Reps. Robert Jones, Clemente, Hopgood, Stahl, Simpson, Miller, Lemmons, Lahti, Gillard, McDowell, Alma Smith, Bauer, Griffin, Spade, Brown, Valentine, Ebli, Wojno, Byrnes, Dean, Bieda, Meadows, Scott, Accavitti, Booher, Brandenburg, Byrum, Clack, Condino, Constan, Cushingberry, Farrah, Gonzales, Hammel, Hammon, Hansen, Hood, Rick Jones, Kathleen Law, LeBlanc, Leland, Marleau, Mayes, Meisner, Nitz, Palmer, Pastor, Pearce, Polidori, Proos, Rocca, Sak, Schuitmaker, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Tobocman, Vagnozzi and Warren offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 448.

            A resolution recognizing the new Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council which takes effect October 1, 2008, in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, For over 90 years, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, founded by Juliette Low in 1912, has inspired millions of girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct and citizenship; and

            Whereas, The Girl Scouts' program is the preeminent leadership development organization, for girls with a focus on individual healthy development, resulting in girls of courage, confidence and character who will be an asset to their community and make the world a better place; and

            Whereas, In August, 2006, the Girls Scouts of the USA's National Board of Directors endorsed a plan to merge 310 councils into 109 dynamic, community based councils; and

            Whereas, The Girl Scouts' program must change to better meet the needs of girls in today's world, under the direction of CEO Janet Barker (Kalamazoo) and Board President Pat Brasseur (Battle Creek). The Michigan Girl Scout councils of Huron Valley, Irish Hills, Glowing Embers, Michigan Capital, and Mitten Bay are merging together to form Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, one dynamic Girl Scout council which will continue to offer the same exceptional leadership development program to Michigan's girls; and 

            Whereas, The realignment affects over 30,000 girls and adult volunteers in the counties of Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Branch, Calhoun, Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, Livingston, Midland, Monroe, Oakland, Ogemaw, Roscommon, Saginaw, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne; and

            Whereas, This revitalization will ensure that the Girl Scout movement will remain compelling, contemporary and relevant to today's girls and will continue to shape Michigan's girls into our leaders of tomorrow; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the member of this legislative body recognize the new Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council to take effect October 1, 2008, in the state of Michigan.