scouts. She talked about the history and future of Girl Scouting and presented Susan and me  with a certificate of appreciation for leading the pledge.

Afterward, we went upstairs for a cookie reception. An area was set up with cookies, milk and coffee. The area was also Girl Scout information, pictures of Girl Scouts from different time periods and freebies like pencils and fans with the Girl Scout 100^th Anniversary emblem on them

A reporter from WSFA interviewed Susan, me and some Girl Scouts from North Central Alabama Council. He asked me about what Girl Scouts do, what it teaches us and how it can be used in the future. I didn't get to see the interview on T.V. but a couple people told my mom they saw it and we did a good job

Time passes steadily, regardless of whether or not you're paying attention. Society evolves, affecting young men and women everywhere. A century ago, at Girl Scouting's inception, skirt lengths brushed the floor and women were forced to adhere to strict gender roles. Juliet Gordon Low called for young girls to challenge the stereotypes placed upon them, and seek personal augmentation by improving their courage, confidence, and character. The newfound availability for girls to aspire to a different future has strengthened throughout the last one hundred years. As fashions changed and social boundaries re-arranged, Girl Scouting evolved to accommodate the divergent times. The dedication of our leaders has allowed for social, physical and mental empowerment of young women that might never have been accomplished otherwise. Girls today can build fires like hikers of days gone by, while at the same time helping to design a spaceship of the future. The wrinkles, we as an organization have gathered through the years, prepare us for future successes. In the next one hundred years, we will only improve. Our discoveries will light the younger generations to further discoveries. The domino effect instigated by courageous women today will result in more confident, wise young girls. As time advances, so will our world. And, if the last century has been any indication, future girl scouts are more than ready to accept the challenges 2112 will bring. 

My morning at the State House of Representatives was fun and busy. From the second my mom and I walked through the doors, we were whisked from room to room. In the first room, Press Rep Aliyah and I were greeted by he Speaker of the House, Mike Hubbard. While there, we posed for pictures and afterward he gave us a Speaker of the House coin. I thought that was really neat.

Next, Aliyah and I were led into another room where we posed for pictures with Representative Victor Gaston, Speaker Pro Tempore. We also posed for pictures with Trish Coghlan, CEO of Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama, and Marian Loftin, Girl Scout board member. I wasn't bothered by the picture-taking at all. My mom takes her camera everywhere we go. I've gotten used to it by now.

After all of the pictures were taken, our parents went upstairs to the gallery and Aliyah and I were led onto the floor of the House of Representatives. We waited for a little while and then we were introduced and we led the House of Representatives in The Pledge of Allegiance.

When we exited the floor we were given a Certificate of Appreciation from The State of Alabama House of Representatives. We went upstairs afterward to where a table had been set up with cookies and Girl Scout information. We talked with a few representatives and were interviewed later by a WSFA reporter. The bright light on top of the camera was nerve-racking.

Overall, my visit at The Alabama House of Representatives was busy and fun. Aliyah and I did many different things and met a lot of new people.

Girl Scouts have come a long ways.  The uniforms have changed many times.  The badges have changed along with the interest of girls through the years. The activities offered to girls have also changed over the years.   Those in charge of organizing Girl Scouts have tried to keep the program new and up to date with what's going on with girls.

I'm not sure what Girl Scouts will be like in 100 years.  If I'm living, I will be 114 years old.  I guess my grandchildren will have the chance to enjoy Girl Scouting that still offers the same things and lessons that I am taught through the Girl Scout Promise and Law. 

The activities will probably use more technology and things of the future.  Your badges will probably be displayed on your electronic devices instead of your vest or sash.   Women will be working in areas now thought to be meant for men and playing sports thought to be for men.  Since being a women is no longer a big issue, Girl Scouts will expand their members and change their name and become an organization for girls and boys like the guides in some of the other countries.  After all the changes, things like service, honesty and fairness will still be important to the organization.

100 years from now, Girl Scouts will have new uniforms. There will be new patches to be earned every single day! Girl Scouts will be texting instead of using tables for cookie booth and will be learning more about the earth. Girl Scouts will not be going to meetings, they will be video chatting instead. We will be doing more with computers and electronics.  One hundred years from now, we will be able to visit our sisters in other countries by video chatting or in a machine to transport us there in a short amount of time.

The names of the groups will change.  Daisies will be "Girl Scout Minis", Brownies will be called "The Learners", Juniors will be called "Helping Hands," Cadettes will be "Explorers" and the Ambassadors will probably stay Ambassadors.

We will use the transporting machine to camp and go around the world to camp instead of close by.  I think that we will probably have digital bags we are required to bring to each meeting.  These bags will keep all of our stuff in it but shrink the stuff inside so we can put them in our pockets. One hundred years from now we will probably have troop meetings on the moon and other planets.  And, we will be discovering new life like scientists. Girl scouts will be trying to invent new things and will be learning how to make old-timey things like quilts and sewing clothes.

One hundred years from now Girl Scouts will do more history, math and spelling! Because the Girl Scouts will always keep learning.   

In the next hundred years I believe that Girl Scouts will be doing incredible things. In the last hundred years Girl Scouts have done many things. Girls within the next hundred years may be learning how to do things we girls now wouldn't know how to do, such as figuring out how to change fumes into fresh air. Now girls are learning how to take a little from your community and give a lot back. Also girls are learning how to leave a place better than you found it.  In my troop we have been learning why it is so important to love your fellow Girl Scout sisters and to make new friends all the time. 

I believe in the next hundred years Girl Scouts would gain more and more girls that care about the planet and want to make the world a better place. Girl Scouts in the next hundred years will have become stronger together than ever have before. Also I believe that Girl Scouts will set better examples for the children of America. A good way is to reach out to the world and to explore what it gives you in return. Remember to make new friends but keep the old ones.

Girl Scout Camp, Girl Scout camp, Girl Scout camp. Girl Scout camp is super fun! First, we go to a place called Camp Scoutshire Woods.Next we go to either the tents or the cabins. We clean the cabins a little and then cook dinner on an open fire. On Saturday we cook breakfast and do a flag ceremony. It's where we unfold the flag. Don't drop the flag! Our flag almost did but it was caught just in time! Next we learn how to do archery. There, they teach you how to use a bow-and-arrow. It's fun! Next, we put on makeup and have lunch.

After this, we go swimming and canoeing. We also learn to sing "Little Sally Walker Walking down the Street."We go swimming again and hiking this time too. Then, we go to sleep. On Sunday, we go home. If you go to camp, you will have fun like me because you'll meet new people and you'll learn to make butter. It's fun at Girl Scout camp. I love Girl Scout camp and you might too. I am looking forward to next time!

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama is honoring Liz Sutton at its annual Women of Distinction event on Thursday, March 15, 2012 in Montgomery. Press Rep Cheyenne sat down with Mrs. Sutton recently to find out more about our honoree. For more information about the Women of Distinction event or to purchase tickets, click here.

Courage, confidence, character, warm, friendly and successful are a just a few of the words I would use to describe Liz Sutton, Girl Scout alumna and honoree for the Girl Scout Woman of Distinction 2012. It was a pleasure for me to interview her, and you can meet her too.

Press Rep Cheyenne: I wanted to start out saying that I am so honored to be meeting you since you did get woman of the year. Were you ever a girl scout?

Liz Sutton: Absolutely!

PRC: How many years?

Oh my goodness, now I realIy don't know but when I was at St. Bedes I was a Girl Scout. That is where I got to go camping. I was one of nine children so we could not spend the night with friends because there were just too many kids for mom and dad to keep up with. That's where I learned a lot of things and I loved to earn badges and I kept a spiral notebook. And I wrote down everything I learned and I still do that today. I still write down things and that is how I learn. I wrote it down and go back and read it and I tend to remember it. I attribute a lot of my success to my good foundation with Girl Scouts.

PRC: Do you think Girl Scouts played a role in your success?

LS: Absolutely, I think what they did is they opened my eyes to the world. My world consisted of my family life and school and church. So sewing and photography and mechanics and all the things that were outside of my world I was exposed to in Girl Scouts. So I often wonder how I would have learned about them. And then meeting other people and doing fun things together but also memorizing the Girl Scout promise... Just learning, you know, that God and our country is important and that serving other people is important. You learn at school. You learn at church. But to learn it in a social environment like that with your friends was great. And then I learned to sell. I was a great cookie sales person. And I love

PRC: You have worked with the small business resource center and chamber of commerce. What are the must-have skills for someone aspiring to start a small business?

LS: Great question...alright Cheyenne let's think. So what I think it takes to start a business is a great passion for whatever you want to do. You have to love it so much that when times get tough it doesn't matter. To me it is not work. I love what I do. I love to serve. I love to take care of the clients. And I love the travel industry. It's great to have a career you are passionate about. Cause if you are passionate, your clients will pick-up on that passion and they will be attracted to it. And you will enjoy it more. You'll serve them better. So I think passion is number one.

Number two is a very strong work ethic. Number three is to have a good business mind. Be good with dollars and cents. Be able to keep a budget. Be able to watch your pennies. And be able to think outside the box. Everything is not just here and neat and tidy. If it was then everybody would be doing it. So you've got to find your niche. [The Small Business Resource Center is] an excellent resource. How do you know about that?

PRC: Research. It was in your bio.

LS: Ah, very good, very impressive.

PRC: Thank you. What classes do you think kids taking now, that they probably don't like and don't see the use for, are going to need in the future? What do you say to those people who actually don't think there is a job out there that you can use it?

LS: Okay, you'll laugh at this first one...but typing. I though typing was a waste of time. But you have to understand that back then we didn't have the computers. And I just didn't understand why anybody would want to take a typing class. Two weeks after I graduated from Catholic High...my dad hired me in the travel business and I was typing flight schedules with flight numbers and departure times.

The other one is math. I love math. And math teaches you good logical thinking skills and problem-solving skills. And I think because of my math background I'm very creative when there's challenges in this office. When there is a problem, I love it. Most people shy away from it and don't want to get near it. I embrace it. You have to uncover all the facts. Then I have to put the pieces together. I like to help people think logically through it and come up with creative solutions.

PRC: I am so happy to hear you say math because right now I have an "A" in it and people say don't need it any more.

LS: You will never believe how good math is for you 'cause it gives you a lot of good logic.

PRC: What advice would you give to Girls Scouts and to girls in general that you think would help them in their life and what they want to succeed in?

That's a million dollar question. Okay, I would teach them so much. One is that you are a child of God and you are every bit as important as every other person in this world. When I first started in business it was a man's world and I was an inferior person to them. I was intimidated by them when I would go to talk to them. But I had to go meet them because I needed to get their business in order to be successful. And when I got married I realized my husband is a normal guy. These guys are probably normal too. And that was when I started realizing, I may be a woman in the South but I am every bit as professional and competent as they are. I may not have as many years' experience as they do but I am still valued and should be respected. I had to respect myself and who I was. Hold myself up high

PRC: Why do you think Girl Scouting was important to you?

I think it taught me so much about life. I learned so much being in a big family. But I think Girl Scouts opened the world to me and taught me there is so much more out there than I realized. And I learned about friendships and I learned about respecting adults. Which I learned from my parents but it was reinforced in Girl Scouts. And we would have speakers come and talk to us. And then I learned about arts and crafts. I didn't know anything about arts and crafts till then. And I started making dolls and little things. So I think that gave me some hobbies. It wasn't just about me or about my little world in this bubble. There's a great big, old world out there. So it was awesome.

PRC: I think your job shows you love this world.

LS: I do. I do. I love people and I love this world.

PRC: And I want to say thank you for allowing me to interview you.

 Click here to read the rest of Cheyenne's interview.

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