About 22 girls join CNMI Girl Scouts

At least 22 new CNMI girl scouts were invested yesterday as they join Troop 002 of the USA Girl Scouts Overseas – CNMI chapter.

The 22 grade school students from Mount Carmel School and Garapan Elementary School attended the investiture ceremony held at the Aqua Resort Club yesterday morning. These kids joined over 35 other girls that are members of the Girl Scouts in the CNMI.

GES Girl Scouts adult leader Hazel Handayan said the USAGSO is pleased to add more members to the club. She said the new members range from 2nd grade to 6th grade.

USAGSO overseas committee chair Kim Prinz said there are already over 100 girls scouts that joined the group since its inception in 1956. The number dwindled in mid-’90s but is lately making a comeback. Handayan said the group is not just school-focused but is actually community-based.

Prinz said the group directly reports to the USAGSO headquarters in New York. In early years, the girl scouts used to receive cash appropriation from the local government. She added that a funding worth $2,000 used to be allocated for the program. This funding has been absent for quite sometime now, she said.

She said the group is managing to operate based on its internal activities. She added that the group holds several solicitations and fundraising activities to maintain the group in the CNMI.

Joining the girl scouts, said Prinz, is very rewarding in that the group’s philosophy would eventually help the kids achieve their dreams and goals.

She expressed hope that the local government would again help these kids make their dreams a reality.

She said that parents also play a vital role in their children’s growth within the community. She said that parents should encourage their children to join groups like the girl scouts.

Troop leader Miriam H. Borja welcomed the guests while Rev. Roger Abe led the opening prayer. GES principal Yvonne Gomez, MCS principal Galvin Deleon Guerrero and Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela provided brief remarks during the event. Prinz closed the program yesterday. Handayan hosted the ceremony.

Currently the adult leaders of the group for GES are: Emelinda Aguda, Amelita Bongay, Borja, Rosalie Cabrera, Handayan, Jeieljoy Inaba, Grace Sanchez-Furhman and Janet Vaughn. For MCS, they are: Armi D. Cucal, Obedia Diamante, Zita Sablan and Judy Santos. Cindy Tice is the overseas committee secretary.