Community

On October 22, Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast (GSCCC), WAVY TV and Tidewater Parent Magazine, will host Let’s Move from noon to 4 p.m. at the Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach. The sponsors and Pembroke Mall have joined to raise community awareness of childhood obesity and other key health issues. It’s part of a national effort launched by First Lady Michelle Obama. The goal is to help raise healthier American children.

This free event, open to the public, will have exhibits, booths with information, simple health screenings and a stage area featuring Zumba demonstrations and a Fitness Fashion Show. Among the exhibitors will be Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters Healthy You program – a weight management program for children. Families will be invited to participate in a mall scavenger hunt, and there will be prizes and giveaways. Visitors to the event are being asked to bring a healthy canned food donation for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Most in need are nutritious items such as peanut butter and canned soups and vegetables.

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children are overweight. The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese. If we don’t work together to solve the problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma.

Let’s Move is just one of the many events Girl Scouts have lined up for this scouting year which started October 1. The 2011-12 year is special because Girl Scouts locally and nationally will be celebrating the 100th anniversary.

A delegation of Girl Scouts will be leaving Hampton Roads in mid November to attend the national Girl Scout convention in Houston, Texas. The three-day convention will include an array of events, including a period to recognize famous former Girl Scouts which include well-known women such as Katie Couric, Oprah Winfrey and Gina Davis – just to name a few. When the local delegation returns, they will be hosting their own famous former event in Norfolk on November 19. Leading women leaders who are former Girl Scouts will be honored at a luncheon. These women – thirteen of them - have been selected to appear in the GSCCC anniversary calendar, Celebrating 100 Years of Leadership. The calendar will have its formal debut and release at the luncheon. The calendar will sell for $10 and will be available online at gsccc.org and in the Girl Scout shops located at A Place for Girls and the Peninsula Girl Scout Service Center.

“This is an exciting time for us,” Council CEO Tracy Keller said. “For 100 years, Girl Scouts has done more than any other organization to provide leadership opportunities for girls. America’s most accomplished women in public service, business, science, education, the arts, and community life are Girl Scout alumnae. We’re proud to say that sixty-nine percent of female U.S. senators were Girl Scouts and that every female astronaut who has flown in space was a Girl Scout. Its important that women leaders, such as our famous formers, serve as role models for girls today. With their help and support, we can prepare girls who will be our future world leaders.”

If you would like more information on the Girl Scout 100th anniversary events, how to become involved as an alumnae or register as a volunteer, contact GSCCC at 1-800-77SCOUT or visit gsccc.org.

Marcella Germanotta
Communications Director
Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast
A Place for Girls
912 Cedar Rd. , Chesapeake , VA 23322
757-547-4405 ext. 1258; direct 549-0836; fax757-547-1872 marcyg@gsccc.org