European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 11, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Updating the girl scout image by Elizabeth Kossert new York times this Spring it will be 75 year since Juliette Gordon Low announced i be go something Lor the girls of Savannah and All America and All the world and we re going to Slart it Tam Ghl " gathering up 18 girls she started the girl souls since Inen he organization has grown these brownies from new Rochelle a y., Are among the 2,248,000 girls who Are members of the girl scouts. York times Phalon a More than 2 million girls sold countless cookies offered its Aid in two world wars and dropped badges in nursing in favor of those in computers. It has seen its membership Rise and fall and has been forced to confront issues such As drug and child abuse bul has never lost the. Spunky can do spirit of its somewhat eccentric Lounder we try to really understand and respond to the needs of girls the needs of american families said Frances a Young scout recites the a let scout pledge. Today the organization hat new programs including career preparation Tor older go Reg. Hesselbein the executive director of the girl souls of the . We accept the demands and imperatives of leadership " Hesselbein believes these Are difficult Timos for girls growing up and challenging ones for he girl scouts with a growing number of one Parent families in the country the girl Seoul troop can be an indispensable and powerful positive Factor she said but it has not always been easy to convince the girls of this girl scout officials acknowledge. During the past decade the nationwide organization has spent much time and Many thousands of dollars trying to understand and to reverse is declining membership which dropped 33 percent Between 1970 and 198s. This year membership Odood up by 3.5 percent to 2,248,000, representing the girl scouts biggest membership boost since 1968 one cause of the decline is simply a shrinking number of children. The boy souls lost about 25 percent of its members Between 1965 and 1965, bul since Ihen has grown by about \2 percent. Nationwide youth membership in the boy scouts last year stood Al 3,554.000. In an age in which Many children Are Annalo Media experts perhaps the g of souls major liability has been its image this image of Green Clad Gizis who smile about cookie 5iss and stay out of trouble was considered Square As gals grew More sophisticated. Just being in a uniform was l something thai thrilled girls in the 60s and 70s," sad Mary Phi Apps presi Donl of the girl scout Council of greater new York girl souls was Able la insulate in Salt in Khe years i was growing up said Lisa Toutsch who was a girl Seoul in the 1960s and is the Hoad at a spec Tai 75th anniversary troop in we Schesler county. For Many yeas girl scouts did not integrate issues such As personal safety and teen age pregnancy into its program. It s just recently thai it s made that  she said. Two Al re Seoul booklets provide tips to leaders for initiating programs on drug and child abuse. The booklets suggest activities for girls As Young As 6 such As making a collage that tells about the harmful effects of smoking and asking them to Lalk about How you would feel if someone you did t know gave you a Greal big  not everyone has been enthusiastic about the new programs. Some people said we should t to talking about this. Girl souls Don t do that " Phipps said. But nobody is  revamping the girl scout image has Means responding nol Only to new problems but also of new opportunities. In the i isl handbook for girl scouts published in 1913, there were badges for a Cook know How to clean and dress a Fowla Dairy maid know How to make butter and a laundress know How to use soap and starch today Tii Greare badges in architecture business and male career preparation has became a Central aspect of scouting for older girls. A program titled from dreams to reality is designed to teach girls How to choose a career How to write a resume arid How to act at an interview. One of the exercises in the program asks a wac to consider How they would least when the interviewer offers you a Lemale or minority stereotyped Job Hal you Don t  such programs. Girl scout leaders say Are supposed to Appeal to girls in contemporary be runs. It s hard to say it will look Good on your resume said Deutsch bul that s  Page 16 the stars and stripes sunday. January 11,1987