Juliette Low, Founder of the Girl Scouts

Award-winning storyteller, Kate Carney is Juliette Low, Founder of the Girl Scouts.

It's 1920. Mrs. Juliette (Daisy) Low invites us to hear her reminisce -- she loves to talk. She was born just in time for the Civil War, in Savannah GA, and became a Southern Rebel like her Confederate father. Her mother was a Northern Yankee, who, during the War, had to move the children back to her family in Chicago. She loved the stories her Yankee grandfather told about how “Kinzie women could handle any situation”.

After the War, back in Savannah, she learned that mothers thought tomboys (eg Daisy) were bad companions for their daughters. But after Boarding and Finishing schools made a lady of her, she traveled to England. There she met Willy Low, and they married when she was 26. Over the course of time, she lost much of her hearing. To Daisy’s dismay, the marriage ended after 20 years To console herself, she spent 7 years traveling and giving/attending parties.

Purpose came back into her life when she met Sir General Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement. She started Girl Guide troops in Scotland and London, and launched a troop in Savannah which grew into the national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA.

While some feel she's changed, she thinks she's just re-channeled her gift for helping people have a good time. She’s helping girls develop their talents and self-confidence. It’s practically the same thing!

She urges listeners to use their gifts – after all, she discovered her own when she started helping others find theirs.