Data Manager Michelle is here today to get us ready for cookie season with a journey into the life and legacy of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low.

Juliette Gordon Low’s impact is seen daily, from Congress to small community action. She was a painter, sewer, woodworker, athlete, and outdoor enthusiast. According to her cousin Caroline, “While you never knew what she would do next, she always did what she made up her mind to do.” She was born into Southern Aristocracy and used her connections to boost charitable causes, garnering support all the way to the White House. Her contributions to American Society earned her a place in the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She’s also the reason that every winter you hear the confident query, “Would you like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies?”

Juliette Gordon Low, or “Daisy” as coined by her uncle, spent her young days in Savannah, Georgia, undergoing a strict mid-1800s education. In her spare time she formed a club with her cousins called “The Helpful Hands Club,” focused on helping others. While in college, she joined a group called Theta Tau, where she gained experience holding meetings and earning badges.

Left to her own devices much of the time, Daisy found ways to fill her time. She learned wood and metalworking, creating the iron gates for her English home. Even through her husband’s disapproval, her passion for philanthropy continued. She soon dedicated hours to supporting women with leprosy, cooking for her community, and continuing her education as a nurse.

Once parted from her husband, her interests took her to England where she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts. His program taught them to be prepared for the military, but to have some fun while they’re at it. Gordon Low was inspired, and within a few months she was working with Agnes Baden-Powell, Robert’s sister, and the leader of the Girl Guides, a companion organization.

Daisy learned all she could from this duo and took her plan with her back to America. When she arrived, she called her cousin, saying, "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"

It began in Georgia, but Daisy inspired women wherever she went to start troops in their own communities. Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 as an organization that recognizes there is unlimited potential in every girl. Girl Scouts knows that trans girls are girls, and they’ll make sure there’s a spot for them in a troop.

The first official Girl Scout handbook was titled “How Girls Can Help Their Country,” as the organization was very focused on civil service and obedience, but as they have evolved they have turned their attention to developing leadership skills within their members.

So, what does your cookie purchase support?

Today’s Girl Scout program asks the girls to discover what interests them, connect to that interest, and take action to do or improve that thing.

A troop of 8-year-olds may discover that they love dolphins, connect by visiting an aquarium and speaking with a marine biologist about the life cycle of dolphins, as well as what threatens them, and take action by making some posters about ocean-bound plastic waste.

A 16-year-old may experience not having access to a loaner instrument to continue their musical studies, discovering a huge need in their community. They’d connect with the music teachers locally, to understand that an instrument drive could help solve this problem. They’d take action by reaching out to local instrument businesses to negotiate deals to refurbish donated instruments, fundraise for the project, lead creative production on a 20 second television commercial to publicize the drop off dates, and ultimately bring in 30+ instruments to help fill the need and support low income students’ continued musical education.

That second example was my Gold Award project from 2007, completed with my five Girl Scout sisters from Troop 623. Our troop stayed together through our high school years, planning day camps for Brownies, earning our highest awards, and going to summer camp — paid for by selling cookies in our high school lobby. Today, I am a hiking and camping, event-planning professional who has reasonable financial literacy skills, and a whole library of funny songs to sing with the kids in my life. I am the woman I am today in large part because of the Girl Scouts.

That is what your overpriced box of cookies is supporting. The infrastructure, materials and costs of giving a girl a place to find out she can change things if she tries.

Juliette Gordon Low was an educated, persuasive person who used her social standing to improve her community in service of the people around her. Her organization helps women find their inner Daisy: Someone of courage, confidence, and character who makes the world a better place.

How can you find a troop to support if you don't know any Girl Scouts? In the digital age, you can buy cookies online and have it directly support the troop that you order through. Here is the Girl Scout Cookie Locator, to find a troop based upon your zip code.

Girl Scouts also has many troops created to meet specialized needs, such as Troop 6000 out of New York City, which is designed to serve girls and their families living in temporary housing. The program states, “For Troop 6000 members, not only does Girl Scouting mean fun, it means consistency and community – a network of supportive peers and adults who, even if they’ve never met before, have similar experiences and are part of the same club.” Cookie season hasn’t started yet in New York, but you can sign up here to be notified of when you can place your order!

As a new Girl Scout, during your initial investiture ceremony you receive your membership pin, but it is pinned to you upside down. You can't turn it right side up until you've "done a good turn" for someone else. It's a big deal for little Girl Scouts to find someone they can help, so that their pin can be turned right way around. If you have been inspired by Daisy’s story, do a good turn today in her honor!