GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA. A national organization having for its ob ject the general welfare of girls, giving them through wholesome pleasure those habits of mind and body which will make them useful, responsible women, ready and willing to take a definite part in the home, civic, and national affairs of the country. The association was founded in 1912, and the movement became popu lar, numbering in 1920 over 82,000 mem bers, representing an increase of 40 per cent. over the preceding year. The or ganization is non-sectarian and non-par tisan. The activities are designed to bring to the girls the opportunity for an all-round life, indoors, outdoors, at home, and in the community. Woman is recognized as a producer, a consumer, and a citizen, and the girl scout is trained toward these ends. Throughout all the activities is the definite ideal of charac ter building. The governing body is the National Council, composed of represen tatives from local councils and other members elected by the National Coun cil. National headquarters are main tained in New York to carry out the policies of the National Council. A lo cal council may be organized in any community. This is a body of men and women, representing the schools, churches, social and civic organizations, playgrounds, newspapers, and such bodies as the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Clubs. This council is organized for the purpose of promoting and super vising girl scout units in the district. The unit of organization is the patrol of eight members each. One or more patrols form a troop, and they are grouped whenever possible according to age and congeniality. Each patrol has a leader and a corporal, and each troop a captain.
The captain may choose lieutenants to assist her. It is advisable that a troop of two patrols have a lieutenant, and that for every additional two patrols an other lieutenant be secured. Each troop selects for its name a flower, tree, shrub, or bird. The members wear the emblem over the left pocket of their uniforms. Troops may be formed in connection with any church, school, playgound, settlement, or other institution or organ ization. Unattached troops are also suc cessful. Troop meetings are held weekly, with the program fairly divided between recreation and education. Any girl from ten to eighteen years of age, who is will ing to subscribe to the promise and laws required of candidates, to the effect that they will try to do their duty to God and country and make certain resolutions, may become a scout after passing a "tenderfoot" test. Captains are over 21 years of age and are commissioned by the National Headquarters on paying a fee of 50 cents. There is a fee of 25 cents for each scout, and a subscription to the "American Girl" magazine is also re quired. Parallel organizations exist in Hawaii, Russia, Norway, Central Amer ica, Alaska, Denmark, the Philippines, West Indies, Great Britain, Palestine, Canada, Australia, Poland, Serbia, Bel gium, Italy, Portugal, New Zealand, and China. In France a similar organization is called "Les Eclaireuses," and in Eng land there are Girl Guides. In 1920 a campaign was set going for funds to aid the organization.