Dear Kristi:

I have been thinking about what words to share with our membership since yesterday when you asked me to write a statement. As the hours passed and the story unfolded it became more and more difficult to articulate my thoughts and feelings. I could not stop thinking about our girls, 15,000 young girls and women who would be watching the story unfold… all Girl Scouts bound by a sisterhood united by a a promise and law that provides an ethical code for all of us to live by. Our code was shattered by the senseless acts of violence that occurred in our community yesterday. Gabby Giffords, a Girl Scout during her childhood and a constant supporter, role model and inspiration to all she served, especially girls, was senselessly and tragically wounded during an unspeakable act of violence. Along with Gabby were 17 others wounded or killed. All tragic losses of life. Gabe Zimmerman provided unwavering support to our girls always ready to open avenues for our girls to meet the Congresswoman. The loss of young Christina Taylor Green the age of a Brownie Girl Scout who shined with the same light that Gabby did in her Brownie uniform when she was nine years old. Reports about Christina show that she truly was a young girl of courage, character and confidence who was on a journey to make the world a better place. Her life was ended abruptly. We can not let that be a waste of life. We must live on to demonstrate all of the hope and energy with which Christina approached her life. We must be the change she wished to see in our world.

I started my bright Saturday morning yesterday by welcoming a group of 50 teen Girl Scouts to Cookie College at UA Eller School. The girls were ready to sepnd an exciting day of learning and growing in the professional world of Eller, an honor for all of them to be there. As I bid goodbye to the girls wished them a great day I left to pursue an average Saturday with Bobby Rich. Off to do errands… like every other person in our community our day was cut short by tragic violence.

I returned to the 50 teen Girl Scouts at Eller College soon after we heard of the magnitude of the incident. I sat with these girls and shared the facts of the time, the girls asked questions and soon reminisced about how “cool” it was to have Gabby speak to them at Girls and Women of Distinction event last April. Others remembered she was a Brownie Girl Scout in Tucson. Others sat in silence wide eyed at the information. With the help of Professor Suzanne Cummins, I was able to help the girls understand the events of the day and share with them that our Congresswoman would want all of us to stay true to our Girl Scout promise and law and stay strong and active as we helped to heal our community.

Yours In Girl Scouting,
Debbie Rich
CEO and Chief Girl Scout
Girl Scouts Southern Arizona- Sahuaro

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at 7:14 pm and is filed under Announcements, Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.