The Annual Girl Scout Luncheon Addresses Challenges Girls Face Today

It was a full house at the Grand Hyatt Nashville for the annual Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee luncheon. As is tradition, a troop of Girl Scouts handled the flag ceremony and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Girl Scout Promise and Law and a moment of silence for quiet personal reflection.

As guests returned to their seats and began lunch, Danielle Barnes, president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, addressed the room. She opened her comments with stories of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, who had the vision and tenacity to create a movement where girls could come together, support each other and reach their full potential. Danielle noted that when Girl Scouts began in 1912, the United States was on the eve of momentous events, like World War I and the Great Depression. “Juliet allowed our girls to know their own individual power, to do what some said was impossible — to form friendships and engage in activities and recognize their individual collective power and to literally, quite literally, change the world,” she said.

Then, board member Jeremy Swartz introduced the keynote speaker: Crissy Haslam, former first lady of Tennessee. As she opened her speech, Crissy discussed the times she encouraged her husband — who had already spoken to the Boy Scouts of America in Tennessee twice — to engage with the Girl Scouts and speak at their luncheons as well, which he did. Crissy also discussed the unique difficulties girls face today, noting that isolation and anxiety are on the rise among teenage girls. She spoke about the bonds of friendship created through Girl Scouts: Participation helps girls meet new people, feel part of something bigger and develop their potential.