Girls set it off at "The Pink Party" in downtown Atlanta.
	Girls of all ages and backgrounds had fun in Girl HQ—whether engaged in conversation or taking in a FUNshop like this one, "Get Paid to Work with Animals!" with a flamingo (center) from SeaWorld & Busch Gardens.
	What are the Convention and National Council Session all about? The National Council Session, which ran concurrent to the 50th Convention, served as a forum for voting on policy direction critical to the Girl Scouts Movement, including the election of the new National Board of Directors. The Convention, held once every three years, brought together a diverse cross-section of Girl Scout membership for a variety of activities, workshops, and speakers like America Ferrera (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Dominique Dawes (Olympic Gold Medalist). Both the Convention and Council Session focused on transforming Girl Scouts for the 21st century, while retaining the original vision of founder Juliette Gordon Low. "My favorite part about the 50th National Girl Scout Convention was meeting new people from all over the world, telling all the girls about the Girl HQ booth, meeting Ann Curry, and seeing all the animals from SeaWorld. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will never forget!" —Emilee (age 13), Atlanta

Going Pink: Girl Scouts
Rock 'Hotlanta'

By Jennifer Goddard, staff writer

With the Girl Scout Movement approaching its 100th year of existence, we returned to our roots in Georgia to plan a new strategy that will ensure our success into the next century. Now more than ever, girls' voices—your voice—will define the course we take as we plot the next 100 years.

The city of Atlanta welcomed more than 15,000 Girl Scout members and volunteers October 7-10 for our National Council Session and 50th Convention. Approximately 900 Girl Scouts, ages 14-17, attended forums to discuss issues, such as self-esteem and the relationship between physical and mental health, while another 1,000 or so Girl Scouts of all ages checked out the exhibits.

VIG (Very Important Girl) Treatment

One of the exhibits was the first of its kind for Girl Scouts of the USA: a girls-only space located in the Hall of Exhibits called "Girl Headquarters," where girls could take a break from the Convention's hectic pace to:

• Chill in the lounge, knit a scarf, make new friends, listen to music, read magazines;
• Check e-mail, browse the Web, check out the new Interest Projects;
• Participate in one of 34 scheduled FUNshops (workshops) and meet a wild animal, make a unique DIY souvenir, hone financial skills, or get valuable tips and $100 grants (courtesy of Angel Soft) for Girl Scout Gold Award projects.

Girl Headquarters (FOR REAL!)

Sponsored by the MetLife Foundation, Girl HQ was the spot surrounded by a large hot-pink curtain that welcomed girls 18 and under only—no adults allowed! A booth staff of nearly 70 girls form the Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia worked to make sure that everyone got VIG (Very Important Girl) treatment!

Nastassia
Emilee

"The booth was unique because adults weren't allowed [except for the staff of three to five way cool adults]," says Nastassia, a 12-year-old Girl Scout from Atlanta who served as Girl HQ staff. "There was an endless amount of things to do!"

"This booth was just for girls!" explains Emilee, age 13, another Girl HQ staff member from Atlanta. "The activities were cool, and just the fact that you were able to relax and choose to do what you liked to do was awesome!"

Pretty in Pink

	Two professional dancers (on stage) led hundreds of girls in Atlanta's own "one-two step" dance at "The Pink Party."

Girl HQ wasn't the only place where girls attending convention got VIG treatment: Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove hosted "The Pink Party" for girls ages 14-17. Party-goers rocked pink outfits and could get temporary tattoos, hang out with a real flamingo, get personalized photo souvenirs, learn hot new dance steps, and feast on strawberries dipped in pink-colored chocolate.

Why all hot pink décor at Girl HQ and the "Pink Party"? In a poll conducted on this site in May 2005, 64% of girls said "bright, bold, and fun" best describes the color pink. For Emilee, "pink is a fun color. When I saw the pink [Girl HQ] tent, I knew that whatever was inside was going to be fun…pink stands out…[as] fun, happy, and exciting."

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

"Bright, bold, and fun" is part of what being a girl—and a Girl Scout—is all about. No, Girl Scout green isn't changing to Girl Scout pink; but there are some significant changes on the horizon.

Girl Scouts is undergoing an extraordinary, Movement-wide review. One of the first changes is a new mission statement: "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place." Delegates approved this summary of our purpose during the National Council Session.

You're encouraged to voice your opinion during this unprecedented time of Girl Scout history. Check out www.girlscouts.org/strategy to express your thoughts and find out more information. Not only does your voice matter—it WILL be heard. Don't believe it? Take a look at any of the new Interest Projects (located in the "Lounge" on this site); girls like you helped to create or inspire 9 of the 10.

October's fun and excitement in Atlanta is just the beginning; it's definitely an exciting time to be a Girl Scout!