Girl Scouts of Nassau County Council History
In 1912, the Juliette Gordon Low started the Girl Scouting movement in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia. Sometime around 1918 a few girls in Nassau County heard about a new organization just for girls. The girls checked into it as something that might be fun for them to do. It seemed to offer everything. They could wear special clothes, learn skills and use their old skills in new ways. Thus, the first Girl Scout Troops were formed in Nassau County, becoming an early part of what would become a worldwide youth movement. The history of our Council is recounted here, to preserve the legacy of those early, pioneering Troops in Nassau County.
Girl Scouting in Nassau County Timeline
1912
Founder, Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout Troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Gaorgia.
1918/1919
First Troop started in Lynbrook Photograph courtesy of the Village of Lynbrook, Leo H. Bock, photographer
1923
Mrs. W.E. Thomas of Garden City (Mary was her first name but women were identified by their husband’s name in those days) was appointed the National Organizer in Nassau County in November 1923. In lieu of a salary, Mary was to receive gasoline and tires for her car from the $1300 allotted to the Girl Scouts by the Nassau County Welfare Board. She also received 25 sheets of notepaper and envelopes, some literature and 12 Troop Committee forms.
1924/1926
Nassau County Council formed
1935
North Nassau Council, Central Nassau Council, South Nassau Councils formed
Four Port Washington girls invested as Golden Eaglets
1940
Mid Island Council formed
Radio publicity — “Play with a Purpose”
1947
Central Nassau Council dissolves – it becomes Courthouse Council, Hub Council, Sewanhaka Council
1954
Lady Baden Powell, Chief Girl Guide, from London, England visits
1956
First roundup of Senior Scouts at Pontiac, Michigan – Highland Park
The four Councils located in Nassau sent a total of 26 girls
1957
8 girls from Mid Island Council attend International Conference in honor of Lord Baden Powell at Duck Lake, Ontario
1957/1958
West Nassau Council chartered, composed of Hub, Courthouse, and Sewanhaka Councils
1959
Second roundup at Colorado Springs 48 girls attended
1962
Third roundup at Button Bay, Vermont 32 girls attended
1964
Mid Island sent 4 girls to 4 different all-state encampments
Manhasset sent 1 girl to Sweden as community ambassador, 2 girls to Mexico in an open-door exchange
1965
Nassau Council of Girl Scouts formed
Fourth round up at Farragut, Idaho (36 girls attended)
Mid Island sent a girl to represent American Girl Scouts at an international gathering. Svenska Scoutforbundet, Sweden
Many Councils sent delegations to meet Princess Margaret Rose of Great Britain at Girl Scout National Headquarters
At Mid Island Council two new groups were introduced –A chorus of girls 10-17, later named the Mid Island Minnesingers, And the International Flag Corps (Cadettes and Seniors)
Perry Como headed a fund drive
Courier newsletter started
1966
Mid Island Council invited to serve as “in transit” hostesses to international guests
Mid Island sent 1 girl to all-states encampment in North Carolina, and 1 girl to Honolulu for East-West conference
Girl Scout Week: Girls were on the Ray Heatherton Breakfast Show broadcast from Mid Island Plaza, Hicksville
1967
First Daisy Ball at the New York Hilton, ”black tie”
1968
Daisy Ball in March at the Garden City Hotel
1969
Daisy Ball at Terrace in the Park Nassau Council Girls Scouts appear in film “We’re Going Troop Camping”
ELLM Community Brownies featured in March Girl Scout calendar
1975
Green Circle program started
First OctoberFest
1976
In 1976, we celebrated our country’s bicentennial with a “Yankee Doodle Dandy Jamboree” program.
In April 1976 the Council, in the search for more space, moved to our current location at 110 Ring Road West, Roosevelt Field, Garden City, NY.
1977
January – New office building dedicated and Open House held
Cookbook published. “Nassau Cooks” September – Mid Island and Nassau Councils began operating as one Council
1982
We were environmentally conscientious in 1982. “Conserve- Preserve” was about conserving Long Island’s waters, Clearwater sailing, where the girls learned about the estuaries, pollutions, and weather, among other things.
“Gift of Water” – Nassau Council water conservation project for the 70th anniversary. Girls attend special ceremony at UN announcing “Gift of Water”
First Gold Award Ceremony
Kathy Lee Johnson (Gifford) and David Hartman “Good Morning America” interview Council members
1984
First “Go for the Green” golf tournament at Brookville Country Club
1985
Girl Scout Daisies started
1986
Nassau Council Girl Scouts become Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc. (GSNC)
1987
GSNC girls featured on Cookie boxes
For the 75th anniversary of Girl Scouting in the USA, we celebrated Diversity.
Anniversary Corporate Luncheon at Garden City Hotel. New Girl Scout Chorus made its debut
Friendship Tree introduced
1989
Newly renovated office building dedicated – Barbara White, President
1990
In 1990, during “Operation Desert Shield,” the girls packed “goodie” boxes for the servicemen of Desert Storm.
1992
GSNC girls featured in Girl Scout video by GSUSA “Girls Only, All Girls”
Our 80th birthday festivities were held at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville. The theme centered around caring for the earth.
1993
Girls presented flags at the dedication of GSUSA new headquarters
Girls star in new fitness video “Be Your Best”
1997
Circle of Friends initiated by Ann Butera, Pat Motschmann, Jackie Hennelly, Marianne Templeton, Henrietta Tuthill and Barbara White
1998
Council website started
1999
Girl Scouts became part of the world wide web in 1999 with our website www.gsnc.org
Living History Museum dedicated
2000
GSNC contributes to the County Time Capsule
2002
10,000 Girl Scouts celebrated 90th Anniversary at “Sing Out For America” at Madison Square Garden.
2005
GSNC hosts the 5th Annual National Latina Conference
46 girls go to Space Camp in Huntsville, AL.
2006
The biggest thrill for the Chorus came when our girls were asked to record “True Colors” to be broadcast as background for a Dove commercial to be aired during the Super Bowl game in 2006.
Our Operation Cookie Program officially begins. For this project, Girl Scouts from GSNC gather donations of Girl Scout Cookies to send to the servicemen and women overseas.
2008
The first GIRLFEST was held at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville
2012
2012 was declared the Year of the Girl
Girl Scouts of Nassau County and the ELLM Association dedicated the Juliette Gordon Low Park in Lynbrook, NY
The GSNC Chorus sung at Girl Scouts Rock the Mall in Washington, DC
We’ve celebrated a lot of milestones these past 100 years…