When her cell phone starts ringing one late September afternoon, Jennifer doesn’t know what to expect. She recognizes the phone number as the Girl Scouts Sudden Service office and knows that her troop could be offered the chance to do anything from participating in a flag ceremony at the crack of dawn on Sunday to being on television to promote Girl Scouting. As she answers, she grabs a pen and a pad of paper to take notes.
“Congratulations, Jennifer!” the woman’s voice on the phone says. “Your troop has been chosen to go to the White House.” Jennifer recognizes the caller as Ashley Lusk, Public Relations Specialist for the Girl Scouts Council for the Nation’s Capital. Ashley had called Jennifer many times, but never for something this exciting. “And I’ve got to tell you this, when I asked around about which troop to invite, four different people told me that I had to call you and your girls. Your group of girls is so diverse and so reliable.”
“That’s so cool!” Jennifer says loud enough to cause her colleagues to stop what they’re doing and look over her way. “Tell me all the details!”
“Have you heard about the Astronomy Night at the White House that’s going on next week? Well, about one hundred and fifty middle school kids are being invited to star gaze on the South Lawn. The President is going to be there and the First Lady. It’s going to be awesome. Kids will be coming from all over the DC area. Most of the kids are being chosen by their school, but we were asked to send five middle school girls, that is, five Cadettes to represent Girl Scouts at the event.”
“So I need to choose five girls?” Jennifer quickly lists the girls from her troop that fit the description. “I’ve got six Cadettes right now in my troop. Any chance that they could make it six?”
“No, they were very specific. Just five girls can go.”
“No problem.” Jennifer promises to call Ashley back as soon as she has the names of the girls going to astronomy night. In addition to the girl’s names, she also needs to pass along the parents’ names and social security numbers for a security clearance by Secret Service. Jennifer calls all of her Cadette Scouts and lets them know about this opportunity.
Within an hour of leaving voicemail at the girls’ houses, Jennifer hears back from two Cadettes. By the time she got home, Jennifer hears from two more. That leaves only one more spot. Early that evening, the last place is claimed. Soon after, she gets a phone call from the sixth Cadette’s mom. It’s too late, Jennifer tells her, all of the spots are filled but her daughter will be at the top of the list if an opportunity like this ever comes their way again. So that means that the Scouts going to the White House will be Kristine, Molly, Becca, Camille, and Sabareeshini. Her next step will be to get those social security numbers and call them into the Girl Scout office. She sits down at her computer to send the update to the Sudden Service office. Then she calls the girls about their social security numbers and to remind them to check their uniforms so that they are ready to represent all the Girl Scouts in the Washington, DC area.
The next day at school, Kristine rushes to talk to Camille who whispers about the trip to Molly who can’t wait to talk about their good luck to Becca who finds Sabareeshini at lunch and they giggle and wonder what the White House will be like. Their friends ask: What are you talking about? You got invited to the White House? You get to go because you’re a Girl Scout? Being a Girl Scout is pretty cool.
When the Sudden Service office calls her again, Jennifer isn’t surprised. But what Ashley tells her is a real shocker.
“Okay,” Ashley says, “Now I can tell you what’s really going on. For many years, actually since the Hoover Administration, the First Lady has served as the Honorary National President of the Girls Scouts. We’re very pleased to say the Michelle Obama has also agreed to serve in that position.”
“That’s great, “Jennifer responds.
“Well, the thing is that she will be formally accepting the title and posing for photos on October 7. During Astronomy Night. So we want your girls to pose with the First Lady in her official photo with all of the Girl Scout officials.”
“Oh my God!” Jennifer shouts and, once again, her office mates look over to see what could cause such a commotion. “That’s truly fabulous!”
“So now you see why we had to do everything so quickly. I’ll call you as soon as we have everything settled, but before the girls go, we’ll brief them on what to do and say. The Astronomy Night starts about eight and I think we’re going to do the photo right before. We’re going to meet downtown with the Girl Scout President and the Executive Director to go over all of the details and we want the girls to be there, too.”
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Sounds like I’m experiencing every detail along with Jennifer while she is preparing for the special event. I was a Girl Scout co-leader for 5 yrs, never one my self. Enjoyed Thin Mints especially, they are my favorite and paid for every box I ate. Remember trying sell in front of the grocery story. having a certain shift time. In front of Banks, where to stand and how to best assist the girls, age appropriately with marketing and counting that money. Loved going to the Leader meetings, always such helpful information. Good bonding and observing my daughter with other girls. Look forward to your book, blog, and some thin mints.
Congratulations Shelly on your new book! I’m so excited about your birthday celebration and recall our active Brownie Troop led by your wonderful mother as our leader, she was the Girl Scouts ! I treasure fond memories of our friendship and the lessons & values we learned about hard work and accomplished goals especially because they remind me of our early success!