O’Toole letter: Girl Scouts

While some news outlets report a decline in national Girl Scout membership, Girl Scouts of Silver Sage is growing.

Our council reported youth membership at 4,051 for 2015. This represents a 10 percent increase over the previous year. We also reported adult membership at 2,372, an 11 percent increase over last year. These growth trends continue as we move into 2016. Nationally, Girl Scout youth membership was down 6.2 percent and adult membership was down 3.1 percent last year.

You might have heard that Girl Scouts is struggling in terms of financial support. But Girl Scouts of Silver Sage reported an 11 percent increase in product sales revenue and an 18 percent increase in fund raising support last year.

Our success can be attributed to the tremendous support of the community and a better understanding of the positive impact Girl Scouts has on girls’ lives. Parents, volunteers and donors have rallied to strengthen our 80-year-old Girl Scout council, and to keep the programs we offer relevant.

Girl Scouts builds girl leaders who succeed in school, go on to college, and become contributing members of their communities. When this is demonstrated on a local level, support follows.

It’s a great day to be a Girl Scout.

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 5:35 PM with the headline "O’Toole letter: Girl Scouts."