MARILYN MIDYETTE
CEO, GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER ATLANTA
Thank you Ann, President Larry, fellow Rotarians and guests. I am very honored to be here today and to officially move from the red side to the blue side, or should I say, the dark side!
I have always been a firm believer that more gets done when there is a sense of community. And from the very first Rotary meeting I attended as a guest, I have felt a real sense of community in this place.
In all strong communities, there is always a significant correlation between the quality of life, innovative and forward thinking businesses, and smart growth and sustainability. There is also always a strong partnership between for-profits and non-profits.
Since the beginning of our Rotary in 1913, Atlanta has taken a leadership position in our country - nationally and globally. This is because business, government, education, public and private entities have had a shared vision based on mutually shared success. They believed in the investment of creative capital and the innovative spirit of Atlanta. They believed in looking to the future, preparing for the future, and investing in the future. They believed in the power of unity, the power of collaboration, and they believed that the only path forward was together.
In my orientation meeting and at the new comer reception, former President Bill talked about the many “Ah-Ha” moments he has had during his long tenure with the Rotary. I am happy to say that in my brief tenure as a Rotarian, I have had a few “Ah-Ha” moments myself.
I started out working for Bob Strickland and Phil Humann at Trust Company Bank, at the Big Blue T. I then went to work for Phil Jacobs at the other big blue logo in town, Southern Bell. For years I thought I couldn’t work for someone unless their name was Phil! But most importantly, what I learned from the two Phil’s was what courage, confidence and character looks like in the business world. Little did I know 30 years later I would be blessed with the opportunity to take these lessons learned to the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta as CEO.
Interestingly enough, the Girl Scout Mission reads as follows: “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The Girl Scout Promise reads “On my honor, I will try to serve God and my Country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” And, The Girl Scout Law reads “I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong and responsible for what I say and do, to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.”
Does that sound familiar? The Rotary 4-way test of the things we think, say or do reads: 1. Is it the TRUTH?, Is it FAIR to all concerned?, Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?, Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
You may be aware that Girl Scouts was founded right here in Georgia, just down the road in called Savannah by a woman named Juliette Gordon Low. In March of 2012, less than 2 years from now, the Girl Scouts of the USA will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary.
The Atlanta Rotarians have been very strong supporters of Girl Scouts from it’s inception. Since incorporation in 1946, the Club’s Youth Service Fund has consistently provided financial support for our annual campership programs helping us build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place, and you have helped us develop the next generation of civic and business leaders. Indeed, you have been preparing them all their lives to take the 4-way test!
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this wonderful organization. You have my word I will uphold its values and high ethical standards and its ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. I promise to be faithful to the 4-way test.
