Stories are being sought during March for a book that will commemorate 100 years of Girl Scouts in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
The coffee-table-style black-and-white photo book, which will be published in a limited edition press run, is being produced to observe the nation's 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting in 2012. The book will be printed this fall and sold in the shops of Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
During March, the Girl Scout council is soliciting short stories of 250 words or less from anyone - past and current Girl Scouts, young or old - who have had anything to do with Girl Scouts as a girl or as a volunteer. In 100 years, Girl Scouts has produced many girls of courage, confidence and character. Every woman who has been a Girl Scout has a story.
Stories can be personal or about friends, daughters, mothers, or any memories that can be shared to help celebrate Girl Scouts' centennial. Girl Scouts has made a difference in the lives of many women and girls over the years and the stories will help demonstrate why the organization is the premier leadership development organization for girls. Some of the stories being sought might include how Girl Scouts helped launched someone into a successful science career, how a Girl Scout helped make the world a better place or how a volunteer saw a girl grow because of her Girl Scout experience.
The 180- to 192-page large-format book, titled "100 Years of Leadership - Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois," will be a lasting memory of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts. The anniversary will be celebrated yearlong in 2012 by Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois and other Girl Scout councils across the United States. A total of 170 stories are expected to be published in the edition. In addition to selling copies for $34.95, the Girl Scout council also will be distributing copies to libraries throughout Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. The hard-cover book will be available at Girl Scout shops in West Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo and Decorah in Iowa and Rock Island in Illinois.
Those who wish to have a story considered for publication in the book should visit GirlScoutsToday.com on the web and click on the link on the home page after March 1 to submit their story. A $15 donation to Girl Scouts for the story submission will help pay for book production costs. Persons with stories that are selected by a volunteer committee will be contacted by e-mail to schedule a photo session with a photographer for inclusion in the book. The cost of the photo session will be provided to those with selected stories.
In addition to the stories, the keepsake of Girl Scouts' milestone also will include a history of the Girl Scout movement, not only in the United States, but also in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. All stories that are submitted for the book project also will be posted on the website of Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois at GirlScoutsToday.com.
The book is expected to be available in the fall. For more information, call your local Girl Scout office at 800-798-0833.
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